Rock History

On this day...

2009 – Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, — 2009 – Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The 19 year-old R&B singer was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to [...]

2008 – Coldplay appeared at Madison Square Garden in New York — 2008 – Coldplay appeared at Madison Square Garden in New York City on the first night of the North American leg, Viva la Vida, 161-date world Tour. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Robert Plant leads the bill for a June 23 b… — 2006 – Robert Plant leads the bill for a June 23 benefit concert for Love principal Arthur Lee, who is battling leukemia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – Four people are stabbed, one fatally, at a … — 2005 – Four people are stabbed, one fatally, at a Corrosion Of Conformity show at the Masquerade club in Ybor City, Fla. According to police, a fight between two women [...]

2004 – Bob Dylan was awarded an honorary degree by the University of St. — 2004 – Bob Dylan was awarded an honorary degree by the University of St. Andrews Scotland’s oldest University and made a “Doctor of Music.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – UK DJ Tony Blackburn was suspended by radio station Classic — 2004 – UK DJ Tony Blackburn was suspended by radio station Classic Gold Digital for playing songs by Cliff Richard which was against station policy. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – A statement appears on Dave Navarro’s Web site claiming Jane’s… — 2004 – A statement appears on Dave Navarro’s Web site claiming Jane’s Addiction have split for good. “The deal is that it simply didn’t work out,” it says in part. [...]

2004 – Beastie Boys’ To the 5 Boroughs enters the U.S. album chart at No. 1… — 2004 – Beastie Boys’ To the 5 Boroughs enters the U.S. album chart at No. 1. The second highest new entry is Celine Dion, whose A New Day: Live in [...]

2003 – Diana Ross appeared in court and testified that she was coerced — 2003 – Diana Ross appeared in court and testified that she was coerced and felt intimidated into taking a breath test that showed her blood alcohol level was 0.2 (well [...]

2002 – the top pop earners from US sales during 2001 were listed by Rolling Stone — 2002 – the top pop earners from US sales during 2001 were listed by Rolling Stone magazine as: Madonna at No.5 with £29.1 million ($49.5 million); Dave Matthews Band at [...]

2000 – Rapper, Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Russel Tyrone Jo… — 2000 – Rapper, Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Russel Tyrone Jones) is ordered into a 180-day drug treatment program. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge decides that treatment is a better option [...]

2000 – Neil Young is honored in Toronto with a sta… — 2000 – Neil Young is honored in Toronto with a star on the Canada Walk Of Fame. The Toronto native joins prior honorees Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Gordon Lightfoot, Rush, [...]

2000 – Michael Jackson is sued by his longtime Mun… — 2000 – Michael Jackson is sued by his longtime Munich, Germany-based concert promoter Marcel Avram, who accuses the pop king of refusing to perform two scheduled Millennium Concerts. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – The Experience Music Project was unveiled in Seattle — 2000 – The Experience Music Project was unveiled in Seattle by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. The £150 ($255) museum contained over 80,000 items of Hendrix memorabilia, including a smashed [...]

1998 – MCA act Aqua releases an official home vide… — 1998 – MCA act Aqua releases an official home video. Titled “The Diary,” the 120- minute package follows the group from the recording of its debut multiplatinum album, Aquarium, through [...]

1996 – Bryan Adams went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ’18-Till — 1996 – Bryan Adams went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ’18-Till I Die’. Metallica went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Load’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – drummer Alan White made his live debut with Oasis at Glastonbury — 1995 – drummer Alan White made his live debut with Oasis at Glastonbury Festival. Also former Take That member Robbie Williams appeared on stage with the band during the show. Be [...]

1994 – A son, Garrett Allan is born in Nashville t… — 1994 – A son, Garrett Allan is born in Nashville to Mike and Phyllis Anderson. Mike Anderson is the bassist in John Anderson’s band. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – A daughter, Francesca is born in Tarzana, C… — 1994 – A daughter, Francesca is born in Tarzana, Calif., to Gilby and Daniella Clarke. Gilby Clarke is the guitarist for Guns ‘N Roses. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – Copacabana, a musical based on the work of Barry Manilow, opens in London. — 1994 – Copacabana, a musical based on the work of Barry Manilow, opens in London. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1990 – America’s greatest undead actor, Gary Busey, buys… — 1990 – America’s greatest undead actor, Gary Busey, buys one of Buddy Holly’s guitars in auction for $242,200. Busey played the Lubbock, Texas, rocker in The Buddy Holly Story. Be Sociable, [...]

1990 – Elton John had his first UK solo No.1 single with ‘Sacrifice — 1990 – Elton John had his first UK solo No.1 single with ‘Sacrifice / Healing Hands’ after achieving over 50 previous UK hits and 6 chart toppers in the US. Be [...]

