Rock And Roll History July 31st

Why July 31st Matters in Rock History

July 31st is a notable date in rock history for several landmark events across decades:

1957 – Drummer Richard Starkey made his live debut with the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group at Liverpool’s The Cavern. This was the first public appearance of the man who would later become Ringo Starr of The Beatles iHeart.

1971 – James Taylor had the number one country single in the U.S. with “You Got a Friend,” a song that became one of his signature hits iHeart.

1976 – Blue Oyster Cult released their hit single “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” a rock anthem that became one of the band’s most iconic tracks iHeart.

1980 – During an Eagles concert in Long Beach, California, tensions flared between Glenn Frey and Don Felder, who spent the entire show exchanging insults about the beating each planned backstage iHeart.

2010 – Shinedown reached the top of the rock songs chart with “The Crow and the Butterfly” from their album The Sound of Madness, marking a three-week run at number one iHeart.

2012 – Bruce Springsteen played his longest-ever show, a four-hour-and-six-minute performance in Helsinki, Finland, closing out a European tour iHeart.

These events span from early rock drumming debuts to chart-topping hits, legendary live performances, and even behind-the-scenes drama, making July 31st a day rich with rock history.