Sept. 30 is a significant day in rock history. It marks the birth of a legend and the release of many notable albums and singles. Keep reading to discover important events that occurred in the rock world on this day.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Two iconic albums made it to No. 1 on the charts on this day. They are:
- 1989: Tina Turner’s album, Foreign Affair, entered the UK charts directly at No. 1. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s seventh solo studio work also made it to the top of the charts in many other countries, including Sweden, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, and Belgium, but was less successful across the Atlantic, only peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and No. 12 on the Canadian chart.
- 2007: Foo Fighters made it to the top spot of the UK album charts with their sixth studio album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. It was also certified Platinum in both the US and the UK.
Cultural Milestones
Aside from the music itself, the stories surrounding rock are entertaining. These impactful moments happened on Sept. 30 in years past:
- 1947: T. Rex frontman and guitarist Marc Bolan was born in Hackney, London, England. He played a huge part in defining what we now consider to be a classic rock star look and attitude before dying in a car accident at the age of just 29.
- 1967: BBC Radio 1 was launched in the U.K. It had a massive impact on the rise of rock music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, providing ample airtime for new bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath.
- 1988: John Lennon posthumously received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame eight years after his untimely death. He was the first of the four Beatles to receive a star, and the audience spontaneously sang “Give Peace a Chance” while his widow, Yoko Ono, was unveiling it.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Lots of great albums were first introduced to the public on this day. They include:
- 1982: Bruce Springsteen released his sixth studio album, Nebraska, via Columbia Records. It was completely different from The Boss’ earlier work, featuring a minimalistic folk sound and recorded without his usual musical partners, The E Street Band.
- 1985: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble released their third studio album, Soul to Soul, via Epic Records. Although it wasn’t a major commercial success, the album received mostly positive critical reviews and cemented Vaughan’s reputation as one of the greatest blues-rock guitarists of all time.
- 1997: Bob Dylan released his 30th studio album, Time Out of Mind, through Columbia Records. Many fans and critics viewed it as his return to the sound and style that made him such an iconic figure after a couple of relatively disappointing decades.
- 2002: The Rolling Stones released the double compilation album Forty Licks. It was a commercial success, selling over 7 million copies worldwide, and the subsequent Licks Tour led to the release of the Live Licks album in 2004.
These are some of the most important events that happened in the world of rock on Sept. 30. Be sure to come back tomorrow to discover all the notable events that took place on that day in rock history.
