This Day in Rock History: March 26
Over the years, March 26 has played a vital role in shaping rock music, with several influential song releases, memorable milestones, notable performances, and significant events occurring on this day….
Over the years, March 26 has played a vital role in shaping rock music, with several influential song releases, memorable milestones, notable performances, and significant events occurring on this day. Continue reading to learn more about this day in rock history and test your knowledge.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Momentous rock hits and milestones from March 26 include:
- 1977: "Rich Girl" by Hall & Oates debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for three weeks. This was the band's first No. 1 single, but it wouldn't be their last.
- 1983: Duran Duran's "Is There Something I Should Know?" debuted at the top of the U.K. singles chart. It was the band's eighth single but their first No. 1 hit in the U.K.
- 1994: Soundgarden's fourth studio album, Superunknown, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It sold over 2.5 million copies that year, partly due to the success of singles like "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun."
Cultural Milestones
These significant cultural milestones on March 26 changed the landscape of rock music:
- 1944: The "Queen of Motown," Diana Ross, was born in Detroit, Michigan. She started her career in the 1960s as the lead singer of The Supremes, which later earned her a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and went on to have a highly successful career as a solo performer.
- 1948: Lead singer and frontman for Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, was born in New York City. He formed the band in 1970, but it wouldn't really take off until 1973 when they released their self-titled debut album.
- 1971: The Rolling Stones' iconic lips and tongue logo appeared on VIP passes for the first time at the group's Marquee Club performance in London. The logo was designed by John Pasche and quickly became synonymous with the band.
- 1975: The movie adaptation of The Who's concept album Tommy premiered in London. It starred Who frontman Roger Daltrey, Tina Turner, and Elton John, among others, and was a box-office hit, earning over $25 million in the US alone.
- 1986: Guns N' Roses signed their first major label deal, with Geffen Records. Despite their band's reputation as volatile and dangerous, Geffen's Tom Zutaut took a chance on them, and they thoroughly delivered, selling over 100 million records so far.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Noteworthy rock music recordings and performances from March 26 include:
- 1957: On this day, 16-year-old Ricky Nelson recorded his first songs for the Verve label. "A Teenager's Romance" and a cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'" became top 10 hits.
- 1965: During a Rolling Stones concert in Denmark, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, and Brian Jones got a nasty surprise when they were shocked by faulty microphones. Wyman was knocked unconscious for several minutes.
Industry Changes and Challenges
From the loss of influential musicians to shifts in sound and technology, the rock music industry has seen its share of changes and challenges on March 26:
- 1987: Nike began airing a TV commercial featuring The Beatles' song "Revolution," marking the first time an original Beatles song was used in an ad. It prompted a historic lawsuit by surviving group members that paved the way for popular music to be used in commercial advertising.
- 2002: Just a month after his 56th birthday, Joe Schermie died from a heart attack. He was the original bass player for Three Dog Night and played with the band from 1968 to 1973.
These are just a few of the historic moments in rock from March 26. If you enjoyed learning new facts about your favorite music genre, be sure to keep coming back for more rock history.
