text:
Feb 1, 2019
Rock Birthdays
Feb. 1:
Jimmy Carl Black (Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart) - b. 1938 - d. 11/1/08
Ray Sawyer (Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show) - b. 1937 - d. 12/31/18
Don Everly (Everly Brothers) - 82
Mike Campbell (Mudcrutch, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the Blue Stingrays, worked with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, Roger McGuinn, Tracy Chapman, Warren Zevon, George Harrison) - 69
Rich Williams (Kansas) - 69
Fran Christina (Fabulous Thunderbirds) - 68
Sonny Landreth (sessions, guest appearances, collaborations, solo) - 68
Exene Cervenka (X, The Knitters, solo) - 63
Jani Lane (Warrant, Saints Of The Underground, Liberty & Justice, solo) - b. 1964 - d. 8/11/11
Lisa Marie Presley - 51
Patrick Wilson (Weezer, The Special Goodness) - 50
Ron Welty (The Offspring, Steady Ground) - 48
Feb. 2:
Graham Nash (The Hollies, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash, solo) - 77
Ross Valory (Journey, The Storm, Steve Miller Band, Frumious Bandersnatch, The Vu) - 70
Rick Dufay (Aerosmith, solo) - 67
Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots, Army Of Anyone, Talk Show, Hollywood Vampires) - 53
Ben Mize (Counting Crows) - 48
Britt Lightning (Vixen) - 34
Feb. 3:
Angelo D'Aleo (Dion and the Belmonts, The Belmonts) - 79
Eric Haydock (The Hollies) - b. 1943 - d. 1/5/19
Stan Webb (Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown, Canned Heat, solo) - 73
Dave Davies (Kinks, solo) - 72
Arthur "Killer" Kane (New York Dolls) - b. 1949 - d. 7/13/04
Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth, The Cribs, Text of Light) - 63
Tony Butler (Big Country, DOG + more) - 62
Laurence Tolhurst (The Cure) - 60
Kristy Majors (Pretty Boy Floyd) - 51
Richie Kotzen (Poison, Greg Howe, Mr. Big, Vertú -project with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, The Winery Dogs, solo) - 49
Feb. 4:
John Steel (The Animals, sessionist) - 78
Jimmy Johnson (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Guitarist, Producer) - 76
Barry Beckett (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Keyboardist) - b. 1943 - d. 6/10/09
Alice Cooper (Vince Fournier) - 71
Roy Yeager (Atlanta Rhythm Section) - 70
John Schlitt (Petra, Head East) - 69
Phil Ehart (White Clover, Kansas) - 69
Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie, Fastway, Badfinger, Waysted) - 67
Noodles - Kevin John Wasserman (The Offspring) - 56
Duncan Coutts (Our Lady Peace) - 50
Rick Burch (Jimmy Eat World) - 44
Feb. 5:
Alex Harvey (Tear Gas, Alex Harvey Band) - b. 1935 - d. 2/4/82
Hal Blaine (Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, The Ronettes, Jan and Dean, The Mamas & the Papas, The Byrds, Johnny Rivers, Elkie Brooks, The Association, Sonny & Cher, The Grass Roots, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Henry Mancini, The 5th Dimension, The Supremes, Barbra Streisand, Nancy Sinatra, Diana Ross, Dean Martin, The Partridge Family, The Wrecking Crew) - 90
Cory Wells (Three Dog Night) - b. 1941 - d, 10/20/15
J.R. Cobb (Classics IV, Atlanta Rhythm Section) - 76
Chuck Winfield (Blood Sweat & Tears) - 75
Al Kooper (The Royal Teens, The Blues Project, Blood Sweat & Tears, Kooper played organ on 'Like A Rolling Stone' by Bob Dylan and wrote "This Diamond Ring" for Gary Lewis and the Playboys. He also discovered and produced Lynyrd Skynyrd and played with Alvin Lee, B.B. King, Bill Wyman, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Harry Chapin, Jimi Hendrix, Labelle, Michael Bloomfield, Mick Jagger, Mose Jones, Paul Butterfield, Ray Charles, Ringo Starr, Shuggie Otis, Stephen Stills, Ten Years After, The Animals, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, solo, many others) - 75
David Denny (Frumious Bandersnatch, Steve Miller Band) - 71
Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel) (Spinal Tap) - 71
Nigel Olsson (Elton John) - 70
Tommy Skeoch (Tesla) - 57
Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Loaded, Neurotic Outsiders, 10 Minute Warning, The Fartz, Fastbacks, The Gentlemen, Jane's Addiction, Kings Of Chaos) - 55
Chris Barron (Spin Doctors) - 51
Feb. 6:
Fabian (Fabiano Anthony Forte) (singer, actor) - 76
Bob Marley, singer/songwriter and guitarist who had a 1981 UK #8 single with 'No Woman No Cry', plus over ten other UK Top 40 singles and the 1976 US N#8 & UK #15 album 'Rastaman Vibration'. The 1984 'Best Of' album spent 330 weeks on the UK chart. In 1990, February 6th was proclaimed a national holiday in Jamaica to commemorate his birth. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 19940 - b. 1945 - d. 5/11/81
Richie Hayward (Little Feat, Fraternity of Men, The Factory) - b. 1946 - d. 8/12/10
Punky Meadows (The Intruders, The English Setters, The Cherry People, BUX, Angel, solo) - 68
Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Vantage Point, prolific session drummer: Jeff Beck, The Who, Judas Priest, Tears for Fears, Mike Oldfield, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, Big Jim Sullivan, Pete Townshend, Big Country, Whitesnake, Jack Bruce, David Gilmour, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, Jon Anderson, Bonnie Tyler, Trevor Rabin, 10cc, Mick Jagger, Joe Satriani, Russ Ballard, Mike Rutherford, John Wetton, Asia, Derek Sherinian, Jordan Rudess and many more) - 62
Axl Rose (William Bailey) (Guns N'Roses, Hollywood Rose, L.A. Guns, Rapidfire) - 57
Feb. 7:
Earl King (New Orleans Blues guitarist, wrote 'Come On, (Let The Good Times Roll') - b. 1934 - d. 4/17/03
King Curtis (Saxaphone player, worked with John Lennon, played on The Coasters hit 'Yakety Yak') - b. 1934 - d. 8/13/71
Alan Lancaster (Status Quo, Party Boys and the Bombers) - 70
Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night) - b. 1948 - d. 3/11/15
Joe English (Wings, Sea Level, Pieces of Eight, The Joe English Band, Jam Factory, Tall Dogs Orchestra, Kingfish, Compassion All Star Band) - 70
Mark St. John (KISS, Front Page, White Tiger) - b. 1956 - d. 4/5/07
Brian Travers (UB40) - 60
Garth Brooks - 57
David Bryan (Bon Jovi) - 57
Deborah Bonham (rock and blues vocalist and the sister of John Bonham) - 57
Jim Durki (Dark Angel) - 54
Sully Erna (Godsmack) - 51
Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit, Black Light Burns) - 44
Feb. 8:
Creed Bratton (The Grass Roots, Actor (The Office), solo) - 76
Adolfo de la Parra (Canned Heat, Bluesberry Jam, Sotweed Factor, played with: Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins & George "Harmonica" Smith - sessions with: John Lee Hooker, Memphios Slim, & Charles "Gatemouth" Brown) - 73
Michael Goodroe (Motels) - 69
Vince Neil (Motley Crue, solo) - 58
Mandy Lion (WWIII, Wicked Alliance, Mandy Lion Band) -
Mika Karppinen (H.I.M., To Separate the Flesh from the Bones) - 48
Will Turpin (Collective Soul, solo) - 48
Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (Linkin Park) - 43
Feb. 9:
Carole King - 77
Joe Ely (The Clash, Linda Ronstadt) - 72
Mark Gallagher (Raven) - 59
Rachel Bolan (Skid Row) - 53
Mark Osegueda (Death Angel) - 50
The Reverend Tholomew Plague "The Rev" / James Sullivan (Avenged Sevenfold, Pinkly Smooth, Suburban Legends) - b. 1981 - d. 12/28/09
Jeremy Davis (Paramore) - 34
Feb. 10:
Don Wilson (Ventures) - 86
Kenny Edwards (Stone Poneys, Linda Ronstadt, Bryndle, Canned Heat, solo) - b. 1946 - d. 8/18/10
Nigel Olsson (Plastic Penny, Elton John, Uriah Heep, Spencer Davis Group, solo) - 70
Cliff Burton (Metallica, Agents of Misfortune, EZ-Street, Trauma) - b. 1962 - d. 9/27/86
Feb. 11:
Gene Vincent - b. 1935 - d. 10/12/71
Bobby "Boris" Pickett - b.1938 - d. 4/25/07
Gerald "Gerry" Goffin (Songwriter - with his first wife Carole King, he wrote numerous pop hits including 'Don't Bring Me Down' (The Animals) and 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' (The Monkees). In '90, Goffin was inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame) - b. 1939 – d. 6/19/14
Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant) - 72
Charlie Hargrett (Blackfoot) - 70
Doug Blair (W.A.S.P.) - 59
"Brian Damage"/Brian Keats (Misfits, Genocide, Verbal Abuse, others) - b. 1963 - d. 1/12/10
Sheryl Crow - 57
Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) - 49
Peter Hayes (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) - 43
Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park, Fort Minor) - 42
Feb. 12:
Ray Manzarek (Doors, Manzarek-Krieger, Rick & the Ravens, Nite City, The Manzarek-Rogers Band) - b. 1939 - d. 5/20/13
Joe Schermie (Three Dog Night) - b. 1946 - d. 3/26/02
Stanley Knight (Black Oak Arkansas) - b. 1949 - d. 2/16/13
Steve Hackett (Genesis. GTR, Quiet World, solo) - 69
Michael McDonald (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, The Dukes of September, solo) - 67
Bill Laswell (Method of Defiance, The Golden Palominos, Praxis, Massacre, Material, Buckethead, Painkiller, Ashes, Tabla Beat Science, Iggy Pop, Herbie Hancock, solo) - 64
Brian David "Robbo" Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Wild Horses, solo) - 63
Omar Hakim (Weather Report; has played with Anita Baker, Sting, Weather Report, Mariah Carey, Madonna, David Bowie, Miles Davis, Chic, Bryan Ferry, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Everything but the Girl, Marcus Miller, Kazumi Watanabe, Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, Bobby McFerrin, others) - 55
Reed Mullin (Corrosion Of Conformity) - 53
Paul Crook (Anthrax, Sebastian Bach, Meat Loaf) - 53
Reed Mullin (Corrosion Of Conformity) - 53
Byron Stroud (City Of Fire, Fear Factory) - 50
Craig Jones (Slipknot) - 47
Feb. 13:
Peter Tork (The Monkees, Shoe Suede Blues, George Harrison, James Lee Stanley, Release, Cottonmouth, The Peter Tork Project) - 77
Bill Szymczyk(Producer: The Eagles, The Who, B.B. King, Joe Walsh, Bob Seger, The J. Geils Band, The James Gang) - 76
Roy Dyke (Ashton Gardner & Dyke, Badger, Pat Travers, George Harrison, Remo Four) - 74
Peter Gabriel (Genesis, solo) - 69
Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen) - 69
Snuffy Walden (composer, Rabbit, Free, Peter Sinfield, Stray Dog, Stevie Wonder, Keith Sykes, Greg Lake, Eric Burdon, Rita Coolidge, Pat Travers, solo, many TV and films, others) - 69
Rebop Kwaku Baah (Traffic, Ginger Baker, Wings, others, solo) - b. 1944 - d. 1/12/83
Ed Gagliardi (Foreigner, Spys) - b. 1952 - d. 5/11/14
Scott Smith (Loverboy) - b. 1955 - d. 11/30/00
Tony Butler (Big Country, On the Air, The Pretenders, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend) - 62
Les Warner (The Cult, Batusis) - 58
Henry Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band, Wartime, solo) - 58
Jeff Waters (Annihilator) - 53
Dave Padden (Annihilator) - 43
Feb. 14:
Merl Saunders (The Dinosaurs, Legion of Mary, Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Tom Fogerty, solo + more) - b. 1934 - d. 10/24/08
Magic Sam (Chicago blues musician) - b. 1937 - d. 12/1/69
Maceo Parker (James Brown, Maceo & All the King's Men, Maceo & the Macks, The J.B.'s, Parliament, Prince, Horny Horns) - 76
Vic Briggs (Animals, Dusty Springfield, The Echoes + more) - 74
Doug Simril (Steve Miller, Boz Scaggs, solo) - 73
Tim Buckley III - b. 1947 - d. 6/29/75
Roger Fisher (Heart, Alias, Clever Bastard, solo) - 69
Sylvain Sylvain/Sylvain Mizrahi (New York Dolls, The Criminals) - 68
Brian Slagel (founder and CEO of Metal Blade Records) - 58
Jason Rainey (Sacred Reich) - 52
Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty, Carlos Santana, Itaal Shur, Tabitha's Secret, solo) - 47
Feb. 15:
Glyn Johns (UK producer, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Beatles - 'Let It Be' sessions), Joan Armatrading, Midnight Oil, The Eagles, The Faces and Led Zeppelin) - 77
Mick Avory (The Kinks) - 75
John Helliwell (Supertramp) - 74
David Brown (Santana) - 1947 - d. 9/4/00
Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands, Wicked Sensation, Red Dragon Cartel) - 62
Ali Campbell (UB40) - 60
Brandon Boyd (Incubus) - 43
Brooks Wackerman (Bad4Good, Infectious Grooves, Suicidal Tendencies, The Vandals, Bad Religion, Kidneys, Tenacious D, Korn, The Innocent, Fear and the Nervous Sytem, Avenged Sevenfold) - 42
Gary Clark Jr. - 35
Feb. 16:
Otis Blackwell (songwriter and producer, wrote 'All Shook Up', 'Return To Sender', 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Great Balls Of Fire' and 'Fever') - b. 1935 - d. 5/6/02
Sonny Bono (Sonny & Cher) - b. 1935 - d. 1/5/98
Ice T (Body Count) - 61
Pete Willis (Def Leppard, Gogmagog, Roadhouse) - 59
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran, Power Station, Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, The Almighty, Thunder (band), Mark Shaw, Love and Money, Paul Rodgers, C. C. Catch, solo) - 58
Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Philm, Grip Inc., Fantomas, Suicidal Tendencies) - 54
Brad Walst (Three Days Grace) - 42
Feb. 17:
Doyle Bramhall (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chessmen, Nightcrawlers, Texas Storm, solo) - b. 1949 - d. 11/12/11
Ricky Medlocke (Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd) - 69
Rod Smallwood (Iron Maiden manager, he founded the Sanctuary Records Group in 1979, which became the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world until its closure in 2007) - 69
Michael Lepond (Symphony X) - 53
Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day, Pinhead Gunpowder, The Network, Foxboro Hot Tubs, The Boo) - 47
Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Salas) - 47
Arin Ilejay (Avenged Sevenfold) - 31
Feb. 18:
Yoko Ono (John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band) - 86
Clyde "Skip" Battin (The Byrds, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Skip & Flip, solo) - b. 1934 -d. 7/6/03
Dennis De Young (Styx, solo) - 72
Keith Knudsen (Doobie Brothers, Southern Pacific) - b. 1948 - d, 2/8/05
Robbie Bachman (Brave Belt, Bachman Turner Overdrive) - 66
Jamie West-Oram (The Fixx) - 65
Gar Samuelson (Megadeth) - b. 1958 - d. 7/22/99
Jason Sutter (Smash Mouth, American Hi-Fi, Marilyn Mason, Chris Cornell, others) - 50
Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace, solo) - 49
Merritt Gant (Overkill, Blood Audio, Faith or Fear) - 48
Feb. 19:
Paul Dean (Loverboy, Solo) - 73
Pierre van der Linden (Focus, Pierre van der Linden) - 73
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Earth, Velvett Fogg, Mythology, WhoCares, solo) - 71
Mark Andes (Canned Heat, Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart) - 70
Eddie Hardin (Spencer Davis Group, Axis Point, Hardin & York, Jon Lord, solo) - 69
Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash) - 69
Francis Buchholz (Scorpions, Michael Schenker Group) - 65
Dave Wakeling (The Beat, English Beat, General Public) - 63
Doug Aldrich (Lion, Hurricane, House Of Lords, Burning Rain, Bad Moon Rising, Dio, Whitesnake, Revolution Saints, Raiding The Rock Vault. The Dead Daisies) - 55
Jon Fishman (Phish, Pork Tornado, Jazz Mandolin Project + more) - 54
Todd LaTorre (Crimson Glory, Queensryche) - 45
Daniel Adair (3 Doors Down, Nickelback, Burn Halo) - 44
Feb. 20:
Lew Soloff (Blood, Sweat & Tears, solo) - 75
J. Geils (J. Geils Band) - 73
Billy Zoom (born Tyson Kindell) (X) - 71
Walter Becker (Steely Dan) - 69
Randy California (Spirit, The Blue Flame, solo) - 68
Kee Marcello (Europe) - 59
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - b. 1967 - d. 4/5/94
Paweł Maciwoda (Scorpions) - 52
Terry Ilous (Great White, XYZ) - 51
Feb. 21:
David Geffen - Geffen record label boss. Founder of Asylum records signed The Eagles, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell. Formed Dreamworks in 1995 - 76
Paul Newton (Uriah Heep, Shinn, Hensley Lawton Band) - 71
Jerry Harrison (The Modern Lovers, Talking Heads, Producer) - 70
Vince Welnick (The Tubes, Grateful Dead, Missing Man Formation, Mickey Hart Band, Todd Rundgren) - b. 1951 - d. 6/2/06
Lester Hunt (Climax Blues Band) - 63
Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, solo) - 61
Mark Arm (Mudhoney - born Mark McLaughlin at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA) - 57
Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper, Doro, Warlock, Underground Moon, P.O.L., Boink!, DiS ViciOuS, The Audio Club, War & Peace, Needle Park, Big Trouble, Ruffkut, Hollywood Vampires) - 53
Michael Ward (Wallflowers, School of Fish, Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper, Gogol Bordello) - 52
Eric Wilson (Sublime) - 49
Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God) - 48
Tad Kinchla (Blues Traveler, John Popper Project + more) - 46
Scott Griffin (LA Guns, Hookers N' Blow, Ratt) -
Feb. 22:
Norman "Hurricane" Smith (singer, record engineer, record producer) - b. 1923 - d. 3/3/
Ernie K Doe / Ernest Kador Jr (R&B singer, drummer) - b. 1936 - d. 7/5/01
Harvey Mason (Leader; sessions with Herb Alpert, Chet Atkins, George Benson, Donald Byrd, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Carole King, Hubert Laws, Kenny Loggins, Joe Pass, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Rufus, Patrice Rushen, Donna Summer, Grover Washington, Jr., Gary Wright, others) - 72
Jon Brant (Cheap Trick, Siren, solo, D'Thumbs with Tommy Aldridge and Pete Comita and has also played with Chris Spedding, Robert Gordon, Lou Reed, Diana Ross, Leslie Gore, Jason & the Scorchers, Micki Free and others) - 64
Dave Spitz (Black Sabbath, White Lion, Great White) - 61
Akira Takasaki (Loudness, Lazy, solo) - 58
Glen Alvelais (Forbidden, Testament, Hatriot, LD/50) - 51
Brad Nowell (Sublime) - b. 1968 - d. 5/25/96
Scott Phillips (Creed, Alter Bridge, Projected) - 46
Joe Hottinger (Halestorm) - 33
Feb. 23:
Johnny Winter - b. 1944 – d. 7/16/14
Rusty Young (Poco, Buffalo Springfield) - 73
Steve Priest (Sweet) - 71
Terry "Tex" Comer (Warm Dust, Ace) - 70
Brad Whitford (Aerosmith, Joe Perry Project, solo) - 67
Michael Angelo Batio - 63
Michael Wilton (Queensryche) - 57
John Norum (Europe, Dokken, Don Dokken, Glenn Hughes, UFO, Eddie Meduza, solo) - 55
Chris Vrenna (Grammy-winning producer, engineer, worked with Nine Inch Nails, Tweaker, Rammstein, U2, Weezer, David Bowie, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Marilyn Manson + more) - 52
Jeff Beres (Sister Hazel) - 48
Feb. 24:
Paul Jones (Paul Pond) (Mannfred Mann's Earth Band, Eric Clapton's Powerhouse, The Blues Band, The Manfreds, solo) - 77
Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, The Who, The Easybeats, The Move, The Jeff Beck Group, Donovan, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Steve Miller Band, Cat Stevens, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, Badfinger, Carly Simon, Joe Cocker, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, The Jerry Garcia Band, Peter Frampton, Art Garfunkel, Rod Stewart + many more) - b. 1944 - d. 9/6/94
Lonnie Turner (Steve Miller Band, solo) - b. 1947 - d. 4/28/13
Tim Staffell (Smile (became Queen), Humpy Bong, Morgan, aMIGO) - 71
George Thorogood (George Thorogood & the Destroyers) - 69
Steve Dawson (Saxon) - 67
Ronnie Platt (Kansas, Shooting Star Band) -
Chris Fehn (Slipknot, Thunderbolt Gasoline, Shed, Will Haven) - 47
Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio, Heavens, The Hell, Matt Skiba and the Sekrets, Blink 182) - 43
Feb. 25:
George Harrison (The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys, solo) - b. 1943 - d. 11/29/01
Doug Yule (The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, American Flyer, RedDog, solo, others) - 72
John Doe (X, The Knitters + more) - 65
Dennis Diken (The Smithereens, Bell Sound, Dave Amels) - 62
Mike Peters (The Alarm, Big Country, solo) - 60
Pia Maiocco (Vixen, wife of Steve Vai) - 57
Feb. 26:
Fats Domino - b. 1928 - d. 10/24/17
Johnny Cash - b. 1932 – d. 9/12/03
Bob "The Bear" Hite (Canned Heat) - b. 1943 - d. 4/5/81
Paul Cotton (Poco) - 76
Mitch Ryder (The Detroit Wheels, solo) - 74
Jonathan Cain (Journey, The Babys, Bad English, Michael Bolton, solo + more) - 69
Michael Bolton (singer, songwriter; Blackjack, solo) - 66
Tom Commerford (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, Puscifer, solo) - 51
Feb. 27:
Eddie Gray (Tommy James & the Shondells) - 71
Robert Balderrama (Question Mark & The Mysterians, Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns, Robert Lee Revue) - 69
Ray Gomez (Jack Bruce, Roy Buchanan, Chaka Khan, Stanley Clarke, Aretha Franklin, Peter Green, Hall & Oates, Stacy Lattisaw & Johnny Gill, Scandal, Jeremy Spencer, Steps Ahead, Cat Stevens, solo, others) - 66
Neil Schon (Santana, Betty Davis, Azteca, Journey, Schon & Hammer, HSAS, Bad English, Paul Rodgers, Abraxas Pool, solo) - 65
Adrian Smith (Urchin, Iron Maiden, Psycho Motel, Bruce Dickinson + more) - 62
Johnny Van Zant (The Austin Nickels Band, The Johnny Van Zant Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Zant, .38 Special) - 60
Nasty Suicide/Jan Stenfors (Hanoi Rocks, The Suicide Twins, The Cherry Bombz + more) - 56
Feb. 28:
Joe South (born Joseph Alfred Souter) (vocals, guitar 'Games People Play') - b. 1940 - d. 2012
Brian Jones (Rolling Stones) - b. 1942 - d. 7/3/69
Donnie Iris (born Dominic Gerace) - 76
Ronnie Rosman (Tommy James & The Shondells) - 74
Geoff Nicholls (Black Sabbath, Quartz, Tony Martin) - 71
Eddie Manion (Southside Johnny, The Sessions Band, The Miami Horns, Bruce Springsteen, E Street Band, Little Steven, Robert Cray, solo) - 67
Randy Jackson (Zebra) - 64
Cindy Wilson (The B-52's) - 62
Ian Stanley (Tears For Fears) - 62
Pat Monahan (Train) - 50
Justin Sane/Justin Meacham (Avenged Sevenfold, Suburban Legends, Pinkly Smooth) - 39
Feb. 29
David Williams (Drowning Pool) - 47
Today In Rock History
February 1
1949: RCA unveils the first 45-rpm record-playing system. It is the first time a record and record changer are made for each other. The invention of this size record made jukeboxes possible.
1954: Backed by his Jazz ensemble, Big Joe Turner records the original version of 'Shake, Rattle and Roll,' The tune will top the Billboard R&B chart next June, but did not cross over to the Pop chart. Some of the original lyrics, that would have been considered highly sexual at the time, were changed when Bill Haley recorded the song five months later.
1956: The Roxy Theater in New York City presents 'The Rock and Roll Ice Revue,' billed as "the hottest production ever staged on ice."
1957: The Everly Brothers sign with Cadence Records. During their career, they will have 35 Billboard Hot 100 singles.
1958: It's Elvis Presley's final recording session before entering the Army. 'Wear My Ring Around Your Neck' is one of the tracks cut. It will reach #3 in the US and the UK.
1962: Brian Epstein's managerial contract with The Beatles officially goes into effect.
1963: Paul Simon graduates from New York City's Queens College.
1963: 17 year-old Neil Young performed his first professional gig with his then-group The Squires at the Riverview Community Club in Winnipeg.
1964: Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh claims the Kingmen's 'Louie, Louie' is pornographic. He says that his ears "tingled" when he heard the song. He asks the Indiana Broadcasters Association to ban the record, although stations claim it's impossible to accurately figure out the lyrics from "the unintelligible rendition as performed by the Kingsmen." Although much has been written about the controversy, Indiana was the only state to actually ban the record from radio play.
1964: 'Fun, Fun, Fun' by the Beach Boys is released. The single gets to #5.
1964: The Beatles get their first U.S. #1 with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand.' Billboard magazine's review says the song is a "driving rocker with surf on the Thames sound." The Beatles hold the top spot for three consecutive months. 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' stays for seven weeks, 'She Loves You' for two and 'Can't Buy Me Love' adds another five. That's fourteen straight weeks for The Beatles.
1965: The Beatles' '4-By The Beatles' (EP) is released. It included four tracks from the LP, 'Beatles '65.' Though the first Beatles' EP released by Capitol did not succeed as much as the label would have hoped, it did well on the singles chart, which enabled Capitol to create a new series called the "4-By" series, which acted like a "super single." The idea was to market a set of four songs to "complement the artist's singles and albums and not compete with the performer's current hit single."
1965: At the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, James Brown records 'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag,' which will reach #8 on the Billboard Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart the following August and later win a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.
1967: Beatles record the title song for the 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club' Band album. It wasn't until The Beatles had recorded the song that Paul McCartney had the idea to make the song the thematic pivot for their forthcoming album.
1967: Pink Floyd spent the day recording parts for the Syd Barrett songs 'Arnold Layne' and 'Candy And A Current Bun' at Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, London. Floyd also turned professional on this day after signing a deal with EMI Records.
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience played at The Cellar Club in South Shields, UK.
1968: The Doors are offered $500,000 to star in a Universal International film that never happens. The group says they will make a TV special for ABC. but that never happens. However, another project announced on this day, a book of singer Jim Morrison's poetry, does see the light of day.
1968: John Lennon ships his Rolls Royce to the U.S.
1968: Elvis Presley's only child, daughter Lisa Marie was born in Memphis at the Baptist Memorial Hospital exactly nine months after Elvis married Priscilla.
1968: Simon & Garfunkel recorded 'America' at Columbia Studio A in New York City. The song was written by Paul Simon and concerns young lovers hitchhiking their way across the United States, in search of 'America,' one both literal and physical. It was inspired by a 1964 road trip with his girlfriend Kathy Chitty. The song has been regarded as one of Simon's strongest songwriting efforts and one of the duo's best songs. A 2014 Rolling Stone reader's poll ranked it the group's 4th best song.
1968: The Who kicked off their 3rd North American tour at the Civic Auditorium in San Jose, CA.
1969: Tommy James And The Shondells hit the top spot on the pop chart with 'Crimson And Clover.' Meanwhile, The Doors' 'Touch Me' hits at #4.
1969: Led Zeppelin supports Iron Butterfly at the Fillmore East concert hall in New York. As Butterfly drummer Ron Bushy plays his lengthy solo on 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,' John Bonham launches a stage invasion, upsetting several Atlantic Records executives in the audience.
1969: Fleetwood Mac took a guitar-based instrumental called 'Albatross' to the top of the UK chart. It also made the Top 5 in Norway, Ireland, Sweden and Netherlands, but only rose to #104 in the US.
1969: Joni Mitchell makes her Carnegie Hall debut.
1970: The Doors release their 5th album, 'Morrison Hotel/Hard Rock Cafe.' The album peaks at #4 on the charts.
1970: The Grateful Dead and Fleetwood Mac played a "Bust Fund" benefit at the Warehouse in New Orleans, to raise money for their arrest on January 31st. The incident is immortalized in the song 'Truckin'. Peter Green from Fleetwood Mac joined them for the song 'Turn On Your Love Light.'
1970: The Allman Brothers Band appeared at County Hall in Charleston, South Carolina.
