Rock History

On this day...

2008 – ‘Womanizer’ debuts at no. 1 in US Charts. Britney Spears went to No.1 — 2008 -  ‘Womanizer’ debuts at no. 1 in US Charts. Britney Spears went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Womanizer’ the singers second No.1 after her debut single ‘…Baby [...]

2007 – Madonna signed a ground-breaking recording and touring contract — 2007 – Madonna signed a ground-breaking recording and touring contract with concert promoter Live Nation becoming the first major star to choose an all-in-one agreement with a tour company over [...]

2007 – French rock star Bertrand Cantat was freed from jail after serving — 2007 – French rock star Bertrand Cantat was freed from jail after serving half of an eight-year sentence for killing his actress girlfriend. Cantat, singer with Noir Desir, was jailed [...]

2006 – CBGB, the legendary New York punk club credited with discoveri — 2006 – CBGB, the legendary New York punk club credited with discovering Patti Smith and The Ramones, closed after a final gig by Smith herself. Blondie and Talking Heads also [...]

2005 – R&B trio Sugababes top the U.K. singles chart with “Push the Button” as their — 2005 – R&B trio Sugababes top the U.K. singles chart with “Push the Button” as their album Taller in More Ways” enters the album charts at No. 1.

2003 – R&B songstress Blu Cantrell (“Hit ‘Em Up Style”) witnesses the stabbing — 2003 – R&B songstress Blu Cantrell (“Hit ‘Em Up Style”) witnesses the stabbing of a promoter friend outside a Paris nightclub where she is holding an album release party.

2003 – Courtney Love appears in court in an effort to regain custody of her — 2003 – Courtney Love appears in court in an effort to regain custody of her daughter Francis Bean Cobain. The child was placed in the care of Kurt Cobain’s mother [...]

2003 – “With or Without You” rockers U2 donate $46,000 to the — 2003 – “With or Without You” rockers U2 donate $46,000 to the Irish branch of One in Four, a sex abuse charity facing closure due to lack of funds.

2003 – Simon & Garfunkel open the first night of their Old Friends reunion — 2003 – Simon & Garfunkel open the first night of their Old Friends reunion tour in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

2002 – Dolly Parton undertakes her first tour of t… — 2002 – Dolly Parton undertakes her first tour of the U.K. and Ireland in 19 years.

2002 – Billy Joel checked out of a Connecticut hospital known for treating — 2002 – Billy Joel checked out of a Connecticut hospital known for treating substance abuse.

2001 – Jazz vocalist Etta Jones dies of cancer in … — 2001 – Jazz vocalist Etta Jones dies of cancer in New York, the same day HighNote releases her album “Etta Jones Sings Lady Day.” She is 72.

2001 – two security guards were sacked after refusing to allow Bob Dylan i — 2001 – two security guards were sacked after refusing to allow Bob Dylan into his own concert. Dylan who had demanded that security on his ‘Love and Theft’ tour should [...]

1999 – Singer Ella Mae Morse, who cut Capitol Reco… — 1999 – Singer Ella Mae Morse, who cut Capitol Records’ first million-selling single, Cow Cow Boogie, in 1942, dies of respiratory problems in Bullhead City, Ariz. She is

1996 – MTV premieres “MTV Unplugged” with Oasis. The band’s lead — 1996 – MTV premieres “MTV Unplugged” with Oasis. The band’s lead vocalists, Liam Gallagher, does not perform. The show was taped in London in August.

1992 – Two weeks after tearing up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live, Sinead — 1992 – Two weeks after tearing up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live, Sinead O’Connor is booed at a Bob Dylan tribute concert at Madison Square Garden. [...]

1990 – Jazz drummer Art Blakey dies in New York Ci… — 1990 – Jazz drummer Art Blakey dies in New York City. Age 71.

1986 – Chuck Berry plays his 60th Birthdays concer… — 1986 – Chuck Berry plays his 60th Birthdays concert in St. Louis this day in rock history! Eric Clapton and Keith Richards perform at a birthday party for Chuck Berry, [...]

1982 – Hall & Oates release their album H2O. Featuring the hits “Maneater, — 1982 – Hall & Oates release their album H2O. Featuring the hits “Maneater,” “One on One,” and “Family Man,” the record peaks at No. 3.

1981 – Bob Dylan kicks off his Shot of Love tour at the Milwaukee Auditorium — 1981 – Bob Dylan kicks off his Shot of Love tour at the Milwaukee Auditorium. It’s his first live outing since his controversial 1979 tour, during which he played only [...]

1973 – Drummer Gene Krupa dies of leukemia at the … — 1973 – Drummer Gene Krupa dies of leukemia at the age of 64. Gene Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973) was an influential American jazz and big band drummer, [...]

