Rock History

On this day...

2009 – A stage being built in France for a concert by Madonna collapsed, killing two workers —   2009 - A stage being built in France for a concert by Madonna collapsed, killing two workers and injuring six others. Technicians had been setting up the stage at the Velodrome [...]

2007 – the White Stripes played their ‘shortest live show ever — 2007 – the White Stripes played their ‘shortest live show ever’ at George Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Jack White played a single C# note accompanied by a bass drum/crash [...]

2005 – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame inducts its se… — 2005 – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame inducts its seventh class in Wildwood, N.J., honoring 17 vocal trios, quartets, duos and other harmony, doo-wop and R&B groups. The star-studded [...]

2005 – The Intonation Music Festival opens its gat… — 2005 – The Intonation Music Festival opens its gates at Chicago’s Union Park and manages to achieve a goal for all first-year festivals: it sells out. Headliners included the Decemberists, [...]

2003 – Celia Cruz dies of a brain tumor at the age… — 2003 – Celia Cruz dies of a brain tumor at the age of 77. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde blocks traffic… — 2003 – Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde blocks traffic with fellow PETA protesters in front of a Paris Kentucky Fried Chicken. They also cover the restaurant’s windows in red blood. Hynde [...]

2003 – The reunited members of Duran Duran play their first … — 2003 – The reunited members of Duran Duran play their first American show together at the Pacific Amphitheater in Orange County, California. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Santana wraps up his Supernatural tour and donates… — 2003 – Santana wraps up his Supernatural tour and donates $2 million to help conquer the AIDS crisis in South Africa. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Limp Bizkit guitarist Mike Smith, formerly of Snot, pinche… — 2003 – Limp Bizkit guitarist Mike Smith, formerly of Snot, pinches a nerve and injures his back during a show at New York’s Webster Hall. Doctors order him to rest [...]

2002 – Buckcherry lead vocalist Joshua Todd abrupt… — 2002 – Buckcherry lead vocalist Joshua Todd abruptly quits the band, spelling the end for the group, as guitarist Keith Nelson makes it public that he has no plans to [...]

2002 – 26-year-old Karen Manders dies from injurie… — 2002 – 26-year-old Karen Manders dies from injuries sustained from a 30-foot fall from a barrier at an overcrowded free concert in Brighton, England, headlined by Fatboy Slim. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2002 – Dave Matthews Band release Busted Stuff, whose songs… — 2002 – Dave Matthews Band release Busted Stuff, whose songs date from bootlegged sessions held with producer Steve Lillywhite prior to the release of 2001′s Everyday. The album goes to [...]

2000 – Coldplay went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their — 2000 – Coldplay went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut release ‘Parachutes’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – The cream of Latin American musical talent … — 2000 – The cream of Latin American musical talent converges on Three Mills Island in East London for the Salsa 2000 open-air festival. The large-scale Latin festival is headlined by [...]

1998 – A single track from the Jesus And Mary Chai… — 1998 – A single track from the Jesus And Mary Chain’s concert, which was recorded and burned to CD the preceding day, is given away free to all who purchase [...]

1997 – The Presidents of the United States of America play the last… — 1997 – The Presidents of the United States of America play the last show at Seattle’s closing Ballard nightclub. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1996 – Drummer John Panozzo dies at the age of 49…. — 1996 – Drummer John Panozzo dies at the age of 49 this day in rock. John was the drummer for the band Styx. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1996 – The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan settles out of court… — 1996 – The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan settles out of court with a London newspaper that claimed she performed on stage without wearing any underwear. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – Sinead O’Connor pulls out of this year’s Lollapalooza… — 1995 – Sinead O’Connor pulls out of this year’s Lollapalooza tour after discovering she’s pregnant. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – The three tenors – Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti – perform… — 1994 – The three tenors – Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti – perform at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to an audience who pay $1,000 a seat. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – “Weird Al” Yankovic cracks another sweat today as he records… — 1993 – “Weird Al” Yankovic cracks another sweat today as he records the tracks “Jurassic Park,” “Achy Breaky Song,” “Bedrock Anthem,” and “Talk Soup.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – In Buenos Aires, a judge throws out a case of drug possession… — 1993 – In Buenos Aires, a judge throws out a case of drug possession involving Guns N’ Roses. The “drugs” were in fact just vitamins. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Bob Dylan has to cancel a show in Lyon, France… — 1993 – Bob Dylan has to cancel a show in Lyon, France, due to his bad back. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1992 – Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts walks off… — 1992 – Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts walks off the set of Late Night With David Letterman with his quintet after a disagreement with the show’s producer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – The French government makes Miles Davis a Knight… — 1991 – The French government makes Miles Davis a Knight of the Legion of Honor. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1984 – Roger Waters kicks off his Pros and Cons of Hitch… — 1984 – Roger Waters kicks off his Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking tour with Eric Clapton in Stockholm. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1983 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Every Breath … — 1983 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Every Breath You Take,” The Police. It tops the pop chart for eight weeks. Chart Toppers ranks the million-selling single the top [...]

