Rock History

On this day...

2009 – former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson made the largest ever leap to number one — 2009 – former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson made the largest ever leap to number one in US chart history, rising 96 places. Her single, My Life Would Suck Without [...]

2006 – Arctic Monkeys went to No.1 on the UK album chart — Arctic Monkeys 2006 – Arctic Monkeys went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not’. The Sheffield-based bands album [...]

2006 – Bryan Adams plays for 10,000 screaming fans… — Bryan Adams 2006 – Bryan Adams plays for 10,000 screaming fans in Karachi, Pakistan to benefit earthquake relief. It’s the first major concert by a Western star in [...]

2004 – James Brown files for an annulment from his third wife… — 2004 – James Brown files for an annulment from his third wife, Tommie Rae Brown, alleging she’s still married to another man. Brown was recently on a domestic violence charge. Be [...]

2004 – Ed Siacky dies… — 2004 – Ed Siacky, a Philadelphia DJ who supported Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Yes during their early careers, dies in New York aged 55. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rules that Funkadelic star George Clinton… — 2001 – U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rules that Funkadelic star George Clinton signed away his copyright on songs written in the late ’70s and early ’80s and [...]

2001 – a New York based data company issued a chart listing sales — The Doors 2001 – a New York based data company issued a chart listing sales of posthumous albums. The idea came about after radio stations wanted to distinguish between proper recordings [...]

2000 – Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Rise’ — 2000 – Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Rise’. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan’s ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door’ giving Dylan his third UK [...]

2000 – Detroit radio legend Martha Jean “The Quee… — 2000 – Detroit radio legend Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg – known by her trademark phrase “I betcha” – dies at Detroit’s Harper Hospital. Steinberg was a local fixture in [...]

1999 – Hole are among the performers at the Big Day… — Courtney Love 1999 – Hole are among the performers at the Big Day Out festival in Adelaide, Australia. However, their set is cut short when Courtney Love howls, “An [...]

1998 – Opening three weeks behind schedule, Paul S… — Paul Simon 1998 – Opening three weeks behind schedule, Paul Simon’s musical “The Capeman” premieres in New York to universally poor reviews. Critics claim that while Simon’s musical mixture of Latin [...]

1994 – Mary Wilson of the Supremes… — Mary Wilson of the Supremes 1994 – Mary Wilson of the Supremes and her 14-year-old son are injured after her jeep flips in an accident outside of Los Angeles. Be Sociable, [...]

1992 – Willie Dixon dies… — Willie Dixon 1992 – Willie Dixon dies of heart failure aged 76 in Burbank, Calif. The blues songwriter’s “Little Red Rooster” was famously covered by his acolytes the Rolling [...]

1992 – At the age 76, rhythm and blues trailblazer… — 1992 – At the age 76, rhythm and blues trailblazer Willie Dixon dies in Burbank, Calif., of heart failure. The former boxer wrote more R&B and early rock classics than [...]

1991 – The Stone Roses attack the offices… — 1991 – The Stone Roses attack the offices of their former record company, Revolver Records. During the fracas, Revolver Records MD Paul Birch, his girlfriend and his Mercedes [...]

1991 – 22 years to the day that The Beatles played live on — 1991 – 22 years to the day that The Beatles played live on the roof of their London offices, Manchester band James played a live set on the roof of [...]

1990 – Bob Dylan releases his single “Political World… — Bob Dylan 1990 – Bob Dylan releases his single “Political World.” Strangely, only its B-side “Ring Them Bells” appears on the third volume of his greatest hits. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1989 – Marc Almond started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK — 1989 – Marc Almond started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart’ with guest vocals from Gene Pitney. Be Sociable, [...]

1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Need You Ton… — INXS 1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Need You Tonight,” INXS. The group is only the third from Australia – and the first in five years – to top [...]

1983 – Stevie Nicks marries Kim Anderson in Los Angeles. They split in 1984. — 1983 – Stevie Nicks marries Kim Anderson in Los Angeles. They split in 1984. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1983 – Australian group Men At Work went to No.1 on the British — Men at work 1983 – Australian group Men At Work went to No.1 on the British and American singles and album charts simultaneously with ‘Down Under’ and ‘Business As Usual’. The [...]

1982 – Joe Walsh and what’s billed as the Hollywood Rock… — Joe Walsh 1982 – Joe Walsh and what’s billed as the Hollywood Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue perform at the Pacific Alliance Presents A Water For Life Benefit Concert For [...]

1982 – flying Back from Cannes, France, Gary Numan made — Gary Numan 1982 – flying Back from Cannes, France, Gary Numan made a forced landing after running low on fuel at an RAF base outside Southampton, the press ran stories that [...]

1980 – Jimmy Durante dies… — 1980 – Jimmy Durante or, as he was known, The Great Schnozzola, dies in Santa Monica, Calif. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – gigs around the UK; The Clash appeared at St Georges Hall — The Clash 1980 – gigs around the UK; The Clash appeared at St Georges Hall, Bradford, The Pretenders appeared at The Locarno, Portsmouth and Dexy’s Midnight Runners appeared at The City [...]

