Today in rock history: On this date in 1970, forefathers of British heavy metal Black Sabbath performed two shows at Asbury Park, New Jersey's Sunshine In. Sabbath performed two shows that night and were supported by two opening acts; hard rock bands Cactus and local band, Steel Mill. Tickets for each of the shows cost $5 and, those who arrived early enough to catch Steel Mill saw a future star in the making since the group featured a guitarist by the name of Bruce Springsteen.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1969, The Rolling Stones played the first of two shows that saw the band play for nearly 60,000 fans and gross over $100,000 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Performances from these legendary shows were recorded and released as the band’s fantastic live album, “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!” which was released the following year. The shows featured Ike and Tina Turner as the opening act, and the tour was the first to feature guitarist Mick Taylor, who’d joined the band after founding member Brian Jones passed away in June of 1969.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1971, rocker Alice Cooper released his fourth album, Killer. Cooper's band made little chart impact with its first two albums but scored a hit on its third LP (Love it to Death, released earlier in 1971) when “I’m Eighteen” became a rock anthem. Killer followed in the footsteps of its predecessor and continued Cooper's steady climb to rock stardom. The record’s striking cover featured a close up of just a snake, caught the attention of record buyers and young fans who identified with Cooper and his shocking stage performances, and featured the hits “Under My Wheels” and “Be My Lover." Killer peaked at No. 21 on album sales charts and is still hailed as one of Cooper’s best and most consistent works. By the following year, the band would release its breakthrough album, School’s Out, on the way to becoming one of the most popular rock and roll bands in the world.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1961, one of the finest country music vocalists of all time, Patsy Cline, scored the biggest of her many hit singles that crossed over to pop sales charts. “Crazy” topped out at No. 9 on Billboard’s pop singles chart (it peaked at No. 2 on the country chart), and Cline would score many more hits before her untimely death in 1963, but the tune is regularly regarded as her greatest and most memorable hit. The song was written by an up-and-coming songwriter who wasn’t having much luck making a name for himself as a performer at the time. In time, the world would come to know the fine songwriter and singer by the name of Willie Nelson.
