Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, the only person charged in the June 2009 death of Michael Jackson — 2011 – Cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, the only person charged in the June 2009 death of Michael Jackson, will be arraigned on Tuesday morning (January 25) on an involuntary manslaughter [...]

2006 – Immortal hair rockers Motley Crue… — Motley Crue 2006 – Immortal hair rockers Motley Crue receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To honor Vince Neil’s appearance in The Adventures of Ford Fairlaine [...]

2004 – “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”… — Lord of the Rings 2004 – “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” takes home the awards in both musical categories of the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, [...]

2004 – Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus top… — 2004 – Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus tops the U.K. singles chart for a third week with “All His Time.” The new No. 1 album is Katie Melua’s [...]

2001 – Brother Jack McDuff dies… — 2001 – Organist and acid jazz pioneer Brother Jack McDuff dies aged 74. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2001 – Jury selection ends in the weapons… — 2001 – Jury selection ends in the weapons possession and bribery case being heard against Puff Daddy in Manhattan. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – The Recording Industry Association of Ameri… — 2000 – The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) launches its “Los Premios De Oro Y Platino” certification program for Spanish-language product at the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. [...]

2000 – Beatrice Rutman, the mother of Bob Dylan, d… — 2000 – Beatrice Rutman, the mother of Bob Dylan, dies in St. Paul, Minn at the age of 84. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2000 – “Deep Purple In Concert With The London Sy… — Deep Purple 2000 – “Deep Purple In Concert With The London Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Paul Mann,” a double live CD of Deep Purple’s orchestral concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall [...]

2000 – A 1930 lacquered aluminum record is… — Frank Sinatra 2000 – A 1930 lacquered aluminum record is discovered on which Frank Sinatra sings “Roses of Picardy.” It is believed to be the first ever solo recording [...]

2000 – Kevin Cadogan is fired from Third… — Third Eye Blnd 2000 – Kevin Cadogan is fired from Third Eye Blind, shortly after the band play the Sundance Film Festival. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1999 – Sinead O’Connor, the Irish singer and talke… — Sinead O'Connor 1999 – Sinead O’Connor, the Irish singer and talker, advises the U.S. Senate to stop wasting money… in a starving world on the trial of Bill Clinton. In a [...]

1999 – Paul McCartney launches a crusade against B… — 1999 – Paul McCartney launches a crusade against British radio and TV stations over the banning of “The Light Comes From Within,” the final song by his late wife Linda, [...]

1999 – Internationally esteemed choral conductor a… — 1999 – Internationally esteemed choral conductor and educator Robert Shaw dies of a stroke in New Haven, Conn. He is 82. A winner of 14 Grammy Awards, Shaw received his [...]

1996 – Rolling Stone readers choose Live as artist… — The Smashing Pumpkins 1996 – Rolling Stone readers choose Live as artist of the year, critics choose PJ Harvey in the magazine’s annual poll. The people choose Smashing Pumpkins’ “Mellon Collie [...]

1996 – A Rolling Stone poll names the Beatles… — 1996 – A Rolling Stone poll names the Beatles as Least Welcome Comeback. Five years later they’ll put them on the front cover and start fawning all over [...]

1994 – Marky Mark Wahlberg is sued by a woman from Oregon… — Marky Mark Wahlberg 1994 – Funky Bunch rapper Marky Mark Wahlberg is sued by a woman from Oregon who says she was trampled after the crowd rushed the stage during [...]

1991 – Paul McCartney records a performance for MTV’s Unplugged. — Paul McCartney 1991 – Paul McCartney records a performance for MTV’s Unplugged. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1989 – Alvin Robinson dies… — 1989 – Alvin Robinson, whose guitar work graced several of Dr. John’s ’70s recordings, dies in New Orleans. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1986 – Albert Grossman dies of a heart attack… — Bob Dylan 1986 – Bob Dylan’s one-time manager Albert Grossman dies of a heart attack while flying to London. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1984 – Yoko Ono donated £250,000 ($425,000) to Liverpool old people — Yoko Ono 1984 – Yoko Ono donated £250,000 ($425,000) to Liverpool old people’s home Strawberry Fields. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1983 – The Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams — 1983 -  The Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams died of cancer age 36. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Can’t Go f… — 1982 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” Daryl Hall & John Oates. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1982 – Country singer Roseanne Cash has her first daughter… — 1982 – Country singer Roseanne Cash has her first daughter, Chelsea Jane, with her songwriter husband Rodney Crowell. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Born on this day, Alicia Keys, American R&B and soul singer, songwriter — Alicia Keys 1980 – Born on this day, Alicia Keys, American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook). 2001 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Fallin’ and 2001 US [...]

1980 – Comedian John Belushi celebrates his birthday… — Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi of the Blues Brothers 1980 – Comedian John Belushi celebrates his birthday, which was yesterday, by joining the Dead Boys onstage in Los Angeles for [...]

1980 – Paul McCartney is released from prison… — 1980 – Following his prison ordeal in Tokyo after he was busted with a half-pound of marijuana, Paul McCartney is released and flies from Japan to … Amsterdam. [...]

