Let’s explore some cool rock history from January 27, featuring hit songs, key moments, and cultural events that shaped the music scene.
1956: Elvis Presley released his first hit single, “Heartbreak Hotel.” It became the top-selling single of the year and launched his career, inspiring many artists since.
1968: The Bee Gees played their first show in the U.S. at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, performing two shows that day.
1970: John Lennon wrote and recorded “Instant Karma” in just one day. It became the fastest-released song, hitting stores ten days later.
1973: Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. This was his second No. 1 hit, following “Fingertips, Pt. 2” in 1963, marking a creative comeback for him.
Cultural events on January 27 also impacted rock music:
1944: Nick Mason, drummer of Pink Floyd, was born. He played on every album and formed a new band in 2018 to perform Pink Floyd’s music.
1951: Brian Downey, drummer and co-founder of Thin Lizzy, was born in Dublin. He co-wrote many of their hits.
1968: Mike Patton was born, later becoming the singer and multi-instrumentalist for Faith No More.
1971: David Bowie visited the U.S. for the first time to promote “The Man Who Sold the World,” making headlines with his bold fashion choices.
1990: Gainesville, Florida, declared January 27 as Tom Petty Day in honor of the musician born there in 1950.
2015: Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were credited for writing on Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” due to similarities with Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
2023: Floyd Sneed, drummer of Three Dog Night, passed away at 80. The band had three No. 1 hits between 1969 and 1975.
Notable performances include:
1972: Pink Floyd performed an early version of “Dark Side of the Moon” in Newcastle, England, after technical issues canceled their previous show.
1980: AC/DC played their last show with singer Bon Scott at the Gaumont Theater in Southampton, just weeks before his passing.
