Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Funk legend Bootsy Collins is making the track “JB – Still The Man” available as a free MP3 download on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Funk legend Bootsy Collins is making the track “JB – Still The Man” available as a free MP3 download on This Day in Rock! To celebrate the April [...]

2011 – Bootsy Collins releases new album “Tha Funk Capital of the World” — Bootsy Collins – Photo Credit: © Michael Weintrab Permissions from Noble PR 2011 – Bootsy Collins releases new album “Tha Funk Capital of the World” Celebrated American funk bassist, singer and songwriter Bootsy [...]

2010 – Starting this week, Amazon.com will stream a new single from the upcoming self-titled STONE TEMPLE PILOTS album — 2010 – Starting this week, Amazon.com will stream a new single from the upcoming self-titled STONE TEMPLE PILOTS album. Each week leading up to the release, a new single will [...]

2008 – the Empire State Building in New York City was lit up in Mariah Carey’s — 2008 - the Empire State Building in New York City was lit up in Mariah Carey’s motif colors, lavender, pink, and white, in celebration of her achievements in the world of [...]

2007 – American singer Bobby “Boris” Pickett died of leukemia at the age —   2007 - American singer Bobby “Boris” Pickett died of leukemia at the age of 69. Scored the Halloween anthem ‘The Monster Mash’ in 1962. The song had been banned by The [...]

2007 – Simon Cowell and Clive Davis, chairman and CEO of J Records — 2007 - Simon Cowell and Clive Davis, chairman and CEO of J Records announced they would be working together on the latest X Factor winner Leona Lewis’ debut album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – Bruce Springsteen kicks off his solo “Devil… — 2005 – Bruce Springsteen kicks off his solo “Devils & Dust” tour in Michigan, at Motown’s Fox Theatre. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – UK tabloid The Sunday Mirror reports that Ringo Starr has… — 2004 – UK tabloid The Sunday Mirror reports that Ringo Starr has undergone an operation on his shoulder for bone spurs. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Eamon stays atop the UK singles chart for a second week with “F**k… — 2004 – Eamon stays atop the UK singles chart for a second week with “F**k It (I Don’t Want You Back)”. The No. 1 album is Guns N’ Roses [...]

2004 – Piano man Billy Joel drives his car into a house in Long Island… — 2004 – Piano man Billy Joel drives his car into a house in Long Island. Nobody is seriously injured. It’s his third car crash in two years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Jazz violinist-guitarist Claude “Fiddler” W… — 2004 – Jazz violinist-guitarist Claude “Fiddler” Williams dies of pneumonia in Kansas City, Mo. He is 96. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Michael Jackson’s legal team say they are stepping down… — 2004 – Michael Jackson’s legal team say they are stepping down from representing him in his battle against child molestation case. Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman are replaced [...]

2003 – Pop singer Kelly Clarkson and rock legends Styx both cancel… — 2003 – Pop singer Kelly Clarkson and rock legends Styx both cancel shows in Toronto following warnings about the spread of the killer respiratory disease SARS. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – The late jazz great Nina Simone is laid to rest in Carry… — 2003 – The late jazz great Nina Simone is laid to rest in Carry-Le-Rouet, France. Miriam Makeba attends and Elton John sends a bouqet of roses. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Jim Morrison’s parents sue the Doors 21st Century – made up… — 2003 – Jim Morrison’s parents sue the Doors 21st Century – made up of Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger and The Cult’s Ian Astbury – claiming their U.S. [...]

2003 – in this years Sunday Times Rich List, Paul McCartney was confirmed — 2003 - in this years Sunday Times Rich List, Paul McCartney was confirmed as the world’s richest musician with a fortune worth over £760m. Madonna was 4th in the list with [...]

2002 – Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, the effervescent, so… — 2002 – Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, the effervescent, sometimes volatile rapping member of the Grammy-winning R&B trio TLC, is killed in a car crash in Honduras. Lopes, who would have [...]

2000 – Putumayo Artists releases South African sin… — 2000 – Putumayo Artists releases South African singer/songwriter and renowned humanrights activist Miriam Makeba’s “Homeland,” her first studio album in 10 years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – Eric Clapton is reunited on a TV stage in L… — 2000 – Eric Clapton is reunited on a TV stage in London with his former Derek & the Dominos keyboard player Bobby Whitlock, for their first performance together in 29 [...]

1999 – Funk star Roger Troutman, 47, dies in a hos… — 1999 – Funk star Roger Troutman, 47, dies in a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, after being shot several times. His brother, Larry Troutman, 54, was found in a car nearby [...]