1981 – Harry Chapin dies in an auto accident in Je… — 1981 – Harry Chapin dies in an auto accident in Jericho, N.Y., while on his way to play a benefit performance. His biggest hit is “Cat’s in the Cradle,” a [...]

1980 – No Nukes, a documentary film on the benefit concerts… — 1980 – No Nukes, a documentary film on the benefit concerts of the same name starring Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor, premieres in New York. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Loggins & Messina (“Your Mama Don’t Dance”) announce… — 1976 – Loggins & Messina (“Your Mama Don’t Dance”) announce they are going their separate ways. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – Topping the American R&B charts today are the Commodores… — 1977 – Topping the American R&B charts today are the Commodores, with “Easy.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – The Allman Brothers Band splits up. … — 1976 – The Allman Brothers Band splits up. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – NBC broadcasts David Bowie’s TV special… — 1973 – NBC broadcasts David Bowie’s TV special this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Bad Bad Leroy… — 1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” Jim Croce. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Smokey Robinson plays his final date with t… — 1972 – Smokey Robinson plays his final date with the Miracles in Washington, D.C. He is replaced by William Griffin. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – The Who releasea their single “I’m Free” from Tommy… — 1969 – The Who release their single “I’m Free” from Tommy. It goes to No. 37. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – On TV tonight, it’s a meeting of the minds as Janis Joplin… — 1969 – On TV tonight, it’s a meeting of the minds as Janis Joplin appears on The Dick Cavett Show. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Over on The Tonight Show, you can see Diana Ross… — 1969 – Over on The Tonight Show, you can see Diana Ross & the Supremes guest host. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Big Brother & the Holding Company and Sly & the Family Stone… — 1968 – Big Brother & the Holding Company and Sly & the Family Stone open the Fillmore West, the new name given to San Francisco’s Carousel Ballroom since Bill Graham [...]

1967 – In the studio, Jackie Wilson cuts his future No. 6 smash… — 1967 – In the studio, Jackie Wilson cuts his future No. 6 smash “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The Lovin’ Spoonful release their No. 1 single, “Summer in the City… — 1966 – The Lovin’ Spoonful release their No. 1 single, “Summer in the City.” It is, appropriately, summer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – Tanya Donelly of the Throwing Muses and her own Belly… — 1966 – Tanya Donelly of the Throwing Muses and her own Belly is born in Newport, R.I. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – Eric Clapton forms Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer… — 1966 – Eric Clapton forms Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Hanky Panky,”… — 1966 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Hanky Panky,” Tommy James & the Shondells. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – The Beach Boys record their classics “Catch a… — 1963 – The Beach Boys record their classics “Catch a Wave” and “In My Room.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1959 – The Coasters record “Poison Ivy.” The Leiber/Stoller… — 1959 – The Coasters record “Poison Ivy.” The Leiber/Stoller song later goes to No. 7. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1952 – Stewart Copeland of the Police is born in A… — 1952 – Stewart Copeland of the Police is born in Alexandria, Egypt. The group has six top 10 songs and three top five albums. “Synchronicity,” which sells more than one [...]

1940 – Searchers lead singer Tony Jackson is born… — 1940 – Searchers lead singer Tony Jackson is born in Dingle, England this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1937 – Soul singer/songwriter William Bell (“You Don’t… — 1937 – Soul singer/songwriter William Bell (“You Don’t Miss Your Water”) is born in Memphis this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]