Although it was initially seen as a flop, the Flying V guitar by Gibson is now a classic. This iconic design first left the factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Feb. 21, 1958. Only 98 were made by the end of 1959, but a variation was produced in the ’60s.
On this day in rock history, several significant events took place:
1964: The Rolling Stones released their third single in the U.K., a cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” It hit the U.S. two weeks later, marking their first single in America.
1970: Simon & Garfunkel’s fifth and final album, *Bridge over Troubled Water*, topped the U.K. albums chart. It spent over 300 weeks on the chart, with 41 weeks at No. 1.
1987: After gaining fame from the film of the same name, Ben E. King’s 1961 hit “Stand by Me” reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart.
Cultural milestones also shaped the music scene:
1964: Inspired by the Beatles on *The Ed Sullivan Show*, a 16-year-old Billy Joel joined his first band, The Echoes.
1970: Eric Wilson, bassist for Sublime, was born in Long Beach, California. In 2023, he reunited with former Sublime drummer Bud Gaugh and performed with Bradley Nowell’s son, Jakob.
2002: Elton John criticized the music industry for promoting average bands, saying they block talented musicians.
Notable recordings include:
1967: Pink Floyd began recording their debut album, *The Piper at the Gates of Dawn*, at EMI Studios in London.
1970: The Jackson 5, featuring a young Michael Jackson, performed on *American Bandstand*.
1983: Adam Ant collapsed on stage in Cleveland due to a knee injury, forcing him to miss several tour dates.
