This Day in Rock History: October 18
On this day in rock history, an supergroup to end supergroups released their debut album as the Traveling Wilburys. But they played it decidedly cool, and that's what was so charming about the Vol. 1 album featuring Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. The Wilburys wrote a song a day, presented the resulting LP with cover artwork meant to look like a discovered relic and referred to themselves in the liner notes only as Nelson (Harrison), Otis (Lynne), Charlie (Petty), Lefty (Orbison) and Lucky (Dylan).
Bruce Springsteen also parted ways with his beloved E Street Band on this date. But you had the feeling they'd reunite, and not just because Springsteen's relationship with some of them dated back decades. Human Touch and Lucky Town, two solo albums released three years later, featured group members Roy Bittan and Patti Scialfa. Three years after that, Springsteen briefly reconvened with the E Street Band; by the end of the '90s, they were officially back together.
Guns N' Roses opened for the Rolling Stones on the first of four straight nights at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. Members of both groups subsequently formed a side project called Dead Daisies.
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 Anniversary:
Simon and Garfunkel reunite on Saturday Night Live
Bruce Springsteen fires the E Street Band (1989)
Rolling Stones play first of four shows with Guns N' Roses (1989)
Album Anniversaries:
The Cult - Love (1985)
Traveling Wilburys - Vol. 1 (1988)
Bruce Springsteen Albums, Ranked Worst to Best