This Day in Rock History: February 18
Several big names in rock music were born on Feb. 18, affecting the course of music history. On this day in 1933, Yoko Ono, the future wife of John Lennon,…
Several big names in rock music were born on Feb. 18, affecting the course of music history. On this day in 1933, Yoko Ono, the future wife of John Lennon, was born. In 1947, Dennis DeYoung of Styx came into the world, and a year later, Keith Knudsen of The Doobie Brothers was born. Important birthdays aren't the only reason Feb. 18 is a game-changing day in rock music history. Keep reading to learn how Feb. 18 has shaped the rock music industry.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Popular rock songs that came out on Feb. 18 or were influenced by those that did include:
- 1965: With their song "Tired of Waiting for You," The Kinks reached No. 1 in the U.K. The song also reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it their highest-charting single in the country.
- 1978: Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" entered the Billboard chart. The song would be the band's only Top 10 hit single in the U.S., making it to the No. 6 spot on the chart.
Cultural Milestones
These Feb. 18 events impacted rock music culture:
- 1933: Yoko Ono, Japanese musician and John Lennon's wife, was born in Tokyo, Japan. She performed alongside her husband in the Plastic Ono Band, alongside other famous musicians like Eric Clapton, KeithMoon, and former Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
- 1953: Robbie Bachman, Bachman–Turner Overdrive bassist, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He co-founded the group alongside his brother Randy and was a member until 1979.
- 1956: Kay Starr became the first female rock and roll artist to have a No. 1 hit song with "Rock and Roll Waltz." The song stayed at No. 1 for six weeks.
- 2006: The Rolling Stones performed a free concert a week before Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. It's estimated that 1.5 million people showed up to see the performance.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Several notable recordings and performances on Feb. 18 left their mark on rock music:
- 1959: Ray Charles recorded one of his most famous songs, “What'd I Say,” at Atlantic Records Studios in New York City. Despite being over six minutes long and being initially banned from the radio due to sexually suggestive lyrics, the song eventually became an all-time hit.
- 1965: The Beatles recorded two new songs at Abbey Road Studios in London. The songs were "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by John Lennon and "Tell Me What You See" by Paul McCartney.
- 1966: The Beach Boys recorded their third No. 1 hit song in the U.S., "Good Vibrations." Brian Wilson, co-founder of the band, composed the song, and Mike Love wrote the lyrics.
- 1974: KISS released their self-titled debut album. The album barely made the Billboard Hot 100 chart but was later certified gold after selling 500,000 copies by 1977.
Industry Changes and Challenges
These Feb. 18 changes and challenges in rock music affected the entire genre:
- 1968: Pink Floyd replaced Syd Barrett with David Gilmore. Barrett attempted a solo career before eventually removing himself from the public eye.
- 1990: Making what would be his final appearance, Freddie Mercury accepted the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award on behalf of Queen. He died of AIDS-related complications a year later.
Over the years, many chart-toppers, cultural events, and significant milestones in rock music have occurred on Feb. 18. These are just a few moments that have greatly impacted this popular music genre. You can be sure this day in music history will live on with future generations.
