This Day in Rock History: February 21
Although initially considered unsuccessful in terms of sales, the Flying V guitar by Gibson is now considered a classic. This iconic design first shipped out from Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Feb. 21, 1958. Only 98 of these guitars were manufactured through 1959, but Gibson produced a variation of the original Flying V in the ’60s. For more interesting facts about this day in rock music history, continue reading. We have all the details on breakthrough hits, cultural milestones, notable recordings, major performances, and more from Feb. 21 of the past.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Several rock bands had breakthrough hits or experienced milestones on Feb. 21 including:
- 1964: The Rolling Stones released their third single in the U.K., a cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Two weeks later, the song was issued in the U.S., marking the band’s first single to be released in the country.
- 1987: After gaining popularity from the 1987 film of the same name, Ben E. King’s 1961 song “Stand by Me” made it to No. 1 on the singles chart in the U.K.
Cultural Milestones
With these events, the rock music industry would never be the same:
- 1970: Eric Wilson, bassist for Sublime and several other bands formed after lead vocalist Bradley Nowell’s death, was born in Long Beach, California. In 2023, Wilson reunited with former Sublime drummer Bud Gaugh and performed with Nowell’s son, Jakob, in the reformed Sublime group.
- 2002: Influential solo artist Elton John criticized the music industry for producing mediocre, average bands, claiming they hinder the chances of truly talented musicians breaking through.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Maybe you’re familiar with these famous rock music recordings and performances that took place on Feb. 21:
- 1983: During a performance in Cleveland, Ohio, Adam Ant collapsed on stage. He had torn cartilage in his knee and had to miss several tour dates in February and March, but he eventually returned and finished the tour.
- 1995: For the first time in over seven years, Bruce Springsteen took to the stage with the E Street Band at a New York City club. Springsteen had recorded his debut album with the band in 1972.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Evolutions and obstacles from years past are what allow us to enjoy rock music as it is today, and these are some notable events from Feb. 21:
- 1990: While the Beatles only won four Grammy Awards between 1964 and 1997, Paul McCartney was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony. Meryl Streep had the honor of presenting him with the award.
- 2004: After a long battle with throat cancer, Les Gray, the lead singer of Mud, died of a heart attack. He was 57 years old.
Whether you love the sound of hard rock, alternative, or the classics, the music you listen to today wouldn’t be the same without these Feb. 21 achievements and events. As long as you keep listening, this dynamic genre will continue to evolve.
