On January 30th, 1969, The Beatles went right to the top. Top of the building and put on a historic 45 min concert, which would be their last ever. But what a concert.
Who Had The Idea to Play on the Roof?
The Beatles first choice wasn’t the rooftop in the beginning. Ideas ranged from an amphitheater to a cruise ship; the rooftop concept is often credited to Ringo Starr after a lunchtime discussion.
It was designed to be an “honest” live performance, free from studio polish, aiming to restore band unity and provide a climax for their film Let It Be. Despite reluctance from some members, John Lennon famously said, “Let’s do it,” breaking the tension.
The Cold Concert
A bitter 45 degrees and a crisp, windy Winter day in London. John wore Yoko Ono’s fur coat, Ringo wore his wife’s red raincoat. Paul McCartney dressed up in a suit, and George Harrison had on a long black fur coat
The Rooftop was the Apple Corps headquarters rooftop in London.
The four Beatles and Billy Preston arrived on the roof at around 12:30 pm.[When they began to play, there was confusion nearby among members of the public, many of whom were on their lunch break.
News of the event spread, and crowds began to congregate in the streets and on the flat rooftops of nearby buildings. Most responded positively to the concert, but the Metropolitan Police grew concerned about noise and traffic issues.
Key Details of the Rooftop Concert:
Location: 3 Savile Row, London (Apple Corps rooftop).
Songs Performed: Multiple takes of “Get Back,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “One After 909,” and “Dig a Pony”.
The Crowd: Surprised commuters and office workers on the street below.
The Police: Officers arrived to stop the performance due to noise complaints.
The event marked the end of the band’s live performances and featured in the 1970 film Let It Be and the 2021 docuseries The Beatles: Get Back.
Rooftop Concert Spoofed By The Rutles
The Rutles were a British parody band created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes from Monty Python fame. In the 1970s, to satirize the career of The Beatles. Featured in the 1978 mockumentary film All You Need Is Cash, they portrayed four musicians—Ron Nasty (Innes), Dirk McQuickly (Idle), Stig O’Hara (Ricky Fataar), and Barry Wom (John Halsey)—who mirrored the Beatles’ rise to fame. George Harrison even does a cameo in the movie.
Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, “Chit!.” Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.
Today’s rundown of the most important rock-related events throughout history features The Beatles right, left, and center. It was also a big day for Aretha Franklin and Led Zeppelin’s most underrated member. Keep reading to discover all the major events that happened on Jan. 3 in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Today’s milestones and breakthrough hits category is all about The Beatles:
1963: The Beatles started their first tour of the year, a five-day trek through Scotland to support the release of their latest single at the time, “Love Me Do.” They were billed as the “Love Me Do” Boys, and the shows were a major milestone in the band’s history, as they exploded in popularity in Scotland before the global rise of Beatlemania.
1964: A year later, The Beatles hit another milestone with their first-ever appearance on a U.S. TV show. It was “The Jack Paar Program,” and it featured a BBC clip from“The Mersey Sound” showing the band play “She Loves You.”
1970: Fast-forward six years, and The Beatles scored another important moment in history as they recorded the song “I Me Mine,” their final new song recording. It happened at Abbey Road Studios and only included George, who wrote the song, Paul, and Ringo, as John was on vacation at the time.
Cultural Milestones
Jan. 3 is also a big day for rock culture. These are the most important events we celebrate today:
1926: Legendary producer George Martin, the man behind The Beatles’ unique sound, was born in Coleshill, Oxfordshire, England. He’s often referred to as “the fifth Beatle,” and he’s responsible for 31 No. 1 singles in the U.K. and 23 in the U.S.
1946: Led Zeppelin bass player and keyboardist John Paul Jones was born in Sidcup, Kent, England. He formed the band alongside Jimmy Page in the late 1960s, and he’s widely considered to be one of the best and most influential bassists of all time.
1987: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She was inducted by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, and her brother Cecil accepted the induction on her behalf.
From a young band from Liverpool struggling to gain traction to the Queen of Soul getting her accolades, Jan. 3 was a pretty busy day for music fans. Visit this page again tomorrow to find out what happened on that day in rock history.
New Year’s Day was pretty busy for rock stars and their fans throughout history. From the Beatles’ famously failing an audition before making it big to Nirvana signing their first record deal, Jan. 1 is an important date in rock. We hope you enjoy going through all the major events that happened on this day in rock history, and we wish all of you a happy New Year!
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some of the day’s most notable career milestones and breakthrough moments include:
1966: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent two weeks. The song’s original acoustic version had been released two years prior, but the re-release that reached the top of the charts also featured drums and electric guitar.
1967: The Doors made their live TV debut on a musical show called Shebang, which aired in the Los Angeles area. They showcased their debut single, “Break on Through (To the Other Side).”
Cultural Milestones
Jan. 1 is also an important date for rock culture. Some of the most memorable events that happened today are:
1962: The Beatles were famously rejected after auditioning for Decca Records, an event that’s widely considered one of the biggest mistakes in music history. They signed with EMI’s Parlophone label a few months later, and the rest is history.
