Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Officially announced: Whitney Houston died from heart disease and habitual cocaine usage on This Day in Rock Music History! — 2012 – Officially announced: Whitney Houston died from heart disease and habitual cocaine usage on This Day in Rock Music History! From AP “The release of autopsy findings Thursday ends weeks of [...]

2011 – Judge orders Jobs to answer iTunes questions on This Day in Rock! —   2011 – Judge orders Jobs to answer iTunes questions on This Day in Rock! Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs, who is out on medical leave, has been ordered by a [...]

2011 – Jackson doctor seeks records of Demerol treatments on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Jackson doctor  seeks records of Demerol treatments on This Day in Rock! A judge says he will review medical records from Michael Jackson’s longtime dermatologist before deciding whether they [...]

2009 – Lady Gaga Started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Poker — 2009 – Lady Gaga Started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Poker Face’, her second UK chart topper and a No.1 hit in over [...]

2006 – Aerosmith cancel their North American tour… —   2006 – Aerosmith cancel their North American tour as Steven Tyler enters hospital for throat surgery. A publicist denies the singer is suffering from throat cancer.

2005 – Foghat guitarist Rod Price dies in Wilton, … —   2005 – Foghat guitarist Rod Price dies in Wilton, N.H., after falling in a stairway.

2005 – American Idol: Due to a display of incorrect phone numbers… —   2005 – Due to a display of incorrect phone numbers at the end of an “American Idol” performance episode, the entire public vote is scrapped with plans to redo voting [...]

2004 – a new book claimed that Elvis Presley’s ancestors came from a small — 2004 – a new book claimed that Elvis Presley’s ancestors came from a small village called Lonmay in the North East of Scotland. Author Allan Morrison said he’d found evidence [...]

2004 – Ozzy Osbourne was voted the nation’s favourite ambassador to welcome — 2004 – Ozzy Osbourne was voted the nation’s favourite ambassador to welcome aliens to planet Earth. The 55 year old singer topped a Yahoo poll as the face people wanted [...]

2004 – Marilyn Manson gets on bended knee and proposes… —   2004 – Marilyn Manson gets on bended knee and proposes to longtime girlfriend, burlesque artist Dita von Teese, according to US Weekly. A wedding is expected in the [...]

2003 – Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose sends the Offspring… —   2003 – Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose sends the Offspring a cease and desist letter after they announce plans to call their new album Chinese Democrazy (You [...]

2003 – Madonna’s Swept Away is named worst film… —   2003 – Madonna’s Swept Away is named worst film at this year’s Razzie. Madonna also ties with Britney Spears for worst actress and wins worst supporting actress for [...]

2000 – Yusuf Islam the former singer Cat Stevens joined the campaign — 2000 – Yusuf Islam the former singer Cat Stevens joined the campaign to save the Section 28 ban on the promotion of homosexuality in UK schools. He praised peers for [...]

2000 – A fan falls 90 feet to his death during a KISS… — 2000 – A fan falls 90 feet to his death during a KISS concert at the Oakland Arena in California.

2000 – AC/DC: In the presence of Angus Young… — 2000 – In the presence of Angus Young, the Spanish town of Leganes unveil a sign designating a street “Calle de AC/DC.”

1999 – Police claim to find three envelopes of roc… — 1999 – Police claim to find three envelopes of rock cocaine in rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Range Rover when they stop him in Brooklyn for driving without license plates.

1997 – Paul McCartney’s birth certificate is sold… — 1997 – Paul McCartney’s birth certificate is sold to a bidder for Beatles memorabilia for $84,146.

1997 – Shock-rock band Marilyn Manson is forced to… —   1997 – Shock-rock band Marilyn Manson is forced to cut short a show at the Nimitz Concert Hall in Honolulu, Hawaii, after lead singer Manson injures his hand during the [...]

1996 – Don Murray (Turtles) dies… —   1996 – Don Murray (Turtles) dies this day in rock history! Murray became popular playing high school dances as “Don Murray & The Crossfires”. A year later the Crossfires became the Turtles, [...]

1995 – Duran Duran release Thank You — 1995 – Duran Duran release Thank You, a collection of cover versions generally considered to be one of the worst albums ever recorded.      

1994 – Ted Nugent records a public service announcement… —   1994 – Ted Nugent records a public service announcement warning kids against inhaling aerosol spray cans.

1994 – Dan Hartman (Singer/Songwriter/Producer ) died… — 1994 – Dan Hartman (Singer/Songwriter/Producer ) died this day in rock history! Career Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Hartman joined his first band, The Legends, at the age of thirteen, with his brother, [...]

1992 – Polygram Records officially announced that Tears For Fears had split up — 1992 – Polygram Records officially announced that Tears For Fears had split up, Roland Orzabal continued using the name Tears For Fears. During their career they scored 15 UK Top [...]

1989 – After 33 years Dick Clark announces he’ll… — 1989 – After 33 years Dick Clark announces he’ll no longer host “American Bandstand.”

1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers hit: “These Dreams,” … — 1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers hit: “These Dreams,” by Heart. The song is the group’s first charttopping single.

