Rock History

On this day...

2010 – New records… Old Acts… like Pink Floyd help earn 14% — 2011 – New records… Old Acts… like Pink Floyd help earn 14% gain for Vinyl record sales from last year. Reporting a 2.8 million units sold. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2011 – Lady Gaga Unveils Polaroid Camera Sunglasses at CES — 2011 – Lady Gaga Unveils Polaroid Camera Sunglasses at CES She’s adorned her shades with lit cigarettes and covered her peepers with jewel-encrusted spheres, but Lady Gaga’s latest pair of sunglasses [...]

2011 – Britney’s song , “Hold It Against Me,” is leaked on the web! — 2011 – Britney’s song , “Hold It Against Me,” is leaked onto the web! On Thursday, a demo version of Britney Spears’ new single, “Hold It Against Me,” hit the [...]

2009 – The official Roadrunner Records web site has been updated — 2009 – The official Roadrunner Records web site has been updated with top-album picks for 2008 from a number of artists that are signed to the label, including members of [...]

2009 – Ron Asheton, guitarist for The Stooges was found dead — 2009 – Ron Asheton, guitarist for The Stooges was found dead this morning. The cause of death is unknown but suspected to be a heart attack. For those of you [...]

2006 – a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia bought by a council worker — 2006 – a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia bought by a council worker who embezzled nearly £600,000 was set to be sold to compensate the local authority. Julie Wall, 46, [...]

2006 – Rapper Twista (“Slow Jamz”) is injured in a hit and run accident. — 2006 – Rapper Twista (“Slow Jamz”) is injured in a hit and run accident. He is described as “at home with his private doctor under observation.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Mercury-award-winning U.K. rapper Ms. Dynamite is arrested — 2006 – Mercury-award-winning U.K. rapper Ms. Dynamite is arrested for assaulting a police officer after allegedly attempting to kick a London nightclub door down. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2006 – Lou Rawls, the velvet-voiced singer and lon… — 2006 – Lou Rawls, the velvet-voiced singer and longtime community activist dies in Los Angeles. He is 72. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – US CD sales rose for the first time in four years. The CD format accounted — 2005 – US CD sales rose for the first time in four years. The CD format accounted for 98% of the 666 million albums sold, according to research company Nielsen [...]

2005 – A dozen people are arrested for trying to pass through U.S. Customs — 2005 – A dozen people are arrested for trying to pass through U.S. Customs with illegal substances prior to embarking on the Third Annual Jam Cruise. The cruise boasted musical [...]

2005 – RB lover man-child Mario tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a third — 2005 – RB lover man-child Mario tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a third week with “Let Me Love You.” The highest new entry is from Daryl Hall and John [...]

2005 – Los Lonely Boys drummer Ringo Garza is arrested with his — 2005 – Los Lonely Boys drummer Ringo Garza is arrested with his wife in San Angelo, Texas, on marijuana possession charges. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer with The Undertones — 2004 – Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer with The Undertones was made Head of The Live Music Forum a body to promote music in the UK. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Foo Fighter Dave Grohl goes into a Los Angeles studio with — 2004 – Foo Fighter Dave Grohl goes into a Los Angeles studio with Garbage to lay down drums for the track “Bad Boyfriend,” due to appear on the band’s as-yet [...]

2004 – Celine Dion gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. — 2004 – Celine Dion gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Canadian songbird breaks into tears during her acceptance speech when she thanks her late father for [...]

2004 – E Street Band guitarist “Little” Steven Van Zandt announces — 2004 – E Street Band guitarist “Little” Steven Van Zandt announces he’s become a creative consultant for Sirius satellite radio. He’s set to develop a 24-hour station based on his [...]

2004 – Apple launch their new fun-sized iPod mini player at the — 2004 – Apple launch their new fun-sized iPod mini player at the Macworld Expo industry fair in San Francisco. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2004 – Belgium-based consumer group Test-Achats sues the EMI, Universal — 2004 – Belgium-based consumer group Test-Achats sues the EMI, Universal, Sony and BMG record labels, alleging that their copy-protected CDs inhibits fans from playing them on some devices and making [...]

2004 – A study conducted by by Pew Internet and American Life P — 2004 – A study conducted by by Pew Internet and American Life Project says the number of people illegally downloading music in the US is falling following heavy industry sanctions. Be [...]

