On This Day in Rock History
2007 – The UK music industry reacted angrily at a decision to give away — 2007 – The UK music industry reacted angrily at a decision to give away ‘Planet Earth’ the new album by Prince as a ‘covermount’ with the Mail on Sunday newspaper. [...]
2006 – Avril Lavigne is married sweetheart Deryck Whibley of Sum 41… — 2006 – Avril Lavigne is married to sweetheart Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 in Montecito, California. But something tells the Rock Clock they won’t be by the time you read [...]
2005 – Not even the Man of Steel could stop the ne… — 2005 – Not even the Man of Steel could stop the new album by critically acclaimed artist Sufjan Stevens from hitting most store shelves.
2004 – U2 called in police after thieves nicked a copy of — 2004 – U2 called in police after thieves nicked a copy of the bands latest album ‘Vertigo’. The CD was stolen during a photo shoot with the band in the [...]
2002 – Sir Paul McCartney was named the highest-earning music star — 2002 – Sir Paul McCartney was named the highest-earning music star of the year so far after selling tickets worth £33.9m during his recent US tour.
2001 – Severe throat pain suffered by Deftones lea… — 2001 – Severe throat pain suffered by Deftones lead singer Chino Moreno scotches the band’s hometown appearance in Sacramento, Calif. Doctors order the singer _ who at one point is [...]
2001 – Police pull the plug on rap group Insane Cl… — 2001 – Police pull the plug on rap group Insane Clown Posse’s concert in Toledo, Ohio, after more than 100 fans rush onto the stage. Authorities say they stopped the [...]
2001 – Gravediggaz rapper Too Poetic (Anthony Berk… — 2001 – Gravediggaz rapper Too Poetic (Anthony Berkeley) dies at a Los Angeles hospital after a long fight with colon cancer. He is 35. Poetic had been at work on [...]
1999 – Rock drummer Tommy Lee is congratulated by … — 1999 – Rock drummer Tommy Lee is congratulated by a judge for abstaining from drugs and alcohol while on probation for spousal abuse. As wife Pamela Anderson Lee looks on, [...]
1999 – Opening night of Bruce Springsteen & The E … — 1999 – Opening night of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band’s North American reunion tour.
1999 – The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir marries his lady Natasha. — 1999 – The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir marries his lady Natasha.
1998 – Tori Amos kicks off a North American jaunt … — 1998 – Tori Amos kicks off a North American jaunt in support of her current album from the choirgirl hotel in Milwaukee, Wis. this day in rock history!
1998 – Country music star Alan Jackson debuts his … — 1998 – Country music star Alan Jackson debuts his first video in over a year on Country Music Television (CMT). “I’ll Go On Loving You” is the first single from [...]
1995 – Sinead O’Connor drops out of the Lollapaloo… — 1995 – Sinead O’Connor drops out of the Lollapalooza tour after just eight performances announcing she is pregnant and can’t tolerate the heat wave gripping the Midwest. She is replaced [...]
1994 – Phil Collins, whose songs like “In the Air Tonight” — 1994 – Phil Collins, whose songs like “In the Air Tonight” frequently dwelled on the breakup of his first marriage, announces that he’s divorcing his latest wife, Jill.
1992 – Aretha Franklin sings the national anthem a… — 1992 – Aretha Franklin sings the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in New York City.
1990 – Singer and bandleader Bobby Day dies of can… — 1990 – Singer and bandleader Bobby Day dies of cancer at the age of 60. His recordings included “Rockin’ Robin” and “Little Bitty Pretty One.”
1989 – Pink Floyd perform in Venice on a floating stage. Seems like… — 1989 – Pink Floyd perform in Venice on a floating stage. Seems like a good idea. But the 200,000 people who gather to see them end up causing damage to [...]
1986 – Columbia Records drops Johnny Cash. The country legend… — 1986 – Columbia Records drops Johnny Cash. The country legend had faithfully served the label for the past 28 years. This record label followed suit with NBC when they dropped [...]
1980 – Linda Ronstadt makes her theater debut in `… — 1980 – Linda Ronstadt makes her theater debut in “Pirates of Penzance” in New York.
1978 – Bob Dylan plays to a 200,000… — 1978 – Bob Dylan plays to a 200,000-strong audience at his open-air concert at England’s Blackbushe Airport in the final date of his current European tour. And he had just [...]
1974 – Elton John re-signs with MCA. Elton will receive $8 million… — 1974 – Elton John re-signs with MCA. Elton will receive $8 million for delivering his next five albums to the record label, including Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.
