Rock history has had key moments on July 11 that shaped the music we hear today.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
1987: Heart’s cover of i-Ten’s Alone hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks. It was one of the year’s biggest sellers.
1988: Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me held at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, just behind Pebbles’ Mercedes Boy and Cheap Trick’s The Flame.
1999: Pearl Jam’s Last Kiss stayed strong, spending eight weeks on the Hot 100 and peaking at No. 2.
Cultural Moments
1959: Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He joined Bon Jovi in 1983 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
1974: The Grateful Dead had two albums certified Gold by the RIAA, with American Beauty later reaching Double Platinum.
1975: Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled album, the first with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went 9x Platinum in the US.
1990: Guns N’ Roses fired drummer Steven Adler due to substance issues; he was replaced by Matt Sorum from The Cult.
2000: Metallica’s Lars Ulrich testified in the Metallica vs. Napster case about music being shared for free, including unreleased tracks.
Notable Recordings and Performances
1969: David Bowie released Space Oddity in the UK, timed around the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
1994: The Rolling Stones released their album Voodoo, breaking a long gap between new records.
If you love music news, these July 11 moments show how songs, bands, and industry battles have shaped rock’s story.
