Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Foo Fighters headline the first day of Radio One’s “Big Weekend festival” in Carlisle on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Foo Fighters headline the first day of Radio One’s “Big Weekend festival” in Carlisle on This Day in Rock! Playing an 80 minute set, the band rocked the [...]

2011 – Duran Duran perform for AIDS awareness in Cannes France on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Duran Duran perform for AIDS awareness in Cannes France on This Day in Rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2008 – Metallica kicked off a 26-date North American and European — 2008 – Metallica kicked off a 26-date North American and European tour at the Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, California. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2008 – Starry Night Gala To Honor Sir George Martin… — 2008 – Starry Night Gala To Honor Sir George Martin The Grammy Foundation announced… The GRAMMY Foundation will honor Sir George Martin, a GRAMMY Trustees Award recipient, six-time GRAMMY Award winner and [...]

2006 – Former Bob Marley bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett… — 2006 – Former Bob Marley bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett loses his suit against Island Records and Marley’s family. He claimed he was owed millions in unpaid royalties. Be [...]

2005 – Jimmy Martin, one of the greatest vocalists… — 2005 – Jimmy Martin, one of the greatest vocalists in bluegrass, dies in a Nashville hospice where he has been battling bladder cancer. He is 77. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Phil Spector is arrested on This Day in Rock! — 2004 – Phil Spector is arrested on This Day in Rock! Arguing over their business relationship, Phil and his chauffeur got into a slight knock down which ended in both [...]

2004 – Coldplay’s Chris Martin and his wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow… — 2004 – Coldplay’s Chris Martin and his wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, become the proud parents of a baby girl, Apple Blythe Alison Martin. Maybe she’ll make Lotso money with [...]

2004 – Pete Doherty enters drug rehab on This Day in Rock. — 2004 – Pete Doherty enters drug rehab on This Day in Rock. Doherty recently scored a Top 10 UK hit, “For Lovers”. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me tops the album… — 2003 – Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me tops the album chart, as the Isley Brothers enter at No. 2 with Body Kiss and easygoing surfer Jack Johnson’s [...]

2003 – Oh no! Former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton… — 2003 – Oh no! Former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton says his band Mr. Bungle “is over.” The good news is he’s focussing on his three noisy [...]

2003 – lawyers for Britney Spears and the Skechers footwear company — 2003 – lawyers for Britney Spears and the Skechers footwear company settled a dispute over a deal for the pop star to market a line of roller skates and accessories. [...]

2000 – Tom Jones was at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Reload — 2000 – Tom Jones was at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Reload’ making the singer the oldest artist to score a UK No.1 album with new material. Be Sociable, [...]

2000 – songwriter Geoff Goddard died aged 62. Wrote ‘Johnny Remember — 2000 – songwriter Geoff Goddard died aged 62. Wrote ‘Johnny Remember Me’, and played keyboards on The Tornadoes 1962 No.1 hit ‘Telstar’. Wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, The Outlaws, [...]

1999 – Controversial Web site MP3.com files with t… — 1999 – Controversial Web site MP3.com files with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – Ticketmaster group reports it sold 522,926 … — 1998 – Ticketmaster group reports it sold 522,926 tickets worth 19.5 million over its Internet site, Ticketmaster Online, during the first quarter of the year. This figure, the firm says, [...]

1998 – Recording artist George Michael pleads no c… — 1998 – Recording artist George Michael pleads no contest in Beverly Hills Municipal Court to committing a lewd act in a park restroom. Michael, who does not appear in court [...]

1998 – Frank Sinatra, the premier American pop sty… — 1998 – Frank Sinatra, the premier American pop stylist and Chairman of the Board to his legions of fans, dies of a heart attack. He is 82. The singer, who [...]

1997 – Mark Morrison was jailed for three months after threatening — 1997 – Mark Morrison was jailed for three months after threatening a police officer with an electric stun gun, he was also ordered to pay £350 costs. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – The Weekly World News tabloid reports… — 1993 – The Weekly World News tabloid reports that Elvis Presley has finally died. The King is dead… Long live the King! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Duran Duran perform a concert at Los Angeles… — 1993 – Duran Duran perform a concert at Los Angeles’ Tower Records that is broadcast to fans in Tokyo, London, and Sydney. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Sold at a sale at Christies, London, four ‘Super Hero’, Costumes — 1993 – Sold at a sale at Christies, London, four ‘Super Hero’, Costumes worn by the group Kiss, for £20,000. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – Today Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” and Prince’s… — 1988 – Today Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” and Prince’s “Alphabet Street” enter the top 40. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine started a two — 1988 – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Anything For You’, a No.10 hit in the UK. Be [...]

1988 – Atlantic Records’ 40th anniversary celebration at New… — 1988 – Atlantic Records’ 40th anniversary celebration at New York’s Madison Square Garden sees the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited with John Bonham’s son Jason on drums. Be [...]

1988 – Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker dies… — 1988 – Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker dies. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1985 – President Ronald Reagan seizes a photo opportunity… — 1985 – President Ronald Reagan seizes a photo opportunity and gives Michael Jackson a humanitarian award at the White House. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1983 – Spandau Ballet scored their first and only UK No.1 — 1983 – Spandau Ballet scored their first and only UK No.1 album with ‘True.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – US singer songwriter Gordon Lightfoot kicked off a 5- date — 1981 – US singer songwriter Gordon Lightfoot kicked off a 5- date UK tour at Belfast Grosvenor Hall. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1981 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Bette Davis E… — 1981 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Bette Davis Eyes,” Kim Carnes. Bette Davis responds by sending roses to Carnes when the song wins a Grammy. The song is [...]

