Rock History

On this day...

2012 – Elton John cancels shows to “The Million Dollar Piano” on This Day in Rock Music History! — 2012 – Elton John cancels shows to “The Million Dollar Piano” on This Day in Rock Music History! Last weekend Elton was treated for respiratory infection that triggered the cancelations. [...]

2006 – With a yelp of “Soul Patrol!” silver-haired… — 2006 – With a yelp of “Soul Patrol!” silver-haired Southerner Taylor Hicks is crowned the fifth season winner of “American Idol.

2006 – One of the most colorful careers in music c… — 2006 – One of the most colorful careers in music comes to a close when pioneering booking agent Ian Copeland dies in Los Angeles of melanoma. He is 57.

2005 – Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne put the Beverly Hills house that featured in — 2005 – Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne put the Beverly Hills house that featured in their reality hit The Osbournes up for sale.

2005 – Rock act Motley Crue files suit against NBC… — 2005 – Rock act Motley Crue files suit against NBC, arguing the network violated the group’s free speech rights and hurt its concert and album sales. Motley Crue say its [...]

2004 – Bruce Springsteen’s lawyers shut down an online auction of what purports to b — 2004 – Bruce Springsteen’s lawyers shut down an online auction of what purports to be the Boss’ birth certificate.

2004 – Madonna kicks off her Re-Invention tour in Los Angeles. As well as — 2004 – Madonna kicks off her Re-Invention tour in Los Angeles. As well as her own hits, she performs a cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

2003 – Paul McCartney has tea with Russian premier Vladimir — 2003 – Paul McCartney has tea with Russian premier Vladimir Putin, then plays a show for 20,000 fans in Moscow’s Red Square.

1999 – An online audience watches David Bowie write and record the song — 1999 – An online audience watches David Bowie write and record the song “What’s Really Happening” in a Webcast. The Webcast implements a 360-degree FullView camera. The song turns up [...]

1998 – The first Native American Music Awards take… — 1998 – The first Native American Music Awards take place at the Fox Theater at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. The show is hosted by Wayne Newton, and [...]

1998 – In an official ceremony backstage prior to … — 1998 – In an official ceremony backstage prior to Van Halen’s show at the CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell proclaims May 24th Van Halen Day in Philadelphia. Each member [...]

1996 – Musician Barney (Bernard Jean) Wilen dies a… — 1996 – Musician Barney (Bernard Jean) Wilen dies at the age of 59.

1991 – Byrds co-founder and Rock `n’ Roll Hall of … — 1991 – Byrds co-founder and Rock `n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Gene Clark dies of a heart attack at the age of 46. He is found unconscious in his [...]

1988 – OU812 (Van Halen) is released this day in rock history! — 1988 – OU812 (Van Halen) is released this day in rock history! Release date: 1988-05-24 OU812 is the eighth album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album [...]

1984 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let’s Hear I… — 1984 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” Deniece Williams. The song is featured in the film “Footloose.” Williams is a member of Stevie [...]

1982 – Drummer Topper Headon leaves the Clash on — 1982 – Drummer Topper Headon leaves the Clash on this day in rock!

1982 – Jefferson Starship, the Grateful Dead, Boz Scaggs, and Country Joe McDonald — 1982 – Jefferson Starship, the Grateful Dead, Boz Scaggs, and Country Joe McDonald play San Francisco’s Moscone Center to raise money for the Vietnam Veterans Project.

1979 – Patrons looking to buy tickets to Genesis’ benefit show at L.A. — Genesis 1979 – Patrons looking to buy tickets to Genesis’ benefit show at L.A.’s Roxy are surprised to find the band itself manning the box office. Proceeds from the show go [...]

1976 – In New York, Arista Records president Clive Davis pleads guilty — 1976 – In New York, Arista Records president Clive Davis pleads guilty to failing to report $8,800 in income in 1972. He is later fined $10,000.

1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Shining Star… — 1975 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Shining Star,” Earth, Wind & Fire.

1968 – Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull are arrested on charges of marijuana — 1968 – Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull are arrested on charges of marijuana possession. The same day the Stones release “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” generally seen as a comeback record following [...]

1965 – John Lennon publishes his second volume of prose — 1965 – John Lennon publishes his second volume of prose, A Spaniard in the Works, in England.

1964 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Love Me Do,’… — 1964 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Love Me Do,” The Beatles.

1964 – On The Ed Sullivan Show tonight, the Beatles appear in a previously — 1964 – On The Ed Sullivan Show tonight, the Beatles appear in a previously taped performance of “You Can’t Do That” from the set of A Hard Day’s Night.

1963 – Guitarist Elmore James, who influenced blues boom bands like — 1963 – Guitarist Elmore James, who influenced blues boom bands like Fleetwood Mac, dies in Chicago from a heart attack. More than 400 blues musicians attended his funeral.

1955 – Rosanne Cash is born, the daughter of Johnn… — 1955 – Rosanne Cash is born, the daughter of Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto. Among her numerous No. 1 country singles are “My Baby Thinks He’s a Train” and “Blue [...]

1944 – Patti LaBelle (Patricia Holt) is born in Ph… — 1944 – Patti LaBelle (Patricia Holt) is born in Philadelphia. She sings with Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles (later shortened to LaBelle), which has the No. 1 hit “Lady [...]

1941 – Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) is born … — 1941 – Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) is born in Duluth, Minn. His biggest hit is “Like a Rolling Stone,” a No. 2 song in 1965. Three of his albums [...]