On this day in rock history, the Doors were banned from The Ed Sullivan Show. Before their performance, the group had been asked to change a controversial lyric in “Light My Fire,” but they decided to sing the offending line anyway on live television.

In 1975, Scorpions released their third record, In Trance. Although it failed to chart, it would in time be regarded as one of their best. Frank Zappa gave us Joe’s Garage, Act I, with the second and third parts of the semi-autobiographical story about government, religion and music coming two months later. Judas Priest’s first live record, Unleashed in the East, arrived in 1979 and helped pave the way for the decade of success that followed.

The Doobie Brothers followed up the chart-topping Minute by Minute with One Step Closer. While it nearly replicated its predecessor’s success, the group, led by five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald, were falling apart internally, and would be their last record for nine years. Another group famous for frequent lineup changes, Yes, put out Big Generator, which failed to capitalize on the comeback sparked by 90125. On the flip side, Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears found him at a commercial high point, even scoring a Top 40 hit with “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” But the biggest release to take place on Sept. 17 was the simultaneous arrival of two new Guns N’ Roses studio records, Use Your Illusion I and II. The 30 tracks would further cement their reputation as the most intriguing and versatile mainstream rock acts of the day.

Watch an exciting recap of many of the day’s biggest rock anniversaries above, narrated by our radio host Zach Martin. And learn more about these important events by clicking the links below.

News Anniversaries:
The Doors banned from The Ed Sullivan Show (1967)

Album Anniversaries:
Scorpions, In Trance (1975)
Frank Zappa, Joe’s Garage, Act I (1979)
Judas Priest, Unleashed in the East (1979)
The Doobie Brothers, One Step Closer (1980)
Yes, Big Generator (1987)
Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusion I and II (1991)
Ozzy Osbourne, No More Tears (1991)

Ozzy Osbourne Albums, Ranked Worst to Best

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