Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Donna Summer Passed away on This Day in Rock Music History! — 2012 – Donna Summer Passed away on This Day in Rock Music History! R.I.P. You will be missed ‘Hot Stuff’.

2010 – RIP- Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath — 2010 – RIP- Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & [...]

2008 – Madonna was at No.1 on the US album chart with her eleventh — 2008 – Madonna was at No.1 on the US album chart with her eleventh studio album ‘Hard Candy.’ The album reached number one in thirty-seven other countries.

2008 – Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty posted a two-minute clip of — 2008 – Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty posted a two-minute clip of themselves playing with newborn mice on Youtube. The video showed Doherty and Winehouse in a bare room, making [...]

2005 – “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” singer Kylie Minogue announces… — 2005 – “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” singer Kylie Minogue announces she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She cancels her Australasian tour to receive treatment.  [...]

2005 – Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson are the big… — 2005 – Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson are the big winners at the Academy of Country Music Awards, held at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas. Wilson was [...]

2004 – Singer Lisa Loeb (“Stay (I Missed You)”) tells AP… — 2004 – Singer Lisa Loeb (“Stay (I Missed You)”) tells AP Radio that she has split from her longtime partner, guitarist Dweezil Zappa…. Yeah, but Dweezil is kewler!

2004 – Rising rock revivalists Jet (“Are You Gonna Be My Girl?”)… — 2004 – Rising rock revivalists Jet (“Are You Gonna Be My Girl?”) are forced to cancel the remaining leg of their Australian tour “due to a serious family [...]

2003 – Brainy rockers Radiohead kick off an intimate club tour… — 2003 – Brainy rockers Radiohead kick off an intimate club tour to promote new album Hail to the Thief at Dublin’s Olympia.

2003 – Stone Temple Pilot singer Scott Weiland is arrested… — 2003 – Stone Temple Pilot singer Scott Weiland is arrested after police stop him for driving without lights shortly before midnight in L.A. Cocaine and heroin is found [...]

2001 – Top Jimmy, an influential, hard-rocking blu… — 2001 – Top Jimmy, an influential, hard-rocking bluesman on the L.A. club scene in the

2001 – Cast members of the Grand Ole Opry and memb… — 2001 – Cast members of the Grand Ole Opry and members of the Country Music Hall of Fame converge for the grand opening of the new Country Music Hall of [...]

2000 – They Might Be Giants begins offering its se… — 2000 – They Might Be Giants begins offering its second MP3-only release, the EP Working Undercover For The Man. Comprised of all new, previously unreleased studio recordings, the eight-song set [...]

1999 – Producer Bruce Fairbairn dies in Vancouver at age 49… — 1999 – Producer Bruce Fairbairn dies in Vancouver at age 49. He worked on albums by Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and Krokus. Producer Bruce Fairbairn Dead At 49 Veteran producer [...]

1999 – Modern rock act No Doubt sues Carlsbad, Cal… — 1999 – Modern rock act No Doubt sues Carlsbad, Calif.-based clothing manufacturer No Fear, claiming that clothing items bearing the “No Doubt” name infringe on the group’s copyrighted service mark, [...]

1999 – Diane Warren has a big night at the 16th an… — 1999 – Diane Warren has a big night at the 16th annual American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers Pop Music Awards. She is named songwriter of the year for [...]

1996 – Blues guitarist Johnny “Guitar” Watson dies while touring Japan. — 1996 – Blues guitarist Johnny “Guitar” Watson dies while touring Japan. b. 3rd February 1935, Houston, Texas, U.S.A. d. 17th May 1996, Yokohama, Japan. Johnny Guitar Watson’s career went back [...]

1992 – A sore throat forces Phil Collins to abandon a Genesis… — 1992 – A sore throat forces Phil Collins to abandon a Genesis gig in Tampa, Fla., after only two songs.

1992 – Bandleader Lawrence Welk dies in Santa Moni… — 1992 – Bandleader Lawrence Welk dies in Santa Monica, Calif., of pneumonia at age 89. Known for his “champagne music” style, he hosted his own TV show, which ran on [...]

1990 – Nirvana played the last date of a North American tour at the Zoo — 1990 – Nirvana played the last date of a North American tour at the Zoo in Boise, Idaho. This was Chad Channing’s final gig with the band, drummer Dave Grohl [...]