1988: Nirvana signed their first major record deal, with Seattle’s Sub Pop Records. This led to the release of their first album, Bleach, in 1989, and their eventual rise to superstardom
Notable Recordings and Performances
New Year’s Eve is also the anniversary of a few legendary rock performances. Some of them are:
1959: Johny Cash played a free concert at California’s San Quentin Prison. This was the first in a series of prison performances for the artist, culminating with 1968’s At Folsom Prison live album and 1969’s At San Quentin live album.
1977: The Clash headlined the opening night at London’s famous Roxy Club. It was the first dedicated punk venue in the UK, playing a major role in the rise of local punk acts and DJs.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Jan. 1 was also a big day for the music industry in general. Two of the biggest events that happened today are:
1964: Top of the Pops aired for the first time on the BBC. It eventually became the longest-running music show in history, ending its run in 2006.
1968: Billboard announced that albums were outselling singles in the US for the first time. This led to a more album-oriented era for rock acts, which included many so-called concept albums, in which all the songs are connected through a central theme.
From a record executive saying no to what would become the biggest band in music history to another seeing Nirvana’s potential to shake up the industry, these are the most important rock-related events from the first day of the year. Come back tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
On the last day of the year, several iconic rock bands made their live debuts, and the most successful band of all time officially broke up. Here are the unforgettable rock history events associated with Dec. 31.
Notable Recordings and Performances
A surprising number of famous bands performed live for the first time on Dec. 31, and two of the debuts took place in the same year:
1961: The Beach Boys made their live debut at the “Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance” in Long Beach, California. They played three songs, and it was also their first paid show.
1969: Jimi Hendrix performed with his new group, Band of Gypsys, for the first time, alongside drummer Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox. The show was at New York City’s Fillmore East, and introduced R&B and funk elements to Hendrix’s classic sound.
1973: AC/DC played their first-ever live show at Chequers in Sydney, Australia. The band formed in November of that year, and during their first performance, they mostly played covers of songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Chuck Berry.
1973: On the very same day and on the other side of the world, Journey performed live for the first time at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. They were a progressive instrumental rock band at the time and adopted their classic sound four years later, in 1977, when Steve Perry joined.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Dec. 31 marks the birth of a famous musician and the breakup of a legendary group:
1963: Anthrax co-founder and rhythm guitarist Scott Ian was born in New York City. Ian formed Anthrax with bassist Dan Lilker in 1981, and the band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
1970: Paul McCartney officially filed to dissolve The Beatles, marking the end of the most successful band in music history. They started to break up over a year earlier. Lennon privately left the band in September 1969, and McCartney announced his departure in April 1970.
These are the most noteworthy rock music events that took place on the final day of the year. Visit this page again tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
Dec. 29 is a significant day for rock and music in general. On this day, Elvis made U.S. chart history, Jimi Hendrix introduced himself to British audiences, and The Beatles began recording one of their most iconic songs. Keep reading to learn more about these epic moments and other major events that happened on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These legendary names in music history experienced major career breakthrough moments on Dec. 29:
1956: Elvis Presley made chart history by having 10 songs on Billboard’s Top 100 chart, the modern Hot 100’s precursor. While this feat has been exceeded, he did it before streaming services were available and when artists released fewer songs, making it a unique achievement.
1966: The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their live debut on U.K. television by performing on the BBC’s Top of the Pops. They performed “Hey Joe,” achieving a major step toward later chart success.
Cultural Milestones
A few important names for rock fans were born on this day, including:
1941: Moody Blues singer and founding member, Ray Thomas, was born in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, England. He also played flute and harmonica, generating the iconic flute solo on “Nights in White Satin.”
1965: The Offspring co-founder and frontman, Dexter Holland, was born in Garden Grove, California. The band released their first album in 1989 and have sold over 45 million records worldwide.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some recording highlights from Dec. 29 include:
1966: The Beatles started recording “Penny Lane” at EMI Studios, now called Abbey Road Studios. The initial work was performed by Paul McCartney, who recorded piano and percussion parts and was inspired by The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds album, which had come out earlier that year.
1998: Evanescence released their debut self-titled EP, featuring seven songs written and performed by founders Amy Lee and Ben Moody. They made 100 copies and sold them to friends, family, and early live performance attendees.
Dec. 29 witnessed many incredible moments in the rock world, from Elvis dominating the charts to a little-known band releasing a demo EP on their way to becoming a multiplatinum band. These significant events earned this day its place in history. Visit us tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
The Beatles have been labeled as one of the most influential bands of all time. And if you watch movies like Danny Boyle’s Yesterday, that point is made clear in a messy way. This article is not about Yesterday, I promise. It’s about Across the Universe.
The 2007 film from Julie Taymor uses the music of the Beatles to tell the story of Jude (Jim Sturgess). He moves to America, meets Max (Joe Anderson) and his sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) and the rest is a magical mystery tour of a film. But not everyone is a “fan” of the movie musical.
Recently, a video of Max being drafted into the Vietnam war has been making the rounds on social media. Using the song “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by the band, it is weird and scary and beautiful all rolled into one. While many are watching the scene and interested in the film, many are using the viral moment to share their thoughts on Across the Universe.
