Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Gregg Rolie of Santana/Journey fame releases solo EP —   2011 – Gregg Rolie of Santana/Journey fame releases solo EP Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Rolie, co-founder of two multi-platinum super groups, Santana and Journey, and the voice [...]

2010 – Johnny Marr retrieved a stolen guitar taken in 2000 after a gig on This Day in Rock Music History! — 2010 – Johnny Marr retrieved a stolen guitar taken in 2000 after a gig on This Day in Rock Music History! “Ecstatic” about getting it back, it was stolen from [...]

2010 – Quick Hits: Coldplay, U2, Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper, Justin Bieber, Billy Corgan, Deftones, STP — 2010 – Quick Hits: Coldplay, U2, Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper, Justin Bieber, Billy Corgan, Deftones, STP February 22, 2010 Coldplay Chris Martin says Coldplay will release their next studio album by the end of [...]

2007 – Stu Sweatman releases material on Garage Band… — 2007 – Stu Sweatman releases material on Garage Band that is met with great Success! He reports to local News that he is excited at the turnout. http://www.garageband.com/artist/stusweatman Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Sheryl Crow undergoes minimally… — 2006 – Sheryl Crow undergoes minimally invasive surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Anthony Burger, known primarily as the pian… — 2006 – Anthony Burger, known primarily as the pianist on the Gaither Homecoming concerts, dies of a heart attack at the age of 44. Burger was playing piano on a [...]

2005 – Queens of the Stone Age are forced… — 2005 – Queens of the Stone Age are forced to call off their European tour after Josh Homme is found coughing up blood in his Paris hotel room. [...]

2005 – Korn announce that guitarist… — 2005 – Korn announce that guitarist and founding member Brian “Head” Welch has rededicated his life to Christianity and left the band. His decision may have been prompted [...]

2005 – Blink-182 announce they’re going on… — 2005 – Blink-182 announce they’re going on “indefinite hiatus” (i.e., they’re not speaking to each other until someone offers them enough money to do so). Be Sociable, [...]

2004 – ’60s crooner Bobby Vinton (“Blue Velvet”) collapses… — 2004 – ’60s crooner Bobby Vinton (“Blue Velvet”) collapses onstage while performing in Lancaster, Pa. The 68-year-old recovers backstage and refuses hospitalization. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Boy band Busted top charts… — 2004 – Boy band Busted – sort of like Blink-182 with training wheels – top the U.K. singles chart with “Who’s David.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Although already quite animated, “American … — 2004 – Although already quite animated, “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell makes the transition to cartoon form on another Fox television series, “The Simpsons.” The outspoken talent evaluator parodies himself [...]

2002 – The 66-year-old Little Richard receives… — 2002 – The 66-year-old Little Richard receives an NAACP Image Award, but reveals he’s thinking of retiring. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2002 – A judge rules that the record industry… — 2002 – A judge rules that the record industry must prove it owns the copyrights on recordings it claims were illegally traded on Napster in the ongoing dispute [...]

2001 -The Sunday Mirror lists the Beatles… — 2001 -The Sunday Mirror lists the Beatles as the biggest money-earners of 2000. Although they no longer exist, the band pulled in a tidy $50 million. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – John Fahey, guitarist and indie label owner… — 2001 – John Fahey, guitarist and indie label owner, dies in Salem, Ore., two days after undergoing coronary bypass surgery. He is 61. Fahey formulated an idiosyncratic bluesbased fingerpicking style [...]

2000 – Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, and Stevie Wonder pay homage to Curtis Mayfield… — 2000 – Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, and Stevie Wonder gather at a Los Angeles church to honor Curtis Mayfield. The politically conscious composer of “Move On Up” and [...]

1999 – Rising R&B star Kelly Price files suit agai… — 1999 – Rising R&B star Kelly Price files suit against T-Neck Records, Island Records, Ron Islay, and Islay Brothers Music Corp., alleging that T-Neck breached her contract and interfered with [...]

1999 – Jimmy Chamberlin announces that he has rejo… —   1999 – Jimmy Chamberlin announces that he has rejoined the Smashing Pumpkins, 3 1/2 years after being ousted from the group for his involvement in the fatal drug overdose of [...]