2004 – Glam popsters Urge Overkill (“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon — 2004 – Glam popsters Urge Overkill (“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon”) announce they’re reforming for four-date tour. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Banjo great Earl Scruggs’ 80th birthday party at the Country — 2003 – Banjo great Earl Scruggs’ 80th birthday party at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is attended by Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, Porter [...]

2003 – The estate of George Harrison sue a Staten Island doctor — 2003 – The estate of George Harrison sue a Staten Island doctor who they allege forced the late Beatle to sign a guitar while he was critically ill with cancer. [...]

2001 – Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour won the right to his dot com — 2001 – Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour won the right to his dot com name. Dave took legal action in his battle to reclaim davidgilmour.com from Andrew Herman who had [...]

1999 – Alanis Morissette spends the day working at an Ottawa — 1999 – Alanis Morissette spends the day working at an Ottawa soup kitchen. Her peeling of hardboiled eggs attracts the needy and the press. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – French Jazz piano virtuoso Michel Petruccia… — 1999 – French Jazz piano virtuoso Michel Petrucciani dies in New York following a brief respiratory illness. He is 36. Petrucciani was the first French artist signed to EMI’s Blue [...]

1997 – Two bronze busts worth £50,000 were stolen from a garden at George — 1997 – Two bronze busts worth £50,000 were stolen from a garden at George Harrison’s estate in Henley-on- Thames, Oxfordshire. Thieves had climbed a 10- foot-wall and cut the figures [...]

1996 – James Brown’s wife Adrienne died in a Los Angeles hospital — 1996 – James Brown’s wife Adrienne died in a Los Angeles hospital aged 47 after suffering a heart attack during a major plastic surgery operation. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1996 – Renowned fiddle player Robert Russell “Chu… — 1996 – Renowned fiddle player Robert Russell “Chubby” Wise dies of heart failure following pneumonia in Bowie, Md. Age 80. Wise performed and recorded with Bill Monroe & the Blue [...]

1993 – David Bowie reportedly lost over £2.5 million ($4.25 million) in unpaid — 1993 – David Bowie reportedly lost over £2.5 million ($4.25 million) in unpaid royalties to an Italian Mafia-linked bootleg fraud. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie dies in Englewood, N.J. — 1993 – Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie dies in Englewood, N.J. The trumpeter was 75. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie dies in an Englew… — 1993 – Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie dies in an Englewood, N.J., hospital after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75. The jazz legend received a Lifetime Achievement Award in [...]

1993 – Bass guitarist Bill Wyman announces that he… — 1993 – Bass guitarist Bill Wyman announces that he has officially left the Rolling Stones. The group last toured together in 1990. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1990 – Phil Collins started a three-week run at No.1 on the US — 1990 – Phil Collins started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘…But Seriously’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1989 – UK Chart toppers: biggest selling UK album artists of 1988 w — 1989 – UK Chart toppers: biggest selling UK album artists of 1988 were, No.5, Dire Straits, No.4, U2, No.3, Michael Jackson, No.2, Kylie Minogue and No.1, Fleetwood Mac. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1987 – Eric Clapton started what became an annual event by playing — 1987 – Eric Clapton started what became an annual event by playing six shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Georgeanna Gordon singer with Motown girl group The Marvelette — 1980 – Georgeanna Gordon singer with Motown girl group The Marvelettes died aged 46. (1961 US No.1 single ‘Please Mr Postman’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – The Village People scored their only UK No.1 single with ‘Y.M.C.A. — 1979 – The Village People scored their only UK No.1 single with ‘Y.M.C.A.’ At its peak the single was selling over 150,000 copies a day. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – The Bee Gees started a two week run at No.1 on the US — 1979 – The Bee Gees started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Too Much Heaven’ the groups 7th US No.1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – EMI Records dropped The Sex Pistols, giving the band — 1977 – EMI Records dropped The Sex Pistols, giving the band £40,000 ($68,000) to release them from their contract. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “You Don’t Ha… — 1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (to Be in My Show),” Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – A thousand Led Zeppelin fans, who had been waiting for tickets — 1975 – A thousand Led Zeppelin fans, who had been waiting for tickets to go on sale at the Boston Gardens for a February show, riot and cause $30,000 worth [...]