1997 – Warren Haynes and Allen Woody quit the Allman Brothers… — 1997 – Warren Haynes and Allen Woody quit the Allman Brothers Band to tend to their careers as Gov’t Mule. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1997 – U2′s ‘Pop Mart’ world tour kicked off at The Las Vegas San — 1997 - U2′s ‘Pop Mart’ world tour kicked off at The Las Vegas San Boyd Stadium in front of 35,000 fans. The tour featured the largest video screen in the world [...]

1994 – A judge determines that Michael Bolton’s “Love Is a Wonderful Thing”… — 1994 – A judge determines that Michael Bolton’s “Love Is a Wonderful Thing” sounds a little too similar to the Isley Brothers’ “Love Is a Wonderful Thing.” Soulman [...]

1994 – A judge sentences Beastie Boy Adam Horowitz to 200 hours… — 1994 – A judge sentences Beastie Boy Adam Horowitz to 200 hours’ community service after he beats up a TV cameraman during River Phoenix’s funeral. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – The Eagles played the first of two shows where they recorded — 1994 - The Eagles played the first of two shows where they recorded their ‘Hell Freezes Over’ album. Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmit first [...]

1993 – The Grateful Dead gather around one of their own, saying… — 1993 – The Grateful Dead gather around one of their own, saying they will help pay for artist Stanley “Mouse” Miller’s liver transplant. Miller created the band’s distinctive [...]

1990 – The Fender Stratocaster on which Jimi Hendrix played “The Star… — 1990 – The Fender Stratocaster on which Jimi Hendrix played “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock sells at a London auction for $295,000. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – U2 replace Beastie Boys at top of US LP chart… — 1987 – U2 replace Beastie Boys at top of US LP chart with The Joshua Tree. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Crowded House had their biggest U.S. hit when “Don’t Dream It’s Over” peaked — 1987 – Crowded House had their biggest U.S. hit when “Don’t Dream It’s Over” peaked at number 2 in 1987. It would soon be followed into the top 10 by [...]

1985 – “Big River,” a musical by Roger Miller, o… — 1985 – “Big River,” a musical by Roger Miller, opens on Broadway. It later wins a Tony as Best Musical. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – Wings break up after Denny Laine leaves the band. Paul McCartney… — 1981 – Wings break up after Denny Laine leaves the band. Paul McCartney says he will carry on as a solo artist. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – Elvis Presley makes his last-known recordings during a live… — 1977 – Elvis Presley makes his last-known recordings during a live concert at the Saginaw (Mich.) Civic Center. The tracks will turn up on the posthumous album Moody [...]

1976 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let Your Lov… — 1976 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let Your Love Flow,” Bellamy Brothers. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – Rolling Stone reports that concerts by Yes, Gregg Allman… — 1974 – Rolling Stone reports that concerts by Yes, Gregg Allman, and the Beach Boys have all been hit by streakers, no doubt inspired by Ray Stevens’ No. [...]

1974 – Jim Morrison’s widow, Pam, dies in Hollywood at the age of 27… — 1974 – Jim Morrison’s widow, Pam, dies in Hollywood at the age of 27. Police suspect heroin use may have played a part in her death. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – The Beatles perform “All You Need Is Love”… — 1967 – The Beatles perform “All You Need Is Love” during a global satellite broadcast. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – The Beatles have an amazing 14 singles on the American chart. — 1964 – The Beatles have an amazing 14 singles on the American chart. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – In England, Peter & Gordon take the Lennon/McCartney… — 1964 – In England, Peter & Gordon take the Lennon/McCartney song “World Without Love” to the top of the singles chart, where it knocks off the Beatles’ own [...]

1961 – Elvis Presley makes his last stage appearan… — 1961 – Elvis Presley makes his last stage appearance for nearly eight years at Bloch Arena in Hawaii. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1959 – The TV show “Your Hit Parade” airs for th… — 1959 – The TV show “Your Hit Parade” airs for the last time. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen hits UK chart… — 1958 – Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen hits UK chart Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley reaches top of US chart… — 1956 – Elvis Presley reaches top of US chart with Heartbreak Hotel, his first No. 1 Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1950 – Steve Ferrone, drummer with the Average White Band… — 1950 – Steve Ferrone, drummer with the Average White Band and Eric Clapton, is born in Brighton, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is born… — 1945 – Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is born this day in Rock HIstory! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba is born in Gothenburg, Sweden. — 1945 – Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba is born in Gothenburg, Sweden. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1933 – Jerry Leiber is born in Baltimore. With Mike Stoller… — 1933 – Jerry Leiber is born in Baltimore. With Mike Stoller, he’s written witty rock hits like “Yakety Yak” and “Jailhouse Rock.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1923 – Albert King (US blues guitarist) is born… — 1923 – Albert King (US blues guitarist) is born this day in Rock History! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1918 – Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald is born in Newport News, Va… — 1918 – Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald is born in Newport News, Va. Her incredible interpretative ability makes her one of the most influential singers in America, and she was recently [...]