This Day in Rock History: March 3
No matter what you’re rocking out to today, March 3 of yesteryear likely shaped the direction of your favorite songs and the artists you love. From big hits and top-selling…
No matter what you're rocking out to today, March 3 of yesteryear likely shaped the direction of your favorite songs and the artists you love. From big hits and top-selling albums to award-winning singles and interesting twists, many things have happened in rock music on March 3.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These breakthrough hits and milestones occurred on March 3, inspiring a new generation of rock:
- 1972: Elton John released "Rocket Man," which originally had a longer title. The song is considered one of Elton John's most iconic, next to "Candle in the Wind."
- 1973: Glam rockers Slade got their fourth UK No. 1 single when "Cum On Feel The Noize" debuted on top of the charts. The song also reached the top spot in several other European countries and was made famous across the Atlantic 10 years later, when Quiet Riot covered it.
- 1979: The Bee Gees also got their fourth UK No. 1 single, with "Tragedy." The 1997 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees also topped the US charts a few weeks later.
- 1981: U2 kicked off its first major U.S. tour, which included 60 dates at clubs nationwide.
Cultural Milestones
March 3 was the day these cultural milestones made their impact on rock music:
- 1966: The band Buffalo Springfield was formed in Los Angeles by Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin, and Bruce Palmer. They made their live debut at The Troubadour in Hollywood a month later.
- 1989: Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video debuted on MTV. It was seen as highly controversial, causing major backlash at the time.
- 2017: Nickelback's studio album All the Right Reasons was certified diamond in the U.S. for achieving 10 million units sold. This is a rare accomplishment for a Canadian band.
Notable Recordings and Performances
You may recall a few of these notable recordings and performances in rock history from March 3:
- 1978: Van Halen embarked on its world tour and opened for Journey at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois. The tour included 174 shows and took just over 10 months.
- 1986: Metallica released Master of Puppets, its third studio album. This was the band's first gold record and the first of its genre to be preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Your favorite songs might not sound the same if the rock music industry hadn't faced these changes and challenges:
- 1967: Although he was an unknown name at the time, Rod Stewart performed as a vocalist with the Jeff Beck Group during their first tour in London. The tour didn't go well, and the band was asked to stop performing.
- 1980: The famous Sotheby's auction house held its first auction dedicated to rock memorabilia. A big draw to the event was a set of four dollar bills signed by the Beatles — they sold for $528.
- 2012: Rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 64. A toxicology report showed he had a blood alcohol content nearly four times California's legal limit.
Throughout rock music history, March 3 has helped the industry get where it is today. These are just a few interesting facts from this day in rock history that will get you thinking about your favorite music genre on a deeper level.
