October 17 is an important day for two rock legends: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Let’s take a look at what they celebrate today and other key moments in rock history.
Cultural Milestones
Several major events in rock music happened on this day that changed the scene forever:
1957: Elvis Presley’s movie, Jailhouse Rock, premiered in Memphis, Tennessee. It hit theaters nationwide on November 8 and grossed over $4 million.
1961: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who had attended the same primary school, met again by chance at Dartford Railway Station in England. Jagger was holding albums, and Richards had his guitar. They bonded over their love for American blues and country music, leading to the formation of The Rolling Stones a year later.
1962: The Beatles made their first U.K. television appearance on Granada Television’s show, People and Places. They performed “Love Me Do” and “Some Other Guy.”
Notable Recordings and Performances
October 17 also marks the release of some legendary albums:
1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd released their fifth studio album, Street Survivors. Tragically, just three days later, a plane crash took the lives of several people, including three band members.
1980: Dire Straits released their third album, Making Movies, which went Platinum in the U.S. thanks to hits like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Tunnel of Love.”
1980: Bruce Springsteen released his fifth album, The River. It aimed to capture the sound of his live shows and sold 1.6 million copies in the U.S. by Christmas.
October 17 is a defining day in rock history, marking key moments for two of its biggest names. Check back tomorrow for more rock music events and updates!
