It’s January 2nd and here are some reasons why this day matters in rock history:
- In 1969, authorities in New Jersey seized the entire shipment of the John Lennon and Yoko Ono album Two Virgins because the cover featured a full frontal nude photograph of the singers. It was eventually sold in record stores wrapped in brown paper.
- In 1971, the George Harrison album All Things Must Pass started a seven-week run at number one on the album chart. The achievement made George the first Beatle to score a number one solo record in America.
- In 1985, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood married his girlfriend Jo in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England. Guests included Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck.
- In 1969, during Led Zeppelin’s first North American tour, the band played the first of four nights at Los Angeles’ famed Whisky A Go-Go. They were billed as Led Zeppelin featuring Jimmy Page, formerly of the Yardbirds. The opening act was the Alice Cooper Band.
- And in 1978, Ozzy Osbourne rejoined Black Sabbath, two months after quitting the group.
And that’s what happened today in rock history.
Oh, and here’s why January 1st matters in rock history:
- In 1967, The Doors made their first live television appearance on the Los Angeles show Shebang. The band lip-synched their first single, “Break on Through.” The single would only peak at No. 126 on the chart mostly due to lack of airplay after censors took issue with the drug use implied by the lyric “she gets high,” which is repeated in the song.
- In 1989, Nirvana signed a one-year record contract with Sub Pop Records.
- In 2002, a 56-year-old Eric Clapton married 25-year-old Melia McEnery, the mother of his baby daughter. The ceremony took place at a 15th century church in Surrey, England.
- And in 1968, Billboard magazine reported that for the first time, albums had outsold singles in America, with album sales reaching over 192 million units.
And that’s what happened yesterday in rock history.
Original articles by Dave Basner at iHeartRadio