This Day in Rock History: July 2

July 2 has consistently delivered headline-making moments in rock history, from chart dominance to major industry milestones. In 1983, Styx’s “Don’t Let It End” hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks, while multiple albums pushed rock to the top of the Billboard 200, including Def Leppard’s Pyromania and Journey’s Frontiers. Later, in 1988, Van Halen’s OU812 reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for two weeks, and Michael Jackson earned a No. 1 single with “Dirty Diana,” becoming the first artist to have five No. 1s from the same album. The day also includes cultural moments such as Pink Floyd reuniting to perform at London’s Hyde Park for Live 8 in 2005, reportedly watched by about 3 billion people worldwide. The list also cites Elvis Presley recording “Hound Dog” (1956) after 31 takes, Queen’s first classic lineup show (1971), and Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage topping the Billboard 200 (1982).