This Day in Rock History: January 30
On Jan. 30, 1969, the Beatles performed an impromptu concert on the rooftop of the Apple Corp building in London. Who knew this would be the band’s final live performance?…
On Jan. 30, 1969, the Beatles performed an impromptu concert on the rooftop of the Apple Corp building in London. Who knew this would be the band's final live performance? Many remarkable events have happened on this day in rock history. Want to learn more about key things that happened in past Jan. 30ths in rock music history?
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Jan. 30 has been an important day for rock music, with these breakthrough hits and milestone leaving their mark:
- 1961: The Shirelles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their song "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" This marked the first time a Black female group made it to No. 1 on the Billboard, demonstrating a shift in the rock music industry.
- 1982: The Hall & Oates' song "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" reached the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their fourth song to go to No. 1 on the US charts. The song was part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees' tenth studio album, Private Eyes, with the title track also going to No. 1.
Cultural Milestones
The culture of rock music had some major shifts thanks to these events that happened on Jan. 30:
- 1951: Phil Collins, an English singer, drummer, songwriter, and actor, was born in Chiswick, Middlesex. He was the drummer and percussionist for the band Genesis from 1970 to 1975 and was first heard on the album Nursery Cryme.
- 1972: Bloody Sunday, an event where British troops killed 13 Catholics marching for civil rights happened this day. This event inspired Paul McCartney to write and record his protest song "Give Ireland Back To The Irish" within 48 hours. The band Wings performed the song, but it was controversial and banned or given little air time in many places. Additionally, the event also inspired the classic U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which has become one of the legendary band's most played songs in their performing history.
- 1982: Blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins passed away at age 69. His style and compositions influenced countless other blues and rock artists, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, and he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Did you know Jan. 30 was when some great recordings and performances in rock music took place, including:
- 1956: Elvis Presley had a pivotal recording session at the RCA Victor Studios in New York City. He recorded several tracks that would later be included on his debut album, including the iconic "Blue Suede Shoes."
- 1969: At the Beatles' rooftop concert, ecstatic fans rushed to hear the famous group play for 42 minutes. They performed new material, including songs like "Get Back," “Don't Let Me Down,” “I've Got A Feeling,” “The One After 909,” and “Dig A Pony.”
- 1973: After a name change and looking to reinvent themselves, KISS performed for the first time at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York, in front of an audience of less than 10 people.
Industry Changes and Challenges
If you've ever wondered how rock music has gotten where it is today, then the changes and challenges of Jan. 30 that helped shape the industry might interest you:
- 1988: Making it to No. 1 with their song "Need You Tonight," INXS, an Australian rock band, made a significant stride in their music career. They went on to earn five MTV Video Music Awards for the song, demonstrating the influence the TV network had over the rock music industry.
While the Beatles' final performance steals the day's headlines, many other important things happened in the rock world on Jan. 30. Tune in tomorrow to discover all major events from that day in rock history.
