On This Day in Rock History
2020 – Paul McCartney credits Jeff Lynne for getting him to ask Ringo Starr to appear on ‘Flaming Pie’ — 2020 – The Beatles legend collaborated with his former bandmate on his 1997 solo album after the Electric Light Orchestra musician – who performed on and produced the record after [...]
2020 – The Queen of Pop – who inked her first-ever record deal on Sire Records in 1982 — 2020 – The Queen of Pop – who inked her first-ever record deal on Sire Records in 1982 – is poised to rejoin the label which helped launch her career [...]
2019 – Thousands of Beatles fans made a pilgrimage to London’s Abbey Road — 2019 – Thousands of Beatles fans made a pilgrimage to London’s Abbey Road 50 years after the group walked over its zebra crossing for the cover of the last album [...]
2017 – Glen Campbell American singer, guitarist, songwriter, television host, and actor Glen Campbell died — 2017 – Glen Campbell American singer, guitarist, songwriter, television host, and actor Glen Campbell died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 81. He became a patient at an Alzheimer’s long-term [...]
2016 – Led Zeppelin: The judge overseeing Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway To Heaven’ trial ruled — 2016 – Led Zeppelin: The judge overseeing Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway To Heaven’ trial ruled against the band and their publishing company’s attempts to recoup nearly $800,000 in legal fees. While [...]
2010 – John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, had his parole hearing delayed until — 2010 – John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, had his parole hearing delayed until early September so that officials could gather additional information. The 55-year-old Chapman became eligible for parole [...]
2007 – The US National Musical Publishers’ Association joined other businesses in seeking — 2007 – The US National Musical Publishers’ Association joined other businesses in seeking to sue YouTube claiming songwriters were not being properly compensated when their music appeared on the site. [...]
2003 – Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera postpone several dates of their — 2003 – Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera postpone several dates of their Justified & Stripped tour after a lighting grid breaks before their Atlantic City, N.J., stop.
2002 – Robbie Williams The UK’s biggest undertakers Co-Op funeral services reported that bereaved families — 2002 – Robbie Williams The UK’s biggest undertakers Co-Op funeral services reported that bereaved families preferred pop songs to hymns at funerals. Top of the list was ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ [...]
2000 – James Brown’s head of security is arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed — 2000 – James Brown’s head of security is arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Brown’s Augusta, Ga., offices. Brown is also sued for sexual harassment again – this [...]
1998 – The Rolling Stones perform their first conc… — 1998 – The Rolling Stones perform their first concert in Russia, playing through a driving rain before an appreciative crowd estimated at 70,000.
1996 – Kiss appeared at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati — 1996 – Kiss appeared at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio on their 192 date Alive World Tour. During this show a fan threw his fake leg on stage, which [...]
1992 – Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses walks off stage a… — 1992 – Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses walks off stage after 55 minutes at a concert at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, complaining of a sore throat. Many of the [...]
1992 – Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘This Used To Be My Playground’ — 1992 – Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘This Used To Be My Playground’. A No.3 hit in the UK, the track was taken from the [...]
1992 – James Hetfield: A riot broke out during a Guns N’ Roses and Metallica gig at Montreal — 1992 – James Hetfield: A riot broke out during a Guns N’ Roses and Metallica gig at Montreal stadium when Metallica’s show was cut short after singer James Hetfield was [...]
1991 – Radiohead: On A Friday, (later to become known as Radiohead), appeared at The Jericho Tavern, Oxford — 1991 – Radiohead: On A Friday, (later to become known as Radiohead), appeared at The Jericho Tavern, Oxford, England. The band had met while attending Abingdon School, a boys-only public [...]
1991 – Rock organist Billy Preston (“Nothing From Nothing”) is charged with — 1991 – Rock organist Billy Preston (“Nothing From Nothing”) is charged with exhibiting pornography to a minor.
1987 – Less than three months after they go to No…. — 1987 – Less than three months after they go to No. 1 on Chart Toppers’s Hot 100 for the first time with “With or Without You,” U2 return to the [...]
1986 – David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Youn… — 1986 – David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is released from prison after serving time for drug and weapons charges.
