This Day in Rock History: August 23

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1969: Johnny Cash's album At San Quentin started its four-week run at the top of the U.S. album chart. The album featured Cash's show at the San Quentin State Prison and served as a follow-up to a similarly themed album called At Folsom Prison.”
• 1970: The Velvet Underground performed their final show with Lou Reed at Max's Kansas City in Manhattan, New York. Years later, they would reunite for a one-off performance at the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
• 1980: David Bowie's song “Ashes to Ashes” reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart. It was Bowie's second U.K. No. 1 and stayed at the top spot for two weeks.

Cultural Milestones

• 1946: The Who drummer, Keith Moon, was born. Widely considered to be one of the best drummers in rock history, he's also remembered for his eccentric lifestyle. While celebrating his birthday in 1967, Moon famously drove his Lincoln Continental into a swimming pool to avoid being caught behind the wheel by the police after he'd had a few drinks.
• 1969: Freddie Bulsara made his live performance debut with the band Ibex at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, U.K. Just a few years later, Bulsara would go on to take over the music world as Freddie Mercury, alongside his band Queen.
• 2007: Queen guitarist Brian May received his doctorate in astrophysics from Imperial College London. He had studied math and physics there in the late 1960s but paused his academic career to focus on music.