July 21 has seen plenty of big moments in rock history. Here are some highlights.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
1958: Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” was released in the U.S. It hit No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later became a staple through covers by bands like The Who, The Beach Boys, and T. Rex.
1973: Jim Croce’s “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at the top. It was Billboard’s No. 2 song of 1973.
1977: The Sex Pistols made their debut on the BBC show Top of the Pops performing “Pretty Vacant.”
Cultural Moments
1948: Yusuf Islam, known as Cat Stevens, was born in Marylebone, London. He sold over 100 million records and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
2007: Music agent Don Arden died at 81. He managed acts like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Black Sabbath, and Electric Light Orchestra.
Notable Recordings and Performances
1967: Jimi Hendrix and The Jimi Hendrix Experience began a three-night run at the Cafe Au Go Go in New York. Eric Clapton joined them on stage during the run.
1969: The Beatles started recording John Lennon’s “Come Together” at Abbey Road Studios.
1971: Black Sabbath released their third album, Master of Reality. It got mixed reviews at first but is now seen as a major influence on heavy metal.
1987: Guns N’ Roses released their debut album, Appetite for Destruction. It took time to catch on, but “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and its video helped make the album a massive hit.
