Rock History

On this day...

2005 – Live 8 concerts are held in locations from London to Philadelphia to Tokyo… — 2005 – Live 8 concerts are held in locations from London to Philadelphia to Tokyo to raise awareness of African poverty. Among the performers are Madonna, Green Day, Paul McCartney, [...]

2003 – Great White are forced to cancel their tour to benefit… — 2003 – Great White are forced to cancel their tour to benefit the victims of the Rhode Island club fire due to money troubles and insurance issues. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – In Billboard, the Who’s Pete Townshend dismisses those… — 2003 – In Billboard, the Who’s Pete Townshend dismisses those who’ve passed judgment on him after his arrest for kiddie porn, and instead cares about its affect on “friends, fans, [...]

2003 – After various delays, Lollapalooza kicks off again… — 2003 – After various delays, Lollapalooza kicks off again, with headliners Jane’s Addiction and a line-up that includes Incubus, hip-hop act Jurassic Five and Audioslave. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2002 – Ray Brown, a legendary jazz bassist who pla… — 2002 – Ray Brown, a legendary jazz bassist who played with giants Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, and his one-time wife Ella Fitzgerald in a career that spanned more [...]

2001 – Yoko Ono visits the Beatle’s hometown of Li… — 2001 – Yoko Ono visits the Beatle’s hometown of Liverpool, England, to attend a ceremony announcing the renaming of the Liverpool Airport as the Liverpool John Lennon Airport in honor [...]

2000 – Pete Townshend announces via his Web site that he contacted… — 2000 – Pete Townshend announces via his Web site that he contacted Eddie Vedder after learning about the deaths of nine people during a Pearl Jam performance at the Roskilde [...]

1999 – Mark Sandman, lead singer of idiosyncratic … — 1999 – Mark Sandman, lead singer of idiosyncratic rock band Morphine, dies from a heart attack onstage at the Diardini del Principe music festival in Palestrina, Italy. He is 47. Be [...]

1999 – Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias gives a fre… — 1999 – Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias gives a free public performance in front of the Lincoln Center Plaza in New York. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – A bipartisan group of Michigan legislators … — 1998 – A bipartisan group of Michigan legislators is successful in defeating a restrictive live music performance bill. S.B. 1100, introduced earlier in the year, would have allowed Michigan community [...]

1997 – After he is awarded Sweden’s Polar Music Prize, Bruce Springsteen… — 1997 – After he is awarded Sweden’s Polar Music Prize, Bruce Springsteen gives the cash portion of the award to a Swedish school program that keeps teenagers off the streets. [...]

1995 – Grateful Dead fans riot outside a Noblesville, Ind., concert. — 1995 – Grateful Dead fans riot outside a Noblesville, Ind., concert. Seventeen arrests are made after gates are torn down and rocks thrown. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1992 – Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade gives birth to … — 1992 – Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade gives birth to a daughter. She is the first grandchild for the 48-year-old Rolling Stone. That makes Mick a grandfather Rocker! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – Several people are injured at a Guns N’ Ros… — 1991 – Several people are injured at a Guns N’ Roses concert in Maryland Heights, Mo., a St. Louis suburb. Lead singer Axl Rose is charged with third-degree assault and [...]

1987 – Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones emerges from… — 1987 – Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones emerges from retirement to begin producing the Mission’s Children. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1984 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “When Doves C… — 1984 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “When Doves Cry,” by the artist then known as Prince. The song is the first single released from Prince’s “Purple Rain” LP [...]

1984 – This Day in Dio: Dio release their album The Last in Line. — 1984 – This Day in Dio: Dio release their album The Last in Line. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – Clash drummer Topper Headon is charged with stealing… — 1982 – Clash drummer Topper Headon is charged with stealing a bus stop sign. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – Bruce Springsteen plays his first show at New Jersey… — 1981 – Bruce Springsteen plays his first show at New Jersey’s Brendan Byrne Arena. He sold out six shows at the venue in the space of an hour. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead are arreste… — 1980 – Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead are arrested with their manager, Danny Rifken, on charges of inciting a riot. They were alleged to have interfered [...]

1976 – Brian Wilson rejoins the Beach Boys for the first time on stage… — 1976 – Brian Wilson rejoins the Beach Boys for the first time on stage since deciding he’d rather spend his life in bed. Aside from singing “In My Room” at [...]

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Will It Go R… — 1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Will It Go Round in Circles,” Billy Preston. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell quit the Jimi Hendrix… — 1969 – Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience, however there is some good news for rock enthusiasts as Leslie West and Felix Pappalardi team up to [...]

1964 – Paul McCartney is at the piano as Liverpudlian… — 1964 – Paul McCartney is at the piano as Liverpudlian diva Cilla Black records the Beatles’ “It’s for You.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Easier Said … — 1963 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Easier Said Than Done,” The Essex. The members of the group are all U.S. Marines, including lead singer Anita Humes. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – It’s the release of Elvis Presley’s latest film, King… — 1958  – It’s the release of Elvis Presley’s latest film, King Creole, Known among audiences for being the only Elvis movie worth a darn. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley records “Don’t Be Cruel,” `… — 1956 – Elvis Presley records “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Hound Dog” and “Anyway You Want Me” in New York. It marks the first time he uses the Jordanaires as background singers. [...]

1949 – Roy Bittan, pianist with Bruce Springsteen’s… — 1949 – Roy Bittan, pianist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Comin’ in on… — 1943 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer,” The Song Spinners. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1941 – The ageless Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones… — 1941 – The ageless Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones is born in Islington, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]