Rock History

On this day...

2011 – New Michael Jackson Album on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – New Michael Jackson Album on This Day in Rock! A posthumous Michael Jackson album entitled “Immortal” is to be released in November featuring newly discovered outtakes and redesigned [...]

2008 – Geoff Emerick/Sgt. Pepper speaks at AES San Francisco 2008 — 2008 – AES San Francisco 2008 Special Event Friday, October 3, 4:30 pm — 6:00 pm Geoff Emerick/Sgt. Pepper Abstract: Marking the 40th Anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Geoff [...]

2007 – The Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour… — 2007 – The Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time when their A Bigger Bang tour, which ran from the Fall of 2005 [...]

2006 – The U.S. Supreme Court throws out a lawsuit by Vinnie Vincent — 2006 – The U.S. Supreme Court throws out a lawsuit by Vinnie Vincent against his former bandmates in KISS. Vincent alleged he was owed royalties from the 1983 album Lick [...]

2006 – Trey Anastasio begins an 18 consecutive hou… — 2006 – Trey Anastasio begins an 18 consecutive hour DJs stint on Sirius Satellite Radio for “Trey Day, Vol. 2.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – British alternative rock trio Muse and Radi… — 2006 – British alternative rock trio Muse and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke are the big winners at the fifth annual BT Digital Music Awards in London, each taking home a [...]

2006 – “Listen to Your Heart,” the power-ballad wr… — 2006 – “Listen to Your Heart,” the power-ballad written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson, scoops a raft of prestigious honors at the 2006 BMI London Awards, presented at the [...]

2005 – Brazilian singer Emilinha Borba dies from a heart attack aged — 2005 – Brazilian singer Emilinha Borba dies from a heart attack aged 82. From the 1930s to 1960s, Borba sang carnival anthems and was dubbed “the queen of Brazil’s golden [...]

2004 – James Brown and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs sing “Happy Birthday” — 2004 – James Brown and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs sing “Happy Birthday” to Rev. Al Sharpton during his 50th birthday celebration at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Teenage English soul star Joss Stone become… — 2004 – Teenage English soul star Joss Stone become the youngest female solo artist to top the British album survey as “Mind Body & Soul” debuts at No. 1. The [...]

2004 – Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Kid Rock, Fat J… — 2004 – Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Kid Rock, Fat Joe, MC Hammer and Sugar Hill Gang are among the artists who perform in all-star collaborations at the inaugural VH1 Hip [...]

2003 – School of Rock, starring Tenacious D’s Jack Black, opens in theatres — 2003 – School of Rock, starring Tenacious D’s Jack Black, opens in theatres around the country. Black plays a would-be rock god who tries to make a living as a [...]

2003 – Complaining about how sex is marketed to teens at a conference — 2003 – Complaining about how sex is marketed to teens at a conference on domestic violence, the wife of Maryland’s Governor Robert Ehrlich says, “if I had an opportunity to [...]

2003 – At the first of two New York shows, R.E.M. cover Interpol’s — 2003 – At the first of two New York shows, R.E.M. cover Interpol’s “NYC.” Singer Michael Stipe is a fan of the smooth Gotham rockers. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Dido’s Life for Rent becomes the fastest-selling British album — 2003 – Dido’s Life for Rent becomes the fastest-selling British album in over six years in the U.K. after it shifts 250,000 copies in five days. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Rock band Powderfinger dominates the 15th a… — 2001 – Rock band Powderfinger dominates the 15th annual Australian Record Industry Association awards with six victories at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Keith Urban goes home to Australia to accep… — 2001 – Keith Urban goes home to Australia to accept a special Aria Award _ roughly the equivalent to a Grammy in the U.S. Urban receives the Outstanding Achievement Award [...]

2000 – Green Day release their sixth album, Warning. Rolling Stone says the — 2000 – Green Day release their sixth album, Warning. Rolling Stone says the record “invites the question: Who wants to listen to songs of faith, hope and social commentary from [...]

2000 – John Lennon’s assassin, Mark Chapman was denied parole after — 2000 – John Lennon’s assassin, Mark Chapman was denied parole after serving 20 years in prison. Chapman was interviewed for 50 minutes by parole board members, who concluded that releasing [...]

