Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Etta James: Hundreds of mourners gathered at a Los Angeles-area church on Saturday to remember — 2012 – Hundreds of mourners gathered at a Los Angeles-area church on Saturday to remember rhythm-and-blues singer Etta James, saying she overcame great personal and professional hurdles to sing “the [...]

2009 – Paul McCartney appeared on the Colbert Report on This Day in Rock Music! — 2009 – Paul McCartney appeared on the Colbert Report on This Day in Rock Music! <embed style=”display:block” src=”http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:217077″ width=”288″ height=”247″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”window” allowFullscreen=”true” flashvars=”autoPlay=false” allowscriptaccess=”always” allownetworking=”all” bgcolor=”#000000″></embed>

2009 – Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell died at the age of 56 of a suspected heart — 2009 – Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell died at the age of 56 of a suspected heart attack in Florida. Powell called police saying he was having trouble breathing [...]

2007 – Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture was at No.1 — Diana Ross & the Supremes 2007 – Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture was at No.1 on the US album chart. The musical based on the history of Diana Ross and the Supremes [...]

2005 – The Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am… — Arctic Monkeys 2005 – The Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not sells a 363,700 copies in its first week of release to become the [...]

2005 – Legendary rock drummer Jim Capaldi dies aft… — 2005 – Legendary rock drummer Jim Capaldi with U.K. folk-prog legends Traffic, dies after a brief fight with stomach cancer. He is 60-years-old.

2005 – Nickelback’s Ryan Vikedal… — Nickleback 2005 – Nickelback’s Ryan Vikedal, drummer with the Vancouver rockers since 1996, leaves the band.

2004 – During Australia’s Big Day Out tour… — 2004 – During Australia’s Big Day Out tour, The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins joins hip-hop troupe Black Eyed Peas to contribute vocals to “Retarded”.

2004 – Elvis Presley fans expressed their anger at plans to — Elvis Presley 2004 – Elvis Presley fans expressed their anger at plans to cut up a rare tape of the singer’s early songs and sell the snippets at auction. The tape, [...]

2004 – Godfather of Soul James Brown is arrested… — The Godfather of Soul, James Brown 2004  – Godfather of Soul James Brown is arrested and charged with domestic violence after allegedly pushing his wife to the floor during an [...]

2004 – R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband Todd Russaw… — 2004 – R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband Todd Russaw, a record executive, are arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana in Hapeville, Ga.

2002 – More than 30 years after the heyday of soul… — 2002 – More than 30 years after the heyday of soul duo Sam & Dave, Sam Moore finally launches a solo career when he releases “Plenty Good Lovin': The Lost [...]

2001 – Jennifer Lopez started a two-week run at No.1 on — 2001 – Jennifer Lopez started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘J.Lo.’

1999 – All American crooner Pat Boone forms the Go… — 1999 – All American crooner Pat Boone forms the Gold Records label, which will only sign artists 45 years old and up. One of the first performers to be signed [...]

1999 – A benefit concert for convicted cop-killer … — 1999 – A benefit concert for convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal is held at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The event, with attendance pegged at around 16,000, is [...]

1998 – Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher played a 20-minute solo — 1998 –  Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher played a 20-minute solo gig at the King Head, an English pub in Santa Monica in front of 250 fans.

1998 – Tracey Lawrence is convicted of battery ste… — 1998 – Tracey Lawrence is convicted of battery stemming from a quarrel in September with his wife, Stacie. Lawrence is sentenced to pay $500 to a Las Vegas shelter for [...]

1998 – Martina McBride makes an appearance in the … — 1998 – Martina McBride makes an appearance in the “Nancy” comic strip on a concert Tshirt worn by Aunt Fritzi.

1996 – Recording expert and entrepreneur, John Mos… — 1996 – Recording expert and entrepreneur, John Mosley dies at the age of 82.

1996 – Diana Ross performs as the featured halftim… — Diana Ross 1996 – Diana Ross performs as the featured halftime performer at Super Bowl XX in Tempe, Ariz.

1996 – Chris Isaak guests on tonight’s episode of Friends. — 1996  – Chris Isaak guests on tonight’s episode of Friends.

1995 – Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page … — Jimmy Page 1995 – Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page turns up at a Black Crowes show in London. Page plays with the band in Paris on February 4 and in [...]

1995 – At Paul McCartney’s Mill Studio in England… — 1995 – At Paul McCartney’s Mill Studio in England, Yoko Ono records “Hiroshima Sky is Always Blue” with Paul and Linda McCartney and their children.

1994 – Paul and Linda McCartney attended the premiere — Linda and Paul McCartney 1994 – Paul and Linda McCartney attended the premiere of Wayne’s World II in London. The couple then went on to Hard Rock Café, where the film [...]

1992 – That great act Roxette are joined onstage… — 1992 – That great act Roxette are joined onstage in Zurich by ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad for a performance of “Money Money Money.”

1991 – At The American Music Awards in Los Angeles… — 1991 – At The American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Gloria Estefan makes her first live performance since injuring her back in a bus accident while on tour.

1990 – Paul Abdul started a 10-week run at No.1 on the — Paula Abdul 1990 – Paul Abdul started a 10-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Forever Your Girl’. Abdul spent sixty-four consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 before [...]

