Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Whitney Houston checks herself into drug rehab as an outpatient This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Whitney Houston checks herself into drug rehab as an outpatient This Day in Rock! Reported from Us Weekly.

2011 – Lady Gaga released a new song, “The Edge of Glory,” to the iTunes store on This Day in Rock. — 2011 – Lady Gaga released a new song, “The Edge of Glory,” to the iTunes store on This Day in Rock.

2008 – Foxy Brown avoided a further spell in prison after pleading guilty in a New — 2008 – Foxy Brown avoided a further spell in prison after pleading guilty in a New York court to menacing her neighbour with a BlackBerry phone. The 28-year-old rapper admitted [...]

1962 – Beatles sign their contract with EMI Records. — 1962 – Beatles sign their contract with EMI Records.

2005 – Akon was at No.1 on the UK singles with ‘Lonely’, Gwen Stefan — 2005 – Akon was at No.1 on the UK singles with ‘Lonely’, Gwen Stefani held the US No.1 spot with ‘Hollaback Girl’ and Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake were at [...]

2005 – In what is billed as the first “descriptive… — 2005 – In what is billed as the first “descriptive music video,” the clip for Stevie Wonder’s So What the Fuss becomes available with an audio track from rapper Busta [...]

2004 – The No. 1 album is Guns N’ Roses’ Greatest Hits…. — 2004 – The No. 1 album is Guns N’ Roses’ Greatest Hits. Ho-wop star Eamon stays on top of the UK singles chart with his hit “F**k It [...]

2004 – South African singer Brenda Fassie dies at … — 2004 – South African singer Brenda Fassie dies at the Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg. She is 39. She had been in a coma since April 26, after suffering an asthma [...]

2002 – Veteran Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabr… — 2002 – Veteran Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel takes home four honors at the 13th annual Chart Toppers Latin Music Awards in Miami, including songwriter of the year, hot Latin track [...]

2001 – Michael Jackson releases a statement insist… — 2001 – Michael Jackson releases a statement insisting he has no plans to sell the rights to the Beatles catalog. “I want to clarify a silly rumor,” the statement reads. [...]

2001 – Kenny Rogers receives a special Career Achi… — 2001 – Kenny Rogers receives a special Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Country Music during its 36th annual awards show, held at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. [...]

2001 – James Myers, whose 2-minute, 8-second tune … — 2001 – James Myers, whose 2-minute, 8-second tune “Rock Around the Clock” is considered the granddaddy of all rock’n'roll songs, dies of leukemia. He is 81. Myers wrote the song [...]

2000 – Rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow, a protTgT of h… — 2000 – Rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow, a protTgT of hop-hop impresario Sean “Puffy” Combs, is hit with a $6 million civil suit charging assault by a basketball rival. Robert Steinmentz [...]

2000 – Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera each… — 2000 – Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera each took home two trophies at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, in Los Angeles. Backstreet Boys snag favorite pop group and favorite CD honors [...]

1999 – The Backstreet Boys scored their first UK No.1 single — 1999 – The Backstreet Boys scored their first UK No.1 single with ‘I Want It That Way’ their 8th UK Top 10 hit.

1998 – All Saints scored their second UK No.1 single with their version of ‘Under — 1998 – All Saints scored their second UK No.1 single with their version of ‘Under The Bridge’ a hit in 1992 for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and ‘Lady Marmalade’ [...]

1998 – The Beatles and Yoko Ono win their suit against… — 1998 – The Beatles and Yoko Ono win their suit against a label that was going to release a live album of the group performing at Hamburg’s Star Club [...]

1998 – Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page are musical guest… — 1998 – Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page are musical guests on “Saturday Night Live.” The two perform their collaboration “Come To Me,” which borrows heavily from Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”

1998 – Just a day short of six-weeks-old, young Em… — 1998 – Just a day short of six-weeks-old, young Emma McBride makes her first visit to the Grand Ole Opry with her mother, country singer Martina McBride. As mom sings [...]

1998 – Blues singer/harmonica player Lester Butler… — 1998 – Blues singer/harmonica player Lester Butler, 39, dies of a drug overdose in Los Angeles. Butler gained prominence as the front man for the Red Devils, who played a [...]

1992 – Bruce Springsteen made his North American network television — 1992 – Bruce Springsteen made his North American network television debut on Saturday Night Live.

1991 – Bill Wyman divorces his rather young… — 1991 – Bill Wyman divorces his rather young bride, Mandy Smith.

1988 – Prince: Several Department stores in Minnesota refuse to stock… — 1988 – Several Department stores in Minnesota refuse to stock the newly released Prince album, “Lovesexy” because the cover photo features a nude photo of him. Wow… take away our freedom [...]

1987 – Starship: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now UK 45… — 1987 – Starship: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now UK 45 is no. 1 chart topper!

1983 Bob Neal (DJ and former Presley manager) dies… — 1983 Bob Neal (DJ and former Presley manager) dies this day in rock history! We didn’t have a picture of Bob, so here is a pic of the King to pay [...]

1982 – Bob Dylan finishes recording Infidels. — 1982 – Bob Dylan finishes recording Infidels.

