Rock ‘n’ roll has seen some historic moments, and May 18 has been key in shaping its sound. While not every event on this day has been positive, these moments have influenced the rock music you enjoy today. Here’s a look at what happened on May 18 in rock history.
1963: The Beatles kicked off their first UK tour as headliners in Slough, England. Their hit “Please Please Me” helped them secure this spot, sharing the stage with Roy Orbison and Gerry & The Pacemakers.
1985: Simple Minds reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” thanks to its feature in the film The Breakfast Club.
1991: R.E.M. topped the Billboard 200 chart for the first time with their album Out of Time, which won several GRAMMY Awards.
Culturally, May 18 has also marked significant events. 1949 saw the birth of Rick Wakeman, keyboardist for Yes, who joined the band in 1971 and had a successful solo career. In 1978, The Buddy Holly Story was released, featuring Gary Busey as Holly. Tragically, in 1996, Bradley Nowell, lead singer of Sublime, married Troy Dendekker, only to pass away a week later.
Notable recordings include 1964, when The Animals recorded “House of the Rising Sun” in one take, hitting the top of the charts. In 1967, Pink Floyd began recording “See Emily Play,” which later broke the UK Top 10. 1970 saw the release of The Beatles’ final studio album, Let It Be, which went 4x Platinum in the US. Lastly, in 1975, The Bay City Rollers were set to perform at Mallory Park, but the show faced challenges.
