Rock History

2004 – French film score composer Michel Colombier dies at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., following a six-month battle with cancer. He is 65.

2004 – Paul McCartney, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Robbie Williams, Keane, Snow Patrol, Travis, The Darkness and others take part in the recording of a new version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The highlight of the session is U2′s Bono reprising his immortal line, “Tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.”

2003 – Jay-Z’s “The Black Album,” which he says is his final bow, has a rare Friday release Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam.

2000 – As promised, the Offspring give away $1 million of its own money to a lucky fan. Two finalists in the band’s online giveaway, where fans who downloaded the song Original Prankster were automatically entered, appear on MTV’s “Total Request Live” to compete in a trivia contest to determine who will take the prize. 14-year-old Ashley Hitchcock wins, correctly identifying Noodles as the oldest member of the band.

1999 – EMI Music Distribution begins offering retailers a $3 rebate on each unit sold of the latest Garth Brooks album “In… The Life Of Chris Gaines,” in order to boost sales. In exchange for the rebate, retailers are asked to lower the price of the Capitol album – which lists for $17.98 on CD – as low as possible.

1997 – Though it’s not a sell-out, the Bee Gees’ show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas still manages to gross a stunning $1,681,100.

1995 – The Rolling Stones release their acoustic “Stripped” album.

1995 – Controversial rappers Tha Dogg Pound enter The Chart Toppers 200 chart at No. 1 with “Dogg Food.” Rappers rule the week’s Top 10 with Cypress Hill’s “Cypress Hill III” debuting in third, and Eight Ball and MG debuting at No. 8 with “On Top of the World.”

1992 – John Mellencamp keyboard player John Cascella is discovered dead in his car in Indiana of a heart attack.

1990 – In today’s issue of Newsweek, the Who’s Pete Townshend says he’s bisexual. “I know how it feels to be a woman because I am a woman,” he says. “And I won’t be classified as just a man.” Marketing in full force.

1982 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Up Where We Belong,” Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes. The single wins an Oscar as the theme of “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

1972 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Can See Clearly Now,” Johnny Nash.