On this day in rock history, David Bowie gave American fans their first glimpse of his Ziggy Stardust character when his tour in support of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars kicked off in Cleveland.

The first Farm Aid took place in Champaign, Ill. The day-long concert, a joint project of Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson, saw Eddie Van Halen perform with Sammy Hagar for the first time. Farm Aid has been held every year since 1985 and has raised $48 million for family farmers across the U.S.

The Band followed up Music From Big Pink with their self-titled second album. Featuring classics like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up on Cripple Creek,” The Band is widely credited with helping to kickstart the back-to-basics approach of country rock in the ‘70s. George Harrison released his sixth solo album, Extra Texture. The record featured the Top 20 hit, “You,” and a sequel to “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” called “This Guitar (Can’t Keep From Crying).”

And we also wish a happy birthday to David Coverdale and Joan Jett. The Deep Purple and Whitesnake singer was born in 1949, while Jett was born in 1961.

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:
David Bowie’s first Ziggy Stardust show in America (1972)
The first Farm Aid (1985)
Eddie Van Halen plays with Sammy Hagar for the first time (1985)

Album Anniversaries:
The Band, The Band (1969)
George Harrison, Extra Texture (1975)

Birthdays:
David Coverdale (1949)
Joan Jett (1961)

See David Bowie and Other Rockers in the Top 100 Albums of the '70s

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