Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Paul McCartney debuts his new songs live on an iTunes stream on This Day in Rock Music History! — 2012 – Paul McCartney debuts his new songs live on an iTunes stream on This Day in Rock Music History! Paul McCartney will debut the songs at 10pm EST Thrusday. Songs [...]

2011 – The Strokes release ‘Under Cover of Darkness,’ the first single from their forthcoming album ‘Angles — 2011 – The Strokes release  ‘Under Cover of Darkness,’ the first single from their forthcoming album ‘Angles,’  scheduled to be released on March 22. Their first release since [...]

2011 – On this day in Rock, 50 years after the Beatles honed their skills, created Beatlemania, and changed the world… The Cavern Club is revived for a tribute today. — 2011 – On this day in Rock, 50 years after the Beatles honed their skills, created Beatlemania, and changed the world… The Cavern Club is revived for a tribute today. A [...]

2010 – Howard Stern told his satellite radio listeners Monday morning (Feb. 9) that the rumor is true — 2010 – Howard Stern told his satellite radio listeners Monday morning (Feb. 9) that the rumor is true: “American Idol” producers are, in fact, considering him to replace Simon Cowell [...]

2009 – Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant took home five prizes for his collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss — 2009 – Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant took home five prizes for his collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss at this years Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles. The duo [...]

2006 – Beyonce tops the U.S. singles chart for a third — Beyonce 2006 – Beyonce tops the U.S. singles chart for a third week with “Check on It.” The highest new entry is songwriter Teddy Geiger’s “For You I Will (Confidence),” at [...]

2005 – The Game returns to the top of the charts with his debut — Tina Turner 2005 – The Game returns to the top of the charts with his debut, The Documentary. Tina Turner has her highest entry ever, as the hits collection All the [...]

2005 – Organist Jimmy Smith, who single-handedly introduced jazz — 2005 – Organist Jimmy Smith, who single-handedly introduced jazz to the power and versatility of the electric Hammond B3, dies at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, aged 79.

2005 – The Who’s Roger Daltrey is made a Commander of the Order — Roger Daltrey 2005 – The Who’s Roger Daltrey is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace. The rock gnome jokes the Queen would “probably fall [...]

2005 – With three awards, Scissor Sisters are the … — Scissor Sisters 2005 – With three awards, Scissor Sisters are the big winners of the Brit Awards at London’s Earls Court. The New York-based dance/rock act wins for best international group [...]

2004 – The retail chain Tower Records files for Chapter 11 — Tower Records 2004 – The retail chain Tower Records files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

2004 – One-time Supreme Diana Ross is convicted of driving while — Diana Ross 2004 – One-time Supreme Diana Ross is convicted of driving while under the influence in Arizona, and is ordered to spend two days in jail.

2003 – Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland went — Destiny's Child 2003 – Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Simply Deep.’

2002 – Billboard published the Top 5 selling albums in the world from — 2002 – Billboard published the Top 5 selling albums in the world from 2001: Britney Spears’ ‘Britney’, $7m (£4.1m); Shaggy’s ‘Hotshot’, $7.2m £4.24m); Destiny’s Child’s ‘Survivor’, $7.8m (£4.6m); Linkin Park’s [...]

2001 – Eminem beefed up security for his UK shows following — Eminem 2001 – Eminem beefed up security for his UK shows following the threat of gay rights protests. Campaigners said the rapper was a homophobe who fuelled prejudice with hate-filled lyrics.

1999 – Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, his Roswell Records… — 1999 – Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, his Roswell Records label, EMI Entertainment World and EMI Virgin Songs file suit against Miramax in California, accusing the Disneyowned indie of unauthorized use [...]

1998 – Oprah Winfrey announces that Garth Brooks h… — Garth Brooks 1998 – Oprah Winfrey announces that Garth Brooks has agreed to donate his earnings from sales of his latest album, “Sevens” for a seven-day period. The money goes to [...]

1998 – Brit Award winners included All Saints best single — All Saints 1998 – Brit Award winners included All Saints best single and video with ‘Never Never’, The Verve, best group and album with ‘Urban Hymns’, best male artist was Finley [...]

1993 – Paul McCartney releases his solo album Off the — Paul McCartney 1993 – Paul McCartney releases his solo album Off the Ground on this day in rock history!

1993 – Mick Jagger solo album alert! The Rolling Stones — Mick Jagger 1993 – Mick Jagger solo album alert! The Rolling Stones singer releases Wandering Spirit. It peaks at No. 11 on the American album chart.