1986 – Bob Dylan releases Knocked Out Loaded. — 1986 – Bob Dylan releases Knocked Out Loaded.
1985 – Keith Richards guests on Phantom, Rocker & Slick’s “My Mistake.” He accepts — 1985 – Keith Richards guests on Phantom, Rocker & Slick’s “My Mistake.” He accepts a leopard-skin coat as payment.
1982 – Mickey Thompson, singer with Starship, marries Sara Kendrick — 1982 – Mickey Thompson, singer with Starship, marries Sara Kendrick in San Francisco.
1981 – The Pretenders kick off their second American tour in Fort Pierce, Fla. — 1981 – The Pretenders kick off their second American tour in Fort Pierce, Fla.
1981 – MTV makes its first live concert stereo broadcast. The lucky — 1981 – MTV makes its first live concert stereo broadcast. The lucky band is REO Speedwagon.
1980 – The Plasmatics suffer a blow in London when local authorities — 1980 – The Plasmatics suffer a blow in London when local authorities tell them they can’t blow up a car onstage at the Hammersmith Odeon.
1976 – Epic Records releases Boston’s self-titled first album. The album — 1976 – Epic Records releases Boston’s self-titled first album. The album becomes the fastest-selling debut ever.
1970 – Janis Joplin buys a headstone for the grave… — 1970 – Janis Joplin buys a headstone for the grave of blues singer Bessie Smith, one of her idols.
1969 – The cover photo is taken for the Beatles’ `… — 1969 – The cover photo is taken for the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” LP. … Hey… McCartney is barfoot… is he dead??? Is this the Real Paul… Did John Bury Paul… [...]
1968 – Guitarist Ian Moore is born in Berkeley, Calif. — 1968 – Guitarist Ian Moore is born in Berkeley, Calif.
1966 – South Africa bans Beatles records as a riposte to John Lennon’s — 1966 – South Africa bans Beatles records as a riposte to John Lennon’s remark that the band was “more popular than Jesus.”
1966 – Jackie Wilson records “Whispers (Getting Louder),” which later goes to No. 11. — 1966 – Jackie Wilson records “Whispers (Getting Louder),” which later goes to No. 11.
1964 – Bob Dylan releases his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. — 1964 – Bob Dylan releases his album Another Side of Bob Dylan.
1964 – Billboard readers discover from Eric Burdon how the Animals got their — 1964 – Billboard readers discover from Eric Burdon how the Animals got their name. According to the singer, “[It] was probably an association with the kind of music that we [...]
1963 – The Oregon band the Kingsmen release “Louie Louie.” Many radio — 1963 – The Oregon band the Kingsmen release “Louie Louie.” Many radio stations ban the song when they decide the indecipherable lyrics must be obscene.
1961 – The Edge, U2 guitarist with the funny name, is born in East London — 1961 – The Edge, U2 guitarist with the funny name, is born in East London as mere Dave Evans.
1960 – According to today’s issue of Billboard, Decca recently dumped 25,000 — 1960 – According to today’s issue of Billboard, Decca recently dumped 25,000 copies of Ray Peterson’s “Tell Laura I Love Her.” Although the anguished ballad is a No. 7 hit [...]
1960 – Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” enters the top 40. Fueled by the — 1960 – Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” enters the top 40. Fueled by the dance craze, the song will later go to No. 1. A year later, it goes to No. [...]
1959 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “A Big Hunk O… — 1959 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “A Big Hunk O’Love,” Elvis Presley. The song enters the Hot 100 at No. 6.
1959 – Poison drummer Rikki Rocket is born in Mechanicsburg, Pa. — 1959 – Poison drummer Rikki Rocket is born in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
1958 – Madness guitarist Chris Foreman is born. — 1958 – Madness guitarist Chris Foreman is born.
1957 – Fats Domino releases his debut album, This Is Fats — 1957 – Fats Domino releases his debut album, This Is Fats
1952 – Journeyman drummer Anton Fig (Frehley’s Comet, Bob Dylan, Cyndi — 1952 – Journeyman drummer Anton Fig (Frehley’s Comet, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper) is born in Cape Town, South Africa.