On this day in rock history, Joe Satriani made good on all of his career promise with the release of Surfing with the Alien. Already highly respected in the music business as a guitar instructor (among Satch's many clients were Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai), this coming-out-party sophomore release finally put him on the map with the general public.

It was a date filled with beginnings – the Beatles recorded together for the first time – but also of endings. The Grateful Dead moved into jazzier territory, as Keith Godchaux took over for the late Ron "Pigpen" McKernan on Wake of the Flood.

Neil Young's live release Time Fades Away followed a disastrous tour that saw his all-star band basically fall apart over 62 shows. Talking Heads, on the other hand, subsequently released Stop Making Sense while on a huge roll after their most ambitious tour ever. Bob Welch also stepped to the fore for Fleetwood Mac's Mystery to Me.

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 and other important events by clicking the links below.

News Anniversaries:
The Beatles record together for the first time (1960)
Jimi Hendrix signs first big contract (1965)

Album Anniversaries:
Fleetwood Mac - Mystery to Me (1973)
Grateful Dead - Wake of the Flood (1973)
Neil Young - Time Fades Away (1973)
Toto - Toto (1978)
AC/DC - Jailbreak (1984)
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (1984)
Julian Lennon - Valotte (1984)
Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien (1987)

Fleetwood Mac Albums Rated Worst to Best

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