1973 – A depressed Ray Davies, balancing a beer can on his head… — 1973 – A depressed Ray Davies, balancing a beer can on his head, announces he is retiring from music during a Kinks concert at London’s White City Stadium. “I’m f*cking [...]
1971 – Yoko Ono appears at the London department store Selfridges… — 1971 – Yoko Ono appears at the London department store Selfridges, where she signs copies of her book Grapefruit. John Lennon turns up to lend a wrist.
1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Mama Told Me… — 1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” Three Dog Night. The song is written by Randy Newman.
1970 – Creedence Clearwater Revival release their very popular… — 1970 – Creedence Clearwater Revival release their very popular fifth album, Cosmo’s Factory.
1968 – Creedence Clearwater Revival release their self-titled debut album. — 1968 – Creedence Clearwater Revival release their self-titled debut album.
1967 – Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane dies of live… — 1967 – Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane dies of liver disease at the age of 40. He is posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
1967 – Jefferson Airplane and the Doors perform at the Anaheim… — 1967 – Jefferson Airplane and the Doors perform at the Anaheim Civic Center in California. Jim Morrison behaves himself.
1967 – Tonight’s Saturday Evening Post asks the question… — 1967 – Tonight’s Saturday Evening Post asks the question “What’s Happening in Pop Music?” The answer is Nancy Sinatra.
1965 – On tonight’s Where the Action Is, Jan & Dean sing… — 1965 – On tonight’s Where the Action Is, Jan & Dean sing “Little Old Lady From Pasadena.”
1963 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Surf City,”… — 1963 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Surf City,” Jan & Dean. The song is co-written by Jan Berry and Beach Boy Brian Wilson.
1963 – Paul McCartney is busted for speeding and fined… — 1963 – Paul McCartney is busted for speeding and fined 17 pounds for the offense.
1963 – Elvis Presley begins shooting Viva Las Vegas… — 1963 – Elvis Presley begins shooting Viva Las Vegas, one of the few Elvis Presley films that doesn’t play like an extended popcorn break.
1958 – John Lennon’s mother, Julia, dies in a road accident… — 1958 – John Lennon’s mother, Julia, dies in a road accident in Liverpool, England, thereby providing the young songwriter with plenty of angst-ridden solo material.
1956 – Born on this day, Ian Curtis, guitar, vocals, Warsaw, Joy Division — 1956 – Born on this day, Ian Curtis, guitar, vocals, Warsaw, Joy Division, (1980 UK No.13 single ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’). Curtis hanged himself in the kitchen of his [...]
1956 – Joseph “Satch” Satriani (born July 15, 1956 in Westbury, New York, U.S.) is — 1956 – Joseph “Satch” Satriani (born July 15, 1956 in Westbury, New York, U.S.) is an American guitarist and former guitar instructor. He is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy [...]
1954 – Quincy Jones leads the session as the Trenners… — 1954 – Quincy Jones leads the session as the Trenners record “Say Hay (The Willie Mays Song).” The brilliant center fielder also makes a vocal contribution to the single.
1952 – Born on this day, Jeff Carlisli, 38 Special, (1982 US No.10 — 1952 – Born on this day, Jeff Carlisli, 38 Special, (1982 US No.10 single ‘Caught Up In You’).
1952 – New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders is born in Leesburg, Fla. — 1952 – New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders is born in Leesburg, Fla.
1952 – On American TV tonight, a nationwide audience watches… — 1952 – On American TV tonight, a nationwide audience watches as an 8-year-old Gladys Knight wins the talent competition on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour. Knight takes home $2,000 and a [...]
1949 – Producer Trevor Horn, who gave tracks by Yes (“Owner… — 1949 – Producer Trevor Horn, who gave tracks by Yes (“Owner of a Lonely Heart”), Frankie Goes to Hollywood (“Relax”), and Seal (“Crazy”) a little “English,” is born in Hertfordshire, [...]
1948 – Twinkle, a ’60s British star (“Terry”) beloved… — 1948 – Twinkle, a ’60s British star (“Terry”) beloved of Morrissey, is born in Surbiton, England.
1946 – Linda Ronstadt is born in Tucson, Ariz., th… — 1946 – Linda Ronstadt is born in Tucson, Ariz., the daughter of German/Mexican parents. Her biggest hit is the No. 1 song “You’re No Good,” penned by Roy Orbison. She [...]
1944 – Millie Jackson is born in Thompson, Ga. She… — 1944 – Millie Jackson is born in Thompson, Ga. She works as a professional model in New York City and makes her singing debut at Club Zanzibar in Hoboken, N.J., [...]