1975 – The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their version — The Carpenters 1975 – The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their version of The Marveletts 1961 hit ‘Please Mr. Postman’. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Superstition… — Stevie Wonder 1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Superstition,” Stevie Wonder. The song marks the first chart topping song for Wonder in more than nine years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane gave birth to a daughter, naming — Grace Slick 1971 – Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane gave birth to a daughter, naming her God, she was later re-named China. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1971 – Helter Skelter… — 1971 – Beatles-inspired nutcase Charles Manson is sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of seven counts of murder in the first degree and one count of [...]

1971 – Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick and Paul Kantner have a daughter… — 1971 – Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick and Paul Kantner have a daughter, whom they name China. Rejected monikers included “God.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK album chart with — 1969 – The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK album chart with their ‘The Best Of’ album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1969 – ‘Proud Mary’, the Creedence Clearwater Revival LP, is released. — 1969 – ‘Proud Mary’, the Creedence Clearwater Revival LP, is released. “Proud Mary” eventually reaches #2 on the charts. Later, Immortalized by Ike and Tina Turner. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – The Beatles made a last-minute remix of ‘Penny Lane’ before the pressing of — 1967 – The Beatles made a last-minute remix of ‘Penny Lane’ before the pressing of their next double A sided single ‘Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane’. Both songs were originally intended [...]

1964 – On British television, producer Phil Spector… — Phil Spector 1964 – On British television, producer Phil Spector appears on the program Juke Box Jury, rating the week’s singles. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – Cilla Black debuts as a vocalist at Liverpo… — 1963 – Cilla Black debuts as a vocalist at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – Janis Joplin performs in San Francisco… — Janis Joplin 1963 – Janis Joplin performs in San Francisco for the first time, singing at the North Beach coffeehouse. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – While the Beatles perform with… — 1963 – While the Beatles perform with the Mustangs at a Baptist Youth Club Dance in England, Vee Jay signs a contract to distribute their singles in the [...]

1962 – RCA Records release Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away,”… — Sam Cooke 1962 – RCA Records release Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away,” which will become the soul singer’s 15th top 40 hit. Lyrics: Let me tell you ’bout a place Somewhere [...]

1961 – Bob Dylan hunts down his hero Woody Guthrie’s… — 1961 – On his second day in New York, Bob Dylan hunts down his hero Woody Guthrie’s family in Howard Beach. He teaches Woody’s son Arlo some rudimentary [...]

1960 – Andy Cox of Fine Young Cannibals is born. … — 1960 – Andy Cox of Fine Young Cannibals is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 – Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock”… — 1958 – Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” enters the British pop singles charts at No. 1, an unprecedented feat. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1958 -Gary Tibbs is born… — 1958 -Gary Tibbs, bassist with art rockers Roxy Music, punk rockers the Vibrators and new wavers Adam + the Ants, is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1956 – Alan Cox of the Fine Young Cannibals… — Fine Young Cannibals 1956 – Alan Cox of the Fine Young Cannibals and the English Beat is born in Birmingham, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1954 – Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band i… — KC & the Sunshine Band 1954 – Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band is born in Indianapolis. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1953 – Split Enz drummer Mal Green is born… — 1953 – Split Enz drummer Mal Green is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1950 – The Tubes’ synth player Michael Cotton is born… — The Tubes 1950 – The Tubes’ synth player Michael Cotton is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1949 – Born on this day, John Cooper Clarke, ‘Bard of Salford’, Manchester, poet laureate — 1949 – Born on this day, John Cooper Clarke, ‘Bard of Salford’, Manchester, poet laureate. ‘Kung Fu International’, ‘I Married A Monster From Outer Space’, ‘The Day My Pad Went [...]

1947 – When singer-songwriter Andy Pratt… — 1947 – When singer-songwriter Andy Pratt released his album Resolution in 1976, Rolling Stone declared that he had “forever changed the face of rock.” Well, Roger Daltrey covered [...]

1946 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let It Snow!… — 1946 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Vaughn Moore. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1943 – Rolling Stones girlfriend and model Anita Pallenberg… — 1943 – Rolling Stones girlfriend and model Anita Pallenberg is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1941 – Session keyboardist Bobby Wood — 1941 – Session keyboardist Bobby Wood, who has played on albums by Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1938 – Born on this day, Etta James, singer, 9 US Top 40 hits during — 1938 – Born on this day, Etta James, singer, 9 US Top 40 hits during the 60′s, (1996 UK No.5 single ‘I Just Want To Make Love To You’). Be Sociable, [...]

1931 – Born on this day, Stig Anderson, producer, who worked with Abb — 1931 – Born on this day, Stig Anderson, producer, who worked with Abba, died of a heart attack 12th September 1997. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1915 – Born on this day, Folk singer songwriter Ewan MacColl, composer — 1915 – Born on this day, Folk singer songwriter Ewan MacColl, composer of ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ a hit for Roberta Flack in 1971. MacColl died [...]