Rock History

On this day...

1947 – Peter Ham (Badfinger) is born on this day in rock! — 1947 – Peter Ham (Badfinger) is born on this day in rock! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2010 – Billy Corgan has launched a Twitter tirade against Courtney Love, who’s now known as Courtney Michelle — 2010 – Billy Corgan has launched a Twitter tirade against Courtney Love, who’s now known as Courtney Michelle. She in turn, has for once been very restrained in response.Corgan began [...]

2010 – A movie based on the life of Ozzy Osbourne is to go into production imminently.Blabbermouth have — 2010 – A movie based on the life of Ozzy Osbourne is to go into production imminently.Blabbermouth have reported that Sharon Osbourne said of these plans: “There’s about to be [...]

2008 – The Last Shadow Puppets went to No.1 on the UK album charts with ‘The Age — 2008 – The Last Shadow Puppets went to No.1 on the UK album charts with ‘The Age of the Understatement’, a side project of Alex Turner of Sheffield band Arctic [...]

2006 – Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffers a brain hemorrhag… — 2006 – Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffers a brain hemorrhage after falling out of a palm tree on the island of Fiji. The Richards family were on [...]

2005 – Composer John Debney is honored with the He… — 2005 – Composer John Debney is honored with the Henry Mancini Award at ASCAP’s 20th Annual Film & Television Music Awards gala, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los [...]

2005 – President George W. Bush signs into a law a ruling that anyone… — 2005 – President George W. Bush signs into a law a ruling that anyone pirating music or films on the Internet could face up to three years in [...]

2004 – Radiohead is forced to cancel its show in M… — 2004 – Radiohead is forced to cancel its show in Melbourne after lead singer Thom Yorke develops severe problems with his voice. A local specialist diagnoses Yorke with hoarseness of [...]

2004 – Sir Elton John calls American Idol voters “incredibly racist… — 2004 – Sir Elton John calls American Idol voters “incredibly racist” after black singer Jennifer Hudson is knocked out of the competition. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Iggy Pop reunites with the Stooges for the first time in decades… — 2003 – Iggy Pop reunites with the Stooges for the first time in decades on the closing night of California’s Coachella Festival. Other performers include the White Stripes, [...]

2003 – US TV’s Pop Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was at No.1 on the US — 2003 – US TV’s Pop Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Thankful.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Madonna went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘American Life’ — 2003 – Madonna went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘American Life’, the singers eighth No.1 album. Also a US No.1 album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2002 – Carlos Rivolta, the Argentine-born bassist … — 2002 – Carlos Rivolta, the Argentine-born bassist of Spanish band Dusminguet, is electrocuted during a concert in Guadalajara, Mexico. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2002 – A Widespread Panic concert in Pelham, Ala. … — 2002 – A Widespread Panic concert in Pelham, Ala. goes sour when young fan Erica Robins Young of Chattanooga, Tenn., collapses and dies of an apparent overdose of the drug [...]

2001 – A highway in Monticello, Ga., is renamed in… — 2001 – A highway in Monticello, Ga., is renamed in honor of country star Trisha Yearwood. The singer is on hand in her hometown’s town square for the public ceremony [...]

2000 – Macro Antonia Solis, Elvis Crespo, and Mana… — 2000 – Macro Antonia Solis, Elvis Crespo, and Mana are among the big winners at the seventh annual Chart Toppers Latin Music Awards, presented at the Jackie Gleason Theater in [...]

2000 – American singer Vicki Sue Robinson died. She had the 1976 disco hit ‘Turn — 2000 – American singer Vicki Sue Robinson died. She had the 1976 disco hit ‘Turn The Beat Around’, sang back-up vocals on Irene Cara’s Top Ten hit single ‘Fame.’ Be Sociable, [...]

1999 – Trumpeter Al Hirt, 67, dies in New Orleans … — 1999 – Trumpeter Al Hirt, 67, dies in New Orleans of liver failure. Hirt, who began his career with Benny Goodman and Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey and was frequently partnered [...]

