April 20 has seen many notable events in rock history. It marks the day Deep Purple made their live debut, Aerosmith released a major comeback album, and musicians gathered to honor the late Freddie Mercury. Here are some key moments from this day.
In 1968, Deep Purple performed for the first time at Vestpoppen in Parkskolen, Taastrup, Denmark, kicking off their first Scandinavian tour. The original lineup included Rod Evans, Richie Blackmore, John Lord, Nick Simper, and Ian Paice, the only member still with the band today.
In 1973, The Who’s frontman released his self-titled debut solo album. Despite being recorded during a break from the band, it received a lukewarm response from critics and fans alike.
Culturally, George Harrison of The Beatles joined Monty Python on stage in 1973 at New York’s City Center, dressed as a Canadian Mountie. A few audience members recognized him, even though he wasn’t mentioned in the promotional materials. Sadly, Steve Marriott, co-founder of Small Faces and Humble Pie, passed away in 1991 at just 44.
April 20 is also significant for memorable recordings. In 1968, The Rolling Stones recorded “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” at London’s Olympic Studios, marking a return to their blues-rock roots.
In 1992, the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert took place at Wembley Stadium, featuring stars like Elton John and Guns N’ Roses to raise AIDS awareness.
Aerosmith released their eleventh studio album, Get a Grip, in 1993, which became their most successful album, selling over 20 million copies.
Finally, in 1998, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page released their only studio album together, Walking into Clarksdale, which peaked at No. 3 on the UK albums chart.