1988 – Eleven years after it was released, The Sex Pistols — The Sex Pistols 1988 – Eleven years after it was released, The Sex Pistols album ‘Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols’ went Gold in the US with sales over [...]

1988 – Pink Floyd float a giant inflatable bed — 1988 – To promote the latest leg of their Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, Pink Floyd float a giant inflatable bed down the Thames.

1985 – More than 40 artists gather at A&M’s Hollyw… — We are the World 1985 – More than 40 artists gather at A&M’s Hollywood studios to record “We Are the World” under the collective name “USA for Africa.” Proceeds from the [...]

1984 – Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run — Frankie Goes To Hollywood 1984 – Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Relax!’ UK music TV show Top Of The Pops’ [...]

1983 – The greatest British rock ‘n’ roller ever, Billy Fury, dies… — 1983  – The greatest British rock ‘n’ roller ever, Billy Fury, dies in a London hospital after collapsing at his home. He had suffered from heart trouble.

1982 – Jackson Browne and Lynne Sweeney have their first child, Ryan Daniel Browne. — Jackson Browne 1982 – Jackson Browne and Lynne Sweeney have their first child, Ryan Daniel Browne.

1980 – The original Ants split with Adam. … — 1980 – The original Ants split with Adam.

1978 – The Fleetwood Mac album ‘Rumours’ went to No.1 — Fleetwood Mac 1978 – The Fleetwood Mac album ‘Rumours’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart, also a No.1 in the US. The album went on to sell over 15 [...]

1978 – A fan asks Ted Nugent to sign his arm… — Ted Nugent 1978 – A fan asks Ted Nugent to sign his arm. With a Bowie knife. Nugent obliges. Controversy ensues.

1978 – The Doobie Brothers guest star on tonight’s episode of What’s Happening! — 1978 – The Doobie Brothers guest star on tonight’s episode of What’s Happening!

1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Laughter in … — 1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Laughter in the Rain,” Neil Sedaka.

1969 – After the Beatles cut versions of “Get Back” and “Don’t Let Me Down”… — 1969 – After the Beatles cut versions of “Get Back” and “Don’t Let Me Down” for single release, John Lennon and Yoko Ono meet Allen Klein for the [...]

1968 – Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested and charged — Jim, Morrison 1968 – Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested and charged with public drunkenness after harassing a security guard at a Las Vegas adult movie theatre.

1968 – Sarah McLachlan is born in Halifax, Nova Sc… — 1968 – Sarah McLachlan is born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1966 – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes announce thei… — 1966 – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes announce their break-up.

1966 – The Cavern Club in Liverpool closes… — 1966 – The Cavern Club in Liverpool closes, having run up debts of 10,000 pounds. The club became world famous as one of the Beatles’ earliest venues.

1965 – The Moody Blues were at No.1 on the UK singles chart — The Moody Blues 1965 – The Moody Blues were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Go Now!’ the groups only UK No.1.

1965 – The Who appear on the British TV show… — 1965 – The Who appear on the British TV show Ready Steady Go! for the first time. An enthusiastic response for their performance of “I Can’t Explain” is [...]

1963 – The Rolling Stones record five tracks… — 1963 – The Rolling Stones record five tracks with producer Glyn Johns in their efforts to interest a label.

1959 – The Alarm’s guitarist Dave Sharp is born in Salford, England. — 1959 – The Alarm’s guitarist Dave Sharp is born in Salford, England.

1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis and Ronald… — 1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis and Ronald J. Hargrave file a copyright for their song, “High School Confidential.”

1956 – Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on national TV… — 1956 – Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on national TV. He’s a guest on Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey’s Stage Show. It’s the first of four weekly slots for [...]

1956 – Peter Schilling is born… — 1956 – Peter Schilling, who scored a one-off ’80s hit with “Major Tom (Coming Home),” is born in Stuttgart, Germany. Now he really couldn’t last.

1950 – Playmate Barbi Benton is born… — 1950 – Playmate Barbi Benton is born in Sacramento, Calif. Her 1974 album Barbi Doll is a collector’s item among the insane.

1949 – Drummer Eddie Bayers is born… — 1949 – Drummer Eddie Bayers, who has played with Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, is born.

1949 – Drummer Eddie Bayers is born… — 1949 – Drummer Eddie Bayers, who has played with Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, is born.

1948 – Corky Laing, drummer with Mountain, is born. — 1948 – Corky Laing, drummer with Mountain, is born.

1944 – Marty Fried is born… — 1944 – Marty Fried, drummer with the ’60s pop group the Cyrkle (“Red Rubber Ball”) is born in Neptune, N.J.

1944 – Drummer Brian Keenan is born… — 1944 – Drummer Brian Keenan of the soul-psychedelic band the Chambers Brothers is born in New York.

1943 – Guitarist Dick Taylor is born… — 1943 – Guitarist Dick Taylor is born in Dartford, England. As well as playing with some early incarnations of the Rolling Stones, he also led one of Britain’s [...]

1943 – Pink Floyd’s keyboardist Rick Wright is born in London. — Rick Wright 1943 – Pink Floyd’s keyboardist Rick Wright is born in London. Richard William “Rick” Wright (28 July 1943 – 15 September 2008) was an English pianist, keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, [...]