On This Day in Rock History
2018 – American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Otis Rush died — 2018 – American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Otis Rush died from complications of a stroke aged 84. His distinctive guitar style featured a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. His [...]
2015 – The original contract signed by The Beatles and manager Brian Epstein sold at Sotheby’s for £365,000 — 2015 – The original contract signed by The Beatles and manager Brian Epstein sold at Sotheby’s for £365,000, ($548.000). The 1962 document was said to be one of the most [...]
2012 – Lisa Marie Presley: The UK press reported that there really was a girl who works down the chip shop — 2012 – Lisa Marie Presley: The UK press reported that there really was a girl who works down the chip shop and swears she’s Elvis’ daughter, after Lisa Marie Presley [...]
2008 – Members Of Twisted Sister Now Willing To Take It — 2008 – Members Of Twisted Sister Now Willing To Take It NEW YORK—In a stunning reversal of their long-stated reluctance to take it, members of heavy-metal band Twisted Sister announced Monday that, [...]
2006 – Weezer sue the Miller Brewing Company. They allege that the drinks company — 2006 – Weezer sue the Miller Brewing Company. They allege that the drinks company used their band’s (geeky) image in Rolling Stone print ads without permission.
2005 – The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Better Days” is the highest new entry, debuting at No. 57. — 2005 – Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” tops the U.S. singles chart for a fourth week. The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Better Days” is the highest new entry, debuting at No. 57. [...]
2004 – Keith Moon’s five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Who drummer — Keith Moon of "The Who" 2004 – Keith Moon’s five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Who drummer in 1968, sold for £120,000 pounds ($215,772) in London to an American collector, setting [...]
2004 – The Sun reported that Michael Jackson had a secret fourth child who was now 19 — 2004 – The Sun reported that Michael Jackson had a secret fourth child who was now 19. The story claimed that Norwegian Omar Bhatti was born after a one night [...]
2003 – Ozzy Osbourne announces he is writing a Broadway musical based on — 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne announces he is writing a Broadway musical based on the life of Rasputin, the mad monk of Russia.
2004 – U2’s singer Bono addresses the Labour Party Conference in Brighton — 2004 – U2’s singer Bono addresses the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, England. He tells the delegates to “get real” about AIDS and world poverty.
2003 – DMX guest stars on an episode of the UPN si… — 2003 – DMX guest stars on an episode of the UPN sitcom “Eve.” Starring fellow rapper Eve, the series is set in Miami, where DMX’s character plays “the best tattoo [...]
2003 – California country singer Wesley Tuttle die… — 2003 – California country singer Wesley Tuttle dies of heart failure at a nursing home in Sylmar, Calif. He is 85.
2003 – City officials in St. Petersburg, Fla., pass a law banning public suicides — 2003 – City officials in St. Petersburg, Fla., pass a law banning public suicides after rock band Hell on Earth reveal a fan will kill himself during a concert to [...]
2002 – Jazz pianist Ellis Larkins dies of pneumoni… — 2002 – Jazz pianist Ellis Larkins dies of pneumonia in Baltimore. He is 79. As a vocal accompanist, Larkins backed Ella Fitzgerald on two celebrated albums in the ’50s; he [...]
2000 – In Las Vegas, Kid Rock joins Phish onstage to perform the Sugar Hill — 2000 – In Las Vegas, Kid Rock joins Phish onstage to perform the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
1998 – The family of Frank Sinatra files suit agai… — 1998 – The family of Frank Sinatra files suit against Newark, Calif.-based discount clothing company Ross Stores Inc. for copyright infringement. The suit alleges that an album of 75 songs, [...]
1997 – Epic’s Sons of the Desert are caught in a h… — 1997 – Epic’s Sons of the Desert are caught in a hotel fire during the group’s first trip to New York City. The group’s bassist Doug Virden sees smoke and [...]
1997 – Blues Traveler bassist Bobby Sheehan is arr… — 1997 – Blues Traveler bassist Bobby Sheehan is arrested for cocaine possession in Winnipeg. He is later released on $5,000 bond.
1996 – Alanis Morissette finishes her first U.S. t… — 1996 – Alanis Morissette finishes her first U.S. tour in Houston, Texas.
1994 – The Pointer Sisters receive a star on the H… — 1994 – The Pointer Sisters receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star on Hollywood Boulevard was originally set to be unveiled in January, but an earthquake [...]
1990 – Leaving us in no doubt that grunge had better hurry up and take over — 1990 – Leaving us in no doubt that grunge had better hurry up and take over, blond twins Nelson top the charts with “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection.”
With a full-scale Eagles reunion still five years away, Glenn Frey joins Don Henley onstage for the first time since 1980 at a concert in LA. Throughout the decade, band members received several lucrative offers to reunite, but declined them all. — 1989 – With a full-scale Eagles reunion still five years away, Glenn Frey joins Don Henley onstage for the first time since 1980 at a concert in LA. Throughout the [...]
1989 – Is nowhere safe? The Mile High Band are wowing the locals like they do every — 1989 – Is nowhere safe? The Mile High Band are wowing the locals like they do every other night at a saloon in Prescott, Ariz. Who should then jump up [...]