2000 – Benjamin Orr, former bassist and singer of … — 2000 – Benjamin Orr, former bassist and singer of the Cars, dies at his home in Atlanta from pancreatic cancer. He is 53. Born Benjamin Orzechowski, the bassist and singer [...]

2000 – 45-year-old Mark David Chapman, the man who… — 2000 – 45-year-old Mark David Chapman, the man who twenty years earlier fired five shots into John Lennon’s back, faces the parole board. Parole for John Lennon’s murderer is denied. Be [...]

1999 – 59-year old Welsh chart veteran Tom Jones d… — 1999 – 59-year old Welsh chart veteran Tom Jones does something he hasn’t done for 25 years: He goes No. 1 on the U.K. album chart with “Reload,” which features [...]

1999 – Tom Jones reached #1 on the UK album chart with “Reload”, which — 1999 – Tom Jones reached #1 on the UK album chart with “Reload”, which, at 59, made him the oldest artist to score a British chart topping album with new [...]

1997 – California rock/pop act Sugar Ray postpones… — 1997 – California rock/pop act Sugar Ray postpones its European tour after front man Mark McGrath injures his leg at the first date in Bologna, Italy. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – In Montreal, Eric Clapton begins his latest tour, dominated — 1994 – In Montreal, Eric Clapton begins his latest tour, dominated by his beloved blues material. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1992 – Topping the British albums chart today is the Abba hits — 1992 – Topping the British albums chart today is the Abba hits collection Gold – Greatest Hits. By the end of the year the album will have sold 3 million [...]

1992 – Singer Sinead O’Connor tears up a photo of … — 1992 – Singer Sinead O’Connor tears up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a performance on the TV show “Saturday Night Live.” NBC got more than 1,000 calls [...]

1992 – Sinead O’Connor did her career some major damage when she appeared on US — 1992 – Sinead O’Connor did her career some major damage when she appeared on US TV’s Saturday Night Live and held up an 8″ x 10″ color photo of Pope [...]

1990 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla., record store owner C… — 1990 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla., record store owner Charles Freeman is convicted by an allwhite jury for selling a 2 Live Crew rap album that had been ruled obscene by [...]

1989 – David Bowie releases his Grammy-winning box set Sound + Visio — 1989 – David Bowie releases his Grammy-winning box set Sound + Vision. The box is packed with rarities, but no “Laughing Gnome.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – The documentary Imagine: John Lennon, compiled from more — 1988 – The documentary Imagine: John Lennon, compiled from more than 240 hours of unreleased footage, premieres in Hollywood. Leonard Maltin says, “Not exactly a puff job, but a bit [...]

1987 – Whitney Houston has the No. 1 single in America with “Didn’t We — 1987 – Whitney Houston has the No. 1 single in America with “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.” At No. 7 are Heart with “Who Will You Run To.” Be Sociable, [...]

1987 – Brenda Lee Day was declared in her home town of Lithonia, Georgia and — 1987 – Brenda Lee Day was declared in her home town of Lithonia, Georgia and a street was named after her. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jack & Diane… — 1982 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jack & Diane,” John Cougar. The first single from the “American Fool” album, “Hurts So Good,” is still in the top 10 [...]

1981 – The Kinks play Madison Square Garden in New York this day — 1981 – The Kinks play Madison Square Garden in New York this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – Billy Joel released the first digitally recorded, live album, “Songs — 1981 – Billy Joel released the first digitally recorded, live album, “Songs in the Attic”, a collection of tunes he had recorded before his big breakthrough, “Just The Way You [...]

1980 – An inauspicious start to the latest Bruce Springsteen & the E — 1980 – An inauspicious start to the latest Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band tour in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Boss forgets the words to “Born to Run.” Bob [...]

1978 – The world’s first sculpted sleeve is utilized for Squeeze’s — 1978 – The world’s first sculpted sleeve is utilized for Squeeze’s “Goodbye Girl” single. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1978 – The members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they — 1978 – The members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they had been arrested for smoking pot during an Aerosmith concert at the Fort Wayne Coliseum. Be Sociable, [...]

1976 – Victoria Spivey dies at age 69 in New York. The singer gave — 1976 – Victoria Spivey dies at age 69 in New York. The singer gave Bob Dylan one of his first jobs when she asked him to perform on her 1962 [...]

