On this day 55 years ago, one of the most controversial songs in the history of rock and roll debuted on the UK Singles Chart.
The Rolling Stones burst onto the rock and roll scene during the "British Invasion" in the '60s. Songs like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965), "Get Off of My Cloud" (1965), "Paint It Black" (1966) and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1968) had put the group on the global music map.
Three months after the May 1968 release of "Jumpin' Jack Flash," the Rolling Stones released "Street Fighting Man" on their Beggars Banquet album. The song wouldn't be released in the United Kingdom as a single until 1971.
On July 3, 1971, "Street Fighting Man" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at No. 47. The song would peak at No. 21 on the chart.
However, the release of "Street Fighting Man" immediately sparked backlash and controversy after its release in the United States. The song referenced armed revolution and was released in the U.S. during nationwide political protests against the Vietnam War.
"Street Fighting Man" was released on Aug. 31, days after the 1968 Democratic National Convention that was marked by riots and protests against the Vietnam War. The song was banned on Chicago radio stations and other cities around the nation due to fears of provoking further violence.
‘Street Fighting Man’ Was Still a Hit in the US
(Photo by Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
Despite the immense backlash of "Street Fighting Man" in the United States, the song was still a hit. It peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of Oct. 5, 1968. That same week, it reached No. 30 on the Cash Box Top 100 singles.
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