July 12, 1954
A 19-year-old Elvis Presley officially resigns from his day job at the Crown Electric Company. He signs a recording contract with Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis, alongside a management deal with guitarist Scotty Moore.
1979:
In one of the most chaotic anti-pop-culture backlashes in history, a promotional event at Chicago’s Comiskey Park went completely off the rails. Organized by rock DJ Steve Dahl, fans were invited to bring disco records to the ballpark to be blown up on the field between games of a baseball doubleheader.
Over 50,000 people showed up (far exceeding capacity). When the crate of disco records was detonated, it ripped a massive hole in the outfield grass. Thousands of rowdy fans rushed the field, tearing down batting cages, lighting fires, and refusing to leave. The riot grew so intense that the Chicago White Sox were forced to completely forfeit the second baseball game to the Detroit Tigers.
1962:
The Rolling Stones step on stage for the first time at London's Marquee Jazz Club. The historic lineup for the night features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart on keys, Dick Taylor on bass, and Mick Avory (later of The Kinks) on drums. Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman wouldn't join the ranks until a few months later.
July 13, 1985: Live Aid
1969:
When Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (fresh out of Cream) teamed up with Steve Winwood (Traffic) and Ric Grech (Family), they formed rock's first heavily publicized "supergroup." Bling Faith. Their massive US tour kicked off at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.
Their debut album hadn't even been released yet. The audience expected a blistering, high-energy Cream-style blues-rock show, but the band played a short, largely unfamiliar, and surprisingly subdued set on a revolving stage that kept breaking down. The tour was plagued by crowd riots and inner-band tension, and they broke up just a few weeks after the tour ended, having existed for less than a year.
July 18, 1966:
Just six months after his band's smash hit "I Fought the Law" hits the airwaves, 23-year-old Bobby Fuller is found dead inside his car parked outside his Hollywood apartment. While initially ruled a suicide, the bizarre presence of gasoline in his car and lungs sparks decades of speculation regarding foul play and mob ties.
1978:
A young, unpolished five-piece band from Sheffield, England,Def Leppard plays their very first public show at Westfield School in Sheffield. They are paid roughly £5 by a teacher to perform, playing a set to an audience of about 50 teenagers.
1968:
While working at Abbey Road Studios, The Beatles were actively trying to record the loudest, rawest, and dirtiest track they possibly could to outdo bands like The Who and Blue Cheer. On this night, they recorded three foundational takes of "Helter Skelter".
Take 3 lasted an astonishing 27 minutes and 11 seconds. It wasn't the fast, driving version we know from the White Album, but a slow, heavy, hypnotic, and punishingly loud blues-rock jam. The tape was eventually edited and completely re-recorded at a faster tempo two months later.
1972:
At the height of their fame and internal instability, all six members of Sly and the Family Stone were arrested by Hollywood police. Acting on a tip, officers searched the band’s massive touring motorhome and uncovered two pounds of marijuana and vials of cocaine.
The lineup was already completely fracturing—bassist Larry Graham had just been fired after a literal, violent physical fallout with Sly's inner circle. While the charges were ultimately dropped due to a judge ruling there was insufficient evidence to tie the drugs to any specific individual inside the vehicle.
