2008 – Heath Ledger dies from suspected drug use. Reported by MTV news. Appearing at a news conference at the Venice Film Festival in September to promote the Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There,” Heath Ledger, who died on Tuesday, spoke of his “obsession with an artist by the name of Nick Drake,” an English-born […]
2007 – Bob Dylan and his brother bought Aultmore House a mansion in the Scottish Cairngorms National Park, near Nethybridge, Inverness-shire. Bob Dylan has just purchased a sprawling Scottish estate. Britain’s The Telegraph reported that Dylan and his younger brother David Zimmerman purchased the secluded property for over $7.8 million under the family name, Zimmerman. […]
2006 – For the first time in 30 years, Bob Dylan tops The Chart Toppers 200 with “Modern Times.” Not only is it the legendary songwriter’s first album to reach the throne since Desire in 1976, it’s also his highest debuting album and his best sales week since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.
2005 – Bob Moog, inventor of his namesake range of synthesizers and one of the most significant figures in the evolution of electronic music, dies at his home in Asheville, N.C. He is 71. A native of N.Y., Moog was diagnosed with brain cancer in late April and had since undergone radiation treatment and chemotherapy. […]
2005 – Dozens of artists perform on stages around the world during Bob Geldof’s Live 8 concerts. In the United States, those not attending the show in Philadelphia, can catch everything from highlights to entire regional concerts via television, online, satellite radio and mobile broadcasts. The massive global initiative is spearheaded by Live Aid organizer […]
2005 – Bob Marley’s widow Rita Marley announces plans to disinter his remains and move them from Jamaica to the Rastafarian stronghold of Shashemene, Ethiopia. She describes the African nation as his “spiritual resting place.”
2004 – Actor William Shatner’s infamous 1968 album “The Transformed Man,” which finds the venerable Capt. Kirk reading poetry over ultra-serious musical accompaniment and covering such contemporary classics as Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” is reissued by Geffen.
2004 – Forbes Magazine names Elvis Presley the highest-earning dead celebrity. Presley’s estate pulls in around $40 million a year in merchandise sales. John Lennon, George Harrison and Bob Marley also make the Top 10 list.
2003 – The RIAA certifies AC/DC’s Back In Black as the world’s second-best-selling album of all time, behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Back in black I hit the sack It’s been too long I’m glad to be back Yes, I’m let loose From the noose That’s kept me hanging around I’ve been looking at the sky […]
2003 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces it will induct Prince, George Harrison, Traffic, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, ZZ Top, and doo-wop group the Dells in 2004. Yep, still no Foghat.
2003 – A black out hits the North East of America. Among those cancelling shows as a result are KISS and Aerosmith, Bob Dylan and Tori Amos.
2003 – Bob Hope dies aged 100. The comedian topped the charts way back in 1938 with his signature tune “Thanks for the Memories,” and was Bing Crosby’s non-musical foil in numerous Road to … movies.
