🎸CLASSIC ROCK🎸 Paul McCartney | Bruce Springsteen | Ringo Starr | Smashing Pumpkins and more...

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Today’s newsletter shines with a brand-new glimpse into Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles life, Ringo’s thoughts on the upcoming Beatles biopics, and a wild Bruce Springsteen reunion at the Stone Pony.

We’re also celebrating the spectacular surge of Abbey Road on the charts and catching up with updates from Ringo Starr and the iconic Wings era.

Today in Classic Rock History

1956 – Elvis Presley made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Love Me," and "Hound Dog." This marked his first time performing with Ed Sullivan hosting (Sullivan had been recovering from a car accident during Elvis's September debut). The broadcast drew massive ratings and further cemented Elvis as a cultural phenomenon. Watch "Love Me Tender"

1957 – Ray Charles released "Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River)," his rocking reinvention of Stephen Foster's "Old Folks At Home." This single marked Ray's first major crossover into the national pop charts after years of R&B success, peaking at #34 on the Billboard charts. Hear the Hit

1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets made their final television appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in Philadelphia, lip-syncing "Heartbeat" and "It's So Easy." Tragically, this would be Buddy's last major TV appearance before his death four months later in February 1959. See the Performance

1962 – The Beatles performed their first-ever concert at Liverpool's prestigious Empire Theatre, appearing in two shows (5:40 PM and 8:00 PM) as the opening act for their idol Little Richard. This marked a major milestone—their first pop package show and first performance at their hometown's premier theatrical venue. Beatles History

1964 – The legendary T.A.M.I. Show was filmed at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, featuring an unprecedented lineup: The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gaye, and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The concert film captured James Brown's explosive performance and became one of rock's greatest documents. Watch the Stones Perform

1977 – Steve Perry performed his first concert with Journey at San Francisco's Old Waldorf. Dressed in all white, Perry was brought onstage during the encore to perform "Lights" and other newly written songs with the band. His arrival would transform Journey from a prog-jam band into arena rock superstars. See "Lights" Live

1977 – Queen released their groundbreaking sixth studio album News of the World, featuring the iconic anthems "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." The album showcased Queen's harder-rocking sound and gave the world two songs that would become sporting event staples for decades. Rock Out

1977 – Kiss released Alive II, their second live album capturing the band at the height of their mid-70s arena dominance. The double album featured live versions of hits plus three new studio tracks, selling over 4 million copies and becoming one of rock's best-selling live albums. Experience It

1977 – Neil Young released Decade, a landmark triple-LP compilation spanning his career from Buffalo Springfield (1966) through his solo work up to 1976. The album featured 35 hand-selected songs with Young's personal liner notes, plus five previously unreleased tracks. It became the definitive introduction to Neil Young for an entire generation. Explore the Collection

Have a Rockin Day,
Hippy Pete