1972 – Creedence Clearwater Revival announces its … — 1972 – Creedence Clearwater Revival announces its decision to split up.

1971 – Isaac Hayes releases “Theme From Shaft.” The theme music of the hit — 1971 – Isaac Hayes releases “Theme From Shaft.” The theme music of the hit blaxsploitation film goes to No. 1.

1969 – Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips is born in Los Angeles this day — 1969 – Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips is born in Los Angeles this day in rock history!

1968 – George Harrison flies to Los Angeles, where he will produce — 1968 – George Harrison flies to Los Angeles, where he will produce Jackie Lomax’s 1969 debut, Is This What You Want. It wasn’t.

1966 – Joan Baez is one of 124 anti-draft proteste… — 1966 – Joan Baez is one of 124 anti-draft protesters arrested at a military induction center in Oakland, Calif.

1966 – Grace Slick performs as a member of Jefferson Airplane for the first — 1966 – Grace Slick performs as a member of Jefferson Airplane for the first time at San Francisco’s Fillmore West after Signe Anderson bows out of the group’s lineup. Slick [...]

1965 – The Beatles record “Day Tripper” this day in rock history! — 1965 – The Beatles record “Day Tripper” this day in rock history! “Day Tripper” is a riff-driven rock song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles [...]

1965 – A day after opening San Francisco’s Coffee Gallery, the Great Society — 1965 – A day after opening San Francisco’s Coffee Gallery, the Great Society featuring Grace Slick score another gig. This time the band plays with Jefferson Airplane and the Charlatans [...]

1964 – The Beatles appear on the British TV program Ready Steady — 1964 – The Beatles appear on the British TV program Ready Steady Go this day in rock history!

1964 – Composer Cole Porter dies at the age of 71…. — 1964 – Composer Cole Porter dies at the age of 71.

1963 – It’s announced that the Beatles will play at this year’s Royal — 1963 – It’s announced that the Beatles will play at this year’s Royal Command Performance. The Beatles themselves record performances of “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Love Me Do,” “Please [...]

1962 – Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is born in Melbourne, Australia — 1962 – Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is born in Melbourne, Australia, as Michael Balzary.

1962 – Motown launches an American package tour featuring the — 1962 – Motown launches an American package tour featuring the Miracles, the Supremes, and Little Stevie Wonder in Washington, D.C.

1961 – DJ Mark the 45 King, producer of seminal records by Queen Latifah — 1961 – DJ Mark the 45 King, producer of seminal records by Queen Latifah and Chill Rob G, is born.

1960 – Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp is born in Islington, England. — 1960 – Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp is born in Islington, England.

1959 – Comedian and actor Peter Sellers records “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” — 1959 – Comedian and actor Peter Sellers records “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” with future Beatles producer George Martin.

1957 – Sam Cooke releases his single “You Send Me.” The No. 1, written — 1957 – Sam Cooke releases his single “You Send Me.” The No. 1, written by his brother Charles Cooke, becomes his first and biggest hit, selling 2.5 million copies.

1956 – Elvis Presley’s first film, “Love Me Tende… — 1956 – Elvis Presley’s first film, “Love Me Tender,” premieres this day in rock.

1954 – Elvis Presley performs for the first time on the Louisiana — 1954 – Elvis Presley performs for the first time on the Louisiana Hayride radio show.

1953 – Guitarist Tony Carey, who as well as performing solo was in Ritchie — 1953 – Guitarist Tony Carey, who as well as performing solo was in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, is born in Fresno, Calif.

1951 – Little Richard holds his first recording se… — 1951 – Little Richard holds his first recording session in Atlanta.

1947 – Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir is born in San Francisco. — 1947 – Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir is born in San Francisco.

1943 – Bassist C.F. “Fred” Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is born. — 1943 – Bassist C.F. “Fred” Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is born.

1938 – Iconic anti-singer Nico is born in Cologne, Germany. — 1938 – Iconic anti-singer Nico is born in Cologne, Germany.

1938 – Christa Paffgen is born in Cologne, Germany… — 1938 – Christa Paffgen is born in Cologne, Germany. She takes the moniker Nico before moving to New York to do a brief stint as frontwoman for The Velvet Underground. [...]

1935 – Soul singer Sugar Pie Desanto (“I Want to Know”) is born — 1935 – Soul singer Sugar Pie Desanto (“I Want to Know”) is born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

1923 – Bert Kaempfert, the composer of “Strangers in the Night,” the first man — 1923 – Bert Kaempfert, the composer of “Strangers in the Night,” the first man to sign the Beatles, and the person on the coolest album cover ever (his own Very [...]

1911 – Gospel’s first superstar, Mahalia Jackson is born in New Orleans. — 1911 – Gospel’s first superstar, Mahalia Jackson is born in New Orleans.