One fan wrote “People will tell you this movie is bad. They are lying.” And it is the truth! Yes, people don’t like the film for valid reasons but it is a beautiful and original jukebox movie musical and I think that’s important to celebrate. Especially when Taymor and company did an incredible job weaving in the songs and lore of the band in with the film.
Using Sadie? Brilliant! Prudence’s cover of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” is one of my favorite things in this movie! So much of what makes it special is how the film highlights the musicality and storytelling within a song by the Beatles and so if people try to tell you to “not” watch Across the Universe, don’t listen to them.
Rachel Leishman (She/Her) is the Editor in Chief of the Mary Sue. She’s been a writer professionally since 2016 but was always obsessed with movies and television and writing about them growing up. A lover of Spider-Man and Wanda Maximoff’s biggest defender, she has interests in all things nerdy and a cat named Benjamin Wyatt the cat. If you want to talk classic rock music or all things Harrison Ford, she’s your girl but her interests span far and wide. Yes, she knows she looks like Florence Pugh. She has multiple podcasts, normally has opinions on any bit of pop culture, and can tell you can actors entire filmography off the top of her head. Her current obsession is Glen Powell’s dog, Brisket.
Her work at the Mary Sue often includes Star Wars, Marvel, DC, movie reviews, and interviews.
The Beatles aren’t just a band. They’re seriously the blueprint, the original pop-culture icons, the musical group that reshaped everything from radio playlists to hearts. When John, Paul, George and Ringo stepped into the world, guitars in hand, they didn’t just make music. They made history.
Their songs still feel like magic spells. “Hey Jude” is so comforting. “Let It Be” is emotional. “Here Comes the Sun” can fix a bad mood in moments.
To say the Beatles are legendary is a total understatement. They showed the world that pop could be high art, that rock could absolutely have feelings, and that four witty musicians from Liverpool could rewrite the entire global playlist. There is so much to the Beatles and their story, and that story continues to be told in a beautiful way.
Decades later, their influence is still basically everywhere. Their harmonies float through movies, cafés, playlists and late-night car rides. Their melodies stick in your head like the catchiest little love notes. And their legacy keeps nudging new dreamers to pick up guitars, write something honest and chase music like it’s destiny.
The Beatles Back on the Charts
Now, the Beatles are back on the Billboard charts with to Anthology 4, their latest piece of the Anthology series of reissues. Anthology 4 offers 36 songs, including 13 previously unreleased demos, session recordings and other bonuses. It debuted in the top 10 on five Billboard charts.
Anthology 4 was released alone and also as part of The Anthology Collection box set, and both debuted at No. 48 on the Billboard 200 chart. The Collection includes the first three Anthology releases.
Also, The Anthology Collection dropped goes along with the Disney+ debut of the restored and remastered version of the Anthology documentary series, which aired on ABC back in 1995. The new version features even more Beatles fun, going from eight to nine episodes. A 25th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology book also arrived in October.
So, as the years go by, the Beatles continue to make waves and top the charts. Because the Beatles didn’t just change music. They changed everything.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
On this day in rock history, iconic names such as The Beatles and Elvis Presley achieved major milestones, and a couple of memorable albums were released. Keep reading to discover all the notable rock music events that took place on Nov. 28.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Two of the biggest hits in music history topped the U.S. Billboard 100 chart on this day, 32 years apart:
1960: Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent six consecutive weeks. It was Presley’s third No. 1 hit of the year and 15th overall.
1992: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Whitney Houston went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her cover of Dolly Parton’s song, “I Will Always Love You.” It spent 14 weeks at the top, which was a record at the time.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Nov. 28 is also the anniversary of some era-defining recordings and live performances, including:
1967: The Beatles recorded their fifth fan club Christmas album, Christmas Time Is Here Again! It was only released in the U.K. and featured the song “Christmas Time (Is Here Again),” one of the few Beatles recordings written by all four members.
1971: Rory Gallagher released his second studio album, Deuce, through Polydor Records in the U.K. and Atco Records in the U.S. Despite not making much of an impact at the time of its release, the album gained traction over the years and is now seen as a highly influential blues-rock record.
1974: John Lennon made a surprise guest appearance during an Elton John concert at Madison Square Garden. Lennon performed “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” and “I Saw Her Standing There,” and it was one of the last times he appeared on stage.
From Elvis Presley to John Lennon, the fanbases of many legendary artists have something to celebrate on Nov. 28. Make sure to return tomorrow and check out what happened on that day in rock history.
Nov. 26 has been an eventful day in rock history, when legendary names such as The Beatles, Cream, and Led Zeppelin achieved major milestones. Keep reading to discover all the noteworthy rock music events that happened on this day.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
On Nov. 26, a new punk rock anthem was released, and heavy metal fully broke into the mainstream. These are the main milestones and breakthrough moments from this day:
1976: The Sex Pistols dropped their debut single, “Anarchy in the U.K.,” through Electric and Musical Industries Records. This release was seen as a pivotal moment in punk rock history. The song was later included on the band’s sole album, Never Mind the B******s, Here’s the Sex Pistols.
