Rock History

On this day...

2006 – Celebrated opera singer Elisabeth Schwarzko… — 2006 – Celebrated opera singer Elisabeth Schwarzkopf dies at her home in Schruns, Austria. She is 90. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Arthur Lee, the singer and guitarist for ps… — 2006 – Arthur Lee, the singer and guitarist for psychedelic rock pioneers Love, dies) at the Methodist University Hospital in his hometown of Memphis after battling leukemia. He is 61. [...]

2005 – Lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge announces she is cancer — 2005 – Lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge announces she is cancer free nine months after being diagnosed with the disease. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – Blues musician Little Milton slips into a coma after suffering — 2005 – Blues musician Little Milton slips into a coma after suffering a stroke. The guitarist/singer wrote the tune “The Blues Is Alright.” But clearly he isn’t. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – The experimental Scottish quartet The Beta Band announce they are splitting. As well as releasing the critically acclaimed The Three EPs, their song “Dry the Rain” memorably figured in the movie High Fidelity — 2004 – The experimental Scottish quartet The Beta Band announce they are splitting. As well as releasing the critically acclaimed The Three EPs, their song “Dry the Rain” memorably figured [...]

2004 – Legendary Southern Rock figure Lacy Van Zan… — 2004 – Legendary Southern Rock figure Lacy Van Zant dies at his home in Jacksonville, Fla., due to chronic pulmonary illness. He is 89. The father of the late Ronnie [...]

2003 – About 50 local anglers gather on Huey Lewis’ Stevensville, Montana — 2003 – About 50 local anglers gather on Huey Lewis’ Stevensville, Montana property for a “fish-in,” casting their lines into a stream that the entertainer put a fence around. Be Sociable, [...]

2003 – Blu Cantrell tops the British singles chart with “Breathe,” while — 2003 – Blu Cantrell tops the British singles chart with “Breathe,” while the Coral have the biggest-selling album with Magic & Medicine. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Robbie Williams reunites with his old Take That bandmate Mark — 2003 – Robbie Williams reunites with his old Take That bandmate Mark Owen to sing their hit “Back for Good” at a show in Knebworth, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Chart-topping rap outfit D12 carries out a … — 2001 – Chart-topping rap outfit D12 carries out a brutal assault on Detroit rap rivals Esham and T.N.T. The incident occurs during a tour stop in Camden, N.J., and leaves [...]

1998 – Sony Music Entertainment squashes Best Buy’… — 1998 – Sony Music Entertainment squashes Best Buy’s Pearl Jam promotion in which the retailer had planned to give away an exclusive live CD by the band to customers who [...]

1997 – In Houston, Ted Nugent faces off against animal-rights — 1997 – In Houston, Ted Nugent faces off against animal-rights groups at a hunting show. Go Ted Go. What a Rock-em, Sock’em, Guitar Warrior! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1997 – Bob Dylan plays his first concert since his heart scare — 1997 – Bob Dylan plays his first concert since his heart scare in Lincoln, Neb. But he seems tired and even performs some songs sitting down. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1997 – At the request of NASA, Diamond Rio hosts a… — 1997 – At the request of NASA, Diamond Rio hosts a 30th anniversary bash for the Kennedy Space Center. The group performs in the Rocket Garden area of the Visitor [...]

1989 – The Rolling Stones film the video for “Mixed Emotions,” probably — 1989 – The Rolling Stones film the video for “Mixed Emotions,” probably the last good song they ever recorded. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Roll with It… — 1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Roll with It,” Steve Winwood. Chart Toppers ranks this the top song of the year. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – The Knack are masters of all they survey in chart-land today — 1979 – The Knack are masters of all they survey in chart-land today, as their album Get the Knack and single “My Sharona” both go to No. 1. And then… [...]

