Rock History

On this day...

2010 – U2′s new producer… Over the past six years, producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton has compiled — 2010 – U2′s new producer… Over the past six years, producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton has compiled one of the most impressive lists of collaborators in recent music history. From [...]

2007 – Kid Rock and five members of his entourage were arrested after an argument — 2007 – Kid Rock and five members of his entourage were arrested after an argument with a man escalated into a fight in a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. Kid Rock’s [...]

2006 – Rockin’ band from Little Rock, Evanescence were at No.1 on the US album chart — 2006 – Rockin’ band from Little Rock, Evanescence were at No.1 on the US album chart with their second album ‘The Open Door.’ It became the 700th No.1 album [...]

2006 – Sandy West, drummer for influential ’70s ba… — 2006 – Sandy West, drummer for influential ’70s band the Runaways, dies after a long battle with lung cancer. He is 47. Sandy West (July 10, 1959 – October 21, 2006) [...]

2005 – The Strokes unveil new songs from their horribly titled third al — 2005 – The Strokes unveil new songs from their horribly titled third album First Impressions of the Earth during a concert at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Modern Art. Be Sociable, [...]

2004 – Actress and sometimes singer Lindsay Lohan (“Rumors”) is — 2004 – Actress and sometimes singer Lindsay Lohan (“Rumors”) is admitted into an undisclosed L.A. hospital suffering from “high fever.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Veteran Bo Diddley, he of the square guitar and many songs — 2004 – Veteran Bo Diddley, he of the square guitar and many songs bearing his name in the title, postpones a California concert as he recuperates from having his toe [...]

2004 – Gavin Rossdale, singer with Bush and Gwen Stefani’s husband, admits he — 2004 – Gavin Rossdale, singer with Bush and Gwen Stefani’s husband, admits he is the father of a 15-year-old aspiring model named Daisy. Daisy’s mother is Pearl Lowe, formerly of [...]

2004 – Usher and Alicia Keys’ “My Boo” knocks Ciara’s single “Goodies” off th — 2004 – Usher and Alicia Keys’ “My Boo” knocks Ciara’s single “Goodies” off the top of the U.S. singles chart. It’s the first time an artist has had four No. [...]

2004 – Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas wins Artist of the Year at the — 2004 – Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas wins Artist of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America in Miami Beach, Fla. The non-Spanish speaking Avril Lavigne wins Best [...]

2004 – In the midst of the Halloween season when t… — 2004 – In the midst of the Halloween season when the 1960s novelty hit “Monster Mash” is annually revived, the song’s singer and co-author rewrites its lyrics to protest President [...]

2003 – A judge orders former Hole front-woman Courtney Love out of he — 2003 – A judge orders former Hole front-woman Courtney Love out of her Beverly Hills home so her daughter Frances Bean Cobain can continue living there. Love is involved in [...]

2003 – Destiny’s Child is sued by an unknown Miami producer who — 2003 – Destiny’s Child is sued by an unknown Miami producer who claims they stole the music for their hit “Survivor” from him. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Liza Minnelli’s ex-husband David Gest sues the “New York, New — 2003 – Liza Minnelli’s ex-husband David Gest sues the “New York, New York” singer for $10 million, alleging she beat him up during drunken rages. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – AC/DC reopen the refurbished Hammersmith Apollo in London with — 2003 – AC/DC reopen the refurbished Hammersmith Apollo in London with a hit-heavy set and the inevitable “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” finale. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Elton John signs a deal with the Las Vegas’ Colosseum to play 75 — 2003 – Elton John signs a deal with the Las Vegas’ Colosseum to play 75 shows there over the next three years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Singer/Songwriter Elliott Smith is found ne… — 2003 – Singer/Songwriter Elliott Smith is found near Deaths in his Los Angeles apartment after an apparent suicide attempt. Smith, 34, is pronounced dead later the same day at Los [...]

2002 – For the second year running, Radiohead is h… — 2002 – For the second year running, Radiohead is honored as “best act in the world today” at the Annual Q Awards, held in London. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – George Martin, who produced most of the Bea… — 1999 – George Martin, who produced most of the Beatles albums, lends his reputation and four decades of music business experience to a start-up Internet company catering to unsigned bands. [...]

1998 – Rap star Coolio pleads not guilty to concea… — 1998 – Rap star Coolio pleads not guilty to concealed weapon and marijuana possession charges in Torrance, Calif. Coolio (Artis Ivey) had been arrested on the charges the preceding month. Be [...]

1998 – Kiss members Paul Stanley and Bruce Kulick … — 1998 – Kiss members Paul Stanley and Bruce Kulick are sued for copyright infringement over the song “Dreamin’,” which the suit alleges sounds too similar to the Alice Cooper hit [...]

1996 – A former executive of EMI Records, Jay Barb… — 1996 – A former executive of EMI Records, Jay Barbieri, announces the official launch of the first Internet record label, J-Bird Records at www.j-birdrecords.com. The record label is the first [...]

1995 – Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon is found de… — 1995 – Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon is found dead on his tour bus from an accidental drug overdose. The band rose to fame in 1993 with the hit “No [...]

1992 – Elton John sues the TV tabloid show Hard Copy, claiming — 1992 – Elton John sues the TV tabloid show Hard Copy, claiming it falsely reported he moved to Atlanta to be close to a noted AIDS treatment center. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1992 – “Sex,” a book of erotic photographs of Ma… — 1992 – “Sex,” a book of erotic photographs of Madonna, is released. Sex is a highly-designed coffee table book written by Madonna with photographs by Steven Meisel and film frames taken [...]