1983: Quiet Riot’s third studio album, Metal Health, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and replaced The Police’s Synchronicity. This was the first-ever heavy metal album to top the charts, and it paved the way for many other metal acts.
Cultural Milestones
Two iconic figures in rock history share a birthday on Nov. 26:
1939: Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Tina Turner was born in Brownsville, Tennessee. She became famous in the 1960s as part of the duo Ike and Tina Turner and had a successful solo career that earned her 12 GRAMMY Awards and many other accolades.
1945: British bass guitarist John McVie was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England. He began his music career as a member of John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers and then joined Fleetwood Mac in 1967.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some memorable performances and recordings took place on Nov. 26, such as:
1962: The Beatles recorded the songs “Please Please Me” and “Ask Me Why” at London’s EMI Recording Studios, now called Abbey Road Studios. The resulting single, with “Please Please Me” on the A-side and “Ask Me Why” on the B-side, reached No. 1 on the New Musical Express singles chart, giving the band a taste of chart-topping success.
1968: Cream played their final concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was the last show of their farewell tour, which included 22 stops across the U.S. and two final shows in London.
1982: Led Zeppelin released their ninth and final studio album, Coda, which is also their first compilation album. It includes eight tracks from various recording sessions throughout the band’s 12-year history and was praised by critics and the general public. The album has been certified Platinum in the U.S.
From the birth of punk rock to Led Zeppelin’s final release, these are the most important rock music events associated with Nov. 26. Visit this website tomorrow to find out what happened on that day in rock history.
On this day in rock history, the Jimi Hendrix Experience made their U.K. debut, The Band performed for the last time, and The Beatles’ The White Album was released in the U.S. Keep reading to learn more about the major rock music events that took place on Nov. 25.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These are some of the most memorable milestones in rock history from Nov. 25:
1966: The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their official live debut in the U.K. at the Bag O’Nails Club in London. Many of the biggest names in music at the time, including Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, and some members of The Beatles, attended the show.
1976: The Band played their final concert, which was turned into a documentary film called The Last Waltz, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The show featured guest appearances by many legendary artists, such as Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison.
Cultural Milestones
A couple of notable musicians were born on Nov. 25, including:
1940: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Percy Sledge was born in Leighton, Alabama. Sledge shot to stardom in the 1960s and 1970s with a string of soulful hits. His most successful one was 1966’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
1964: Singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan was born in Ellensburg, Washington. He was the lead singer of pioneering grunge band Screaming Trees and also released 12 influential solo albums.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Concerts and albums are rock music’s two main ingredients. These unforgettable performances and album releases are associated with Nov. 25:
1968: The Beatles’ self-titled ninth album, commonly known as The White Album, was released in the U.S., just three days after its U.K. launch. It spent 215 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold over 12 million copies in the U.S. alone.
1997: The original members of The Zombies reunited for a one-off performance for the first time in 30 years at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town, London. The band promoted their greatest hits box set, titled Zombie Heaven, and played only their two biggest songs: “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season.”
Nov. 25 has been an eventful day in rock history, with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Beatles taking center stage. Visit this page again tomorrow to discover all the noteworthy events that happened on that day in rock history.
Nov. 22 is marked by several famous album releases, with two of them from The Beatles. It’s also a sad day for INXS fans, as they commemorate the loss of their charismatic frontman. Keep reading to discover all the major events that took place on this day in rock history.
Cultural Milestones
Nov. 22 is the day the world lost Michael Hutchence and also when one of the most iconic bands of all time attempted to reunite. Here are the big cultural events from this day:
1997: INXS singer and songwriter Michael Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room, aged just 37. The band got their big break in 1984 with the song “Original Sin” and went on to record several international hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
2002: Former Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger announced they were putting the band back together for an album and world tour, with Ian Astbury of The Cult filling in for Jim Morrison and Stewart Copeland of The Police replacing John Densmore on drums, who couldn’t participate due to health reasons. They were involved in various legal issues over the use of the name but continued the project until Manzarek’s death in 2013.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some of the most notable recordings and performances from Nov. 22 include the following:
1963: The Beatles released their second studio album, With the Beatles, via Parlophone Records. It included eight Lennon-McCartney collaborations and “Don’t Bother Me”, George Harrison’s first Beatles composition.
1968: Five years later to the day, the Beatles released their self-titled album, commonly referred to as The White Album. It’s widely seen as one of the most popular and influential albums of all time and is certified as 24x Platinum in the U.S.
1986: Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band, Double Trouble, embarked on a 207-show tour that lasted two years. The first show was in Towson, Maryland, with the tour concluding in New York City on Dec. 31, 1988.
1994: Pearl Jam released their third studio album, Vitalogy, via Epic Records. It was considered more experimental than their previous work, eventually reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.
From tragic moments to triumphant album releases, Nov. 22 is a memorable day for both rock fans and artists. Visit us again tomorrow to discover more memorable moments in rock history.
On this day in rock history, John Lennon had a No. 1 single on the U.S. charts, and The Animals recorded one of their most iconic tracks. Keep reading to discover all the major rock-related events that happened on Nov. 16.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some iconic names enjoyed career-defining moments on Nov. 16:
1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s third and final studio album, Electric Ladyland, reached the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Top LP chart, where it spent two weeks. It was the band’s only No. 1 album and went on to achieve 2x Platinum status.
