Not every day in rock makes front-page news. Some, like June 29, hold smaller moments fans remember. From famous cars at auction to tour starts, here are the highlights.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
1984: Bruce Springsteen kicked off the Born in the U.S.A. Tour in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The tour introduced guitarist Nils Lofgren, who replaced Steven Van Zandt.
1987: Mötley Crüe’s album Girls, Girls, Girls fell to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 after peaking at No. 2 and staying in the top 10 for 12 weeks.
1992: Pearl Jam’s Ten reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and later hit Gold after peaking at No. 2.
Cultural Moments
1948: Ian Paice, drummer for Deep Purple and the only member present in every lineup since 1968, was born in Nottingham, England. He’s widely regarded as one of rock’s great drummers and joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2016.
1974: Neil Peart officially joined Rush, replacing John Rutsey. His arrival helped launch the band toward stardom; Rush entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
1985: John Lennon’s psychedelic Rolls-Royce Phantom V was sold by the Cooper-Hewitt Museum at Sotheby’s, drawing attention for its famous paint job.
1995: Ringo Starr appeared in his first U.S. TV commercial, an ad for Pizza Hut.
2016: Lisa Marie Presley announced her divorce from Michael Lockwood after more than 10 years of marriage.
Notable Performances and Recordings
1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their final concert together at the Denver Pop Festival.
1985: Mick Jagger and David Bowie recorded and filmed “Dancing in the Street” at Abbey Road Studios to support Live Aid relief efforts.
Industry Notes
2000: Vandals desecrated the graves of members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, reopening old wounds for fans and the band’s community.