1989 – At the Cannes Film Festival, Roger Daltrey announces… — 1989 – At the Cannes Film Festival, Roger Daltrey announces that he intends to pursue the study of Chinese medicine.

1989 – The first night of a 12-date UK tour for R.E.M. starting at — 1989 – The first night of a 12-date UK tour for R.E.M. starting at Leicester De Montfort Hall. (Promoting the new single ‘Orange Crush’).

1989 – Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s first Sticky Fingers — 1989 – Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s first Sticky Fingers restaurant opened in London.

1987 – A fire sweeps through Tom Petty’s Encino, Calif… — 1987 – A fire sweeps through Tom Petty’s Encino, Calif., mansion, causing a million dollars in damage.

1986 – Whitney Houston started a three week run at No.1 on the — 1986 – Whitney Houston started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Greatest Love Of All’, the singers third US No.1, a No.8 hit in [...]

1983 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let’s Dance,”… — 1983 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let’s Dance,” David Bowie.

1981 – Appearing at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England, Whitesnake — David Coverdale 1981 – Appearing at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England, Whitesnake on this day in rock history!

1980 – Drummer Peter Criss leaves Kiss to start a … — 1980 – Drummer Peter Criss leaves Kiss to start a solo career.

1980 – Drummer Peter Criss left Kiss and was replaced by Eric Carr — 1980 – Drummer Peter Criss left Kiss and was replaced by Eric Carr on this day in rock history!

1980 – Paul and Linda McCartney are the musical guests on… — 1980 – Paul and Linda McCartney are the musical guests on tonight’s edition of Saturday Night Live.

1978 – Thank God It’s Friday, starring Donna Summer, premieres in Los Angeles. — 1978 – Thank God It’s Friday, starring Donna Summer, premieres in Los Angeles.

1978 – Lou Reed begins a week-long stand at New York… — 1978 – Lou Reed begins a week-long stand at New York’s Bottom Line club. The concerts are taped for his live album Take No Prisoners.

1975 – Mick Jagger needs 20 stitches in his hand after… — 1975 – Mick Jagger needs 20 stitches in his hand after putting it through the window of a restaurant in Montauk, N.Y.

1975 – Elton John picks up a platinum disc for Captain Fantastic… — 1975 – Elton John picks up a platinum disc for Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The album is the first to sell a million copies on [...]

1974 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The Streak,” … — 1974 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The Streak,” Ray Stevens.

1974 – ABC broadcasts the Elton John special Say Goodbye… — 1974 – ABC broadcasts the Elton John special Say Goodbye to Norma Jean and Other Things, during which the singer plays “Candle in the Wind” and “Rocket Man.”.

1974 – On The Midnight Special, Frankie Avalon plays host… — 1974 – On The Midnight Special, Frankie Avalon plays host to Sam & Dave, Fabian, and Shirley & Lee.

1970 – Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block is b… — 1970 – Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block is born. His older brother Jon is also a member of the pop group from Boston.

1969 – Chicago release their double debut album, Chicago… — 1969 – Chicago release their double debut album, Chicago Transit Authority. The real C.T.A. sued.

1968 – Wonderwall, a psychedelic film with soundtrack by George… — 1968 – Wonderwall, a psychedelic film with soundtrack by George Harrison, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.

1967 – The Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back debuts… — 1967 – The Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back debuts at San Francisco’s Presidio Theatre.

1965 – Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor is born today in Mercer, Pa. — 1965 – Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor is born today in Mercer, Pa.

1963 – Joan Baez headlines the first Monterey Folk… — 1963 – Joan Baez headlines the first Monterey Folk Festival in California.

1963 – In England, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Little Richard… — 1963 – In England, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Little Richard appear on the same bill for the first time.

1963 – The Monterey Folk Festival opens with Bob Dylan… — 1963 – The Monterey Folk Festival opens with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Pete Seeger

1961 – New age vocalist Enya is born Eithne Ni Bhr… — 1961 – New age vocalist Enya is born Eithne Ni Bhraonain in the Gweedore region of County Donegal in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland.

1948 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Nature Boy,” … — 1948 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Nature Boy,” Nat King Cole.

1948 – Prog-rock drummer Bill Bruford is born in Sevenoaks, England… — 1948 – Prog-rock drummer Bill Bruford is born in Sevenoaks, England. He was a founding member of Yes and later joined King Crimson.