Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Pres Obama helps Al Green’s Sales Almost 500 Percent singing of ‘Let’s Stay Together’ at Apollo Theater. — 2012  – Pres Obama helps Al Green’s Sales Almost 500 Percent singing of ‘Let’s Stay Together’ at Apollo Theater.  The YouTube Vid went Viral almost immediately.

2011 – LONDON – Police filed charges against the son of Pink Floyd guitarist — 2011 – LONDON – Police filed charges against the son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on Thursday for his role in last month’s violent protest against the [...]

2009 – Road Chef, the Watford Gap UK Motorway services operator, paid £1,000 at an auction for — 2009 – Road Chef, the Watford Gap UK Motorway services operator, paid £1,000 at an auction for a collection of celebrity signatures, which were collected by former employee, Beatrice England. [...]

2006 – Gene McFadden… — Gene McFadden 2006 – Gene McFadden, an R&B singer/songwriter who penned classics like The O’Jays’ “Back Stabbers” and had a No. 1 as McFadden & Whitehead with “Ain’t No [...]

2006 – Frontman Jason Lytle reveals that Grandaddy have split… — Jason Lytle 2006  – Frontman Jason Lytle reveals that Grandaddy have split up. “The realistic part is it hasn’t proved to be a huge money-making venture for a lot [...]

2006 – Hotly tipped rock band The 22-20s split,… — The 22-20s 2006 – Hotly tipped rock band The 22-20s split, explaining that they somehow inadvertantly had turned into “a hard-working British blues touring band.”

2005 – No Limit rap mogul Master P… — Master P 2005 – No Limit rap mogul Master P and his brother Silkk the Shocker are arrested on felony gun charges in Los Angeles. Police found two guns [...]

2005 – R.E.M. are forced to cancel a gig… — R.E.M. 2005 – R.E.M. are forced to cancel a gig for the first time since 1995 when their crew and gear is held at the Estonian/Russia border. The band [...]

2005 – Following a suicide attempt, Capitol Record… — Houston 2005 – Following a suicide attempt, Capitol Records artist Houston gouges out one of his eyes. The singer first attempts to jump out of a London hotel window. Prevented from [...]

2002 – Keyboardist Pete Bardens, a key figure in E… — Pete Bardens 2002 – Keyboardist Pete Bardens, a key figure in English blues-rock and progressive rock, dies of lung cancer at his home in Malibu, Calif. He is 57.

2002 – Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single — Enrique Iglesias 2002 – Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single with ‘Hero’.

2002 – Beach Boy Brian Wilson played the first of four sold-ou — Brian Wilson 2002 – Beach Boy Brian Wilson played the first of four sold-out nights at The Royal Festival Hall, London.

2000 – Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg — 2000 – Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg Matthew’s gave birth to a girl, Anais at Portland Hospital, London.

2000 – Beijing songstress Faye Wong and Hong Kong … — Faye Wong 2000 – Beijing songstress Faye Wong and Hong Kong Canto-pop star Andy Lau share the Century Award for best artist at the Channel V Chinese Music Awards, held at [...]

2000 – As part of the year’s Sundance Film Festiva… — Aimee Mann 2000 – As part of the year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Aimee Mann, Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, Lisa Loeb, and country star Dwight Yoakam perform [...]

1998 – James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana — James Brown 1998 – James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later clamed the [...]

1998 – Two male dancers for risquT rapper Kinsu, K… — 1998 – Two male dancers for risquT rapper Kinsu, Keith Allen and Antonio Robinson, appear in San Antonio County Court to answer charges of indecent exposure. The two had been [...]

1998 – Trace Adkins welcomes a new baby girl, Mack… — Trace Adkins 1998 – Trace Adkins welcomes a new baby girl, Mackenzie Lynn Adkins, at 3:44 p.m. at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. Mackenzie weighs 5 lbs., 15 1/2 oz. and measures [...]

1997 – At the American Music Awards… — Pat Boone 1997 – At the American Music Awards, starchy crooner Pat Boone reveals his new “metal” direction, wearing leathers and a studded collar. His weekly Gospel America TV [...]

1997 – Tin Pan Alley composer Gerald Marks, best k… — Gerald Marks 1997 – Tin Pan Alley composer Gerald Marks, best known for the song “All of Me,” dies at the age of 96.

1996 – Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the — 1996 – Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Spaceman’, the fastest selling non-charity single ever. (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song [...]

1994 – Oasis made their London live debut when the played at — Oasis 1994 – Oasis made their London live debut when the played at King’s Cross Water Rats. The gig was by invite only.

