Rock History

On this day...

2011 – Joe Jackson accuses Dr. Conrad Murray of being a clay pigeon on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Joe Jackson accuses Dr. Conrad Murray of being a clay pigeon on This Day in Rock! Joe said: ‘Everyone is thinking about this doctor. The doctor is just a [...]

2011 – Roger Waters performs “The Wall Live” in London at the 02 Arena on This Day in Rock! — 2011 – Roger Waters performs “The Wall Live” in London at the 02 Arena on This Day in Rock! The show was sold out. Roger’s comment: ‘Thirty years ago when I [...]

2008 – Neil Diamond went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 2008 – Neil Diamond went to No.1 on the UK album chart with — 2008 – Neil Diamond went to No.1 on the US and UK album charts with “Home Before Dark” on This Day in Rock!

2006 – Brian Kennedy, performs his own composition, “Every Song Is a Cry for Love” — 2006 – Brian Kennedy, performs his own composition, “Every Song Is a Cry for Love”, In the Eurovision Song Contest. Ireland’s contest hits its 1000th song on This Day in [...]

2005 – Composer Graeme Revell is presented with th… — 2005 – Composer Graeme Revell is presented with the Richard Kirk Award at BMI’s annual Film & Television Music Awards dinner, held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. [...]

2005 – Dave Matthews Band top the album charts with Stand… — 2005 – Dave Matthews Band top the album charts with Stand Up, while Weezer’s Make Believe debuts beneath the jam rockers at No. 2.

2005 – The Guinness Book of Records names Elvis Presley as the most successful artist of all time on This Day in Rock — 2005 – The Guinness Book of Records names Elvis Presley as the most successful artist of all time on This Day in Rock. Oddly, it is based on total [...]

2005 – Australian pop star Kylie Minogue begins treatment for breast… — 2005 – Australian pop star Kylie Minogue begins treatment for breast cancer in Melbourne. Australian prime minister John Howard sends the “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” [...]

2004 – Elvin Jones, arguably the most influential … — 2004 – Elvin Jones, arguably the most influential drummer of the modern jazz era dies in New York, of heart problems. He is 76.

2004 – The BBC name Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood their composer… — 2004 – The BBC name Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood their composer in residence. Greenwood will have access to the BBC archives and use of the BBC Concert Orchestra [...]

2003 – Aussie rockers INXS play a gig at a Singapore restaurant … — 2003 – Aussie rockers INXS play a gig at a Singapore restaurant to prove the country is safe despite the outbreak of the deadly SARS virus.

2002 – Wolfgang Schneiderhan, one of the 20th cent… — 2002 – Wolfgang Schneiderhan, one of the 20th century’s best-known violinists, dies in a Vienna hospital. He is 86.

1999 – The Backstreet Boys release their highly an… — 1999 – The Backstreet Boys release their highly anticipated third album, “Millennium.” The album goes on to become the best-selling album of the year.

1999 – Influential reggae producer Augusto Pablo d… — 1999 – Influential reggae producer Augusto Pablo dies in Kingston, Jamaica at the age of

1998 – Sir Elton John confirms that his representa… — 1998 – Sir Elton John confirms that his representation by John Reid has ended after 28 years. John announces that he has set up his own management company, Elton John [...]

1998 – Country humorist and Grand Ole Opry member … — 1998 – Country humorist and Grand Ole Opry member Jerry Clower receives the All- American Football Foundation’s Outstanding American Award at Sam’s Town Casino in Tunica, Miss. Clower, a former [...]

1998 – Berry Gordy receives the inaugural ASCAP Am… — 1998 – Berry Gordy receives the inaugural ASCAP American Legend Award for his work as a songwriter and Motown Records founder at the 15th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards.

1993 – Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS are… — 1993 – Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS are given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1993 – At the BMI Pop Awards, Michael Bolton and Mariah Carey… — 1993 – At the BMI Pop Awards, Michael Bolton and Mariah Carey are named Songwriters of the Year. Song of the Year is “When a Man Loves a Woman,” [...]

1992 – The Washington Post quotes rapper Sister So… — 1992 – The Washington Post quotes rapper Sister Souljah as saying “If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?” Democratic presidential [...]

1982 – Joe Strummer reappears after fleeing the Clash… — 1982 – Joe Strummer reappears after fleeing the Clash and moving to Paris for a month. He claims his disappearance was due to exhaustion and doubts about his [...]