1971: Yes appeared at the Palais des Sports in Paris.
1972: 13 innocent Irish citizens die when British troops open fire on a March in Dublin protesting imprisonment without trial. The event would help inspire the U2 song 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.'
1972: Chuck Berry had his first UK #1 single with a live recording of a song he'd been playing live for over 20 years 'My Ding-a-Ling.' UK public morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse attempted to have the song banned due to its innuendo-laden lyrics. The Average White Band members guitarist Onnie McIntyre and drummer Robbie McIntosh played on the single.
1972: Jethro Tull played at the Palaeur in Rome, Italy.
1974: Black Sabbath performed at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1974: Guitarist Eric Bell leaves Thin Lizzy due to ill health brought on by alcohol abuse.
1974: The Doobie Brothers 4th studio album, 'What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits' is released. It reached #4 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, bolstered by the #1 hit 'Black Water' and top 40 single 'Another Park, Another Sunday.'
1975: Elvis Presley arranges for daughter Lisa Marie to meet her favorite singer, Elton John, for her 7th birthday.
1977: Led Zeppelin's tour is postponed indefinitely because of vocalist Robert Plant's trouble with tonsillitis.
1977: Aerosmith appeared at Nagoya City Kokaido in Nagoya, Japan.
1978: Eric Clapton performed at PNE Coliseum in Vancouver.
1978: Bob Dylan's 'Renaldo and Clara,' a semi-documentary of his famous Rolling Thunder Revue tour, premieres in Los Angeles.
1979: Blondie performs 'Heart Of Glass' on Britain's Top Of The Pops T.V. as the song reaches #1 on the U.K. chart. The song will also rise to #1 in the US the following April.
1979: Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious was released on bail after attacking Todd Smith, singer Patti Smith's brother, at a Skafish concert. John Lydon has since stated that Mick Jagger stepped in and paid for the lawyers for Vicious.
1980: Iron Maiden head out on the 'Metal For Muthas Tour,' their first UK headling trek.
1980: Blondie released 'Call Me', the main theme song of the 1980 film 'American Gigolo.' It peaked at #1 for six consecutive weeks, and became the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1980.
1980: ZZ Top played at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado.
1981: Motorhead and Girlschool released their 'St. Valentine's Day Massacre' EP was released.
1983: Eric Clapton's 'Money and Cigarettes' album is released. It reached #16 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart. The single 'I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart' became a big hit in the U.S. for Clapton, peaking at #18, but was relatively unsuccessful in the UK, where it did not reach the Top 50.
1985: The Eagles' Glenn Frey makes his acting debut in an episode of NBC's 'Miami Vice.' He he played drug dealer Jimmy Cole.
1985: Metallica, W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint played the Royal Oak Music Theater in Detroit, Michigan.
1986: Music publisher Dick James died of a heart attack aged 65. Worked with many UK '60's acts including The Beatles. James signed Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin as unknown artists in 1967 and was the founder of the DJM record label.
1986: The second single from Pete Townshend's solo album White City, 'Give Blood'/'Magic Bus (live)' is released. The 12″ version also has 'Won't Get Fooled Again (live).' The single fails to chart.
1987: Journey wrap up their 'Raised on Radio' tour with a show in Anchorage, Alaska. It's their last tour with Steve Perry, who makes one more album with the band, 'Trial by Fire,' in 1996.
1987: After the United Nations and the African National Congress removed him from their blacklist, Paul Simon kicks off his 'Graceland' tour in Rotterdam. He had been banned after he broke the cultural boycott on recording in South Africa.
1988: The Cars announced they were breaking up after 12 years of working together. The band placed 15 songs on the Hot 100 between 1978 and 1987.
1989: Tesla released the album 'Great Radio Controversy.' The album reached #18 on the Billboard charts.
1992: Elton John and George Michael went to #1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', also a #1 in the UK. All proceeds from the single went to Aids charities.
1992: Dire Straits played the first of two nights at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA.
1993: Accept release their 9th studio album, 'Objection Overruled.' It was their first album to feature Udo Dirkschneider on lead vocals since 1986's 'Russian Roulette.'
1994: Green Day's 3rd studio album 'Dookie' is released. The group's major label debut peaks at #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. That night, they play a gig at Slim's in San Francisco with The Dead Milkmen.
1995: 21 years after it's release RUSH's self-titled debut finally achieves RIAA Gold certification.
1996: The John Entwistle Band continue their Left For Dead tour of the U.S. performing at Club Bene in South Amboy, New Jersey.
1997: The Wallflowers open for Sheryl Crow. It's the group's first major trek and it starts in Dallas.
1999: Four hundred people were injured at an Australian concert by Marilyn Manson when he stormed off stage after being bombarded with missiles and abuse at the show in Perth. One of Manson's guitar technicians needed treatment for cuts to his head.
2001: A collection of Sir Elton John's private photos on display at a museum in Atlanta were withdrawn. The exhibition, which included snaps of nude men, was said to be too explicit, some school trips to the museum had been cancelled.
2002: Kirk Hammett of Metallica received the first Guitar World magazine Hall of Fame Award.
2002: Good Charlotte enter the studio to record their 2nd album, 'The Young And The Hopeless.'
2002: Mickey Finn (born Mickey Waller) dies in Paris of kidney and liver problems at 65. Not to be confused with Mickey Finn of T. Rex, Finn was a popular session guitarist who played with the likes of Brian May, Jimmy Page and Steve Marriott.
2004: Aerosmith headlines the Super Bowl XXXVIII pre-game show. They play 'Baby Please Don't Go' & Dream On.' Kid Rock hits the stage as part of the halftime show, though he later gets criticized for his U.S. flag poncho and throwing it into the audience. The MTV produced event is infamous for Janet Jackson's exposed right breast.
2004: Green Day's version of the Bobby Fuller Four classic 'I Fought the Law' is used in a Pepsi/iTunes Super Bowl XXXVIII commercial that premieres during the game. The ad, which features 16 teens who were sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for swapping music files, announces the soft-drink maker's 'iTunes 100 Million Song Giveaway' promotion.
2005: Motley Crue released the compilation album 'Red, White & Crüe.' The album's lead single, 'If I Die Tomorrow,' was co-written by pop punk band Simple Plan.
2005: 59 year old Eric Clapton became a father for the fifth time when his 29-year-old wife, Melia McEnery, gave birth to a baby girl.
2006: Green Day drummer Tre Cool, ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and Alice Cooper perform at a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert in Cerritos, CA. The show is organized by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder.
2006: 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold is injured in a car accident while traveling on a Mississippi highway. Arnold, a passenger in the vehicle, suffers several cuts and bruises to his face that require stitches. Because of Arnold's injuries, 3DD pulls out of their scheduled performance at the Bud Bowl event prior to Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
2007: In a Billboard interview, the Eagles' Don Henley defends his group's business partnership (which includes exclusive releases) with Wal-Mart. "They can't be any more evil than a major record label," he says.
2007: Mike Clark, owner/manager of Atlanta's Southern Tracks Recording Studio, died after an eight month illness. He was 63. For many years he played drums with such popular 1960's artists as Tommy Roe, Billy Joe Royal, Joe South, Ray Stevens and Roy Orbison, and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
2008: US space agency Nasa announced that 'Across the Universe' by The Beatles was to become the first song ever to be beamed directly into space. The track would be transmitted through the Deep Space Network (a network of antennas) on the 40th anniversary of the song being recorded, being aimed at the North Star, Polaris, 431 light-years from Earth. In a message to NASA, Paul McCartney said the project was an "amazing" feat. "Well done, Nasa," he added. "Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul."
2008: Paul McCartney said recent media reports that he had heart surgery last year are "entirely untrue". The 65-year-old former Beatle says that during a routine medical examination over a year ago, "there was a minor irregularity which I needed to have tests for and which I have now been assured is completely fine."
2009: Across the street from Super Bowl XLIII (43) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Journey is part of the pre-game celebration/party. They perform 'Don't Stop Believing,' 'Separate Ways' & 'Faithfully.' Also, Smashing Pumpkins tune 'FOL' is heard in a Hyundai commercial prior to the kickoff. Frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin composed the song specifically for the 30-second spot, for Hyundai's Genesis Coupe. But the big news is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's halftime performance. They deliver a four-song set that includes 'Born To Run' and 'Glory Days.' The favored Pittsburgh Steelers win the game, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.
2010: Experience Hendrix and Sony Music issue the previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix song 'Valleys Of Neptune.' It's the title track of a 2010 album that was recorded between 1968 and 1970.
2010: Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), Carlos Santana and other performers record a 25th anniversary cover of 'We Are The World' to help raise money for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.
2010: 'Live Forever: The Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, September 23, 1980,' Bob Marley's final performance, is out on CD. "Bob's music has always conveyed a message of hope, unity and love," says Rita Marley, Bob's widow. "To hear that music today and to be able to share it with a new generation shows that Bob is as relevant today as he was 30 years ago."
2011: In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Elton John urged his longtime friend and tour mate Billy Joel to get serious about overcoming his alcoholism that has plagued him for years. Joel reacted by saying "Elton is just being Elton."
2012: It's 'National Rush Day' according to a handful of North American Hard Rock radio stations.
2012: Lisa Marie Presley celebrated her 44th birthday by opening up a new exhibit at Graceland that featured artifacts from her childhood, including baby footprints, a tricycle, her crib and a record player.
2015: Lenny Kravitz is part of pop singer Katy Perry's Super Bowl halftime performance. Perry calls Kravitz "an incredible Rock & Roll icon, a guitar god." Kravitz has about one-minute onstage.
2016: Five Finger Death Punch receive the Soldiers Appreciation Award from the Association Of The United States Army. The prize honors organizations and individuals who support the troops. "The only musician ever to receive this was Elvis Presley," says guitarist Zoltan Bathory. The award is presented every five years and is based on soldiers' votes.
2016: Guns N' Roses dominate Billboard Magazine's Boxscore Chart, which tracks concert attendance and revenue. 11 GN'R shows are in the top 15 spots. At #1 are two concerts in Buenos Aires which grossed $11 million with an audience of 105,000.
February 2
1956: The Coasters sign with Atlantic Records, where they will record ten US Top 40 hits.
1957: Fats Domino makes an appearance on 'The Perry Como Show,' singing his hits 'Blue Monday' and 'Blueberry Hill.'
1959: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper play their last show as part of the "Winter Dance Party" tour, stopping this night at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA. Admission: $1.25. The last song of the night: The Big Bopper's 'Chantilly Lace.'
1959: Frankie Avalon releases his biggest hit, 'Venus,' which will reach #1 in the US and #16 in the UK. Somewhat surprisingly, the record also reached #10 on the Billboard R&B chart.
1962: Bob Dylan plays harmonica on Harry Belafonte's album, 'Midnight Special.'
1962: The Beatles played their first professionally organized gig outside of Liverpool at The Oasis Club, Manchester. The groups set started with their version of 'Hippy Hippy Shake.'
1963: The Beatles played at the Gaumont Cinema, Bradford on the opening night of the nationwide Helen Shapiro UK tour. The Beatles were at the bottom of the six-act bill playing just four songs, 'Please Please Me', 'Chains', 'Keep Your Hands Off My Baby' and 'A Taste of Honey.' John, Paul, Ringo and George will split wages of 80 Pounds ($225) a week.
1964: In response to a storm of controversy, Max Firetag, the publisher of The Kingsmen's hit, 'Louie Louie,' offers $1,000 to anyone who can find suggestive lyrics in the song. The reward is small change considering that the disc cost less than $50 to record and has sold millions of copies.
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Blue Pad Club in Darlington, England which was part of the Imperial Hotel Complex on Grange Road. The show was advertised as "Don't miss this man who is Dylan, Clapton, and James Brown all in one". After the show, as the roadies were loading up a van, one of Hendrix's Fender guitars was stolen.
1967: Pink Floyd performed at Cadenna's in Guildford, Surrey, England.
1968: Simon And Garfunkel record 'Mrs. Robinson,' which will become their second US #1 and win a Grammy Award for Record Of The Year. Simon would later say that his inclusion of the phrase "coo-coo-ca-choo" is an homage to the Beatles' 'I Am the Walrus.'
1969: Yoko Ono divorced her husband Tony Cox, Yoko was granted custody of their daughter Kyoko. John Lennon married Yoko the following month on March 30th.
1969: Led Zeppelin played at The Rock Pile in Toronto.
1970: The Faces play their first gig. It's in Southampton, England. The band consists of ex-Small Faces Ronnie Lane (bass), Ian McLagen (keyboards) and Kenney Jones (drums). They are augmented by former Jeff Beck Group members, Rod Stewart (vocals) and Ron Wood (guitar).
1970: The Grateful Dead performed at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri.
1971: Yes performed at the Palais des Sports in Paris.
1971: Santana's 'Oye Como Va' b/w 'Samba Pa Ti' 45 single is released. Written by Latin musician Tito Puente in 1963, it was popularized by Santana's rendition on their album 'Abraxas.' It reached #13 on the Billboard Top 100. The song also reached #11 on Billboard's Easy Listening survey and #32 on their R&B chart.
1973: NBC debuts 'The Midnight Special' rock variety show, its response to ABC's popular 'In Concert' series. The first host is Helen Reddy, with Wolfman Jack later taking over hosting chores for the show's eight-and-a-half-year run.
1973: Emerson, Lake and Palmer keyboard player Keith Emerson injures his hands when a rigged piano explodes prematurely during a San Francisco gig, leaving him with minor cuts and a broken fingernail.
1973: Elvis Presley meets Muhammed Ali in Las Vegas. The two exchange gifts, and Ali later says, "I felt sorry for him because he didn't enjoy life the way he should. He stayed indoors all the time. I told him he should go out and see people."
1975: Genesis played at Grand Valley State College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1976: The Patti Smith Group releases their debut album 'Horses.'
1976: Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Gimme Back My Bullets' album is released. It reached #20 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1976: Genesis released 'A Trick Of The Tail' in the UK (Feb. 20 in the U.S.), their 7th studio album and the first to feature drummer Phil Collins as full-time lead vocalist following the departure of original vocalist Peter Gabriel. After auditioning over 400 vocalists, which saw Collins teaching the potential lead singers the songs, the band decided that Collins should be the new vocalist. It reached #3 in the UK, remaining on the charts for 39 weeks, and #31 in the US.
1976: David Bowie unveiled his Thin White Duke persona when he kicked off his tour at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.
1977: Producer Ted Templeman scouts Van Halen at Hollywood's Starwood Club.
1978: Emerson, Lake & Palmer played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1979: Ex-Sex Pistol Sid Vicious dies of a heroin overdose in the New York City apartment of his present girlfriend, Michelle Robinson An autopsy confirmed that Vicious died from an accumulation of fluid in the lungs that was consistent with heroin overdose. A syringe, spoon and heroin residue were discovered near the body. The death is ruled an accident. He was 21 years old.
1980: In honor of the first anniversary of the death of ex-Sex Pistol Sid Vicious, 1,000 punks march from London's Chelsea section to Hyde Park. Vicious' mother, Ann Beverly, was to have been at the head of the march, however, the night before she was sent to the hospital for a drug overdose.
1980: Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's single 'Don't Do Me Like That' peaks at #10 on Billboard's Hot 100. It's the band's 1st Top 10 in the U.S.
1980: Rush performed at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
1981: REO Speedwagon's 'Hi-Infidelity' album goes platinum. It stays at #1 on the charts for 14 weeks, and has since gone 10x platinum.
1981: Iron Maiden 'Killers' album is released.
1984: Ozzy Osbourne headlined at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1985: Metallica, W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint played the State Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.
1985: Foreigner's 'I Want To Know What Love Is' tops the U.S. singles chart. It stays there for two weeks.
1988: Frehley's Comet 'Live+1' EP is released.
1988: Lita Ford's 3rd solo album 'Lita' is released. It reached #29 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart, bolstered by 'Close My Eyes Forever' (Mainstream Rock #25 and Billboard Hot 100 #8), which features a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. The track 'Kiss Me Deadly' was named the 76th best hard rock song of all time by VH1. It was named on Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time. It was her first for RCA Records and her first published with the supervision of new manager Sharon Osbourne. Musicians Don Nossov and Myron Grombacher, who were best known for being the rhythm section of the successful American singer Pat Benatar, joined Ford for the recording sessions and for the promotional tour.
1988: UFO's 'Ain't Misbehavin' EP is released.
1988: Guns N' Roses with openers Great White play the RITZ in New York City. MTV films the show.
1988: Frank Zappa performed at the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York.
1991: Iggy Pop peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Candy,' a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52's. This was Pop's only top 40 single in the U.S.
1992: Todd Rundgren became a parent for the third time when his son Rebop was born. It was Rundgren's first child with singer Michele Gray who later married Todd.
2002: Paul Baloff, who sang on Exodus' 1985 debut album 'Bonded Blood' dies of a heart attack at age 41.
2003: Phil Spector is charged with murder after police are called to his home in Alhambra, California and discover Lana Clarkson dead from a gunshot wound. He was convicted of the crime in 2009.
2003: Brian Johnson of AC/DC joined The Scorpions onstage during a concert at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa to sing 'Rock You Like a Hurricane.'
2004: Exodus return after a 12-year hiatus with their 6th studio album, ' Tempo of the Damned.'
2004: Led Zeppelin is the subject of a Classic's Headline Act episode on VH-1. Guitarist Jimmy Page discusses the band's formation, performances and dynamic.
2006: Nickelback perform in Detroit, where Super Bowl XL is played, as part of the Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert Series.
2006: It's announced that Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and wife Heather Locklear are ending their marriage after 11 years. Locklear was previously married to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.
2007: Van Halen announced that David Lee Roth would be rejoining them as their singer for a reunion tour which kicked off in September of that year. It was also announced that Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang would be replacing Michael Anthony as their bassist.
2007: Joe Hunter, a veteran keyboardist session musician as one of the Funk Brothers who helped craft the distinctive Motown sound, died in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 79. Hunter performed with such legendary Motown acts as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Martha and the Vandellas.
2008: Paul Rodgers, Journey guitarist Neal Schon, Pat Travers, Jefferson Starship drummer Donny Baldwin and Damn Yankees/Night Ranger singer-bassist Jack Blades perform at the Gridiron Greats Super Jam, a pre-Super Bowl function, in Scottsdale, AZ.
2009: Bruce Springsteen's 'Working On A Dream' tour tickets go on sale. Online glitches anger fans and Springsteen lashes out against Ticketmaster. New York Senator Charles Schumer joins New Jersey congressman Bill Pascrell in calling for the Federal Trade Commission to look into Ticketmaster's handling of the sales. Springsteen fans trying to buy tickets were redirected to the broker's TicketsNow subsidiary, which sells ducats above face value.
2009: Fifty years after Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper played their final gig at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, the Day the Music Died became the Day the Music Went On and On. A tribute concert at the original Surf raved on for six hours with a line-up of Rock acts that included Graham Nash, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Wanda Jackson, Delbert McClinton, Joe Ely, Peter And Gordon, Dave Mason, Bobby Vee and Holly's original band mates, The Crickets.
2010: Rob Zombie's 'Hellbilly Deluxe 2' is unleashed. The release was preceded by a supporting tour which marked the first time Zombie had worked under the "Hellbilly" moniker since the original run in 1998.
2010: Bruce Kulick releases his album 'BK3.'
2010: A charity recording of R.E.M.'s 1992 hit, 'Everybody Hurts,' debuts on British radio. The track, produced by the American Idol judge Simon Cowell, features vocals by Jon Bon Jovi and Rod Stewart, plus several pop performers. The song sells 150,000 copies in two days with proceeds supporting the Helping Haiti fund.
2011: Gene Simmons hosts 1,000 Texas servicemen and women and approximately 3,500 partygoers in Dallas at the '2011 Aces and Angels Salute to the Troops,' a benefit supporting The Wounded Warrior Project and the USO.
2011: The White Stripes (Jack and Meg White) announce that they disbanded so as to preserve the band's legacy. "The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health," the statement reads. "It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band." The White Stripes had been on hiatus since '07 but their final live performance occurred in '09 when they appeared on the final episode of 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien.'
2013: A 1960's Beatles Record Player, produced for fans as a commercial Beatles memorabilia item, fetched $12,100 in an online auction. The Record Player, which was highly-sought by Beatles collectors worldwide, was manufactured in a limited quantity. Because of this, some believed there was still a strong possibility a few remaining players to be discovered.
2014: U2 airs an ad during the Super Bowl offering a free download of 'Invisible' on iTunes. For the first two million downloads, Bank of America, a partner in the effort, donates one dollar to (RED), an AIDS charity co-founded by Bono. The promotion raises $3 million and the bank pledges a guaranteed $8 million to the charity. Also, a Chrysler commercial, with Bob Dylan, makes its debut. Halftime features the Red Hot Chili Peppers (pre-taped music/live vocals) in a mash-up with pop singer Bruno Mars.
2015: ZZ Top and Weezer, billed as Wee-Z Top, perform 'Sharp Dressed Man' on the debut installment of Mash-Up Mondays for ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live.
2015: Limp Bizkit headline a five-day "ShipRocked" festival cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. But the band's Wes Borland is not completely onboard. "Can't wait to see some roided-out, tribal-tattooed, spray-tanned, Jell-O shot-filled bohunks do their best drunk MMA (mixed martial arts) impressions in the top-deck moshpit," writes the guitarist on Instagram.
2016: Lita Ford is featured in a commercial for Indeed, the online job site. In Music Teacher Celebration, Ford plays a straight-laced music teacher who celebrates her work satisfaction with a kick-ass guitar solo.
February 3
1959: 22 year old Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa. The pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed. Encased in a sea of snow with only white below, pilot Roger Peterson seemed to become disoriented and flew the plane into the ground. One wing hit the frozen earth and the small plane tumbled over and over, killing the three musicians and the plane's young pilot. Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus. All three were traveling to Fargo, North Dakota, for the next show on their Winter Dance Party Tour which Holly had set - covering 24 cities in three weeks, to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets, the previous year. Don McLean would call it "The Day the Music Died" in his 1971 hit 'American Pie.'
1961: Bob Dylan makes his first recordings, versions of 'San Francisco Bay Blues' and 'Jesus Met the Woman at the Well,' at the home of friends Sid and Bob Gleason in East Orange, New Jersey.
1962: Gene Chandler's 'The Duke Of Earl' tops the Cashbox Best Sellers chart for the first of a five week stay. In 2002 the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and has also been selected by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
1964: The Beatles' 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' b/w 'I Saw Her Standing There' and their 'Meet The Beatles!' album are both certified gold.
1964: The Beatles' 'Twist and Shout' is released in the Canada. It was The Beatles' 2nd album released in Canada by Capitol Records in mono. It consists of songs mostly drawn from 'Please Please Me,' the first LP released in the United Kingdom.
1964: The Beach Boys 'Fun, Fun, Fun' b/w 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love' single is released.
1966: Paul McCartney meets a 15 year old Stevie Wonder for the first time after Wonder's show at London's Scotch Of St. James nightclub.
1967: Pink Floyd performed at Queens Hall in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
1967: Joe Meek, a British Pop and Rock producer, kills his landlady before shooting himself in the head. He is best remembered for the instrumental hit, 'Telstar,' which he wrote for the Tornadoes.
1967: Jefferson Airplane performed at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, sharing the bill with Quicksilver Messenger Service.
1967: Producer Joe Meek shot his landlady Violet Shenton and then shot himself at his flat in London, Meek produced The Tornadoes hit 'Telstar,' the first #1 in the US by a British group. Meek was interested in spirituality and often attended séances. At one such meeting in 1958 he was warned that Buddy Holly would die on February 3. Meek tried his best to find Holly when he was in London to warn him but failed in his mission. Holly died on February 3, 1959.
1967: Otis Redding, The Marvelettes, Aaron Neville, James and Bobby Purify and The Drifters all appeared at The Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tickets cost $2.50–3.50.
1968: The Beatles started work on their new single 'Lady Madonna' at Abbey Road studios in London. Recording three piano and drum takes with overdub bass, fuzz guitars, drums, and vocals. The Fats Domino inspired tune will reach #1 in the UK and #4 in the US. Domino himself would release a cover version of the song that topped out at #100 on the Billboard chart later in the year.
1968: Jimi Hendrix played at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.
1969: John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison hired Allen Klein as The Beatles' business manager. Paul McCartney disagreed with the decision, leading to further divisions among the group. McCartney preferred his father-in-law Lee Eastman.
1969: Paul McCartney takes a break from all the tension at Abbey Road (with his Beatle bandmates) and plays drums and sings backing vocals on the Steve Miller Band's 'My Dark Hour.' The track appears on 'Brave New World.'
1970: Led Zeppelin II was in the Top 20 on both the UK & US album charts after peaking at #1. The album went on to spend 138 weeks on the UK chart. The album is now recognized by writers and music critics as one of the greatest and most influential rock albums ever recorded.
1970: Black Sabbath records the band's self-titled debut album in a single day. It's released four months later.
1971: Pink Floyd performed at the Great Hall, Devonshire House, University of Exeter in Exeter, England.
1973: Elton John started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with 'Crocodile Rock'. Elton's first of five US #1 singles.
1973: Neil Young's double-album 'Journey Through The Past' is released. It chronicles live performances from throughout Young's career, including stints with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
1973: Wings peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Hi, Hi, Hi' which was their second top 10 single in the U.S.
1974: Black Sabbath played at the International Amphitheater in Chicago.
1975: Led Zeppelin appeared at Madison Square Garden in New York.
1976: David Bowie kicked off an American tour in Seattle at the Seattle Center Coliseum, showing off his new "Thin White Duke" persona. He's dressed in a black-vested suit with slicked-back hair. Bowie later described the persona as "a nasty character indeed."
1976: Black Sabbath release the 'We Sold Our Soul for Rock N' Roll' album in the US. It was released in the UK in Dec. of 1975.
1977: Elton John resumes live performing in Sweden a mere fifteen months after announcing his "retirement" from the stage.
1977: Producer Ted Templeman & Warner Brothers Records president Mo Ostin offer Van Halen a record deal at Hollywood's Starwood Club.
1978: Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' b/w 'Big Change in the Weather' 45 single is released. Named after the famous London street of the same name, the song was included on Rafferty's second solo album, 'City to City,' which was Rafferty's first release after the resolution of legal problems surrounding the formal break-up of his old band, Stealers Wheel, in 1975. It reached #1 in Canada, #2 in the US, and #3 in the UK.
1978: Harry Chapin meets with US President Jimmy Carter to discuss the world hunger situation.
1978: The TV-movie 'Dead Man's Curve,' the first to deal with the tragic Jan & Dean story, premieres on ABC. The film features cameo appearances by Dick Clark, Wolfman Jack, and Beach Boys' Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. Jan Berry himself and his parents appear in the audience at the end of the movie.
1978: Emerson, Lake & Palmer played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1978: Harry Chapin meets with US President Jimmy Carter and the pair announce the creation of The Presidential Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition.
1979: Blues Brothers 'Briefcase Full of Blues' is the #1 album in the U.S.
1979: Blondie had their first of five UK #1 singles, with 'Heart Of Glass,' taken from the band's 3rd studio album, 'Parallel Lines.' 'Heart of Glass' was originally recorded in 1975 under the name 'Once I Had a Love.'
1979: The British rock band The Babys break through to the Billboard Top 40 with 'Every Time I Think Of You.' Just like their first chart entry, 'Isn't It Time,' the song will peak at #13.
1979: 20 years after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Del Shannon, The Drifters and Jimmy Clanton perform a tribute show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, where their last concert took place.
1981: Rainbow's 'Difficult to Cure' album is released. It features new singer, Joe Lynn Turner and includes the single, 'I Surrender.'
1981: The Who play two nights at the Rainbow Theatre in London. The two hastily scheduled shows are a benefit for Erin Pizzey's Chiswick Family Rescue Organization and were requested by Pete's wife Karen. At the first show, Pete drinks four bottles of brandy on stage, improvises songs and long guitar solos without informing the other band members and stops the show to harangue the crowd.
1983: Def Leppard release their 7th single, 'Photograph.' It peaks at #12 on Billboard's Hot 100 on May 21, 1983 and spends a total of 17 weeks on the chart.
1984: Metallica opened for Venom in Zurich, Switzerland on their first ever European Tour.
1985: Metallica. W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint played the State Theater in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1986: The Firm's 'Mean Business' album is released. It reached #22 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart and #46 on the UK Albums Chart. The single, 'All the King's Horses,' spent four weeks at the top of Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album's title was intended to have a double meaning: that the music business is a hard one, and that the band was serious about its music ("The Firm mean business"). However, perhaps due to the lukewarm-at-best critical success with which the band met, Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers decided to disband The Firm within months of this album's release.
1986: Dire Straits were at #1 on the UK album charts with their 5th studio album, 'Brothers in Arms.' With ten weeks at #1, the album is the 7th best-selling album in UK chart history. It won two Grammy Awards in 1986, and also won Best British Album at the 1987 Brit Awards. Brothers in Arms also spent nine weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 in the US, and 34 weeks at #1 on the Australian Album Chart.
