Rock History

On this day...

2010 – MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Guitarist Michael Schenker And Drummer Carmine —   2010 – MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Guitarist Michael Schenker And Drummer Carmine Appice Perform With SCORPIONS; Video Footage Available Hot Flashes Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 06:53:38 EST Guitarist Michael Schenker [...]

2005 – Justin Timberlake accepted libel damages for a fabricated story that he had — 2005 - Justin Timberlake accepted libel damages for a fabricated story that he had an affair behind girlfriend Cameron Diaz’s back. A News of the World article in July 2004 alleged [...]

2005 – Truth in advertising dept.: Hilary Duff tops the U.S. album charts — 2005 – Truth in advertising dept.: Hilary Duff tops the U.S. album charts with Most Wanted, a collection of the 17-year-old actress singer’s hits. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Al Dvorin the announcer who popularised the phrase “Elvis has left the building” died in a — 2004 - Al Dvorin the announcer who popularised the phrase “Elvis has left the building” died in a car crash, on his way home from an Elvis convention in California. Dvorin [...]

2001 – Jazz musician John Nelson, the father of po… — 2001 – Jazz musician John Nelson, the father of pop star Prince, dies at the age of 85. Nelson wrote several of his sons songs, including “Computer Blue,” “The Ladder,” [...]

1999 – A collection of never-before released songs… — 1999 – A collection of never-before released songs “The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale,” produced, arranged, composed, and performed by The Artist, back in the day – when he was [...]

1999 – Bassist Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan leaves Oasis. Guitarist Noel Gallagher — 1999 – Bassist Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan leaves Oasis. Guitarist Noel Gallagher confirms the band will tour in 2000, saying, “We’ve been left holding a sh*t sandwich here, but we’ve just [...]

1999 – Elton John is sued by a songwriter who claims the song “Can You Feel — 1999 – Elton John is sued by a songwriter who claims the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” sounds a little too close to Glenn Medeiros’ “Listen to Your [...]

1999 – Don Henley sues Paramount Pictures, saying the studio backed out of a deal — 1999 – Don Henley sues Paramount Pictures, saying the studio backed out of a deal for him to write a song for the Ashley Judd film Double Jeopardy. “Taking You [...]

1999 – LFO, a Lou Pearlman creation starring three guys from Boston — 1999 – LFO, a Lou Pearlman creation starring three guys from Boston, releases their debut self-titled album along with the single “Summer Girl.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Christina Aguilera releases her self-titled debut with the hit — 1999 – Christina Aguilera releases her self-titled debut with the hit single “Genie in a Bottle” today in rock history! Person Christina Aguilera Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – It is announced that a 53-year-old Englishw… — 1998 – It is announced that a 53-year-old Englishwoman by the name of Ingrid Pedersen has declared herself John Lennon’s half-sister. “Now at last I can admit who I am [...]

1998 – Country comedian Jerry Clower, a member of … — 1998 – Country comedian Jerry Clower, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, dies following bypass surgery in Jackson, Miss. He is 71. The pride of Yazoo City, Miss., Clower [...]

1997 – One of the few bright notes on the summer’s… — 1997 – One of the few bright notes on the summer’s commercially disappointing festival slate, the Lilith Fair, has its last show. The one-of-a-kind all-female slate includes Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, [...]

1990 – A Nevada judge clears heavy metal group Jud… — 1990 – A Nevada judge clears heavy metal group Judas Priest in a $6.2 million civil suit that charged subliminal suggestions on the group’s recordings provoked two youths to shoot [...]

1990 – Sinead O’Connor has a hissy fit she’ll come to regret. She refuses to perform — 1990 – Sinead O’Connor has a hissy fit she’ll come to regret. She refuses to perform at the Garden State Arts Center in New Jersey if the national anthem is [...]

1989 – At the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., the Who perform — 1989 – At the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., the Who perform their rock opera Tommy with an all-star cast that includes Elton John, Billy Idol, and Patti LaBelle. The [...]

1988 – Bob Dylan’s performance of “Pretty Boy Floyd” is hailed as a return — 1988 – Bob Dylan’s performance of “Pretty Boy Floyd” is hailed as a return to form following the release of the critically reviled Down in the Groove three months earlier. Be [...]

