November 12 has been a busy day for rock music and its fans over the years. Iconic names like The Monkees, U2, The Beatles, and Genesis have all made their mark on this date. Here’s a look at some key events in rock history.
1966: Johnny Rivers scored a hit with “Poor Side of Town,” which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for one week. It has been covered by many artists, including Bruce Springsteen in 1995. On the same day, The Monkees released their self-titled debut album, which topped the U.S. Billboard 200 for an impressive 13 weeks. It was later replaced by their second album, More of the Monkees, which held the top spot for another 18 weeks.
1977: The Sex Pistols released their only album, Never Mind the B*s, Here’s the Sex Pistols, which hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. This influential album achieved Platinum status in both the U.K. and the U.S.
1988: U2’s album Rattle and Hum reached the top of the U.S. Billboard 200, staying there for six weeks. It was the first double album to top the U.S. charts since Bruce Springsteen’s The River in 1980.
We also celebrate some notable birthdays today. Booker T. Jones was born in 1944 in Memphis, Tennessee, and Neil Young was born in 1945 in Toronto, Canada.
In 2001, former Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison met in New York City. This was their last meeting, as Harrison passed away just 17 days later.
Several great albums were released on November 12, including Yes’s Fragile in 1971 and Genesis’s Nursery Cryme in the same year.
From The Monkees to Genesis, November 12 is a day to remember in rock history. Check back tomorrow for more music news!