1998 – Stevie Wonder is honored as the 1999 MusiCa… — 1998 – Stevie Wonder is honored as the 1999 MusiCares Person of the Year. He receives the honor at a special tribute dinner and concert at the Century Plaza Hotel [...]

1994 – Papa John Creach, the 76-year-old… — 1994 – Papa John Creach, the 76-year-old violinist with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, dies of heart failure. Name: John Henry Creach Born: May 28, 1917, Beaver Falls, PA Died: Feb 22, 1994, Midway Hospital, [...]

1993 – Iron Maiden’s air-raid siren… — 1993 – Iron Maiden’s air-raid siren, Bruce Dickinson, announces that he’s leaving the group in order to pursue a solo career. He returns to the fold in 1999. Be [...]

1988 – Rick Astley wins the annual British Phonogr… —   1988 – Rick Astley wins the annual British Phonographic Industry award for best single, “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – Fine Young Cannibals have to postpone … — 1986 – Fine Young Cannibals have to postpone their appearance at a Boston nightclub after a tear gas bomb goes off in the venue. They finally come onstage [...]

1986 – MTV celebrates the 20th anniversary of the … —   1986 – MTV celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Monkees by airing “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” a 22-hour broadcast of Monkees TV episodes. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – Rolling Stone reports that Journey… — 1979 – Rolling Stone reports that Journey have entered into a sponsorship deal with Budweiser in one of the first instances of what will soon become standard music [...]

1978 – The Police appear as blondes… — 1978 – The Police appear as blondes in an advertisement for Wrigley’s chewing gum and decide to keep the look. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “New Kid in T… — 1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “New Kid in Town,” Eagles. The single, the first release from the album “Hotel California,” is the group’s first to be [...]

1976 – Florence Ballard of the Supremes dies of ca… —   1976 – Florence Ballard of the Supremes dies of cardiac arrest. Age 32. Ballard was cut from the group in 1967 following such No. 1 hits as “Baby Love,” “Stop! [...]

1969 – The Beatles begin their sessions for Abbey Road… — 1969 – The Beatles begin their sessions for Abbey Road with a take of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Oz magazine reviews Led Zeppelin’s first album… —   1969 – Oz magazine reviews Led Zeppelin’s first album. Writer Felix Dennis says the debut “defies immediate classification or description, simply because it’s so obviously a turning point [...]

1968 – Genesis release their debut single, “The Silent Sun.” — 1968 – Genesis release their debut single, “The Silent Sun.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Genesis releases its first single, “The Si… —   1968 – Genesis releases its first single, “The Silent Sun.” Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks later say they wrote the song in the style of the Bee Gees to impress [...]

1967 – The Beatles record the piano chord… —   1967 – The Beatles record the piano chord used on “A Day in the Life.” David Crosby pops by Abbey Road studios for a visit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Kind of a Dr… — 1967 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Kind of a Drag,” The Buckinghams. The group from Chicago was originally called the Pulsations. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – The Beatles form their Northern Music Publishing… —   1963 – The Beatles form their Northern Music Publishing Company. Their single “Please Please Me” spends its first week at No. 1 on the U.K. charts. Brian Epstein [...]

1961 – Don Van Spall, guitarist (Sleeze Beez) is born. — 1961 – Don Van Spall, guitarist (Sleeze Beez) is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Today’s issue of Billboard reviews James Brown’s… —   1956 – Today’s issue of Billboard reviews James Brown’s debut single, a little song called “Please, Please, Please.” “A dynamic, religious fervor runs through the pleading solo here,” [...]

1956 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Lisbon Antig… — 1956 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Lisbon Antigua,” Nelson Riddle. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1936 – Singer Ernie K-Doe (Ernest Kador Jr.) is bo… — 1936 – Singer Ernie K-Doe (Ernest Kador Jr.) is born in New Orleans. His first song to hit the charts, “Mother-in-Law,” reaches No. 1 in 1961. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1772 – Karl Jacob Wagner, composer is born. — 1772 – Karl Jacob Wagner, composer is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1749 – Johann Nikolaus Forkel, musicologist… — 1749 – Johann Nikolaus Forkel, musicologist/1st biographer of Bach is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1745 – Joao de Sousa Carvalho, composer is born. — 1745 – Joao de Sousa Carvalho, composer is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1542 – Santino Garsi, composer is born. — 1542 – Santino Garsi, composer is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]