100. October 3, 2000
Radiohead release Kid A
Spontaneously, guitar fans everywhere begin weeping.

99. December 11, 1965
The Velvet Underground play their first show
Giving birth to the sound of alternative rock.

98. April 13, 1963
The Kingsmen record “Louie Louie”
When it becomes a hit, everyone assumes singer Jack Ely’s incomprehensible mumbling masks obscenity, causing the first panic over dirty lyrics.

97. November 23, 1936
Robert Johnson’s first recording session
The King of the Delta Blues Singers hooks up with the devil, provides a Rosetta Stone for rock pioneers including Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.

96. December 14, 1977
Saturday Night Fever debuts in New York
Prompting the inexorable march of polyester suits and disco into the suburbs — and throughout the world.

95. August 21, 1966
The Doors perform “The End” at L.A.’s Whisky A Go Go
Jim Morrison’s 11–minute–plus nightmare about Oedipal desire, snakes and ancient lakes cements the Doors’ Dionysian rep — and earns them a permanent ban from the club.

94. February 1, 2004
“Nipplegate”
The Most Infamous Super Bowl Halftime Ever deep–sixes Janet Jackson’s career and ushers in a brave new era of “decency.”

93. June 30, 1989
Do the Right Thing hits theaters
Introducing Public Enemy’s righteous rage to the world at large, Spike Lee’s breakout film practically doubled as a music video for “Fight the Power,” which is heard no less than 15 times in the movie.

92. January 31, 1955
RCA demonstrates first synthesizer
The room–size machine capable of generating and shaping sounds makes Abbey Road, dance music, keytars and Madonna possible.

91. September 8, 1965
Classified ad runs to form the Monkees
The first fictional band was born, presaging Josie and the Pussycats, Gorillaz and the current incarnation of Guns N’ Roses.

90. June 18, 1988
Depeche Mode sell out the Rose Bowl
About 80,000 goths pack the So–Cal stadium — and synth–rock gets its stamp of legitimacy.

89. July 6, 1977
Roger Waters spits at a fan during a Pink Floyd show
The incident would inspire Waters to write The Wall, a masterpiece of rock–star alienation and anomie.

88. April 6, 1974
ABBA win the Eurovision Song Contest
Making possible the ascendance of Swedish pop and approximately 18 bajillion drunken wedding dances.

87. October 9, 1999
Coachella kicks off
Beginning the annual pilgrimage of alterna–kids to the Sonoran Desert.

86. November 21, 1959
Alan Freed fired in first payola scandal
Ending the career of the DJ who invented the term rock & roll.

85. July 18, 1991  
Lollapalooza premieres
Introducing the U.S. to the traveling music festival.

84. September 19, 1955
Pat Boone hits No. 1 with “Ain’t That a Shame”
With this bleached–out version of Fats Domino’s original, Boone becomes the trailblazer for years of Whitey childproofing R&B.;

83. January 26, 1995
First MPEG3 patent filed
Turning music loving into a no–strings–attached orgy.

82 March 17, 1958
Link Wray invents distortion
The brutal “Rumble” introduces the world to the fuzztone sound.

81. June 15, 1984
Scarface tops the VHS rentals list
Sanctifying hip–hop’s Church of Tony Montana.

80. April 14, 1982
Karaoke arrives in the U.S.
At a bar called Dimples in Burbank, California.

79. April 1, 2032
Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy released
Weeks after Axl’s death in a tragic tanning–bed accident.

78. May 29, 1983
Heavy Metal Day at the US Festival
300,000 head bang to Van Halen and Mötley Crüe, confirming hair metal’s arrival.

77. October 23, 2002
Kanye West’s car crash
In which hip–hop’s best producer–rapper smashes his jaw, finds God and decides to write “Through the Wire,” a career–making song about seat–belt safety.

76. January 1, 1994
Max Martin quits cashiering, starts producing
Millions of teenage girls feel the sudden urge to squeal.