1990: Skid Row's 'I Remember You' peaks at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. It is their 2nd and final US Top 10 hit.
1990: Billboard's Hot 100 includes KISS' 'Forever' at #72 (debut), Whitesnake's 'The Deeper The Love' at #48, Alannah Myles' 'Black Velvet' at #39, Warrant's 'Sometimes She Cries' at #35, Mötley Crüe's 'Kickstart My Heart' at #27, Tesla's 'Love Song' at #20, Lou Gramm's 'Just Between You & Me' #9, Skid Row's 'I Remember You' at #6, and Aerosmith's 'Janie's Got A Gun' at #5.
1990: During a European tour Bob Dylan started a six-night residency at London's Hammersmith Odeon.
1991: INXS wins Best International Group (they are from Australia) at the 10th annual BRIT Awards in London.
1992: On their first Europe tour Pearl Jam played at The Esplanade Club in Southend, England to 300 people, the bands first ever UK show. The tour also took Pearl Jam to Norway, Sweden, Holland, France, Spain and Italy.
1992: It's announced that Nirvana's 'Nevermind' has sold over three million copies. It eventually moves over nine million.
1996: Ramones claimed to have played their last gig in the UK, at The Brixton Academy, after 22 years together.
1998: Pearl Jam released their 5th album, titled 'Yield.'
2002: Led Zeppelin's 'Rock And Roll' is used in a Cadillac commercial that debuts during the Super Bowl. It's the first Zep song licensed for a commercial.
2002: U2 performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVI (36) in New Orleans. Paul McCartney performs during the pre-game.
2003: Legendary producer Phil Spector was arrested in connection with the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion in Alhambra, California.
2004: Cornelius Bumpus dies from a heart attack on a flight from New York to Los Angeles. He was 58. Bumpus played saxophone with the Doobie Brothers, Moby Grape and Steely Dan.
2005: Hoobastank performs at the MTV Asia Aid concert in Bangkok. Several acts, including Green Day, tape messages for the show.
2005: Queensryche performs 'Operation: Mindcrime' in its entirety, for the first time in 15 years, at New York's Beacon Theatre.
2006: In Flames released the album 'Come Clarity.' The album peaked at #58 on the Billboard 200 charts.
2006: Former Dynasty star Heather Locklear filed for divorce from Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora after 11 years of marriage. Locklear who was previously married to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee and Sambora were married in 1994 and have an eight-year-old daughter called Ava.
2007: Daughtry were at #1 on the US album chart with their self-titled debut. Lead singer Chris Daughtry was the fourth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. The album sold over a 1m copies after just five weeks of release, becoming the fastest selling debut rock album of all time.
2008: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
2008: Alice Cooper and exercise guru Richard Simmons appear in a Bridgestone Tire commercial that's aired during the Super Bowl.
2008: Pinhead Gunpowder with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong plays the first of two club shows. The initial set is in Anaheim. Armstrong's long running side band has Cometbus editor Aaron Cometbus, Green Day guitar tech Bill Schneider and touring guitarist Jason White. The second show, the following day, is in L.A.
2010: AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, joined a growing group of critics of Bob Geldof and U2 singer Bono over their very public charity work, saying they should stop lecturing audiences about charity work and instead do their good deeds in private. Johnson said "When I was a working man I didn't want to go to a concert for some bastard to talk down to me that I should be thinking of some kid in Africa. I'm sorry mate, do it yourself, spend some of your own money and get it done. It just makes me angry."
2010: Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of Mamas And Papas' founder John Phillips, told TV host Oprah Winfrey that her decade-long sexual affair with her father was not consensual, even though she eventually agreed to having sex with her father.
2011: 'Fade to Black: Metallica' by Bill Hale, a photo exhibit at London's Proud Camden gallery, opens. The month long exhibition displays photographs taken by Hale between '82 and '84. Images of the band in its earliest guises include Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney.
2012: Motley Crue is the first Hard Rock band to hold a Las Vegas residency when "Motley Crue in Sin City" opens at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. In honor of the band's milestone, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaims it Motley Crue Day.
2014: Bruce Springsteen was at #1 on the US chart with his 18th studio album 'High Hopes.' His 11th #1 album in the US, placed him 3rd all-time for most #1 albums only behind The The Beatles and Jay-Z. The album is a collection of cover songs, out-takes and re-imagined versions of tracks from past albums, EPs and tours.
2015: Bob Dylan releases 'Shadows In The Night' containing 10 songs popularized by Frank Sinatra. Select AARP members receive a free copy in issues of the organization's monthly magazine. 50,000 copies of the album are distributed.
2016: Poison's Bret Micheals & Overstock.com announce his signature luggage collection (by Traveler's Choice).
2017: Black Star Riders release their album, 'Heavy Fire.'
February 4
1955: Elvis Presley played two shows (7:30pm and 9:30pm) at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1956: Elvis Presley appears again on CBS' Dorsey Brothers Stage Show, performing 'Baby, Let's Play House' and 'Tutti Frutti.'
1959: A day after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, the Winter Dance Party tour continues in Sioux City, Iowa, with Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton as the new headliners.
1964: Die Beatles 'Komm, gib mir deine Hand' b/w 'Sie liebt dich' 45 single is released in Germany in German language. 'Sie Liebt Dich,' along with the original 'She Loves You' B-side 'I'll Get You,' was released as a single in the United States on May 21, 1964. This release reached #97 in the Billboard Hot 100.
1966: The Who play their first show as headliners, at the Astoria in Finsbury Park, England. Also appearing are The Fortunes and The Merseys.
1966: Bob Dylan and The Band played at the Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This was the first date on a world tour which would become noted as Dylan's first that used electric instruments, after he had 'gone electric' at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
1966: The Rolling Stones '19th Nervous Breakdown' b/w 'As Tears Go By' 45 single is released in the UK. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards during their 1965 tour of the United States. The song was recorded during the Aftermath sessions between December 3rd and 8th, 1965 at RCA Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, at the conclusion of their 4th North American tour. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and in the United Kingdom Record Retailer chart. However, it hit #1 in the NME chart and the BBC's Pick of the Pops chart, both of which were more widely recognized in Britain at the time.
1967: The Rolling Stones' 'Between the Buttons' enters the UK chart at #3.
1967: This was the last week of a thirteen weeks atop the US album charts for The Monkees self-titled debut album. It would be knocked off on February 11 by the followup, 'More of the Monkees.'
1968: Billed as 'Tour 60 cities in 66 Days' The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Winterland in San Francisco.
1968: Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded 'Across the Universe.' John and Paul decided the song needed some falsetto harmonies so they invited two girl fans into the studio to sing on the song. The two were Lizzie Bravo, a 16-year-old Brazilian living near Abbey Road and 17-year-old Londoner Gayleen Pease. The John Lennon composed song gets shelved, then remixed, before making its initial appearance on a '69 charity album. The track also appears on The Beatles' 'Let It Be' in '70.
1969: John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr select Allen B. Klein for management/legal representation. Paul McCartney counters by hiring Eastman & Eastman (his wife Linda's dad and brother).
1970: John Lennon & Yoko Ono donated a bag of their cut hair to Michael X for an auction to aid the Black Power movement. Michael X then gave them a pair of Muhammad Ali's boxing shorts.
1972: In a memo to Attorney General John Mitchell, South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond suggested that John Lennon be deported.
1972: During sessions at Trident Studios in London, England, David Bowie recorded 'Rock 'n' Roll Suicide', 'Starman' and 'Suffragette City', the last songs recorded for the 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars' album.
1972: Genesis performed at the Hippodrome in Bristol, England.
1973: Pink Floyd played at the Palais des Sports de la Porte de Versailles in Paris.
1973: Elvis Presley's 'Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite' is released. It reached the top of both the Billboard 200 Top LP's and Top Country charts. Despite the satellite innovation, the United States did not air the concert until April 4, 1973.
1974: John Lennon begins his "Lost Weekend," which lasts 18 months. Separating from Yoko, he goes on an extended bender, often joined by his friend Harry Nilsson.
1974: Pink Floyd release 'Time' backed with 'Us and Them' as a 7-inch single in the U.S.
1974: KISS kicked off their first North American tour in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
1975: Led Zeppelin performs at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
1976: Ramones released their eponymous debut album. The front cover depicts the band members standing in a line leaning against a brick wall, taken by Roberta Bayley. The cover was ranked #58 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Album Covers.
1976: David Bowie performed at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.
1976: Fleetwood Mac's 'Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)' single is released in the US.
1977: Fleetwood Mac's 11th studio album 'Rumours' was released. It stayed at the top of the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart for 31 non-consecutive weeks. Rolling Stone ranked it at #25 in "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. It has sold 45 million copies wordwide and stayed on the U.S. album chart for over 130 weeks. It also sets a record for most weeks at #1 with 31 and wins the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978.
1977: American Bandstand celebrated its 25th anniversary with an ABC special hosted by Dick Clark. The show features one of the first "all-star jams," as Chuck Berry is joined by Gregg Allman, Junior Walker, The Pointer Sisters, Charlie Daniels and several others on a performance of 'Roll Over Beethoven.' It also included Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, & Stevie Wonder.
1977: Aerosmith played at the Kyoden-Taiiku-Kan in Fukuoka, Japan.
1978: Queen's 'We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions' single peaks at #4 on Billboard's Hot 1000. It was their 2nd US Top 10.
1979: The Grateful Dead performed at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
1980: Ramones 5th studio album, 'End of the Century' is released. The album was produced by Phil Spector & went on to become their highest charting album in the U.S. reaching #44 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. It reached #14 on the UK Albums Chart.
1980: Eagles 'I Can't Tell You Why' b/w 'The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks' single is released in the U.S. The studio version became a Top 10 hit in April 1980, reaching #8 and also peaked at #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1981: The Who performed at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1982: Alex Harvey, leader of the 1970s glam rockers, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, died after suffering two heart attacks. His death came on the eve of his 47th birthday.
1982: Judas Priest released the single 'Don't Go.' It was the band's third single off the album 'Point Of Entry.'
1983: Def Leppard release the 'Photograph' single.
1983: Thin Lizzy release their greatest single, 'Cold Sweat.'
1984: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble kicked off their 114-date 'Couldn't Stand the Weather tour' at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
1984: Detroit quartet who call themselves The Romantics see their biggest hit, 'Talking In Your Sleep' peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The million selling single stayed on the chart for an amazing 15 weeks.
1985: Prince performed at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.
1989: Guns N'Roses become the first act for fiteen years to place two LPs in US Top 5 - 'Appetite for Destruction; (#2) and 'Lies' (#5). The last act was Jim Croce.
1989: Billboard's Hot 100 includes White Lion's 'When The Children Cry' at #3, Bon Jovi's Born To Be My Baby' at #4, Def Leppard's 'Armageddon It' at #6, Ann Wilson & Robin Zander's 'Surrender To Me' at #20, Poison's Every Rose Has It's Thorn' at #24, Guns N' Roses' 'Paradise City' at #29, and Cheap Trick's 'Ghost Town' at #100.
1989: A Rock and Roll oddity took place when a group that no longer existed had the top tune on the Billboard chart. 'When I'm With You' had been recorded in 1983 by a group called Sheriff, but they split up in 1985. The music director at a Las Vegas radio station began playing the song in late 1988 and the record soon surpassed its original #61 chart position. A couple of members of the group combined with three ex-Heart players and formed Alias, while the others had minor success in Canada as Frozen Ghost.
1991: Queen release the 'Innuendo' album.
1991: Saxon released the album 'Solid Ball Of Rock.' Five of its 11 tracks were written by new bassist Nibbs Carter, who cowrote another three songs.
1991: Megadeth release the single 'Hanger 18.' The track was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards.
1992: Pearl Jam appeared at The Borderline in London, England, tickets cost £5 ($8.50).
1992: Dire Straits played the Selland Arena in Fresno, CA.
1992: Alice in Chains release the 'Sap' EP.
1997: The Offspring release their 'Ixnay On The Hombre' album. Debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album is later certified platinum in the U.S.
1998: Russian officials impound Garbage's equipment forcing the cancellation of a gig in Estonia.
1999: Rykodisc becomes the first music label to give its stamp of approval to MP3, the controversial Internet-based music distribution format that struck fear into the hearts of many music industry executives.
2001: Jimmy Buffett was ejected from a Miami Heat-New York Knicks game in Miami for cursing at a referee.
2003: Courtney Love was arrested at Heathrow airport for 'endangering an aircraft' on a transatlantic flight. The singer was said to have hurled abuse at the cabin crew on the flight from Los Angeles to London after her nurse who was in an economy seat was barred access to sit with Love in the upper class cabin.
2003: Doors drummer John Densmore filed an injunction against guitarist Robbie Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Police drummer Stewart Copeland & The Cult singer Ian Astbury for touring as The Doors of the 21st Century.
2003: Hellion released the album 'Will Not Go Quietly.'
2004: Police questioned Noel Gallagher after a photograph of him trespassing on a railway line appeared in a newspaper. The Oasis guitarist was in a studio in Cornwall recording the bands new album when he took a walk along the railway line. British Transport Police said 'he was setting a bad example.'
2004: The Veterans of Foreign Wars' commander-in-chief weighs in criticizing Kid Rock's "disgusting use of an American flag as a costume prop" during Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show. "The 1.6 million members of the VFW agree that Kid Rock's stunt was in poor taste and extremely disrespectful," says the VFW`s Edward S. Banas Sr. Rock wore a poncho fashioned out of a flag during his performance, then threw it into the audience.
2004: Exodus released the album 'Tempo Of The Damned.'
2005: It's announced that Puddle Of Mudd drummer Greg Upchurch has replaced Daniel Adair in 3 Doors Down for their tour. Adair left to join Nickelback.
2006: Ten-foot-tall guitar sculptures designed by Green Day, Stevie Nicks and Eddie Van Halen with his son are featured at the GuitarMania Auction in Phoenix. Proceeds benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona charity.
2006: Staind fills in for 3 Doors Down at the Bud Bowl event prior to Super Bowl XL in Detroit. 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold was injured in a car accident earlier in the week and 3DD was forced to cancel.
2006: Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is assaulted at the Shady Bowl Super Party in Detroit. According to reports, a local Hip-Hop artist and his friends beat up Lee after he insulted Detroit's Kid Rock, who had been engaged to Lee's ex-wife, Pamela Anderson.
2007: Billy Joel sings the national anthem at Super Bowl XLI, in Miami Gardens, FL. Stevie Nicks appears on the pre-game show. But the big news is Prince's halftime performance in the pouring rain. He covers the Foo Fighters' 'Best Of You.' "Having been a massive Prince fan my whole life, I was flattered beyond words," says the Foo Fighters' founder Dave Grohl. "What an honor to be covered by one of your heroes!" A TV audience of 90 million watches the show which also includes Prince playing a snippet of Bob Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower.'
2008: Iron Maiden release the 'Live After Death' DVD. It was released to coincide with the start their 'Somewhere Back In Time' World Tour.
2008: Guitarist Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh and percussionist Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, play a benefit show for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama in San Francisco. The rally, dubbed Dead Heads for Obama, features the trio performing Dead tunes with backing musicians.
2008: John Mellencamp becomes the first of many artists to accuse soon-to-be-Republican presidential nominee John McCain of using their music without authorization. McCain also issues the first of many apologies to rockers.
2008: NASA beams The Beatles' 'Across the Universe' directly into deep space to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the day The Beatles recorded the song, as well as the 50th anniversary of NASA's founding. The transmission is aimed at the North Star, Polaris, a mere 431 light years away from Earth.
2008: Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones is a guest performer at the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in London. Jones plays mandolin alongside the evening's Lifetime Achievement Award winner, renowned guitarist John Martyn.
2008: The Ted Nugent 'Spirit Of The Wild' TV show wins the Fan Favorite Hunting Series trophy at the Outdoor Channel's eighth annual Golden Moose Awards in Las Vegas. Also, Nugent and his wife, Shemane, share the Fan Favorite Host prize. The awards honor the cable network's most popular programming and personalities.
2009: Bruce Springsteen's 'Working On A Dream' tops the Billboard 200. Moving 224,000 copies in its first week of release the album is Springsteen's ninth #1.
2009: The Allman Brothers Band announces the launch of a subscription-based website called Moogis. Fans can view high-definition streaming video of the group's stand at New York's Beacon Theatre. There's also archival video and audio.
2009: Metallica and Kid Rock appear on Katie Couric's 'All Access' Grammy Special on CBS.
2009: Robert Plant said he felt Led Zeppelin couldn't reunite for a full tour because the band feels incomplete without drummer John Bonham. In an interview on Absolute Radio Plant stated, 'The reason that it stopped was because we were incomplete, and we've been incomplete now for 29 years,' he said. He admitted: 'I think the thing about it is really, is that to visit old ground, it's a very incredibly delicate thing to do, and the disappointment that could be there once you commit to that and the comparisons to something that was basically fired by youth and a different kind of exuberance to now, it's very hard to go back and meet that head on and do it justice'.
2013: Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe's manslaughter trial begins in the Czech Republic. The singer is charged in the death of a fan who was allegedly injured at the band's concert in Prague in 2010. "I've kept my word. I said that I would come back to court today and I did," Blythe tells the court. "I'm not a person who runs away from problems. But I do not want to be punished for something I did not do."
2013: Dave Grohl begins a week-long guest host stint on E! television's 'Chelsea Lately' program, filling in for the vacationing Chelsea Handler. The first show features an interview with Rick Springfield.
2013: Vans unveil a line of shoes designed by each member of Metallica.
2013: Troggs frontman Reg Presley dies a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Hit singles, included 'Wild Thing,' 'I Can't Control Myself' and the UK #1 'With a Girl Like You,' He also wrote the song 'Love Is All Around',' which featured in the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and was a #1 hit for Wet Wet Wet in 1994. Presley used his royalties from that cover to fund research subjects such as alien spacecraft, lost civilisations, alchemy, and crop circles, and outlined his findings in the book Wild Things They Don't Tell Us, published in October 2002. He was 71.
2014: Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, two members of Pussy Riot, the Punk act that was jailed by the Russian government in '12 on trumped up charges, appear on Comedy Central's Colbert Report.
2015: The Black Keys track 'Howlin' For You' is featured in a PETA video ad campaign promoting animal adoption. The group donated the song to the campaign.
2016: Down singer Phil Anselmo advises his band mates "move on" without him following an incident at the Dimebash tribute honoring the late Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. Anselmo shouted "white power" and made the Nazi salute on stage. As a result, the band was pulled from Netherlands FortaRock amid much controversy and criticism. "Never in my entire lifetime would I drag them down with me, and I've privately suggested to them that they move on without me," states Anselmo.
2016: A species of black tarantula discovered in California, near Folsom Prison, is named after the late Johnny Cash (Aphonopelma johnnycashi).
2016: Van Morrison described becoming a Sir as "amazing" and "exhilarating" after receiving a knighthood from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. He received his knighthood for services to the music industry and tourism in Northern Ireland.
2016: An updated version of The Mamas And Papas' 'California Dreamin' by a German DJ called Freischwimmer (real name: Sebastian Bernhardt) topped the Billboard Dance Chart. The original version made it to #4 nearly fifty years earlier in March of 1966.
2016: Signe Anderson, the original female vocalist for Jefferson Airplane passed away at the age of 74. Signe sang on the band's 1966 debut album, 'Jefferson Airplane Takes Off,' before leaving to care for her newborn baby, a decision she would later say that she never regretted.
2016: Elton John gave a surprise performance when he sat down at one of the pianos open to the public in London's St. Pancras subway station. He entertained the crowd with a few songs on a piano that he himself had donated to the station.
2017: Black Sabbath played the final show of their nearly fifty year career with a two hour send-off in their home town of Birmingham, England. Vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler played a fifteen song set, ending with their first hit, "Paranoid.' As ticker tape and balloons fell, Ozzy thanked the fans and waved goodbye.
February 5
1955: Elvis Presley records 'Baby Let's Play House.' The song has a 'hiccup vocal' that will be widely imitated, exaggerated and mocked.
1957: 5,000 fans greeted Bill Haley when he arrived from New York on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth at Southampton, for his debut UK concert tour. Haley was the first American rock artist to tour the UK.
1962: The Beatles played two shows, one at the Cavern Club at lunchtime and, in the evening, at the Kingsway Club in Southport. This was the first time Ringo Starr appeared live with the group after drummer Pete Best became ill.
1966: The Beach Boys' cover version of the The Regents' 1958 #13 hit, 'Barbara Ann' topped the Cashbox magazine chart and was listed at #2 by Billboard. The party atmosphere in the studio was staged and the lead vocal on the track is actually that of Dean Torrence of Jan And Dean.
1967: The News of the World reported that Mick Jagger had taken LSD at the home of a member of The Moody Blues. Jagger sued the paper for libel. News Of The World confuses Rolling Stones vocalist, Mick Jagger, with the group's guitarist, Brian Jones, in a story about Rock star drug use. Jones is overheard talking about drugs at a London club but they attribute the comments to Jagger. Mick threatens to sue. In the end, it's Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, whose house is raided by police.
1967: The Beatles filmed part of the promo clip for 'Penny Lane' around the Royal Theatre in Stratford, London and walking up and down Angel Lane in London. Together with the video for 'Strawberry Fields Forever', this was one of the first examples of what later became known as a music video.
1967: The Byrds 4th album, 'Younger Than Yesterday' is released. It reached #24 on the Billboard Top 200 LP's chart during its 24 week stay, and #37 on the UK Albums Chart. A preceding single, 'So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star,' was released in January 1967 and reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1968: Beatles go gold with 'Yellow Submarine' soundtrack.
1968: The Neil Young penned track 'I Am a Child' was recorded at Sunset Sound in LA. It is included on The Buffalo Springfield's 'Last Time Round' LP.
1969: Vanilla Fudge's 4th album, 'Near the Beginning' is released. It reached #16 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1969: Blood, Sweat & Tears 'You've Made Me So Very Happy' b/w 'Blues - Part II' 45 single is released. Written by Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Frank Wilson and Berry Gordy, and was released first as a single in 1967 by Holloway on the Tamla label. It became one of the group's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in April 1969 and #35 in the United Kingdom in May of that year.
1970: David Bowie recorded four songs at the BBC Paris Cinema, London, for the John Peel Sunday Concert radio show. This was guitarists Mick Ronson's first appearance with Bowie who went on to work with Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars.
1971: Neil Young releases "Heart Of Gold.'
1971: Black Sabbath started recording what would be their 3rd album, 'Master Of Reality' at Island Studios in London. It would become their 1st US Top 10 album, peaking at #8. Released in July of this year, it is sometimes noted as the first stoner rock album. Guitarist Tony Iommi, decided to down tune his guitar down three semi-tones, Geezer Butler also down tuned his bass guitar to match Iommi. The result was a noticeably 'darker' sound that almost two decades later would prove hugely influential on at least three of the biggest grunge acts, namely Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, and Nirvana.
1972: Paul Simon released his first new song without Art Garfunkel, 'Mother and Child Reunion', which peaked at #4 in the US. Simon got the idea for the song's title from a chicken-and-egg dish called Mother and Child Reunion that he saw on a Chinese restaurant's menu.
1972: Badfinger peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Day After Day' which was their third and final top 10 single in the U.S.
1972: Neil Young released 'Heart of Gold,' which went on to become his first and only #1 single in the U.S. Background vocals were provided by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.
1973: Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock,' recorded at Strawberry Studios in France, goes gold just two days after reaching #1 in the U.S.
1974: KISS kicked off their first North American tour in Edmonton Alberta, Canada.
1976: Saxophonist Rudy Pompilli died of lung cancer aged 52. Although not a smoker himself, it is believed he contracted the disease through second hand smoke. With Bill Haley and his Comets, he had the 1955 UK & US #1 single with 'Rock Around the Clock,' Pompilli released one solo album, 'Rudy's Rock: The Sax That Changed the World.'
1977: James Newell Osterberg, Jr. (aka Iggy Pop) signs to RCA Records.
1981: Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau inducted Joni Mitchell into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 12th Juno Awards at the O'Keefe Centre in Toronto.
1983: Def Leppard's album, 'Pyromania,' started a 92-week run on the U.S. charts. It never reached #1, but sold over 6 million copies in the U.S. alone. It enters the Billboard 200 Album Chart at #69 and eventually reaches #2, spending 116 weeks on the chart.
1983: Toto went to #1 on the US singles with 'Africa.'
1983: Journey's 'Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)' debuts on Billboard's Hot 100 at #36. It would eventually peak at #8.
1989: Metallica's concert at Reunion Arena in Dallas is broadcast on the Z-Rock radio network. The show is later released in Fan Can #4 (fan club bundle). Queensryche opened the show.
1991: Original KISS drummer Peter Criss confronts his imposter on the 'Phil Donahue Show.' The Star tabloid had published a story titled "Kiss Star Hits The Skids" that featured the imposter.
1992: When the local cable company drops MTV as a cost cutting measure, John Mellencamp plays a free protest concert in Johnson City, TN. MTV is returned to the cable line-up the following month.
1992: Touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the ANU Bar in Canberra, Australia.
1993: Former Faces bandmates Ron Wood and Rod Stewart, tape an MTV Unplugged segment.
1994: 'Found Out About You' reaches #25 on the pop chart. It's the Gin Blossoms' second charting single. 'Hey Jealousy' was the first.
1995: Pearl Jam play the first of two private Seattle shows for fan club members and underprivileged kids.
1998: Slaughter guitarist Tim Kelly dies from injuries suffered in a collision on State Route 96 in Arizona. Kelly was 34.
1998: Rob Halford of Judas Priest announced on MTV that he was gay.
1998: Elton John and Stevie Wonder perform at the White House for US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
1999: The Smashing Pumpkins album 'Gish' goes platinum. It was originally released in 1991.
2002: KISS take part in New York City fashion week & play at the Lane Bryant Fashion show.
2003: Courtney Love blamed her bad language for the alleged air rage incident that led to her arrest at London's Heathrow Airport. As she left Heathrow's police station the singer said, "I cussed at a lady. My daughter always said I had a potty mouth." When asked what it had been like inside the police station, the singer said, "It was fine. They were wonderful in there. It was like being on Prime Suspect."
2004: Cornelius Bumpus, sax player for the Doobie Brothers, and more recently Steely Dan, dies of a heart attack at age 58.
2005: Universal Studios Florida Mardi Gras kick-off celebration has Eddie Money, Mark Farner, Dee Snider, Robin Zander, Rick Derringer, Dickey Betts and Richie Sambora. Proceeds go to the Musicians 4 Disaster Relief organization and the Red Cross. DiscLive immediately issues CDs and digital downloads from the concert.
2005: Paul McCartney performed during the half-time show at Superbowl XXXIX (39) in Jacksonville Florida and pocketed a cool $3.3 million for his 12 minute performance. That translates into $278,000 per minute. Sir Paul played in front of an estimated TV audience of one billion and sang the Beatles songs 'Drive My Car,' 'Get Back' and 'Hey Jude,' plus his Bond theme song 'Live and Let Die.'
2006: Bon Jovi takes the stage during the halftime show of the 'Super-Soul Sunday' Arena Football League game between the Philadelphia Soul and the Los Angeles Avengers in Philly. Jon Bon Jovi is a co-owner and co-CEO of the Soul.
2006: The Rolling Stones played three songs during the half-time show of the Super Bowl in Detroit. They open with 'Start Me Up,' then play 'Rough Justice.' Censors cut Mick's mic during two of the songs to avoid airing potentially offensive lyrics. "Here's one we could have done at Super Bowl I," notes Mick Jagger before the group launches into '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.' After the event, the Stones expressed their displeasure over having Jagger's microphone turned down to censor a line in 'Start Me Up.'
2007: Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler performs at the Peace Alliance's educational gala Turning Peace Into Political Force at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The effort supports a congressional campaign to create a U.S. Department of Peace.
2007: The Beatles business entity Apple Corps and the Apple computer company reach an agreement with regard to their longstanding trademark battle over their shared name and similar logos. The settlement gives the technology firm rights to the Apple moniker and logo, with the understanding that it will allow Apple Corps to continue to use the trademark for select purposes.
2007: AFI launch the '07 North American portion of their tour in support of the chart-topping 'Decemberunderground' album with four shows in New Orleans.
2007: Nine Inch Nails begin shooting the video for 'Survivalism,' a track from their 'Year Zero' album, in the Los Angeles area.
2007: Producer Phil Spector won $900,000 after settling an embezzlement claim. Spector said former assistant Michelle Blaine removed $425,000 from his pension and did not repay a $635,000 loan. Ms Blaine claimed the loan was a gift, and the pension funds were for a film aimed at improving Spector's image. As part of the settlement, she dropped a counter-claim of sexual harassment.
2008: Lenny Kravitz issues his 8th album, 'It Is Time For A Love Revolution.' "We've all got our voice," says Kravitz discussing the album. "And if I have this gift to play music, then I'm gonna talk about love."
2008: Sheryl Crow's releases'"Detours.'
