This Week In Rock History 10/20-10/26

This week in rock history was full of highs, lows, and birthdays that shaped the sound of generations. On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s tragic plane crash shook the world of Southern rock, cutting short the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines. Back in 1958, Bill Haley & His Comets rocked West Berlin so hard that the concert ended in a riot, sparking a temporary ban on rock shows.

But it wasn’t all tragedy—this week also celebrates the births of legends like Tom Petty (Oct 20), guitar great Steve Cropper, bluesman Elvin Bishop, Toto’s Steve Lukather (all Oct 21), Leslie West of Mountain (Oct 22), Stones bassist Bill Wyman (Oct 24), and Jon Anderson of Yes (Oct 25). From Free Bird to prog-rock flights, these artists shaped the soundtracks of our lives.

Listen now at