This Week in Rock History: Week of 08/18

🎸 This Week in Rock History (Week of August 18th) 🎸

Explore key moments in Classic Rock and from iconic 80s and 90s artists that happened during the week of August 18th:

1960s
• 1962 – Ringo Starr plays his first official gig as a member of The Beatles at the Horticultural Society Dance in Birkenhead, England.
• 1969 – The Woodstock Music & Art Fair concludes (August 15–18) in Bethel, New York. Performances during the final day include Jimi Hendrix’s iconic rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

1970s
• 1973 – The Rolling Stones’ single “Angie” is released in the U.S. It would later reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• 1977 – Elvis Presley’s funeral is held on August 18 at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Thousands of fans line the streets to pay their respects.

1980s
• 1981 – Foreigner releases their fourth studio album, 4, which includes hits like “Urgent” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You.”
• 1986 – Bon Jovi releases the album Slippery When Wet on August 18. It becomes their breakthrough, featuring the hits “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
• 1989 – The Rolling Stones release the album Steel Wheels, marking a return to form and setting the stage for their comeback world tour.

1990s
• 1991 – Nirvana shoots the music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on August 17. The video premieres in September and becomes an iconic symbol of the grunge era.
• 1994 – Woodstock '94 is held August 12–14 in Saugerties, New York, but its cultural impact continues through the following week. Artists included Aerosmith, Metallica, and Nine Inch Nails.

Check back next week for more landmark moments in rock history! 🤘