2008: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Indian guru who introduced The Beatles (and others) to transcendental meditation dies at his home in Holland. He was influential in The Beatles lives during the '67/'68 period. After The Beatles broke with the Maharishi, John Lennon wrote the song 'Sexy Sadie' to sum up the whole experience. The Maharishi reportedly was 91.
2010: Staind frontman Aaron Lewis is inducted into Mohegan Sun Casino's Walk of Fame. Lewis is honored for playing more than 30 shows at the Connecticut venue, both acoustically and with Staind.
2010: Fear Factory released the album 'Mechanize.' It was the only album to feature Gene Hoglan on drums.
2011: The Pretenders and Country superstar Faith Hill appear in a special Super Bowl edition of CMT's Crossroad Series. The program pairs Country stars with top artists from other genres. The Pretenders & Faith Hill Live From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam takes place at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX.
2012: A Budweiser Super Bowl ad features a mash-up of The Cult's 'She Sells Sanctuary' with Rapper Flo Rida's 'Good Feelin'. The ad recounts decades of good times since the end of Prohibition.
2013: The Misfits release 'Dea.D. Alive!,' their first 'proper' live album since the '80s.
2015: A blue heritage plaque on Platform 2 at Dartford Station marks the spot where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards properly met for the first time on 10/17/61. Jagger had a stack of Blues records and Richards was carrying his Hofner Cutaway guitar. The chance meeting of the former primary school classmates led to the formation of the Rolling Stones., knocking '
2015: INXS guitarist Tim Farriss said he may never play the guitar properly again after severing his finger in a boating accident. Farriss caught his left hand while operating a winch on his boat in Sydney, severing his ring finger. He had undergone surgery twice to try to reattach the finger but had been left with permanent hand damage.
2015: 70-year-old Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was convicted of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of having sex with a girl under the age of 13, at Southwark Crown Court in London, England. He was held in custody for sentencing later in the month.
2016: A new species of black tarantula that lives near Folsom Prison, California, was named after Johnny Cash. Aphonopelma johnnycashi was among 14 new tarantula species from the southern US which were described by biologists in the journal ZooKeys.
2016: The Cult release their 10th album 'Hidden City.'
2016: The BBC Four airs "The Most Dangerous Band In The World: The Story Of Guns N' Roses." The film is "a story of sex, drugs and Rock n' Roll in excess."
2016: Aerosmith's Steven Tyler sang a note so high that it shattered the glass on a camera during an appearance on the US TV show 'This Morning.'
2017: Imagine Dragons single 'Believer' is featured in Nintendo's first Super Bowl commercial. "This song explains my realization that the emotional pain I faced the last few years actually helped me progress to this healthier mental space - that adversity truly is what helps you become a believer in yourself," states frontman Dan Reynolds.
February 6
1939: Elvis Presley's father, Vernon is released from the Parchman Farm penitentiary after serving eight months of a three year sentence for altering a check from 4 dollars to 40 dollars.
1945: Bob Marley is born Nesta Robert Marley in Jamaica. His mother was a native of Jamaica and his father was an officer in the British military.
1955: Elvis Presley meets his future manager, the already legendary Col. Tom Parker. The encounter takes place between Memphis shows.
1958: George Harrison joined Liverpool group The Quarrymen. The group who were named after Lennon's school featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Len Garry, Eric Griffiths and John Lowe.
1959: Buddy Holly was buried in Lubbock, Texas. His tombstone reads "Holley", the correct spelling of his given surname and includes pictures of a guitar.
1962: Decca Records turns down The Beatles.
1963: The first Beatles single 'Please Please Me' was released in the US on the Vee Jay label. Capitol Records, EMI's United States label, were offered the right to release the single in the US, but turned it down. Dick Biondi, a disc jockey on WLS in Chicago and a friend of Vee-Jay executive Ewart Abner, played the song on the radio from February 1963, thus becoming the first DJ to play a Beatles record in the United States.
1964: Tickets for the first Beatles appearance on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show sell out.
1964: Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight 101 was greeted by over 5,000 Beatles fans as it arrived at New York's JFK airport, bringing The Beatles to the US for the first time and causing riotous scenes as they touched down.
1964: 'Die Beatles: please please me und andere Knuller (Please Please Me)' is released in Germany (only). Translation: "The central dance makers of the world famous Four from Liverpool." It is the German version of the 'Please Please Me' album released in the UK.
1965: The Rolling Stones second album 'Rolling Stones No.2' started a three-week run at #1 on the UK charts, knocking 'Beatles for Sale out of the top spot on the UK Record Retailer chart. The album followed its predecessor's tendency to largely feature R&B covers. However, it did contain three compositions from the still-developing Mick Jagger - Keith Richards songwriting team.
1965: The Righteous Brothers started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with the Phil Spector produced 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. According to the RIAA, the song has now been played on US radio stations over 8 million times, more than any other record in history.
1965: The Kinks peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'All Day and All of the Night' which was their second top 10 single in the U.S.
1966: The Who played at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, Merseyside, England.
1967: The Byrds issue their 4th studio album, 'Younger Than Yesterday.' The set contains a cover of Bob Dylan's 'My Back Pages.'
1967: Pink Floyd were photographed for the weekly British girls magazine Jackie. The magazine was the best-selling teen magazine in Britain for ten years.
1968: The Beatles record 'The Inner Light' and finish work on 'Lady Madonna.'
1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents. John was named as Rolling Stone's Man Of The Year.
1969: The Who recorded 'Pinball Wizard' at Morgan Studio's in London, England.
1969: Doors singer Jim Morrison was arrested for drunk driving and driving with no license in Los Angeles.
1969: The Grateful Dead and Iron Butterfly performed at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri.
1970: Eric Clapton played the first of two nights at The Fillmore East in New York City.
1970: John Lennon releases 'Instant Karma (We All Shine On)' in the U.K.
1970: Jack Bruce, Zephyr, and White Clover appeared at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1971: Neil Young records 'Heart Of Gold' at Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville, TN. It appears on his 'Harvest' album released in 1972.
1971: Led Zeppelin announced a small UK club tour which would see the group playing Universities and small venues with ticket prices at 12 shillings. Zeppelin manager Peter Grant said 'We decided to do the clubs and forget about the bread and the big concert halls."
1971: Mountain's 2nd album, 'Nantucket Sleighride' is released. It reached #16 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1972: Allman Brothers Band performed at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
1973: Traffic played at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
1976: George Harrison's 'This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)' / 'Maya Love' single is released in the UK. The 3rd track on Harrison's 1975 studio album 'Extra Texture (Read All About It).' Lyrically, the song is a sequel to Harrison's 1968 song 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps,' released o: The Beatles' White Album. In December 1975, the song was released as the 2nd single from that album in the United States, failing to chart in any singles chart. The single met the same fate in the United Kingdom when it was released the following February. The single became the final release by Apple Records until the label was revived in the mid-1990s for The Beatles BBC sessions album 'Live at the BBC' and The Beatles Anthology project.
1975: Led Zeppelin appeared at the Montreal Forum, Montreal. Outside the arena, a police riot squad stood by ready to avoid a repeat performance of a riot which marked the visit of the Rolling Stones in the summer of 1972. However, there were no incidents. Tickets cost $7.50 (Canadian)
1976: T Rex appeared at St. Albans City Hall during a 15 date UK tour.
1976: Paul Simon started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with '50 Ways To Leave Your Lover', the singers first solo US #1.
1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd played at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, England.
1979: Stephen Stills became the first rock performer to record on digital equipment in Los Angeles' Record Plant Studio.
1979: 'Tommy' opens as a musical in London's West End. The script is based on the screenplay to the film written by Pete Townshend and Ken Russell. Chris Welch in Melody Maker gives it a positive review although he finds much of the story pretentious. Variety pans the production. It closes after 118 performances.
1979: Heart performed at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
1980: Pink Floyd played the first of seven sold out nights at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
1980: Cheap Trick's 'Dream Police' album is certified Platinum by the RIAA. It was released in Sept. of 1979.
1981: According to the New York Post, the surviving Beatles will record a new album as a tribute to John Lennon. But it's another false alarm brought on by Ringo Starr working with Paul McCartney on the latter's 'Tug of War' sessions.
1981: Paul McCartney joins Ringo Starr and George Harrison in recording 'All Those Years Ago,' a tribute to Lennon.
1982: Joan Jett debuts on U.S. Hot 100 at #63 with 'I Love Rock & Roll.'
1982: The J. Geils Band started a 6 week run at #1 on the US singles chart with 'Centerfold', the bands only US #1. It was a #3 hit in the UK. The bands album 'Freeze- Frame' started a four-week run at #1 on the U.S. album chart on the same day.
1982: Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey was hospitalized after being attacked after a gig in Belfast.
1982: Billboard's Hot 100 includes debuts from Van Halen with '(Oh) Pretty Woman' at #84 & Joan Jett's 'I Love Rock N' Roll' at #63. Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin' was #62, Loverboy's 'Working For The Weekend' was #31, Genesis' 'Abacab' was #30 and the J. Geils Band was #1 with 'Centerfold.'
1982: J. Geils Band hits #1 on the charts with 'Centerfold.'
1982: Van Halen's remake of Roy Orbison's 'Oh, Pretty Woman' peaks at #12 becoming the group's biggest hit to date. In 1964, Orbison topped the charts with the song.
1984: 38 Special release their 6th studio album, 'Tour de Force.'
1984: KISS release their 31st single 'All Hell's Breakin' Loose.' It fails to chart in the U.S. The song is one of three songs in the history of the band in which all four (current at the time) members share songwriting credit.
1984: Judas Priest released the single 'Some Heads Are Gonna Roll.' The song was composed by Bob Halligan Jr. and produced by Tom Allom.
1985: Heavy Pettin released the album 'Rock Ain't Dead.' The band is from Glasgow, Scotland and formed in 1981.
1985: Metallica with W.A.S.P. and Special Guests Armored Saint perform at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN. Tickets are $7.50 at the door.
1986: Ozzy Osbourne released the single 'Shot In The Dark.' A top-ten hit on Mainstream rock radio, the song also became his most successful single on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, peaking at #68.
1987: Featuring a title song written by Bruce Springsteen, the movie 'Light of Day' hits theaters. The film stars Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox as leaders of a struggling band called The Barbusters. A pre-Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor had a brief appearance.
1987: Sonny Bono announces he is running for mayor of Palm Springs, California. He would win the election and eventually win a seat in Congress.
1988: Bruce Springsteen peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Tunnel of Love. which was Springsteen's 11th top 10 single in the U.S.
1989: Georgia state representative Billy Randall introduced a bill to make Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti', the state's official rock song.
1990: Billy Idol suffers a broken leg and wrist after running a stop sign and crashing his Harley-Davidson motorcycle into a car. As his accident left him unable to walk for a time, Idol's role as Morrison's drinking buddy, Cat, in the Oliver Stone movie 'The Doors' was greatly reduced. Every time he appears in the film, he is either on crutches, sitting, or lying down.
1990: Over 200 women filed court actions against Chuck Berry, alleging that he had been secretly filming them in the toilets of the restaurant he owned. Berry claimed that he had the camera installed to catch an employee who was suspected of stealing. Although the charges were never proven in court, Berry agreed to settlement with 59 women that cost him over $1.2 million plus legal fees.
1993: During a concert in Dublin, Van Morrison is joined by Bono and Bob Dylan (for a rendition of Dylan's 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue'). Also appearing onstage are Elvis Costello, Steve Winwood and Chrisse Hynde.
1994: Blind Melon's lead singer Shannon Hoon was forced to leave the American Music Awards ceremony for his loud and disruptive behaviour. Hoon was later charged with battery, assault, resisting arrest, and destroying a police station phone.
1994: Nirvana embarks on their final tour of Europe.
1995: Megadeth released the single 'A Tout Le Monde.' The song was later remade and reissued as 'À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free),' featuring Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil, on Megadeth's 2007 studio album United 'Abominations.'
1998: Beach Boy Carl Wilson dies from cancer in Los Angeles at 51. Wilson was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in early 1997. He sang lead vocal on 'God Only Knows,' 'Good Vibrations,' and 'I Can Hear Music.' Wilson sang backing vocals on Elton John's 'Don"t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,' Chicago's 'Baby, What a Big Surprise' and 'Wishing You Were Here,' David Lee Roth's cover of 'California Girls,' and Warren Zevon's 'Desperados Under the Eaves.' In 1988, Carl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Beach Boys.The headstone over his grave in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles includes the inscription: "The World Is A Far Lesser Place Without You."
1998: The movie 'Blues Brothers 2000' opens, featuring Wilson Pickett, Jonny Lang and Eddie Floyd.
2000: Bachman-Turner Overdrive made a guest appearance on 'The Simpsons' as themselves performing at a state fair.
2001: Jeff Beck released his 8th studio album, 'You Had It Coming.'
2001: Eagles' guitarist Don Felder receives a phone call from manager Irving Azoff who tells him that the rest of the band has "decided to go on without you." He would later launch a $50 million law suit against drummer Don Henley and guitarist Glen Frey, alleging wrongful termination and breach of implied-in-fact contract. Henley and Frey then countersued Felder for breach of contract, alleging that Felder had written and attempted to sell the rights to a "tell-all" book. Both parties settled out-of-court for an undisclosed amount. In early 2008 Felder finally issues his autobiography, 'Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001).'
2001: U2 played a secret show at London's Astoria. Stars attending the show included actor John Hurt, Queen's Roger Taylor, Mick Jagger, Bob Geldof and more.
2002: Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini and drummer Bobby Blotzer win the battle over ownership of the name "RATT" in a victory in the Lost Angeles Superior Court.
2003: Incubus files suit to get out of their contract with Epic Records with four albums to go. They object to deductions for video production and packaging.
2003: Courtney Love arrived at a benefit concert at London's Old Vic Theatre attended by Prince Andrew. dressed as Donald Duck. Courtney joined Elton John on stage for a version of 'The Bitch Is Back'.
2003: Bill Clinton makes an environmental speech at a Natural Resources Defense Council fundraiser. The Rolling Stones close the show with a set that includes 'Paint It Black.'
2003: Doors drummer John Densmore files a lawsuit against former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. Densmore claims Manzarek and Krieger's revival of the band degrades the group's legacy. Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland and Cult vocalist Ian Astbury are also in the 'new' Doors. The group eventually calls themselves "The Doors of the 21st Century."
2004: Ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic appears at a free concert in Longview, WA-a day before the state's Democratic presidential caucus (which Senator John Kerry won)-to encourage young people to register to vote. The Pre-Caucus Rockus gig is sponsored by the Music for America organization.
2005: Paul McCartney performs 'Drive My Car,' 'Get Back,' 'Live And Let Die' and 'Hey Jude' during the Super Bowl XXXIX half-time show at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, FL.
2006: Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Bruce Springsteen and Sting perform at a James Taylor tribute in Los Angeles. The 'Fire And Rain' singer is MusiCares' Person of the Year.
2008: Four Pearl Jam members (guitarist/vocalist Stone Gossard, guitarist Mike McCready, bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Matt Cameron, but no Eddie Vedder) release 'Rock Around Barack' in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The track is set to the tune of the '50's hit 'Rock Around The Clock.'
2008: Singer Scott Weiland "voluntarily enters a rehab clinic" after Velvet Revolver's concert in Los Angeles. As a consequence, the group's scheduled performance in San Diego the next night is postponed. That would have been the last show of VR's U.S. tour.
2008: Former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty performs at the 10th annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project - Sounds of Change. The L.A. event celebrates 50 years of music's ability to influence social transformations.
2009: Foo Fighters and Kid Rock perform at a gala honoring Neil Diamond as the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year. The L.A. event is a fundraiser for the MusiCares charity, which provides medical and financial assistance to musicians.
2009: Axl Rose gives Billboard magazine his first major interview in nine years. The Guns N' Roses singer says he may perform with ex-GN'R members at some point but vows never to play again with Slash.
2009: Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler is ordered to enter a new rehabilitation program, following his January 2009, arrest for failing to complete a community-service requirement stemming from an 2008 drug charge.
2009: Hunting advocate Ted Nugent is inducted into the National Bowhunters Hall of Fame.
2010: Them Crooked Vultures make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live. After overcoming some technical problems, they play 'New Fang' and 'Mind Eraser, No Chaser.' Drummer David Grohl even appears in a comedy sketch.
2011: Ozzy Osbourne and teen heart throb Justin Bieber appear in a Best Buy ad that's broadcast during the Super Bowl (3rd quarter). The ad, targeted toward young viewers, has the pair dressed in futuristic black jumpsuits. Ozzy asks, "What's a Bieber?"
2011: Gary Moore is found dead at a hotel in Estepona. The 58-year-old died of a heart attack in his sleep while in Spain on vacation. At the time of his death, Moore's blood alcohol content was .38% – anything above .40% is considered to be lethal. Moore had been a member of Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, and Colosseum II, before going solo. Moore's greatest influence in the early days was guitarist Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, who was a mentor to Moore when performing in Dublin. His 1990 album 'Still Got the Blues' featured contributions from Albert King, Albert Collins, and George Harrison. More popular in Europe than in the U.S., Moore was an influence on a great number of guitarists, including Slash, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, John Sykes, Kirk Hammett, Brian May and Adrian Smith.
2013: It was announced that Warner Music was set to buy the record label Parlophone which was formerly a part of EMI Music from Universal Music for $765 million. The Parlophone label group also included the Chrysalis and Ensign labels, but The Beatles part of Parlophone, was exempted from the sale.
2013: HBO Films released a trailer promoting the upcoming TV biopic on imprisoned record producer Phil Spector. The film, starring Al Pacino, focuses primarily on the relationship between Spector and Linda Kenney Baden, his defense attorney during his two murder trials for the 2003 death of Lana Clarkson in his California mansion. It would be nominated for 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
2014: Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett hosts his first horror convention, 'Kirk von Hammett's Fear FestEvil,' in San Francisco. The three-day event includes 'Kirk's Crypt' private tours and special guest appearances by make-up artists and horror actors.
2014: The Flaming Lips and Sean Lennon cover The Beatles, 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,' as part of The Late Show With David Letterman's Beatles Week, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the group's arrival in the U.S.
2015: Bob Dylan is MusiCares Person of the Year. The honor is bestowed on him by the charity arm of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).
2015: Slash is the voice of Jerry Vandergeld in 'The SpongeBobMovie: Sponge Out Of Water.' The animated flick is in theaters.
2015: Jamaicans celebrated the 70th anniversary of the birth of Bob Marley with a free concert on the Kingston waterfront and a jam session at Marley's former home. The reggae legend died of cancer on May 11, 1981, in a Florida hospital at the age of 36.
2016: Metallica play the Super Bowl 50 pre-show 'The Night Before' in San Francisco.
2016: Dan Hicks, leader of Dan Hicks And The Hot Licks, passed away at the age of 74 after a year long battle with liver cancer. Mostly an album artist, Hicks is most often remembered for songs like 'I Scare Myself,' 'Canned Music' and 'How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away.'
2018: AFI frontman Davey Havok publishes his second book, 'Love Fast Los Angeles.' His first novel, 'Pop Kids,' came out in 2013.
2018: Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launches the Falcon Heavy rocket into space releasing a "midnight cherry Tesla Roadster" into the cosmos playing David Bowie's, 'Space Oddity.' Inside the car is a dummy known as 'Starman,' a reference to the Bowie song of the same name.
2019: Aldi, the German-based discount retailer, offers line of limited-edition cheeses with names that are parodies of popular song titles from the 1980s. "Sweet Cheddar Of Mine" (Guns N' Roses) and "Pour Some Gouda On Me" (Def Leppard) are among the six Happy Farms cheeses available for a limited time.
February 7
1957: Iraq bans the film 'Rock Around The Clock' (featuring Bill Haley & His Comets and Little Richard) and 'Bus Stop,' because they "dangerous to teenagers and youths."
1959: Buddy Holly was buried in Lubbock, Texas. His tombstone reads "Holley", the correct spelling of his given surname and includes pictures of a guitar. Buddy's pallbearers were Joe Mauldin, Jerry Allison, Niki Sullivan, Bob Montgomery, Sonny Curtis and Phil Everly.
1959: Ritchie Valens is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
1959: New Orleans blues guitarist Guitar Slim died of pneumonia at age 32. Born Eddie Jones he is best known for the million-selling song 'The Things That I Used to Do'. Slim had a major impact on rock and roll and experimented with distorted overtones on the electric guitar a full decade before Jimi Hendrix. He became known for his wild stage act and had an assistant who followed him around the audience with up to 350 feet of cord between his guitar and his amplifier, and occasionally rode on his assistant's shoulders or even took his guitar outside the club, bringing traffic to a stop.
1960: Co-written by Motown founder Barry Gordy and recorded by Barrett Strong, 'Money' peaks at #23 on the pop chart and #2 on the R&B list. The song is revived by everyone from The Beatles to Souxie and the Banshees.
1963: The first Beatles single 'Please Please Me' was released in the US on the Vee Jay label. Capitol Records, EMI's United States label, were offered the right to release the single in the US, but turned it down. Dick Biondi, a disc jockey on WLS in Chicago and a friend of Vee-Jay executive Ewart Abner, played the song on the radio from February 1963, thus becoming the first DJ to play a Beatles record in the United States.
1964: The Beatles' 'All My Loving' EP is released in the UK. It was the Beatles 4th British EP, features four tracks from their albums 'Please Please Me' and 'With The Beatles' and was released only in mono. It was also released in Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.
1964: The Beatles are greeted by over 5,000 fans, mostly young girls, who are crowded onto the upper balcony of New York's JFK airport, waving placards and banners to welcome the group. Paul McCartney remembers it like this, "There were millions of kids at the airport, which nobody had expected. We heard about it in mid-air. There were journalists on the plane, and the pilot had rang ahead and said, 'Tell the boys there's a big crowd waiting for them.' We thought, 'Wow! God, we have really made it.'"
1964: Jan and Dean's 'Dead Man's Curve' b/w 'The New Girl In School' 45 single is released. It reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
1965: George Harrison is admitted to London's University College Hospital with an infected back molar which has also infected his tonsils, necessitating their removal. The tonsils are destroyed so that they can't be sold to fans.
1966: The Beatles released their single 'Nowhere Man.'
1966: First edition of the first rock magazine Crawdaddy is published in U.S. by Paul Williams in New York.
1966: The Beach Boys' album 'Summer Days' is certified gold.
1967: The Monkees announce during an appearance on the British TV show Top of the Pops that they will play on their own records from now on instead of using session players.
1969: John and Yoko were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents, (2/6). John was named as Rolling Stone's 'Man Of The Year'.
1969: The Who recorded 'Pinball Wizard' at Morgan Studios in London.
1969: Doors singer Jim Morrison was arrested for drunk driving and driving with no license in Los Angeles.
1969: Vanilla Fudge, Led Zeppelin, and Jethro Tull play the first of two nights at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago. Admission was $5.
1969: The Who play the Top Rank Suite at the University in Bath, England.
1969: George Harrison enters London's University College Hospital to have an operation on his infected back molar and tonsils.
1969: The ABC-TV program, 'This Is Tom Jones' began its two year, 65 episode run in the US. The show, featuring Jones duetting with different guests each week, would be nominated for a Golden Globe Award later in the year.
1970: Joe Cocker's rendition of The Beatles' 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' peaks well outside the Top 20 yet it still becomes one of Cocker's best known songs.
1970: Johnny Cash's album 'Hello, I'm Johnny Cash' is certified gold.
1970: In London, Yes performed at Royal Festival Hall, while Pink Floyd appeared at Royal Albert Hall.
1970: Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull married record company secretary Jennie Franks.
1970: Led Zeppelin scored their first UK #1 album with 'Led Zeppelin II'. Featuring the US single 'Whole Lotta Love', it went on to stay on the chart for 138 weeks selling over 12 million copies in the US.
1970: The Allman Brothers Band played at Pappaliski's in Dayton, Ohio.
1971: Tom Fogerty leaves Creedence Clearwater Revival to spend more time with his family. CCR continues for another year and a half as a trio.
1971: Edgar Winter and Grin appear at the Terrace Ballroom in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1972: Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' b/w 'Razor Face' 45 single is released. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on May 19, 2005, and Platinum on August 19, 2011 by the RIAA. It was ranked #397 on the 2011 List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was written by Taupin to capture the spirit of California in 1970 encapsulated by the many beautiful women he met. A common misconception concerning this song is that it was written for Maxine Feibelman, Bernie Taupin's first wife. Rather, the song was simply dedicated to her on the album 'Madman Across the Water.'
1973: The Stooges 3rd studio album, 'Raw Power' is released. Though not initially commercially successful (#183 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart), it has gained a cult following in the years following its release and, like its predecessor (1970's 'Fun House'), is generally considered an influential forerunner of punk rock. Raw Power was chosen as the 125th greatest album of all time by the editors of Rolling Stone magazine in Dec. 2003.
1973: Hawkwind played at Wandsworth Prison in London.
1975: Led Zeppelin performed at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tickets were $7.50 and $8.50.
1976: Paul Simon's 'Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover' hits #1 for the first of a three week run. It's his first solo #1 in the U.S.
1976: Bob Dylan reached #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the second time with 'Desire,' which spent five weeks on top.
1977: Television's debut album 'Marquee Moon' is released. It is ranked at 128th in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." The song 'Marquee Moon' was placed #372 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
1977: Paul McCartney & Wings 'Maybe I'm Amazed' (LIVE) b/w 'Soily' 45 single is released. The studio version from the album has never been released as a single. A live recording from the 1976 album 'Wings over America' was released as a single on February 4 in the UK and February 7 in the US, and reached #10 in the US on the Billboard pop charts, and reached #28 in the UK.
1977: Genesis performed at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis.
1979: Stephen Stills completes the first digitally recorded rock LP, which is never released. These recordings were later scrapped & remain unreleased to this day.
1980: Pink Floyd premiere their concert 'The Wall' in Los Angeles. The ambitious production actually featured a 30-foot high wall made of styrofoam blocks constructed across the 160-foot stage built between band and audience during the first half of the concert. The first performance at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was held up after fireworks set fire to the stage curtains. Pink Floyd then played the first of seven sold out nights at the venue. The Wall was also performed in its entirety in Uniondale, NY, London & Dortmund, Germany.
1980: AC/DC appear on 'Top of the Pops,' where they perform 'A Touch Too Much.' It would be lead singer Bon Scott's last appearance with the band. He passes away 12 days later.
1980: Twelve days before his death, Bon Scott goes to the UFO concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.
1981: ABC begins airing the first installment of the mini-series 'Elvis and Me,' based on ex-wife Priscilla Presley's book of the same name.
1981: John Lennon was at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Woman,' an ode to his wife Yoko Ono. It was Lennon's 3rd #1 in seven weeks after his death on December 8, 1980.
1981: Steve Winwood's 'While You See A Chance' b/w 'Vacant Chair' 45 single is released in the UK. Steve Winwood wrote the song with Will Jennings. It was released on his album 'Arc of a Diver' and peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1981, and reached #45 in the UK.
1981: Billboard's Hot 100 debuts April Wine's 'Just Between You And Me' at #85, The Police's 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' at #78. AC⚡DC's 'Back In Black' at #40, and Donnie Iris' 'Ah! Leah!' at #38.
1983: Led Zeppelin go platinum with 'Coda' LP.
1984: The Alan Parsons Project's 'Ammonia Avenue' album is released. It reached #15 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1984: Scorpions released the single 'Rock You Like a Hurricane.' The song peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
1984: Neil Young and Crazy Horse played at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California.
1984: Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue & Waysted played Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio.
1986: The Rolling Stones shot the video for 'Harlem Shuffle' in New York City.
1987: David Lee Roth played the Duluth Arena in Duluth, Minnesota.
1989: Metal Church's 3rd studio album 'Blessing in Disguise' was released. This was the first album not to feature the vocals of David Wayne. This release featured new vocalist Mike Howe and guitarist John Marshall.
1989: Doro released her debut album 'Force Majeure.' She did a cover of the Procol Harum song "A Whiter Shade of Pale" on this album.
1989: Roy Orbison's last album 'Mystery Girl' is released. It reached #5 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart, and #2 on the UK Albums Chart. All the tracks were recorded in late 1988, and it was finalized for release in the weeks following Orbison's death through the collaborative efforts of several artists who were all friends and admirers. The album was named after the chorus from the track 'She's a Mystery to Me,' written for Orbison by U2's Bono and The Edge.
1989: The Georgia State Representative Billy Randall introduces a bill to make Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti' the official state rock song. It doesn't pass.
1990: Primus released their debut album, 'Frizzle Fry.'
1992: Yngwie Malmsteen's 6th studio album, 'Fire & Ice' was released. The album reached #121 on the Billboard 200 chart.
1993: Neil Young taped his appearance on MTV Unplugged at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Young was reportedly unhappy with the performances of almost everyone in his band. The performance that later aired & was released on CD the following June was their second attempt at recording a set suitable for airing and release.
1994: Blind Melon's singer Shannon Hoon is thrown out of the American Music Awards for loud and disruptive behavior. He is later charged with assault, battery, resisting arrest and destroying a police station phone.
