Rock History

On this day...

2010 – Fans rejoice, The Abbey Road zebra crossing in north London, made famous after appearing — 2010 – Fans rejoice, The Abbey Road zebra crossing in north London, made famous after appearing on a Beatles album cover was given Grade II listed status. The crossing, the [...]

2008 – On this day in Rock history, Selling for $30,000 (£20,200), A cassette tape of a “drunk” John Lennon recording a cover — 2008 – On this day in Rock history, Selling for $30,000 (£20,200), A cassette tape of a “drunk” John Lennon recording a cover version of ‘Just Because’ by Lloyd Price. [...]

2006 – American songwriter Dennis Linde died aged 63 from a rare — 2006 – On this day, American songwriter Dennis Linde died aged 63 from a rare lung disease. Linde wrote one of Elvis Presley’s last major hits, ‘Burning Love’ and also [...]

2005 – The internet search engine Google announced that Janet Jackson — 2005 – The internet search engine Google announced that Janet Jackson was the most-searched name during the last twelve months, with people looking for pictures from her so-called “wardrobe malfunction” [...]

2004 – He’s been dead for nearly eight years, but you can’t keep a — 2004 – He’s been dead for nearly eight years, but you can’t keep a rapping corpse down. Tupac tops the charts with Loyal to the Game, his Eminem-assisted album of [...]

2003 – Bob Guiney, star of TV’s The Bachelor, is sued by the — 2003 – Bob Guiney, star of TV’s The Bachelor, is sued by the program’s producers for promoting his album 3 Sides. The lawsuit alleges Guiney violated an exclusivity clause in [...]

2003 – The record industry suffers a blow in its efforts to clampdown — 2003 – The record industry suffers a blow in its efforts to clampdown on illegal downloads when a US Court rules that Internet service providers cannot be forced to identify [...]

2003 – A New York judge rules that The Source magazine is — 2003 – A New York judge rules that The Source magazine is allowed to publish CDs featuring up to 20 seconds of two previously unreleased, allegedly racist works the rapper [...]

2003 – The White Stripes’ Jack White is charged with assault — 2003 – The White Stripes’ Jack White is charged with assault after an alleged brawl with the Von Bondies’ leader Jason Stollsteimer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2002 – Joe Strummer, the Clash’s fiery frontman, dies of heart failure — 2002 – Joe Strummer, the Clash’s fiery frontman, dies of heart failure after walking his dog around his hometown of Broomfield, England. He was 50. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – Madonna marries British film director Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle — 2000 – Madonna marries British film director Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle in Dornoch, Scotland. The pair would split in a much publicized divorce in November, 2008. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – LL Cool J is sued by former members of the Furious Five, who — 2000 – LL Cool J is sued by former members of the Furious Five, who allege his 1997 song “4, 3, 2, 1″ sampled their 1979 “Superappin’” without their permission. Be [...]

1999 – Kenny Rogers sues two brothers who reneged on a deal — 1999 – Kenny Rogers sues two brothers who reneged on a deal to buy his Georgia estate. He had tried to sell the property through an auction. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – The Higher Regional Court in Mannheim, Germ… — 1998 – The Higher Regional Court in Mannheim, Germany, sentences promoter Mathias Hoffmann to a jail term of five years and eight months. Hoffmann, 47, organizer of the 3 Tenors’ [...]

1997 – A Munich court sentences concert promoter M… — 1997 – A Munich court sentences concert promoter Marcel Avram to 3 1/2 years in jail on 12 counts of tax evasion from 1989 to 1992, involving a total of [...]

1995 – Lawrence Berk, founder of the Berklee Colle… — 1995 – Lawrence Berk, founder of the Berklee College of Music, dies of natural causes at age 87 in Boston. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

Michael Jackson issues his first public denial regarding allegations of child sexual abuse, saying “I ask all of you to wait to hear the truth before you label or condemn me. Don’t treat me like a criminal, because I’m innocent.” — 1993 – Michael Jackson issues his first public denial regarding allegations of child sexual abuse, saying “I ask all of you to wait to hear the truth before you label [...]

1993 – At the Stockholm Opera House, ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad — 1993 – At the Stockholm Opera House, ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad sings an a cappella version of “Dancing Queen” for the Queen of Sweden on her 50th birthday. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – Rush, featuring the big screen debut of Gregg Allman as a — 1991 – Rush, featuring the big screen debut of Gregg Allman as a villainous drug dealer, opens nationwide. Leonard Maltin calls the flick “unconvincing.” Eric Clapton contributes the soundtrack. Be Sociable, [...]

1985 – The Minutemen’s 17-year-old guitarist D. Boon dies — 1985 – The Minutemen’s 17-year-old guitarist D. Boon dies with his girlfriend in a car accident in Arizona. Mike Watt and George Hurley dissolve the Minutemen and go on to [...]

1984 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Like a Virgi… — 1984 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Like a Virgin,” Madonna. Chart Toppers ranks the song as the top single of 1984. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – Sotheby’s auction of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia in London — 1981 – Sotheby’s auction of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia in London sees an Abbey Road street sign sell for $600 and an autographed program from the Beatles’ Royal Command Performance [...]

1980 – An album called “The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan” — 1980 – An album called “The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan” was released by Stiff Records. The entire disc contained 40 minutes of silence. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – Former studio musician Rupert Holmes had the last number — 1979 – Former studio musician Rupert Holmes had the last number one record of the seventies with “Escape” (The Pina Colada Song). The tune stayed at the top for two [...]

1979 – Paul McCartney holds the first of three concerts for Kampuchea — 1979 – Paul McCartney holds the first of three concerts for Kampuchea at London’s Hammersmith Odeon to benefit relief efforts in the war-torn country. Besides the Walrus, the Clash, Elvis [...]

