HC's Rock Rewind: December 4 - 17

HC's Rock Rewind

A look back at the past two weeks in Rock History

by Team HC

Week of December 4 - 10

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

Week of December  11th - 17th

The middle of December is filled with holiday cheer and happenings, but that doesn't mean rock 'n' roll takes a break. From the Doors performing their final show with Jim Morrison to the births of Frank Sinatra and Billy Gibbons, this week has lots to talk about when it comes to rock history. Read on for some significant events, historic record releases as well as notable births and deaths happening from December 11 through 17. 

Events 

1960 - Aretha Franklin performs her very first concert. The show is at the Village Vanguard in New York City. 

1962 - Bob Dylan visited England for the first time. On that same trip, he plays his first show in London at the Troubadour Club. 

1966 - Jimi Hendrix, now a rising star, makes his first UK TV appearance on  Ready Steady Go. 

1969 - John Lennon performs his final live concert ever in the UK. He performs with the Plastic Ono Band at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, and it's a Christmas benefit show with UNICEF. 

1970 - The Doors perform their final  show with Jim Morrison. It's at the Warehouse in New Orleans. 

1972 - Genesis plays their debut U.S. show at Massachusetts' Brandeis University. 

1974 - Mick Taylor announces his his departure from the Rolling Stones. Ronnie Wood replaces him and stays with the Stones permanently. 

1990 -  Led Zeppelin IV  is certified Diamond,  having sold 10 million in America. 

Releases  

1964 - The Beatles: Beatles '65

1967 - The Who: The Who Sell Out

1968 - Blood, Sweat & Tears:  Blood, Sweat & Tears

1970 - John Lennon,  John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

1971 - David Bowie:  Hunky Dory

1972 - The Rolling Stones,  More Hot Rocks

1972 - Status Quo:  Piledriver

1974 - Joe Walsh:  So What

1980 - The Clash:  Sandinista!

1987 - Dinosaur Jr.:  You're Living All Over Me

2000 - Tool:  Salival  (box set) 

2008 - Fall Out Boy:  Folie à Deux

Deaths

Sam Cooke - December 11, 1964 

Big Joe Williams (blues musician) - December 17, 1982 

Ian Stewart (pianist with the Rolling Stones) - December 12, 1985 

Lynn Strait - December 11, 1998 

Rufus Thomas - December 14, 2001 

Zal Yanovsky (The Lovin' Spoonful) - December 13, 2002

Captain Beefheart - December 17, 2010 

Tommy Ruger- December 11, 2013 

Dawn Sears- December 11, 2014 

Births

Frank Sinatra - December 12, 1915 

Tom Brumley - December 11, 1935 

Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band) - December 12, 1943 

Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) - December 15, 1946 

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) - December 13, 1948 

Ted Nugent - December 13, 1948 

Cliff Williams (AC/DC) - December 14, 1949 

Paul Rodgers (Free) - December 17, 1949 

Billy Gibbons - December 16, 1950 

Robben Ford - December 16, 1951 

Bruce Kulick (Kiss) - December 12, 1953 

Mike Mesaros (The Smithereens) - December 11, 1957 

Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) - December 11, 1958 

Mike Mills (R.E.M.) - December 17, 1958 

Tom Delonge (Blink 182) - December 13, 1975 

Dan Hawkins (The Darkness) - December 12, 1976 

Amy Lee (Evanescence) - December 13, 1981   

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