Rock History

On this day...

2001 – In memory of People… God Bless! — 2001 – In memory of People… God Bless! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – George Canyon, the Road Hammers and the Cor… — 2006 – George Canyon, the Road Hammers and the Cord Lund Band are among the double winners at the Canadian Country Music Awards, held at Harbour Station in Saint John, [...]

2005 – The Pussycat Dolls top the U.K. singles chart with “Don’t Cha.” James — 2005 – The Pussycat Dolls top the U.K. singles chart with “Don’t Cha.” James Blunt’s Back to Bedlam returns to the top of the albums chart. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Famed songwriter/lyricist Fred Ebb dies of … — 2004 – Famed songwriter/lyricist Fred Ebb dies of a heart attack at his home in New York. He is 71. Ebb is best known for co-writing the songs for such [...]

2003 – Jewel postpones her North American tour after longtime bassist — 2003 – Jewel postpones her North American tour after longtime bassist Termome ‘T-Bone’ Hannon dies from a stroke aged 39. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Currently in the midst of big autumn tours, Bruce Springsteen, Cher — 2003 – Currently in the midst of big autumn tours, Bruce Springsteen, Cher, Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac refrain from playing on the second anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Person Bruce [...]

2001 – The U.S. music industry goes into a state o… — 2001 – The U.S. music industry goes into a state of near-total paralysis following the deadly terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in [...]

2000 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland unveils the Jimi Hendrix — 2000 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland unveils the Jimi Hendrix Surround Sound Theater and Exhibit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – The Jayhawks and Sixpence None the Richer give up their guitars for — 2000 – The Jayhawks and Sixpence None the Richer give up their guitars for trowels, and put their backs into building houses for the nonprofit group Habitat for Humanity today [...]

2000 – Boyz II Men perform at New York’s Beacon Theater to benefit VH1 Save — 2000 – Boyz II Men perform at New York’s Beacon Theater to benefit VH1 Save the Music and raise almost $60,000 for the organization. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – Canadian country music group the Wilkinsons… — 2000 – Canadian country music group the Wilkinsons clean up at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Edmonton. The Wilkinsons win four awards, including the Chevy Fans’ Choice Award, voted [...]

2000 – The Backstreet Boys meet with developers in — 2000 – The Backstreet Boys meet with developers in Huntsville, Ala., to talk about investing in a hotel. According to Kevin Richardson, “We do more than just sing and dance. [...]

1999 – Grand Ole Opry stars Riders in the Sky make… — 1999 – Grand Ole Opry stars Riders in the Sky make concert appearance number 4,000 during Cowboy Days in Puyallup, Wash. The group has had the same personnel for 21 [...]

1997 – John Lee Hooker receives a star on the Holl… — 1997 – John Lee Hooker receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Blues guitarist becomes a part of the famous stretch of sidewalk at an unveiling ceremony [...]

1996 – For the first time ever, a new single by a … — 1996 – For the first time ever, a new single by a major recording artist is released exclusively on the Internet. David Bowie’s “Telling Lies” is released on Bowie’s Website [...]

1996 – Michael Hutchence of INXS pleads guilty to assaulting — 1996 – Michael Hutchence of INXS pleads guilty to assaulting a photographer who lay in ambush for him outside a hotel where he was staying with Bob Geldof’s ex-wife Paula [...]

1995 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Gangsta’s Par… — 1995 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Gangsta’s Paradise (from `Dangerous Minds’),” Coolio featuring L.V. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – Janet Jackson’s “Runaway” makes history b… — 1995 – Janet Jackson’s “Runaway” makes history by becoming the first single by a woman to make its debut in the top 10 of Chart Toppers’s Hot 100. The single, [...]

1995 – Green Day turn down an invitation to play Sesame Street — 1995 – Green Day turn down an invitation to play Sesame Street because “we couldn’t handle a mosh pit full of 5-year-olds.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1990 – Having raised expectations with his superb Oh Mercy, Bob — 1990 – Having raised expectations with his superb Oh Mercy, Bob Dylan lowers them again with Under the Red Sky. On the same day, George Michael releases Listen Without Prejudice, [...]