1994: Aerosmith win the American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist, beating Metallica & Pearl Jam.
1999: Blondie went to #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Maria,' giving the group their 6th UK #1 single, 20 years after their first. At the age of 54, lead singer Debbie Harry became the oldest female to hit #1.
2000: Foghat guitarist and singer Dave Peverett succumbed to kidney cancer at 57. Peverett recorded five albums with Savoy Brown before leaving the band to form Foghat, where he was lead singer and rhythm guitarist. He wrote the majority of their hits as well, including 'Slow Ride,' 'Fool For The City' and 'Stone Blue.'
2001: A court ruled that the Bruce Springsteen Club could keep the domain name BruceSpringsteen.com, much to the Boss' chagrin. He wanted the name for his own Web site.
2001: U2 played a secret show at London's Astoria. Stars attending the show included actor John Hurt, Queen's Roger Taylor, Mick Jagger, Bob Geldof, Chris Evans and members of Toploader.
2004: Queen's single 'We Will Rock You' topped a poll of music fans to find the greatest rock anthem of all time. The 1977 song beat the band's classic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' into second place in a survey of 1,000 people carried out for the UCI cinema chain. The poll was carried out to mark the release of new Jack Black comedy 'School of Rock.'
2005: Van Halen's home video, 'Live Without A Net' was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.
2006: A complete edition of the 'Dead Man Walking' soundtrack is issued containing Eddie Vedder's previously unreleased '04 studio rendition of 'Dead Man,' a song written by Pearl Jam's frontman for the '96 movie soundtrack but not featured on the album. The double-disc 'Dead Man Walking: Legacy Edition' also has a DVD with footage of Vedder and Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament at a '98 L.A. concert where many tunes from the soundtrack were performed.
2006: Fuel announce that singer Brett Scallions has left the group. Though throat problems are initially said to be the cause, Scallions actually departs for personal reasons.
2006: An expanded version of Santana's third studio effort, 'III' is out. One disc has the entire original album, as well as three previously unissued tracks and the single edit of the hit "No One To Depend On." The second disc contains 11 performances from a July '71 concert at San Francisco's Fillmore West.
2006: Bon Jovi release the six-track 'Live From The Have A Nice Day Tour' CD exclusively through Walmart. It was recorded in Boston.
2006: Whitesnake release their greatest hits compilation, 'The Definitive Collection.'
2006: Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Journey's Neal Schon, Toto's Steve Lukather and Edgar Winter perform with electric-guitar pioneer Les Paul at a charity concert in Universal City, CA. Proceeds from the 'Les Paul & Friends: 90th Birthday Salute,' benefit A Place Called Home, an organization that provides support for at-risk youth.
2006: Cream and David Bowie receive the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. They are also recognized the following night at the 48th annual Grammy Awards.
2007: Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale jams with The Who's Pete Townshend during an episode of the online show, 'In The Attic.'
2007: 'All My Life,' a Billy Joel song originally written as an anniversary gift to wife Katie Lee Joel, is available on People magazine's website. The release coincides with the kick-off of Joel's North American tour in Jacksonville, FL.
2007: A Vietnamese court reduced Gary Glitter's child molestation sentence, cutting his three-year term by three months as part of a nationwide Lunar New Year prison amnesty. The 62 year-old Glitter was convicted in March '06 of molesting two Vietnamese girls, aged 10 and 11.
2008: The world premiere of the Martin Scorsese-directed Rolling Stones documentary/concert film 'Shine A Light' is at the Berlin International Film Festival. Both Scorsese and the Stones attend.
2008: The Police win the Major Tour of the Year honor at the 19th annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards in L.A.
2008: Former Trapeze/Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley reveals that he has esophagus cancer. "It happens, but I've had a fantastic life," says Galley. "I have been very lucky. And I have enjoyed some tremendous experiences." He contributed to Whitesnake's 'Saints & Sinners' ('82) and 'Slide It In' ('84). He passed away July 1, 2008.
2009: Kansas celebrate their 35th anniversary by performing with the Washburn University Orchestra in Topeka, KS. Two former Kansas guitarists, founding member Kerry Livgren and Deep Purple's Steve Morse also take the stage.
2009: Motley Crue perform the final show at famed Las Vegas venue, The Joint. "The Joint has played host to some of the world's greatest Rock bands over the years," says Crue drummer Tommy Lee, prior to the show. "We hope to bring the house down in true Crue style."
2010: A cover of The Who's 1965 classic 'My Generation' by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am makes its debut in the pre-game telecast of Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. The Who (Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend), perform snippets of four songs including 'Won't Get Fooled Again,' at half-time.
2010: The Air Force Reserve uses a version of the White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl" for their Grab Some Air recruitment campaign that premieres during the game. "We believe our song was re-recorded and used without permission of the White Stripes, our publishers, label or management," the band writes in a statement. "We plan to take strong action to stop the ad containing this music." Two days later, the Air Force pulls the spot from their site as the musician responsible for scoring the commercial takes full responsibility for the sound-alike track.
2011: The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History announces that it has acquired the "Frank 2" guitar that Eddie Van Halen used during Van Halen's 2007-08 North American tour with the group's original lead singer David Lee Roth. The red, white and black guitar is a replica of the original "Frankenstein" guitar that Van Halen used for more than 30 years. Museum director Brent Glass says the guitar reflebass player, songwriter, Joe B. Mauldin died aged 74. He was best known as the bassist for the early rock and roll group The Crickets and later became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the Los Angeles studio which became the "hit factory" for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and other major 1960s rock performers.cts Van Halen's innovation, talent and influence.
2012: Van Halen's 12th studio album 'A Different Kind of Truth' was released. It's the band's first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since 1984.
2013: Jack White (White Stripes/Raconteurs) and Damon Albarn (Blur) are up for Producer of the Year awards at the Music Producers Guild Awards in London. And the winner is: Paul Epworth for his work on Florence + The Machine's "Ceremonials." The Beatles producer, Sir George Martin, also receives an outstanding contribution award.
2014: 'After The Dark,' a film co-scored by KoRn frontman Jonathan Davis, is in theaters. The film revolves around 21 college students who have to choose which 10 of them will be sheltered from theoretical nuclear devastation in order to restart the human race.
2014: John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City commemorates the 50th anniversary of the The Beatles arrival in the United States with a memorial plaque.
2015: The late George Harrison receives a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award during an invitation-only ceremony the day before the Grammy Awards.
2015: Bass player and songwriter Joe B. Mauldin died at age 74. He was best known as the bassist for the early rock and roll group The Crickets and later became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the Los Angeles studio which became the "hit factory" for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and other major 1960s rock performers.
2016: Aerosmith's Steven Tyler appears in a commercial for Skittles candy during the Super Bowl broadcast. Also, SB commercials seem driven. Van Halen's '78 classic, 'Runnin' With The Devil' is heard in a commercial for the 2017 Acura NSX sports car. An isolated vocal track of singer David Lee Roth is set against images of the car. And Audi uses David Bowie's '72 classic, 'Starman,' as the soundtrack for their commercial. Coldplay perform during halftime.
2017: It's the 5th annual International Clash Day. "The message of The Clash… is both powerful and uplifting especially now in this time of struggle," says event founder John Richards.
February 8
1956: Buddy Holley signs a recording contract with Decca Records, one which mistakenly drops the "e" from his last name. Buddy, knowing a good thing when he sees it, drops the letter from his name as well.
1956: After placing nine previous records on the Billboard Pop chart, Bill Haley And His Comets enjoy their biggest hit when 'See You Later Alligator' peaks at #6.
1957: Jerry Lee Lewis releases 'Great Balls Of Fire.'
1958: The Quarrymen perform at the Wilson Hall in the Garston section of Liverpool, England. Afterwards, member Paul McCartney introduces his friend George Harrison to John Lennon.
1958: The Diamonds had the best selling record in the United States with their version of 'The Stroll,' The song also reached #4 on the Billboard Pop chart and #5 on the R&B chart.
1959: Johnny Cash performs his #1 Billboard Country chart hit, 'Don't Take Your Guns To Town' on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1960: Bobby Rydell's 'Wild One' makes its debut on the Billboard chart, where it will reach #2. It also made the Top 10 in the UK.
1960: The "payola" hearings begin, as the US government cracks down on the practice of paying for airplay on radio stations.
1962: The Beach Boys record 'Surfin' Safari,' and other tracks.
1963: On tour with Helen Shapiro in Carlisle, England, The Beatles were refused entry into a local ballroom because they were wearing leather jackets.
1964: On their first full day in New York, The Beatles (minus George who had a sore throat), went for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Over 400 girl fans followed The Beatles and extra police were called in to control them. Later in the day The Ronettes interviewed The Beatles for radio.
1964: The Beatles' 'I Saw Her Standing There' enters the pop charts.
1964: The Beatles begin rehearsals for their performance on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show. On their first full day in New York, The Beatles (minus George who had a sore throat), went for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Over 400 girl fans followed The Beatles and extra police were called in to control them. Later in the day The Ronettes interviewed The Beatles for radio.
1964: Responding to reports of the supposedly obscene lyrics in the Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie,' the song's publisher Max Firetag offers $1,000 to anyone who can prove it.
1965: The Dave Clark Five begin filming their movie 'Catch Us if You Can.' Although they perform the soundtrack music, the members of the group (unlike The Beatles) do not play themselves, but appear as a team of freelance movie stuntmen and extras, led of course, by Dave Clark.
1968: The Band Of Joy, featuring John Bonham and Robert Plant, made their first London appearance, supporting Edwin Starr at the The Marquee Club in London, England.
1969: George Harrison's tonsils were removed at London's University College Hospital. The tonsils were destroyed so they could not be sold.
1969: Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Steve Winwood announce plans for Blind Faith. They add Family's Rich Grech on bass.
1971: A London performance of '200 Motels' by Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention is cancelled because Royal Albert Hall officials deem the material obscene. In 1975, Zappa lost a lawsuit against the Hall for breach of contract.
1971: Bob Dylan's documentary 'Eat the Document,' chronicling his 1966 tour of the UK, premieres at New York's Academy of Music. The film would only receive two other commercial showings. The ABC television network will buy the rights to the film, although they refuse to air it after deciding it doesn't contain enough concert footage.
1971: Chicago's 'Free' b/w 'Free Country' 45 single is released. Written by Robert Lamm and recorded for their 3rd album 'Chicago III,' with Terry Kath singing lead vocals. It was the first single released from this album, and peaked at #20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
1972: Alice Cooper's 'Be My Lover' b/w 'Yeah, Yeah, Yeah' 45 single is released in the U.S. Written by Michael Bruce – from the album 'Killer.' It reached #49 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1972: The Beatles' official fan club disbands.
1973: Max Yasgur died of a heart attack aged 53. He was the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.
1973: Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain' is certified gold.
1973: Poco's 'Go And Say Goodbye' b/w 'I Can See Everything' 45 single is released in the US. Written by Stephen Stills, originally performed and released as a single by Buffalo Springfield.
1974: KISS' self-titled debut is out. The gold album is also the first record released by Casablanca Records.
1974: Ringo Starr's 'You're Sixteen' b/w 'Devil Woman' 45 single is released in the UK. Written by the Sherman Brothers (Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman), it was first performed by American rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette, whose version peaked at #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in December 1960 and #3 in the U.K. in 1961. The version by British musician Ringo Starr, taken from the album 'Ringo,' hit #1. The latter performance reunited Ringo Starr with his former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney. McCartney is credited on the liner notes of the album Ringo as having played the solo on a kazoo. But reviewer Michael Verity has quoted the song's producer, Richard Perry, as revealing it wasn't actually a kazoo. "In fact, the solo on 'You're Sixteen,' which sounds like a kazoo or something, was Paul singing very spontaneously as we played that track back, so he's singing the solo on that." In any case, Starr's version remains one of the few #1 singles to feature a 'kazoo-sound' solo. Harry Nilsson sang backing vocals on Starr's version.
1975: Queen release their first hit single, 'Killer Queen.' It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and comes from their 3rd studio album, 'Sheer Heart Attack.'
1975: Queen's 'Killer Queen' debuts at #98 on Billboard's Hot 100, with Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird' at #51, Bad Company's 'Movin' On' at #39, and Elton John's 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' at #32.
1975: Bob Dylan went to #1 on the US chart with his 15th studio album 'Blood On The Tracks,' his second US #1 album.
1977: Television's debut album 'Marquee Moon' is released. It is ranked at #128 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The song 'Marquee Moon' was placed #372 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
1978: Queen's 'We Will Rock You'/'We Are The Champions' peaks at #4 in the U.S.
1980: In London, David Bowie and his wife, Angie, were divorced after nearly ten years of marriage. David won custody of their nine-year-old son, Zowie. Zowie would later revert to going by his middle name, Duncan. At the time of David's death in January, 2016, Angie admitted that she hadn't spoken to her son in over twenty-eight years, saying "He decided he didn't want to see me and that was that, no problem."
1980: Iron Maiden released their debut single 'Running Free.' The single's cover art is famously known as the first official appearance of Eddie, although his face is obscured as the band did not want him unveiled until the album's release.
1981: R.E.M. have their first recording session at Bombay Studios in Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included 'Gardening At Night,' 'Radio Free Europe' and '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.' The band's debut single 'Radio Free Europe' which was released the following July on local Hib-Tone Records, which pressed 1,000 copies.
1983: Winners at the second annual Brit Awards held in London included Paul McCartney who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Kim Wilde won Best British Female Solo Artist, Dire Straits won British Group, British Breakthrough Act went to Yazoo, International Act was Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Best Selling Single Dexy's Midnight Runners 'Come On Eileen' and the Life Achievement Award went to Pete Townshend.
1988: The Who receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music honor at the BPI Awards at Royal Albert Hall in London. They reunite at the awards leading to a full-fledged 25th anniversary tour the next year. Their three song medley of 'My Generation /Substitute /Who Are You' runs past their time slot, forcing Rick Astley to accept his award for Best British Single, off the air.
1989: Lȧȧz Rockit released the album 'Annihilation Principle.'
1990: Del Shannon commits suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Santa Clarita, CA. The 55 year old singer, an early '60s star, had been taking the anti-depressant drug Prozac. He had just appeared at the annual Buddy Holly memorial concert in Fargo, North Dakota and had recently completed recording a new album with the help of Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne called 'Rock On!' Shannon was rumored to be replacing Roy Orbison, who had recently died, in the Traveling Wilburys. Shannon was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
1990: The record industry certifies Green Day's 'Dookie' CD as selling ten million copies.
1993: Poison release thier 4th studio album, 'Native Tongue.'
1993: Metallica released their 12th single 'Sad But True' from their eponymous 5th album, Metallica or the "Black" album. The song peaked at #98 on the #Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1994: Oasis were forced to cancel their first foreign tour after they were deported from Holland. The band were involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.
1994: L.A. Guns release their album 'Vicious Circle.'
1999: Van Halen's '1984' is certified 10x Platinum by the RIAA.
2002: Bob Wooler died aged 76. He was the resident DJ and booker at The Cavern Club in Liverpool during the early 1960's. Wooler introduced The Beatles to their manager, Brian Epstein.
2004: The Philadelphia Soul, the Arena Football League team co-owned by Jon Bon Jovi played their first game where they lost to the New Orleans VooDoo.
2004: White Stripes perform at the 46th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The Foo Fighters appear onstage with jazz artist Chick Corea while Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are among the presenters. Evanescence wins Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance honors, while the White Stripes take home awards for the Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Music Album. The evening's other winners include Foo Fighters (Best Rock Album) and Metallica (Best Metal Performance).
2005: The Doobie Brothers' drummer Keith Knudsen died of pneumonia at the age of 56 in San Francisco. Knudsen joined the Doobie Brothers in 1974 and stayed through their 1982 farewell tour. He also co-founded the successful country rock band Southern Pacific.
2005: Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of the Guess Who are inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame in a Toronto ceremony that features musical tributes from Three Days Grace and Ian Thornley.
2005: 3 Doors Down release their 'Seventeen Days' album. It features Bob Seger on 'Landing In London.'
2005: Puddle of Mudd explains in an online post that Greg Upchurch "is still a member of Puddle of Mudd." Upchurch was tapped to take over drums for 3 Doors Down on their tour. The rest of Puddle Of Mudd continues to write songs for their next studio album.
2006: U2 wins five Grammy awards including Album of the Year for 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' and Song of the Year at the 48th annual Grammy Awards in L.A. Other winners are Green Day (Record of the Year - 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams'), System Of A Down (Best Hard Rock Performance), the White Stripes (Best Alternative Music Album) and Slipknot (Best Metal Performance). David Bowie is awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Sly Stone made his first major public appearance since his 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he appeared at the Grammys. The 61 year old Sly joined in briefly during a multi-artist tribute to his music.
2006: David Bowie is awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. It's his 2nd Grammy, the first being for the 'Jazzin' for Blue Jean' video in 1985. He posthumously wins four more Grammys for the 'Blackstar' release bringing his total to six.
2007: Guns N' Roses perform two songs at a Rodeo Drive Walk of Style ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA. The band plays Bob Dylan's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine.' The show honors designer Donatella Versace and her late brother Gianni.
2007: Journey and Def Leppard's joint 2006 tour is honored at the 18th annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards in Universal City, CA. They win for Most Creative Tour Package beating out Aerosmith/Motley Crue and the Bon Jovi/Nickelback.
2007: John Mellencamp's promotes his 'Freedom's Road' album on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman. The next day he's on NBC's Today and Comedy Central's The Daily Show.
2007: The Who announce plans for a spring European tour. At the London press conference guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey play four songs.
2007: Sevendust launch their tour in support of their sixth studio album, 'Alpha,' in Fort Wayne, IN.
2008: Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry performs. backed by his two sons' group, TAB The Band, in Ledyard, CT. "This is something we will not do very often," explains Perry. "They want to have their own identity and not be seen as my band." The group has Adrian (vocals/bass) and Tony Perry (guitar).
2009: About 4 months after the plane crash that nearly killed their drummer Travis Barker, Blink-182 announce that they are getting back together during the Grammy Awards.
2009: Coldplay win Rock Song of the Year ('Viva La Vida') and Rock Album of the Year ('Viva La Vida') at the 51st Grammy Awards in L.A. Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Bluegrass singer Alison Krauss nab the Record of the Year ('Please Read The Letter') and Album of the Year ('Raising Sand') awards.
2010: Ringo Starr gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Several hundred Beatles fans attend the ceremony in front of the Capitol Records Tower. "I want to thank Capitol Records," Starr tells the crowd. "It's nice to look at a building that you helped pay for."
2010: U2's 360 tour is voted the year's best stage show in a poll conducted by Total Production International Magazine.
2010: E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg undergoes open heart surgery. The 12 hour operation takes place just two weeks after the end of Weinberg's run as music director for Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show on NBC.
2010: David Ellefson, a founding member along with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, returns to the group following an eight year absence. "This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness," says Mustaine. The band readies their 20th anniversary Rust In Peace tour starting March 1 in Spokane, WA.
2011: Rhino Bucket released the album 'Who's Got Mine.'
2011: Nielsen SoundScan reported that since Steven Tyler started appearing on 'American Idol' on January 19th, sales of Aerosmith's Greatest Hits collections have shot up more than 250%.
2012: Ozzy Osbourne's radio channel 'Ozzy's Boneyard' premieres on Sirius.
2013: Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler appeared at a Hawaii legislative hearing to promote a bill that would give celebrities the power to sue paparazzi who take photos or video of their private lives in an offensive way. In early March, the bill would be passed by the Senate, but received no support from the House Of Representatives.
2013: Bruce Springsteen is named the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year at a ceremony in L.A., two days before the 55th annual Grammy Awards. He is honored for both his creative accomplishments and charitable work over the years.
2013: Axl Rose loses his case against Activision. He claimed the video game company violated an agreement over the use of 'Welcome To The Jungle' in 2007's 'Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock.' Rose had stipulated that Slash not be included in the game but the former Guns N' Roses guitarist was the main image on the cover artwork. The court dismisses Rose's arguments.
2015: The 57th Grammy Awards take place at LA's Staples Center. The Rock Performance award goes to Jack White for his album 'Lazaretto.' Beck gets the Best Album and Best Rock Album statues for 'Morning Phase.' 'The Last In Line' by Tenacious D nails the Metal Performance honor. Paul McCartney and AC/DC (with drummer Chris Slade filling in for Phil Rudd) perform.
2016: Sick Puppies announce that Bryan Scott is their vocalist (replacing Shim Moore).
February 9
1957: Elvis Presley hits #1 on the pop chart with 'Too Much.'
1958: Ratings show that ABC's 'American Bandstand' is now America's top-rated daytime television program, with an average of 8,400,000 viewers per day.
1961: The Beatles play Liverpool's Cavern Club for the first time. John Lennon and Paul McCartney performed at the venue three years earlier but were then known as the Quarrymen. They would go on to make a total of 292 other appearances at the Club. They were paid £5 for this luchtime appearance and George Harrison was nearly denied admission to play because he was wearing jeans.
1964: Beatles make their US TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. A record setting 73 million Americans (60% of the viewing audience) watch them perform 'All My Loving,' 'Till There Was You,' 'She Loves You,' 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'I Want To Hold Your Hand.' The show had received over 50,000 applications for the 728 seats in the TV studio. Also performing on the show is a future member of The Monkees, Davy Jones, who appeared as part of the cast of 'Oliver.'
1965: The Who play The Marquee Club in London.
1967: The film for the latest Beatles single 'Penny Lane' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever' was shown on BBC-TV's Top Of The Pops.
1967: The Beatles recorded 'Fixing a Hole' at Regent Sound Studio in London. This was the first time that The Beatles didn't record at EMI Studios in London.
1967: Cat Stevens played at Assembly Hall in Worthing, West Sussex, England.
1968: Hal Cone former manager of The Monkees and Head of Jones Records was found guilty of theft, forgery, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
1968: Paul Revere & the Raiders performed at the Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia.
1970: Simon and Garfunkel's album 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' is certified gold.
1970: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention's 'Burnt Weeny Sandwich' is released. It reached #94 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's. The album was essentially a 'posthumous' Mothers release having been released after Frank Zappa dissolved the band.
1970: Jack Bruce, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Renaissance played at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1972: Scorpions release their debut album 'Lonesome Crow.' It is the band's only album with lead guitarist Michael Schenker (just 16 at the time of the recording) as a full-time member.
1972: Genesis performed at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1972: Paul McCartney's Wings played the first night of a UK College tour in Nottingham. The group arrived unannounced, asking social secretaries if they would like them to perform that evening. The band's intended first stop on the tour, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, refused to allow them to play so they drove on to Nottingham. Admission was 40p, British pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz was the opening act for the tour.
1973: The Grateful Dead performed at Roscoe Maples Pavillion at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
1973: Max Yasgur dies of a heart attack in Florida. He was 53. Yasgur owned the dairy farm in Bethel, New York where Woodstock was held August 15-18 in 1969. Yasgur rented his fields for $10,000, but ended up getting an additional settlement of $50,000 for the near destruction of his farm and property. He also lost the friendship of most of his neighbors, some posting signs saying, "Stop Max's Hippie Music Festival. No 150,000 hippies here. Buy no milk." But, he believed in freedom of expression and not only supported the event, but handed out as much free food, water and milk as he could.
1974: Iggy Pop & the Stooges performed their final concert at the Michigan Palace in Detroit. Pop taunted & verbally abused the audience throughout the concert & had pieces of ice, eggs, & beer bottles thrown at him. The opening act was a young band called Aerosmith.
1974: The Who take Quadrophenia to Europe beginning at the Paris Pavilion supported by Speedy Keene and his band.
1974: Yes appeared at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
1975: The variety show 'Cher,' meant to take the place of the old 'Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,' debuts on CBS with guests Elton John and Bette Midler.
1976: David Bowie performed at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
1977: Black Sabbath played at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
1977: David Coverdale's 1st solo album, 'White Snake' is released.
1979: UB40 play their first live show, sharing the bill with another local group called the Au Pairs at The Hare & Hounds Pub in Birmingham. In 2011, a plaque went up outside the pub to mark the performance.
1980: Blue Oyster Cult headlined at the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1980: Peter Gabriel's 'Games Without Frontiers' b/w 'The Start'/'I Don't Remember' 45 single is released in the UK. It features Kate Bush on backing vocals (as would his later 'Don't Give Up,' which they recorded and released as a duet) and became his first Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #4. It ties with 1986's Sledgehammer as his highest-charting song in the UK; it peaked at #48 in the United States.
1981: Bill Haley dies from a brain tumor at age 55. With 'Rock Around The Clock' and other subsequent hits, Haley and his Comets sold 60 million records worldwide. He became known as the first Rock 'n' Roll star. Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation and later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye. He was still a big star in Europe and in Mexico where his 'Twist' album was the best selling LP of all time for many years. Haley was getting ready to release a new Country And Western album when he passed away in Harlingen, Texas. He had been suffering from a brain tumor and had given his last concert in South Africa in April of 1980. Haley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
1981: Phil Collins releases his debut solo album 'Face Value.' It reached #7 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart, and topped the UK chart. The album includes the hit single, "In the Air Tonight,' whose dark mood was inspired by the fallout of Collins' first marriage.
1981: Riot's 3rd album, 'Fire Down Under' album is released. The song 'Flashbacks' is dedicated to Neal Kay, the British DJ who supported heavy metal in the UK during the new wave of British heavy metal.
1982: UFO's 'Mechanix' album is released.
1982: George Harrison presented UNICEF with a cheque for $9 million, ten years after the fundraising The Concert For Bangladesh.
1983: Frank Zappa conducts the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players at the Edgar Varese Memorial Concert to celebrate the composer's 100th birthday. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) is the master of ceremonies.
1985: Don Henley peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'The Boys of Summer' which was his second top 10 single as a solo artist in the U.S.
1985: Bruce Cockburn's 'If I Had A Rocket Launcher' debuts at #89 on Billboard's Hit 100, while Autograph's 'Turn Up The Radio' was #49, Journey's 'Only The Young' was at #34, Bryan Adams' 'Run To You' at #25, David Lee Roth's 'California Girls' at #13 and at #1 was Foreigner's 'I Want To Know What Love Is.'
1986: The Firm's 'All The Kings Horses' b/w 'Fortune Hunter' 45 single was released in the U.S. Written by Paul Rodgers, from the LP 'Mean Business,' it topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and reached #61 on the Hot 100.
1986: The Colombian Volcano Appeal benefit concert at London's Royal Albert Hall for the November 1985 Nevada del Ruiz volcanic eruption in Colombia. The performers included David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde, Pete Townshend & Annie Lennox.
1987: Eric Clapton is recognized for his Outstanding Contribution to British Music at the BPI Awards in London. Also, Dire Straits 'Brothers In Arms' is named Best British Album.
1990: Nirvana set out on a short west coast tour opening for Dinosaur Jr. at the Pine Street Theater in Portland, Oregon.
1992: Pantera released the single 'Mouth For War.' It became the band's first song to ever chart, reaching #73 on the UK's Official Charts.
1992: Touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the Logan Campbell Center in Auckland, New Zealand.
1993: Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney both released solo albums. Mick's 3rd solo album was called 'Wandering Spirit' and Paul's was titled 'Off The Ground.'
1993: Jellyfish's 2nd and final album, 'Spilt Milk' is released. It reached the Billboard Heatseekers (#8) and 200 Top Albums (#164) charts.
1993: British broadcaster Bill Grundy died of a heart attack aged 69. He conducted the famous Sex Pistols interview on Thames Television on December 1, 1976; when Grundy provoked the band into using obscenities on live TV. The broadcast wrecked Grundy's television career. He was also the first television presenter to present The Beatles on Granada Television on October 17, 1962.
1997: Brian Connolly singer with the 1970's Glam rock group Sweet died of kidney and liver failure aged 51. Connolly replaced Ian Gillan (later of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) in Wainwright's Gentlemen who became Sweetshop and then shortened to Sweet. Connolly had many troubles throughout the years, including a terrible beating outside a nightclub in 1974. He was kicked in the throat multiple times and was unable to sing for some time and permanently lost a portion of his vocal range. He co-wrote the hits 'Fox On The Run,' 'Action' and "Love Is Like Oxygen."
1997: The Simpsons, which has featured such guest stars as Aerosmith, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Peter Frampton. becomes the longest-running prime-time animated series. The record was previously held by 'The Flintstones.'
1997: Frustrated by an equipment failure on Soundgarden's final tour stop in Honolulu bassist Ben Shepherd throws his bass into the air and storms off the stage. The band follows with frontman Chris Connell returning to conclude the show with a solo encore. The band breaks up two months later.
1998: Fleetwood Mac get the Outstanding Contribution to British Music trophy at the 17th BRIT Awards in London. U2 is named Best International Group.
2001: Black Sabbath announce they will headline the 2001 Ozzfest Tour, despite having played what were billed as farewell gigs more than a year before.