1979 – 16-year-old Brenda Spencer killed two people and wounded — 1979 – 16-year-old Brenda Spencer killed two people and wounded nine others when she fired from her house across the street onto the entrance of San Diego’s Grover Cleveland Elementary [...]

1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Car Wash,” … — 1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Car Wash,” Rose Royce. The song is the theme to the Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – the triple album ‘The Concert For Bangla Desh’ — George Harrison 1972 – the triple album ‘The Concert For Bangla Desh’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart. Organised by George Harrison to raise funds for the people caught [...]

1969, Fleetwood Mac had their only UK No.1 single with the — Fleetwood Mac 1969, Fleetwood Mac had their only UK No.1 single with the instrumental ‘Albatross.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Born on this day, Richard Battersby, drums, The Wildhearts — 1968 – Born on this day, Richard Battersby, drums, The Wildhearts, (1996 UK No.14 single ‘Sick Of Drugs’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – At the end of tonight’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium… — 1967 – At the end of tonight’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium, a British variety TV show, comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore appear with paper cut-outs [...]

1967 – Over at London’s Saville Theatre, Jimi Hendrix… — Jimi Hendrix 1967 – Over at London’s Saville Theatre, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Koobas, and the Thoughts perform. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – No. 1 in the UK today are the Overlanders … — 1966 – No. 1 in the UK today are the Overlanders with their cover of the Beatles’ “Michelle.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – Disaster for Texas rocker P.J. Proby! … — 1965 – Disaster for Texas rocker P.J. Proby! He’s enjoyed hits in England with singles like “Hold Me.” But tonight, while performing in London, his trousers ‘accidentally’ split. [...]

1964 – In Paris, the Beatles record German … — Beatles' Abbey Road LP 1964 – In Paris, the Beatles record German versions of their hits, including “Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand” and “Sie Liebt Dich.” It’s their first [...]

1964 – Born on this day, Roddy Frame, guitarist, singer — 1964 – Born on this day, Roddy Frame, guitarist, singer, songwriter, Aztec Camera, (1988 UK No.3 single ‘Somewhere In My Heart’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Want to Ho… — The Beatles 1964 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles. This first American release by the Beatles is one of the biggest selling [...]

1962 – The folk-pop trio Peter Paul & Mary sign with Warner Bros. Records. — Peter, Paul & Mary 1962 – The folk-pop trio Peter Paul & Mary sign with Warner Bros. Records. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Born on this day, Marcus Verne, Living In A Box — 1962 – Born on this day, Marcus Verne, Living In A Box, (1987 UK No.5 single ‘Living In A Box’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1961 – Bob Dylan performs at Izzy Young’s … — Bob Dylan 1961 – Bob Dylan performs at Izzy Young’s Folklore Centre. That night he meets his hero Woody Guthrie at a friend’s house in East Orange, N.J. Be Sociable, [...]

1961, Born on this day, Eddie Jackson, Queensryche, (1992 UK — 1961, Born on this day, Eddie Jackson, Queensryche, (1992 UK No.18 single ‘Silent Lucidity’ and ‘Jet City Woman’… to name a few). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1961 – Born on this day, Dave Baynton-Power, drums, James — 1961 – Born on this day, Dave Baynton-Power, drums, James, (1991 UK No.2 single ‘Sit Down’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – The Champs release their instrumental “Tequila” … — 1958 – The Champs release their instrumental “Tequila” on Challenge Records. It becomes a No. 1 smash, staying there for five weeks. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1954 – Handsome Dick Manitoba of New York punks the Dictators is born. — 1954 – Handsome Dick Manitoba of New York punks the Dictators is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1952 – Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone is born in Budapest, Hungary. — The Ramones 1952 – Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone is born in Budapest, Hungary. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – Guitarist Bill Kirchen is born… — 1948 – Guitarist Bill Kirchen, who with George Frayne founded Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, is born in Ann Arbor, Mich. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1947 – Singer David Byron of the rock band Uriah Heep is born in Essex, England. — Uriah Heep 1947 – Singer David Byron of the rock band Uriah Heep is born in Essex, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1944 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “My Heart Tel… — 1944 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “My Heart Tells Me,” Glen Gray Orchestra. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Born on this day, Mark Wynter, UK singer, (1962 — 1943 – Born on this day, Mark Wynter, UK singer, (1962 UK No.4 single ‘Venus In Blue Jeans’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1938 – Born on this day, James Jamerson, bass played — 1938 – Born on this day, James Jamerson, bass played, The Funk Brothers, died of a heart attack 2nd August 1983 aged 45. Played on many Motown hits by The [...]

1920 – Paul Gayten is born… — 1920 – Paul Gayten, a pianist who performed with Fats Domino and produced records by Louis Jordan, is born in New Orleans. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1889 – Blues great Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) is… — 1889 – Blues great Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) is born. Huddie William Ledbetter, (January 1888 – December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician, notable for his clear and forceful [...]