Rock History

On this day...

2008 – Gilmour’s tribute to Floyd star Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett — 2008 – Gilmour’s tribute to Floyd star Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett and Richard Wright Gilmour said Wright (right) was “gentle, unassuming and private”. Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has praised [...]

2008 – In just a three-day sales window, Metallica’s “Death Magnetic — 2008 – In just a three-day sales window, Metallica’s “Death Magnetic” skates close to the half million mark and will lead The Billboard 200 when Nielsen SoundScan releases its charts [...]

2008 – Portuguese metal band PAINSTRUCK will release its third — 2008 – Portuguese metal band PAINSTRUCK will release its third album, “Hell’s Wrath in God’s Fury”, in October. The CD was recorded at In/Out studios in Portugal with producer Nuno [...]

2008 – Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield dies… — 2008 – Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield, who helped craft some of the Detroit label’s biggest hits, died Tuesday at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital. He was 65. While an [...]

2006 – British superstar Robbie Williams cancels his tour of Asia — 2006 – British superstar Robbie Williams cancels his tour of Asia, citing “exhaustion.” This day in … ahem… POP Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – R.E.M. is inducted into the Georgia Music H… — 2006 – R.E.M. is inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Atlanta this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – Motley Crue’s Vince Neil slips and tears his calf onstage — 2005 – Motley Crue’s Vince Neil slips and tears his calf onstage during one a reunion concert in Atlanta. “I just felt something snap in my leg,” the singer says. [...]

2005 – A judge orders Courtney Love to return to rehab for six — 2005 – A judge orders Courtney Love to return to rehab for six months as part of her sentence for violating probation. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – A fan-run museum dedicated exclusively to t… — 2005 – A fan-run museum dedicated exclusively to the Ramones opens in Berlin, Germany. This awesome day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Green Day unveil their new rock opera, American Idiot — 2004 – Green Day unveil their new rock opera, American Idiot, on the first date of their national tour in Hollywood, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – A coroner’s report says the late Rick James (“Superfreak — 2004 – A coroner’s report says the late Rick James (“Superfreak”) had nine drugs in his system including cocaine, methamphetamine, valium and vicodin when he died in August. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Izora Rhodes Armstead, one-half of disco/po… — 2004 – Izora Rhodes Armstead, one-half of disco/pop acts the Weather Girls and Two Tons O’ Fun, dies at San Leandro (Calif.) Hospital, near Oakland, from heart failure. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Rock wild man Ted Nugent is sued by a New Hampshire — 2003 – Rock wild man Ted Nugent is sued by a New Hampshire woman who claims he’s the father of her eight-year-old son and hasn’t ponied up the necessary child [...]

2003 – The Elvis Presley’s Memphis restaurant/nightclub on Beale — 2003 – The Elvis Presley’s Memphis restaurant/nightclub on Beale Street closes after six years of business. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Actor/songwriter Sheb Wooley dies in Nashvi… — 2003 – Actor/songwriter Sheb Wooley dies in Nashville of leukemia, after being hospitalized the day before. He is 82. His biggest radio hit was “Flying Purple People Eater,” which spent [...]

1998 – Members of ’70s British rock outfit Mott Th… — 1998 – Members of ’70s British rock outfit Mott The Hoople play together for the first time in some 24 years at a one-off performance at the Virgin Megastore on [...]

1997 – Portugal’s pop phenomenon of the ’90s, the … — 1997 – Portugal’s pop phenomenon of the ’90s, the Delfins premiere their album “Azul” (“Blue”) in Madrid’s Las Ventas bullfight arena. Compatriots Madredeus and Dulce Pontes also play. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – The Mill Valley, Calif., home of rock singe… — 1993 – The Mill Valley, Calif., home of rock singer Grace Slick is destroyed by fire when sparks from welders’ torches accidentally ignite dry grass. Damages are estimated at about [...]

1992 – Barbra Streisand performs in her first live… — 1992 – Barbra Streisand performs in her first live performance in six years at a Hollywood fund-raiser that takes in $1.1 million for Democrats including presidential nominee Bill Clinton. Other [...]

