Rock history has seen some important moments on this day. From Billboard hits to musicians protecting their art, July 11 has helped shape and influence the rock music blasting through the speakers today.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Let’s start with the songs that kept fans turning up the volume and climbing the charts during this week in history:
- 1987: Heart’s cover of i-Ten’s “Alone” reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It stayed there for three consecutive weeks and was the second biggest-selling hit of the year.
- 1988: “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” by Def Leppard, was standing strong on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was holding onto its No. 3 spot on the chart, just behind “Mercedes Boy” by Pebbles and “The Flame” by Cheap Trick.
- 1999: Pearl Jam stayed strong on the Billboard Hot 100 list as their single “Last Kiss” maintained its No. 3 spot on the chart. It had spent eight weeks on the chart thus far and had already reached its peak of No. 2 on the chart.
Cultural Milestones
Beyond the music, July 11 also delivered cultural milestones that shaped how we listen to and value rock music:
- 1959: Bon Jovi’s classic-era lead guitarist, Richie Sambora, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He joined the band in 1983 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other Bon Jovi bandmates in 2018.
- 1974: The Grateful Dead had two albums go Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). One of the albums, American Beauty, would later go on to become Double Platinum.
- 1975: Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled tenth studio album, and first with Lindsey Buckingham as a lead guitarist and Stevie Nicks as a vocalist, via Reprise Records. It peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified 9x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 9 million copies in the US alone.
- 1990: Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler was fired from the band due to his work being severely impacted by substance abuse. He was replaced by The Cult’s former drummer, Matt Sorum.
- 2000: Lars Ulrich of Metallica testified in the Metallica vs. Napster court case. He was among the key witnesses to testify in this case about the free sharing of music happening on Napster, which included songs that had yet to be officially released being distributed.
Notable Recordings and Performances
July 11 also saw The Rolling Stones finally end their album drought, while all the way in Scotland, several big rock stars performed at the fun-filled T in the Park Festival:
- 1969: David Bowie released the iconic “Space Oddity” single in the UK through Philips and Mercury Records. It was the opening track from his self-titled second album and was rush-released to capitalize on the Apollo 11 Moon landing, which took place five days later.
- 1994: The Rolling Stones released their studio album, Voodoo Lounge. This was the band’s 22nd studio album and ended their five-year gap between album releases.
- 2004: The T in the Park Festival was on its second (and final) day. Performers on this day included Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, and the Pixies.
Industry Changes and Challenges
But not all the headlines were celebratory. The industry also faced hard losses and shifting tides that reminded us of rock’s ever-changing landscape:
- 2011: American musician, songwriter, and lead singer/bassist of The Grass Roots, Rob Grill, passed away in Mount Dora, FL. He died from injuries sustained after a fall the previous month that resulted in a head injury.
- 2014: The Ramones lost a legend on this day in 2014. Tommy Ramone, the former drummer turned producer, passed away in hospice care after a battle with bile duct cancer.
July 11 in rock history shows just how much can happen in a short span, from roaring hits and legal firsts to final goodbyes. These stories reflect the resilience, evolution, and enduring power of rock music. And as the stage lights dim on one era, another always rises, keeping the spirit alive.
Dan Teodorescu
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