1999 – R.E.M. makes its television series debut on… — 1999 – R.E.M. makes its television series debut on FOX’s “Party Of Five.” The episode features Claudia (Lacey Shabert) and her boyfriend Cody (Chad Todhunter) at a concert by the [...]

1999 – It is announced that Lollapalooza, the popu… — 1999 – It is announced that Lollapalooza, the popular festival concert from years past has had the plug pulled for the second consecutive year. Organizers cite lack of a strong [...]

1999 – Alanis Morissette: At a news conference in Los Angeles, it is … — 1999 – At a news conference in Los Angeles, it is announced that previously unreleased tracks from Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos are to be offered via the Internet in [...]

1999 – All the proceeds from Jay-Z’s Hard Knock Li… — 1999 – All the proceeds from Jay-Z’s Hard Knock Life concert performance at Denver Coliseum are donated to the families of the Columbine High School shooting victims. DMX, a featured [...]

1999 – A-list film composers Philip Glass (“The Tr… — 1999 – A-list film composers Philip Glass (“The Truman Show”) and James Horner (“Deep Impact,” “The Mask of Zorro”) are among those honored at ASCAP’s 14th annual Film and Television [...]

1999 – UK band The Verve announced that they had split. They scored the 1997 UK No.1 — 1999 – UK band The Verve announced that they had split. They scored the 1997 UK No.1 single ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ and their 1997 UK No.1 album ‘Urban Hymns’ [...]

1997 – The first President’s Summit for America’s … — 1997 – The first President’s Summit for America’s Future commences. Included on the guest list are the Oak Ridge Boys, All-4-one, the Philadelphia Boys Choir, comedian Joe Piscopo, and former [...]

1997 – Depeche Mode went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their album ‘Ultra’. — 1997 – Depeche Mode went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their album ‘Ultra’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1996 – Oasis played the first of two nights at Manchester’s Main Road — 1996 – Oasis played the first of two nights at Manchester’s Main Road Football Club as a ‘thank you’ to their fans, the 80,000 tickets sold out in hours. Be Sociable, [...]

1994 – The historic Fillmore club reopens in San F… — 1994 – The historic Fillmore club reopens in San Francisco. The opening acts include Smashing Pumpkins, Ry Cooder & David Lindley and American Music Club. The Fillmore (also known as Fillmore [...]

1994 – John Mellencamp’s wife, Elaine, gives birth to a bouncing baby boy. — 1994 – John Mellencamp’s wife, Elaine, gives birth to a bouncing baby boy. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1994 – A man was arrested after breaking into Ace Of Base singer Jenny Berggren’s — 1994 – A man was arrested after breaking into Ace Of Base singer Jenny Berggren’s home. Jenny was asleep at the time and woke up to find the man above [...]

1994 – Chicago scored their third US No.1 album with ‘Chicago VII’. — 1994 – Chicago scored their third US No.1 album with ‘Chicago VII’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Prince issued a statement saying he was retiring from studio recordings — 1993 – Prince issued a statement saying he was retiring from studio recordings to concentrate on film and other ventures. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1992 – Singer Belinda Carlisle and husband Morgan … — 1992 – Singer Belinda Carlisle and husband Morgan Mason have their first child in Los Angeles. They name the boy James Duke, after his paternal grandfather, actor James Mason. Be Sociable, [...]

1990 – David Bowie claims he will play his old material for the last time… — 1990 – David Bowie claims he will play his old material for the last time on his current Sound + Vision tour, the American leg of which begins [...]

1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Addicted to … — 1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Addicted to Love,” Robert Palmer. This is Palmer’s first No. 1 single. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1985 – USA For Africa started a three-week run at No.1 on the US — 1985 – USA For Africa started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘We Are The World’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – Frank Zappa releases “Valley Girl.” Featuring the rantings… — 1982 – Frank Zappa releases “Valley Girl.” Featuring the rantings of his daughter Moon Unit Zappa, the song would go on to become his biggest pop hit, reaching [...]

