Rock History

On this day...

2010 – Former Dream Theater and current Avenged Sevenfold drummer Mike Portnoy — 2010 – Former Dream Theater and current Avenged Sevenfold drummer Mike Portnoy posted this mysterious message on Twitter: “There’s alot of things going on in my life I wish I [...]

2010 – German guitar legend Michael Schenker (Michael Shenker Group, former UFO and Scorpions) has announced — 2010 – German guitar legend Michael Schenker (Michael Shenker Group, former UFO and Scorpions) has announced that he has formed a new band named, Strangers In The Night with UFO [...]

2010 – OZZY OSBOURNE’s Ferrari Hits Mercedes In Los Angeles — 2010 – OZZY OSBOURNE’s Ferrari Hits Mercedes In Los Angeles Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, it all went down yesterday morning – OZZY OSBOURNE’s Ferrari hit a Mercedes from behind right [...]

2006 – Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun d… — 2006 – Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun dies at New York’s Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is 83. Ertegun was critically injured when he fell backstage at a Rolling Stones [...]

2005 – 61-year-old Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page, whose hair — 2005 – 61-year-old Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page, whose hair is still remarkably black, is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for [...]

2005 – Eminem tops the U.S. album charts with his greatest — 2005  – Eminem tops the U.S. album charts with his greatest hits collection Curtain Call. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Erasure’s singer Andy Bell announces he is HIV-positive. — 2004 – Erasure’s singer Andy Bell announces he is HIV-positive. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Thousands attend a memorial for the late Pantera/Damageplan — 2004 – Thousands attend a memorial for the late Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell in Arlington, Texas. Eddie Van Halen, Jerry Cantrell and Zakk Wylde attend the ceremony along with Darrell’s [...]

2003 – Ozzy Osbourne and his daughter Kelly top the U.K — 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne and his daughter Kelly top the U.K. singles charts with “Changes.” Doctors say Osbourne is “progressing well, but slowly” following an ATV crash earlier in the [...]

2003 – As he recovers in a Berkshire, England, hos… — 2003 – As he recovers in a Berkshire, England, hospital from injuries sustained in an earlier ATV crash, Ozzy Osbourne has some cheering news when “Changes,” his duet with daughter [...]

2002 – Modern rock act Local H performs at a bar/r… — 2002 – Modern rock act Local H performs at a bar/restaurant in Crystal Lake, Ill., for Kevin Krak, winner of a summer eBay auction for a concert by the band. [...]

2001 – Jazz trumpeter Conte Candoli dies of cancer… — 2001 – Jazz trumpeter Conte Candoli dies of cancer in Palm Desert, Calif. He is 74. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – The star-studded concert Jingle Ball 2000 c… — 2000 – The star-studded concert Jingle Ball 2000 concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden is hosted by Mandy Moore and Jessica Simpson and features performances by Ricky Martin, Third [...]

2000 – Rapper Eminem and his wife Kim Mathers clai… — 2000 – Rapper Eminem and his wife Kim Mathers claim that they have reconciled after filing for divorce. The couple, high school sweethearts who married in 1999, ask the judge [...]

2000 – Loverboy lead singer Mike Reno issues a sta… — 2000 – Loverboy lead singer Mike Reno issues a statement concerning Scott Smith, the band’s bassist who was swept off his sailboat Nov. 30: “We do not know what the [...]

1999 – Lynyrd Skynyrd cancel their show in Odessa, Texas, after — 1999 – Lynyrd Skynyrd cancel their show in Odessa, Texas, after bassist Leon Wilkeson is hospitalized. He has an infected intestine and urinary tract. Christ, that hurts. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – It is announced that BMI has named “You’ve … — 1999 – It is announced that BMI has named “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” as the No. 1 composition on the performing rights group’s list of “Top 100 Songs Of [...]

1999 – Former Fab Four member Sir Paul McCartney p… — 1999 – Former Fab Four member Sir Paul McCartney plays a one-off gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where the Beatles formed three decades earlier. It is the first [...]

1999 – A tribute song to late Morphine lead singer… — 1999 – A tribute song to late Morphine lead singer Mark Sandman is made available for download. The song “Gone Again Gone,” written by surviving Morphine members Billy Conway and [...]

1998 – Grammy-winning musician Billy Preston plead… — 1998 – Grammy-winning musician Billy Preston pleads guilty to insurance fraud and agrees to testify against other defendants in an insurance scam that netted about $1 million. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1996 – Alanis Morissette makes the final stop of h… — 1996 – Alanis Morissette makes the final stop of her highly successful 1996 tour at Richardson Field in Honolulu. After her last song, the diminutive singer decides to celebrate the [...]

1995 – The FBI makes public their files relating to John Lennon — 1995 – The FBI makes public their files relating to John Lennon’s attempted deportation. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – White House classified documents are releas… — 1995 – White House classified documents are released revealing the FBI spied on John Lennon and his anti-war activities during the early ’70s in a possible attempt to have the [...]

1992 – Country music singer Merle Haggard and wife… — 1992 – Country music singer Merle Haggard and wife Theresa Lane have a baby, whom they name Binion Louis Haggard. The same day, Haggard files for bankruptcy protection. Be Sociable, [...]