1978 – Todd Rundgren sues the British Musicians Union after they — 1978 – Todd Rundgren sues the British Musicians Union after they call a stop to a radio concert he was due to give. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1978 – The Who announce that the Faces’ Kenny Jones will be — 1978 – The Who announce that the Faces’ Kenny Jones will be drafted as a replacement for their late drummer Keith Moon. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Isaac Hayes files for bankruptcy. … — 1976 – Isaac Hayes files for bankruptcy on this day in rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – A suitcase filled with ticket receipts is stolen following — 1975 – A suitcase filled with ticket receipts is stolen following an Ike and Tina Turner concert, leaving the couple down $86,000. Bet Tina caught it bad that night. Be Sociable, [...]

With “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” sitting atop both the US and UK charts, Elton John’s show at London’s Hammersmith Odeon is broadcast live by BBC Radio 1. — 1973 – With “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” sitting atop both the US and UK charts, Elton John’s show at London’s Hammersmith Odeon is broadcast live by BBC Radio 1. Be [...]

1973 – Stephen Stills loses a paternity suit brought against him — 1973 – Stephen Stills loses a paternity suit brought against him by Harriet B. Tunis. Stills’ defense team had tried to discredit Tunis’ case by asking the jury, “How can [...]

1972 – Tony Cox, the father of Yoko Ono’s child Kyoko — 1972 – Tony Cox, the father of Yoko Ono’s child Kyoko, is arrested for violating Yoko Ono’s custody rights. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Led Zeppelin performs at London’s Alexandra Palace. The Melody — 1972 – Led Zeppelin performs at London’s Alexandra Palace. The Melody Maker describes the Zep as “about as perfect a band as you could hope to hear.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – After Yoko Ono tries to take her daughter from father — 1971 – After Yoko Ono tries to take her daughter from father Tony Cox, a court awards custody of the child Kyoko to him. Ono is allowed to visit Kyoko, [...]

1969 – During their stay in Canada, John Lennon and Yoko Ono meet — 1969 – During their stay in Canada, John Lennon and Yoko Ono meet with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and discuss drug abuse with John Munro, the Minister of Health. Be Sociable, [...]

1968 – In today’s New York Times, Leonard Bernstein plugs the New York — 1968 – In today’s New York Times, Leonard Bernstein plugs the New York Rock and Roll Ensemble. The group’s repertoire is made up of both rock and classical music. Be Sociable, [...]

1967 – Pink Floyd play the Christmas on Earth Revisited event — 1967 – Pink Floyd play the Christmas on Earth Revisited event at London’s Olympia. Throughout the concert, their singer Syd Barrett simply gives the audience a frozen stare. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Over and Ove… — 1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Over and Over,” Dave Clark Five. The song is the group’s only No. 1 hit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – In British cinemas today is The Beatles Come to Town, a — 1963 – In British cinemas today is The Beatles Come to Town, a newsreel documentary by Pathe news. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Bob Dylan performs at London’s Singers Club on — 1962 – Bob Dylan performs at London’s Singers Club on this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – No. 1 in the American singles chart today is the Tornadoes — 1962 – No. 1 in the American singles chart today is the Tornadoes with “Telstar.” Producer Joe Meek’s instrumental tribute to the satellite is also the first record by a [...]

1961 – Heading back to Hibbing for Christmas, Bob Dylan stops — 1961 – Heading back to Hibbing for Christmas, Bob Dylan stops at the Minneapolis home of Bonnie Beecher. He plays a few Woody Guthrie songs for his friend that are [...]

1958 – After just two weeks on the Billboard Pop chart, “The Chipmunk Song — 1958 – After just two weeks on the Billboard Pop chart, “The Chipmunk Song” was the number one tune in the US. It’s creator, David Seville (Ross Bagdasarian), named the [...]

1957 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “April Love,’… — 1957 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “April Love,” Pat Boone. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Billboard Magazine reports that Elvis Presley had the most charting — 1956 – Billboard Magazine reports that Elvis Presley had the most charting records this year with seventeen. Pat Boone was next with five, followed by Fats Domino, Little Richard and [...]

1956 – Rounding up the year, today’s issue of Billboard reports that — 1956 – Rounding up the year, today’s issue of Billboard reports that Elvis Presley charted the most times with 17 different records. Next was Pat Boone with five hit singles, [...]

1955 – Alan Freed’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Holiday Jubilee opens in New York — 1955 – Alan Freed’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Holiday Jubilee opens in New York. The twelve day show features Count Basie, LaVern Baker, The Cadillacs, The Wrens, The Valentines, The Chuckles [...]

1949 – Twin brothers Maurice and Robin Gibb of the… — 1949 – Twin brothers Maurice and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees are born in Isle of Man, U.K. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1949 – Twins Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees — 1949 – Twins Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees are born in Manchester, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – Cheap Trick’s baseball-hat-sporting guitarist Rick — 1948 – Cheap Trick’s baseball-hat-sporting guitarist Rick Nielsen is born in Rockford, Ill. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1944 – Barry Jenkins, drummer with the Animals, is born — 1944 – Barry Jenkins, drummer with the Animals, is born in Leicester, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1937 – Guitarist Alvin Robinson, best known for his work on s — 1937 – Guitarist Alvin Robinson, best known for his work on several Dr. John ’70s albums, is born in New Orleans. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1930 – Charles K. Harris, a songwriter who wrote “After the Ball” and — 1930 – Charles K. Harris, a songwriter who wrote “After the Ball” and is considered one of the founders of Tin Pan Alley, dies. Be Sociable, Share! [...]