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The Beatles are making waves with casting news for Sam Mendes' four upcoming biopics, while Paul McCartney reminisces about meeting Elvis Presley. Queen is celebrating the 50th anniversary of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with special vinyl releases and a YouTube series, and Bob Dylan just dropped his long-awaited Bootleg Series Volume 18 with rare recordings from his early Greenwich Village years. and more…

The Beatles masterpiece that still divides fans

Today in Classic Rock History

1968: George Harrison released Wonderwall Music, becoming the first Beatle to release a solo album. The mostly instrumental soundtrack featured Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and an uncredited banjo contribution by Peter Tork of the Monkees. It was the first album released on Apple Records. Listen here

1969: Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his 18th and final chart-topper during his lifetime. The King had recorded it in a 4 AM to 7 AM session in January at American Sound Studio in Memphis. Listen now

1969: The Beatles' Abbey Road reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, their 13th U.S. chart-topper. The album would spend 11 weeks at the top and featured the band's final studio recordings together, including "Something," "Come Together," and "Here Comes the Sun." Full album

1965: The Rolling Stones played at the War Memorial Auditorium in Rochester, New York, during their second North American tour. The show was famously shut down by police after only six songs when the crowd got too worked up. One newspaper reported that "the ones down front—particularly the girls—caused most of the trouble." Watch live 1965

1966: The Doors began a month-long residency at the Ondine Discotheque in Midtown Manhattan, New York—their first extended New York engagement that helped build their following on the East Coast. Hear 1966 live

1966: The Beach Boys kicked off seven sold-out shows at Finsbury Park Astoria in London with "Good Vibrations" at the top of the UK chart. Over 600 city buses were adorned with posters announcing their arrival. Watch video

1968: Pink Floyd performed "Let There Be More Light" for French television's Surprise Partie at ORTF Studios in Paris—the final recorded performance of that song. Watch performance

1975: Elton John reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Island Girl," taking over the top spot from his own duet with Neil Sedaka, "Bad Blood." It would be 22 years before he had another solo No. 1 in the U.S. Listen now

1980: Bruce Springsteen scored his first No. 1 album in America when The River topped the Billboard 200. The double album stayed at No. 1 for four weeks and featured his first major chart hit "Hungry Heart." Watch live

Have a Rockin Day,
Hippy Pete