Rock History

On this day...

1911 – Robert Johnson is born this day in rock history… — 1911 – Robert Johnson is born this day in rock history. You remember the movie Crossroads… that was his song! Robert Johnson, born Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August [...]

2008 – American Country artist Eddy Arnold died of natural causes, one week — 2008 – American Country artist Eddy Arnold died of natural causes, one week before his 90th birthday. He sold more than 85 million records and had 147 songs on the [...]

2006 – The Rolling Stones called off their forthcoming European tour — 2006 – The Rolling Stones called off their forthcoming European tour after guitarist Keith Richards underwent emergency brain surgery. The 62 year-old guitarist suffered “mild concussion” when he fell out [...]

2006 – Eric Clapton kicked off a 12 date UK tour at the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland. — 2006 – Eric Clapton kicked off a 12 date UK tour at the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – A British judge rules that Apple Computers did… — 2006 – A British judge rules that Apple Computers did not break an agreement with The Beatles – who own the Apple label – not to enter the music [...]

2005 – Bruce Springsteen was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Devils — 2005 – Bruce Springsteen was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Devils and Dust’ his 13th No.1 studio album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Elton John announces he and lyricist Bernie… — 2003 – Elton John announces he and lyricist Bernie Taupin will write the score for a Broadway musical based on Anne Rice’s novel The Vampire Lestat. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – William B. Dial, road manager for Detroit r… — 2001 – William B. Dial, road manager for Detroit rap act Insane Clown Posse is arrested in Omaha, Neb., for allegedly choking an audience member who was ejected from the [...]

2001 – Husband and wife team Vince Gill and Amy Gr… — 2001 – Husband and wife team Vince Gill and Amy Grant help raise approximately Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Clint Black and his wife Lisa Hartman Black… — 2001 – Clint Black and his wife Lisa Hartman Black become proud parents. Lily Pearl Black weighs in at 7 lbs., 14 ounces and measures 20 1/2 inches. Be Sociable, [...]

2000 – Promise Ring lead singer Davey vonBolhlen u… — 2000 – Promise Ring lead singer Davey vonBolhlen undergoes emergency surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, necessitating the cancellation of the Milwaukee-based band’s European tour. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Ricky Martin went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Livin’ La — 1999 – Ricky Martin went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’, also an UK No.1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Innovative jazz vocalist Leon Thomas, 61, d… — 1999 – Innovative jazz vocalist Leon Thomas, 61, dies of heart failure in the Bronx, N.Y. He had been suffering from leukemia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – The Smashing Pumpkins file suit against Wes… — 1998 – The Smashing Pumpkins file suit against Westwood One, claiming that the radio syndicator breached an oral and implied contract by licensing a 1991 interview with the band. According [...]

1998 – Johnny Winter is inducted into Hollywood’s … — 1998 – Johnny Winter is inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Walk. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1997 – Aerosmith began the European portion of their Nine… — 1997 – Aerosmith began the European portion of their Nine Lives tour in 1997. While the album sold 2 million American copies, it wasn’t one of their best. The “Falling [...]

1996 – Unfortunate Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has spousal… — 1996 – Unfortunate Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has spousal battery charges refiled against him in Los Angeles. He had failed to finish a substance abuse counseling program, [...]

1996 – A Los Angeles judge ruled against Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson in — 1996 – A Los Angeles judge ruled against Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson in their bid to keep Penthouse magazine from publishing still photos from an X-rated home movie [...]

1993 – Mark Knopfler received an honorary music doctorate from the — 1993 – Mark Knopfler received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Aerosmith entered the US album chart at No.1 with ‘Get A Grip’, a No.2 — 1993 – Aerosmith entered the US album chart at No.1 with ‘Get A Grip’, a No.2 hit in the UK. The album went on to sell over 20 million copies [...]

1993 – Aerosmith’s “Get a Grip” enters The Chart T… — 1993 – Aerosmith’s “Get a Grip” enters The Chart Toppers 200 top pop album chart at No. 1., becoming the group’s highest-debuting album and highest-charting album ever. The group’s previous [...]

