Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Michael Jackson images are allowed for jurors to see at his doctor’s trial on This Day in Rock. — 2011 – Michael Jackson images are allowed for jurors to see at his doctor’s trial on This Day in Rock. Furthermore, Judge Michael Pastor said he will allow prosecutors to see [...]

2010 – Pearl Jam Joins Team Conan on Tour, Covers Lennon and the Who — 2010 – Pearl Jam Joins Team Conan on Tour, Covers Lennon and the Who by Jessica Letkemann, N.Y.   |   April 20, 2010 12:19 EDT Yes, Pearl Jam is also with Coco. Conan [...]

2008 – American soul singer and songwriter Al Wilson died of kidney failure — 2008 – American soul singer and songwriter Al Wilson died of kidney failure at the age of 68. Had a number of US hits, including ‘The Snake’ in 1968 and [...]

2008, The Presets went to No.1 on the Australian album chart with their second — 2008, The Presets went to No.1 on the Australian album chart with their second release ‘Apocalypso.’

2007 – Doris Richards died of cancer. The 91-year-old mother of Rolling Stones — 2007 – Doris Richards died of cancer. The 91-year-old mother of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards bought her son his first guitar for his 15th birthday. He learned some chords [...]

2005 – Onstage in Asbury Park, N.J., Bruce Springs… — 2005 – Onstage in Asbury Park, N.J., Bruce Springsteen takes a stand against hunger by donating all of the proceeds from a tour rehearsal show to World Hunger Year (WHY), [...]

2004 – Fans riot at a secret show by the Libertines and Babyshambles in Stoke-on-Trent — 2004 – Fans riot at a secret show by the Libertines and Babyshambles in Stoke-on-Trent, England. The crowd were inspired to tear the venue apart after guitarist Pete Doherty pulled [...]

2004 – A grand jury concludes that there is sufficient evidence to bring child molestatio — 2004 – A grand jury concludes that there is sufficient evidence to bring child molestation charges against Michael Jackson. The King of Pop is due to be arraigned at the [...]

2004 – California rockers Hoobastank top the American singles chart with “The Reason.” — 2004 – California rockers Hoobastank top the American singles chart with “The Reason.”

2004 – Gary Barlow of dissolved UK boy band Take That (“Back for Good”) — 2004 – Gary Barlow of dissolved UK boy band Take That (“Back for Good”) announces the group, including solo star Robbie Williams, will reform for a one-show event at Christmas.

2004 – Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney each score two… — 2004 – Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney each score two wins at the CMT Flame Worthy Video Music Awards, held at Nashville’s Gaylord Entertainment Center. Keith’s clip for American Soldier [...]

2003 – Record industry giants Universal Music and EMI sue venture capitalists — 2003 – Record industry giants Universal Music and EMI sue venture capitalists who funded the MP3-swapping service Napster, alleging they contributed to copyright violations on their recordings.

2003 – Brother Records Inc. sues former Beach Boy Al Jardine for using — 2003 – Brother Records Inc. sues former Beach Boy Al Jardine for using the group’s name to promote his own tours as the Beach Boys Family & Friends.

2003 – Members of the late Clash singer Joe Strummer’s old band the 101ers — 2003 – Members of the late Clash singer Joe Strummer’s old band the 101ers reunite with Mick Jones in London for a gig. The show also launches the Strummerville charity, [...]

2003 – Nina Simone, one of the great defiant talen… — 2003 – Nina Simone, one of the great defiant talents in jazz, dies at her home in Bouc- Bel-Air, France, after a long illness. She is 70.

2003 – British pop group S Club ends months of spe… — 2003 – British pop group S Club ends months of speculation with the announcement that it will officially call it a day at the end of the following month. The [...]

2002 – Oasis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hindu Times — 2002 – Oasis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hindu Times’, the bands sixth UK No.1.

2002 – Modern rock act Remy Zero appears on the se… — 2002 – Modern rock act Remy Zero appears on the season finale of the WB series Smallville. The show, centered around the adventures of the teenaged Clark Kent/Superman, features the [...]

