Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Amy Winehouse, 27, found dead on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Amy Winehouse, 27, found dead on This Day in Rock! Authorities found her at her north London home. Death is yet unknown, but Amy has battled drugs and [...]

2004 – Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour kicks off in Cincinnati. — 2004 – Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour kicks off in Cincinnati. Among the performers in the package jaunt are Snoop Dogg, Korn, the Used, Less Than Jake, Ghostface and Funeral [...]

2004 – Courtney Love turns herself in at a Los Angeles police station. The aging — 2004 – Courtney Love turns herself in at a Los Angeles police station. The aging grunge princess became a wanted woman after failing to appear at arraignment to respond to [...]

2003 – Teenage rapper Bow Wow stages a free concer… — 2003 – Teenage rapper Bow Wow stages a free concert in New York’s Bryant Park. The noontime event is sponsored by HBO and will include an announcement of a donation [...]

2003 – Sean “P. Diddy” Combs announces that he wan… — 2003 – Sean “P. Diddy” Combs announces that he wants to purchase the New York Knicks. The hip-hop/fashion mogul and devout fan of Gotham’s National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise proclaims [...]

2003 – Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime tour manager Bobby Thomson dies — 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime tour manager Bobby Thomson dies in his sleep prior to Ozzfest’s Detroit stop. He had been battling throat cancer. Sharon Osbourne’s brainchild, the 2003 Ozzfest tour, [...]

2003 – Weezer begin working with producer Rick Rubin on the follow — 2003 – Weezer begin working with producer Rick Rubin on the follow-up to Maladroit. Guitarist Brian Bell says expect “more textures.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Insisting the imagery the band uses _ speci… — 2001 – Insisting the imagery the band uses _ specifically its skeleton mascot “Vic Rattlehead” _ is unsuitable for the nation’s youth, Malaysian authorities ban veteran metal act Megadeth from [...]

1999 – DOBRO Guitars: The family of late steel guitar great Shot … — 1999 – The family of late steel guitar great Shot Jackson donates his signature black Dobro guitar to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dobro is a trade name now owned [...]

1999 – Public TV performance series “Sessions At W… — 1999 – Public TV performance series “Sessions At West 54th” debuts John Hiatt as its new host, replacing David Byrne. Person John Hiatt Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – It is announced that Iron Maiden will have … — 1998 – It is announced that Iron Maiden will have to cancel the remainder of its U.S. dates due to throat troubles for vocalist Blaze Bayley, whose doctor advises him [...]

1998 – Culture Club, Howard Jones, and the Human League kick — 1998 – Culture Club, Howard Jones, and the Human League kick off their Great Rewind tour in Atlanta. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Nirvana plays a surprise show at the New Mu… — 1993 – Nirvana plays a surprise show at the New Music Seminar at Roseland in New York City. The band showcases songs from its yet to be released album, “In [...]

1993 – A gunman fires into New York night club Dan… — 1993 – A gunman fires into New York night club Danceteria, injuring Eric Tallman, the lead singer of the rock band Erotic Exotic. A bullet grazes Tallman’s skull and he [...]

1992 – Bruce Springsteen begins a solo world tour — 1992 – Bruce Springsteen begins a solo world tour at New Jersey’s Brendan Byrne Arena. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – Debbie Gibson previews her upcoming tour production — 1991 – Debbie Gibson previews her upcoming tour production in the back yard of her Long Island, N.Y., home. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1989 – Ringo Starr kicks off his first-ever solo tour with — 1989 – Ringo Starr kicks off his first-ever solo tour with the All-Starr Band, featuring Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, and Clarence Clemons. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – No. 1 on the Chart Toppers Hot 100 is Richa… — 1988 – No. 1 on the Chart Toppers Hot 100 is Richard Marx’s “Hold on to the Nights.” It is the fourth single from his debut album, and it remains [...]

1987 – The surviving Beatles sue EMI-Capitol, demanding $40 million — 1987 – The surviving Beatles sue EMI-Capitol, demanding $40 million in back royalties and the right to own their recordings. Ringo Starr, Sir Paul McCartney, and George Harrison… remember John Lennon. Be [...]

