On this day in rock history, Cliff Burton, the bassist for Metallica, was killed in Sweden when the band's bus flipped over. He was 24.

Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert made its debut on NBC. The show ran from 1973 to 1981, bringing many of the top rock acts of the day into the living rooms of America.

Peter Gabriel put out Us, the long-awaited follow-up to So. The songs were reflective of the upheaval that had taken place in his personal life over the previous six years. Walter Becker of Steely Dan stepped into the spotlight for his solo debut, 11 Tracks of Whack. It was produced by his bandmate Donald Fagen. Ric Ocasek, formerly of the Cars, released Nexterday in 2005, the same day that Neil Young went country again on Prairie Wind.

Celebrating birthdays today are Randy Bachman of the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, who was born in 1943, and Meat Loaf, who was born in 1947.

Watch an exciting recap of many of the day’s biggest rock anniversaries above, narrated by our radio host Zach Martin. And learn more about these important events by clicking the links below.

News Anniversaries:

Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert debuts (1973)
Cliff Burton is killed (1984)

Album Anniversaries:
Peter Gabriel, Us (1992)
Walter Becker, 11 Tracks of Whack (1994)
Ric Ocasek, Nexterday (2005)
Neil Young, Prairie Wind (2005)

Birthdays:
Randy Bachman (1943)
Meat Loaf (1947)

Metallica Albums, Ranked Worst to Best

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