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Half-Breed,’… — 1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Half-Breed,” Cher. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Led Zeppelin play their second night at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall — 1972 – Led Zeppelin play their second night at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall during a tour of Japan. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – Cream’s Jack Bruce teams up with John McLaughlin, Larry — 1970 – Cream’s Jack Bruce teams up with John McLaughlin, Larry Young, and Tony Williams to form the fusion group Lifetime. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – Janis Joplin listens to a playback of the instrumental “Buried — 1970 – Janis Joplin listens to a playback of the instrumental “Buried Alive in the Blues,” for which she intends to cut a vocal for her album Pearl. She dies [...]

1969 – John Lennon records “Don’t Worry Kyoko” with the Plastic Ono Band — 1969 – John Lennon records “Don’t Worry Kyoko” with the Plastic Ono Band at Lansdowne Recording Studios in Britain. The song later appears on Lennon and Ono’s Wedding Album. Be Sociable, [...]

1969 – Mississippi acoustic blues player Skip James, whose influence — 1969 – Mississippi acoustic blues player Skip James, whose influence extended from Robert Johnson to Eric Clapton, dies at age 67 in Philadelphia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – Keith Richards gets a local priest to bless his guard — 1967 – Keith Richards gets a local priest to bless his guard dogs this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – Folk legend Woody Guthrie passed away of Huntington’s chorea in a hospital — 1967 – Folk legend Woody Guthrie passed away of Huntington’s chorea in a hospital where he had spent the last ten years. Along with writing “This Land is Your Land”, [...]

1964 – At London’s Granville Theatre, the Beatles film a — 1964 – At London’s Granville Theatre, the Beatles film a performance for the American TV show Shindig! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – The Supremes’ “Baby Love” enters Billboard’s Hot 100, — 1964 – The Supremes’ “Baby Love” enters Billboard’s Hot 100, where it will stay for thirteen weeks, becoming their second number one record in a row. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Modern Romance keyboardist Robbie Jaymes is born this — 1962 – Modern Romance keyboardist Robbie Jaymes is born this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1960 – Ike and an eight months’ pregnant Tina Turner appear on American — 1960 – Ike and an eight months’ pregnant Tina Turner appear on American Bandstand to perform their hit single “A Fool in Love.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1959 – Melrose Place thesp Jack Wagner, who had a 1984 No. 2 — 1959 – Melrose Place thesp Jack Wagner, who had a 1984 No. 2 hit with “All I Need,” is born in Washington, Mo. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1957 – “The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,” a weekly … — 1957 – “The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,” a weekly music show, premieres on ABCTV. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1954 – Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, widely ranked up there — 1954 – Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, widely ranked up there with Hendrix, is born in Dallas. Stephen “Stevie” Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American [...]

1951 – Contemporary blues slide guitarist Keb’ Mo’ is born in Los Angele — 1951 – Contemporary blues slide guitarist Keb’ Mo’ is born in Los Angeles. His real name is the less exotic Kevin Moore. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – Fleetwood Mac songwriter Lindsey Buckingham is born in Palo Alto, Calif. — 1948 – Fleetwood Mac songwriter Lindsey Buckingham is born in Palo Alto, Calif. Lindsey Adams Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American guitarist and singer, most notable for being a [...]

1941 – Lenny Waronker, who has produced albums by Arlo Guthrie — 1941 – Lenny Waronker, who has produced albums by Arlo Guthrie and his friend Randy Newman and became president of Warner/Reprise in 1989, is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1941 – Chubby Checker (Ernest Evans) is born in Ph… — 1941 – Chubby Checker (Ernest Evans) is born in Philadelphia. His biggest hit is “The Twist,” which hits No. 1 in both 1960 and 1962, the only rock song to [...]

1940 – Singer/songwriter Alan O’Day (“Undercover … — 1940 – Singer/songwriter Alan O’Day (“Undercover Angel”) is born in Hollywood. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1938 – Rock ‘n’ roll teen chronicler Eddie Cochran (“Summertime Blues”) — 1938 – Rock ‘n’ roll teen chronicler Eddie Cochran (“Summertime Blues”) is born in Oklahoma City. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1932 – Texas blues guitar titan Albert Collins is born in Leona — 1932 – Texas blues guitar titan Albert Collins is born in Leona this day in rock! Albert Collins (October 1, 1932 — November 24, 1993 Career Born in Leona, Texas Throughout the 1940s [...]