Rock History

On this day...

2007 – UK band The Hoosiers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their — 2007 – UK band The Hoosiers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album ‘The Trick To Life’, Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Producer and songwriter, Rudy Taylor, who t… — 2006 – Producer and songwriter, Rudy Taylor, who toured with Bobby Womack as musical arranger, dies in Baton Rouge, La. at the age of 52. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – The Game is arrested while signing autographs at a North — 2005 – The Game is arrested while signing autographs at a North Carolina mall. The Compton rapper, who was wearing a Halloween mask, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting [...]

2004 – The third time is the charm for Rod Stewart… — 2004 – The third time is the charm for Rod Stewart, who with his third collection of standards sits at No. 1 on The Chart Toppers 200 for the first [...]

2004 – Eminem and satellite radio provider Sirius … — 2004 – Eminem and satellite radio provider Sirius launch their uncensored hip-hop channel with a live broadcast from New York. Shade 45′s debut stems from the city’s Roseland Ballroom, where [...]

2004 – Baritone saxophonist Gil Melle dies of a he… — 2004 – Baritone saxophonist Gil Melle dies of a heart attack at his home in Malibu, Calif., at the age of 73. The first Caucasian artist to be signed to [...]

2003 – Courtney Love turns herself in to the Los Angeles police — 2003 – Courtney Love turns herself in to the Los Angeles police to face charges of possessing prescription the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – David Bowie and his wife Iman sign with Tommy Hilfiger — 2003 – David Bowie and his wife Iman sign with Tommy Hilfiger as the clothing designer’s new spokesmodels. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Tonight’s the Night, a musical based around the songs of Rod — 2003 – Tonight’s the Night, a musical based around the songs of Rod Stewart, opens in London’s West End. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Sting publishes the first volume of his autobiography, Broken — 2003 – Sting publishes the first volume of his autobiography, Broken Music. The tome takes Gordon Sumner from his childhood in Newcastle up to the early days of the Police. Be [...]

2003 – Mayor Mike Bloomberg makes Jennifer Lopez the honorary chairwoman — 2003 – Mayor Mike Bloomberg makes Jennifer Lopez the honorary chairwoman of a council to draw more Latin-based entertainers to New York. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – At a benefit show in Santa Barbara, Calif., Pearl Jam are joined onstag — 2003 – At a benefit show in Santa Barbara, Calif., Pearl Jam are joined onstage by ex-drummer Jack Irons, singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, and [...]

2001 – The Beastie Boys play their first show in m… — 2001 – The Beastie Boys play their first show in more than two-and-a-half years at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, at the first of two New Yorkers Against Violence benefits, which [...]

2001 – More than 22,000 friends, neighbors and fan… — 2001 – More than 22,000 friends, neighbors and fans turn out for Tim McGraw’s eighth annual Swampstock, held in his hometown of Rayville, La. Proceeds from the day benefit local [...]

2001 – Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald runs in t… — 2001 – Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald runs in the 26th annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. McDonald raises over $1,000 in pledge money for patients at St. Jude Children’s [...]

1999 – Injured Denver Broncos running back Terrell… — 1999 – Injured Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis makes his debut as a hip-hop artist when he performs at Denver night club Wazoos with rapper Legit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – A Kenny Rogers concertgoer is injured after the singer throws a Frisbee — 1999 – A Kenny Rogers concertgoer is injured after the singer throws a Frisbee into the audience during a show in Dallas. Kevin O’Toole later claims the accident left him [...]

1997 – Dave Matthews Band release their first official live album, Live at — 1997 – Dave Matthews Band release their first official live album, Live at Red Rocks, 8.15.95. It peaks on the Billboard Hot 200 at No. 3. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – R&B singer Billy Wright dies of a pulmonary… — 1991 – R&B singer Billy Wright dies of a pulmonary embolism in Atlanta at age 73. He had four songs reach Chart Toppers’s R&B top 10 from 1949 to 1951. [...]

