Some memorable moments in rock music history happened on May 15, including the death of Phil May from the English rock band Pretty Things. Here are some key hits, cultural milestones, and performances linked to this date.
1965: A cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds entered the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly climbed to No. 1 in six weeks. This song is often seen as the first folk rock hit, with The Byrds credited for popularizing the genre. On the same day, Bob Dylan scored his first US Top 40 hit with “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” which peaked at No. 39. This track marked his shift from acoustic folk to a more electric sound.
1976: The Rolling Stones topped the US Billboard 200 with their thirteenth studio album, Black and Blue. This was their first album featuring guitarist Ronnie Wood and it stayed at No. 1 for four weeks.
In the 1960s, several cultural milestones also shaped rock music. 1963: Comedian Vaughn Meader won Album of the Year at the Fifth Annual GRAMMY Awards for The First Family, one of only two comedy albums to win this award. 1967: Paul McCartney met Linda Eastman at the Bag O’ Nails nightclub in London, marking the start of their lasting relationship.
Notable performances include Pink Floyd at The Garden Party in 1971, where a malfunctioning inflatable octopus caused chaos. In 1972, The Beach Boys released Carl and the Passions – “So Tough,” which was initially poorly received but later gained a cult following. Prince and the Revolution released “Raspberry Beret” in 1985, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Finally, in 2001, Weezer released their third studio album, known as the Green Album.