1980 – Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall US 45… —   1980 – Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall US 45 is no. 1 chart topper.

1979 – “I’m Every Woman” singer Chaka Khan… — 1979 – “I’m Every Woman” singer Chaka Khan gives birth to a son, Damien Milton Patrick Holland.

1978 – The Police sign to A&M Records. —   1978 – The Police sign to A&M Records.

1978 – All You Need is Cash (Eric Idle’s Beatle satire)… — 1978 – All You Need is Cash (Eric Idle’s Beatle satire) gets its first TV showing. By The Rutles – Rhino (1996) – Comedy Rock, Pop/Rock Short of a reunion [...]

1976 – On the campaign trail, Jimmy Carter tells the National… —   1976 – On the campaign trail, Jimmy Carter tells the National Association of Record Merchandisers’ Scholarship Foundation Dinner his musical inspiration as governor of Georgia was Bob Dylan, [...]

1975 – The Rolling Stones go into the Musicland Studios —   1975 – The Rolling Stones go into the Musicland Studios in Munich to begin recording Black and Blue.

1975 – No. 1 on the Billboard charts is Led Zeppelin’s Physical … — 1975 – No. 1 on the Billboard charts is Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti. No. 3 is Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. No. 2 is Olivia Newton-John’s Have [...]

1974 – Ten Years After play their last gig… — 1974 – Ten Years After play their last gig – at the Rainbow Theatre, London,

1974 – The Eagles release their third album, On the Border. — 1974 – The Eagles release their third album, On the Border.

1970 – Simon & Garfunkel: No. 1 Chart Toppers hit: “Bridge Over Trou… — 1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers hit: “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon & Garfunkel. The album and single win six Grammys including Record, Album and Song of the Year. It [...]

1970 – Electric Circus, New York club, damaged by a bomb. — 1970 – Electric Circus, New York club, damaged by a bomb.

1967 – Beatles begin Within You and Without… —   1967 – Beatles begin Within You and Without You at Abbey Road.

1967 – The Who play their first American live gig… — 1967 – The Who play their first American live gig at New York’s Paramount Theater.

1965 – Bob Dylan releases Bringing It All Back Home… —   1965 – Bob Dylan releases Bringing It All Back Home, which contains his first electrical efforts.

1963 – Born on this day, Susanne Sulley, singer, The Human League, (1981 — 1963 – Born on this day, Susanne Sulley, singer, The Human League, (1981 UK No.1 & 1982 US No.1 single ‘Don’t You Want Me’ plus over 15 other UK Top [...]

1963 – EMI releases the Beatles’ album Please… — 1963 – EMI releases the Beatles’ album Please Please Me in England.

1962 – Bruce Channels’ Hey Baby hits UK chart… — 1962 – Bruce Channels’ Hey Baby hits UK chart. Record features Delbert McLinton on harmonica.

1958 – Buddy Holly and the Crickets play… — 1958 – Buddy Holly and the Crickets play Gaumont, Salisbury, UK.

1956 – Alan Freed stages three-day rock… — 1956 – Alan Freed stages three-day rock-and-roll show in Hartford, Connecticut.

1956 – Elvis Presley: Carl Perkins injured in car… —   1956 – Elvis Presley: Carl Perkins injured in car crash while driving to New York to promote Blue Suede Shoes on Perry Como’s and Ed Sullivan’s shows. During his [...]

1948 – Randy Jo Hobbs, who played bass for Montrose… — 1948 – Randy Jo Hobbs, who played bass for Montrose, is born in Union City, Ind. Montrose includes lineup Sammy Hagar, Bill Church, and Ronnie Montrose. 

1947 – Born on this day, Patrick Olive, Hot Chocolate, (1975 US No.3 single — 1947 – Born on this day, Patrick Olive, Hot Chocolate, (1975 US No.3 single ‘You Sexy Thing’, 1977 UK No.1 single ‘So You Win Again’ plus over 25 other top [...]

1947 – Harry Vanda, guitarist with Australian pop act… — 1947 – Harry Vanda, guitarist with Australian pop act the Easybeats (“Friday on my Mind”), is born in the Netherlands. He went on to produce several AC/DC [...]

1944 – Born on this day, Tony McPhee, guitar, vocals, The Groundhogs — 1944 – Born on this day, Tony McPhee, guitar, vocals, The Groundhogs, (1971 UK No.5 album ‘Split’).

1943 – Vocalist Keith Relf of the Yardbirds is bor… —   1943 – Vocalist Keith Relf of the Yardbirds is born in Surrey, England. Is thatEric Clapton on the right…

1943 – Guitarist George Benson is born in Pittsbur… —   1943 – Guitarist George Benson is born in Pittsburgh this day in rock history. He has top five hits with “Give Me the Night” and “Turn Your Love Around.”

1932 – Bluesman Juke Boy Bonner, who aside… — 1932 – Bluesman Juke Boy Bonner, who aside from having a great name was also a literal one-man band, is born in Bellville, Texas. He summed up his [...]

1931 – William Shatner, famed Star Trek… —   1931 – William Shatner, famed Star Trek  actor and odd interpreter of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” is born in Montreal.