Rock History

On this day...

1940 – Cream drummer Ginger Baker is born in London. — 1940 – Cream drummer Ginger Baker is born in London.

2005 – Iron Maiden are pelted with eggs, bottle caps and ice on their last appearance at — 2005 – Iron Maiden are pelted with eggs, bottle caps and ice on their last appearance at Ozzfest. The power is also cut off several times. Sharon Osbourne later accuses [...]

2005 – Two days after cancelling his European tour, Eminem is hospitalized ” for — 2005 – Two days after cancelling his European tour, Eminem is hospitalized ” for dependency on sleep medication,” according to his label Interscope.

2004 – Academy Award-winning film composer Elmer B… — 2004 – Academy Award-winning film composer Elmer Bernstein dies in his sleep at his Ojai, Calif. home after a long illness. He is 82. Bernstein wrote the music for more [...]

2004 – Elmer Bernstein, an Oscar winning composer who wrote the themes — 2004 – Elmer Bernstein, an Oscar winning composer who wrote the themes to The Magnificent Seven, The Man With the Golden Arm, and The Great Escape, dies aged 82.

2003 – Tony Jackson, original bassist with Mersey Beat heroes the Searcher — 2003 – Tony Jackson, original bassist with Mersey Beat heroes the Searchers, dies aged 65. He also provided lead vocals on the hits “Sweets for My Sweet” and “Sugar and [...]

2003 – The Rolling Stones make over 300 of their post-1971 songs available — 2003 – The Rolling Stones make over 300 of their post-1971 songs available as purchasable downloads on Listen.com.

2003 – The Justified & Stripped tour with Justin Timberlake and Christina — 2003 – The Justified & Stripped tour with Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera kicks off again at New York’s Nassau Coliseum. Several dates were scrapped following the collapse of a [...]

2003 – Freddy Vs. Jason, a horror movie starring Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland — 2003 – Freddy Vs. Jason, a horror movie starring Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland, tops the American box office.

2003 – Mary J. Blige tells Newsweek that her managers stole hundreds of thousands — 2003 – Mary J. Blige tells Newsweek that her managers stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from her bank account while she was using drugs and alcohol.

2000 – Chicago bluesman and APO Records artist Jim… — 2000 – Chicago bluesman and APO Records artist Jimmie Lee Robinson starts a “hunger fast” in an effort to stop the University Of Illinois At Chicago’s (UIC) south campus expansion [...]

2000 – Creed cancel a show in Detroit after temporary bassist Brett — 2000 – Creed cancel a show in Detroit after temporary bassist Brett Hesla injures his hand.

2000 – Badfinger’s Joey Molland fractures his leg after falling — 2000 – Badfinger’s Joey Molland fractures his leg after falling off stage during the Classic Rock Festival in Darrington, Wash. Molland gamely climbs back up and finishes the Finger’s set [...]

1999 – Former guitarist for Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, Johnn — 1999 – Former guitarist for Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, Johnny Byrne, died in 1999 at the age of 59.

1999 – It is announced that Spin Doctors’ lead sin… — 1999 – It is announced that Spin Doctors’ lead singer Chris Barron has been diagnosed with a rare paralysis of his vocal chords. Doctors indicate that he may never regain [...]

1999 – DMX and Lauryn Hill are the big winners at … — 1999 – DMX and Lauryn Hill are the big winners at the 1999 Source Hip-Hop Awards at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. DMX goes home with artist and live performer [...]

1999 – Kiss’ and Alice Cooper’s music publishers reach a settlement out of cour — 1999 – Kiss’ and Alice Cooper’s music publishers reach a settlement out of court. Six Palms Music Corp. had sued Kiss, claiming their song “Dreamin’,” from Psycho Circus, sounded a [...]

1997 – Joe Diffie joins with Tower Records and Ame… — 1997 – Joe Diffie joins with Tower Records and America Online for the first “virtual instore.” Diffie chats and holds a “virtual autograph session” during which fans can receive a [...]

1997 – To announce their Bridges to Babylon tour, the Rolling Stones — 1997 – To announce their Bridges to Babylon tour, the Rolling Stones drive to a press conference at the Brooklyn Bridge in a ’55 Cadillac. Mick steers.

1995 – Security guards carry a sobbing Courtney Lo… — 1995 – Security guards carry a sobbing Courtney Love offstage after she begins fighting with Hole fans because they aren’t cheering loudly enough during the last night of the Lollapalooza [...]

1992 – Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Courtney Love of… — 1992 – Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Courtney Love of Hole have their first child. Daughter Frances Bean is born in Los Angeles.

1990 – Bad English hits #21 with “Possession”. — 1990 – Bad English hits #21 with “Possession”.

1990 – Aerosmith hits #22 with “The Other Side”. — 1990 – Aerosmith hits #22 with “The Other Side”.

1990 – Heart hits #23 with “I Didn’t Want to Need You”. — 1990 – Heart hits #23 with “I Didn’t Want to Need You”.

1988 – The Moody Blues hit #30 in the US with “I Know — 1988 – The Moody Blues hit #30 in the US with “I Know You’re Out there Somewhere”.

1985 – The Power of Love (Huey Lewis & The News) was a hit. — 1985 – The Power of Love (Huey Lewis & The News) was a hit.

1984 – Sammy Hagar hits #38 with “Two Sides of Love”. — 1984 – Sammy Hagar hits #38 with “Two Sides of Love”.

1984 – Van Halen hits #13 with “Panama”. — 1984 – Van Halen hits #13 with “Panama”.

1984 – 1984 Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) marries Julie Ann Friedman — 1984 – 1984 Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) marries Julie Ann [...]

1984 – Motley Crue gives its performance debut at … — 1984 – Motley Crue gives its performance debut at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington, England.

