June 21 is a significant date in rock history for several reasons. On this day, Mötley Crüe released a new studio album, Disturbed topped the album charts, and U2 and the Corrs performed at the Special Olympics. But that’s not all that happened on June 21.
In 1985, Mötley Crüe released their third studio album, Theatre of Pain, which was certified quadruple Platinum by the RIAA in 1995. The following year, 1986, Genesis achieved their fourth UK No. 1 album with Invisible Touch, which peaked at No. 2 in the US and was certified 6x Platinum for selling over 6 million copies.
In 1994, KISS released their tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, which stayed on the charts for 13 weeks and earned Gold certification. Fast forward to 2008, 3 Doors Down had their hit “It’s Not My Time” climbing to number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 after 16 weeks on the chart. That same year, Disturbed topped the Billboard 200 with Indestructible, their third consecutive album to do so, and the track “Inside the Fire” was nominated for a GRAMMY.
June 21 also marks important cultural moments. In 1966, The Rolling Stones filed a lawsuit against hotels in New York that refused them service. In 1975, Richie Blackmore left Deep Purple for the first time, later forming Rainbow. Little Richard received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990, and in 2001, blues legend John Lee Hooker passed away.
Finally, in 1966, Jimmy Page played his first show with the Yardbirds at the Marquee Club in London, marking the start of an incredible career.
