This Day in Rock History: February 14
Valentine’s Day isn’t the only thing special about Feb. 14. This was also the day that Wayne’s World premiered in the U.S. The movie featured iconic rock music moments, and the soundtrack topped the Billboard 200. Want more trivia from this day in rock music history? Here, you’ll discover the most memorable past events of Feb. 14 that have influenced the rock music industry.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These Feb. 14 hits helped get rock music to where it is today:
- 1987: Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” from their third album hit the top of the U.S. singles chart, becoming their second No. 1 hit.
- 2006: The Veronicas’ debut album “The Secret Life of…” is released in the United States.
Cultural Milestones
It’s hard to imagine where rock music would be today if it hadn’t been for these cultural events that took place on Feb. 14:
- 1972: Rob Thomas, a singer-songwriter and lead vocalist for Matchbox Twenty, was born on this day. Although he had a rocky childhood and a rough start to his music career, his band went on to have several hit songs and albums.
- 2000: KISS announced they would do a farewell tour that would end with an auction of their stage props. Of course, this wasn’t the last tour for the band as they continued touring until 2023, but it was the final tour to have Ace Frehley as a band member.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Major rock moments that happened on Feb. 14 include:
- 1973: Toward the end of a performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, David Bowie collapsed while singing an encore of “Five Years.” He passed out suddenly, shocking the audience, and a nurse later said Bowie was exhausted after completing 91 performances on his Ziggy Stardust tour.
- 2010: A cover of REM’s “Everybody Hurts” entered the charts. It was recorded for charity to help earthquake victims in Haiti. The recording featured big names such as Jon Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams, and Miley Cyrus, and the song reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Rock music experienced these challenges on Feb. 14:
- 1981: Billy Idol left the band Generation X to become a solo artist, moving to New York City. He released his self-titled debut album in 1982, which included the song “White Wedding.”
- 2010: Doug Fieger, cowriter of the 1979 hit song “My Sharona” and lead vocalist for The Knack, died after a battle with lung cancer. He was only 57.
These historical events from Feb. 14 have affected the rock music landscape. Remember these moments, whether you’re celebrating with your special someone today or just rocking out alone.
