This Day in Rock History: March 28
On March 28, 1964, Madame Tussauds in London unveiled wax sculptures of The Beatles. They were the first rock band to be honored in the museum. As The Beatles’ image…
On March 28, 1964, Madame Tussauds in London unveiled wax sculptures of The Beatles. They were the first rock band to be honored in the museum. As The Beatles' image changed over the years, so did the wax figures, which received several updates in the '60s. Continue reading if you want more trivia from this day in rock history. You'll find many interesting facts about breakthrough hits, cultural milestones, notable performances, industry changes, and more.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
You may be familiar with these remarkable hits and achievements from legendary rock musicians:
- 1970: Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart. It was the duo's only chart-topping hit in the U.K.
- 1981: Blondie made history when "Rapture" climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first song with rap vocals to top the chart.
Cultural Milestones
Events with cultural significance from March 28 that influenced the rock music genre include:
- 1971: The Ed Sullivan Show, which helped launch the careers of many early rock and roll musicians, aired for the final time. For 23 years, Ed Sullivan hosted the variety program, one of the highest-rated variety shows on television.
- 1996: Phil Collins announced he was leaving Genesis to pursue a solo career. Although he rejoined the band several times in the 2000s, he succeeded as a solo musician, even winning an Academy Award for "You'll Be In My Heart."
Notable Recordings and Performances
Every rock fan should know about these notable recordings and performances from March 28:
- 1958: Eddie Cochran recorded the classic hit "Summertime Blues" at Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Despite only peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, it became one of the most iconic teenage anthems of all time.
- 1967: Van Morrison recorded his most famous song, "Brown Eyed Girl," at A&R Studios in New York City. It took 22 takes to get it just right, and the song was released two months later, in June.
- 1973: Led Zeppelin released their fifth studio album, Houses of the Holy, via Atlantic Records. It was their first album that only included original material and was a slight departure from the band's blues-based sound, incorporating reggae and funk influences.
- 1973: The Doobie Brothers released the single "Long Train Runnin'", part of their third studio album, The Captain and Me. It peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was covered many times throughout the years, most notably by the British group Bananarama.
- 2005: In San Diego, California, U2 started their Vertigo Tour at the iPayOne Center, where they played for nearly 30,000 fans. Ticket sales for the worldwide show reached more than 4.6 million, and it was the top-grossing tour of the year.
- 2005: Queen began their first tour with guest vocalist Paul Rodgers at the Brixton Academy in London, England. It was the start of Queen's collaboration with the former Free and Bad Company frontman, which also led to The Cosmos Rocks studio album.
- 2018: George Ezra topped the U.K. Albums Chart with his second studio album, Staying at Tamara's. It was the nation's best-selling album of the year and reached the top 10 in several other countries.
Industry Changes and Challenges
These changes and challenges from March 28 left their mark on the rock industry:
- 1984: Despite having an all-time best-selling album in 1977, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. His debts significantly outweighed his assets, and he was forced to give up his Malibu home and rights to the band.
These are some of the facts from March 28 that helped shape the genre.
