A trove of memorable events occurred during this week in rock history. A pioneering British hard rock band placed their first hit on the U.S. singles chart, the Rolling Stones lost a long-standing member, and David Bowie made his last public appearance. Read on for a look back at other significant moments that shaped rock and roll during this historically eventful week.

Events

1961 – The Beach Boys release “Surfin,” their first single, on the tiny label Candix Records.

1968 – Graham Nash quits The Hollies. The formation of Crosby, Stills and Nash is announced just a few days later.

1969 – Led Zeppelin appear on the U.S. singles chart for the first time, with “Whole Lotta Love.”

1970 – The Rolling Stones film documentary, Gimme Shelter, opens in New York City.

1971 – Sly and the Family Stone’s “Family Affair” begins a three-week run atop the U.S. singles chart.

1972 – The Moody Blues’ Seventh Sojourn album begins a five-week run atop the U.S. album chart.

1973 – The legendary punk/New Wave club CBGB opens in Manhattan.

1974 – Carl Douglass’s “Kung Fu Fighting” tops the U.S. singles chart.

1980 – Led Zeppelin formally announce the band will not continue, in the wake of drummer John Bonham’s death.

1980 – U2 stage their first concert in the U.S., performing at The Ritz in New York City.

1988 – Roy Orbison performs his last concert, staging a show in Cleveland, Ohio. Two days after the performance he dies from heart failure.

1992 – Bassist Bill Wyman quits the Rolling Stones, ending his 30-year-plus run with the band.

1993 – During the making of a video for Travis Tritt’s cover of “Take It Easy,” the Eagles decide to reunite and tour.

1995 – The Grateful Dead announce their breakup, four months after the death of Jerry Garcia.

2007 – Led Zeppelin reunites for a one-off performance at the 02 Arena in London. Jason Bonham handles the drums in place of his late father, John Bonham.

2015 – Carole King is recognized for her lifetime contributions to the arts at the Kennedy Center Honors.

2015 – David Bowie attends the opening night of the Lazarus production at the New York Theatre Workshop in Manhattan. It is to be his last public appearance.

2016 – Bob Dylan accepts the Nobel Prize for Literature.

 

Releases

1964 – The Beatles: Beatles for Sale

1965 – The Byrds: Turn! Turn! Turn!

1965 – Rolling Stones: December’s Children (And Everybody’s)

1965 – The Beatles: Rubber Soul

1966 – Buffalo Springfield: Buffalo Springfield

1966 – Cream: Fresh Cream

1967 – Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request

1967 – Traffic: Mr. Fantasy

1968 – Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet

1968 – James Taylor: James Taylor

1969 – Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed

1970 – Wishbone Ash: Wishbone Ash

1970 – Credence Clearwater Revival: Pendulum

1973 – Paul McCartney and Wings: Band on the Run

1973 – Yes: Tales from Topographic Oceans

1974 – George Harrison: Dark Horse

1974 – Yes: Relayer

1975 – Bob Marley & the Wailers: Live!

1976 – Wings: Wings Over America

1976 – Eagles: Hotel California

1977 – Jackson Browne: Running on Empty

1977 – Al Green: The Belle Album

1981 – Black Flag: Damaged

1986 – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Good Music

1987 -- Alison Krauss: Too Late to Cry

1987 – Foreigner: Inside Information

1994 – Pearl Jam: Vitalogy

1994 – Bush: Sixteen Stone

2001 – No Doubt: Rock Steady

2003 – The Offspring: Splinter

2011 – The Black Keys: El Camino

 

Deaths

Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) – Dec. 6, 1949

Otis Redding – Dec. 10, 1967

Gary Thain (Uriah Heep) – Dec. 8, 1975

Tommy Bolin – Dec. 4, 1976

John Lennon – Dec. 8, 1980

Marty Robbins – Dec. 8, 1982

Roy Orbison – Dec. 6, 1988

Frank Zappa – Dec. 4, 1993

Doug Hopkins (Gin Blossoms) – Dec. 4, 1993

Faron Young – Dec. 10, 1996

Rick Danko (The Band) – Dec. 10, 1999

Dimebag Darrell – Dec. 8, 2004

Dennis Yost (Classics IV) – Dec. 7, 2008

Hubert Sumlin – Dec. 4, 2011

Dobie Gray – Dec. 6, 2011

Dave Brubeck – Dec. 5, 2012

Greg Lake – Dec. 7, 2016

 

Births

Ira Gershwin – Dec. 6, 1896

Sammy Davis, Jr. – Dec. 8, 1925

Little Richard – Dec. 5, 1932

Junior Wells – Dec. 9, 1934

J.J. Cale – Dec. 5, 1938

Jerry Butler – Dec. 8, 1939

Bob Mosley (Moby Grape) – Dec. 4, 1942

Harry Chapin – Dec. 7, 1942

Mike Smith (The Dave Clark Five) – Dec. 6, 1943

Jim Morrison – Dec. 8, 1943

Chris Hillman – Dec. 4, 1944

Dennis Wilson – Dec. 4, 1944

Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper) – Dec. 9, 1946

Jim Messina – Dec. 5, 1947

Gregg Allman – Dec. 8, 1947

Southside Johnny – Dec. 4, 1948

Tom Waits – Dec. 7, 1949

Dan Hartman – Dec. 8, 1950

Gary Rossington – Dec. 4, 1951

Randy Rhoads – Dec. 6, 1956

Peter Buck – Dec. 6, 1956

Phil Collen (Def Leppard) – Dec. 8, 1956

Johnny Rzeznik – Dec. 5, 1965

Sinead O’Connor – Dec. 8, 1966

Jakob Dylan – Dec. 9, 1969

Sara Bareilles – Dec. 7, 1979