1974: John Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You thru the Night” hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was Lennon’s only U.S. No. 1 song during his lifetime and featured Elton John on backing vocals, piano, and organ.
1985: Starship’s “We Built This City” reached the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 while also topping the Mainstream Rock chart. Part of their debut 1985 album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, it also ranked well in other countries, including Canada and Australia.
1996: Anthology 3 by The Beatles hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This compilation album included rare and alternative tracks recorded during the band’s final two years and was later certified 3x Platinum in the U.S.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Nov. 16 is also the anniversary of a few notable singles and albums:
1964: The Animals recorded their version of Nina Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” It was included on their Animal Tracks album and was released as a single in early 1965.
1973: The Kinks released their 12th studio album, Preservation Act 1, through RCA Records. It included the singles “One of the Survivors,” “Sitting in the Midday Sun,” and “Sweet Lady Genevieve” and was well-received by critics.
Nov. 16 will always be a day to remember for fans of many legendary rock acts, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. Come back tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
This day in rock history sees huge names celebrating major career moments, including Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, and Santana. Keep reading to discover the great moments in rock that took place on Nov. 13.
These are the main rock-related events from Nov. 13, from big nights out to big comebacks and plenty of big names grabbing the headlines. Visit this page again tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
Trying to choose “the most memorable moment in RFK Stadium history,” since it opened in 1961, is as fruitless as trying to choose the best meal ever. WTOP is breaking it down into more manageable chunks.
Trying to choose “the most memorable moment in RFK Stadium history,” since it opened in 1961, is as fruitless as trying to choose the best meal ever.
Rather than an attempt an impossibly subjective task, WTOP is breaking down some of the memories into four more manageable groups, and talking about those memorable events with people who remember them well.
So, without further ado …
Memorable moments on the football field
The first sporting event at what was then D.C. Stadium was Oct. 1, 1961, when Washington’s Burgundy and Gold took on the New York Giants. Washington lost, 24-21 in front of a crowd of 36,767, including President John F. Kennedy.
This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker. In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.
Relive RFK Stadium’s greatest moments, from the gridiron to Beatlemania
Frank Herzog was the play-by-play voice for Washington’s radio broadcasts from 1979 through 2004, teaming with Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff.
“RFK had an atmosphere that was it’s own,” Herzog told WTOP. “The tradition was rich, and it was just a very special place to be.”
Asked for his most vivid memories, Herzog barely hesitated: “Darrell Green, Darryl Grant and the seat cushion game.”
In the fourth quarter of the 1987 NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings, with the winner going to the Super Bowl, Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson threw a pass in the left flat.
“Darrell Green dove in front of the receiver, knocked the ball away, and bang, Washington was in the Super Bowl,” said Herzog. “I recall Joe Gibbs on his knees in prayer.”
Another memorable moment for Herzog was the 1982 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“Late in the game, Dexter Manley slaps a pass away from the quarterback, and it falls into the hands of Darryl Grant at the 3-yard line, and he rolls into the end zone for the game winning score,” said Herzog.
This was Grant’s only career touchdown.
“The place went nuts,” said Herzog. “On that play, I was afraid that our radio booth was going to fall to the ground, the stadium shook so hard.”
Grant’s interception and return for a touchdown propelled Washington to Super Bowl XVII, where they defeated the Miami Dolphins.
And then there was the seat cushion game.
On Jan. 4, 1992, during the NFC Divisional Playoff against the Atlanta Falcons, fans had been given gold seat cushions as promotional giveaways.
“Their coach had made some comments about the team and about the fans,” said Herzog.
With about six minutes left in the game, Gerald Riggs scored a 1-yard touchdown to extend Washington’s lead to 23-7.
“When it looked like (the team) had it wrapped up, suddenly the seat cushions flew out of the stands. And as the first ones flew out, there came a flood. It was like a shower, it was unbelievable, and it was delightful.”
Herzog said he hopes the team’s owners will place a chunk of RFK’s foundation somewhere within the new stadium, “In hopes that some of that atmosphere and the ghost of the old RFK will spill over.”
With YouTube and other digital platforms, many memorable moments at RFK can be replayed on demand. But for a lot of people, who witnessed Joe Theismann’s career-ending injury on Monday Night Football, once was enough.
On Nov. 18, 1985, during a game with the New York Giants, Washington tried a flea-flicker play, with John Riggins tossing the ball back to Theismann, to set up a deep pass.
Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor’s horrified reaction after slamming Theismann to the ground made it clear this wasn’t a typical sack.
Theismann suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg. It ended his NFL career at age 36.
President George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch at D.C.’s RFK Stadium on April 14, 2005. The game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks was the first regular-season baseball game in the nation’s capital in 34 years. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
‘Before there were soccer moms’ and baseball’s return to D.C.
Given D.C. Stadium’s multisport, or cookie cutter design, what eventually became RFK Stadium was made for sports other than football.
