Rock History

On this day...

2007 – Johnny Marr was made a visiting professor of music at the — 2007 – Johnny Marr was made a visiting professor of music at the University of Salford in Manchester. The former Smiths guitarist was set to deliver a series of workshops [...]

2005 – Sticky Fingaz, formerly of Bacdafucup rappers Onyx, is arrested after police — 2005 – Sticky Fingaz, formerly of Bacdafucup rappers Onyx, is arrested after police find an unlicensed gun in his hotel room in New York City. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – U2′s Bono has lunch with George W. Bush in the White House. — 2005 – U2′s Bono has lunch with George W. Bush in the White House. They discuss G8, fighting AIDS, and probably their favorite Bible story. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – Alicia Keys tops the U.S. album chart with Unplugged. The second — 2005 – Alicia Keys tops the U.S. album chart with Unplugged. The second highest new entry is honky tonk star Gary Allen, whose Tough All Over bows at No. 3. Be [...]

2005 – Yusuf Islam, the singer/songwriter formerly… — 2005 – Yusuf Islam, the singer/songwriter formerly know as Cat Stevens, is named songwriter of the year at the ASCAP Awards in London. Islam also receives the song of the [...]

2005 – The MTV Video Music Awards Latin America ar… — 2005 – The MTV Video Music Awards Latin America are canceled. The awards show, derailed by Hurricane Wilma, is originally scheduled to take place the day earlier, but is then [...]

2004 – Nirvana’s Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic appear in public together for — 2004 – Nirvana’s Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic appear in public together for the first time in ten years at a Las Vegas rally for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Be [...]

2004 – Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and Eur… — 2004 – Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart are the lead performers on the “Alfie” soundtrack, released on Virgin. Jagger sings lead on about one-third of [...]

2003 – Brit R&B trio Sugababes finally unseat Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the — 2003 – Brit R&B trio Sugababes finally unseat Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the Love” from the top of the UK singles chart with “Hole in the Head”. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Luciano Pavarotti is acquitted of tax evasi… — 2001 – Luciano Pavarotti is acquitted of tax evasion in a trial in his home town of Modena, Italy. The opera star, who was accused of owing the government $18 [...]

2000 – The Del McCoury Band is named entertainer o… — 2000 – The Del McCoury Band is named entertainer of the year for the fourth consecutive year at the International Blue grass Music Association Awards in Louisville, Ky. Be Sociable, [...]

1997 – On stage at the Grand Ole Opry, Vince Gill … — 1997 – On stage at the Grand Ole Opry, Vince Gill honors his late friend and influence, John Denver. Gill plays “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and invites the audience [...]

1995 – Jazz cornetist Don Cherry dies in Malaga, Spain. He was also — 1995 – Jazz cornetist Don Cherry dies in Malaga, Spain. He was also the father of Neneh and Eagle-Eye Cherry. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Pearl Jam release their second album Vs., which tops the chart the — 1993 – Pearl Jam release their second album Vs., which tops the chart the following week despite featuring a llama on the cover. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – Delta bluesman Son House dies in Detroit at age 86. — 1988 – Delta bluesman Son House dies in Detroit at age 86. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “True Colors,… — 1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “True Colors,” Cyndi Lauper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – Moses Asch, founder of the Folkways record label, dies in New York — 1986 – Moses Asch, founder of the Folkways record label, dies in New York at age 80. The legendary label released records by Woody Guthrie, John Cage, and even the [...]

1985 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Take On Me,’… — 1985 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Take On Me,” a-ha. The group is the first from Norway to have a No. 1 hit in the United States. Be [...]

1981 – At a show on Bob Dylan’s Shot of Love tour, the jokerman turns the — 1981 – At a show on Bob Dylan’s Shot of Love tour, the jokerman turns the encore over to his wheelchair-bound friend Larry Kegan, who sings Chuck Berry’s “No Money [...]

