Rock History

On this day...

2007 – a piano used by John Lennon on the night he died was put up for sale for $375,000 — 2007 – a piano used by John Lennon on the night he died was put up for sale for $375,000 (£189,000) on The Moments in Time memorabilia website. The upright [...]

2005 – Bob Geldof and Elton John announce five July concerts… — 2005 – Bob Geldof and Elton John announce five July concerts that will make up Live 8 – a new initiative to raise awareness of poverty. Among the [...]

2005 – A popular ringtone called “The Crazy Frog” tops the U.K… — 2005 – A popular ringtone called “The Crazy Frog” tops the U.K. Top 40, outselling Coldplay’s comeback single “The Speed of Sound” by nearly 4 to 1. The [...]

2005 – Oscar Brown Jr., singer, composer, lyricist… — 2005 – Oscar Brown Jr., singer, composer, lyricist, playwright and black culture activist, dies in Chicago from complications from a blood infection in the lower spine. He is 78. Be [...]

2004 – Josey Scott of Memphis hard rockers Saliva marries… — 2004 – Josey Scott of Memphis hard rockers Saliva marries Kendra at Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Canadian rock act Sum 41 is forced to evacu… — 2004 – Canadian rock act Sum 41 is forced to evacuate the African nation of Congo while filming a documentary, “From the Front Lines” for aid agency War Child Canada. Be [...]

2004 – Brenda Fassie is posthumously honored at th… — 2004 – Brenda Fassie is posthumously honored at the 10th annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs), held at Sun City, outside Johannesburg. Fassie _ who died May 9 _ is [...]

2003 – Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson’s new band Hook… — 2003 – Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson’s new band Hookah Brown call it quits a mere six months after their first show. Sighs Robinson, “Sometimes life gets in [...]

2003 – Mopey rockers Staind top the album charts with 14… — 2003 – Mopey rockers Staind top the album charts with 14 Shades of Grey. The Deftones come in second with their self-titled newie. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – The body of Philip “Taylor” Kramer is discovered… — 1999 – The body of Philip “Taylor” Kramer is discovered in a valley in Malibu, Calif. The Iron Butterfly bass player had been missing since 1995. Some Party! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – The Rolling Stones launch the European leg … — 1999 – The Rolling Stones launch the European leg of their Bridges to Babylon tour, performing in front of 80,000 enthusiastic fans in an open-air concert in Stuttgart, Germany. Be Sociable, [...]

1997 – Sharitha Knight, wife of Deaths Row Records… — 1997 – Sharitha Knight, wife of Deaths Row Records owner Marion “Suge” Knight, files suit against Calvin Broadus (a.k.a. Snoop Doggy Dogg). The suit alleges failure to pay Knight 20% [...]

1997 – Jeff Buckley drowns while swimming with a f… — 1997 – Jeff Buckley drowns while swimming with a friend off Mud Island in Memphis. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1996 – Jazz pianist James George “Jimmy” Rowles di… — 1996 – Jazz pianist James George “Jimmy” Rowles dies at the age of 78. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Have You Eve… — 1995 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman,” Bryan Adams. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1991 – In Ohio a truck sideswipes Steve Winwood’s tour bus… — 1991 – In Ohio a truck sideswipes Steve Winwood’s tour bus. Stevie is unhurt. Roll with it baby! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1989 – Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina dies… — 1989 – Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina dies at age 55. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – Bob Dylan makes a guest appearance at a Levon Helm… — 1988 – Bob Dylan makes a guest appearance at a Levon Helm concert at New York’s Lone Star Cafe. The two perform “The Weight” and Chuck Berry’s “Nadine.” Be [...]

1984 – Bob Dylan holds a press conference in Sirmione, Italy… — 1984 – Bob Dylan holds a press conference in Sirmione, Italy, and hands out the set list for his current European tour. Of the three new songs on [...]

1979 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Hot Stuff,”… — 1979 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Hot Stuff,” Donna Summer. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – In the middle of a Baltimore concert, Elvis Presley wanders… — 1977 – In the middle of a Baltimore concert, Elvis Presley wanders off stage and doesn’t come back. It’s the first time he’s terminated a show in this [...]

1973 – Roger McGuinn performs his first solo gig at New York’s Academy… — 1973 – Roger McGuinn performs his first solo gig at New York’s Academy of Music and confirms rumors that his band The Byrds is finished. Record executive Be Sociable, [...]

1973 – Mike Oldfield releases his ambient masterpiece Tubular… — 1973 – Mike Oldfield releases his ambient masterpiece Tubular Bells or “That Weird Music in The Exorcist.” REAGON Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – Record executive Clive Davis is fired from Columbia… — 1973 – Record executive Clive Davis is fired from Columbia for misappropriating $100,000. He later founded Arista Records and engineered Santana’s comeback with Supernatural. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – Paul McCartney releases his bizarre interpretation of “Mary Had… — 1972 – Paul McCartney releases his bizarre interpretation of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as Wings. It barely makes No. 28. McCartney apparently was making a point about [...]

1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Help Me, Rho… — 1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Help Me, Rhonda,” The Beach Boys. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1962 – Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” wins a Gramm… — 1962 – Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” wins a Grammy for Record of the Year, and Judy Garland’s “Judy at Carnegie Hall” wins a Grammy for Album of the Year. Be [...]

1961 – Singer, songwriter and guitarist Melissa Et… — 1961 – Singer, songwriter and guitarist Melissa Etheridge is born in Leavenworth, Kan. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1961 – Ricky Nelson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Travellin’ Man’ — 1961 – Ricky Nelson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Travellin’ Man’. Sam Cooke turned the song down, the B-side was the Gene [...]

1959 – The Drifters, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and BB King all appeared at the Herndon Stadium — 1959 – The Drifters, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and BB King all appeared at the Herndon Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1945 – Gary Brooker, leader of Procul Harum, is bo… — 1945 – Gary Brooker, leader of Procul Harum, is born in Essex, England. The group’s biggest hit is “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” a No. 5 song in 1967. The [...]