The Washington Senators 2.0 played from 1962 through 1971, more than a half-century after baseball writer and humorist Charles Dryden famously wrote in 1904, “Washington — first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League.”
Even with slugger Frank Howard, and manager Ted Williams, after the 1971 season the franchise moved to Arlington, Texas, and became the Texas Rangers.
Thirty-three years later, after decades without the nation’s capital having a team playing the national pastime, the Montreal Expos relocated to D.C. in April 2005, and became the Washington Nationals — this time playing in the National League.
For three years, as a new stadium was being built, the Nats called RFK Stadium home. President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the April 14, 2005, game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Soccer got several big boosts at RFK.
“We didn’t have soccer moms, minivans weren’t invented yet,” remembers Dave Johnson, longtime WTOP sports director, and the voice of D.C. United since the club’s inaugural season in 1996.
“It was 1975, and Pele was coming to Washington to play the hometown Washington Diplomats at RFK Stadium,” said Johnson. When Pele and the New York Cosmos played in D.C., it was the largest crowd ever at the time for the original North American Soccer League.
“And pregame, Pele’s at the White House with President Gerald Ford at the time, and he’s juggling the ball,” on his feet and head as Ford watched in appreciation, Johnson said. “This game that we barely knew about, suddenly it was part of the White House.”
A quarter-century later, women’s soccer became a phenomenon.
“April 2001, RFK Stadium was the launching pad for the first professional women’s soccer league in the world, when Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom played the first-ever game in the league,” said Johnson. “Mia Hamm, from Lake Braddock High School in Fairfax, Virginia, the best player in the world, making history in her hometown.”
In 2002, the parking lots and roads near RFK were converted into a 1.66 mile street race circuit for the American Le Mans Series. Despite plans for a 10-year contract, it was the only year the Grand Prix was held at RFK, because of noise complaints.
The British pop group, The Beatles, are seen holding a news conference at the District of Columbia stadium in Washington before their concert on Aug. 15, 1966. Pictured, from left to right, are: Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges)
The second and final time The Beatles played in Washington
With far less hoopla than when The Beatles played their first U.S. concert on Feb. 11, 1964 at the Washington Coliseum, the Fab Four played one of their final concerts in Washington, at what was still called D.C. Stadium.
“It was Monday, Aug. 15, of 1966,” said Russ Lease, Beatles historian and CEO of BeatleSuits.com. “In the ’66 tour’ they did 14 cities, and D.C. was the fourth stop.”
The “Revolver” album had just come out, but The Beatles didn’t play any songs from the groundbreaking album during the tour. “The music had gotten a little more complicated, with more sound effects, and would have been more difficult to reproduce on stage, so they went with the basic 12-song rock ‘n’ roll set,” said Lease.
Did fans who bought tickets realize this would be The Beatles’ last tour?
“No, nobody knew that this was going to be their last one,” said Lease. “And I’m not even sure that they had definitely made up their mind.”
The Beatles arrived at National Airport in the early afternoon, and headed toward the Shoreham hotel, where they had stayed during their first visit, said Lease.
“On the way to the Shoreham, right after getting off the plane, they actually stopped by the White House,” Lease said. A member of the promoter’s staff got out of the car “and asked if they could get a White House tour, and they were immediately told no, because nothing was set up in advance,” said Lease.
After relaxing at the hotel, the band held a news conference at RFK Stadium in the Senators locker room. Many of the questions were directed at John Lennon, who had recently made his “The Beatles are more popular than Jesus,” remark.
“John was trying to deflect it, and was saying that it was taken out of context,” said Lease. When asked to comment on a report that said his comment had been a publicity stunt, Lennon scoffed: “Well, that is one of the most stupid versions of it. That wasn’t a publicity stunt at all. We don’t need bad publicity.”
While The Beatles fielded questions about Lennon’s quote, “Outside the stadium that night, the Maryland chapter of the KKK had a three-member demonstration,” said Lease.
Two weeks after playing at RFK, The Beatles final concert was Aug. 29, 1966, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
‘It was crazy:’ Odd happenings at RFK
The largest mass wedding in U.S. history was held at RFK Stadium. On Nov. 29, 1997, Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church married approximately 7,000 couples in a combination of arranged marriages and reaffirmations of vows.
On the other end of the spectrum, RFK Stadium played a role in the largest mass arrest in U.S. history. During 1971, May Day protests against the Vietnam War resulted in more than 12,000 arrests over the course of three days, starting on May 3.
With jails and court cells filled, hundreds were bused and trucked to RFK Stadium, where a makeshift outdoor detention facility was established.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class suit, seeking to expunge the arrest records, saying that the Nixon administration, anticipating civil disobedience deployed thousands of police and military personnel, who arrested not only protesters, but bystanders.
According to the ACLU, only 79 people were convicted.
After presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was killed on June 5, 1968, there was a groundswell of support to rename D.C. Stadium in his honor. However, after President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection, those close to the then-president said he wanted D.C. Stadium to be named for RFK as he left office.
Days before Richard Nixon was sworn in, since D.C. Stadium was on National Park Service land, Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, a JFK appointee, signed-off on renaming D.C. Stadium as Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, without LBJ’s knowledge.
