Rock History

On this day...

2011 – LimeWire wins limit on damages to record labels on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – LimeWire wins limit on damages to record labels on This Day in Rock! A federal judge limited the potential financial liability facing the operator of LimeWire, a once-popular file-sharing [...]

2011 – Owsley “Bear” Stanley, a 1960s counterculture icon who worked with The Grateful Dead and was a prolific LSD producer, died in a car crash in Australia on This Day in Rock. — 2011 – Owsley “Bear” Stanley, a 1960s counterculture icon who worked with The Grateful Dead and was a prolific LSD producer, died in a car crash in Australia on This [...]

2010 – AC/DC Photo Exhibition And Fan Gathering Set For Stockholm – Mar. 14, 2010 — 2010 – AC/DC Photo Exhibition And Fan Gathering Set For Stockholm – Mar. 14, 2010 According to ACDC-Bootlegs.com, there will be a small exhibition of photographs on June 2-3, 2010 from [...]

2008 – Peter MacBeth, a member of The Foundations who had the 1968 — 2008 – Peter MacBeth, a member of The Foundations who had the 1968 UK hit with Build Me Up Buttercup, was jailed for child sex offences. MacBeth sexually assaulted a [...]

2006 – U2 topped Rolling Stone magazine’s annual list of the year’s — 2006 – U2 topped Rolling Stone magazine’s annual list of the year’s biggest money earners from 2005 with $154.2m. (£78m), The Rolling Stones were listed second with $92.5m (£47m) and [...]

2006 – The Cars announce they are reforming… —   2006 – The Cars announce they are reforming — but without gangling/charismatic frontman Ric Ocasek. Singing duties will instead be handled by Todd “Can We Be Friends” Rundgren. Let [...]

2005 – U2, The Pretenders, Buddy Guy, the O’Jays, and Percy Sledge are all inducted… — 2005 – U2, The Pretenders, Buddy Guy, the O’Jays, and Percy Sledge are all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a dinner in New York. [...]

2004 – DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide (All Around The World)… — 2004 – DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide (All Around The World)” knocks Britney Spear’s “Toxic” off the No. 1 spot in the UK singles chart. The chart-topping album [...]

2003 – Ozzy Osbourne holds a farewell party for bassist —   2003 – Ozzy Osbourne holds a farewell party for bassist Robert Trujillo, who leaves his band for Metallica. At the shindig, wife Sharon Osbourne collapses from heat exhaustion [...]

2002 – Alicia Keys played a show in a suite at the House of Commons after — 2002 – Alicia Keys played a show in a suite at the House of Commons after young Labour MP David Lammy had booked the American singer. Lammy said he had [...]

2001 – Peter Blake, who designed The Beatles’ classic Sgt. Pepper album — 2001 – Peter Blake, who designed The Beatles’ classic Sgt. Pepper album cover sued the group’s record company for more money. Blake was paid £200 ($340) for the famous figures [...]

2001 – former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was banned from driving for six weeks — 2001 – former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was banned from driving for six weeks and fined £400 ($680) for speeding in her Aston Martin DB7. Geri had been snapped on [...]

2001 – The Court of Appeals of Rome finds Michael … — 2001 – The Court of Appeals of Rome finds Michael Jackson not guilty of plagiarism, reversing a decision made in 1999 by a lower court. Italian singer/songwriter Albano Carrisi had [...]

2000 – Lit’s A. Jay Popoff is cleared of indecent exposure… — 2000 – Lit’s A. Jay Popoff is cleared of indecent exposure charges following a North Carolina concert. The rocker says, “I was just goofing off onstage.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Stereophonics went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Performance — 1999 – Stereophonics went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Performance And Cocktails’, only the third Welsh band to score a No.1 and the first No.1 album for [...]

1998 – Madonna : Ray of Light : UK LP… —   1998 – Madonna : Ray of Light : UK LP is no. 1 chart topper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – Will Smith : Gettin Jiggy With It :US… — 1998 – Will Smith : Gettin Jiggy With It :US single no. 1 chart topper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – The “Nokia Presents The George Strait Chevy… — 1998 – The “Nokia Presents The George Strait Chevy Truck Country Music Festival Brought To You By Wrangler” opens to a sell-out crowd of about 56,000 attendants in Phoenix, Ariz. [...]

1998 – Ray Charles makes his first solo performanc… — 1998 – Ray Charles makes his first solo performance in 53 years on the television shopping network QVC to promote the first product from his merchandising and marketing company RCR [...]

1998 – Michael Jackson arrives in Munich to provid… — 1998 – Michael Jackson arrives in Munich to provide moral support to concert promoter Marcel Avram, who is in April to start a 3 1/2-year term for tax evasion in [...]

1998 – Her mother, sister and brother are all on h… — 1998 – Her mother, sister and brother are all on hand to see Massachusetts native Jo Dee Messina make her Grand Ole Opry debut. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – Grand Ole Opry president Bob Whittaker surp… — 1998 – Grand Ole Opry president Bob Whittaker surprises Country Music Association group of the year Diamond Rio with an invitation to become members of the Grand Ole Opry. Be [...]

1995, with the release of ‘Me Against the World’ Tupac Shakur became the first male — 1995, with the release of ‘Me Against the World’ Tupac Shakur became the first male solo artist to have a No.1 album on the Billboard chart while in prison. Be Sociable, [...]

