July 27 has seen events that changed rock music and its culture. Artists like Chuck Berry, Metallica, and Queen all had key moments on this day.
Breakthrough hits and milestones
1955: Chuck Berry’s first hit single, Maybellene, hit the Billboard R&B chart and later reached No. 5 on the Hot 100. It was one of the first rock songs popular with both Black and white audiences.
1981: Stevie Nicks released her first solo album, Bella Donna. It featured Tom Petty and Jimmy Iovine and launched her solo career.
1984: Metallica released their second album, Ride the Lightning, on Megaforce Records. It helped cement Metallica as a leading metal band.
1985: Eurythmics scored their only UK No. 1 with There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) from the album Be Yourself Tonight.
2012: The Beatles returned to the Billboard Top 40 with the Tomorrow Never Knows greatest hits collection, featuring 14 of their hits.
Cultural milestones
1976: Tina Turner filed for divorce from Ike Turner, ending their marriage and musical partnership and kicking off her solo rise.
1976: John Lennon received his U.S. green card, ending a long fight with the government.
1986: Queen played the Nepstadion in Budapest to about 80,000 people. They were among the first major Western rock bands to perform in communist Eastern Europe. The show was later released as Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest.
Notable recordings and performances
1973: New York Dolls released their self-titled debut on Mercury Records. The album influenced many bands, including Guns N’ Roses, the Ramones, and the Sex Pistols.
1983: Metallica began their first major tour, the Kill ‘Em All for One Tour. The 32-date run supported the band Raven and introduced a new guitarist to the lineup.
