Rock History

On this day...

2011 -Gibson is raided by the Feds for ….??? on This Day in Rock! — 2011 -Gibson is raided by the Feds for ….??? on This Day in Rock! Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., Stated, “Gibson is innocent and will fight to [...]

2011 – Lady Gaga Overtakes Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce on the 100 Most Powerful Women List on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Lady Gaga Overtakes Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce on the 100 Most Powerful Women List on This Day in Rock! Forbes announced today that Lady Gaga snagged the No. [...]

2006 – Record executive Lou Wills, who helped Warn… — 2006 – Record executive Lou Wills, who helped Warner Bros. build a powerful lineup of acts, including Larry Graham, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, George Benson, Richard Pryor, Dionne Warwick, Parliament [...]

2006 – Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton was undergoing treatment for throat cancer — 2006 – Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton was undergoing treatment for throat cancer causing him to sit out the first half of the band’s Route of All Evil Tour, the first [...]

2005 – Two former members of Guns N’ Roses were suing singer Axl Rose for allegedly — 2005 - Two former members of Guns N’ Roses were suing singer Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the US rock band’s copyrights. Slash and Duff – otherwise [...]

2003 – The Olsen twins sign a recording contract with Sony Music. If you’re — 2003 – The Olsen twins sign a recording contract with Sony Music. If you’re reading this, it means God hasn’t punished us yet. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – R&B singer and actress Aaliyah dies when a … — 2001 – R&B singer and actress Aaliyah dies when a small plane that was to carry her and eight others back to the United States crashes after takeoff in Marsh [...]

2000 – Oasis, Primal Scream, Foo Fighters, The Bluetones, Muse, Eminem, Beck, Stereophonics, Blink 182 — 2000 - Oasis, Primal Scream, Foo Fighters, The Bluetones, Muse, Eminem, Beck, Stereophonics, Blink 182, Slipknot, Placebo, Pulp, Eminem, Rage Against The Machine, Gomez, Limp Bizkit, Embrace and The Wannadies all [...]

2000 – Jack Nitzsche, the noted musician, songwrit… — 2000 – Jack Nitzsche, the noted musician, songwriter, producer, and arranger, dies of cardiac arrest in Hollywood, Calif., He is 63. Nitzsche rose to prominence during the ’60s as an [...]

1999 – Oasis bass player Paul McGuigan announced he had quit the band just a few — 1999 - Oasis bass player Paul McGuigan announced he had quit the band just a few days after guitarist Bonehead had left the band. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx is charged with breach of the peace after he — 1999 – Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx is charged with breach of the peace after he tells a Las Vegas audience they should turn some cars over. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Concord, Calif., demands from Whitney Houston reparations of $100,000 — 1999 – Concord, Calif., demands from Whitney Houston reparations of $100,000. The ill diva canceled an August 1 concert there at the last minute, after the town had paid for [...]

1999 – Lionel Richie plays the pyramids. Well, actually, he performs a gig in front — 1999 – Lionel Richie plays the pyramids. Well, actually, he performs a gig in front of the Sphinx. Says Richie, “It’s civilization at its beginning, and for me it’s a [...]

1998 – A historic concert at the Miami Beach Conve… — 1998 – A historic concert at the Miami Beach Convention Center is interrupted by a bomb threat during the opening performance by 90-year-old singer and Buena Vista Social Club member [...]

1997 – Mindy McCready, Kenny Chesney, Jason Seller… — 1997 – Mindy McCready, Kenny Chesney, Jason Sellers, Ray Vega, Sara Evans, Ricochet’s Heath Wright, Skip Ewing and Kippi Brannon join catalyst Randy Owen for a special “We Are the [...]

1996 – Opera singer Sylvia Fisher dies at the age … — 1996 – Opera singer Sylvia Fisher dies at the age of 86. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – Bass player Doug Stegmeyer shot himself dead. He’d worked with many artists including Billy Joel — 1995 - Bass player Doug Stegmeyer shot himself dead. He’d worked with many artists including Billy Joel Hall and Oates and The Carpenters. Career Doug Stegmeyer met Russell Javors in high school. At [...]

1995 – Dwayne Goettel of the industrial rock group… — 1995 – Dwayne Goettel of the industrial rock group Skinny Puppy is found dead of an apparent heroin overdose at his parents’ home in Canada. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant share a stage to record — 1994 – Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant share a stage to record an episode of MTV Unplugged. The success of the show leads to two more albums and [...]

