May 5 has seen some unforgettable moments in rock music history. If you’re curious about these events, you’re in the right place. This is where you can discover the hit songs, milestones, and performances that shaped rock on this day.
1956: Elvis Presley made history by becoming the first artist to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts at the same time. His song “Heartbreak Hotel” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100, while his self-titled debut album topped the Billboard 200.
1973: David Bowie achieved his first UK No. 1 album with Aladdin Sane, which began a five-week reign at the top. This album followed his breakthrough work, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and sold nearly 5 million copies worldwide.
1984: Duran Duran scored their second and final UK No. 1 hit with “The Reflex,” which also topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks.
1996: Rage Against the Machine reached the top of the US Billboard 200 with Evil Empire, selling a quarter of a million copies in its first week. The band also won a GRAMMY for Best Metal Performance for “Tire Me.”
Culturally, May 5 has also been significant. 1948 marked the birth of Bill Ward, co-founder and original drummer of Black Sabbath. 1959 saw the birth of Steve Stevens, guitarist for Billy Idol. In 1963, Dick Rowe signed The Rolling Stones after being impressed by their performance. 1986 was the year the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was announced for Cleveland, and in 2008, Nine Inch Nails released their album The Slip for free online.