1993 – Annie Lennox becomes the proud mother to her — 1993 – Annie Lennox becomes the proud mother to her first daughter, Tali.

1992 – touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only — Nirvana 1992 – touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the Logan Campbell Center in Auckland, New Zealand.

1991 – The Rev. James Cleveland dies in Los Angele… — James Cleveland 1991 – The Rev. James Cleveland dies in Los Angeles of heart failure at age 59. The gospel artist won four Grammys and recorded more than 100 albums.

1991 – Jesus Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart — Jesus Jones 1991 – Jesus Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their second LP ‘Doubt.’

1991 – C & C Music Factory started a two week run at No.1 — C & C Music Factory 1991 – C & C Music Factory started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Gonna Make You Sweat’, a No.3 [...]

1990 – Nirvana set out on a short west coast tour opening for — Nirvana 1990 – Nirvana set out on a short west coast tour opening for Dinosaur Jr. at the Pine Street Theater, Portland, Oregon.

1986 – Pete Townshend, Chrissie Hynde and The Communards — Pete Townsend 1986 – Pete Townshend, Chrissie Hynde and The Communards played a charity show at London’s Albert Hall for the victims of a volcanic eruption in Colombia

1981 – Rock `n’ roll pioneer Bill Haley of the Com… — 1981 – Rock `n’ roll pioneer Bill Haley of the Comets dies of a heart attack at his home in Harlingen, Texas. He sold an estimated 60 million records in [...]

1976 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “50 Ways to L… — 1976 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” Paul Simon. The song is Simon’s first No. 1 single since ending his 13-year partnership with [...]

1974 – ABBA’s “Waterloo” is chosen to represent Sweden in — Abba 1974 – ABBA’s “Waterloo” is chosen to represent Sweden in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

1972 – Paul McCartney plays the first date of an English hit-and-run — Wings 1972 – Paul McCartney plays the first date of an English hit-and-run tour with his new group Wings. The band performs an unannounced concert at Nottingham University. Wings then proceed [...]

1970 – The No. 1 LP in the U.K. today is Led Zeppelin II. — 1970 – The No. 1 LP in the U.K. today is Led Zeppelin II. Recording sessions The album was recorded during a hectic and much-traveled period of the band’s career from January [...]

1964 – The Beatles make their American TV debut li… — 1964 – The Beatles make their American TV debut live on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

1955 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Sincerely,”… — The McGuire Sisters 1955 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Sincerely,” The McGuire Sisters.

1947 – Joe Ely, twang-driven singer-songwriter and one-third — Joe Ely 1947 – Joe Ely, twang-driven singer-songwriter and one-third of the famed Flatlanders, is born in Amarillo, Texas. In the ’70s he moved into rockabilly mode, opening for the Clash. [...]

1947 – Soul singer Major Harris, who went to No. 5 in 1975 with — Major Harris 1947 – Soul singer Major Harris, who went to No. 5 in 1975 with the ballad “Love Won’t Let Me Wait,” is born in Richmond, Va.

1947 – Joe Ely, twang-driven singer-songwriter and one-third — Joe Ely 1947 – Joe Ely, twang-driven singer-songwriter and one-third of the famed Flatlanders, is born in Amarillo, Texas. In the ’70s he moved into rockabilly mode, opening for the Clash. [...]

1943 – Pop/soul singer and composer Barbara Lewis is born in South — Barbara Lewis 1943 – Barbara Lewis, Pop/soul singer and composer is born in South Lyon, Mich. Her biggest hit was 1963′s No. 3 “Hello Stranger.” By her teens Lewis was writing and recording [...]

1942 – Songwriter/performer Carole King (Carole Kl… — 1942 – Songwriter/performer Carole King (Carole Klein) is born on This Day In Rock in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her biggest hit, which stays at No. 1 for five weeks in [...]

1939 – Songwriter Barry Mann, who with his wife, Cynthia Weill, — 1939 – born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on This Day In Rock is Songwriter Barry Mann, who with his wife, Cynthia Weill, wrote such pop classics as “On Broadway” and “You’ve [...]

1914 – Ernest Tubb, one of the first great honky-tonk singers, is born — 1914 – On This Day In Rock, Ernest Tubb, one of the first great honky-tonk singers, is born in Crisp, Texas. Ernest Dale Tubb (Feb. 9, 1914 – Sept. 6, 1984), [...]