This Day in Rock History: February 13
If you’re curious about what happened on this day in rock music history, you’re in the right place. From the rock and roll ban in Cuba and the birth of…
If you're curious about what happened on this day in rock music history, you're in the right place. From the rock and roll ban in Cuba and the birth of Michael Jackson's first child, to big-name bands releasing hit songs and chart-topping albums, you'll find it all right here. Feb. 13 has seen breakthrough hits, milestones, cultural shifts, notable recordings, important performances, industry changes, and challenges.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Are you familiar with these Feb. 13 rock music hits and milestones?
- 1967: The Beatles released their double-sided single featuring the songs "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane." "Penny Lane" was their first single to not reach No. 1 in Britain, although it topped the chart in the U.S.
- 1970: On Friday the 13th, Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled album, which the band recorded in the U.K. in a single 12-hour session. It was released in June in the U.S. and made it to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot LPs chart.
Cultural Milestones
There were shifts in the rock music landscape, with cultural milestones that happened on Feb. 13.
- 1950: Peter Gabriel was born in Chobham, England. He was the original frontman for Genesis and then launched a solo career after leaving the band in 1975.
- 1957: The Cuban minister of communications, under the dictator Fulgencio Batista, banned rock and roll music from Cuban television and radio. Due to mass citizen complaints, the ban was lifted with the agreement that some degrading dance steps would be removed.
- 1961: Black Flag and Rollins Band frontman, Henry Rollins, was born in Washington, D.C. After getting into the music business working as a roadie for local D.C. bands, he joined Black Flag in 1981 and then embarked on a solo career from 1986, following Black Flag's disbandment.
- 1997: Michael Jackson's first child, a son named Prince, was born to Jackson's second wife, Debbie Rowe.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Like them or not, these notable recordings and performances from Feb. 13 have left their mark on rock music:
- 1969: Bob Dylan recorded multiple versions of "Lay, Lady, Lay" at the Columbia Records Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The song peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and was covered by many other artists throughout the years, most notably The Byrds and Duran Duran.
- 1978: Dire Straits began recording their self-titled first album. The double-platinum album featured "Sultans of Swing," one of the band's most recognizable songs.
- 1987: Metallica played the final set on their Damage Inc. tour in Gothenburg, Sweden. Although the tour was a breakthrough in the industry, it was also tragic. Cliff Burton, their bassist, died in a bus accident.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The following Feb. 13 moments have had a big impact on the rock music genre:
- 1960: Frank Sinatra launched his own record label, called Reprise Records, after leaving Capitol Records. He started by signing Rat Pack buddies Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, but also signed many legendary rock acts like Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young before eventually selling it to Warner Bros.
- 1974: David Bowie turned down an offer from the Gay Liberation group to compose a gay national anthem. He said he was gay in a 1972 interview, but later claimed to be a closet heterosexual — he was married twice, with two children.
- 2001: Peter Frampton, the guitar player known for using a talk box to blend his voice with the sound of his guitar, received the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is considered the Oscar of the guitar industry.
Without these historic rock hits, memorable moments, cultural events, major performances, and changes and challenges, your favorite music genre wouldn't be what it is. Yesterday's Feb. 13 helped shape the rock music of today.