1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jive Talkin’… — 1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jive Talkin’,” The Bee Gees. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1974 – Guitarist Jeff Baxter quits Steely Dan and … — 1974 – Guitarist Jeff (Skunk) Baxter quits Steely Dan and joins the Doobie Brothers. With Steely Dan After the breakup of Ultimate Spinach, Baxter relocated to Los Angeles, California, finding work as [...]

1974 – Here’s a weird gig Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band opening for Canadian — 1974 – Here’s a weird gig Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band opening for Canadian songbird Anne Murray in New York. It’s the last gig Bruce plays with drummer [...]

1973 – Watching ABC’s In Concert tonight, you can see the Eagles rock UCLA. — 1973 – Watching ABC’s In Concert tonight, you could see the Eagles rock UCLA. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – Paul McCartney announces he’s forming Wings. — 1971 – Paul McCartney announces he’s forming Wings. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Beach Boy Carl Wilson is indicted in Los An… — 1969 – Beach Boy Carl Wilson is indicted in Los Angeles after failing to work as a hospital orderly in lieu of military draft. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – Janis Joplin sings with Little Richard at the Atlantic City Pop — 1969 – Janis Joplin sings with Little Richard at the Atlantic City Pop Festival. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – The Newport Pop Festival starts today, featuring performers — 1968 – The Newport Pop Festival starts today, featuring performers like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Steppenwolf. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – “Hello, I Love You” becomes the Doors’ second and — 1968 – “Hello, I Love You” becomes the Doors’ second and last No. 1 single. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – To promote Ravi Shankar’s Hollywood Bowl concert on August — 1967 – To promote Ravi Shankar’s Hollywood Bowl concert on August 4, George Harrison joins the sitar player at his news conference. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The Rolling Stones record “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing — 1966 – The Rolling Stones record “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow” in Los Angeles.   Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The South African government bans the broadcast of Beatles songs — 1966 – The South African government bans the broadcast of Beatles songs after John Lennon makes his “more popular than Jesus” remark. Wasn’t that ‘More popular than Rod’ Meaning Rod [...]

1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I’m Henry VI… — 1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” Herman’s Hermits. The song was written in 1911 by Fred Murray and R.P. Weston and was popularized [...]

1963 – Final Beatles’ performance at Liverpool’s C… — 1963 – Final Beatles’ performance at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. THE COMPLETE BEATLES CAVERN TRACK LISTING!   A young teenager who was a regular patron at the Cavern, wrote down the songs on paper [...]

1963 – Capitol Records releases the Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl,” which goes to No. 7. — 1963 – Capitol Records releases the Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl,” which goes to No. 7. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – Metallica’s James Hetfield is born. Roar! — 1963 – Metallica’s James Hetfield is born This day in rock history! James Hetfield Born: August 3, 1963 From: Los Angeles Personal: Married, 3 Children Instrument: Vocals, Guitar     When it comes to defining Metallica, most people [...]

1963 – Bob Dylan appears as a guest at a Joan Baez show in Camden, N.J. — 1963 – Bob Dylan appears as a guest at a Joan Baez show in Camden, N.J. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1960 – RCA A&R executives Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore successfully persuade — 1960 – RCA A&R executives Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore successfully persuade Mickey & Sylvia to reunite today in the hopes of following up their 1958 hit “Love Is Strange.” [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley begins a week-long tour of Florida tonight in Miami. — 1956 – Elvis Presley begins a week-long tour of Florida tonight in Miami. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Rock ‘n’ roll litigation as Bill Haley files suit against Essex Recordings — 1955 – Rock ‘n’ roll litigation as Bill Haley files suit against Essex Recordings. Now that he’s a big star, he accuses his old label of releasing his early recordings, [...]

1949 – War bassist B.B. Dickerson is born in Torrance, Calif — 1949 – War bassist B.B. Dickerson is born in Torrance, Calif. this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1926 – Singer Tony Bennett is born Anthony Dominic… — 1926 – Singer Tony Bennett is born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, NY. Be Sociable, Share! [...]