Rock History

On this day...

2008 – the town where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards grew up announced it was — 2008 – the town where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards grew up announced it was to name streets in a new estate after Rolling Stones hits. The 13 streets in [...]

2007 – Ike Turner, the former husband of Tina Turner died at the age of 76 — Ike Turner 2007 – Ike Turner, the former husband of Tina Turner died at the age of 76 at his home near San Diego, California. Turner who was a prolific session [...]

2007 – a copy of John Lennon’s book, A Spaniard in the Works, which contained — 2007 – a copy of John Lennon’s book, A Spaniard in the Works, which contained a lock of Lennon’s hair, sold at Gorringes Auction House for £24,000, ($48,000). Lennon gave [...]

2004 – Music veteran Bert Reid dies at St. Vincent… — 2004 – Music veteran Bert Reid dies at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York of lung cancer. He is 48.

2003 – Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, 60, is knighted by Prince Charles — 2003 – Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, 60, is knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. The one-time Satanic Majesty brings his 92-year-old father Joe to the ceremony.

2003 – Dave Matthews kicks off his first ever solo tour. He’s joined — 2003 – Dave Matthews kicks off his first ever solo tour. He’s joined by most of the guests from his solo album Some Devil, including Trey Anastasio, Tim Reynolds, Emmylou [...]

2003 – Jennifer Lopez tapes a PSA in New York encouraging apathetic — 2003 – Jennifer Lopez tapes a PSA in New York encouraging apathetic Americans to register for the vote.

2001 – Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic file a count… — 2001 – Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic file a countersuit against Courtney Love. The case involves the release of material by Nirvana. The suit is in response to an action [...]

2000 – Guns N’ Roses announce that their long awaited Chinese Democracy — 2000 – Guns N’ Roses announce that their long awaited Chinese Democracy is due for release in June 2001.

2000 – The Verve: Singer Richard Ashcroft – formerly of the Verv — 2000 – The Verve: Singer Richard Ashcroft – formerly of the Verve – falls offstage in Birmingham, England, breaking two ribs.

2000 – Here’s something we didn’t think we’d see again in our — 2000 – Here’s something we didn’t think we’d see again in our lifetimes – a Breeders reunion. Well, sort of. Tanya Donnelly may never play with them again, but Kim [...]

2000 – Tony Bennett is on hand at the Friar’s Club… — 2000 – Tony Bennett is on hand at the Friar’s Club in New York to commemorate the Birthdays of his late friend and fellow entertainer Frank Sinatra by announcing the [...]

1999 – The late Notorious B.I.G.’s legacy lives on… — 1999 – The late Notorious B.I.G.’s legacy lives on as the rapper’s second posthumous album, “Born Again,” sells more than 485,000 copies in its first week in stores to bump [...]

1998 – Chumbawamba spearheads a London benefit con… — 1998 – Chumbawamba spearheads a London benefit concert for jailed journalist/former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal. The event, held at the Mean Fiddler, includes performances by the agit-pop act the Mekons, [...]

1997 – In Burbank, Calif., former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman — 1997 – In Burbank, Calif., former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty begins recording an MTV special. His 2-hour set is littered with both CCR classics and his recent solo [...]

1996 – Country star Clint Black gets a star on the… — 1996 – Country star Clint Black gets a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. He joins Garth Brooks, Gene Autry and his pal and debut partner Roy Rogers [...]

1985 – Keyboardist Ian Stewart dies in London. Stewart was a founding member — 1985 – Keyboardist Ian Stewart dies in London. Stewart was a founding member of the Rolling Stones. However, Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham kicked him out of the band because [...]

1985 – Session piano player Ian Stewart dies of a … — 1985 – Session piano player Ian Stewart dies of a heart attack at the age of 47.

1979 – Paul McCartney & Wings perform in Birmingham, England — 1979 – Paul McCartney & Wings perform in Birmingham, England, the latest stop on their farewell tour. Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and John Bonham, who performed on the Wings album [...]

