ELO release an entire album on betamax, Elvis leaves the army and goes right back in the studio, Ray Davies gets a gong and more. It’s this week in rock.

#OnThisDay March 16, 1992
Manic Street Preachers release ‘Slash ‘N’ Burn’, the fourth single from their debut album, ‘Generation Terrorists’. The video was directed by Tony van den Ende, who also helmed promos for The Godfathers (‘Birth, School, Work, Death’) and Prefab Sprout (‘The Golden Calf’) among others.

#OnThisDay March 17, 2004
The Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies receives a CBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to music. And we can’t think of a more appropriate song than this…

Did you know that ELO were the first band to release an entire video album? Every track on their 1979 album, ‘Discovery’, had its own promo and was released on VHS and Betamax formats. ‘Discovery’ was also ELO’s first UK No. 1 album.

#OnThisDay March 19, 1977
Billy Ocean matches the chart performance of his 1976 single, ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’, when ‘Red Light Spells Danger’ climbs into the No. 2 slot.

#OnThisDay March 20, 1960
Newly discharged from the US Army, Elvis Presley heads into a Nashville recording studio. Rejoined for one last time with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, the 12-hour sessions yields his next No 1 single, ‘Stuck On You’.

#OnThisDay March 21, 1980
Judas Priest release the mighty ‘Living After Midnight’, the lead single from their sixth album, ‘British Steel’. Peaking at No. 12 in the UK singles chart, the video is directed by Julien Temple and is shot live at Sheffield’s City Hall.

#OnThisDay March 22, 1975
Rollermania is in full swing as tartan teen sensations Bay City Rollers score their first UK No. 1 single with ‘Bye Bye Baby’, where it remains for six weeks. It also tops the charts in Australia and Ireland and goes Top 10 in Germany, South Africa, Italy and Norway.