2001 – R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was charged by police at Heathrow — 2001 – R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was charged by police at Heathrow airport with being drunk on an aircraft and assaulting British Airways crew. Buck was taken into custody after [...]

2001 – R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is arrested at … — 2001 – R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport for allegedly assaulting two crew members on an overnight flight from Seattle to London. Buck is charged with [...]

2000 – Neal Matthews of The Jordanaires died of a heart attack. Sang on Presley’s — 2000 – Neal Matthews of The Jordanaires died of a heart attack. Sang on Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Hound Dog.’ Also worked with Ricky Nelson, Patsy Cline, Red Foley, [...]

2000 – Neal Matthews Jr., a member of the gospel-i… — 2000 – Neal Matthews Jr., a member of the gospel-influenced harmony group the Jordanaires, dies of an apparent heart attack at his home near Nashville. He is 70.

1999 – Universal Denmark’s single to benefit Kosov… — 1999 – Universal Denmark’s single to benefit Kosovar refugees, “Selv En Drabe” (Even A Drop), breaks the territory’s first-day sales record, moving 66,000 units, according to the label.

1999 – Elvis Crespo is the big winner at Chart Top… — 1999 – Elvis Crespo is the big winner at Chart Toppers’s Latin Music Awards. The merengue star picks up four trophies, tying him with Selena for the most wins at [...]

1999 – Brooks & Dunn debut their newest video, “So… — 1999 – Brooks & Dunn debut their newest video, “South of Santa Fe,” while internet site country.com simultaneously streams the video using Microsoft Windows Media technology. It is the first [...]

1995 – MTV Asia re-launches its Mandarin-language … — 1995 – MTV Asia re-launches its Mandarin-language channel.

1994 – Courtney Love turns in the shotgun Kurt Cobain used to kill himself — 1994 – Courtney Love turns in the shotgun Kurt Cobain used to kill himself to a guns-for-tickets trade-in program.

1993 – Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman marries the 33-year-old Suzanne — 1993 – Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman marries the 33-year-old Suzanne Accosta in the south of France.

1993 – Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann saves a young surfer from a — 1993 – Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann saves a young surfer from a California riptide.

1990 – Sinead O’Connor started a four week stay at No.1 in the US singles — 1990 – Sinead O’Connor started a four week stay at No.1 in the US singles chart with her version of the Prince song ‘Nothing Compares To You’. The track was [...]

1990 – Paul McCartney played in front of 184,000 fans at the Maracana — 1990 – Paul McCartney played in front of 184,000 fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Jnaeiro, creating a new world record for the largest crowd attending a rock [...]

1990 – Fleetwood Mac scored their fourth UK No.1 album with ‘Behind The Mask.’ — Fleetwood Mac 1990 – Fleetwood Mac scored their fourth UK No.1 album with ‘Behind The Mask.’

1984 – The film soundtrack to ‘Footloose’ went to No.1 on the US album chart. — 1984 – The film soundtrack to ‘Footloose’ went to No.1 on the US album chart.

1984 – Phil Collins started a three week run at No.1 in the US singles chart — 1984 – Phil Collins started a three week run at No.1 in the US singles chart with the theme from ‘Against All Odds’. It was Phil’s first US No.1, a [...]

1982 – Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks, which resulted in The Clash — 1982 – Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks, which resulted in The Clash cancelling a tour. He was found living rough in Paris.

1981 – A car crash in Seattle hospitalizes Eric Clapton with bruised — 1981 – A car crash in Seattle hospitalizes Eric Clapton with bruised ribs and a lacerated shin.

1979 – Amii Stewart went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Knock On Wood — 1979 – Amii Stewart went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Knock On Wood’, it made No.6 in the UK the same year and No.7 when re- issued [...]

