This Week In Rock History

1955—Bill Haley's ”RockAround The Clock” reaches #1 on the charts, the first rock and roll record to do so, ushering in the rock music era.

1956—American Bandstand debuts on ABC, hosted by Dick Clark. Clark would remain the host until 1989, a record thirty-three years.

1957—Paul McCartney met John Lennon for the first time when Lennon's band, The Quarrymen, were playing at a church social. In the church
basement between sets, 15 year-old McCartney teaches a 16 year-old Lennon to play and sing Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock" and Gene Vincent's "Be-Bop-A-Lula". Lennon would later say that he was impressed with McCartney's ability to tune a guitar.

1967—The Monkees begin their first tour. The opening act, Jimi Hendrix, is dismissed after eight shows, his music not finding an audience with the teeny-bopper audience. Most of his performances are drowned out by crowds
screaming “We want Davy!”

1968—The Yardbirds finish up their final tour. Guitarist Jimmy Page decides to try to keep the band going by recruiting a whole new backing band. Page attempts to christen the new band The New Yardbirds, but
is rebuked by the new drummer, John Bonham, who says the name will “...go over like a lead zeppelin.”

1969—Rolling Stones guitarist, Brian Jones. who was kicked out of the band just three weeks previously, is found dead in his swimming pool. The official cause of
death is listed as “death by misadventure.”

1971—Doors singer Jim Morison passes away from drug-related heart failure while on sabbatical in Paris, France. His death would not be made public until after his burial on July 9^th

1995—The Grateful Dead give their final performance at Chicago's Soldier Field.