1994 – Jimmy Buffett ends up in the drink after his plane turns over follow — 1994 – Jimmy Buffett ends up in the drink after his plane turns over follow a takeoff from Nantucket. Buffett escapes the plane and swims to safety. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – Christie Brinkley will now have to be an uptown girl without her — 1994 – Christie Brinkley will now have to be an uptown girl without her downtown guy, as a judge dissolves her marriage to Billy Joel. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Snoop Doggy Dogg was released on $1 million bail after being accused of being — 1993 - Snoop Doggy Dogg was released on $1 million bail after being accused of being involved with the murder of a member of the By Yerself gang during a shooting [...]

1993 – 22-year-old Philip Woldemariam is shot in L… — 1993 – 22-year-old Philip Woldemariam is shot in Los Angeles and rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg is charged with first-degree murder as an accomplice. Dogg’s bodyguard, McKinley Lee, is charged with [...]

1989 – To Simon LeBon, a daughter. The Duran Duran singer and his — 1989 – To Simon LeBon, a daughter. The Duran Duran singer and his wife, Yasmin, are the proud parents of Amber Rose. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – R.E.M. appeared at The Scorpio, Charlotte, North Carolina. This show was billed — 1981 - R.E.M. appeared at The Scorpio, Charlotte, North Carolina. This show was billed as “Charlotte’s First Gay New Wave Disco and Costume Party”, with the $3 tickets benefitting various gay-lesbian [...]

1973 – Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks b… — 1973 – Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks breaks a leg in a car crash in Macon, Ga. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – The Allman Brothers Band release their “Ramblin’ Man” single — 1973 – The Allman Brothers Band release their “Ramblin’ Man” single. It becomes their biggest hit, going all the way to No. 2. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – The Faces play what they say is their last British concert — 1973 – The Faces play what they say is their last British concert. The band threatened to split when the Musicians Union refused to give bassist Tetsu Yamauchi a work [...]

1970 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer give their debut per… — 1970 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer give their debut performance in Plymouth, England. Progressive rock can be a very disreputable subject. No other musical style has been so vilified by the [...]

1970 – Elton John makes his U.S. debut at the Trou… — 1970 – Elton John makes his U.S. debut at the Troubador in Los Angeles. Hard to find specific shows in concert. But, here is elton performing ‘Your song.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – The Beatles go to Wales to study transcende… — 1967 – The Beatles go to Wales to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – After he is caught speeding, Paul McCartney is fined 31 — 1963 – After he is caught speeding, Paul McCartney is fined 31 pounds and his license is suspended for one year. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Born on this day, Vivian Campbell, Guitarist, Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard. — 1962 - Born on this day, Vivian Campbell, Guitarist, Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard. Vivian Patrick Campbell (born 25 August 1962) is a rock guitarist who is a member of Def Leppard; and [...]

1962 – Former babysitter Little Eva tops the American singles — 1962 – Former babysitter Little Eva tops the American singles chart today with “The Locomotion.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1961 – Achy-Breaky singer Billy Ray Cyrus is born … — 1961 – Achy-Breaky singer Billy Ray Cyrus is born in Flatwoods, Ken. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Elvis Costello (Declan McManus) is born in … — 1955 – Elvis Costello (Declan McManus) is born in London. His biggest hit is the top 20 song “Veronica” in 1989, which he writes with Paul McCartney. Elvis Costello (born [...]

1951 – Vocalist Rob Halford of Judas Priest is bor… — 1951 – Vocalist Rob Halford of Judas Priest is born in Birmingham, England. Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the [...]

1949 – Kiss bassist Gene Simmons is born Chaim Wit… — 1949 – Kiss bassist Gene Simmons is born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel. Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz (pronounced Haium) on August 25, 1949) is an Israeli-born American hard rock bass [...]

1947 – Pianist Keith Tippett, who played with King Crimson and other lights — 1947 – Pianist Keith Tippett, who played with King Crimson and other lights of the Canterbury scene, is born in Bristol, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1942 – Born on this day, Walter Williams, The O’Jays, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single ‘Love Train’). — 1942 - Born on this day, Walter Williams, The O’Jays, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single ‘Love Train’). The O’Jays are a Canton, Ohio based soul and R&B group, originally consisting [...]

1918 – West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein is born in Lawrence, Mass — 1918 – West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein is born in Lawrence, Mass. His thoughtful appreciation of rock helped legitimize the art form during the ’60s. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1900 – Shortly after determining that God is dead, Friedrich Nietzsche — 1900 – Shortly after determining that God is dead, Friedrich Nietzsche kicks the philosophical bucket. Nietzsche was a frustrated musician, but his novel Thus Spake Zarathustra inspired the music Elvis [...]