1983 – The Police play to 70,000 fans at Shea Stadium, New York. — 1983  – The Police play to 70,000 fans at Shea Stadium, [...]

1981 – The new Moody Blues album, Long Distance Voyager, hit the platinum — 1981 – The new Moody Blues album, Long Distance Voyager, hit the platinum level in sales in 1981.

1981 – Moody Blues begin UK tour – their first for two years. — 1981 -  Moody Blues begin UK tour – their first for [...]

1979 – On PBS, John Lennon and Bob Dylan star in the documentary Eat — 1979 – On PBS, John Lennon and Bob Dylan star in the documentary Eat the Document. While sitting in the back of his limo, Dylan tells Lennon he’s going to [...]

1979 – Singers Nick Lowe and Carlene Carter marry … — 1979 – Singers Nick Lowe and Carlene Carter marry in Los Angeles. She is Johnny Cash’s stepdaughter.

1979 – On PBS, John Lennon and Bob Dylan star in the documentary Eat the Document. While sitting in the back of his limo, Dylan tells Lennon he’s going to throw up. — 1979 – On PBS, John Lennon and Bob Dylan star in the documentary Eat the Document. While sitting in the back of his limo, Dylan tells Lennon he’s going to [...]

1977 – The Police Play their first gig without ori… — 1977 – The Police Play their first gig without original guitarist Henri Padovani at Rebecca’s Club in Birmingham, England. The Police were originally formed by Sting (Gordon Sumner), Stewart Copeland, [...]

1977 – Elvis Presley’s funeral is held at his Grac… — 1977 – Elvis Presley’s funeral is held at his Graceland estate in Memphis. More than

1977 – In England, the Police play their first gig as a three-piece after — 1977 – In England, the Police play their first gig as a three-piece after the departure of guitarist Henri Padovani.

1977 – The funeral for Elvis Presley is held at Graceland before 150 invited — 1977 – The funeral for Elvis Presley is held at Graceland before 150 invited mourners. Tens of thousands more gather outside the gates. Presley is buried next to his mother [...]

1974 – Keyboardist Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in Yes — 1974 – Keyboardist Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in Yes in 1974. The change would last 3 years, with the band releasing only one album, Relayer, in that time. Other [...]

1973 – Jethro Tull: ‘A Passion Play’ US LP is no. 1 — 1973 – Jethro Tull: ‘A Passion Play’ US LP is no. 1 chart topper this day in rock history!

1971 – Mysterious and wonderful techno artiste the Aphex Twin is born — 1971 – Mysterious and wonderful techno artiste the Aphex Twin is born Richard James. Little known fact He owns a tank.

1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Make It with… — 1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Make It with You,” Bread.

1969 – Crosby, Stills, Nash play at Woodstock with newly added member — 1969 – Crosby, Stills, Nash play at Woodstock with newly added member Neil Young in what is their second public performance. A half-dozen songs from their set appear on the [...]

1969 – Hendrix debuts a new band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, at the Woodstock — 1969 – Hendrix debuts a new band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, at the Woodstock music festival in New York State. The group includes old friend Billy Cox on bass, Mitch [...]

1969 – Mick Jagger is accidentally shot on the set of ‘Ned Kelly’ — 1969 -  Mick Jagger is accidentally shot on the set [...]

1966 – Paul Jones left Manfred Mann, just as “Pretty Flamingo” was — 1966 – Paul Jones left Manfred Mann, just as “Pretty Flamingo” was climbing the charts.

1966 Beatles: ‘Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby’ UK 45 no. 1 — 1966 Beatles: ‘Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby’ UK [...]

1964 – over 9,000 frenzied fans met The Beatles as they arrived in San Francisco, to begin — 1964 – over 9,000 frenzied fans met The Beatles as they arrived in San Francisco, to begin an American tour. The Beatles were driven into a protective fence enclosure so [...]

1964 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Where Did Ou… — 1964 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Where Did Our Love Go,” The Supremes. It is the group’s first hit.

1962 – Ringo Starr joins the Beatles as drummer af… — 1962 – Ringo Starr joins the Beatles as drummer after Pete Best is fired.

1962 – Ringo Starr plays with the Beatles for the first time at a Horticultural — 1962 – Ringo Starr plays with the Beatles for the first time at a Horticultural Society Dance in Birkenhead, England.

1962 – Peter, Paul & Mary release “If I Had a Hammer,” which becomes — 1962 – Peter, Paul & Mary release “If I Had a Hammer,” which becomes the folk trio’s first top 10 hit.

1958 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Volare (Nel … — 1958 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu),” Domenico Modugno. It is the only chart-topping record to originate in Italy.

1957 – Ron Strykert, guitarist with the best Australian band in the world — 1957 – Ron Strykert, guitarist with the best Australian band in the world ever, Men at Work, is born in Australia.

1956 – Little Willie John hits #5 on the R&B chart with “Need Your Love — 1956 – Little Willie John hits #5 on the R&B chart with “Need Your Love So Bad”, #6 on the R&B chart with “Home At Last”, #1 on the R&B [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley: ‘Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel’ US 45 — 1956 – Elvis Presley: ‘Hound Dog/Don’t [...]

1953 – Marvin Isley was born this day in rock history! — 1953 - Marvin Isley was born this day in rock history!

1952 – Patrick Swayze, the actor who hit the top three with “She’s Like — 1952 – Patrick Swayze, the actor who hit the top three with “She’s Like the Wind,” is born in Houston.

1950 – Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott is born — 1950 – Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott is born in London this day in rock history!

1949 – With a name like his, Nigel Griggs really only could be a bassist — 1949 – With a name like his, Nigel Griggs really only could be a bassist for Split Enz. And he is. He’s also born today.