1981 – Adam and the Ants: Stand and Deliver UK 45… — 1981 – Adam and the Ants: Stand and Deliver UK 45 is no. 1 chart topper!

1980 – Supertramp’s ‘The Logical Song’ won Best Song Musically and Lyrically — 1980 – Supertramp’s ‘The Logical Song’ won Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 25th Ivor Novello Awards held in London.

1980 – ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ by The Boomtown Rats won the best pop — 1980 – ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ by The Boomtown Rats won the best pop song and outstanding British lyric categories at the 25th Ivor Novello Awards.

1978 – Fee Waybill of The Tubes, broke a leg after falling from the stage — 1978 – Fee Waybill of The Tubes, broke a leg after falling from the stage at the Hammersmith Odeon, London whilst wielding a chainsaw during the bands set.

1976 – In Houston, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson duet… — 1976 – In Houston, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson duet on “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Backstage, Nelson is given a subpoena to appear before a grand jury investigating [...]

1975 – Born on this day, Ryan ‘Nik’ Vikedal, drums, Nickelback, (2002 US No.1 — 1975 – Born on this day, Ryan ‘Nik’ Vikedal, drums, Nickelback, (2002 US No.1 & UK No. 4 single ‘How To Remind You’, 2001 US No.2 & 2002 UK No.2 [...]

1974 – Bruce Springsteen’s performance at Boston’s Harvard… — 1974 – Bruce Springsteen’s performance at Boston’s Harvard Square Theatre prompts Jon Landau to say: ‘I have seen the future of rock and roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen.’

1973 – Mick Jagger makes official donation of $350,000… — 1973 – Mick Jagger makes official donation of $350,000 to aid victims of Nicaraguan earthquake, adding £150,000 of his own money to the receipts of Stones benefit concert at [...]

1971 – Born on this day, Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan, Oasis, (first single ‘Supersonic — 1971 – Born on this day, Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan, Oasis, (first single ‘Supersonic’, 1994 UK No.31, 1996 UK No.1 single ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, 1994 UK No.1 album ‘Definitely [...]

1970 – Guess Who: American Woman US 45… — 1970 – Guess Who: American Woman US 45 is no. 1 chart topper.

1969 – Beatles guitarist George Harrison’s experimental album Electronic — 1969 – Beatles guitarist George Harrison’s experimental album Electronic Sounds was released on Zapple records.

1967 – Sandie Shaw was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Puppet On A — 1967 – Sandie Shaw was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Puppet On A String’. This week’s two highest new entries were Jimi Hendrix with ‘The Wind Cries [...]

1965 – during a UK tour Bob Dylan played the first of two sold out nights at London — 1965 – during a UK tour Bob Dylan played the first of two sold out nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

1964 – Appearing at The Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Gate, England, Gene — 1964 – Appearing at The Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Gate, England, Gene Vincent and the Shouts. The poster advertised that the first 50 girls would be admitted free; tickets cost six [...]

1964 – Chuck Berry starts his first U.K. tour in L… — 1964 – Chuck Berry starts his first U.K. tour in London, supported by the Animals, Carl Perkins and the Nashville Teens.

1963 – Paul McCartney meets Jane Asher… — 1963 – Paul McCartney meets Jane Asher after Beatles’ Albert Hall gig.

1962 – Born on this day, Dave Gahan, vocals, Depeche Mode, (1984 UK No. — 1962 – Born on this day, Dave Gahan, vocals, Depeche Mode, (1984 UK No.4 single ‘People Are People’, plus over 25 other UK Top 40 singles). Solo.

1959 – UK music paper Melody Maker introduced a Juke Box Top 20 Chart — 1959 – UK music paper Melody Maker introduced a Juke Box Top 20 Chart compiled from 200 Juke Boxes around the UK.

1950 – Born on this day, Tom Petersson, bass, vocals, Cheap Trick, (1979 UK No.29 — 1950 – Born on this day, Tom Petersson, bass, vocals, Cheap Trick, (1979 UK No.29 & US No.17 single ‘I Want You To Want Me’, 1988 US No.1 single ‘The [...]

1949 – Billy Joel is born in Hicksville, Long Isla… — 1949 – Billy Joel is born in Hicksville, Long Island, N.Y. He receives a Grammy Legends Award in 1990. His three No. 1 hits are “We Didn’t Start the Fire” [...]

1945 – Born on this day, Steve Katz, guitar, vocals, Blood Sweat & Tears — 1945 – Born on this day, Steve Katz, guitar, vocals, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.12 & UK No.35 single ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’).

1944 – Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poc… — 1944 – Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco is born in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

1942 – Singer Tommy Roe is born in Atlanta. His No… — 1942 – Singer Tommy Roe is born in Atlanta. His No. 1 hits are “Dizzy” in 1969 and Sheila in 1962.

1937 – Dave Prater (Sam and Dave) is born… — 1937 – Dave Prater (Sam and Dave) is born this day in rock history! Samuel David Moore (born October 12, 1935, Miami, Florida) and Dave Prater (May 9, 1937, Ocilla, Georgia [...]

1914 – Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hal… — 1914 – Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer Hank Snow is born.