1975 – Pink Floyd begin recording their album-long tribute to Syd — 1975 – Pink Floyd begin recording their album-long tribute to Syd Barrett, Wish You Were Here, on the former front man’s 29th birthday. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – The No.1 single in the United States today is Carly — 1973 – The No.1 single in the United States today is Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – In Vancouver, Neil Young performs on Canadian soil for t — 1971 – In Vancouver, Neil Young performs on Canadian soil for the first time since he left his homeland to join Buffalo Springfield in 1965. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – Crosby Stills Nash & Young made their UK live — 1970 – Crosby Stills Nash & Young made their UK live debut at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – American Bandstand impresario Dick Clark premieres hi — 1968 – American Bandstand impresario Dick Clark premieres his new TV show Happening ’68. Appropriately, the show is cancelled in 1969. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – The Beatles sit at No. 1 in the album charts with Magical — 1968 – The Beatles sit at No. 1 in the album charts with Magical Mystery Tour. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – The Who played their first gig of this year when they — 1967 – The Who played their first gig of this year when they appeared at Morecambe, Central Pier in England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – Born on this day, Mark O’Toole, bass, Frankie Goes To — 1964 – Born on this day, Mark O’Toole, bass, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, (1984 UK No.1 & US No.10 single ‘Relax’ and six other UK Top 40 singles). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – The Rolling Stones kick off their first headlining tour in — 1964 – The Rolling Stones kick off their first headlining tour in Harrow, England. Support comes from American girl group the Ronettes, Marty Wilde, and the Swinging Blue Jeans. Be Sociable, [...]

1962 – Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 album with ‘Blue Hawaii — 1962 – Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 album with ‘Blue Hawaii’; it spent a total of 18 weeks at the top of the charts. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1960 – Born on this day, Muzz Skillings, bass, Living Colour — 1960 – Born on this day, Muzz Skillings, bass, Living Colour, (1991 UK No.12 single ‘Love Rears Its Ugly Head’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1959 – Sister Sledge’s lead singer Kathy Sledge is born — 1959 – Sister Sledge’s lead singer Kathy Sledge is born into the family in Philadelphia. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – Gibson guitars launched it’ ‘Flying V’ electric guitar. — 1958 – Gibson guitars launched it’ ‘Flying V’ electric guitar. Origins Gibson first manufactured prototypes of the guitar in 1957. Production guitars were made of korina wood, a trademarked name for limba, [...]

1958 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “At the Hop,’… — 1958 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “At the Hop,” Danny & the Juniors. The four members of the group all grew up in Philadelphia and started singing together [...]

1957 – Elvis Presley makes his last appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show — 1957 – Elvis Presley makes his last appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the variety program that helped launch him nationwide. He performs for over 20 minutes, singing “Hound Dog,” [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley performed in the gym at Randolph High — 1956 – Elvis Presley performed in the gym at Randolph High School, Mississippi; this was the last time he ever appeared in a small auditorium. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1953 – Born on this day, Malcolm Young, guitar, AC/DC — 1953 – Born on this day, Malcolm Young, guitar, AC/DC, (1980 UK No.36 single ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’. 1980 UKNo.1 & US No.14 album ‘Back in Black’ sold over 10 million [...]

1951 – The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ vocalist Kim Wilson is born —   1951 – The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ vocalist Kim Wilson is born in Detroit. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1948 – Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny is born in Wimbledon, England — 1948 – Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny is born in Wimbledon, England. Her definitive folk vocals also graced records by Led Zeppelin and she wrote the classic “Who Knows Where the [...]

1947 – Southern soul singer Shirley Brown, who went to No. 22 — 1947 – Southern soul singer Shirley Brown, who went to No. 22 in 1974 with “Woman to Woman,” is born in West Memphis, Ark. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1946 – Syd Barrett (Roger Barrett) of Pink Floyd i… — 1946 – Syd Barrett (Roger Barrett) of Pink Floyd is born. He names the group after bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Chart Toppers ranks the group’s 1973 album “Dark [...]

1944 – Van McCoy, who brought the world “The Hustle — 1944 – Van McCoy, who brought the world “The Hustle,” is born in Washington, D.C. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1929 – Wilbert Harrison, who scored a No. 1 in 1959 with the — 1929 – Wilbert Harrison, who scored a No. 1 in 1959 with the perennial “Kansas City,” is born in Charlotte, N.C. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1924 – Banjo virtuoso Earl Scruggs is born in Flint Hill, — 1924 – Banjo virtuoso Earl Scruggs is born in Flint Hill, N.C. You can hear him playing “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” on the soundtrack to Bonnie & Clyde. Earl Eugene Scruggs (born [...]

1922 – Latin soul, baby! One of the genre’s forefathers, keyboardist — 1922 – Latin soul, baby! One of the genre’s forefathers, keyboardist Hector Rivera, is born today in New York. Be Sociable, Share! [...]