1991 – Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” debuts at N… — 1991 – Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” debuts at No. 1 on Chart Toppers’s pop albums chart. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – Elton John performs with the Melbourne Symphony — 1986 – Elton John performs with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia. A live recording of “Candle in the Wind” from today goes to No. 6 in 1987. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1985 – James Taylor marries actress Kathryn Walker. — 1985 – James Taylor marries actress Kathryn Walker. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – Adam and the Ants kicked off a 23-date UK — 1981 – Adam and the Ants kicked off a 23-date UK tour at St Austell Coliseum, Cornwall. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Yoko Ono calls for a 10-minute silent vigil… — 1980 – Yoko Ono calls for a 10-minute silent vigil around the world for her husband, John Lennon, who was shot to Deaths six days earlier. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – The film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ starring John Travolta — 1977 – The film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ starring John Travolta premiered in New York. This movie catapulted an already successful career for the BEE GEE’s. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Led Zeppelin begin rehearsing for their first American — 1976 – Led Zeppelin begin rehearsing for their first American tour in two years, due to kick off in February. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – David Crosby and Graham Nash play a benefit concert — 1974 – David Crosby and Graham Nash play a benefit concert for the United Farm Workers in San Francisco. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – Bruce Springsteen appeared at the Pinecrest Country Club — 1973 – Bruce Springsteen appeared at the Pinecrest Country Club, Shelton, Connecticut. Only 200 tickets were sold for the show. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – In London, Born to Boogie, starring Marc Bolan, premieres. — 1972 – In London, Born to Boogie, starring Marc Bolan, premieres. The Ringo Starr-directed film also features an appearance by Elton John. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Alice Cooper may have sauntered through Saks, but he buys — 1972 – Alice Cooper may have sauntered through Saks, but he buys at Alexander’s. The New York department store stays open late tonight so that the shock rocker can get [...]

1971 – The MC5′s manager John Sinclair is released from prison — 1971 – The MC5′s manager John Sinclair is released from prison after Michigan relaxes its drug penalties. Sinclair had been sentenced to ten years in prison for possession of two [...]

1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The Tears of… — 1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The Tears of a Clown,” Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono continue to protest the — 1969 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono continue to protest the innocence of James Hanratty, one of the last people executed in Britain for murder, with their wacky antics. The [...]

1969 – The Jackson Five made their first network television appearance — 1969 – The Jackson Five made their first network television appearance in the US when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. You can see the greatness of the kid… [...]

1968 – Marvin Gaye scored his first US No.1 single when ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ — 1968 – Marvin Gaye scored his first US No.1 single when ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ started a five-week run at the top. Oh yes… a great song [...]

1967 – Dick Clark announces he’s producing a new film about hippies — 1967 – Dick Clark announces he’s producing a new film about hippies that will star Jack Nicholson and Susan Strasberg. Originally called The Love Children, the film hits screens as [...]

1967 – Rolling Stone Brian Jones collapses and is admitted to a London — 1967 – Rolling Stone Brian Jones collapses and is admitted to a London hospital. He later discharges himself. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The Elvis Presley film “Spinout,” co-star… — 1966 – The Elvis Presley film “Spinout,” co-starring Shelley Fabares, premieres. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – In the United Kingdom, The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your — 1963 – In the United Kingdom, The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” goes to No.1, where it stays for five weeks. In so doing, it knocks off the [...]

1963 – Dinah Washington dies of a drug overdose at… — 1963 – Dinah Washington dies of a drug overdose at the age of 39. The jazz and blues vocalist has 34 top 10 hits on Chart Toppers’s R&B charts. Her [...]

1963 – The Beatles played a show for their Southern Area Fan Club at — 1963 – The Beatles played a show for their Southern Area Fan Club at Wimbledon Palais, London. To prevent damage to the stage from fans the management of [...]

1962 – Bob Dylan releases his first single “Mixed Up Confusion — 1962 – Bob Dylan releases his first single “Mixed Up Confusion/Corrina Corrina.” However, his record label quickly withdraws the single. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Bill Wyman made his live debut with The Rollin’ Stones at the Ricky — 1962 -  Bill Wyman made his live debut with The Rollin’ Stones at the Ricky Tick Club, Star and Garter Hotel in Windsor, England. The group were know [...]

1952 – Singer Tamara Daanz is born. … — 1952 – Singer Tamara Daanz is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1951 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Sin,” Eddy … — 1951 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Sin,” Eddy Howard. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1946 – Singer Joyce Vincent, who charted as a member of Dawn — 1946 – Singer Joyce Vincent, who charted as a member of Dawn, is born in Detroit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Frank Allen, who played bass with the Searchers (“Love — 1943 – Frank Allen, who played bass with the Searchers (“Love Potion Number Nine”) is born in Hayes, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1932 – Country star Charlie Rich (“The Most Beaut… — 1932 – Country star Charlie Rich (“The Most Beautiful Girl”) is born in Colt, Ark. Be Sociable, Share! [...]