Rock History

On this day...

1950 – Ann Wilson of Heart is born in San Diego this day in rock history! — 1950 – Ann Wilson of Heart is born in San Diego this day in rock history! Biography When she was a child, Wilson’s family moved around because her father was a [...]

2005 – Richard Ashcroft, formerly a singer with “Bittersweet Symphony — 2005 – Richard Ashcroft, formerly a singer with “Bittersweet Symphony” hit-makers The Verve, is arrested in Chippenham, England after barging into a youth club and demanding to work with [...]

2005 – Coldplay’s X&Y stays atop the U.K. album charts — 2005 – Coldplay’s X&Y stays atop the U.K. album charts. The “Crazy Frog” ringtone is still the No. 1 single.

2003 – Prince unveils a new studio album, “N.E.W.S… — 2003 – Prince unveils a new studio album, “N.E.W.S.,” to members of his NPG Music Club Web Site.

2003 – It is announced by his family that Ricardo … — 2003 – It is announced by his family that Ricardo Cane, singer of Afro-Cuban rumba band Los Munequitos de Matanzas, died earlier in the month of a heart condition in [...]

2003 – The opening date of the Lollapalooza tour — 2003 – The opening date of the Lollapalooza tour – featuring Audioslave and Queens of the Stone Age – is cancelled because organizers say Jane’s Addiction’s stage won’t fit [...]

2001 – Animated versions of Nelly and his rap coll… — 2001 – Animated versions of Nelly and his rap collective St. Lunatics make their online starring debut in “Rip Van Nelly,” a Macromedia Flash Game. With a Rip Van Winklelike [...]

2000 – There’s a new addition to Bob Dylan’s group today in — 2000 -  There’s a new addition to Bob Dylan’s group today in Portland, Ore. It’s Professor Patrick Ladd, who signs Dylan’s lyrics for the benefit of the hard of hearing.

1998 – Sunny skies and a mellow vibe accompany the… — 1998 – Sunny skies and a mellow vibe accompany the launch in Portland, Ore., of the second annual Lilith Fair. Special guest Sinead O’Connor opens the day with a handful [...]

1998 – Loretta Lynn makes a special appearance on … — 1998 – Loretta Lynn makes a special appearance on the Friday Night Opry, opening with her first No. 1 country hit, “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’,” from 1966, and follows with [...]

1998 – Sinead O’Connor opens the second annual Lilith Fair in Portland, Ore. — 1998 – Sinead O’Connor opens the second annual Lilith Fair in Portland, Ore.

1996 – Composer Vivian Ellis dies at the age of 92… — 1996 – Composer Vivian Ellis dies at the age of 92.

1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Foolish Beat… — 1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Foolish Beat,” Debbie Gibson.

1988 – Anthrax’s Danny Spitz marries fiancee Valerie. — 1988 – Anthrax’s Danny Spitz marries fiancee Valerie.

1988 – Michael Jackson performs in West Berlin, attracting a crowd of 3,000… — 1988 – Michael Jackson performs in West Berlin, attracting a crowd of 3,000 East Berliners who listen to the gig from the other side of the wall that divides [...]

1986 – Genesis hits #3 in the US with ‘Invisible Touch’ this day in rock history! — 1986 – Genesis hits #3 in the US with ‘Invisible Touch’ this day in rock history!

1984 – Tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s 10-night stand at New Jersey… — 1984 – Tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s 10-night stand at New Jersey’s Meadowlands go on sale. Twenty-four hours later, 202,000 tickets have been snatched up.

1982 – Rainbow hits #40 with “Stone Cold” this day in rock history! — 1982 – Rainbow hits #40 with “Stone Cold” this day in rock history!

1982 – Asia live up to their “supergroup” tag when their self-titled… — 1982 – Asia live up to their “supergroup” tag when their self-titled debut tops the albums chart.

1980 – Donna Summer is the first act signed by Dav… — 1980 – Donna Summer is the first act signed by David Geffen to his new Geffen Records label.

1977 – Sex Pistol Paul Cook sustains head wounds after… — 1977 – Sex Pistol Paul Cook sustains head wounds after being mugged in London.

1977 – Led Zeppelin play a one-off show in San Diego between six gigs — 1977 – Led Zeppelin play a one-off show in San Diego between six gigs in New York and six gigs in Los Angeles. Jimmy Page is apparently so out [...]

1976 – On HBO tonight you can watch Bette Midler perform… — 1976 – On HBO tonight you can watch Bette Midler perform live in the new show Standing Room Only.

1976 – The Bay City Rollers kick off their first U.S. tour in Atlantic City, N.J. — 1976 – The Bay City Rollers kick off their first U.S. tour in Atlantic City, N.J.

1973 – The Rocky Horror Show, starring Tim Curry, opens at a… — Tim Curry in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” 1973 – The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Tim Curry, opens at a London theater,. Also, making his first time ever appearance is [...]

1973 – On ABC tonight you can watch the special Roberta Flack… — 1973 – On ABC tonight you can watch the special Roberta Flack … The First Time Ever. She had already been to No. 1 in February with “Killing Me [...]

1971 – Almost exactly a year to the day after the appearance of ‘Gasoline… — 1971 – Almost exactly a year to the day after the appearance of ‘Gasoline Alley’, Rod Stewart releases his self-produced masterpiece, ‘Every Picture Tells a Story.’ It tops the Billboard [...]

1967 – Paul McCartney tells a British television audience that he has taken LSD… — 1967 – Paul McCartney tells a British television audience that he has taken LSD. It had worn off by the time he got around to recording “Silly Love Songs.”

1966 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Paperback Wr… — 1966 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Paperback Writer,” The Beatles.

1965 – The Rolling Stones score their first #1 on the American charts… — 1965 – The Rolling Stones score their first #1 on the American charts with “Satisfaction”.

1965 – The Kinks and the Moody Blues both play their first… — 1965 – The Kinks and the Moody Blues both play their first American date at New York’s Academy of Music.

1963 – Drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio) is born. — 1963 – Drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio) is born.

1962 – Singer Paula Abdul is born. She is a choreo… — 1962 – Singer Paula Abdul is born. She is a choreographer and member of the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders before becoming a successful singer. Her first big hit is the

1962 – Nat “King” Cole records his future No. 2 hit “Ramblin’ Rose.” — 1962 – Nat “King” Cole records his future No. 2 hit “Ramblin’ Rose.”

1953 – Larry Dunn, keyboardist with Earth, Wind & Fire, is born. — 1953 – Larry Dunn, keyboardist with Earth, Wind & Fire, is born.

1947 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Peg O’ My He… — 1947 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Peg O’ My Heart,” The Harmonicats.

1932 – Progressive sax sideman Mel Collins (Alexis Korner, King Crimson — 1932 – Progressive sax sideman Mel Collins (Alexis Korner, King Crimson, Rolling Stones) is born in England.

1902 – Bandleader Guy Lombardo is born in London, … — 1902 – Bandleader Guy Lombardo is born in London, Ontario. Lombardo and His Royal Canadians are the only dance band to sell more than 100 million records. He is most [...]