1991 – Country western singer Willie Nelson marrie… — 1991 – Country western singer Willie Nelson marries makeup artist Ann-Marie D’Angelo. The couple, who met on the set of Nelson’s 1986 movie “Red Headed Stranger,” has two sons. Be Sociable, [...]

1985 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Money for No… — 1985 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Money for Nothing,” Dire Straits. Police singer and cosongwriter with Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler, Sting sings the repeating backup refrain “I Want [...]

1977 – Opera singer Maria Callas dies of a heart a… — 1977 – Opera singer Maria Callas dies of a heart attack at the age of 53. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – Marc Bolan of T. Rex dies in an auto accide… — 1977 – Marc Bolan of T. Rex dies in an auto accident in London. Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld; 30 September 1947 – 16 September 1977), was an English singer, songwriter [...]

1972 – John Lennon & Yoko Ono release Some Time in New York — 1972 – John Lennon & Yoko Ono release Some Time in New York City. The album comes free with a second disc that features an atrocious live performance in which [...]

1970 – Led Zeppelin finally knock the Beatles out of their position — 1970 – Led Zeppelin finally knock the Beatles out of their position as the U.K.’s most popular group in a Melody Maker poll. Zep had released two amazing albums in [...]

1967 – At Abbey Road, the Beatles re-record “Your Mother Should — 1967 – At Abbey Road, the Beatles re-record “Your Mother Should Know.” this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – A slow day at Britain’s Houses of Parliament is enlivened — 1966 – A slow day at Britain’s Houses of Parliament is enlivened when MP Tom Drilberg asks the House to “deplore” a magistrate who condemned the Rolling Stones as “complete [...]

1966 – Bassist Pete Quaife calls it quits with the Kinks and is replaced — 1966 – Bassist Pete Quaife calls it quits with the Kinks and is replaced by John Dalton. Quaife later returns, but finally walks out on the band in March 1969, [...]

1965 – To kick off Shindig!’s second season, the Rolling Stones — 1965 – To kick off Shindig!‘s second season, the Rolling Stones perform their hit “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Other guests include the Kinks and the Byrds. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – “Gone Gone Gone” was the song that The Everly Brothers sang — 1964 – “Gone Gone Gone” was the song that The Everly Brothers sang on Shindig! when the first show aired in 1964. Also on the show were Sam Cooke and [...]

1964 – The pop music show “Shindig” premieres on… — 1964 – The pop music show “Shindig” premieres on ABC-TV. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – The Beatles have their single “She Loves You” released — 1963 – The Beatles have their single “She Loves You” released on the tiny American label Swan Records. It becomes a hit only after “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” [...]

1963 – Richard Marx is born in Chicago. The biggest of the songwriter — 1963 – Richard Marx is born in Chicago. The biggest of the songwriter’s run of 14 top 40 singles was the No. 1 “Right Here Waiting.” Richard Noel Marx (born September [...]

1958 – Fusion keyboardist Rodney Franklin, who hit the top — 1958 – Fusion keyboardist Rodney Franklin, who hit the top 10 in 1980 with “The Groove,” is born in Berkeley, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones is born. … — 1956 – Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones is born this day in rock history! Peter E. Zaremba (April 7, 1908 – September 17, 1994) was an American athlete who competed mainly [...]

1954 – Guitarist/vocalist Colin Newman of the legendary art — 1954 – Guitarist/vocalist Colin Newman of the legendary art punks Wire is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1952 – Ron Blair, bassist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, is born — 1952 – Ron Blair, bassist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, is born in Macon, Ga. He left in 1982 after the release of Long After Dark. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1947 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Near You,” … — 1947 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Near You,” Francis Craig Orchestra. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1942 – Bernie Calvert, bassist with the Hollies, is born — 1942 – Bernie Calvert, bassist with the Hollies, is born in Brierfield, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1925 – B.B. King (Riley King) is born in Itta Bena… — 1925 – B.B. King (Riley King) is born in Itta Bena, Miss. He is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and receives a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in [...]