A few years before the final regularly scheduled event at RFK — the Oct. 22, 2017 regular season soccer match between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, and the series of “Goodbye RFK” events in 2022 and 2023, one of the strangest images ever seen at RFK was captured.
In this July 4, 2015 file photo, The Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl performs with a cast at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Nick Wass/Invision/AP, File)
Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform at RFK on July 4, 2015, as part of the band’s 20th anniversary celebration, but that concert was thrown into jeopardy when singer/guitarist Dave Grohl was injured.
“He fell off the stage somewhere in Europe and broke his leg.,” said Seth Hurwitz, whose I.M.P. Productions was the promoter of the show.
Hurwitz tells WTOP that shortly after learning of the severity of Grohl’s injury, “He was in the hospital when I texted him, and he said, ‘We’re playing the gig.’”
Foo Fighters canceled several shows on the tour, yet every time he texted, Grohl, who grew up in Springfield, Virginia, assured Hurwitz the show would go on.
“It’s his hometown. I guess he told his people, ‘I was to do this show, so make it so,’” Hurwitz said.
While Hurwitz was impressed by Grohl’s determination, it wasn’t clear how the former drummer of Nirvana would be able to play guitar and sing with a broken leg.
“I’d heard that they were building him this throne,” said Hurwitz. “I went to the sound check the day before, and there it was — it was crazy.”
The following night, Grohl performed the sold-out show in a custom-built, motorized throne that he had sketched while in the hospital.
“He’s sitting in a chair, in front of 50,000 people, and he’s rocking the house,” marveled Hurwitz.
While images of Grohl on the throne have been widely shared, for the first time you can see video of the contraption Grohl and Foo Fighters decided not to use at RFK.
“He had this thing where he was going to be suspended by wires and go over the crowd,” Hurwitz said. “But he tried it out, and that was just a little too risky, so they said ‘Nah, never mind on that one.’”
Hurwitz shared video he took during the sound check, in which drummer Taylor Hawkins test-drove the device, while Grohl, lying on the stage with his leg. in a cast, enjoyed the moment.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
Oct. 6 is a bittersweet day for rock music fans — the world los two iconic musicians, but it’s also the anniversary of some iconic albums and songs. Keep reading to learn more about all the significant events that happened throughout the years on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
A couple of legendary bands and artists had milestone moments on Oct. 6:
1969: The Beatles released a double A-side single with “Something,” written by George Harrison, and “Come Together,” written by John Lennon. It was the band’s first A-side single to feature a song written by Harrison.
1982: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Madonna released her first-ever single, “Everybody.” While it failed to make a mark on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Notable Recordings and Performances
At the end of the day, it’s all about the music. Here are some iconic songs and records associated with Oct. 6:
1972: David Bowie recorded “The Jean Genie” at New York City’s RCA Studios. The song was developed during a jam session on Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust Tour and was later included on his Aladdin Sane album.
1995: Alice in Chains released their single “Grind,” which is the first track of their self-titled album. Written by the band’s lead guitarist, Jerry Cantrell, the song spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Oct. 6 is the day that two titans of the rock genre said goodbye:
2019: Ginger Baker, Cream co-founder and one of the most legendary rock drummers of all time, passed away at the age of 80. Baker is considered a pioneer mainly due to his innovative mix of rock and jazz drumming styles.
2020: A year after the death of Ginger Baker, Eddie Van Halen died at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Van Halen is considered one of the most influential guitarists of all time, as he’s credited with popularizing the finger-tapping guitar technique.
These are the most important events that took place in the rock music world on Oct. 6. Come back tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
On this day in rock history, Elvis Presley performed in front of an audience for the very first time, and one of the most talented and influential blues-rock guitarists in history was born. Keep reading to discover more about these two events and others that happened on Oct. 3 throughout the years.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The King of Rock and Roll got his first taste of the stage on Oct. 3. These are the most important breakthrough moments and milestones to happen on this day:
1945: Elvis Presley made his first public performance, competing in a youth talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo, Mississippi. He played the song “Old Shep” by Red Foley and won fifth place, earning him $5 and some fair ride tickets.
1999: Tom Jones, who was 59 at the time, became the oldest artist to reach the top spot of the U.K. album chart with new material. He was overtaken in 2009 by Dame Vera Lynn, who was 92 at the time, but then he became the oldest male singer to hold the No. 1 spot with his 2021 album “Surrounded by Time,” which was released when he was 80 years old.
Cultural Milestones
Some hugely talented rock musicians were born on Oct. 3, including:
1949: Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac’s guitarist and co-lead vocalist, was born in Palo Alto, California. He got the public’s attention as a part of the duo Buckingham Nicks in the early ’70s and became Fleetwood Mac’s lead guitarist in 1975, alongside vocalist Stevie Nicks, who was his girlfriend at the time and musical partner.
1954: Stevie Ray Vaughan, a blues-rock guitarist, was born in Dallas, Texas. He’s widely considered one of the most skilled and influential guitarists of all time.
