Today in rock history: On this date in 1974, the self-titled debut from Kiss was released. Featuring songs dating back to the band's former incarnation (Wicked Lester), the album was recorded quickly and on the cheap; it also barely cracked the Top 100 on Billboard's pop albums chart. The band’s rising fame, however, eventually led to the album (home to hits like "Cold Gin," "Strutter" and "Firehouse") to eventually sell a million copies. Kiss plays Tampa’s Amalie Arena on April 11.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1965, The Kinks’ "Tired of Waiting For You” sat at No. 1 on British sale’s charts. Chief songwriter Ray Davies said that the music for The Kinks’ second chart-topper was written on his train ride to the recording studio before the song was recorded; the lyrics were penned during a break in the session. The song ended up on the band's 1965 sophomore release, Kinda Kinks.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1977, British punk band The Damned released Damned Damned Damned ushered in the undeniable arrival of a new sound and a new wave of U.K. punk groups. Featuring 12, revved up, short and sharp songs that closed in at just over 30 minutes, the Nick Lowe-produced debut album set the standard for the onslaught of exciting music that would rise out of the punk explosion. Instead of the political messages some of their contemporaries engaged in, The Damned used humor and rock and roll firepower to ignite this fantastic record that is home to essential Damned songs like "Neat Neat Neat," "Stab Your Back," and "New Rose" (the latter of which holds the distinction of being the first officially released single of the punk movement when it was unleashed in October 1976).
Today in rock history: On this date in 1978, Sham 69 released Tell Us the Truth. The debut — which featured a live concert on one side and studio recordings of Sham 69’s vibrant, super-charged delivery (plus the sound of energetic singer Jimmy Pursey) on the other — came as the British punk rock explosion raged through the U.K., and it is representative of the tumultuous time from which it was spawned. The group’s football chant-style backing vocals and angry political songs attracted violent types to their shows which featured ragged punk anthems like "Borstal Breakout," "Rip Off" and the debut LP’s title track.
This article appears in Feb 14-21, 2019.