1979 – Journey host The Midnight Special, with special guests the Jacksons… — 1979 – Journey host The Midnight Special, with special guests the Jacksons and Herbie Hancock.

1978 – The film “The Buddy Holly Story,” starring … — 1978 – The film “The Buddy Holly Story,” starring Gary Busey, premieres in Dallas. Overview Director: Steve Rash Writers: Robert Gittler (screenplay) John Goldrosen (source material “Buddy Holly His Life and Music”) more Release Date: 3 November [...]

1972 – According to today’s New York Times, the Beatles have agreed… — 1972 – According to today’s New York Times, the Beatles have agreed to split the fortune they accrued in their partnership. Paul McCartney says they’ve come to this [...]

1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Get Back,” Th… — 1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Get Back,” The Beatles.

1968 – The Doors, the Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother… — 1968 – The Doors, the Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Country Joe & the Fish, and Taj Mahal all play the Northern California Folk [...]

1966 – It’s Bruce Springsteen’s first day at a recording studio… — 1966 – It’s Bruce Springsteen’s first day at a recording studio as the Castiles (of which the Boss is a member) cut their song “That’s What You Get.” [...]

1965 – Here’s a Grammy Awards ceremony to remember. After Peter… — 1965 – Here’s a Grammy Awards ceremony to remember. After Peter Sellers presents the Beatles with the Best Performance by a Vocal Group trophy, John Lennon leads the [...]

1964 – David Frost interviews Paul McCartney on the BBC show A Degree of Frost. — 1964 – David Frost interviews Paul McCartney on the BBC show A Degree of Frost. Paul McCartney sat down with David Frost for a brief interview that was telecast [...]

1963 – The Kingsmen record their controversial “Louie Louie.” — 1963 – The Kingsmen record their controversial “Louie Louie.”

1963 – The Beatles begin their third U.K. tour supporting Roy Orbison… — 1963 – The Beatles begin their third U.K. tour supporting Roy Orbison. By the end of the 21-date tour, the fast-rising band was the headliner.

1963 – Bob Dylan duets with Joan Baez on “With God… — 1963 – Bob Dylan duets with Joan Baez on “With God on Our Side” at the Monterey Folk Festival.

1960 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Cathy’s Clown… — 1960 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Cathy’s Clown,” The Everly Brothers.

1957 – The main creative force behind Enigma, prod… — 1957 – The main creative force behind Enigma, producer Michael Cretu, is born in Bucharest, Romania. On this date in 1996, Enigma’s debut album “MCMXC A.D.,” released in 1990, had [...]

1955 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Cherry Pink a… — 1955 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,” Perez Prado.

1952 – George Strait, the popular country artist who lent… — 1952 – George Strait, the popular country artist who lent his name to Dire Straits, is born in Pearsall, Texas.

1949 – William Wallace, Guess Who, is born on This Day in Rock! — 1949 – William Wallace, Guess Who, is born on This Day in Rock! Their major hit from 1970, “American Woman”, is a protest against draft dodgers coming into Canada. Despite [...]

1949 – Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes is born in London. — 1949 – Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes is born in London. Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949 in Perivale, London) is an English keyboard player best known as the keyboardist [...]

1946 – George Alexander, The Flamin’ Groovies, on This Day in Rock! — 1946 – George Alexander, The Flamin’ Groovies, on This Day in Rock! The Flamin’ Groovies released the 1976 album “Shake Some Action”.

1946 – Bruce Gilbert, guitar, Wire, is born on This Day in Rock — 1946 – Bruce Gilbert, guitar, Wire, is born on This Day in Rock! He has the UK No. 68 hit single “Eardrum Buzz”.

1945 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “My Dreams Are… — 1945 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time,” Les Brown Orchestra/Doris Day.

1942 – Albert Hammond, who wrote the meteorologically… — 1942 – Albert Hammond, who wrote the meteorologically misleading “It Never Rains in Southern California,” is born in London. He also wrote “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” for [...]

1911 – Big Joe Turner is born in Kansas City, Mo. His shouting blues… — 1911 – Big Joe Turner is born in Kansas City, Mo. His shouting blues inspired rock singers like Elvis Presley and Little Richard. In 1954, he even topped [...]