On April 14, 1963, the Rolling Stones met The Beatles for the first time. The Rolling Stones played at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, and The Beatles were in the audience. After the show, both bands went to an apartment in Chelsea and partied until 4 a.m. This day is packed with interesting moments in rock history.
In 1978, “Bright Eyes” by Art Garfunkel hit No. 1 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying there for six weeks. It became the biggest-selling single in the U.K. for 1979, selling over 1 million copies, and was the theme song for the film Watership Down. In 1980, Iron Maiden released their self-titled debut album, a key moment for the band that peaked at No. 4 in the U.K. and changed the heavy metal scene.
Cultural milestones also shaped rock music on this date. Richie Blackmore, born in 1945, became known for his guitar work with Deep Purple and Rainbow. In 1960, the musical Bye Bye Birdie premiered in New York, inspired by Elvis Presley’s draft and featuring rock and roll themes. In 2009, George Harrison of The Beatles received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, with Paul McCartney attending the ceremony. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2012 saw inductees like Guns N’ Roses and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Notable recordings include The Beatles finishing “Paperback Writer” in 1966 and John Lennon and Paul McCartney recording “The Ballad of John and Yoko” in 1969. In 1982, Van Halen released their fifth album, Diver Down, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Creedence Clearwater Revival made their U.K. live debut in 1970 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