1990 – Tom Petty Day… — Tom Petty 1990 – In honor of one of its most famous sons, Gainesville, Fla., declares today Tom Petty Day.

1985 – Bumps Blackwell, who produced early hits for Little Richard (“Tutti Frutti”)… — Little Richard 1985 – Bumps Blackwell, who produced early hits for Little Richard (“Tutti Frutti”) and Sam Cooke (“You Send Me”), dies in Hacienda Heights, Calif. Bizarrely, he also [...]

1984 – Madonna made her first appearance in the UK whe — Madonna-Like a Virgin 1984 – Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube performing ‘Holiday’. The show was broadcast live from [...]

1984 – The Eurythmics begin a grueling 175-date wo… — The Eurythmics 1984 – The Eurythmics begin a grueling 175-date world tour in Australia.

1976 – David Bowie sues his former attorney… — David Bowie 1976 – David Bowie sues his former attorney, alleging that Michael Lippan took a 15 percent agent’s fee instead of the customary 10 percent. Bowie’s suit also [...]

1972 – Mahalia Jackson dies of heart failure. Age … — Mahalia Jackson 1972 – Mahalia Jackson dies of heart failure. Age 70. She is posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972. In the ceremony she is cited as the [...]

1971 – David Bowie arrives for his first visit to … — David Bowie 1971 – David Bowie arrives for his first visit to the U.S. He does not perform, but receives much publicity for wearing dresses in Texas and Louisiana.

1968 – Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton is born in Eureka, Calif. — Faith No More 1968 – Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton is born in Eureka, Calif.

1968 – The Bee Gees play their first American gig… — The Bee Gees 1968 – The Bee Gees play their first American gig at California’s Anaheim Convention Center, making $50,000.

1967 – The Beatles sign a new, 9-year contract with EMI. — 1967 – The Beatles sign a new, 9-year contract with EMI.

1965 – John and Cynthia Lennon… — 1965 – John and Cynthia Lennon fly to the Alps for a ten-day-long skiing vacation.

1964 – The Rolling Stones appear on British television’s… — The Rolling Stones 1964 – The Rolling Stones appear on British television’s Juke Box Jury, where they pass judgment on that week’s single releases.

1961 – Keyboardist Gillian Gilbert is born… — 1961 – Keyboardist Gillian Gilbert of New Order is born in Manchester, England.

1958 – Little Richard interrupts his music career … — 1958 – Little Richard interrupts his music career to enter a theological seminary in Huntsville, Ala., where he will later receive a degree and be ordained.

1956 – Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” is rel… — Elvis Presley 1956 – Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” is released. The release is timed to coincide with his first appearance on national TV, on tomorrow’s Stage Show, hosted by Tommy [...]

1951 – J. Geils Band keyboardist Seth Justman is born… — 1951 – J. Geils Band keyboardist Seth Justman is born in Washington, D.C.

1951 – Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey is born in Dublin. — Thin Lizzy 1951 – Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey is born in Dublin.

1951 – Keyboardist Seth Justman of J. Geils Band i… — 1951 – Keyboardist Seth Justman of J. Geils Band is born in Washington, D.C.

1947 – Nedra Talley is born… — 1947 – Nedra Talley, who backed Ronnie Spector with the Ronettes, is born in New York.

1945 – Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason is born in Birmingham, England. — Pink Floyd 1945 – Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason is born in Birmingham, England.

1944 – English singer-songwriter Kevin Coyne is born… — 1944 – English singer-songwriter Kevin Coyne is born in Derby. The Mekons and Siren have covered his songs.

1937 – Steel guitar-playing supremo Buddy Emmons is born… — 1937 – Steel guitar-playing supremo Buddy Emmons is born in Mishawaka, Ind. You can hear his playing on records by J.J. Cale, k d lang and the Everly [...]

1930 – The great blues singer Bobby “Blue” Bland is born… — 1930 – The great blues singer Bobby “Blue” Bland is born in Rosemark, Tenn. His biggest pop hit was 1964’s “Ain’t Nothing You Can Do.”

1925 – Blues singer and songwriter Doc Pomus is born… — 1925 – Blues singer and songwriter Doc Pomus, who with Mort Shuman penned such classics as “Save the Last Dance For Me” and “This Magic Moment,” is born [...]

1919 – Ross Bagdasarian, the actor and songwriter who invented the Chipmunks… — 1919 – Ross Bagdasarian, the actor and songwriter who invented the Chipmunks, is born in Fresno, Calif.