This Day in Rock History: March 10
Claiming to be the worst singer Black Sabbath ever had, Ian Gillan left the band after only one year on March 10, 1984. He had replaced Ronnie James Dio, who quit in 1982. Gillan only appeared on Black Sabbath’s Born Again album. The infamous Black Sabbath isn’t the only band with a historic connection to March 10. In fact, on this day in rock history, many interesting and notable occurrences happened, and we’re here to share a few of the most intriguing
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These were some of the biggest breakthrough hits and milestones from March 10 that affected the industry:
- 1958: Tom and Jerry, a teenage duo who later went by their real names, Simon & Garfunkel, released “Our Song.” This was the second song the 15-year-old duo had released.
- 1962: Bruce Channel made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his song “Hey! Baby.” The song stayed on top for three weeks.
Cultural Milestones
The following March 10 cultural milestones ensured the landscape of rock music was never the same:
- 1972: The rock band America received a Gold record for their self-titled debut studio album, released in January. The album sold over a million copies and stayed at the top of the Billboard chart for five weeks.
- 2003: Many inspiring rock artists were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including the Righteous Brothers, AC/DC, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, The Clash, The Police, and Floyd Cramer. The induction ceremony was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Notable recordings and performances in rock music from March 10 that forever changed the genre include:
- 1975: Elvis Presley was in the studio recording “Fairytale,” “I Can Help,” “And I Love You So,” and “Green Green Grass of Home.” These songs featured on his final studio album titled Today.
- 1998: Eric Clapton released his first new studio album since Journeyman in 1989. It debuted at No. 4 on the chart and was nominated for several music awards.
Industry Changes and Challenges
These changes and challenges in the rock music industry on March 10 ensured you could enjoy your favorite songs today:
- 1988: The youngest brother of the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, died at age 30. He suffered a heart attack caused by myocarditis, or inflammation of the lining of the heart, which was likely exacerbated by his years of cocaine use.
- 2005: Arriving over an hour late and in his pajamas, Michael Jackson appeared in court for his child abuse hearing. Lawyers told the judge the musician had fallen in the shower and injured his back, and he had to be summoned from the hospital.
These are just some of the memorable moments in rock music history that occurred on March 10. As the genre evolves, you can count on more interesting trivia to unfold and connect you to the music you love.