1987 – That great TV show Miami Vice officially jumps the shark — 1987 – That great TV show Miami Vice officially jumps the shark (i.e., is no longer great), when Sheena Easton guest-stars as Sonny Crockett’s fiancee tonight. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1985 – Bob Dylan releases Biograph, one of the first major box sets. — 1985 – Bob Dylan releases Biograph, one of the first major box sets. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – The Jam announces it is breaking up. Bandle… — 1982 – The Jam announces it is breaking up. Bandleader Paul Weller forms the Style Council with Mick Talkbot shortly thereafter. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Island Girl,… — 1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Island Girl,” Elton John. The song is John’s third No. 1 song in 1975. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – The Who’s “Join Together” becomes the official theme song — 1972 – The Who’s “Join Together” becomes the official theme song of the U.S. Council for World Affairs. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Led Zeppelin play a second night at the casino in Montreux, Switzerland. — 1972 – Led Zeppelin play a second night at the casino in Montreux, Switzerland. Melody Maker writes about the gigs, “They will reshape your values about what is genuine [...]

1972 – The United States Council for World Affairs… — 1972 – The United States Council for World Affairs adopts the Who’s “Join Together” as its anthem. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Supremes make studio recording of “My … — 1965 – The Supremes make studio recording of “My World Is Empty Without You.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – The T.A.M.I. Show is filmed in Santa Monica, Calif., over the next — 1964 – The T.A.M.I. Show is filmed in Santa Monica, Calif., over the next two days. The concert movie features Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, [...]

1962 – Having just released their first single, “Love Me Do,” the Beatles — 1962 – Having just released their first single, “Love Me Do,” the Beatles play their first major gig at the Liverpool Empire. Also on the bill are Little Richard, Craig [...]

1961 – In a record shop today in Liverpool, England, a customer ask — 1961 – In a record shop today in Liverpool, England, a customer asks clerk Brian Epstein for “My Bonnie,” a single by the Beatles. Epstein doesn’t have it, but after [...]

Buddy Holly appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, where he lip-synched “It’s So Easy” and “Heartbeat”. It would be Holly’s last major TV appearance. — 1958 – Buddy Holly appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, where he lip-synched “It’s So Easy” and “Heartbeat”. It would be Holly’s last major TV appearance. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1957 – Drummer Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order is born — 1957 – Drummer Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order is born in Macclesfield, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

Elvis Presley makes his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, where the host presents him with a gold record for “Love Me Tender”. — 1956 – Elvis Presley makes his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, where the host presents him with a gold record for “Love Me Tender”. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit; “Love Me Tend… — 1956 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit; “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley. With this song Presley becomes the first artist to follow himself into the No. 1 position. After [...]

1945 – Wayne Fontana is born in England as Glyn Geoffrey Ellisvvv — 1945 – Wayne Fontana is born in England as Glyn Geoffrey Ellis. With his Mindbenders, he scored a No. 1 with “Game of Love” in 1965. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – Black Oak Arkansas guitarist Rickie Reynolds is born in — 1948 – Black Oak Arkansas guitarist Rickie Reynolds is born in … Black Oak, Ark. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1941 – Hank Marvin, guitarist with the English instrumental group — 1941 – Hank Marvin, guitarist with the English instrumental group the Shadows, is born in Newcastle. His distinctive twang inspired Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards to [...]

1941 – Pop vocalist Curtis Lee (“Pretty Little Angel Eyes”) is born — 1941 – Pop vocalist Curtis Lee (“Pretty Little Angel Eyes”) is born in Yuma, Ariz. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1937 – English bluesman Graham Bond is born in Romford. His band — 1937 – English bluesman Graham Bond is born in Romford. His band the Graham Bond Organization was the early proving ground for future Cream members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Be [...]

1936 – Fiddler Charlie Daniels is born in Wilmington, N.C. His band — 1936 – Fiddler Charlie Daniels is born in Wilmington, N.C. His band enjoyed its biggest hit with 1979′s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]