Paris saw Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers play together for the first time on May 28, 1977. Although they performed as part of the Strontium 90 act, the three musicians later formed The Police. If that piece of rock history whets your appetite, stick around because this is where you’ll find the hit songs, cultural events, recordings, performances, and challenges that made rock history on May 28.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Hit songs and band milestones from May 28 that were a big deal to the rock ‘n’ roll industry include:
- 1966: “What Now My Love” by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It stayed at the top for nine straight weeks , giving the band its fifth album in the top 20.
- 1988: George Michael was at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks with his song “One More Try.” This was the artist’s third consecutive No. 1 single from his Faith album.
Cultural Milestones
The rock music industry saw these cultural milestones on May 28 that altered the music landscape:
- 1957: The Recording Academy was first established as the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. The organization is responsible for the GRAMMY Awards, recognizes artists for their musical achievements.
- 1988: Lead singer of Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, was married for the second time to Teresa Barrick, a clothing designer. They split up in 2005 and officially divorced in 2006.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Rock and roll has seen several notable recordings and performances on May 28 over the years, and these are two to remember:
- 1971: Starting off two nights of gigs, Humble Pie performed a show at the Fillmore East in New York City. The set became part of their live album, Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore East, which made it to No. 21 on the Billboard 200 chart.
- 2000: On a Detroit public television show called Backstage Pass, the White Stripes made their first TV performance. The show coincided with the release of their De Stijl album, and the duo performed “Apple Blossom” and “Death Letter.”
Industry Changes and Challenges
It’s hard to believe these rock industry changes and challenges from May 28 had such a major impact:
- 1996: Singer for Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan, was found unconscious in his Los Angeles hotel room and taken to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was treated for a nearly fatal drug overdose. When he was released, police arrested him for possession of narcotics.
- 2015: Neverland Ranch, the former home of Michael Jackson, was listed for sale. The price tag was $100 million, but the property would later sell for just $22 million in 2020.
No one knows the moments that will leave a mark until after they happen, but these May 28 events in rock history have helped shape the genre. Who knows which hit songs, recordings, performances, events, or challenges from this May 28 will make it into the rock history books?