1995 – Can’t Stop Lovin’ You (Van Halen) is released this day in rock. — 1995 – Can’t Stop Lovin’ You (Van Halen) is released this day in rock. Release date: 1995-03-14 Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1992 – Farm Aid Five in Irving, Texas, attracts… —   1992 – Farm Aid Five in Irving, Texas, attracts a crowd of 40,000 to watch performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Paul Simon, and John Mellencamp. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – R.E.M. played the first of two nights at London’s Borderline Club under — 1991 – R.E.M. played the first of two nights at London’s Borderline Club under the name of ‘Bingo Hand Job.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – Songwriter Doc Pomus dies in New York of lu… — 1991 – Songwriter Doc Pomus dies in New York of lung cancer at age 65. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1990 – Michael Jackson was voted artist of the decade — 1990 – Michael Jackson was voted artist of the decade at the annual ‘Soul Train Awards.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1990 – Flea and Chad Smith from The Red Hot Chili Peppers were arrested — 1990 – Flea and Chad Smith from The Red Hot Chili Peppers were arrested for sexually harassing a woman on Daytona Beach, Florida. They were each fined $1,000 (£588). Be Sociable, [...]

1989 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Lost in Your … — 1989 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Lost in Your Eyes,” Debbie Gibson. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Boy George: Everything I Own UK… —   1987 – Boy George: Everything I Own UK 45 is no. 1 chart topper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Hot Chocolate: Very Best of Hot Chocolate UK… —   1987 – Hot Chocolate: Very Best of Hot Chocolate UK LP is no. 1 chart topper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Huey Lewis: Jacob’s Ladder US… —   1987 – Huey Lewis: Jacob’s Ladder US 45 is no. 1 chart topper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1985 – appearing live at Sheffield’s City Hall during a UK — 1985 – appearing live at Sheffield’s City Hall during a UK tour Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1983 – Taylor Hanson (Hanson) is born… — 1983 – Taylor Hanson (Hanson) is born this day in rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – I Love Rock ‘n Roll (Joan Jett & th… — 1982 – I Love Rock ‘n Roll (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts) was a hit. Lyrics: I Love Rock N’ Roll By Joan Jett and The Blackhearts I saw him dancin’ there by the [...]

1981 – Eric Clapton is seriously sidelined by an attack… —   1981 – Eric Clapton is seriously sidelined by an attack of bleeding ulcers today that leads him to cancel his 60-date tour of the U.S. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Will Surviv… — 1979 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Will Survive,” Gloria Gaynor. The song is released as the B-side to the single “Substitute.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – Elton John was at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Crocodile Rock’, — 1973 – Elton John was at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Crocodile Rock’, Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” wins a Grammy… — 1972 – Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” wins a Grammy as Record of the Year, King’s Tapestry wins a Grammy as Album of the Year and Carly Simon wins a [...]

1971 – Rolling Stones play a farewell concert… —   1971 – Rolling Stones play a farewell concert at the Roundhouse, London, before moving to France to escape UK taxes. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – “Me and Bobby McGee,” Janis Joplin’s… — 1971 – “Me and Bobby McGee,” Janis Joplin’s only Top Forty hit, reaches #1. It tops Billboard’s pop singles chart for two weeks. Kris Kristopherson penned the song. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – ‘Sweet Baby James’ enters the Billboard chart… —   1970 – ‘Sweet Baby James’ enters the Billboard chart. The song stays on the chart for over a hundred weeks, peaking at #3 and launching the singer/songwriter movement Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a live concert — 1969 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a live concert for ‘Fan Club’, the Dutch TV show in Amsterdam, Holland. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Beatles achieve a gold record for Yellow Submarine. —   1969 – Beatles achieve a gold record for Yellow Submarine. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – the promotional film for ‘Lady Madonna’ was broadcast in black — 1968 – the promotional film for ‘Lady Madonna’ was broadcast in black and white on Top of the Pops on UK television. The video portion of the film clip was [...]

1964 – Billboard reports that Beatle records currently… — 1964 – Billboard reports that Beatle records currently account for 60 per cent of US record sales. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – Cliff Richard: Summer Holiday UK… —   1963 – Cliff Richard: Summer Holiday UK 45 no. 1 chart topper. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – on a UK tour with Chris Montez and Tommy Roe, The Beatles appeared at the Gaumont Cinem — 1963 – on a UK tour with Chris Montez and Tommy Roe, The Beatles appeared at the Gaumont Cinema, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. For the third night in a row, John Lennon, [...]

1962 – Bruce Channel started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles — 1962 – Bruce Channel started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hey! Baby’, it made No.2 on the UK chart. Bruce Channel (pronounced “shuh-NELL”) [...]

1960 – Sam Cooke begins the first of three… —   1960 – Sam Cooke begins the first of three tours of the West Indies. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – Fabian voted America’s most promising… — 1958 – Fabian voted America’s most promising singer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – Crickets hits UK chart with Maybe Baby, while Buddy Holly… —   1958 – Crickets hits UK chart with Maybe Baby, while Buddy Holly goes in with Listen to Me. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Tequila,” The… — 1958 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Tequila,” The Champs. Glen Campbell, Jim Seals and Dash Crofts all join the group after “Tequila” hits No. 1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Boon Gould (Level 42) is born… — 1955 – Boon Gould (Level 42) is born this day in rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey turned down the chance to sign Elvis Presley — 1955 – CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey turned down the chance to sign Elvis Presley, instead at the same audition he signed singer Pat Boone. Godfrey was born in New York [...]

1952 – David Byrne (Talking Heads) is born… — 1952 – David Byrne (Talking Heads) is born this day in rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1949 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Cruising Down… — 1949 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Cruising Down the River,” Blue Barron Orchestra. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1946 – Jim Pons (Turtles) is born… — 1946 – Jim Pons (Turtles) is born this day in rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1938 – Quincy Jones (performer and record producer) is born… — 1938 – Quincy Jones (performer and record producer) is born this day in rock! Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. (born March 14, 1933), is an American music conductor, record producer, musical arranger, [...]