— 1986 – The Bangles release their No. 1 “Walk Like an Egyptian.” The Rock Clock gave it a try, but couldn’t see the point of it all, really. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The One That… — 1981 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The One That You Love,” Air Supply. The group is the first from Australia to hit Chart Toppers’s Hot 100. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Keith Godchaux, former keyboardist of the G… — 1980 – Keith Godchaux, former keyboardist of the Grateful Dead, dies in an auto wreck at the age of 32. Biography Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in [...]

1977 – Carly Simon releases “Nobody Does It Better,” the theme from the James Bond — 1977 – Carly Simon releases “Nobody Does It Better,” the theme from the James Bond flick, The Spy Who Loved Me. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – It’s a rock-promoter rumble between the forces of Led Zep manager Peter Grant — 1977 – It’s a rock-promoter rumble between the forces of Led Zep manager Peter Grant and Bill Graham. Grant, Zep’s John Bonham, and two others are arrested after fighting with [...]

1977 – Judas Priest begins its first U.S. tour in … — 1977 – Judas Priest begins its first U.S. tour in Oakland, Calif., as the opening act for Led Zeppelin. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – The Rolling Stones and Brian Jones’ father sue former manager — 1971 – The Rolling Stones and Brian Jones’ father sue former manager Allen Klein for $29 million, alleging that he mismanaged the band’s funds. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Indian Reser… — 1971 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian),” The Raiders (formerly Paul Revere and the Raiders). It is the group’s biggest [...]

1969 – Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty had big plans to proclaim today — 1969 – Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty had big plans to proclaim today “James Brown Day.” Brown shows up at his office at 10 a.m. to receive the honor. But [...]

1966 – Prime Minister Harold Wilson personally reopens The — 1966 – Prime Minister Harold Wilson personally reopens The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – Napoleon XIV releases the perennial novelty favorite “They’re Coming — 1966 – Napoleon XIV releases the perennial novelty favorite “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” In reality he was record engineer Jerry Samuels. You left me anyhow and Then the days [...]

1966 – Frank Sinatra album Strangers in the Night reaches No. 1 on the charts. — 1966 – Frank Sinatra album Strangers in the Night reaches No. 1 on the charts. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Kinks storm through “You Really Got Me” on the TV show — 1965 – The Kinks storm through “You Really Got Me” on the TV show, Where the Action Is. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – Awlright! Guitar god and top-hat lover Slash is born — 1965 – Awlright! Guitar god and top-hat lover Slash is born today in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Saul Hudson (born July 23, 1965), more widely known by his stage name Slash, is an [...]

1964 – The Beatles take part in the Night of a Hundred Stars at the London — 1964 – The Beatles take part in the Night of a Hundred Stars at the London Palladium. Charity performance on `The Night Of 100 Stars’, at the London Palladium. [...]

1963 – Neil Young participates in his first recording session in Winnipeg, Manitoba. — 1963 – Neil Young participates in his first recording session in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – The Telstar satellite enables the first trans-Atlantic radio transmission — 1962 – The Telstar satellite enables the first trans-Atlantic radio transmission. Space-obsessed producer Joe Meek writes the chart-topper “Telstar” in tribute. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Chess Records releases “Maybellene,” the first single by a guitarist — 1955 – Chess Records releases “Maybellene,” the first single by a guitarist called Chuck Berry. The song goes to No. 5 and permanently enters the rock pantheon. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1951 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Come on-a My… — 1951 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Come on-a My House,” Rosemary Clooney. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1950 – Bachman-Turner Overdrive guitarist Blair Thornton is born — 1950 – Bachman-Turner Overdrive guitarist Blair Thornton is born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Blair Thornton (born July 23, 1950 in Vancouver, British Columbia), is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely [...]

1947 – David Essex (David Cook) is born in London…. — 1947 – David Essex (David Cook) is born in London. His biggest hit is the million-selling No. 5 single “Rock On.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1944 – Drummer Dino Danelli of the Rascals is born in Jersey City, N.J. — 1944 – Drummer Dino Danelli of the Rascals is born in Jersey City, N.J. Sometimes referred to as power pop’s first supergroup, Fotomaker was founded by former Rascals members Gene Cornish [...]