1979 – Abba kick off a European tour in Gothenburg, Sweden. — 1979 – Abba kick off a European tour in Gothenburg, Sweden. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – At London’s Island studios, Jimmy Page records “Scarlet” with Keith — 1974 – At London’s Island studios, Jimmy Page records “Scarlet” with Keith Richards and Traffic’s Rik Grech. Vocal duties are handled by Richards. Page pronounces the track “great, really good.” Be [...]

1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Can’t Get … — 1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Can’t Get Next to You,” The Temptations. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear at Marylebone Magistrate’s Court to — 1968 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear at Marylebone Magistrate’s Court to answer charges of marijuana possession. They are remanded on bail until November 28. The same day, they [...]

1968 – Eighteen-year-old guitarist Peter Frampton plays with the Small — 1968 – Eighteen-year-old guitarist Peter Frampton plays with the Small Faces during a London concert. He later joins lead singer Steve Marriott in Humble Pie. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – The Beatles finished guitar and vocal parts for their next single — 1967 – The Beatles finished guitar and vocal parts for their next single ‘Hello Goodbye’ at Abbey Road studio’s London. Produced by George Martin. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The Yardbirds land in New York to kick off their first American tour — 1966 – The Yardbirds land in New York to kick off their first American tour. Jeff Beck leaves after playing two dates, leaving Jimmy Page to take over the lead [...]

1965 – The Beatles spend the day recording The Beatles’ Third Christmas Record. — 1965 – The Beatles spend the day recording The Beatles’ Third Christmas Record. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – Bluesman Howlin’ Wolf kicks off the first day of a five-day — 1964 – Bluesman Howlin’ Wolf kicks off the first day of a five-day American Negro Blues Festival in England. Also performing are Willie Dixon, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Sonny Boy Williamson. Be [...]

1961 – Although neither group has had any hits yet, the Beatles — 1961 – Although neither group has had any hits yet, the Beatles and Gerry & the Pacemakers unite to form a Liverpool supergroup, the Beatmakers, for a one-off show at [...]

1960 – Texan soul singer Jennifer Holliday is born in Houston. — 1960 – Texan soul singer Jennifer Holliday is born in Houston. She won a Tony Award for her performance in Broadway’s Dreamgirls, and scored a No. 22 hit with “And [...]

1957 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jailhouse Ro… — 1957 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jailhouse Rock,” Elvis Presley. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1957 – Karl Wallinger, former Waterboy and one-man World Party, — 1957 – Karl Wallinger, former Waterboy and one-man World Party, is born in Prestatyn, Wales. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1953 – Tom Petty, guitar, vocals, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is born on This Day in Rock Music History! — 1953 – Tom Petty, guitar, vocals, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is born on This Day in Rock Music History! He had the 1977 single ‘American Girl’, 1989 UK No.28 [...]

1951 – Alan Greenwood, keyboards, Foreigner, is born on This Day in Rock Music History! — 1951 – Alan Greenwood, keyboards, Foreigner, is born on This Day in Rock Music History! Foreigner had 1985 UK & US No.1 single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’. [...]

1949 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “That Lucky O… — 1949 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “That Lucky Old Sun,” Frankie Laine. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1947 – Singer Wilbert Hart of the Delfonics (“La La Means I Love — 1947 – Singer Wilbert Hart of the Delfonics (“La La Means I Love You”) is born in Philadelphia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Doobie Brothers vocalist/guitarist Patrick Simmons is born — 1945 – Doobie Brothers vocalist/guitarist Patrick Simmons is born in Aberdeen, Wash. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1944 – “Rock Your Baby” singer George McCrae is born — 1944 – “Rock Your Baby” singer George McCrae is born in West Palm Beach, Fla. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1937 – Jerry Jaye sang it like it was – “Honky Tonk Women Love — 1937 – Jerry Jaye sang it like it was – “Honky Tonk Women Love Redneck Men.” The country singer is born in Manila, Ark., today. Be Sociable, Share! [...]