Today in rock history: on this date in 1974, Bob Dylan released his fourteenth studio album, Planet Waves. With the assistance of his former backing group, The Band, Dylan created more of a laid back, roots rock record that received plenty of lukewarm reviews in the music press. Critics felt that it was an improvement over the last record the artist had released, 1973’s Dylan (which was no more than a compilation of outtakes released without Bob’s consent). Planet Waves is significant though in that it became the very first Bob Dylan album to ever reach No. 1 on Billboard’s pop albums chart. The album is best remembered for its inclusion of “Forever Young,” a song which many feel is one of Bob’s most enduring and timeless songs. Front cover artwork for the album was created by Dylan himself as were the liner notes which appeared in Bob’s own handwriting.

Today in rock history: on this date in 1992, Kerplunk, the final album East Bay, California punk rock group Green Day would release on independent label Lookout! Records was released on CD and cassette. Although the album had been released on vinyl only a month before this release, the formats that were better sellers at the time were CDs and tapes. Those who opted to buy the album in those forms were treated to extra material as the four songs from one of the band’s earlier EPs, Sweet Children were also tacked on. The record was an incredible success despite it being released through a small independent label. In the band’s home area, the record sold nearly 10,000 copies alone and nationwide sales topped 50,000 copies sold. Major labels caught wind of the trio from California’s bay area and started to court them with enticing recording contracts. Green Day would soon sign with Reprise Records and would release Dookie in 1994. The band's major label debut made Green Day international superstars. One of the strongest tracks on Dookie, “Welcome to Paradise” actually appeared first on Kerplunk although it was re-recorded for its Reprise debut. See photos from the band's 2016 show in Tampa by clicking here.

GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018
The Roots, Father John Misty, Spoon, Break Science and more all headed to Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park

Today in rock history: on this date in 1995, gigantic hip-hop group The Roots released its major label debut album, Do You Want More?!!!??!. Coming two years after its self-released debut Organix, the band was signed to Geffen Records and released this groundbreaking album which is now almost unanimously considered one of the very best hip-hop albums of all time. Positively welcomed by critics and fans, the album features Roots classics like "Distortion to Static” and "Silent Treatment" and was later awarded with a Gold sales award marking more than 500,000 copies sold in the U.S. alone. The Roots have been booked as headliners for the 2018 Gasparilla Music Festival in downtown Tampa. Read more about that here.

Today in rock history: on this date in 1995, Siouxsie and the Banshees released its final album, The Rapture. After starting out during Britain’s mid-70s punk rock explosion and reinventing itself as a purveyor of gothic rock, world music and experimental sounds, the band decided to call it quits after this lush, excellently produced record. Scoring high marks with the British rock press, Rapture surprised many writers with the direction Siouxsie Sioux and company decided to take on this record. Produced by former Velvet Underground member and musical experimenter John Cale, sweeping string sections and elegant arrangements dominated this swan song for one of Britain’s most influential bands. Singles “O Baby” and “Stargazer” charted well in England as did the album. Siouxsie, undoubtedly one of the most influential and inspiring females of the era, focused more on her side band The Creatures after this release and created a handful of interesting albums with them that combined electronica with world music as well as a superb solo album in 2007. She has been relatively absent from music since then.