This week in rock music history was marked by abundance of significant events. One of contemporary music’s greatest bands released their first single, an iconic punk group began work on their debut album, and a legendary British artist received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. A trove of classic albums was released as well, including landmark records by The Doors, Rush, and Van Halen. Read on for a look back at other noteworthy moments that shaped rock and roll during this historically eventful week.
Events
1958 – George Harrison joins the Liverpool band, The Quarrymen. Members already include John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
1961 – The Miracles’ “Shop Around” becomes the first Motown single to sell more than one million copies.
1963 – The Beatles’ first single, “Please Please Me,” is released in the U.S. on the Vee Jay label.

1965 – The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” begins a two-week run at the Number One spot on the U.S. singles chart.
1966 – Crawdaddy!, the first magazine devoted specifically to rock music, is published for the first time.
1967 – On the British TV Show, “Top of the Pops,” The Monkees announce that henceforth they will play the instruments on their albums, rather than using session musicians.
1969 -- The Who record “Pinball Wizard” at Morgan Studios in London. The song is later released as a single and reaches Number 19 on the U.S. singles chart.
1969 – Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker announce the formation of Blind Faith. Rounding out the band are Steve Winwood and Ric Grech.
1970 – With their hit single, “Venus,” Shocking Blue becomes the first act from the Netherlands to top the U.S. charts.
1972 – Kicking off a low-key college tour, Wings play their first concert, staging the show at England’s Nottingham University.
1972 – David Bowie stages his first performance in his Ziggy Stardust guise, appearing at the Tolworth Toby Jug in London.
1973 – Steely Dan’s debut album, Can’t Buy a Thrill, enters the U.S. charts.
1974 – The Stooges perform their final concert of that decade. The opening act is an up and coming Boston band called Aerosmith.
1975 – Bob Dylan scores his second Number One album in the U.S. with Blood on the Tracks.
1977 – The Clash begin recording their debut album at CBS Studios in London.
1979 – Working at Los Angeles’s Record Plant studio, Stephen Stills becomes the first rock artist to record on digital equipment.
1981 – R.E.M. conduct their first-ever recording sessions, working at Bombay Studios in Smyrna, Georgia. Among the tracks they record is “Radio Free Europe.”
1982 – The J. Geils Band begin a six-week run atop the U.S. singles chart with their hit, “Centerfold.” On the same day, Freeze Frame, the album that spawned the single, starts a four-week run at Number One on the U.S. album chart.
2006 – David Bowie is presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2014 – Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is named the greatest song of all-time by Great Britain’s New Musical Express. Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” places at Number Two.
Releases
1967 – The Byrds: Younger Than Yesterday
1967 – The Troggs: Trogglodynamite
1969 – The Beach Boys: 20/20
1970 – The Doors: Morrison Hotel

1971 – Carole King: Tapestry
1972 – The Allman Brothers Band: Eat a Peach
1977 – The Kinks: Sleepwalker
1977 – America: Harbor
1978 – Judas Priest: Stained Class
1978 -- Van Halen: Van Halen
1981 – Phil Collins: Face Value
1981 – Rush: Moving Pictures

1984 – Van Halen: 1984
1989 -- Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl
1989 -- Elvis Costello: Spike
1990 -- The Cramps: Stay Sick!
1992 -- Public Image Ltd : That What Is Not
1992 -- Cowboy Junkies: Black Eyed Man
1992 -- Social Distortion: Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
1993 -- Mick Jagger: Wandering Spirit
1993 -- Paul McCartney: Off the Ground
1995 -- Shania Twain: The Woman in Me
1995 -- Slash's Snakepit: It's Five O' Clock Somewhere
1997 – Blur: Blur
Deaths
Guitar Slim – Feb. 7, 1959
Dave Alexander (The Stooges) – Feb. 10, 1975
Hugh Montenegro – Feb. 6, 1981
Bill Haley – Feb. 9, 1981
Del Shannon – Feb. 8, 1990

Brian Connolly (Sweet) – Feb. 9, 1997
Falco – Feb. 6, 1998
Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys) – Feb. 6, 1998
Oliver – Feb. 12, 2000
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Feb. 13, 2000
Dave Peverett (Foghat, Savoy Brown) – Feb. 7, 2000
Keith Knudson (The Doobie Brotehrs) – Feb. 8, 2005
Gary Moore – Feb. 6, 2011
Rick Huxley (The Dave Clark Five) – Deb. 11, 2013
Births
Josh White – Feb. 11, 1914
King Curtis – Feb. 7, 1934
Gene Vincent – Feb. 11, 1935

Roberta Flack – Feb. 10, 1939
Ray Manzarek (The Doors) – Feb. 12, 1939
Brian Bennett (The Shadows) – Feb. 8, 1940
Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Feb. 11, 1940
Tom Rush – Feb. 8, 1941
Carole King – Feb. 9, 1942
Fabian – Feb. 6, 1943
Jim Capaldi (Traffic) – Feb. 8, 1944
Bob Marley – Feb. 6, 1945

Joe Ely – Feb. 9, 1947
Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night) – Feb. 7, 1948
Dan Seals (England Dan & John Ford Coley) – Feb. 8, 1948
Nigel Olsson – Feb. 10, 1949
Steve Hackett (Genesis) – Feb. 12, 1950
Michael McDonald – Feb. 12, 1952
Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy) – Feb. 12, 1956
Simon Phillips (Toto) – Feb. 6, 1957
Vince Neil (Motley Crue) – Feb. 8, 1961
Axl Rose – Feb. 6, 1962
David Bryan (Bon Jovi) – Feb. 7, 1962
Sheryl Crow – Feb. 11, 1962
Travis Tritt – Feb. 9, 1963