Today's biggest classic rock moments: Paul McCartney's heartfelt tribute to Rob Reiner, The Rolling Stones announce major changes, and Roger Daltrey receives royal honors! Plus, we're celebrating The Beatles discoveries, and some fantastic tour announcements that'll get you excited for 2026.
Have a Rockin Day,
Hippy Pete
TODAY IN CLASSIC ROCK
1957
Elvis Presley's Christmas Album reaches the top of the Billboard album chart, the first of four non-consecutive weeks at number one. The LP, reissued several times, has sold over 17 million copies in the United States.
1961
Brian Epstein hires photographer Albert Marrion for The Beatles' first professional photo shoot. The black and white pictures show John, Paul, George, and Pete Best posing with their instruments. Marrion later recalled that John and Paul "joked and laughed throughout most of the session," while George Harrison remained quiet and Pete Best barely spoke at all.
1965
Released as a double A-side, The Beatles' "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out" becomes their ninth UK No. 1 and their third consecutive Christmas chart-topper in a rowâmarking the first time both tracks on a British 45 were promoted jointly as A-sides. The single also becomes a US No. 1 in January 1966.
1966
Jimi Hendrix Experience's first single, "Hey Joe," is released in the UK on Polydor Records after being rejected by Decca. The song reaches number 6 in the UK but fails to chart in America. Three years later, "Hey Joe" would close out Hendrix's legendary Woodstock performance, marking the final song of the three-day festival.
1970
Five singles and five albums by Creedence Clearwater Revival are certified gold in the US. The singles include "Down on the Corner," "Bad Moon Rising," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Up Around the Bend," and "Travelin' Band." The LPs include Cosmo's Factory, Willy and the Poor Boys, Green River, Bayou Country, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
1972
Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" knocks Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" out of the number one spot on the Hot 100, occupying the position for three weeks. The song also leads the R&B chart and reaches number 12 in the UK.
1974
Guitarist Mick Taylor announces he is leaving The Rolling Stones after nearly a decade with the band. Taylor had made his live debut with the Stones at their legendary free Hyde Park show in London in 1969, performing in front of 250,000 people. He appeared on seven studio albums and was instrumental in shaping the Stones' sound during their most prolific period.
1975
The Bay City Rollers earn a gold record for their first US single, "Saturday Night." The song tops the Hot 100 the following January but fails to chart in the UK. The band will go on to have five more Billboard Top 40 hits.
1977
The Bee Gees are awarded a gold record for "How Deep Is Your Love," the fourth of their nine Billboard number-one singles.
Saturday Night Fever premieres in New York City and becomes instrumental in spreading the disco craze throughout the country. The soundtrack becomes one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, with worldwide sales exceeding 40 million copies.
ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill is accidentally shot in the abdomen when his girlfriend pulls his boot off and his derringer falls out, discharging and hitting him. Hill drives himself to Houston's Memorial City Hospital for treatment and makes a full recovery.
BIRTHDAYS ON DECEMBER 16
1945: Tony Hicks, guitarist with The Hollies, is born. The band scores over 30 Top 40 hits including "Just One Look," "Bus Stop," "Carrie Anne," and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."
1946: Benny Andersson, keyboard player and composer for ABBA, is born. With ABBA, he scores UK No. 1 singles including "Waterloo," "Dancing Queen," and 9 UK No. 1 albums. Andersson becomes co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina frĂĽn DuvemĂĽla, and Mamma Mia!
1949: Billy Gibbons, guitarist and co-founder of ZZ Top, is born. He would go on to be ranked #32 on Rolling Stone's 2011 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.â
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