Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Greg Ham of ‘Men at Work’ died on This Day in Rock Music History! — 2012 – Greg Ham, a member of the Australian band Men at Work whose saxophone and flute punctuated its smash 1980s hits, was found dead in his Melbourne home on [...]

2012 – Levon Helm from, ‘The Band’ has died on This Day in Rock Music History! — The Recording Academy® Statement on Levon Helm April 19, 2012 Three-time GRAMMY® winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Levon Helm was an Americana and folk/rock music pioneer. As a member [...]

2006 – BBC TV in the UK aired The McCartneys v The Fur Trade a program — 2006 – BBC TV in the UK aired The McCartneys v The Fur Trade a program following the couples anti-fur trade protests. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2005 – it was announced that two 30-second television commercials designed to attract — 2005 – it was announced that two 30-second television commercials designed to attract vacationing families to Graceland to experience the “real” Elvis Presley would air nationally in the US starting [...]

2005 – American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoso… — 2005 – American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoson dies prior to the group’s performance in North Charleston, S.C. According to a spokesperson, the guitarist is found dead in his bunk [...]

2004 – Billy Corgan plays his first-ever solo acou… — 2004 – Billy Corgan plays his first-ever solo acoustic show in his Chicago hometown at the Metro. The performance is filmed for inclusion on a forthcoming DVD, which also features [...]

2003 – The oldest working musician in Britain Conrad Leonard died aged 104 — 2003 – The oldest working musician in Britain Conrad Leonard died aged 104. Composer and pianist Leonard had worked with Cole Porter, Petula Clark and at the BBC during his [...]

2003 – At their Montreal concert, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band… — 2003 – At their Montreal concert, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band are joined by Max Weinberg’s daughter Allie on keyboards. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Cholly Atkins, the legendary Motown choreog… — 2003 – Cholly Atkins, the legendary Motown choreographer, dies in Las Vegas. He is 89. Atkins was best known for creating the rhythmic dance steps used by acts from the [...]

2002 – police were investigating how tracks from the forthcoming Oasis album ‘Heathen Chemistry’ — 2002 – police were investigating how tracks from the forthcoming Oasis album ‘Heathen Chemistry’ had been illegally circulated on the Internet. They thought the person responsible had access to their [...]

2002 – The body of Layne Staley, singer of the gru… — 2002 – The body of Layne Staley, singer of the grunge rock group Alice In Chains, is found by a relative in Staley’s north Seattle apartment. Staley had been missing [...]

2001 – David Lee Roth reveals that he briefly reunited with Van Halen… — 2001 – David Lee Roth reveals that he briefly reunited with Van Halen in July and wrote some “astonishing” music. They haven’t called back since. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – Madonna denies tabloid reports that a routi… — 2000 – Madonna denies tabloid reports that a routine scan shows she is expecting a baby boy. “I don’t know the sex of my baby,” she says in a statement. Be [...]

2000 – Phil Collins won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two f — 2000 – Phil Collins won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error [...]

1998 – Despite his reputation for melodic pop, And… — 1998 – Despite his reputation for melodic pop, Andrea Bocelli makes a firm move toward dedicating his career to opera when he performs for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Bocelli performs [...]

1998 – Robbie Williams started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK — 1998 – Robbie Williams started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Life Thru A Lens.’ Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1995 – The Stone Roses played their first gig in five years when the appeared — 1995 – The Stone Roses played their first gig in five years when the appeared at The Rockerfella Club, Oslo, Norway. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Saxophonist Steve Douglas dies of heart fai… — 1993 – Saxophonist Steve Douglas dies of heart failure in Los Angeles during a recording session with Ry Cooder. He was 55. His career began in high school with friend [...]

1990 – On this weeks BBC- TV’s ‘French and Saunders’ show, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour — Mark Knopfler 1990 – On this weeks BBC- TV’s ‘French and Saunders’ show, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Lemmy, Mark King (Level 42), and Gary Moore all appeared in a comedy courthouse [...]

1989 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Like a Praye… — 1989 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Like a Prayer,” Madonna. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1988 – former singer and one half of Sonny and Cher; Sonny Bono was inaugurated — 1988 – former singer and one half of Sonny and Cher; Sonny Bono was inaugurated as the Mayor of Palm Springs. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – George Michael was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘A Different — 1986 – George Michael was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘A Different Corner’, the singers second solo No.1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – Prince started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Kiss. — 1986 – Prince started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Kiss.’ Prince also had the No.2 song ‘Manic Monday’, by The Bangles, which he [...]

1980 – Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Call Me’, — 1980 – Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Call Me’, featured in the Richard Gere movie ‘American Gigolo’, the track was also a No.1 in the [...]

1980 – Brian Johnson 32 year old singer with Geordie joined AC/DC — 1980 – Brian Johnson 32 year old singer with Geordie joined AC/DC replacing Bon Scott who died after a drinks binge. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “ABC,” The J… — 1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “ABC,” The Jackson 5. The song is the group’s second consecutive No. 1 single. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1968 – John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives left the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s — 1968 – John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives left the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh, India two weeks before their study was complete. Ringo and Paul had already [...]

1967 – Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdink and Cat Stevens — 1967 – Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdink and Cat Stevens, played two shows at The Odeon, Birmingham, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – the film T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show featuring The Rolling Stones — 1965 – the film T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show featuring The Rolling Stones, Supremes Four Tops, James Brown, The Beach Boys and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles opened in London, [...]

1960 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Stuck on You… — 1960 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Stuck on You,” Elvis Presley. The song is Presley’s first to be released in stereo and his first since being released from [...]

1960 – Elvis Presley sets off to travel by train from Memphis… — 1960 – Elvis Presley sets off to travel by train from Memphis to Hollywood to film GI Blues, having developed a fear of flying. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Clyde McPhatter of the Drifters is released… — 1956 – Clyde McPhatter of the Drifters is released from the U.S. Armed Forces. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1947 – Born on this day, Mark Volman, The Turtles, (1967 US No.1 single ‘Happy Together’, — 1947 – Born on this day, Mark Volman, The Turtles, (1967 US No.1 single ‘Happy Together’, 1967 UK No.4 single ‘She’d Rather Be With Me’). Flo and Eddie, worked with [...]

1944 – Born on this day, Bernie Worrell, keyboards, Parliament, Funkadelic — 1944 – Born on this day, Bernie Worrell, keyboards, Parliament, Funkadelic, (1978 US No.16 album ‘One Nation Under A Groove’). Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1942 – Born on this day, Alan Price, keyboards, The Animals, (1964 UK & US No.1 single — 1942 – Born on this day, Alan Price, keyboards, The Animals, (1964 UK & US No.1 single ‘House Of The Rising Sun’). And solo, (1967 UK No.4 single ‘Simon Smith [...]