This Day in Rock History: December 30

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1967: The Beatles' song "Hello, Goodbye" went to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it spent three weeks. It was the band's 15th U.S. No. 1 song, and it also topped their native U.K. charts.
• 1978: Iron Maiden began recording their first demo, The Soundhouse Tapes, at the Spaceward Studios in Cambridge, England. It eventually made its way to a London DJ, who played it at the club he worked at, creating a massive demand.

Cultural Milestones

• 1928: Bo Diddley was born in McComb, Mississippi. His career inspired many artists of different genres, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Tom Petty, and he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
• 1946: Patti Smith was born in Deptford Township, New Jersey. She played a major role in the rise of New York City's punk rock movement in the 1970s and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
• 1947: Jeff Lynne was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He's the co-founder of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Electric Light Orchestra, and he also formed the Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Tom Petty.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1969: Santana released the single "Evil Ways," which was part of his self-titled debut album. It was his first U.S. Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and introducing his unique Latin-based blues style.
• 1974: Bob Dylan completed recording a few key tracks for his album, Blood on the Tracks, including "Tangled Up in Blue," "You're a Big Girl Now," and "Idiot Wind." He and a group of local musicians had met three days earlier at Sound 80 Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to begin recording and returned a few days later.