1978 – UK folk singer Sandy Denny died aged 31. While on holiday with her parents — 1978 – UK folk singer Sandy Denny died aged 31. While on holiday with her parents in Cornwall, England, Denny was injured in a fall down a staircase. A month [...]

1978 – Folk singer Sandy Denny dies at age 31 after falling down a flight of stairs — Led Zeppelin IV 1978 – Folk singer Sandy Denny dies at age 31 after falling down a flight of stairs. You can hear her on Led Zeppelin IV‘s “Battle of Nevermore” [...]

1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “(Hey Won’t Y… — 1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” B.J. Thomas. The song has the longest title of any No. 1 [...]

1973 – Tony Orlando & Dawn started a four week run at No.1 on the US — 1973 – Tony Orlando & Dawn started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree’, (it became [...]

1973 – Alice Cooper went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Billion Dollar — 1973 – Alice Cooper went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Billion Dollar Babies.’ Also a No.1 album in the UK.

1970 – Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spooky Tooth, Jackie Lomax, Elton John (making — 1970 – Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spooky Tooth, Jackie Lomax, Elton John (making his solo concert debut) and Heavy Jelly all appeared at The Roundhouse, London, tickets cost 25 shillings.

1969 – Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band play… — 1969 – Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band play London’s Royal Albert Hall.

1967 – working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles completed the sessions for Sgt. Pepper’s — 1967 – working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles completed the sessions for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The final recordings were a short section of gibberish [...]

1965 – The Beach Boys perform “Do You Wanna Dance?” on the rock TV — 1965 – The Beach Boys perform “Do You Wanna Dance?” on the rock TV program Shindig!.

1963 – Born on this day, Johnny McElhone, Altered Images, (1981 UK No.2 single — 1963 – Born on this day, Johnny McElhone, Altered Images, (1981 UK No.2 single ‘Happy Birthday’) then joined Texas, (1997 UK No.3 single ‘Say What You Want’, 1997 UK No.1 [...]

1963-Beatles and Rolling Stones meet for the first time during a Rolling Stones… — 1963-Beatles and Rolling Stones meet for the first time during a Rolling Stones performance at Crawdaddy Club. ‘We got all nervous’, says Bill Wyman, ‘but then we had a chat [...]

1962 – Elvis Presley: Good Luck Charm US 45 is no. 1… — 1962 – Elvis Presley: Good Luck Charm US 45 is no. 1 chart topper this day in ROCK History.

1961 – Folk singer Cisco Houston dies of cancer in San Bernardino, Calif. The influentia — 1961 – Folk singer Cisco Houston dies of cancer in San Bernardino, Calif. The influential troubadour traveled America with Woody Guthrie and was Leadbelly’s houseguest.

1961 – The Beatles debut at the Cavern Club in Liv… — 1961 – The Beatles debut at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.

1960 – Dick Clark admits that he had a financial stake in more than a quarter — 1960 – Dick Clark admits that he had a financial stake in more than a quarter of the records played on American Bandstand. The congressional committee investigating payola orders him [...]

1959 – Johnny Mathis records the song “Misty.” on this day in rock history! — 1959 – Johnny Mathis records the song “Misty.” on this day in rock history!

1959 – Robert Smith of the Cure is born in Sussex,… — 1959 – Robert Smith of the Cure is born in Sussex, England. Robert James Smith (born 21 April 1959) is an English guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is the lead singer [...]

1956 – Elvis Presley: Heartbreak Hotel US 45 is… — 1956 – Elvis Presley: Heartbreak Hotel US 45 is no. 1 chart topper this day in rock. Heartbreak Hotel lyrics Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell. It's [...]

1947 – Punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop (James Jewel Ost… — 1947 – Punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop (James Jewel Osterburg) is born in Michigan. Iggy Pop (born James Newell Osterberg, Jr. on April 21, 1947 in United States) is an American [...]

1945 – The Bihari brothers found Modern Records. Over the years, the label — 1945 – The Bihari brothers found Modern Records. Over the years, the label will become an R&B powerhouse, releasing discs by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Etta James.