On this day in rock history, Janis Joplin's shooting-star career fell to earth when she was found dead of a heroin overdose. Joplin had failed to show up for a recording session as she and her band worked to complete Pearl. Released posthumously, it would include Joplin's only chart-topping hit, "Me and Bobby McGee."

Led Zeppelin took an intriguing turn on III, unplugging to explore folk and Celtic themes – but not before unleashing a monstrous Viking-themed groove on the opening "Immigrant Song." Rod Stewart released his final solo album for Mercury, inviting his old friends in the Faces along. Later, Def Leppard emptied the vaults on Retro-Active, sharing lost tracks, B-sides and studio outtakes.

Paul McCartney turned to his rock and roll roots after a period of mourning following the cancer-related death of his long-time wife (and Wings bandmate) Linda McCartney. Run Devil Run featured lesser-known covers like Fats Domino's "Coquette" and Carl Perkins' "Movie Magg" completed by a star-flecked band that also included Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and and Deep Purple’s Ian Paice.

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
Janis Joplin dies (1970)

Album Anniversaries
Led Zeppelin - III (1970)
Rod Stewart - Smiler (1974)
Def Leppard - Retro-Active (1993)
Paul McCartney - Run Devil Run (1999)

Def Leppard Albums, Ranked Worst to Best

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