Today in rock history: on this date in 1981, young Sheffield, England hard rock band Def Leppard released its second album, High 'n' Dry. After a moderately successful debut album, it was the band's second album that got it noticed. Featuring the popular hit singles "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" and "Let It Go," the band benefited from airplay on the brand new music video channel MTV and were offered a much-coveted opening slot on Ozzy Osbourne's world tour, which exposed the band to a huge audience it would have no other way to reach. It wouldn't be until its next album, 1983's Pyromania that Def Leppard would become bona fide superstars, but it was High 'n' Dry that started it all.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1971, while on a massive American tour, UK rock band Humble Pie makes a stop at the Sunshine Inn located in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Opening the show is a struggling local musician by the name of Bruce Springsteen. Pie guitarist Peter Frampton is floored by the opener and offers to let him open for the band on the rest of its tour. He sweetens the deal and also offers to talk to execs at the band's record label, A&M Records, to suggest they think about signing the young musician to a recording contract. For some odd reason, Bruce's then manager declines both offers and it would be several years before he'd receive a recording contract of his own.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1969, David Bowie's classic hit single "Space Oddity" was originally released in England. The song was put out to coincide with the Apollo moon landing that year but didn't catch on right away; it wouldn't be until much later that year that the song would become a hit in the U.K. In the U.S., the song wouldn't receive airplay and become popular until it was re-released in 1973.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1975, British band Fleetwood Mac released its tenth album. The self-titled album is significant in that, after many years as a blues-based outfit and lineup changes, this is the first release to feature the lineup that would lead the band to the greatest success it would ever experience. At the request of drummer Mick Fleetwood, a brand new lead guitarist, Lindsey Buckingham was added to the lineup along with his then girlfriend, Stevie Nicks. Both were accomplished singers and songwriters as well and their addition to the band would prove vital to the it's popularity. The album climbed to the very top of the charts and spawned three massive hit singles "Over My Head," "Say You Love Me" and "Rhiannon." This was the first in the new era of Fleetwood Mac and it would set the stage for its next release in 1977, the record-breaking smash, Rumors.
This article appears in Jul 6-13, 2017.