1975 – Elton John is the latest addition to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. — 1975 – Elton John is the latest addition to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – John Lennon begins producing his Rock ‘n’ Roll album — 1974 – John Lennon begins producing his Rock ‘n’ Roll album himself at the Record Plant Studios. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Chuck Berry scores his only No. 1 single today with the innuendo — 1972 – Chuck Berry scores his only No. 1 single today with the innuendo-laden “My Ding-a-Ling.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – Mick and Bianca Jagger become the proud parents of Jade — 1971 – Mick and Bianca Jagger become the proud parents of Jade Jagger. Their daughter is born at the Belvedere Nursing Home in Paris. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – Bob Dylan releases New Morning. “In the end, this is an album that — 1970 – Bob Dylan releases New Morning. “In the end, this is an album that, the less said about it, the better,” writes Rolling Stone‘s Ed Ward. “It seems almost [...]

1966 – The Who perform on British TV’s Ready Steady Go! In a Viacom — 1966 – The Who perform on British TV’s Ready Steady Go! In a Viacom-esque example of synergy, the band has just released an EP called Ready Steady Who! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965- On Shindig! tonight you can watch the Kingsmen sing — 1965- On Shindig! tonight you can watch the Kingsmen sing their scandalous “Louie Louie” song. Also guesting are the Dave Clark Five. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – Bill Black, who played bass with Elvis Presley on many of his — 1965 – Bill Black, who played bass with Elvis Presley on many of his Sun recordings, dies in Memphis at age 39. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – British singer Cliff Richard tries to break into the U.S. with an — 1962 – British singer Cliff Richard tries to break into the U.S. with an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In fact, he’ll have to wait until 1976, when his [...]

1958 – In a New York studio, Buddy Holly & the Crickets record “True — 1958 – In a New York studio, Buddy Holly & the Crickets record “True Love Ways,” “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” “Moondreams,” and “Raining in My Heart.” It’s the Texas rocker’s [...]

1957 – Toto guitarist/singer Steve Lukather is born in Los Angeles. — 1957 – Toto guitarist/singer Steve Lukather is born in Los Angeles. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1957 – Rock shaman or prize fool? Well, he’s still Julian Cope. And th — 1957 – Rock shaman or prize fool? Well, he’s still Julian Cope. And the former Teardrop Explodes leader is born today in Deri, Wales. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1957 – The Elvis Presley film “Jailhouse Rock” p… — 1957 – The Elvis Presley film “Jailhouse Rock” premieres. (words & music by jerry leiber – mike stoller) The warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and [...]

1954 – Eric Faulkner, guitarist with the Bay City Rollers, is born — 1954 – Eric Faulkner, guitarist with the Bay City Rollers, is born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1953 – Go-Go’s lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey is born. — 1953 – Go-Go’s lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey is born. Charlotte Caffey Charlotte Caffey (2008) Background information Birth name Charlotte Irene Caffey Born October 21, 1953 (1953-10-21) (age 57) Origin Santa Monica, California Genres Punk rock Occupations Guitarist, songwriter Instruments [...]

1952 – Brent Mydland, keyboardist and vocalist with the Grateful Dead — 1952 – Brent Mydland, keyboardist and vocalist with the Grateful Dead, is born in Munich. He joined in the band in 1979, replacing Keith and Donna Godchaux. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1947 – Tetsu Yamauchi, bassist with Free and the Faces, is born — 1947 – Tetsu Yamauchi, bassist with Free and the Faces, is born in Fukuoka, Japan. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1946 – Born on this day, Lee Loughnane, trumpet, Chicago — 1946 – Born on this day, Lee Loughnane, trumpet, Chicago, (1976 UK & US No.1 single ‘If You Leave Me Now’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Sixties teen idol Kathy Young (“A Thousand Stars”) is born in — 1945 – Sixties teen idol Kathy Young (“A Thousand Stars”) is born in Santa Ana, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Guitarist Ron Elliott of the Beau Brummels (“Just a Little”) is born — 1943 – Guitarist Ron Elliott of the Beau Brummels (“Just a Little”) is born in Haddsburg, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1942 – Guitarist Elvin Bishop, whose distinctive playing changed the way we — 1942 – Guitarist Elvin Bishop, whose distinctive playing changed the way we thought of the blues with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, is born in Glendale, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1941 – Guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T & The M… — 1941 – Guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T & The MGs is born in Willow Springs, Mo. He is also a producer, having worked with Jeff Beck and Mitch Ryder, [...]

1940 – Jimmy Beaumont, vocalist with the Skyliners (“Since I Don’t Have — 1940 – Jimmy Beaumont, vocalist with the Skyliners (“Since I Don’t Have You”), is born in Pittsburgh. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1940 – Manfred Mann (Michael Lubowitz) is born in … — 1940 – Manfred Mann (Michael Lubowitz) is born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He forms a rock group with the same name in England in 1964. The group has two No. [...]

1937 – Vocalist Norman Wright of the R&B group the Dell-Vikings (“Come — 1937 – Vocalist Norman Wright of the R&B group the Dell-Vikings (“Come Go With Me”) is born in Philadelphia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1924 – Vivacious salsa icon Celia Cruz is born in Havana. — 1924 – Vivacious salsa icon Celia Cruz is born in Havana. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1917 – Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (John Birks … — 1917 – Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (John Birks Gillespie) is born. He is awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989 for his major contributions to the development of bebop. John [...]