1962: Tommy Lee, drummer for Mötley Crüe, was born in Athens, Greece. He cofounded the band in 1981, and they’ve sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some memorable shows and albums are celebrated today, including:
1968: The Beatles began recording the song “Savoy Truffle,” which was written by George Harrison. It was part of the White Album, which was released a month and a half later on Nov. 22.
1980: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band started their The River Tour at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in support of their album The River. The tour had two North American legs and a European one.
Oct. 3 is significant for rock fans, with many legends either being born or celebrating major milestones on this day. Come back tomorrow to find out what major moments took place on that day in rock history.
Sept. 28 has been a significant day for rock bands such as The Beatles and ZZ Top, and it’s also the day the world said goodbye to two legends. Keep reading to learn more about all the major events that took place on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The Beatles’ longest-running No. 1 U.S. single reached that spot on this day. These are some of the most important milestones and breakthrough moments associated with Sept. 28:
1968: The Beatles’ hit song “Hey Jude” went to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it spent nine consecutive weeks. Besides being the band’s longest run at the No. 1 position, “Hey Jude” is also one of the longest-ever No. 1 songs, at seven minutes and 10 seconds.
1972: The Temptations released one of their biggest hit songs, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” It reached the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and won three GRAMMYs.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some great rock albums were released on Sept. 28. Two of them are:
1999: ZZ Top released XXX, their 13th studio album. Its name symbolizes the band’s 30th anniversary, and it spawned two singles, “Fearless Boogie” and “36-22-36.”
2010: Soundgarden released Telephantasm, a compilation album that covered 23 years of the band’s career. The album reached Platinum status on its very first day in an unusual way, as it was included in the package for the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Sept. 28 is the day the world of music lost two giants:
1991: Jazz icon Miles Davis died at a hospital near his home in Santa Monica, California. Davis’ legendary career inspired artists of all genres, and he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
2024: Kris Kristofferson died aged 88 in Hawaii. His most famous musical work is arguably “Me and Bobby McGee,” which was covered by Janis Joplin and posthumously became her only No. 1 hit.
Sept. 28 has been an eventful day for rock bands and musicians who have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Come back tomorrow to discover the most notable events that took place on that day in rock history.
In all of time and space, the Doctor has never met the Beatles. Until now. Doctor Who took the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) to EMI Recording Studios to see the Beatles record their first album but Maestro (Jinx Monsoon) has other plans for the band.
Maestro, who longs for a world without music, sets the seeds in the 20s to ruin what music means to everyone and so when the Doctor and Ruby get to EMI Recording Studios, the Beatles are singing songs that are decidedly not the ones we know from Please Please Me. It then becomes a quest to find the being who took music away from the world and stop them before the song of nuclear winter is all that exists.
Throughout the episode, the Doctor and Ruby are trying to push back against Maestro’s determination to take music from humanity but Ruby is the only one left with a “song in her heart” and it forces Maestro to focus on Ruby and the Doctor first and foremost. But they forget that the Beatles are there and, because Ruby and the Doctor reminded the fab four what music does really mean to them, the Beatles step up when we need them most.
There are moments in “The Devil’s Chord” that reminded us, as the audience, how important the Beatles are to people. Which is, honestly, what the movie Yesterday thought it was doing but got so convoluted that it became a mess instead. And so to see Doctor Who take on the power of the Beatles and nail it, I just felt that much angrier about Yesterday.
Doctor Who did in one episode what Yesterday failed to do in an entire movie
(Disney+)
The movie Yesterday poised the question: What would happen to the world if there were no songs by the Beatles? Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is the only man who remembers them (well, seemingly the only man) and he has to share those songs with the world because we are a better place when we have them to listen to.
It is a wonderful concept but the plot of Yesterday gets so murky and then tries to sell John Lennon as a great man who gets to lives a happy little life and it just made me mad. Mainly because I do think that we are a better society when we turn to the messaging in songs by the Beatles and share our love for them and Yesterday did not really sell that idea to me.
Doctor Who poised the question of the Beatles not making those songs and then, in the end, they saved the world themselves. Maestro was up against the wall with the Doctor trying to find the hidden chord to banish them. But when the Doctor gets it wrong, Maestro believes they’ve won and traps Ruby and the Doctor in instruments.
It takes John Lennon finding the chord and joining together with Paul McCartney to finish it, ending Maestro and effectively saving the world from the nuclear winter that Maestro promised. Watching the Beatles come together and save us, in the same way that Jack’s performance of the songs were doing, made me overly emotional about my love for the band.
And that’s what I wanted Yesterday to do for me but it got so lost in its own lore that it just made Jack the most important man on the planet and it was less about the power of these songs. (Himesh Patel is innocent, you were perfect babe.)
So thank you, Doctor Who. I wish my dad was still alive to see a Scottish Doctor joining forces with the Beatles to save us all.
The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
Here on The Beatles Channel (Ch. 18), we ain’t got nothing but love for our listeners, eight days a week. That’s why we’ve created a show where your votes determine the playlist.
Welcome to “8 Songs A Week”! Each week, listeners can vote for their favorites from a list of songs by John, Paul, George, and Ringo — sometimes by the band, sometimes it’s their solo work. Every Friday, after the votes are tallied, we’ll air the top eight vote-getters from that list.