2001: Testament announce they are reworking some older material from 'The Legacy' and 'The New Order,' with former guitarist Alex Skolnick, for a limited edition release called 'First Strike Is Deadly.'
2001: After being booted from the "reunion" lineup of the Eagles, guitarist and original member Don Felder files a lawsuit against the group.
2004: The retail chain Tower Records filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
2005: A Los Angeles court rules that Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx is entitled to $600,000 from a shoe company for using his likeness in a magazine ad without permission.
2005: Papa Roach launch their North American tour in Mexico City.
2005: Roger Daltrey receives one of the British Parliament's top honors, Commander of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace. Daltrey received the honor for his career in music & for his charitable work. He jokes the Queen told him, "I got this for my music as well as charity work but I don't think she's a rock and roll fan. She'd probably fall off her podium if she heard The Who's songs."
2006: KISS singer-guitarist Paul Stanley appears at the first of two New Jersey galleries to promote exhibitions of his artwork. The other appearance is the next day. Stanley's paintings and limited-edition prints are sold at the events.
2007: Don Henley is named the 2007 MusiCares Person of the Year at a Grammy Week in Los Angeles event. The award recognizes Henley's professional and charitable achievements. Former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, Henley's Eagles bandmate Timothy B. Schmit and Henley perform.
2007: Three Days Grace headline West Coast tour that starts in Las Vegas. Texas group, Flyleaf, is the opener.
2007: KISS' Paul Stanley makes his 1st of 2 appearances at New Jersey's Wentworth Gallery to show his art.
2008: A fire alarm goes off at Airbourne's concert in Glasgow, Scotland, causing the venue to be evacuated. They were playing the title track from their debut album, 'Runnin' Wild' when the siren sounded.
2008: Paul Rodgers is at the Fender Center for Music Education in Corona, CA, to mark the opening of an exhibit dedicated to him.
2008: The Band receives the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award. They are saluted at an invitation-only ceremony the night before the Grammy Awards.
2008: An oversold venue is to blame for the deaths of 10 fans and the injuries of six at a concert by Indonesian metalcore band Beside. Conflicting reports on numbers seem to confirm that the venue, meant to hold 700, was well over capacity, with perhaps as many as 1,500 people inside. The fans were killed in the crush as they tried to leave the packed venue while hundreds more were trying to force their way in.
2009: Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant took home five prizes for his collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss at this years Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles. The duo won album of the year for 'Raising Sand' and record of the year for 'Please Read The Letter.' John Mayer won Best solo rock vocal performance for 'Gravity,' Kings of Leon won Best rock performance by a group with 'Sex on Fire' and best rock song went to Bruce Springsteen for 'Girls in Their Summer Clothes.'
2009: Ringo Starr became the 2,401st person to be added to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the attraction. The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998.
2009: Ex-Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters performs at the eighth annual Cinema For Peace awards ceremony and benefit in Berlin. The event honors "directors and actors whose work has served to cast a new focus on the human condition and values." Waters plays Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' and music from 'The Wall.'
2009: The Boston fan forum CoolTheEngines suspends their message board after an attorney for guitarist Tom Scholz sends a cease-and-desist letter to the moderator threatening to seek "substantial monetary damages" unless all mentions of the guitarist and his wife are erased. Messages protested Scholz's treatment of former Boston bandmembers, including late frontman Brad Delp. The attorney categorizes the statements as defamatory.
2010: The White Stripes were taking on the US Air Force, complaining that it used one of the group's songs 'Fell In Love With A Girl' in a TV advert without permission. In a statement on their website, the duo said they took "strong insult and objection, with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support.
2010: Just in time for their 20th Anniversary 'Rust In Peace' tour the following month, guitarist Dave Mustaine announces that original Megadeth bassist David Ellefson is returning to the band after an eight-year absence.
2010: Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones leaves the band's headlining North American tour due to "unforeseen circumstances." All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte fills in.
2010: Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr became the 2,401st person to be added to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the attraction's groundbreaking. The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998. Those by Starr's side for the unveiling included his wife, the actress Barbara Bach; musicians Joe Walsh and Ben Harper; music producer Don Was; the film director David Lynch and the actor Noah Wyle.
2011: Kid Rock performs a show in Little Rock after the state of Arkansas is hit by heavy snowfall. The state patrol advises people to stay home and some fans are unwilling or unable to brave the conditions. Rock is later criticized for not canceling the show. He responds on his website saying that fans who were not able to travel to the show will receive refunds and emphasizes that he felt it was his duty to perform for those fans who had traveled to see him play. "I know there are people who drove here from Memphis and Oklahoma, been in [their] cars all day driving and dealing with this sh**ty weather, the same as me and my band have the WHOLE TOUR," writes Rock.
2011: Singer Ashlee Simpson and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz announce their divorce after two years of marriage.
2011: After nearly six years, Activision Blizzard Inc. pulls the plug on the once hugely popular 'Guitar Hero' video game.
2012: Paul McCartney is inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. McCartney's star, the 2,460th given- was approved in '93. He is the last Beatle to accept the honor. "When I was growing up, I never thought I'd ever come to get a star on the Walk of Fame. But here we are today," explains McCartney. His star was placed outside the Capitol Records building, alongside those of band members John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
2012: Guns N' Roses play the first of a handful New York dates during Fashion Week. The first stop is a surprise show at the John Varvatos store in Manhattan.
2012: Phish's Trey Anastasio launches the four-stop Winter Symphony Tour, his first-ever orchestral trek. The first concert is with the Atlanta Symphony at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Pittsburgh, Denver and L.A. fill out the brief tour.
2013: A New England blizzard forces Bon Jovi to postpone the first concert of their North American tour. However, fans and employees at the Mohegan Sun Arena are treated to a free impromptu concert. A make-up show is scheduled for later in the year.
2014: 'The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute To The Beatles,' is broadcast on CBS to mark the 50th anniversary to the day of The Beatles debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Among the pop stars covering Beatles songs, Imagine Dragons perform an acoustic version of 'Revolution.' The show features performances by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and also covers of Beatles songs by Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl and a reunited Eurythmics. Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are interviewed by David Letterman in the Ed Sullivan theater.
2015: Metallica play a corporate show in San Francisco for cloud computing company Salesforce.com. The concert is later available as a free audio download.
2015: Bob Dylan turned the tables on his critics during a 30-minute speech, at the Musicares charity gala honouring his career. The 73-year-old, who rarely talks about his work, asked why critics complained he "can't sing" and sounds "like a frog" but do not "say that about Tom Waits?" The singer added, "Critics say my voice is shot, that I have no voice. Why don't they say those things about Leonard Cohen? Why do I get special treatment?"
2015: Bullet For My Valentine announce that they have parted ways with Jason James. The bassist/vocalist joined the group in '03, replacing Nick Crandle.
2016: Lacuna Coil announce they have recruited guitarist Daniel Sahagun to replace Marco 'Maus' Biazzi. Sahagun previously played bass for the band in '14 when Marco 'Maki' Coti-Zelati was sick and unable to tour.
February 10
1956: Little Richard records 'Long Tall Sally,' which will go on be his highest charting record in the US, climbing to #6 on Billboard's Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart by next April. Rolling Stone magazine has listed the tune as #56 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.
1958: Elvis attains his 9th US #1 single with the double-sided hit 'Don't'/'I Beg of You.'
1959: Link Wray performs his controversial instrumental hit 'Rumble' on American Bandstand. Because of its title, many radio stations refused to play the record, but it still managed to sell over a million copies and reach #16 on the Billboard Pop chart.
1964: Beatlemania is in full swing following The Beatles Ed Sullivan Show appearance the night before, with the group giving another press conference and American newspapers reporting that "millions of teenage boys are spending extra time in front of the mirror trying to make their hair look like Paul McCartney's."
1966: Bob Marley married Rita Anderson a singer in the group The Soulettes. The couple had three children together.
1967: Heavy metal pioneers Blue Cheer, best known for their cover of Eddie Cochran's 'Summertime Blues,' perform at a "Tribute to J. Edgar Hoover" in San Francisco.
1967: At a concert at the Golden Sheaf Bakery in Berkely, Janis Joplin meets Country Joe MacDonald, whose group, the Fish are also on the bill. Shortly afterwards, Janis moves in with Country Joe.
1967: Pink Floyd played at the Leicester College Of Art and Technology in Leicestershire, England.
1967: The Beatles recorded the orchestral build-up for the middle and end of 'A Day in the Life'. At the Beatles' request, the orchestra members arrived in full evening dress along with novelty items. One violinist wore a red clown's nose, while another a fake gorilla's paw on his bow hand. Others were wearing funny hats and other assorted novelties. The recording was filmed for a possible 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' television special which was ultimately abandoned. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mike Nesmith from The Monkees and Donovan also attended the session.
1968: The Beatles close Beatles USA, their American fan club and business office and fire their US press agents, severing all American business connections. They also withdraw from the late Brian Epstein's NEMS Enterprises and turn all business affairs over to their newly formed record company, Apple.
1968: The Who played a Valentine Ball at Essex University in Colchester, England. They are supported by The Shell Shock Show, Yum Yum Band and Exploding Orange.
1968: Jefferson Airplane appears at the Terrace Ballroom in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1969: Led Zeppelin performed at the Field House on the campus of Memphis State University in Memphis, Tennessee.
1969: The Beach Boys '20/20' album is released. It reached #68 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart and #3 in the UK. It was their last studio album to be released with Capitol Records for the next
1970: Neil Young appeared at the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1970: ZZ Top played at a Knights of Columbus Hall on old U.S. 90, a gig booked by Beaumont radio personality Al Caldwell of KLVI, who would later also broadcast the band's first recordings. This would be the band's first show together with their now-iconic lineup of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.
1971: Carole King's 'Tapestry' is released. It was #1 on the Billboard 200 for 15 consecutive weeks, and has been listed on the Billboard 200 for over 300 weeks between 1971 and 2011. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. In the United States, it has been certified diamond by the RIAA with more than 10 million copies sold. It received four Grammy Awards in 1972, including Album of the Year. The lead single from the album — 'It's Too Late'/'I Feel the Earth Move' — spent five weeks at #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts. In 2003, Tapestry was ranked #36 on Rolling Stone list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1972: The Faces appeared at The Rainbow Theatre in London, England.
1972: David Bowie appeared at the Tolworth Toby Jug in London, on the opening date of his Ziggy Stardust tour. The character of Ziggy was initially inspired by British rock 'n' roll singer Vince Taylor.
1972: T-Rex kicks off their first headlining tour of the US in support of their current hit, 'Bang A Gong.' It starts in Seattle.
1973: Steely Dan's LP "Can't Buy a Thrill' hits US chart.
1973: Elton John had his first #1 album when 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player' started a six-week run at the top of the charts.
1973: King Crimson played at the Marquee Club in London.
1973: Liverpool's Cavern Club (where The Beatles were born) is given three months to close down by British Rail, who need the site to complete their new underground railway.
1974: Record producer Phil Spector was injured in a car crash. He needed extensive plastic surgery that dramatically altered his looks. Details of how the accident happened were kept secret.
1974: Deep Purple kicked off a 28 date North American tour at the Los Angeles Forum.
1975: Dave Alexander dies of pulmonary edema in Ann Arbor, MI after being admitted to a hospital for pancreatitis, which was linked to his drinking. He was 27. Alexander was the original bassist for The Stooges. He was fired from the band in 1970 after showing up at a music festival too drunk to play.
1975: Roxy Music performed at Massey Hall in Toronto.
1976: Elvis Presley was made a Captain in the Memphis police reserves.
1977: The Clash started recording their debut album at CBS studios in London, England. It is not initially released in the U.S. because CBS Records decides the content is unsuitable for radio. It finally drops two years later, after The Clash's follow-up studio album, 'Give 'Em Enough Rope,' is released in the U.S.
1977: Lydia Criss accepts the People's Choice Award for KISS as they win the #1 song for 1976 for 'Beth.' The band are in Chicago for a performance, but film a clip for airing on the show taken from their Jan. 28 concert in Detroit. It was the 3rd annual People's Choice Award.
1978: Van Halen release their self-titled debut album. The album goes on to sell over ten million copies in the U.S. and makes Van Halen one of only six rock bands to have two albums reach diamond status. It reached #19 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. In 2003, the album was ranked #415 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1978: Judas Priest released their 4th album 'Stained Class.' It was the first Judas Priest album to reach the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart (#173). In 2004, UK magazine Metal Hammer named Stained Class the heaviest metal album of all time. In 2017, it was ranked 43rd in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.
1979: The Grateful Dead played at Soldier's and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.
1979: Dire Straits released their debut single 'Sultans of Swing' in the U.S., which went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
1979: Rod Stewart's 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?' is the #1 song in the U.S. and the album 'Blondes Have More Fun' also hits #1. The single also went to the top in ten other countries.
1979: Talking Heads cover of Al Green's 'Take Me To The River' peaks at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1979: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Dire Straits' 'Sultans Of Swing' at #47 (debut), Styx's 'Sing For The Day/Renegade' at #41, Toto's 'Hold The Line' at #34, The Babys' 'Every Time I Think Of You' at #30, Ace Frehley's 'New York Groove' at #13 and Rod Stewart's 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy' at #1.
1980: ZZ Top played at the San Diego Sports Arena.
1980: The Metal For Muthas tour played at London's Lyceum Theatre with Iron Maiden, Praying Mantis and Diamond Head. Tickets were only £2.50 in advance. The tour was in support of the new wave of British heavy metal compilation album "Metal for Muthas".
1986: Bob Dylan appeared at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia.
1987: Dokken released their 9th single 'Dream Warriors.' The song reached #22 on the #Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
1987: Cinderella released the single 'Somebody Save Me.' It peaks at #66 on Billboard's Hot 100.
1990: Eric Clapton played the last of a record-setting 18 nights at London's Royal Albert Hall.
1990: Aerosmith's 'Janie's Got A Gun" peaks at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. It was their 5th top 10 single in the U.S.
1990: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Whitesnake at #42 with 'The Deeper The Love,' Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus' at #38, Mötley Crüe's 'Kickstart My Heart' at #37, Bad English's 'Price Of Love' at #17, Tom Petty's 'Free Fallin' at #15, and Aerosmith's 'Janie's Got A Gun' at #4.
1992: Pantera's 6th studio album, 'Vulgar Display Of Power' is released. The double platinum set considered "one of the most influential Metal albums of the '90's" and "one of the defining albums of the Groove-Metal genre."
1992: Def Leppard 'High N' Dry' album is certified 2x platinum by the RIAA
1993: Journey's 'TIME 3' box set is RIAA certified gold.
1995: Seventeen years after its initial release, 'Heaven Tonight' by Cheap Trick was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
1995: Guns N' Roses' 'G N'R Lies' is certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA.
1995: Aerosmith's 'Permanent Vacation' is certified 5x Platinum & 'Pump' 7x Platinum by the RIAA.
1998: Axl Rose is arrested and charged with verbally abusing an employee of Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Rose, who cursed and shook his fist at a supervisor who wanted to look at his bags at a security checkpoint, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. He is later released on bail.
1999: Iron Maiden welcomed Bruce Dickinson back into the fold after a six-year absence, and Adrian Smith after a decade. The band announced a reunion tour & a new album. Both Dickinson & Smith are still in Iron Maiden to this day.
2002: Elton John performs at the NBA all-star game in Philadelphia, PA.
2003: The Rolling Stones played a free show in Los Angeles to raise awareness of global warming. Their support act was sax player (and former President) Bill Clinton.
2004: Nickelback undertake the first of four consecutive appearances on 'Late Night With Conan O`Brien' when the program tapes some shows in Toronto.
2004: Damageplan release their only studio album, 'New Found Power.' "New Found Power" was also the original name of the band but was changed prior to the album's release.
2005: Courtney Love resolved charges of assault with a deadly weapon and drug possession by signing a plea agreement in Los Angeles. The assault charges stemmed from 2004, when she allegedly hit musician Kristin King with a whisky bottle.
2005: Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars is hit with a $10 million palimony lawsuit by an ex-girlfriend who claims he broke a promise to financially support her throughout her life. The couple broke up the previous December.
2005: Kid Rock, members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and ex-Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickie Betts perform at the Jam Sessions Concerts in West Hollywood. Proceeds benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
2005: Who singer Roger Daltrey was awarded the CBE by The Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to the music industry.
2005: Prince topped Rolling Stone magazine's annual list of the years biggest money earners after his 2004 tour grossed over $90 million. Madonna came in second place after earning $54.9 million and Metallica came third with $43 million.
2006: Ex-Creed vocalist Scott Stapp weds former Miss New York, Jaclyn Nesheiwat, in Florida. They met at a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in New York.
2006: James LoMenzo replaces Jimmy MacDonough as Megadeth's bassist. "I look forward to what he does musically," says Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine.
2006: Peter Gabriel and Yoko Ono are among the celebrities taking part in the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Prior to the lighting of the Olympic torch, Ono takes the stage, evoking the memory of her late husband, John Lennon, and making a plea for world peace. She is followed by Gabriel, who performs Lennon's 'Imagine.'
2006: The Rolling Stones top Forbes magazine's list of Music's Top Money Makers for 2005 by generating $168 million in music and concert-ticket sales in the United States. U2 finishes a close second, grossing $150 million. The Top 10 include Green Day (#4 - $99 million), the Eagles (#5 - $84 million), Paul McCartney (#6 - $83 million) and Elton John (#10 - $66 million).
2008: The 50th annual Grammy Awards takes place in L.A. John Fogerty, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis provide a Rock N' Roll tour de force. There's also a special tribute to The Beatles featuring a Cirque du Soleil troupe performance from its Las Vegas production, Love, as well as cast members from the movie Across The Universe. The winners are: The Foo Fighters' 'The Pretender' (Hard Rock Performance) and their album 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace' (Rock Album), Slayer's 'Eyes Of The Insane' (Best Metal Performance), the White Stripes' 'Icky Thump' (Alternative Music Album and Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal), The Beatles' 'Love' (Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media) and famous spaghetti western composer Ennio Morricone and Bruce Springsteen win the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental. Springsteen covered Morricone's classic 'Once Upon a Time in the West.' The Eagles won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for 'How Long.' It was the band's fifth Grammy Award.
2009: Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks: Live At The Hollywood Bowl,' the first-ever concert performances of the singer's acclaimed 1968 album is released. The songs were recorded during two 2008 L.A. shows.
2010: Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp headline a performance at the White House in celebration of Black History Month. The Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement is hosted by President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.
2012: Guns N' Roses launch their 49 date 'Up Close And Personal Tour' at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
2012: Neil Young and Crazy Horse perform at the MusicCares Person of the Year Gala honoring Paul McCartney. The Grammy charity concert marks the first time Young has taken the stage with Crazy Horse in eight years.
2013: Black Keys, Sting, Jack White and Elton John perform at the 55th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in L.A. The winners are: Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy' with Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. The Keys also earn Best Rock Album for 'El Camino.' The Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance trophy goes to Halestorm for 'Love Bites (So Do I).' There are also tributes to The Band's Levon Helm and Reggae star Bob Marley.
2014: A Seattle woman was charged for allegedly sending Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell a number of chilling death threats and threats to harm his children. The singer was sent over 100 different messages by Elizabeth Walden who had nine different Twitter accounts. Prosecutors said the tweets constituted cyber-stalking and filed criminal charges against her.
2015: Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz wins over $51,000 in prizes as a contestant on the daily TV game show 'The Price Is Right.'
2015: Babes In Toyland play their first show in 18 years at Pappy And Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. The Pioneertown, CA show is the first of a string of dates for the reunited all-female group.
2017: 'Atlas, Rise!' is Metallica's ninth #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart.
2017: Tom Petty is MusiCares Person Of The Year. He's honored for his creative accomplishments and charitable work. Proceeds go to aid musicians in times of financial, medical, and personal need.
2017: Overkill release their album 'The Grinding Wheel.'
2018: It's "Cliff Burton Day" in Alameda County, CA. The Metallica bassist was a Castro Valley native.
February 11
1956: For his 3rd appearance on CBS' 'Dorsey Brothers Stage Show,' Elvis Presley is finally permitted to perform 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Blue Suede Shoes.'
1963: Beatles record all tracks for their first album 'Please, Please Me' with George Martin at Abbey Road Studios between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. The last song recorded is 'Twist And Shout.' Lennon nails the song in one take, despite a bad cold.
1964: Beatles play their first US concert at Washington Colosseum. Over 350 police surrounded the stage to keep the screaming fans in control. One police officer found the noise so loud, he stuck a bullet in each ear as earplugs. The Beatles had to stop three times and turn Ringo's drum kit around and re-position their microphones so that they could face all the audience. The Washington Colosseum was an indoor arena where professional and college basketball teams played. Originally built in 1941, it was first named the Uline Arena when it hosted hockey games. It was renamed the Washington Coliseum in 1959. It held a capacity crowd of about 7,000 people. Although the building still stands today near Washington's Union Station, it is now used as an indoor parking garage. Brian Epstein had allowed CBS to film The Beatles' performance, which was shown by the National General Corporation in a telecast in US cinemas on March 14 and 15, 1964. The performance has since been released on DVD, and extracts were included in 'Anthology.'
1965: Ringo Starr marries his pregnant girlfriend, Maureen Cox in London. She gave birth to son Zak the following September. John and George attend but Paul is away on a Tunisian vacation.
1967: The Rolling Stones the 5th British and 7th American studio album, 'Between the Buttons' (US version) is released. It reached #2 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. In 2003, the American version of the album featuring 'Ruby Tuesday' and 'Let's Spend the Night Together' was ranked #355 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
1967: 'More Of The Monkees' is the #1 album in the U.S. The group's 2nd album leaps from position 122 to #1. The band only provided the vocals and were backed by some of the finest studio musicians around, like Glen Campbell and Neil Sedaka. The L.P. contained the hits, 'I'm a Believer' and '(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone' and was produced by Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, Tommy Boyce and others. After being pressured by the press, The Monkees later announced that they would play their own instruments on all future recordings. The group announces that from now on they'll play their own instruments.
1967: The Turtles release their biggest hit, 'Happy Together,' which will reach #1 in the US and #12 in the UK. Co-written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, the song had been rejected by several other performers.
1967: Jimi Hendrix played at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
1968: The Who go into IBC Studios to complete the recording of "Glow Girl" as well as recording the backing tracks for 'Call Me Lightning' and 'Little Billy.' That evening they drive out to Crawley, West Sussex, to play the Starlite Ballroom. Their supporting group is Jo-Jo Gunne.
1969: The Monkees set a new record when their 2nd album, 'More Of The Monkees' jumped from #122 to the top of the US chart. The album then stayed in pole position for eighteen weeks.
1970: John Lennon pays 1,344 Pounds in fines for protesting the South African rugby team playing in Scotland.
1970: Fleetwood Mac, The Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead all performed at the Fillmore East in New York City.
1970: 'The Magic Christian' starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr debuts in New York. The disjointed comedy has the Paul McCartney composition 'Come And Get It' performed by Badfinger.
1971: Ry Cooder and Captain Beefheart performed at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1972: David Bowie unveils his Ziggy Stardust persona in concert for the first time in Tollworth, U.K..
1972: During their 'The Dark Side of The Moon' tour, Pink Floyd appeared at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. The show was abandoned after 25 minutes due to a power outage.
1972: Led Zeppelin scored their third US Top 20 hit single with 'Black Dog / Misty Mountain Hop', peaking at #15, and taken from their fourth album. The song's title is a reference to a nameless black Labrador retriever that wandered around the Headley Grange studios during recording. Robert Plant recorded his vocal for the track in two takes.
1973: A local charity raised over $850 selling bed sheets and pillowcases used by The Rolling Stones after a show at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
1973: Blue Oyster Cult's 2nd studio album, 'Tyranny and Mutation' is released. It reached #122 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, during its 12 weeks stay. This is the only album by Blue Öyster Cult which renders the band name as The Blue Öyster Cult.
1976: David Bowie performed at the Forum in Inglewood, California. In the audience are Linda Blair, Henry Winkler, Carole King and Cameron Crowe. In the dressing room after the show, Bowie chatted to Christopher Isherwood and David Hockney, who also attended.
1977: Jethro Tull released their 10th studio album, 'Songs from the Wood.'
1977: David Bowie released 'Sound and Vision' as a single, which was taken from his latest album 'Low.' 'Sound and Vision' was used by the BBC in the UK on trailers at the time, providing considerable exposure, much needed as Bowie opted to do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song to #3 on the UK charts.
1978: Eric Clapton appeared at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California.
1979: ABC airs the TV-movie 'Elvis,' starring Kurt Russell. It gets ith an estimated audience of 43 million viewers.
1980: Blue Oyster Cult performed at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
1980: 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' a TV series that takes place at a rock radio station, runs an episode devoted to the tragic events of December 3, 1979 when 11 fans were killed at a Who concert at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati.
1982: U2 kicked off a 32-date North American tour aboard the SS President Riverboat as it floated along the Mississippi River in New Orleans.
1983: The Rolling Stones concert film documentary 'Let's Spend The Night Together,' which was a film on their 1981 North American tour in support of 'Tattoo You' premiered in New York City..
1983: Bob Seger's 'The Distance' album goes platinum.
1983: Eric Clapton took the stage at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona.
1984: 'Pink Houses' by John Cougar Mellencamp peaks at #8 on the pop charts.
1984: Genesis peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'That's All' which was their first top 10 single in the U.S.
1984: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Quiet Riot's 'Bang Your Head' at #31, Huey Lewis' 'I Want A New Drug' at #26, Genesis' 'That's All' at #6, Van Halen's 'Jump' at #5, Yes' 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' at #4, and The Romantics' 'Talking In Your Sleep' at #3.
1985: The Police won Outstanding Contribution to British music at the fourth annual Brit Awards held in London.
1985: The Firm, featuring Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, Tony Franklin and Chris Slade, release their debut album. The album was recorded at Page's Sol Studios & went on to be certified Gold in the U.S.
1986: Aerosmith played at Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas.
1989: U2's single 'Angel of Harlem' makes the Top 20 but not the Top 10. However, the album 'Rattle And Hum' stays atop the album chart for six weeks.
1989: Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction returns to #1 on Billboard's 200 Album chart. It was previously there on Oct. 8, 1988.
1992: Motley Crue fire singer Vince Neil when he turns up for rehearsals, claiming that his passion for the music had been overtaken by his involvement with racing cars. Neil counters by saying the split was prompted by the band's desire to go in a bluesier direction. "We had been rehearsing for a few months but we didn't do any recording. It just wasn't sounding good to me. I'm not a blues singer and Mötley is a rock band — not a blues band. I think it's a stupid idea that will alienate the fans. I would have tried the blues thing and tried to put my own spin on it, but I never got the chance."
1993: Duran Duran release their self-titled album, commonly referred to as 'The Wedding album.' It features the hits 'Come Undone' and 'Ordinary World.'
1995. Van Halen's 'Balance' album hits #1 on Billboard's 200 Chart. It stayed for one week.
1998: The hand-written lyrics to 'Candle in the Wind' by Bernie Taupin were auctioned off at Christie's in Los Angeles for $278,512. The proceeds benefitted the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
2002: Elton John performs at the National Basketball Association All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
2003: The British Phonographic Industry reported that the year 2002 saw the largest sales decline in decades, with the most severe slump in a single year since the birth of the CD market in the early 1980s. Piracy, illegal duplication and distribution of CDs by international criminals were blamed for the decrease.
2004: Bryan Adams performs for more than 15,000 thousand fans at a concert in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to promote peace efforts to end that nation's long civil war.
2004: Courtney Love fails to appear at a pretrial hearing concerning felony charges that she was in illegal possession of two painkillers. Attorney William Genego tells the judge that Love can't make the hearing due to a 'security' issue. It is the third postponement.
2005: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young, Jeff Beck and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora pay tribute to Brian Wilson when he's honored as MusiCares 2005 Person of the Year in Los Angeles. The tribute dinner is held during the run up to the Grammy Awards. Wilson is recognized for musical and humanitarian accomplishments.
2006: Scott Stapp (Creed) marries a former Miss New York in Miami. The honeymoon is delayed when Stapp is arrested on suspicion of being drunk in a public place while trying to get on a plane to Hawaii. He is booked and released on $250 bail from an area jail the same day. The charges are later dismissed.
2006: Staind singer Aaron Lewis belts out the national anthem prior to NASCAR's 28th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Staind also performs after the race.
2007: The Doors and the Grateful Dead receive the 2007 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. "(The honorees') contributions exemplify the highest artistic and technical standards that have positively affected the music industry and music fans," says Academy president Neil Portnow.
2007: The Police reunite to perform during the opening of the Grammy Awards show. Prior to the Grammys, the last time the Police played in front of an audience was at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in March of 2003. Later, the Red Hot Chili Peppers receive four trophies, including Best Rock Album ('Stadium Arcadium') and Best Rock Song ('Dani California'). The Peppers also perform their hit 'Snow (Hey Oh).' Wolfmother win Best Hard Rock Performance ('Woman'). Bob Dylan wins in the Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album categories as Bruce Springsteen nabs the Best Traditional Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video honors.
