Tom Petty's brilliant career took a quantum leap forward on this day in 1979 when he and his band released Damn The Torpedoes.  Pink Floyd's The Wall was the only obstacle that prevented Tom's thrid album with the Heartbreakers from becoming the top selling album in the states.  Still, its comparatively astronomical success made Tom's gutsy gamble that declaring bankruptcy to get out of a contract with MCA records would enable him to ink a better deal with a subsidiary label he felt would be more effective promoting his albums proved to be a slam dunk positive move for his career.  In addition to becoming one of the best closing albums of a decade that produced a multitude of outstanding releases, the making of Damn the Torpedoes was filmed for what turned out to be one of the best documentaries ever made about the creative process behind making a great album.

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on October 19 include...

 

1944 Peter Tosh born.

1945 Doobie Brothers Patrick Simmons born.

1966 Yardbirds arrive in US for first tour. Jeff Beck leaves the group after only two concerts.

1968 Peter Frampton joins the Small Faces at a London concert.

1971 Keith Godchaux does his first concert with the Grateful Dead.

1973 David Bowie releases Pin Ups.

1974 Who release Odds & Sods.

1979 Journey releases Evolution.

1993 Rush releases Counterparts.
1993 Pearl Jam releases Vs.
1997 Alice Cooper band's Glen Buxton dies of pneumonia at 49.

2004 John Mellencamp releases Words & Music.

2005 Bono has lunch with George W Bush at the White House.

2007 Deborah Santana files for divorce after 34 years of marriage to Carlos Santana.

2009 ZZ Top releases Double Down Live DVD.

2010 Leon Russell & Elton John release The Union.

2020 Peter Green tribute concert featuring David Gilmour, Billy Gibbons, Bill Wyman, Kirk Hammett organized by Mick Fleetwood is released.

2023 The Rolling Stones release Hackney Diamonds and do a by invitation concert for 650 at Racket  NYC in New York City.