1977 – Talking Heads played a gig at The Rock Garden in London — 1977 – Talking Heads played a gig at The Rock Garden in London where Brian Eno who was in the audience sees them and goes on to produce the band. Be [...]

1977 – Leo Sayer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with — 1977 – Leo Sayer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘When I Need You’, the singers second US No.1, also No.1 in the UK. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Keith Relf of the Yardbirds dies of electro… — 1976 – Keith Relf of the Yardbirds dies of electrocution at the age of 33. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “You Are the S… — 1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” Stevie Wonder. It is his third chart-topping hit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – A car crash takes the lives of Fairport Convention… — 1969 – A car crash takes the lives of Fairport Convention drummer Martin Lamble and Jeanne “Genie the Taylor” Franklin. Franklin was a clothes designer for, among others, [...]

1969 – Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block is born… — 1969 – Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Paul McCartney and John Lennon make a guest… — 1968 – Paul McCartney and John Lennon make a guest appearance on The Tonight Show to announce the creation of Apple Corps. ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW: The first few seasons of [...]

1967 – gigs around the UK; Jimi Hendrix played at the Elizabethan Ballroom — 1967 – gigs around the UK; Jimi Hendrix played at the Elizabethan Ballroom in Manchester, The Bee Gees appeared at The Beachcomber in Nottingham and Alan Price played at the [...]

1966 – Mike Inez, Alice In Chains, is born on This Day in Rock! — 1966 – Mike Inez, Alice In Chains, Ozzy Osbourne, is born on This Day in Rock! Discography Alice in Chains Jar of Flies (1994) Alice in [...]

1965 – San Francisco radio station KYA hosts the Rolling Stones… — 1965 – San Francisco radio station KYA hosts the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Beau Brummels, Paul Revere & the Raiders, and the Vejtables at the Civic Auditorium. Be Sociable, [...]

1964 – London Records prepares giant promotion – ‘Watch Out USA… — 1964 – London Records prepares giant promotion – ‘Watch Out USA Here They are! The Rolling Stones! They’re great! They’re outrageous! They’re rebels! They sell! They’re England’s hottest [...]

1964 – Jan & Dean start recording “Little Old… — 1964 – Jan & Dean start recording “Little Old Lady (From Pasadena).” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “If You Wanna … — 1963 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “If You Wanna Be Happy,” Jimmy Soul. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – The Beatles appeared at The Rink Ballroom, Sunderland, England. — 1963 – The Beatles appeared at The Rink Ballroom, Sunderland, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – Behind the Music star – and we do mean “star” – and Poison… — 1963 – Behind the Music star – and we do mean “star” – and Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Ian Astbury, the wolf child of the Cult, is born… — 1962 – Ian Astbury, the wolf child of the Cult, is born in the badlands of Heswall, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – The Platters release their self-titled debut album. — 1956 – The Platters release their self-titled debut album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Buddy Holly’s optometrist has him try contact lenses… — 1956 – Buddy Holly’s optometrist has him try contact lenses, but Holly decides he didn’t like them, and sticks with his famous glasses. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Bo Diddley lands on the R&B chart with the first of several… — 1955 – Bo Diddley lands on the R&B chart with the first of several singles named after himself. On the flip side of “Bo Diddley” is the oft-imitated [...]

1955 – “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & the Comets… — 1955 – “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & the Comets first enters the top 40. It would become the first No. 1 record of the rock era. Be [...]

1952 – David Byrne, lead singer of the Talking Hea… — 1952 – David Byrne, lead singer of the Talking Heads, is born in Dumbarton, Scotland. The group’s biggest hit is “Burning Down the House,” a No. 9 song in 1983. David [...]

1951 – Memphis producer Sam Phillips records nascent bluesman… — 1951 – Memphis producer Sam Phillips records nascent bluesman Howlin’ Wolf singing “Moanin’ at Midnight.” Phillips leases that and other recordings to the Chicago-based Chess label, angering Los [...]

1947, Born on this day, Al Ciner, American Breed, (1967 US No.5 — 1947, Born on this day, Al Ciner, American Breed, (1967 US No.5 & UK No. 24 single ‘Bend Me, Shape Me’). Three Dog Night, (1970 UK No.3 & US No.1 [...]

1946 – Born on this day, Lek LecKenby, guitar, Herman’s Hermits, (1964 — Herman’s Hermits 1946 – Born on this day, Lek LecKenby, guitar, Herman’s Hermits, (1964 UK No.1 single ‘I’m Into Something Good’, 1965 US No.1 single ‘Mrs Brown You’ve Got A Lovely [...]

1946 – Gene Cornish, The Young Rascals, is born on This Day in Rock Music! — 1946 – Gene Cornish, The Young Rascals, is born on This Day in Rock Music! The Young Rascals have the 1967 US No.1 and UK No.8 single ‘Groovin’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Bassist Jack Bruce of Cream is born today in… — 1943 – Bassist Jack Bruce of Cream is born today in Lanarkshire, Scotland. John Symon Asher “Jack” Bruce (born 14 May 1943) is a Scottish musician, composer and singer. He [...]

1936 – Bobby Darin (Walden Robert Cassotto) is bor… — 1936 – Bobby Darin (Walden Robert Cassotto) is born in New York City. His only No. 1 hit is “Mack the Knife.” He won two Grammys in 1959: Best New [...]