From stirring performances and innovative performances to inspiring personal stories and intense emotional connection, rock ‘n’ roll history tells a rich and colorful story. Here’s a collection of breakthrough hits, cultural milestones, notable recordings, and interesting shifts that took place on this day in rock history — June 10.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Rock bands and individual performers have marked June 10 with breakthrough hits and other milestones, including:
- 1981: Four veteran performers — Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, and Carl Palmer — announced the formation of the band Asia, best known for their hit “Heat Of The Moment.”
- 1986: Bad weather forced the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to move their 20th anniversary celebration from Red Rocks Amphitheater to Denver’s McNichols Sports Arena.
Cultural Milestones
Some of the cultural events that shaped rock music history on June 10 are:
- 1966: The Monkees recorded for the first time. The session at RCA Studios in Los Angeles produced songs such as “Take a Giant Step,” and “Let’s Dance On.”
- 1993: Controversial singer Sinead O’Connor placed a full-page ad in the Irish Times newspaper pleading with the public to “stop hurting me.” At the time, O’Connor faced criticism for a television performance after which she tore up a photo of the Pope.
- 2004: Ray Charles, a pioneering artist who transcended genres and reshaped American music, passed away at the age of 73 after a career that earned him 18 GRAMMY Awards. He is also an inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Songs and performances that moved audiences on June 10 in rock history include the following:
- 1974: The Who launched a sold-out run of four shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with tickets for the June 10 show selling out within 15 hours.
- 1991: Iconic singer James Brown returned to the stage in a pay-per-view concert from the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles — his first performance since serving a prison sentence in South Carolina for aggravated assault and other charges.
- 2016: Singer Rick Astley released 50, his first album in over 15 years. It soared to No. 1 on the UK charts almost immediately, although it did not achieve the same level of success in the United States.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Here are some of the major shifts and challenges in the rock music industry tied to June 10:
- 1971: A surge of unticketed fans at a Jethro Tull concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado prompted police to fire tear gas. Despite the chaos, the show went on, as band members performed while peering through the lingering haze.
- 1992: Law enforcement officers in Texas launched a boycott of Warner Bros. Records and Time Warner Inc. to protest the song “Cop Killer,” recorded by Ice-T and his group, Body Count. The album was later reissued without the song.
On June 10, The Monkees recorded for the first time, James Brown returned to the stage, and The Who sold out four concerts in minutes. There is no doubt that June 10 is a day stamped in rock history forever.