1987 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Didn’t We Al… — 1987 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” Whitney Houston.
1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Star Wars Th… — 1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band,” Meco. The 15-minute song is a disco version of several themes from the top movie of 1977.
1977 – James Brown’s band says the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business — 1977 – James Brown’s band says the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business is also one of the cheapest. Complaining of being underpaid, the band walks out on him in Hallendale, [...]
1977 – After the death of his friend Marc Bolan of T.Rex, David Bowie — 1977 – After the death of his friend Marc Bolan of T.Rex, David Bowie sets up a trust fund for the glam rocker’s son Rolan.
1976 – Happy birthday Jerry Lee Lewis style Trying to shoot a soda — 1976 – Happy birthday Jerry Lee Lewis style Trying to shoot a soda bottle, Lewis instead hits his bassist twice in the chest. With a .357 Magnum. Ow. He’s charged [...]
1972 – Los Angeles welcomes a new superstar, as Cat Stevens plays a sold-ou — 1972 – Los Angeles welcomes a new superstar, as Cat Stevens plays a sold-out Shrine Auditorium. Supporting his No. 1 album Catch Bull at Four, Stevens is touring with an [...]
1967 – Drummer Mickey Hart joins the Grateful Dead this day i — 1967 – Drummer Mickey Hart joins the Grateful Dead this day in rock history!
1967 – Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John — 1967 – Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am the Walrus’ which included the sound of a radio being [...]
1967 – It’s been a wild ride, but the Rolling Stones bid farewell to their — 1967 – It’s been a wild ride, but the Rolling Stones bid farewell to their manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
1967 – BBC Radio broadcasts a production of Shakespeare’s King Lear at — 1967 – BBC Radio broadcasts a production of Shakespeare’s King Lear at 7:30 p.m. GMT. What’s so rock ‘n’ roll about that? Only that John Lennon decided to sample [...]
1966 – At London’s Birdland club, Eric Burdon’s New Animals are holding — 1966 – At London’s Birdland club, Eric Burdon’s New Animals are holding auditions for a new guitarist. The band members are unimpressed by Noel Redding’s guitar skills, but invite him [...]
1965 – Born on this day, Ian Baker Keyboards, Jesus Jones — 1965 – Born on this day, Ian Baker Keyboards, Jesus Jones, (1991 UK No.7 single ‘International Bright Young Thing’).
1964 – The Beatles spend the day recording “Every Little Thing,” “I Don’t — 1964 – The Beatles spend the day recording “Every Little Thing,” “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party,” and “What You’re Doing” with George Martin, producer.
1963 – The Everly Brothers start a British tour in the company of Bo Diddley — 1963 – The Everly Brothers start a British tour in the company of Bo Diddley and the Rolling Stones at London’s New Victoria. It’s the Stones’ first tour of their [...]
1963 – The Rolling Stones open their first British… — 1963 – The Rolling Stones open their first British tour supporting the Everly Brothers and Bo Diddley at the New Victoria Theatre in London.
1963 – Solo artist and singer/bassist for the grou… — 1963 – Solo artist and singer/bassist for the groups Primus and Sausage, Les Claypool is born in Richmond, Calif. Leslie Edward “Les” Claypool (born September 29, 1963 in Richmond, California, U.S.) [...]
1961 – Three days after Bob Dylan begins his two-week stint supporting the Greenbriar — 1961 – Three days after Bob Dylan begins his two-week stint supporting the Greenbriar Boys at Greenwich Village’s Gerde’s Folk City, critic and future Dylan biographer Robert Shelton catches his [...]
1956 – Suzzy Roche of the folk vocalists the Roches is born — 1956 – Suzzy Roche of the folk vocalists the Roches is born in Bronxville, N.Y. this day in rock history!
1956 – RCA Records announces it has received more than 856,000 — 1956 – RCA Records announces it has received more than 856,000 advance orders for Elvis Presley’s forthcoming single “Love Me Tender.” The title song of Elvis’ first movie of course [...]
1956 – Bill Haley had five songs in the UK Top 30; ‘Rockin Through The Rye — Bill Haley 1956 – Bill Haley had five songs in the UK Top 30; ‘Rockin Through The Rye’, ‘Saints Rock n’ Roll’, ‘Rock Around The Clock’, ‘Razzle Dazzle’, and ‘See You [...]
1948 – Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner is born in Flint, Mich. He — 1948 – Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner is born in Flint, Mich. He later gave up rock for a gospel career. Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948 in Flint, Michigan) [...]
1942 – Jean-Luc Ponty is born in Avranches, France… — 1942 – Jean-Luc Ponty is born in Avranches, France.
1937 – Born on this day, Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes, US blues guitarist, died May 20th — 1937 – Born on this day, Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes, US blues guitarist, died May 20th 2003 aged 65. Worked with T-Bone Walker, BB King, Big Joe Turner.
1935 – Jerry Lee Lewis is born in Ferriday, La. Hi… — 1935 – Jerry Lee Lewis is born in Ferriday, La. His parents later mortgage their home to buy him his first piano. Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an [...]