July 20 is a standout date in history — from Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk to Carlos Santana’s birth and the debut of Die Hard. It’s also big for rock music, with key albums, births, and events shaping the scene.
Breakthrough hits and milestones
1965: Bob Dylan released “Like a Rolling Stone” from Highway 61 Revisited. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, behind The Beatles’ “Help!”
1978: The Rolling Stones sat at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with Some Girls. The album had spent five weeks on the chart and two weeks at the top.
1985: Phil Collins’ No Jacket Required held steady at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 after reaching No. 1 earlier. It had been on the chart for 20 weeks.
1987: While Whitney Houston led the chart, rock acts like U2, Motley Crue, and Whitesnake also held spots in the Billboard 200 top five.
Cultural moments
1964: Chris Cornell was born in Seattle. The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman is remembered as one of rock’s great voices and was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025 with Soundgarden.
1966: Stone Gossard was born in Seattle. The Pearl Jam guitarist and founding member was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2017.
2009: Jackson Browne settled his lawsuit against Senator John McCain and the Republican Party over use of “Running On Empty” in campaign material without permission.
2011: Photos from The Beatles’ first U.S. concert in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 1964, sold at Christie’s for just over $360,000.
2016: At a conference in Durban, Elton John announced two grants from the Elton John AIDS Foundation to support local HIV prevention and treatment work for LGBT communities.
July 20 keeps showing up in rock history — from chart wins to landmark moments that go beyond music.