1981 – Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr marries actress Barba… — 1981 – Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr marries actress Barbara Bach. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1979 – Stevie Wonder makes a surprise appearance at a tribute concert… — 1979 – Stevie Wonder makes a surprise appearance at a tribute concert to Duke Ellington at UCLA. He plays “Sir Duke” and then covers Ellington’s own “C-Jam Blues.” Be [...]

1978 – The first night of a 14-date UK tour by Blue Oyster Cult supported — 1978 – The first night of a 14-date UK tour by Blue Oyster Cult supported by Japan at the Colston Hall, Bristol. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1976 – Customs officers on a train at the Russian/Polish Border detained David Bowie — 1976 – Customs officers on a train at the Russian/Polish Border detained David Bowie, after Nazi books and mementoes were found in his luggage. Bowie claimed that the material was [...]

1975 – During Pink Floyd’s five-night stand at the Los Angeles… — 1975 – During Pink Floyd’s five-night stand at the Los Angeles Arena, 511 audience members are busted for smoking marijuana. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – Pink Floyd played the last of a four night run at Los Angeles’ Sports Arena — 1975 – Pink Floyd played the last of a four night run at Los Angeles’ Sports Arena. A total of 511 fans were arrested over the four nights for possession [...]

1974 – a free afternoon event was held in the parking lot of the University of Connecticut — 1974 – a free afternoon event was held in the parking lot of the University of Connecticut, Ice Hockey Arena in Storrs. The four acts that appeared, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, [...]

1969 – A court finds John Lennon’s erotic lithographs “unlikely… — 1969 – A court finds John Lennon’s erotic lithographs “unlikely to deprave or corrupt,” and his exhibition in London is reopened. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 -Joe Cocker makes his debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. — 1969 -Joe Cocker makes his debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – Simon & Garfunkel release “Mrs. Robinson” from The Graduate soundtrack. — 1968 – Simon & Garfunkel release “Mrs. Robinson” from The Graduate soundtrack. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1966 – The Beatles finished recording the new John Lennon song ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ — 1966 – The Beatles finished recording the new John Lennon song ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ at Abbey Road studios London, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1964 – John Lennon’s book In His Own Write is published in the U.S… — 1964 – John Lennon’s book In His Own Write is published in the U.S. Newsweek declares that the Beatles singer/guitarist is “an unlikely heir to the English tradition [...]

1959 – Sheena Easton is born in Bellshill, Scotlan… — 1959 – Sheena Easton is born in Bellshill, Scotland. Her biggest hit is “Morning Train (Nine to Five),” which tops Chart Toppers’s Hot 100 for two weeks in 1981. Be [...]

1956 – Gene Vincent gets the call from Capitol Records, which tells… — 1956 – Gene Vincent gets the call from Capitol Records, which tells the “Be-Bop-a-Lula” singer it wants to market him as its equivalent of RCA’s Elvis Presley. Be Sociable, [...]

1951 – Guitarist Ace Frehley (Paul Frehley) of Kis… — 1951 – Guitarist Ace Frehley (Paul Frehley) of Kiss is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Paul Daniel Frehley (born April 27, 1951), better known as Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best [...]

1948 – Kate Pierson of The B-52s is born in Weehaw… — 1948 – Kate Pierson of The B-52s is born in Weehawken, N.J. The group’s biggest hits are the 1989 songs “Love Shack” and “Roam,” both of which reach No. 3 [...]

1947 – Badfinger’s Pete Ham is born in Swansea, Wa… — 1947 – Badfinger’s Pete Ham is born in Swansea, Wales. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1947 – Born on this day, Gordon Haskell, UK singer, songwriter, King Crimson, solo, (2001 UK — 1947 – Born on this day, Gordon Haskell, UK singer, songwriter, King Crimson, solo, (2001 UK No.2 single ‘How Wonderful You Are’, 2001 UK No.2 album, ‘Harry’s Bar’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]