1988 – Folkways: A Vision Shared, an album-length tribute to Woody Guthrie — 1988 – Folkways: A Vision Shared, an album-length tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, is released. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – Higher Love (Steve Winwood) was a hit today in rock history! — 1986 – Higher Love (Steve Winwood) was a hit today in rock history! Person Steve Winwood Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1985 – Heart hits #10 with “What About Love” today in rock history! — 1985 – Heart hits #10 with “What About Love” today in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1983 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ fifth wife, Shawn Stevens,… — 1983 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ fifth wife, Shawn Stevens, is found dead of a methadone overdose three months after their marriage. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – John Lennon’s killer got sentenced to 20 years in prison on — 1981 – John Lennon’s killer got sentenced to 20 years in prison on August 24th, 1981. Fortunately, he’s still in there. Bastard. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Sailing (Christopher Cross) was a hit today in rock history! — 1980 – Sailing (Christopher Cross) was a hit today in rock history! Person Christopher Cross Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – The Cars attract an audience of 500,000 to their free — 1979 – The Cars attract an audience of 500,000 to their free gig in New York’s Central Park. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1978 – The original swinger, lounge lord Louis Prima (“Just a Gigolo”) dies — 1978 – The original swinger, lounge lord Louis Prima (“Just a Gigolo”) dies in New Orleans at age 66. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1978 – Rolling Stone puts comeback kid Bruce Springsteen on its cover — 1978 – Rolling Stone puts comeback kid Bruce Springsteen on its cover to herald the release of the long-awaited Darkness on the Edge of Town. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – Get Down Tonight (KC & the Sunshine Band) was a hit — 1975 – Get Down Tonight (KC & the Sunshine Band) was a hit today in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – Traffic makes their final live performance at the 14th annual — 1974 – Traffic makes their final live performance at the 14th annual Reading Festival. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – Grand Funk Railroad hits #11 with “Shinin’ On” today in rock history! — 1974 – Grand Funk Railroad hits #11 with “Shinin’ On” today in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Arlo Guthrie is an unlikely movie star, but the film based on his song — 1969 – Arlo Guthrie is an unlikely movie star, but the film based on his song “Alice’s Restaurant” opens today. By all accounts, it’s pretty good. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Billboard reports a rumor that Diana Ross is ready to leave the Supremes — 1968 – Billboard reports a rumor that Diana Ross is ready to leave the Supremes and go solo. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – To celebrate his 21st birthday (which was actually yesterday), Keith — 1968 – To celebrate his 21st birthday (which was actually yesterday), Keith Moon drives a Lincoln convertible into the pool of a Flint, Mich., Holiday Inn. Wow… Rock n Roll. Be [...]

1968 – The Dells hit #10 with “Stay In My Corner” today in rock history! — 1968 – The Dells hit #10 with “Stay In My Corner” today in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – The Jeff Beck Group, featuring Rod Stewart on lead vocals, releases — 1968 – The Jeff Beck Group, featuring Rod Stewart on lead vocals, releases its debut album, ‘Truth.’ It fails to chart in the U.K. but reaches #15 in the U.S. Be [...]

1967 – The Beatles have their first meeting with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — 1967 – The Beatles have their first meeting with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at the Park Lane Hilton. The bandmates were convinced they should meet the guru by George’s wife, [...]

1963 – As “Fingertips, Part 2″ tops the charts, Stevie Wonder becomes the first — 1963 – As “Fingertips, Part 2″ tops the charts, Stevie Wonder becomes the first artist to be at No. 1 on the pop singles chart while having an album (The [...]

1961 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Wooden Heart… — 1961 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn),” Joe Dowell. The song is a cover of a song Elvis Presley sang in the film “G.I. [...]

1961 – Madness bassist Mark Bedford is born in London — 1961 – Madness bassist Mark Bedford is born in London this day in rock history. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1959 – Back in the ’50s, Billboard seemed to thrive on taking the temperature — 1959 – Back in the ’50s, Billboard seemed to thrive on taking the temperature of that patient known as rock ‘n’ roll. And readers never seemed to tire of it. [...]

1957 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Tammy,” Deb… — 1957 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Tammy,” Debbie Reynolds. The song is featured in the film “Tammy and the Bachelor” and is nominated for an Academy Award. Be Sociable, [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley records “We’re Gonna Move” and “Love Me Tender — 1956 – Elvis Presley records “We’re Gonna Move” and “Love Me Tender” at 20th Century Fox Studios in Hollywood. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – French electronica “composer” Jean-Michel Jarre is born in Lyon. — 1948 – French electronica “composer” Jean-Michel Jarre is born in Lyon. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Uriah Heep’s Ken Hensley is born in Stevenage, England. — 1945 – Uriah Heep’s Ken Hensley is born in Stevenage, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Malcolm Duncan, sax player with the Average White Band, is born — 1945 – Malcolm Duncan, sax player with the Average White Band, is born in Montrose, Scotland. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “In the Blue … — 1943 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “In the Blue of the Evening,” Tommy Dorsey Orchestra/Frank Sinatra. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina — 1943 – Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina is born in Berkeley, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1942 – Joe Chambers, guitarist with the ace black psychedelia band the Chambers — 1942 – Joe Chambers, guitarist with the ace black psychedelia band the Chambers Brothers (“Time Has Come Today”), is born in Scott County, Miss. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1942 – The well-named R&B belter Jimmy Soul (“If You Wanna Be Happy”) is born — 1942 – The well-named R&B belter Jimmy Soul (“If You Wanna Be Happy”) is born in New York. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1938 – Guitarist Mason Williams is born in Abilene, Texas. The sometime gag — 1938 – Guitarist Mason Williams is born in Abilene, Texas. The sometime gag writer is best remembered for his No. 2 hit “Classical Gas.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1938 – Bassist David Freiberg is born. He becomes a member of Jefferson Starship — 1938 – Bassist David Freiberg is born. He becomes a member of Jefferson Starship and Quicksilver Messenger Service, meaning he could have shared a birthday cake with John Cipollina (see [...]

1905 – Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup is born in Forest, Miss. The bluesman’s “That’s — 1905 – Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup is born in Forest, Miss. The bluesman’s “That’s All Right Mama” was Elvis Presley’s first single. Admirers like Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, and Fleetwood [...]