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Today in rock history: On this date in 1979, tragedy struck at a Riverfront Coliseum concert by The Who in Cincinnati, Ohio. A late soundcheck made folks think that the show had begun, and a massive push from the back of the long line ensued. To compound matters, only one of three entrances initially opened before two others, which forced thousands of fans (14,000 out of 18,000 of the tickets were GA) into one entrance point. The crush killed 11 fans, and the band was not made aware of the incident until after the show.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1965, record buyers were treated to the release of two of the most important albums in British music history. The Who's debut album, My Generation, which put the band at the center of the Mod movement in England, was released in the U.K. The album featured Who classics like “A Legal Matter,” “The Kids Are Alright” and, of course, the title track which instantly became a rock and roll anthem — an American release, complete with new artwork, came the following spring. On the same date, Rubber Soul, the pop masterpiece by the Beatles, was released before reaching No. 1 spot on album sales charts in both the U.K and U.S.. Unforgettable, classic songs found on the group's sixth album include “Michelle,” “In My Life” and “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)."
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1966, The Monkees performed their first full live concert for a sold-out crowd of 8,000 at the Honolulu International Center Arena in Honolulu. Already popular thanks to its weekly sitcom and hit records, the band proved it was a real-life pop group and not just actors portraying one for television.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1968, television audiences were treated to a special presentation simply titled, Elvis. Elvis Presley's career had fallen off throughout the mid-1960s after the the British Invasion and a string of unsuccessful films led to Presley's popularity taking a nosedive. Arriving during a touring and No. 1 single drought for Presley, the one man television special was supposed to remind audiences of Presley's still thriving, raw talent. The show was a massive success. It clocked in as '68's highest-rated TV special and is often referred to as the "'68 Comeback Special." Clad in all-black leather, Elvis played stripped-back, impromptu segments alongside a small band, and the set has been referred to as inspiration for the "unplugged" format that would become popular in later years. It also catapulted Elvis back into the limelight and brought him more hit singles and successful concert tours, too.
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 6, 2018.