Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary Concert
New York City’s infamous venue, Madison Square Garden hosted a 40th anniversary celebration for the iconic record label “Atlantic Records” on May 14th 1988. The concert was named “Its Only Rock and Roll” and lasted for an impressive 13 hours! The show featured only certain artists who actually recorded albums or tracks with Atlantic throughout their 40 years of existence. A few notable performers included: Phil Collins, Foreigner, Crosby Stills, and Nash, Yes, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin with John Bonham’s son Jason Bonham on drums.
Born This Week in Rock History
Stevie Wonder: May 13, 1950 (singer, piano player, composer)
Daniel (Danny) Kirwan: May 13, 1950 (Fleetwood Mac, guitar, vocals)
Grady Gaines: May 14, 1934 (Saxophone)
Jack Bruce: May 14, 1943 (Cream, bass and lead vocals)
David Byrne: May 14, 1952 (Talking Heads, guitar, vocals)
Louis Charles (L.C. “Good Rockin’” Robinson: (vocals, guitar, and fiddle)
Brian Eno: May 15, 1948 (Roxy Music, synthesizers)
Robert Fripp: May16, 1946 (King Crimson, guitar)
Darrell Sweet: May 16, 1947 (Nazareth, drums)
Krist Novoselic: May 16, 1965 (Nirvana, bass)
Taj Mahal: May 17, 1942 (Blues Singer-Songwriter)
Bill Bruford: May 17, 1949 (Yes/King Crimson, drums)
Big Joe Turner: May 18, 1911 (Blues Vocalist)
Rick Wakeman: May 18, 1949 (Yes, keyboard)
Pete Townshend: May 19, 1945 (The Who, guitar)
Dusty Hill: May 19, 1949 (ZZ Top, bass, keyboards)
Joey Ramone: May 19. 1951 (The Ramones, vocals)
Phil Rudd: May 19, 1954 (AC/DC, drums)
Died This Week in Rock History
Keith Relf: May 14, 1976 (The Yardbirds, lead vocals and harmonica)
B.B. King: May 14, 2015 (blues guitar legend)
June Carter Cash: May 15, 2003 (Country Singer-Songwriter)
Clint Warwick: May 15, 2004 (Moody Blues, bass)
Marv Johnson: May 16, 1993 (R&B & Soul Singer)
James Dewar: May 16, 2002 (Robin Trower, bass)
Ronnie James Dio: May 16, 2010 (Black Sabbath, vocals)
Johnny “Guitar” Watson: May 17, 1996 (Blues Singer-Songwriter)
Music releases and the top of the charts
Rolling Stones release “Paint It Black”: May 13, 1966
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Ohio” was released: May 14, 1970
Rolling Stones sign with Decca Records: May 15, 1963
Rolling Stone’s Black And Blue goes to #1 in America: May 15, 1976
Bob Dylan Blonde On Blonde was released: May 16, 1966
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s LP Deja Vu hits #1: May 16, 1970
“With or Without You” by U2 hits #1: May 16, 1987.
Bob Dylan hits number 1 with Together Through Life: May 16, 2009
Very First Monterey Folk Festival: May 17, 1963
R.E.M’s “Out Of Time” hits #1: May 18, 1991
The Beatles’ “Get Back” is certified gold: May 19, 1969
Stevie Wonder’s “You are the sunshine of my life” hits number one: May 19, 1973
This Week in Rock History
“More of the Monkees,” the second album by The Monkees reached the number one spot on the UK charts. May 13, 1967
Led Zeppelin becomes one of the first well known British rock acts to perform in Hawaii, where they performed at the Civic Auditorium in Honolulu. May 13, 1969.
Bo Diddley’s song “Bo Diddley” is seen on the R&B chart and will eventually hit the #1 spot. This song is also the prime example of his infamous “Bo Diddley beat.” May 14, 1955.
Buddy Holly visits his optometrist’s office to correct his horrible 20/800 vision with primitive contact lenses, but Buddy hates them, and decides to keep his signature glasses. May 14, 1956
Keith Relf of The Yardbirds dies tragically by electrocuting himself while tuning a guitar that was not properly grounded. May 14, 1976
Michael Jackson was presented with a Presidential Humanitarian Award for using “Beat It” for an anti-drunk-driving commercial by Ronald Reagan. May 14, 1984.
Madison Square Garden hosts the 40th anniversary celebration of Atlantic Records. This show featured appearances from many famous artists on the label’s roster: The Bee Gees, Wilson Pickett, The Rascals, The Coasters, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Crosby Stills and Nash, Foreigner, Yes, Genesis, and the event’s main attraction, a rare reunion of Led Zeppelin, featuring John Bonham’s son Jason taking over drums for his late father: May 14, 1988
Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” hits the number 39 spot on the top 40 chart. May 15, 1965
Pink Floyd play London’s Crystal Palace Bowl. May 15, 1971
The latest and ultimately most famous lineup of Fleetwood Mac — Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks — play their first show together in El Paso. May 15, 1975
Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney hit #1 with their song “Ebony and Ivory” May 15, 1982.
Billboard magazine reports that Detroit music mogul Berry Gordy is thinking of starting three new record labels, including one called Motown: May 16, 1960
Neil Young plays an unannounced show at the Bottom Line in New York City. May 16, 1971
The very first Monterey Folk Music Festival was held in Monterey, California and featured great acts such as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez. May 17, 1963
A band known as “The Chicago Transit Authority” releases their debut album which would go on to peak at number 17 on the top charts. Due to a lawsuit issue, the band later shortened their name to Chicago. May 17,1969
Blues and R&B greats Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Little Richard gather in Sheffield, England to perform their first show together. May 17, 1995
Beatles start their first tour as the featured act, beginning in Slough, England. May 18, 1963
Diana Ross shocks the music industry by leaving Motown Records after 20 years for a new home on RCA. The $20 million contract sets a new record: May 18, 1981
Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr reunite and play for Eric Clapton’s wedding with Patti Boyd. May 19,1979
Pink Floyd’s epochal Dark Side Of The Moon LP marks its tenth anniversary, having never left the Billboard album charts. May 19, 1984
By Patrick Ortiz
Joe Bonamassa Official Blog / Tribut Apparel