1992 – Rapper-actor Will Smith (the Fresh Prince) … — 1992 – Rapper-actor Will Smith (the Fresh Prince) marries songwriter Sheree Zampino in Santa Barbara, Calif. The two are expecting their first child. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – Pianist Rudolf Serkin dies at his home in G… — 1991 – Pianist Rudolf Serkin dies at his home in Guilford, Vt., after a long struggle with cancer. Age 88. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1990 – A Los Angeles court awards Tom Waits $2.5 million… — 1990 – A Los Angeles court awards Tom Waits $2.5 million. They upheld his claim thet Frito-Lay unlawfully used a Waits sound alike in its Doritos adverts. Thomas Alan Waits (born [...]

1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Anything for … — 1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Anything for You,” Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine. The song is the group’s first No. 1 hit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Prince played the first of three nights at the Isstadion in Stockholm, Sweden — 1987 – Prince played the first of three nights at the Isstadion in Stockholm, Sweden at the start of his Sign Of The Times 37-date European tour. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – Vangelis: Chariots of Fire US 45 is no. 1… — 1982 – Vangelis: Chariots of Fire US 45 is no. 1 chart topper this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “When I Need Y… — 1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “When I Need You,” Leo Sayer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Rolling Stones’ Black and Blue hits UK LP chart. — 1976 – Rolling Stones’ Black and Blue hits UK LP chart. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – former lead singer of the Lovin Spoonful John Sebastian went to No.1 — 1976 – former lead singer of the Lovin Spoonful John Sebastian went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Welcome Back’, taken from the US TV show ‘Welcome Back [...]

1976 – BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Walker announced he was quitting the station after — 1976 – BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Walker announced he was quitting the station after being told he must pretend to like The Bay City Rollers. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Abba scored their third UK No.1 single with ‘Fernando’. And also on day Abba — 1976 – Abba scored their third UK No.1 single with ‘Fernando’. And also on day Abba started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their ‘Greatest [...]

1974 – UK keyboard player Graham Bond committed suicide — 1974 – UK keyboard player Graham Bond committed suicide after throwing himself under a London tube train at Finsbury Park station, aged 36. It took police two days to identify [...]

1971 – Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers UK LP is no. 1… — 1971 – Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers UK LP is no. 1 chart topper this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – The Let It Be album was released in 1970. Paul McCartney… — 1970 – The Let It Be album was released in 1970. Paul McCartney had also just put his first solo album out on Apple Records. Let It Be was the [...]

1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Aquarius/Let … — 1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” The 5th Dimension. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr signed a business management — 1969 – John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr signed a business management contract with Allen Klein and his company ABKCO, but Paul McCartney refused to sign, continuing to let [...]

1968 – T. Rex debut on UK chart with Deborah. — 1968 – T. Rex debut on UK chart with Deborah. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – Gerry And The Pacemakers announced they were splitting up, recognising — 1967 – Gerry And The Pacemakers announced they were splitting up, recognising they could no longer keep pace with the rapidly changing UK rock scene. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – Nine British records in US Top 10: — 1965 – Nine British records in US Top 10: 1. Hermans’ Hermits: Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter 2. Gerry Lewis: Count Me In 3. Beatles: Ticket to Ride 4. Wayne Fontana: Game [...]

1964 – Dave Rowntree of Blur is born. … — 1964 – Dave Rowntree of Blur is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Alex Van Halen (Van Halen) is born… — Featured 1955 -  Alex Van Halen (Van Halen) is born this day in rock history! Alexander Arthur Van Halen was born to Jan and Eugenia van Halen in Amsterdam, The Netherlands [...]

1953 – Billy Burnette (Fleetwood Mac) is born… — 1953 – Billy Burnette (Fleetwood Mac) is born this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1949 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Riders in the… — 1949 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Riders in the Sky,” Vaughn Monroe. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Paul Samwell-Smith (The Yardbirds) is born… — 1943 – Paul Samwell-Smith (The Yardbirds) is born this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1940 – Ricky Nelson (Eric Hilliard Nelson) is born… — 1940 – Ricky Nelson (Eric Hilliard Nelson) is born in Teaneck, N.J. He is the son of TV stars Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. He scores 19 top 10 hits. Among [...]