2007: The Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde visits Dubai to stage a protest against the treatment of sheep being shipped from Australia to the region. Hynde, whose trip is sponsored by animal-rights organization PETA, charges that the animals suffer widespread illness and malnourishment during their lengthy journey to the Middle East. Aussie livestock-export group LiveCorp disputes the allegations noting that the shipping of sheep creates many jobs and that the creatures are treated in accordance with rules approved by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
2008: Lenny Kravitz is admitted to a Miami Beach, FL, hospital after exhibiting some severe symptoms of bronchitis. His aliment forces the postponement of a European promotional trip in support of his album, 'It Is Time For A Love Revolution.'
2008: Heather Mills and Sir Paul McCartney appeared at the High Court in London for a hearing to reach a financial settlement for their divorce. The couple, who had a four-year-old daughter, Beatrice, announced the end of their four-year marriage in 2006.
2008: Deep Purple performs in Moscow at a special concert organized by Russia's state gas company, Gazprom, as a parting gift to its soon-to-be-former chairman, Dmitry Medvedev. The executive, who is reportedly tabbed to be Russian president Vladimir Putin's successor, claims to own all of the band's albums.
2009: Chris Squire of Yes undergoes successful surgery on his leg. However, he is advised by his physician that he needs a one month rest period, hence the reason for the cancellation of the rest of the tour dates.
2009: Ronettes singer Estelle Bennett died at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 67. The 60's girl group best known for their work with producer Phil Spector had the 1963 hit 'Be My Baby' which epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique.
2010: Guns N' Roses give a late-night performance at the John Varvatos boutique in New York City (a.k.a. the former home of CBGB) as part of Fashion Week festivities. They play a 17-song set that lasts until 2:45 a.m.
2010: Jon Bon Jovi makes a guest appearance as himself on the comedy '30 Rock.' He even gets a couple of funny lines on the Valentine's Day themed TV show titled 'Anna Howard Shaw Day.'
2011: Bon Jovi land at #2 on Billboard's Top 40 Money Makers list with a yearly income of $30,441,776. Lady Gaga and her 'Monster Ball' tour tops the survey. Roger Waters is at #3 while Paul McCartney is at the #10 spot.
2011: The documentary 'Lemmy' about Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister was broadcast on VH1.
2013: Rick Huxley dies after a long struggle with emphysema. He was 72. Huxley was the bassist and co-founder of The Dave Clark Five and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. Regarding his stint in the band, Huxley said, "We ate good food, had lots of fun and played the concerts: it was a good life."
2013: Adam Duce is fired from Machine Head. The bassist and founding member was with the group for twenty-one years. "Adam quit Machine Head well over a decade ago," writes vocalist/guitarist Rob Flynn. "He just never bothered to tell anyone but we all knew it."
2014: Queen made UK chart history by becoming the first act to sell six million copies of an individual album. Their first Greatest Hits collection had extended its lead after being Britain's highest-selling album for several years. The Official Charts Company said one in three British families now owned a copy of the 1981 compilation.
2015: Kings Of Leon headline the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue festival in Nashville. The two-day event celebrates the publication's annual swimsuit spread with models and music.
2016: Glenn Danzig appears in an episode of the IFC show 'Portlandia.'
2016: KISS play the Badlands in Sioux Falls, South Dakota unmasked & unplugged.
2016: Guitarists Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society) take part in the Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp's 20th anniversary.
2016: The Royal Oak school board announced that the road that runs adjacent to Royal Oak Middle School would be renamed Glenn Frey Drive. Frey was a student at the school when it was called Dondero High.
2016: The Rolling Stones were put under 24-hour armed guard after a worker at one of their shows in Argentina was shot dead in a botched robbery after a show at the La Plata stadium.
2017: Thirteen people are injured when a truck crashes into the parked tour bus carrying The Dillinger Escape Plan to concert in Krakow, Poland. Band members are not hurt but still taken to the hospital for tests. As a result, the concert in Krakow is cancelled.
February 12
1956: Screamin' Jay Hawkins records his one and only classic 'I Put A Spell On You' in New York.
1958: The Monotones 'Book Of Love' b/w 'You Never Loved Me' 45 single is released. It attained a Billboard ranking of #5 for pop songs and #3 for R&B in 1958. It also reached #5 in Australia.
1961: The Miracles' 'Shop Around' becomes Motown Record's first million-selling single. It was the label's first #1 hit on Billboard's R&B singles chart, also reaching #2 on the Hot 100. In the following ten years, The Miracles will have six more million sellers.
1964: Beatles round off American visit with gig at Carnegie Hall in New York. The Beatles returned to New York City by train from Washington, D.C. for two performances at Carnegie Hall. There was such a demand for tickets that some extra seating was arranged surrounding the stage. Tickets ranged from $1.65 to $5.50.
1965: Pye Records announced signing of the "British Bob Dylan," when they added Donovan to the label. The Scottish singer-songwriter produced a series of hit albums and singles between 1965 and 1970 and became a friend of leading pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and The Beatles. He influenced John Lennon when he taught him a finger-picking guitar style in 1968.
1965: The Who audition for BBC Radio's Light Programme. As The Detours, they had failed a BBC audition 10 months before. This time they pass with the approval of four of the seven judges. The other three call them "ponderous and unentertaining," "at the limit of their capablilties," and "overall not very original and below standard."
1966: The Who had a gig at the Dreamland Ballroom in Margate but before that they were in a recording session at Olympic Sound Studios in Carton Street, Marble Arch to record their new single 'Substitute.' At the recording session The Who also did a slightly different vocal and mix of 'Substitute' for the US audiences, changing the offending line, "I look all white but my dad was black" to "I tried going forward but my feet walk back."
1966: The Rolling Stones fly to New York to tape an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1967: Keith Richards' West Sussex home, 'Redlands', is raided for drugs. 15 police officers raided the home during a weekend party. The police who were armed with a warrant issued under the dangerous drugs act took away various substances for forensic tests. George and Pattie Harrison had been at the house, but it was said that the police waited for them to leave before they raided the house in order not to bust the holder of an MBE.
1968: Billed as 'Tour 60 cities in 66 Days,' The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Centre Arena in Seattle, Washington.
1968: Jimi Hendrix returns home to Seattle where he plays for the students of Garfield High School (which he dropped out from at age fourteen) and is awarded an honorary high-school diploma and receives the key to the city. He sees his family for the first time in 7 years. His father, Al, meets him at the airport.
1968: Pink Floyd spent the day at EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London at a recording session for 'A Saucerful of Secrets.'
1968: Chynna Phillips, who would one day make up one third of the singing group, Wilson-Phillips, is born to John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas And The Papas.
1969: Janis Joplin and her Kozmik Blues Band perform at the Fillmore East in New York to mixed reviews.
1969: The 'Steppenwolf The Second' album goes gold.
1970: John Lennon performed 'Instant Karma,' on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops,' becoming the first Beatle to have appeared on the show since 1966.
1970: The Grateful Dead performed a club date at Ungano's in New York.
1970: The Guess Who performed at Independence Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1971: The Allman Brothers Band at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina
1971: Deep Purple's 'Strange Kind of Woman' b/w 'I'm Alone' 45 single is released in the U.S. The song peaked at #8 on UK charts.
1971: Paul Revere & the Raiders 'Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)' b/w 'Terry's Tune' 45 single is released. It went to #1 on the U.S. chart on July 24. The RIAA gold certification followed on 30 June 1971, for selling over a million copies. It was later certified platinum for selling an additional million copies.
1972: Genesis appeared at Guildhall in Portsmouth, England.
1972: David Bowie played at the Great Hall, Imperial College in London.
1972: Pink Floyd's UK tour stops at City Hall in Sheffield, England.
1972: Led Zeppelin's 'Black Dog' peaks at #15 on the pop chart.
1972: Yes release 'Roundabout.'
1972: The Allman Brothers Band released their classic double album 'Eat A Peach.' It reached #4 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and featured three singles that hit the Billboard Hot 100: 'Ain't Wastin' Time No More,' 'Melissa' and 'One Way Out.'
1973: Elton John's album 'Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player' album is certified gold.
1973: Montrose release their debut album featuring a young Sammy Hagar on vocals.
1974: The legendary rock club The Bottom Line opens in Greenwich Village, New York City.
1975: Led Zeppelin played at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tickets were $7.50.
1976: Sex Pistols play their first ever London at The Marquee Club as opener for Eddie and the Hot Rods.
1977: Blondie, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Ramones all performed at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles.
1977: Queen's 'A Day At The Races' album reaches #5 in the U.S.
1977: The Kinks 'Sleepwalker' album is released. It reached #21 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart
1977: The Police recorded their first single, 'Fall Out' for £150 ($255) at Pathway Studios in London.
1977: Blondie, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and The Ramones all appeared at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles.
1977: Pink Floyd released their 10th studio album 'Animals.' It reached #3 on the charts. The album's cover image, a pig floating between two chimneys on Battersea Power Station, was conceived by bassist Roger Waters and realized by long-time design and photographic collaborators Hipgnosis.
1977: Styx appeared at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida.
1977: Elvis Presley performed at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
1978: Rush appeared at the Birmingham Odeon in England, promoting their new single 'Closer To The Heart.'
1979: Frank Zappa played at the Apollo Theatre in Manchester, England.
1980: The Eagles performed at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
1980: Bryan Adams releases his self-titled debut album.
1980: The Clash 'Train In Vain (Stand By Me)' b/w 'London Calling' 45 single is released in the U.S. It was the first Clash song to reach the United States Top 30 charts and in 2004, the song was ranked #298 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
1981: Debbie Harry of Blondie announces her plans to record a solo album.
1981: Rush release their highest selling album 'Moving Pictures.' Their 8th studio album reached #3 on both the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart and the UK Album chart.
1982: Motley Crue played the first of three nights at the famous Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood.
1982: Iron Maiden released their 6th single 'Run To The Hills' from their album 'The Number Of The Beast.'
1984: Prince & The Revolution appeared at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1984: The Beatles 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' b/w 'I Saw Her Standing There' '20th Anniversary' 45 single is released. A cigarette was airbrushed from Paul McCartney's hand that was on the original 45 sleeve.
1985: Chastain released their debut album 'Mystery Of Illusion.'
1986: Ozzy Osbourne tours the U.K. for the first time in three years.
1988: Axl Rose walks off the stage during a Guns N' Roses concert in Phoenix. Their subsequent shows supporting David Lee Roth are canceled.
1990: Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Don Henley perform at Rainforest Foundation benefit held at Hollywood's China Club. The event raises $1 million.
1992: At the 11th annual BRIT awards in London, Queen's 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' is named Best British Single and the late Freddie Mercury is honored for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. For the fourth time in the last five years, U2 is named as the Best International Group.
1994: Alice In Chains entered the US album chart at #1 with 'Jar Of Flies.' It made history as it became the first EP to reach #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.
1994: On Billboard's Hot 100, Danzig's 'Mother '94' at #96 (debut), Aerosmith's 'Amazing' at #24, Bryan Adams' was #11 with 'Please Forgive Me' & #2 with 'All For Love.'
1995: Van Halen, scored their first US #1 album with 'Balance.'
1996: Smashing Pumpkins' single 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' is a certified gold record.
1997: U2 held a press conference in the Lingerie Department at the Greenwich Village Kmart store in Manhattan, New York, to announce their 'Pop Mart' world tour. The tour was set to start in Las Vegas on April 25th of this year.
1997: David Bowie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located outside the Hollywood Galaxy Theatre.
2000: U.S. blues singer Screamin' Jay Hawkins died aged 70. A Golden Gloves boxing champion at 16, he was married nine times, spent two years in jail, was temporary blinded by one of his flaming props on stage in 1976. He recorded 'I Put A Spell On You' in 1956, covered by The Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Nina Simone.
2003: Former Doors drummer John Densmore took out legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with Ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said "It shouldn't be called The Doors if it's someone other than Jim Morrison singing."
2004: Queens Of The Stone Age announce that bassist Nick Oliveri has left the band. This follows the exit of guitarist-singer Mark Lanegan.
2002: Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson unveils McFarlane Toys' Eddie figures at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
2003: Former Doors drummer John Densmore took out legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with Ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said "It shouldn't be called The Doors if it's someone other than Jim Morrison singing."
2005: Led Zeppelin receives the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award. Jerry Lee Lewis and Janis Joplin are also honored. The awards are handed out the day before the L.A. Grammy ceremony.
2005: Hear and Now: A Concert to Benefit the Victims of the La Conchita Landslide has performances by Jackson Browne, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers) and Jim Messina (Buffalo Springfield and Loggins & Messina). Proceeds from the Santa Barbara show go to the American Red Cross in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
2007: During a press conference at West Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go club Sting confirmed that The Police were getting back together. The band were set to kick off a world tour on May 28 in Vancouver, Canada, supported by Sting's son Joe Sumner's band, Fiction Plane.
2007: Heaven & Hell announces that veteran drummer Vinny Appice has replaced Bill Ward. "We didn't feel as if it was going quite right from Bill's side and our side," says guitarist Tony Iommi. "There's no bad vibes or nothing; it's no breakup or anything like that."
2008: The Stand Up For A Cure concert series supporting New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center kicks off with a Bon Jovi performance at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. Profits benefit the facility's research programs and patient support. The show is dedicated to guitarist Richie Sambora's father, who passed away in 2007 from lung cancer.
2009: Limp Bizkit announce that they have reunited to tour and record an album, with all five original members.
2009: Art Garfunkel makes a surprise appearance at a Paul Simon concert for a three song set in New York's recently refurbished Beacon Theater.
2009: Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen land in second and third place (behind Madonna) on Billboard's Moneymakers list, taking in more than $157 million and $156 million, respectively, in 2008 music sales and tour revenue. The Police are #4 earning just under $110 million.
2010: A commercial for Citroen's DS3 car model, using archival John Lennon footage discussing the creative process, creates a stir in the U.K. Fans question why Yoko Ono allowed the French automaker use of the clip. In the commercial Lennon says, "Do something of your own, start something new. Live your life now." Later, John's son Sean defends his mother's decision saying the intent was not financial but an effort "to keep him {Lennon} out there in the world. No new LPs, so {a} TV ad is exposure to young."
2010: A 25th anniversary cover of 'We Are The World' premieres on NBC. Brian Wilson and Carlos Santana are among the performers. The song is issued to raise money for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.
2012: The Foo Fighters are big winners at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. 'White Limo' wins the trophy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. 'Walk' wins for Best Rock Song and for Best Rock Performance and 'Wasting Light' is honored as the Best Rock Album. The show's finale is a medley of 'Golden Slumbers'/'Carry That Weight'/'The End' is led by Paul McCartney. He is joined by Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Joe Walsh.
2015: Eddie Van Halen speaks at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and Zocalo Public Square in Washington D.C. As a Dutch immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen Van Halen discusses his American journey and the group he founded.
2015: Guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen is inducted into the Swedish Music Hall Of Fame.
2015: Sam Andrew, guitarist and a founding member of Big Brother And The Holding Company, passes away following complications from open-heart surgery. He was 73.
2016: AC/DC Bourbon & Cola rolls out. A portion of proceeds go to the band's Let There Be Rock Fund that benefits Australian musicians.
2017: Metallica perform 'Moth Into Flame' with Lady Gaga at the 59th a Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in L.A. Metallica frontman James Hetfield's microphone fails during the first verse, forcing him to share Gaga's mic. Later, Megadeth pick up the Best Metal Performance trophy for the title song of their 'Dystopia' album. It is the group's first win after twelve nominations. Also, Cage The Elephant win the Best Rock Album honor with 'Tell Me I'm Pretty.'
February 13
1914: ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, is formed in New York City. The organization collects licensing fees from users of music created by ASCAP members, then distributes them back to its members as royalties.
1955: Buddy & Bob open for Elvis Presley in Lubbock, TX. The Buddy is none other than Buddy Holly.
1957: Cuban officials announce a ban on all Rock and Roll programs on television, calling the music "offensive to public morals and good customs." They would soften their stance a couple of days later, but strict guide lines were put in place.
1961: Frank Sinatra launches Reprise Records. Interestingly, the label becomes the home of Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks and the Beach Boys.
1965: The Rolling Stones 3rd American studio album, 'The Rolling Stones, Now!' is released. It reached #5 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. In 2012, the album was ranked #140 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1965: The Rolling Stones played the last night on a 16-date tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Capital Theatre in Perth. Also appearing on the tour was Roy Orbison, The Newbeats and Ray Columbus and the Invaders.
1965: The Who make their US record debut with the release of 'I Can't Explain,' backed with 'Bald Headed Woman.' It is ignored throughout most of the US, except in Detroit, Michigan where it becomes a big regional hit. This is enough to propel the single onto the Billboard charts where it reaches #93. Cash Box has the single rising all the way to the 57th spot. Detroit becomes the home of The Who's first fan base in the US and a frequent stopping place for the band in years to come.
1965: Gary Lewis records 'Count Me In,' which will climb to #2 on the Billboard chart by next May.
1966: The Who play the Community Centre in Southall, West London.
1967: The Monkees announced that from now on they would be playing on their own recordings instead of session musicians.
1967: The Beatles released the double A sided single 'Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane' on Capitol Records in the US. The single spent 10 weeks on the chart peaking at #1. Both songs later appeared on the 'Magical Mystery Tour.'
1967: The Tremeloes 'Here Comes My Baby' b/w 'Gentleman Of Pleasure' 45 single is released. Written by Cat Stevens, the song was a #4 hit in the UK Singles Chart and a #13 hit in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1967.
1968: Members of Pink Floyd were entrenched at EMI studios in London recording the 'Saucerful of Secrets' album.
1968: Simon & Garfunkel's 'Scarborough Fair/Canticle)' b/w 'April Come She Will' 45 single is released. It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1968: The Union Gap Featuring Gary Puckett 'Young Girl' b/w 'I'm Losing You' 45 single is released. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the UK Singles chart and Cash Box.
1969: A launch party was held for the release of Mary Hopkin's album Postcard at the Post Office Tower in London. Guests included Jimi Hendrix, Donovan and Paul McCartney, with his new girlfriend Linda Eastman.
1969: Bob Dylan recorded versions of 'Lay, Lady, Lay,' at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The song was originally written for the soundtrack of the movie 'Midnight Cowboy,' but wasn't submitted in time to be included in the finished film. The song has gone on to become a standard and has been covered by numerous bands and artists over the years, including The Byrds, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, The Everly Brothers, Neil Diamond, Melanie, The Isley Brothers, Duran Duran, Hoyt Axton, and Isaac Hayes.
1969: The Doors earn a gold record for their single 'Touch Me.'
1969: Sly And The Family Stone's 'Everyday People' is awarded a Gold record.
1969: Bob Dylan recorded versions of 'Lay, Lady, Lay', at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. 'Lay Lady Lay' was originally written for the soundtrack of the movie Midnight Cowboy, but wasn't submitted in time to be included in the finished film.
1970: Black Sabbath's self-titled first album on Vertigo Records is released. It was recorded in three days and cost less than $2,000 to produce. The marketers make sure that it comes out on Friday the 13th. To add mystique to the band's image, new manager Patrick Meehan asked the band to stop giving interviews. It reached #23 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and #8 on the UK Album chart. The album is one of the first to be considered part of the heavy metal genre. In 1989, #Kerrang ranked Black Sabbath #31 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time."
1970: The Byrds, Steppenwolf, and Soul Messengers played at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
1971: Pink Floyd played at show at Student Union Bar, Farnborough Technical College in Fanbororough, Hampshire, England.
1972: King Crimson performed at the Providence Coliseum in Providence, Rhode Island.
1972: Led Zeppelin is forced to cancel a concert in Singapore concert when officials won't let them off the plane because of their long hair. The government deemed the popularity of the "hippie subculture" was a negative influence on their citizens.
1972: Black Oak Arkansas and JJ Cale performed at The Warehouse in New Orleans.
1973: After becoming ill during a concert in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley presented Doctor Sidney Bowers with a Lincoln Continental, to show his appreciation for all his work.
1973: 'Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite,' the soundtrack to an Elvis Presley TV special, goes gold. The program, broadcast two weeks earlier, was seen by one billion viewers.
1974: David Bowie turned down an offer from the Gay Liberation group to compose 'the world's first Gay National Anthem.'
1974: Stevie Wonder, Johnny Winter and Dr. John play at the Bottom Line opening in New York. Mick Jagger attends, but doesn't perform, at the club's inaugural event.
1975: Led Zeppelin appeared at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
1976: The 101'ers featuring Joe Strummer played at The Town Hall in Hampstead, London.
1976: Peter Frampton's 'Frampton Comes Alive!' finally gets a UK release.
1976: Elvis Costello, appearing as DP Costello, played at The Half Moon in Putney, London supporting Vivian Stanshall.
1976: Genesis released their first album since the departure of Peter Gabriel, 'A Trick Of The Tail' featuring eight new tracks with drummer Phil Collins taking on the role of lead vocalist.
1977: KISS release their 13th single, 'Calling Dr. Love.' On May 14, 1977, it peaks at #16 on Billboard's Hot 100.
1977: Rush performed at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri.
1978: Bruce Springsteen played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1978: Dire Straits began recording their first album at Basing Street Studios, London. The whole project cost $21,250 to produce. The album featured the group's breakthrough single 'Sultans of Swing.' The inspiration for 'Sultans of Swing' came from Mark Knopfler witnessing a mediocre jazz band playing in the corner of a practically deserted pub. At the end of their performance, the lead singer came up to the microphone and announced that they were the "Sultans of Swing."
1979: Dire Straits appeared at Philipshalle in Düsseldorf, Germany.
1979: The Police begin work on their sophomore album, 'Reggatta De Blanc,' which is released the following October.
1980: John Lydon's London house is raided by police. The Sex Pistols frontman confronts authorities by waving a ceremonial sword at them. The only illegal item found is a tear gas canister.
1980: Thin Lizzy singer and bassist Phil Lynott married Caroline Crowther, the daughter of British comedian Leslie Crowther.
1981: Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' celebrates 402 weeks in US Top 200 album chart, the longest run in chart history. It would go on to spend 741 consecutive weeks on the charts.
1981: Steve Winwood's 'Arc Of A Diver' becomes the first album to be released in Britain in the new "1+1" format, which contains the artist's music on one side, while the other is left blank for the consumer to record on.
1982: The 300 pound marble slab headstone of Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant was stolen from a cemetery in Orange Park, FL. It was found two weeks later by Orange Park police in a dry river bed.
1982: Nick Lowe performed at the Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.
1982: Loverboy's 'Working For The Weekend' peaks at #29 on the pop chart.
1982: Motley Crue kick off three nights of shows at the famous Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles.
1983: Aerosmith appeared at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
1984: Exciter released the album 'Violence & Force.' The album was produced by The Rods drummer Carl Canedy, who had already produced Anthrax's debut album 'Fistful of Metal.'
1988: The Grateful Dead performed at the Henry J. Kiser Auditorium in Oakland, California.
1989: This years Brit Awards was hosted by Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood in which just about everything went wrong - lines were fluffed and bands mis-cued onto the stage. Winners included Phil Collins who won British Male Solo Artist, British Female Solo Artist was Annie Lennox, Erasure won Best British Group, Best British Album went to Fairground Attraction for 'First Of A Million Kisses', British Breakthrough Act was Bros, Michael Jackson won International Male, International Female went to Tracey Chapman and U2 won Best International Group. This was the last year the show was broadcast live.
1990: The Black Crowes debut album 'Shake Your Money Maker' is released. It reached #4 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart. Two of its singles, 'Hard to Handle' and 'She Talks to Angels,' reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. 'Jealous Again,' 'Twice As Hard' and 'Seeing Things' also charted.
1990: Trouble release their self-titled 4th studio album.
1992: Motley Crue announces Vince Neil is leaving the heavy metal group.
1999: Blondie tops the UK chart with 'Maria,' giving them a British #1 single in the '70s, '80s and '90s.
2000: Oasis scored their 5th UK #1 single with 'Go Let It Out.' The first release on the band's Big Brother label and the 1st single from their 4th studio album Standing on the 'Shoulder of Giants.'
2000: David Bowie announced that his wife Iman is pregnant with his baby. Their daughter was born August 15th, 2000.
2001: Peter Frampton receives the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award, considered the Oscar for the guitar industry. Frampton gets the award during ceremonies at L.A.'s Petersen Automotive Museum.
2002: Two sons of the late reggae star Bob Marley are arrested in North Florida after officers find marijuana in their car. Julian and Stephen Marley, also reggae musicians are released on $500 bail each.
2002: 64 year old Waylon Jennings died of complications from diabetes. At 21, he was a member of Buddy Holly's band who gave up his plane seat to the Big Bopper just before the doomed flight took off on February 3rd, 1959.
2002: AC/DC's 'Stiff Upper Lip Live' DVD is certified Gold by the RIAA.
2004: Led Zeppelin were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Grammys. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham all attended. Robert Plant did not, since he was working on a new album and tour. Plant sends a video message.
2005: U2 win Best Rock Song ('Vertigo') while Green Day wins the award for Best Rock Album ('American Idiot') at the 47th annual Grammy Awards in L.A. Velvet Revolver nab the Best Hard Rock Performance ('Slither') honor. The late Ray Charles earns Album of the Year ('Genius Loves Company'). Former Beach Boy's leader Brian Wilson won his first ever Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental for 'Mrs. O'Leary's Cow' from his CD 'Smile.' the album he was forced to delay for nearly 40 years because of emotional problems. Other classic rockers who took home statues were Rod Stewart - Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for 'Stardust...The Great American Songbook Volume III' and Bruce Springsteen - Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for 'Code Of Silence' from his album 'The Essential Bruce Springsteen.' Among the evening's highpoints is an all-star performance of the Beatles' 'Across The Universe,' with Velvet Revolver and vocals from Bono, Billie Joe Armstrong and Steven Tyler.
2005: The hat that Slash has worn for the past 15 years is stolen from the limousine that carried the Velvet Revolver guitarist to the Grammy Awards ceremony. Slash's wife also has some personal items stolen.
2005: The Rolling Stones' classic album 'Let It Bleed' makes it into the Grammy Hall Of Fame along with Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry.'
2006: It's announced that Fuel vocalist Brett Scallions has left the band and the remaining members are holding auditions for a new singer. Scallions tenure with Fuel lasted over a decade. He did later return to the group.
2007: 'Movies: The Soundtrack Hits,' a 19-track compilation of Van Morrison songs heard in films, is issued. The set has both studio and live recordings, including an '86 in-concert version of 'Moondance.''
2007: Rod Stewart was paid $1 million when he performed at a billionaire's birthday bash. Stewart was booked to play a one-hour gig to help Steve Schwarzman celebrate his 60th birthday held at New York's Park Avenue Armory. He's the CEO of the Blackstone Group, a billion dollar equity company.
2008: KISS' final 'KISSOLOGY - Volume 3 1992-2000' is RIAA certified 8x Platinum.
2008: The mayor of Sudbury, Canada, issues an apology to angry citizens for allowing city council members special access to tickets for an Elton John concert. "My decision to offer so many advance purchase tickets to (the) council was rushed and not given sufficient consideration," says Mayor John Rodriguez.
2008: Kinks frontman Ray Davies performs at the 18th annual Tibet House benefit concert at New York's Carnegie Hall. The event raises money to promote Tibetan civilization and culture. This is Davies fifth appearance at the event.
2010: Doug Fieger singer, songwriter with The Knack died after a long battle with cancer.
2010: Bob Dylan on Canvas opens at the Halcyon Gallery in London. The dozen acrylic paintings are based on drawings from Dylan's 'Drawn Blank Series,' which he made from '89-'92.
2010: Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck play a co-headlining gig at the O2 Arena in London.
2010: The Vatican newspaper L' Osservatore Romano publishes their "semiserious" list of desert island discs. They are: 'Dark Side Of The Moon' (Pink Floyd); 'Revolver' (The Beatles); 'Supernatural' (Santana); 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' (David Crosby); 'Rumours' (Fleetwood Mac); 'Achtung Baby' (U2) and '(What's The Story) Morning Glory' (Oasis). Non-Rock albums by Michael Jackson ('Thriller'), Paul Simon ('Graceland') and Donald Fagen ('Nightfly') also make the cut.
2010: Rockabilly legend Dale Hawkins passes away from colon cancer in Little Rock, AK, at age 73. Best known for 'Susie Q,' which was covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival in '68, Hawkins was a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
2011: The South African Roadies Association pickets U2's show in Johannesburg, at the FNB stadium near Soweto, claiming racist hiring policies by white-run production companies. Later, Bono faces criticism for publicly supporting an African liberation song that calls for shooting white farmers (Boers) in South Africa. White South African groups want the song banned as hate speech. In an interview with South Africa's Sunday Times, Bono compares the song to Irish rebel songs.