1990 – 13-year-old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 (£294,118) lawsuit against — 1990 – 13-year-old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 (£294,118) lawsuit against Madonna, claiming he suffered nightmares and bed-wetting problems after an incident outside Madonna’s home when she allegedly flung him [...]

1989 – George Michael received the Silver Clef Award for outstanding — 1989 – George Michael received the Silver Clef Award for outstanding achievements to British Music. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Madonna becomes the first celebrity to appear on the cover… — 1987 – Madonna becomes the first celebrity to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan since Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1984 – Van Halen release the all-time driving classic “Panama.” — 1984 – Van Halen release the all-time driving classic “Panama.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1984 – Duran Duran started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles — 1984 – Duran Duran started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Reflex’, the group’s first US No.1, also a UK No.1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – Guitarist Robert Fripp re-forms King Crimson with Bill Bruford… — 1981 – Guitarist Robert Fripp re-forms King Crimson with Bill Bruford, Adrian Belew, and Tony Levin. Person Robert Fripp Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Coming Up (L… — 1980 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Coming Up (Live at Glasgow),” Paul McCartney & Wings. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – The Knack release “My Sharona.” — 1979 – The Knack release “My Sharona.” Inspiration and legacy The easily recognizable riff of “My Sharona” was written by the band’s guitarist, Berton Averre, long before he ever joined The Knack. [...]

1979 – The No. 1 album in the U.S. is Supertramp’s Breakfast in America. — 1979 – The No. 1 album in the U.S. is Supertramp’s Breakfast in America. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – A very inebriated Keith Moon joins Led Zeppelin onstage in Los Angeles… — 1977 – A very inebriated Keith Moon joins Led Zeppelin onstage in Los Angeles. He belts seven shades of sh*t out of a tympani on “Moby Dick” and “Rock and [...]

1976 – Paul McCartney and Wings played the last date on their Wings — 1976 – Paul McCartney and Wings played the last date on their Wings Over America tour at the Forum in Los Angeles. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – Alice Cooper falls from stage at a Vancouve… — 1975 – Alice Cooper falls from stage at a Vancouver, British Columbia, concert, breaking six ribs. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – Jefferson Starship release Red Octopus. Rolling Stone celebrates… — 1975 – Jefferson Starship release Red Octopus. Rolling Stone celebrates Marty Balin’s return to the fold by saying, “If it weren’t for Balin, Red Octopus would be completely unlistenable.” Be Sociable, [...]

1975 – Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first of 14 shows over 7 nights — 1975 – Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first of 14 shows over 7 nights at Paul’s Mall in Boston, Massachusetts, as part of their Natty Dread Tour. Be Sociable, [...]

1973 – George Harrison started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album — 1973 – George Harrison started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Living In The Material World’, his second US No.1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The Love You… — 1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “The Love You Save,” The Jackson 5. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – Chubby Checker is arrested after police in … — 1970 – Chubby Checker is arrested after police in Niagara Falls discover marijuana and other drugs in his car. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The Beatles fly to Germany, where they will begin their… — 1966 – The Beatles fly to Germany, where they will begin their last world tour. The Rolling Stones depart London the same day to begin a tour of America. Rock-crazy [...]

1966 – The Beatles had their tenth consecutive UK No.1 single with ‘Paperback — 1966 – The Beatles had their tenth consecutive UK No.1 single with ‘Paperback Writer’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Supremes make the studio recording of `… — 1965 – The Supremes make the studio recording of “Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart.” The song reaches No. 9 on Chart Toppers’s Hot 100. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Yardbirds appeared at The City Hall, Salisbury, England — 1965 – The Yardbirds appeared at The City Hall, Salisbury, England, admission 10 shillings, ($1.40). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Ray Charles started a 14-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with — 1962 – Ray Charles started a 14-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1951 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Too Young,”… — 1951 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Too Young,” Nat King Cole. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1940 – Adam Faith (Terence Nelhams) is born in Lon… — 1940 – Adam Faith (Terence Nelhams) is born in London. He produces Roger Daltrey’s first solo album, manages Leo Sayer and acts in film and TV. He has only marginal [...]

1940 – Stuart Sutcliffe, the fifth Beatle and one of the world’s… — 1940 – Stuart Sutcliffe, the fifth Beatle and one of the world’s worst bass players, is born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He died in Germany of a brain hemorrhage at age [...]

1937 – Born on this day, Niki Sullivan, guitarist, singer, one of the three original — 1937 – Born on this day, Niki Sullivan, guitarist, singer, one of the three original members of Buddy Holly’s backing group, The Crickets. He co-wrote a number of his hit [...]