Today in rock history: on this date in 1957, the weekly episode of the popular television variety show The Ed Sullivan Show debuted two brand new artists. Host Ed Sullivan welcomed Buddy Holly and the Crickets who performed their hits “That’ll Be The Day” and “Peggy Sue” and legendary R&B singer Sam Cooke who sang his classic “You Send Me” as well as “For Sentimental Reasons.”
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Today in rock history; AC/DC salutes those about to rock
Today in rock history: on this date in 1975, up and coming Australian hard rock band AC/DC released T.N.T, its second album in its homeland and its second album of the year, following its debut High Voltage, which came out in February of ’75. T.N.T was the first of the band’s albums to adopt the recognizable riff-based hard rock sound the group would soon become known for. The record featured the singles “It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)," “High Voltage” and of course the title track which would soon become one of the band’s best known and most popular songs. The record would peak at No. 2 on Australian sales charts and, within a few years, the band’s success would spread to Europe and America after its albums that had already been massive hits in Australia were be released in those regions. R.I.P. Malcolm Young.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1978, The Doobie Brothers released the album that would wind up being the most successful of its career, the multi-platinum selling Minute By Minute. Although it was the band’s eighth album overall, it was the first to bring the group international success thanks to the popularity of its lead single, “What A Fool Believes,” which was a massive hit in America on both pop and R&B charts and a mainstay on Top 40 radio. The single and the album earned the group four Grammy awards and the album also enjoyed a total of six weeks at the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s pop albums chart.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1976, the Sex Pistols caused shock and horror in their native England. While being interviewed live by television host Bill Grundy, the band, although baited by the host to “say something outrageous” responded; guitarist Steve Jones broke into a barrage of expletives and four-letter words that sent Britain into complete and utter outrage. Television viewers jammed network and television studio phone lines with calls to complain of the offensive display and the backlash against the band began, resulting in concert appearances being cancelled by venues, records being banned from being played on the BBC and a conservative protest being launched against the band. The negative press worked to the band’s advantage in terms of record sales which skyrocketed in the wake of the band being labeled as purveyors of filth.