1987 – Peter Tosh, a former member of Bob Marley’s… — 1987 – Peter Tosh, a former member of Bob Marley’s Wailers, is shot and killed during a robbery at his home in Kingston, Jamaica. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Lorne Greene – Ben Cartwright in Bonanza and a singer — 1987 – Lorne Greene – Ben Cartwright in Bonanza and a singer who scored a No. 1 hit with “Ringo” in 1964 – dies of cardiac arrest. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1984 – Some 16,800 Bruce Springsteen fans cram Philadelphia’s — 1984 – Some 16,800 Bruce Springsteen fans cram Philadelphia’s Spectrum to see the Boss play the first of six nights. The show sets a new attendance record for the venue. Be [...]

1979 – On the first date of his American tour, Tom Petty — 1979 – On the first date of his American tour, Tom Petty unveils a banner asking “Why MCA?” Petty was complaining because his label Gone Gator had been sold to [...]

1979 – The Who perform their first American gig without Keith — 1979 – The Who perform their first American gig without Keith Moon, who died a year ago. Face Kenny Jones sits in on drums when the band plays Passaic, N.J.’s [...]

1977 – David Bowie and Bing Crosby record a duet o… — 1977 – David Bowie and Bing Crosby record a duet of “The Little Drummer Boy” for a Christmas television special. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – Bernie Taupin makes a guest appearance on TV’s The Hardy — 1977 – Bernie Taupin makes a guest appearance on TV’s The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula. Elton John’s lyricist plays the leader of the rock band Circus. Be Sociable, [...]

1974 – The roots rock of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell — 1974 – The roots rock of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell, and the Band fills England’s 80,000-capacity Wembley Stadium. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – The roots rock of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni — 1974 – The roots rock of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell, and the Band fills England’s 80,000-capacity Wembley Stadium. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Black & Whit… — 1972 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Black & White,” Three Dog Night. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – An animated “Jackson 5” series premieres … — 1971 – An animated “Jackson 5” series premieres on ABC-TV. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – Donny Osmond is at No. 1 with “Go Away Little Girl.” — 1971 – Donny Osmond is at No. 1 with “Go Away Little Girl.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – The Beatles record 34 takes of “Glass Onion.” — 1968 – The Beatles record 34 takes of “Glass Onion.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham is busted — 1968 – Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham is busted for cannabis possession in England. In the ensuing furor, the “Stand!” band members are thrown out of their [...]

1967 – Performer Harry Connick Jr. is born in New … — 1967 – Performer Harry Connick Jr. is born in New Orleans, La. He records his first album, a collection of Dixieland music on a minor label, at the age of [...]

1967 – Fresh from the release of Sgt. Pepper, the Beatles head — 1967 – Fresh from the release of Sgt. Pepper, the Beatles head out in a psychedelic bus with their entourage to begin filming The Magical Mystery Tour. The bus goes [...]

1965 – Moby is born by the name of Richard Hall in Darien, Conn. — 1965 – Moby is born by the name of Richard Hall in Darien, Conn. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” goes to No. 1 — 1965 – The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” goes to No. 1 on the English singles chart two months after it became a chart-topper in America. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – The winner of a Mick Jagger impersonation contest — 1964 – The winner of a Mick Jagger impersonation contest held in Greenwich, England, reveals that he’s really Chris Jagger, the Rolling Stones frontman’s younger brother. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – The Beatles play the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. The band — 1964 – The Beatles play the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. The band requests that the audience be desegregated. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – George Harrison forms his publishing company Harrissongs. — 1964 – George Harrison forms his publishing company Harrissongs. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – In Los Angeles, fans can buy the unauthorized Bob Dylan — 1963 – In Los Angeles, fans can buy the unauthorized Bob Dylan release The Great White Wonder. It’s generally credited as the first bootleg album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1957 – Culture Club drummer Jon Moss is born in Wandsworth — 1957 – Culture Club drummer Jon Moss is born in Wandsworth, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1953 – Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw is born in Montgomery, Ala. — 1953 – Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw is born in Montgomery, Ala. Tommy Roland Shaw (born September 11, 1953) is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band [...]

1948 – Dennis Tufano, vocalist with ’60s rockers the Buckinghams — 1948 – Dennis Tufano, vocalist with ’60s rockers the Buckinghams (“Kind of a Drag”), is born in Chicago. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – Troubadour John Martyn is born in Glasgow, Scotland. With — 1948 – Troubadour John Martyn is born in Glasgow, Scotland. With his Echoplex, he was able to loop his own guitar onstage – essentially playing with himself. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is born. — 1943 – Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is born. MICKEY HART BIOGRAPHY Mickey Hart is best known for his nearly three decades as an integral part of an extraordinary expedition into the [...]