1974 – The Rolling Stones’ second guitarist Mick Taylor — 1974 – The Rolling Stones’ second guitarist Mick Taylor announces he is quitting the band.

1970 – Little Richard is charged with larceny by trick in Miami Beach — 1970 – Little Richard is charged with larceny by trick in Miami Beach, Fla. The self-help group Black Inc. says that the rock performer pocketed $250 he had originally solicited [...]

1969 – John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band release Live Peace in Toronto 1969 — 1969 – John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band release Live Peace in Toronto 1969, recorded at the Toronto Rock ‘n’ Revival Show on September 13. Highlights include Yoko Ono’s “Don’t Worry [...]

1968 – Second day of taping the Rolling Stones’ Rock ‘n’ Roll — 1968 – Second day of taping the Rolling Stones’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus with Eric Clapton, John Lennon, the Who and Jethro Tull.

1967 – Rolling Stone Brian Jones is let off the hook by a London appeals cour — 1967 – Rolling Stone Brian Jones is let off the hook by a London appeals court. He faced nine months in prison after being found guilty of possessing cannabis. However, [...]

1966 – Pink Floyd play London’s Royal Albert Hall for the first — 1966 – Pink Floyd play London’s Royal Albert Hall for the first time on this day in rock history!

1964 – The Rolling Stones’ second American album 12×5 goes — 1964 – The Rolling Stones’ second American album 12×5 goes to No. 3 in the charts.  No. 1 are the Beach Boys with the self-explanatory Beach Boys Concert.

1963 – Spin Doctors guitarist Eric Schenkman is born on — 1963 – Spin Doctors guitarist Eric Schenkman is born on this day in rock history!

1959 – Sheila E. (Sheila Escovedo) is born in San … — 1959 – Sheila E. (Sheila Escovedo) is born in San Francisco, the daughter of musician Pete Escovedo. She tours with Lionel Richie and records with Prince. Her biggest solo hit [...]

1957 – KEX DJ Al Priddy is fired from the Portland, Ore., radio station. — 1957 – KEX DJ Al Priddy is fired from the Portland, Ore., radio station. His crime? He played Elvis Presley’s rendition of “White Christmas” on air. The station had banned [...]

1957 – Marlon Jackson is born in Gary, Ind. … — 1957 – Marlon Jackson is born in Gary, Ind.

1953 – Dan Baird, former leader of the Georgia Satellites, is born. — 1953 – Dan Baird, former leader of the Georgia Satellites, is born.

1947 – Heavy metal singer Graham Bonnett, who has appeare — 1947 – Heavy metal singer Graham Bonnett, who has appeared in the line-ups of both Rainbow and the Michael Schenker Group, is born in Skegness, England.

1946 – Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker is born on this day — 1946 – Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker is born on this day in rock history!

1943 – Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts is born — 1943 – Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts is born in Jacksonville, Fla.

1942 – Keyboardist Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues … — 1942 – Keyboardist Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues is born in Birmingham, England.

1941 – The Association’s keyboardist and singer Terry Kirkman is born — 1941 – The Association’s keyboardist and singer Terry Kirkman is born in Salina, Kan.

1940 – Dionne Warwick is born in East Orange, N.J…. — 1940 – Dionne Warwick is born in East Orange, N.J., the daughter of a Chess Records executive. Her biggest hit is “That’s What Friends Are For,” a collaboration with Elton [...]

1938 – Singer Connie Francis (Concetta Rosa Marie … — 1938 – Singer Connie Francis (Concetta Rosa Marie Franconero) is born in Newark, N.J. Her biggest hit is “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” which tops Chart Toppers’s [...]

1920 – Legendary music publisher Dick James is born in London. — 1920 – Legendary music publisher Dick James is born in London.

1915 – Frank Sinatra is born in Hoboken, N.J. His … — 1915 – Frank Sinatra is born in Hoboken, N.J. His biggest pop hit in the modern era is “Somethin’ Stupid,” a duet with his daughter, Nancy, which tops Chart Toppers’s [...]

1914 – Drummer and singer Robert Covington is born… — 1914 – Drummer and singer Robert Covington is born.