2011: Alice In Chains becomes the act with the most Grammy nominations (8) to never win an award when Them Crooked Vultures beat them for the Best Hard Rock Performance honor at the 53rd Grammys. Arcade Fire wins Album of the Year for 'The Suburbs' and Muse's 'The Resistance' takes home the trophy for Best Rock Album. The Black Keys win for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for 'Tighten Up.' Neil Young's 'Angry World' is the Best Rock Song and Paul McCartney gets the Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance honor for 'Helter Skelter,' a cut from his live album 'Good Evening New York City.' Jeff Beck wins Best Rock Instrumental Performance with 'Hammerhead.'
2014: Hellyeah announce that guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob Zilla have left the band, and that Zilla's replacement is Kyle Sanders.
2014: Lynch Mob launch a West Coast tour with new vocalist Thadeus Gonzalez, formerly of Electric Sister. The first stop is Las Vegas.
2015: Bob Dylan's 36th studio album, 'Shadows in the Night,' debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart and #7 on the Billboard 200 with 50,000 units sold.
2017: The documentary 'Eagles Of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends)' premieres on HBO. In '15 the group was performing at the Bataclan Theater in Paris when the venue was attacked by terrorists, 89 people were killed. The film follows the Eagles Of Death Metal as they return to the Bataclan for an emotional performance.
February 14
1931: Ted Lewis' version of 'Just A Gigolo' is the most popular tune in America. David Lee Roth would score a #12 hit with the same song 54 years later in 1985.
1957: The Cuban government bans Rock n' Roll calling it "immoral and profane" and "offensive to public morals."
1958: CBS' Walter Cronkite reports that the government of Iran has banned rock and roll for being unhealthy and anti-Islamic. The "unhealthy" claim is backed by Iranian doctors who warn of hip damage due to "extreme gyrations."
1961: The Beatles performed at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool, and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool where they play a special Valentine's Day show. Paul McCartney sang Elvis Presley's 'Wooden Heart,' wearing wooden heart pinned to his coat, covered with satin and embroidered with the names "John", "Paul", "George", and "Pete". The heart was raffled off, and the winner also won a kiss from Paul. The earliest video footage of The Beatles as a band is taken during their performance at this gig.
1961: Del Shannon's 'Runaway' b/w 'Jody' was released. It was a #1 Billboard Hot 100 song made famous by Del Shannon in 1961. It was written by Shannon and keyboardist Max Crook, and became a major international hit. It is #466 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time from 2004.
1961: The Platters sue Mercury Records for breach of contract in Chicago, citing the record label's refusal to pay royalties for songs on which leader Tony Williams does not, in fact, sing lead.
1964: The Dave Clark Five release 'Bits And Pieces.'
1966: Simon and Garfunkel's 'Sounds Of Silence' is certified gold.
1967: The Doors play the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles.
1967: Jimi Hendrix appeared at Gray's Club in Tilbury, Essex, England.
1968: Manfred Mann were at #1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Bob Dylan song 'The Mighty Quinn.' It was a #10 hit in the US.
1968: Drumming up some publicity, Frank Zappa announces he's working on two films with his Mothers of Invention. 'Uncle Meat' doesn't see the light of day until 1987, while a proposed Japanese monster movie never comes to fruition.
1969: The Grateful Dead perform at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1970: Pink Floyd performed at King's Hall in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
1970: The Who perform at Leeds University in England. The show was recorded for the bands forthcoming 'Live At Leeds' album. The University of Leeds refectory, has now been named a national landmark in the UK, commemorated with a blue plaque.
1970: Billboard Magazine reports that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is "Mounting Total War Against Tape Pirating of Prerecorded Music."
1970: Sly & The Family Stone land at #1 with 'Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin).'
1972: Steppenwolf announce they are splitting up. 'Steppenwolf Day' was declared in Los Angeles Los Angeles mayor Sam Yorty as the band announced their break up.
1972: John and Yoko begin a week-long stint as co-hosts of The Mike Douglas Show. For the next five days the pair will welcome the likes of Chuck Berry, The Chambers Brothers, activist Ralph Nader, comedian Louis Nye and the U.S. Surgeon General.
1972: Neil Young's 4th studio album 'Harvest' is released. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks, and included two hit singles, 'Old Man,' which peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 'Heart of Gold,' which peaked at #1. In 2003, Rolling Stone named Harvest the 78th greatest album of all time.
1972: The '50s tribute musical 'Grease' opens off-Broadway at New York City's Eden Theatre, featuring Barry Bostwick and Adrienne Barbeau. The play is an instant hit, moving to Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre for a record 3,388 performances, and, not incidentally, spawning one of the most popular movies of all time.
1973: David Bowie collapsed on stage during a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. This happens after a male fan tries to kiss him.
1974: Bob Dylan tour ends at the Forum, Los Angeles. Ringo Starr, Carole King and Neil Young join him on stage. Much of the 'Before the Flood' album is recorded here.
1974: Keith Moon flies back to London to play drums at an all-star Roy Harper concert at The Rainbow. Jimmy Page, David Bedford, and John Bonham also take part under the band name Interglactic Elephant Band. Part of the show is later released as the Roy Harper album 'Flashes From The Archive Of Oblivion.'
1975: Rush played at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
1976: The Who's 'Squeeze Box' peaks at #16 on the singles charts.
1976: Electric Light Orchestra peaked at 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Evil Woman' which was their second top 10 single in the U.S.
1976: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Sweet's 'Action' debuting at #80 while Aerosmith's 'Dream On' was #34, Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was #33, Foghat's 'Slow Ride' was #28, The Who's 'Squeeze Box' was at #16, Nazareth's 'Love ' at#13, and ELO's 'Evil Woman' at #10.
1976: Heart's 'Dreamboat Annie' album is released in the U.S. It originally released was in the summer of 1975 in Canada. It reached #7 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart during its 100 week stay. Three singles also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 - 'Crazy On You' (#35), 'Magic Man" (#9), and 'Dreamboat Annie' (#42).
1977: The B-52's made their first live performance, appearing in a Greenhouse at a Valentines Day party in Athens.
1978: Dire Straits began recording their first album at Basing Street Studios in London with producer Muff Winwood. The whole project cost $21,250 to produce.
1979: Dire Straits performed at the Rosengarten in Mannheim, Germany.
1980: Heart release their 5th studio album, 'Bebe le Strange.' It reached #5 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart during its 22 week stay.
1980: Blue Oyster Cult played at Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1980: Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott marries Caroline Crowther.
1980: Lou Reed married Sylvia Morales at a ceremony in his New York apartment.
1981: Billy Idol quits Generation X to go solo.
1981: Steely Dan peaked at 310 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Hey Nineteen' which was their third and final top 10 single in the U.S.
1982: Iron Maiden's 'Beast On The Road' tour opens.
1984: Elton John married recording engineer Renate Blauer in Sydney, Australia. Attendees include Olivia Newton-John and Rod Stewart. The couple divorced three years later.
1984: Joe Perry & Brad Withford met with Aerosmith backstage after their concert at Boston's Orpheum Theatre & agreed to re-join the group, which was announced the following April. Perry left in 1979, and Whitford, the following year.
1986: Frank Zappa appeared on an episode of the television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrayed a crime boss named 'Mr. Frankie.'
1986: Europe release 'The Final Countdown' single.
1986: Honeymoon Suite release their 'The Big Prize' album.
1987: Boston peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'We're Ready' which was their final top 10 single in the U.S.
1987: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Bon Jovi's 'Livin' On A Prayer' at #1, Cinderella's 'Nobody's Fool' at #13, Glass Tiger's 'Someday' at #19, Europe's 'The Final Countdown' at #42, Genesis debut with 'Tonight Tonight Tonight' at #45 and Sammy Hagar's 'Winner Take It All' debuts at #84.
1987: Bon Jovi hit sales of five million with 'Slippery When Wet'.
1987: Bon Jovi started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart with 'Livin' On A Prayer,' the group's second US #1, a #4 hit in the UK.
1989: Keyboard player Vincent Crane died. He was a member of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Atomic Rooster.
1990: The Rolling Stones played the first of ten nights at the Korakuen Dome, Tokyo, Japan. The shows were seen by over 500,000 fans, making the band $20 million.
1991: Poison's 'Flesh & Blood' is certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA.
1992: The movie 'Wayne's World opens. It features a cameo from Meatloaf.The use of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in the film propelled the song to #2 on the US singles charts nearly 20 years after its first release. Thanks to Alice Cooper's appearance in Wayne's World, we learn that "Milwaukee" is Algonquin for "the good land." The shock rocker performs 'Feed My Frankenstein' in the film. Meat Loaf also makes a cameo.
1992: Lead singer Vince Neil, who had been pursuing IndyCar racing, is booted from Mötley Crüe. "Race car driving has become a priority in Neil's life," the band's management says in a statement. "His band mates felt he didn't share their determination and passion for music." Neil returns to the fold in 1997.
1993: Harry Nilsson suffers a heart attack. He recovers from this one, but another would kill him in January of 1994.
1994: Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia married moviemaker Deborah Koons.
1994: The Beatles' '1962-1966' & '1967-1970' albums are re-released by EMI in the UK on red and blue vinyl. These colored vinyl editions of the new digitally enhanced Red and Blue albums and pressed just 20,000 copies. E.M.I. then deleted the release immediately.
1995: Nevermore released their self-titled debut studio album. It was singer Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard's first release after departing from their previous band, Sanctuary, in 1994.
1995: Slash's Snakepit release their first studio album, 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.' The album reached #70 on the #Billboard 200 chart.
1995: Lita Ford released her 6th studio album, 'Black.'
1996: 37 year old Prince Rogers Nelson, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, marries 22 year old backup singer Mayte Garcia at a ceremony in Minneapolis. White doves are released when they exchange vows - no word on if they were crying. The marriage is annulled three years later, and Garcia takes up with Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe.
1998: Marilyn Manson begins a brief book signing tour on Valentine's Day at Tower Records in New York in support of his autobiography 'It's A Long Hard Road Out of Hell.'
1999: The Deftones, on the final stop of their tour opening for Black Sabbath, find that their truck has been stolen from the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Dearborn, Michigan. Taken are all of the band's backline equipment and instruments, including several of Chi Chings' Precision Fender Bass guitars, and Stephen Carpenter's custom-made guitars and racks.
1999: Lenny Kravitz scored his first UK #1 single with 'Fly Away,' a #12 hit in the U.S.
1999: Rocker Buddy Knox dies of lung cancer at age 65.
1999: Elton John appeared as himself in a special episode of the animated series The Simpsons, where he does a re-worked version of 'Your Song.'
2000: KISS announced that they were going to do a farewell tour in makeup and then sell off the stage props from their career in an auction.
2001: Prince launches the NPG Music Club, one of the first music subscription services. The club acts as a virtual hub for the Prince faithful, with a thriving community, online access to his music, VIP passes to concerts and other exclusives. It runs until 2006, when Prince shuts it down, saying it "has gone as far as it can go."
2002: Mick Tucker, drummer for The Sweet dies at age 54 after a five-year battle against leukemia.
2003: The movie 'Daredevil' is released, featuring two songs by a new band called Evanescence: "Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal." Both songs later appear on the group's debut album, Fallen, and become hits.
2003: Australian police uncovered Beatles album art and reel-to-reel tapes in a raid after they were advertised for sale in a Sydney newspaper. All the material appeared to be from the White Album and Abbey Road sessions, which were stolen from the band's London studio in 1969.
2004: Dave Holland, former drummer with Judas Priest was jailed for eight years for indecent assault and the attempted rape of a 17-year old boy. The youth, who had learning difficulties, had been taking drum lessons from Holland.
2004: Modest Mouse release 'Float On,' the first single from 'Good News For People Who Love Bad News.' It becomes the band's first #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks.
2005: Queens Of The Stone Age announce that Dan Druff, their former guitar tech, has replaced ousted bassist Nick Oliveri. Druff played a secret show with the band the previous week and passed the 'audition'. In other QOTSA news, Mark Lanegan makes an unexpected appearance onstage with his former bandmates in Milan, Italy. Lanegan, who left the group in '04, sings eight songs, as the group launches its European tour.
2005: Patti Boyd, the former Mrs. George Harrison and Mrs. Eric Clapton, who inspired the songs 'Something' and 'Layla,' exhibits her photos of Harrison, Clapton, Mick Jagger and B.B. King at the San Francisco Art Exchange.
2005: John Mellencamp performs on ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'
2005: Sammy Hagar and his wife Kari are the subjects of VH1's 'I Married.' Each show profiles the life of a famous musician and their spouse.
2005: Kerrang! magazine announced the results of its readers' poll for the best British rock albums ever. The Top 10 were: #1, Black Sabbath's 'Black Sabbath'; #2 Iron Maiden's 'Number Of The Beast'; #3, Sex Pistols' 'Never Mind The Bollock's, Here's The Sex Pistols;' #4, 'Led Zeppelin IV'; #5, Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid'; #6, Muse's 'Absolution'; #7, The Clash's 'London Calling'; #8, Queen's 'Sheer Heart Attack'; #9, Iron Maiden's 'Iron Maiden' and #10, Manic Street Preachers' 'The Holy Bible.'
2006: Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson host VH1 Classic's special Valentine's Day programming. The sisters read romantic dedications sent in by viewers.
2007: Carlos Oliveira, from Portugal, is the winner of Incubus' video contest for their single 'Dig' (from 'Light Grenades'). "It's all animation. We're not in it, which is awesome," says guitarist Mike Einzinger. "He just did an amazing job of taking the artwork from our album and animating it into a story." Five finalists are flown to Hollywood for the announcement
2007: Aerosmith are featured in the music-themed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. The band is pictured with model Bar Refaeli.
2007: Oasis won the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the 27th annual Brit Awards at London's Earls Court.
2008: Oasis singer Liam Gallagher married his long-term partner, the ex-All Saints singer Nicole Appleton at a civil ceremony in London. The venue, Westminster Register Office, was where Gallagher married his first wife, Patsy Kensit, in 1997.
2008: Boston's Tom Scholz sends a letter to Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee demanding that he stop using 'More Than A Feeling' at campaign events. "You have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed," writes the guitarist, a Barack Obama supporter. Ex-Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau had performed the song with Huckabee at rallies.
2008: Pat Benatar and her guitarist husband, Neil Giraldo make the first of two appearances on the CBS soap 'The Young And The Restless.' The couple play themselves and perform 'Every Time I Fall Back.'
2009: Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Working on a Dream,' his 16th studio album. It's his 9th #1.
2010: Doug Fieger singer, songwriter with The Knack died after a long battle with cancer. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of The Knack, and co-wrote 'My Sharona', the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, and was Capitol Records' fastest gold status debut single since the Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in 1964. The Knack had the 1979 US #1 and UK #6 single 'My Sharona.' When Fieger was 25, he met 17-year-old Sharona Alperin, who he wrote the song for, as well as later becoming Fieger's girlfriend for the next four years.
2010: Blues musician Lil' Dave Thompson dies in a car accident at age 40.
2010: Dale Hawkins, a Rockabilly artist most often remembered for his 1957 hit 'Susie-Q,' lost his battle with colon cancer at the age of 73.
2011: Skillet's guitarist Ben Kasica announces that he is leaving the Christian Rock band to focus on other projects. "I had no idea how long the ride would last but have enjoyed it immensely," says Kasica in a statement.
2011: Motley Crue's Vince Neil surrendered to Nevada authorities to start serving 15 days behind bars for a DUI charge. Neil told People.com, "I've already learned my lesson. I just have to move on and get past it and get it behind me."
2012: Lillian Axe released the album 'XI: The Days Before Tomorrow.'
2012: Van Halen's A Different Kind Of Truth lands at #2 on Billboard's 200 Album Chart.
2012: Halestorm release the music video for their anti-love song 'Love Bites (So Do I)' for Valentine's Day. "The song is my little stab against the media's portrayal of love," says frontwoman Lzzy Hale. "Your heart cannot be measured or judged by the quizzes in magazines and scenes in movies. So for both boys and girls I tell you this, love who and how you want, and for god's sake when love bites, bite back!"
2013: Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo tells fans a financial dispute has resulted in his being replaced for the group's Australian tour. "(Slayer guitarist Kerry King) made it clear he wasn't interested in making changes and said if I wanted to argue the point, he would find another drummer," writes Lombardo, who claims the group only receives 10% or less of tour revenues. Slayer disputes Lombardo's accusations and brings back former member Jon Dette for the Aussie trek.
2014: KISS headline the Mending Kids All-Star Benefit Concert at The House Of Blues in L.A. The event raises more than $5 million for the charity.
2014: David Bowie and Rick Rubin are honored at the Producers Awards. Bowie is given the Innovation Award for his 2013 effort, 'The Next Day,' while Rubin earns the International Producer of the Year honor.
2014: Gibson debuts the Billy F. Gibbons Goldtop Les Paul guitar. It has a luminous goldtop finish adorned with a pinstripe designed by the ZZ Top axeman.
2014: Lacuna Coil announce via Facebook that guitarist Cristiano 'Pizza' Migliore and drummer Cristiano 'Criz' Mozzati have left after 16 years for personal reasons.
2017: Marilyn Manson issue their 10th studio album, 'Say10.' Manson states that the set is "by far the most thematic and over-complicated thing that I've done."
February 15
1954: Big Joe Turner records one of the first Rock songs, 'Shake, Rattle And Roll,' at Atlantic Records studios in New York.
1958: Jerry Lee Lewis performs'"Great Balls of Fire' and his latest release 'Breathless' on American Bandstand. Later in the day, he would appear on Dick Clark's Rock 'n' Roll program, Saturday Night Beechnut Show, along with Pat Boone, Chuck Willis, Connie Francis, The Royal Teens and Johnnie Ray.
1958: Elvis Presley's 'Don't' hits #1.
1964: The Dave Clark Five appeared on the UK TV show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars.'
1964: 'Meet the Beatles' begins an eleven-week run at top of US album chart. It was the first #1 album for the band.
1965: The Beatles 'Eight Days a Week' b/w 'I Don't Want to Spoil the Party' 45 single is released.
1966: The Beatles release 'Nowhere Man' in the U.S. Though credited to John Lennon/Paul McCartney, it was predominately written by John after he'd fruitlessly spent the night trying to come up with a song and decided to take a break."
1967: Music students at Chicago's DePaul University form a seven-piece rock ensemble called The Big Thing. Later, they would change their name to Chicago Transit Authority, and then, simply, Chicago.
1967: The first anti-bootlegging recording laws are enacted.
1967: Jimi Hendrix played at the Dorothy Ballroom in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.
1968: US blues harmonica player Little Walter died from injuries incurred in a fight while taking a break from a performance at a nightclub in Chicago. First harmonica player to amplify his harp giving it a distorted echoing sound. He joined Muddy Waters' band in 1948 and he was the first harmonica player to amplify his harp giving it a distorted echoing sound.
1968: John and Cynthia Lennon, along with George and Patti Harrison, fly to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul and Ringo joined them a few days later, but Starr would become bored and leave on March 1st comparing the experience to be like a 'Butlins holiday camp.' Much of the Beatles' 'White Album' was written during their stay.
1968: Blues harmonica player Little Walter (born Marion Walter Jacobs), dies from injuries sustained in a fight after a performance at a nightclub in Chicago. He was 37. Joining Muddy Waters' band in 1948, he was the first harmonica player to amplify his harp, giving it a distorted echoing sound. Walter was an influence on Jimi Hendrix, John Popper, Charlie Parker and many others. He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 in the category Sideman, the only artist to be inducted specifically as a harmonica player.
1969: The Who performed at Dreamland Fun Park in Margate, Kent, England.
1969: The Monkees 7th studio album, 'Instant Replay' is released. Released six months after the cancellation of the group's NBC television series, it is also the first album released after Peter Tork left the group and the only album of the original nine studio albums that does not include any songs featured in the TV show from the original NBC run nor the CBS/ABC reruns. It reached #32 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1969: The Doors peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Touch Me' which was their third and final top 10 single in the U.S.
1969: Led Zeppelin played the second of two nights at Thee Image Club in Miami, Florida. Thee Image was a converted bowling alley, with all of the lanes stripped out and standing room only. The stages were on the center back wall.
1969: Sly and the Family Stone started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart with 'Everyday People,' their first chart topper.
1970: The Daughters of the American Revolution announce that there will be no more rock concerts at their Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Seems the organization was miffed that Sly & the Family Stone sparked a riot after turning up five hours late for a gig there.
1970: Grand Funk, Mountain, Chicago, Rare Earth, Cold Blood, Rotary Connection appeared at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.
1971: The Who first perform 'Lifehouse Pete,' Townshend's new rock opera. It failed, although some songs were recorded for The Who's next album.
1971: George Harrison's 'What Is Life' b/w 'Apple Scruffs' 45 single is released. It peaked at #10 in the Billboard Hot 100, making Harrison the first member of the Beatles to log two Top 10 solo hits on that chart.
1971: The Allman Brothers Band played at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
1972: The US government's new anti-piracy laws are enacted, a response to widespread bootlegging of major artists.
1973: The Grateful Dead appeared at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
1974: David Bowie's 'Rebel Rebel' b/w 'Queen Bitch' 45 single is released in the UK. It reached #5 in the UK and #64 in the USA. The latter release initially featured a different recording altogether.
1974: Yes performed at the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut.
1974: Deep Purple release their 8th studio album 'Burn.' It reached #9 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and #3 on the UK album chart.
1975: Linda Ronstadt hits #1 on the pop chart with 'You're No Good.' It's the singers only solo chart topper out of 12 other top 40 hits. Her album 'Heart Like a Wheel' also goes to #1. The song first appeared on the chart in 1963 when Betty Everette took it to #81.
1975: After record executive Morris Levy releases an album called 'Roots - John Lennon Sings The Great Rock & Roll Hits' without Lennon's permission, Capitol Records rush releases John Lennon's 'Rock and Roll' album, which contains the completed versions of the songs. Lennon had given Levy some master tapes from the sessions as part of compensation for using a Chuck Berry lyric in 'Come Together': "Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly."
1975: Rush released their sophomore album 'Fly by Night' which was their first album with Neil Peart on drums. It reached #113 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1976: Roxy Music appeared at the Kent State University Memorial Gymnasium in Kent, Ohio.
1977: Sid Vicious joins the Sex Pistols, replacing Glen Matlock. The story goes Matlock was dumped because he 'liked' The Beatles. When the group reunited in 1996, 2002 & 2007, Matlock was their bassist.
1977: 'The Best Of George Harrison' is certified gold.
1977: SwangSong, Led Zeppelin's label released the following: "For the fourth consecutive year, Led Zeppelin swept the top honors in the major U.S. and U.K. music polls. Zeppelin took five first places in Creem and Circus and six in Britain's New Musical Express. Over 40,000 ballots were cast in the Circus readers poll determining that Led Zeppelin were 1976's best group. Jimmy Page topped Jeff Beck and Queen's Brian May to maintain his position as best guitarist. Robert Plant was voted number one male vocalist. The best songwriting award went to Page and Plant. Elton John and Bernie Taupin placing second. Jimmy Page won the top spot as producer of the year."
1978: Billy Joel is a big winner at The Grammys, with 'Just The Way You Are' taking Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
1978: Frank Zappa played at Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany.
1979: A&M ends its tenure as the US' largest indie record company as RCA records begins its new distributing deal with the label.
1980: Elvis Costello and the Attractions 'Get Happy!!' album is released. It's the 4th album by Elvis Costello, and his 3rd with the Attractions. It reached #11 on the Billboard Top Albums chart, and #2 on the UK Albums chart. In 1989, Rolling Stone placed it at #11 on its list of the 100 best albums of the 1980's.
1980: Def Leppard release their 'Hello America' single.
1980: The Knack release their '...But the Little Girls Understand' single. It reaches #38 on the singles chart.
1980: Rush appeared at Roberts Municipal Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.
1981: American guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose. He was a member of the Paul Butterfield band and Electric Flag and had played on Bob Dylan's album 'Highway 61 Revisited.' He was 37. In 2003 he was ranked at #22 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Dylan remembered Bloomfield as "the guy that I always miss....he had so much soul." In 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
1982: Jimmy Page released his 'Death Wish II' soundtrack album on Swan Song Records.
1984: Van Halen played at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia.
1988: After singer Joe Elliot had referred to El Paso, Texas as "the place with all those greasy Mexicans," Def Leppard were forced to cancel a concert in El Paso, after they received threats that the gig would be disrupted.
1991: Rod Stewart's ex-girlfriend, supermodel Kelly Emberg, files a $25 million palimony suit against the singer in Los Angeles Superior Court. Rod Stewart later said: "Instead of getting married again, I'm going to find a woman I don't like and just give her a house."
1993: Little Richard expresses his anger after being told he will receive his Lifetime Achievement Award during the non-televised portion of the Grammy Awards. Richard said "This is the crowning achievement of my career and they want to give it to me secretly."
1994: Soundgarden released the single 'Spoonman.'
1995: ZZ Top filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Steridyne Corporation which made a $100 gel-filled mattress bed-sore product named the ZZ Topper.
1995: The Long Beach, California heavy metal radio station KNAC goes off the air and is replaced by the Spanish radio station KBUE on the same channel - 105.5FM. The station signs off at approximately 1:59PM after playing Metallica's 'Fade to Black.' Three years, later KNAC goes back on the air, this time on the internet at KNAC.com.
1997: U2 went to #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Discotheque,' the band's 3rd UK chart topping single. The entire track was leaked onto the Internet in December 1996, forcing U2 to move up the release date.
1998: The Rolling Stones performed the final show of their Bridges to Babylon North American tour at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel. Mick Jagger called the crowd, which included Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Sting, "The best-dressed audience I've ever seen in my life."
1999: Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura declared Rolling Stones Day in Minnesota before their concert in Minneapolis. Ventura was a bodyguard for the group.
2000: Fu Manchu released their 6th studio album, 'King of the Road.'
2000: Sting pulled-out of a concert in Vienna in protest at the inclusion of Jorg Haider's far right freedom party in Austria's new government. Lou Reed had also cancelled shows in the country.
2000: 'BBC Sessions,' the collection of live and studio Who tracks recorded for the BBC from 1965 to 1970, was finally released in the US and Europe. European purchasers get the extra tracks 'Man With Money' and the complete 'Shakin' All Over/Spoonful' unavailable on the US disc. However, American purchasers have the option of getting a seven-track bonus disc unavailable in Europe if they buy BBC Sessions at Best Buy department stores. The CD peaks at #101 in the U.S., #24 in the UK and #50 in Japan.
2001: David Lee Roth sued VanHalenStore.com, claiming they were violating the Consumers Legal Remedies Act by selling merchandise with his image on it.
2001: Beatles principal George Harrison participates in his first-ever online chats via Yahoo! Chat and MSN Live.
2002: Tommy Lee was sued by the parents of the boy who drowned in his pool the previous year. They alleged there was no lifeguard provided at the pool. Lee was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
2003: System Of A Down film the video for 'Boom' while performing at an anti-war protest.
2003: Good Charlotte's 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' peaks at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest they would get on the chart.
2005: Sonny Mayo replaces Clint Lowery in Sevendust.
2006: KNAC, 105.5 FM, the legendary Los Angeles, California heavy metal radio station, goes off the air and is replaced by a Spanish station. James Hatfield and Lars Ulrich from Metallica are there to play the last song, 'Fade To Black,' which was one of the first songs played when the station signed on in 1986. Years later, KNAC is revived on the internet at KNAC.com.
2006: U2's 2005 mega-tour wins the Major Tour of the Year honor, at the 17th annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards in Las Vegas. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers/Black Crowes joint tour is recognized in the Most Creative Tour Package category.
2006: Green Day nail the International Group and International Album ('American Idiot') categories at the Brit Awards in London.
2006: The gravesite of AC/DC singer Bon Scott in Fremantle, Australia, is classified as a historic site by the National Trust heritage organization. The listing, traditionally reserved for heritage buildings and homes, confirms the cultural importance of the site, which is one of the most visited sites in Fremantle, attracting thousands of fans every year.
2007: A group headed by former Vice President Al Gore announce plans for a series of concerts on July 7th to promote awareness of global warming. More than 100 performers, including Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, AFI, KoRn and Fall Out Boy are slated for Live Earth shows in London, Shanghai, Sydney, Johannesburg, the U.S., Brazil and Japan.
2007: The official announcement comes that singer Chris Cornell has left Audioslave, effectively ending the supergroup. The recent decision by other bandmembers to participate in a Rage Against The Machine (their former band) reunion tour is listed among the reasons.
2007: Yes singer Jon Anderson plays the first of two shows with the School of Rock All-Stars in Glenside, PA. The All-Stars are from a Philadelphia-based music-education program for young people aged 7-18. Anderson appeared in an 2003 documentary about the program.
2007: Tool's North American tour kicks off in Ls Vegas.
2008: Carlos Santana performs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It's the guitarist's first concert in the Middle East.
2008: Richard Moore, who is running for governor of North Carolina holds a press conference saying his 'team' made a mistake using The Eagles 'Life In The Fast Lane' in campaign commercials without authorization. The song is pulled at the request of The Eagles' management. Moore apologizes but Don Henley and his wife donate $4,000 apiece (the maximum allowable amount) to Moore's rival, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.
2008: A flat once rented by The Beatles in London went up for sale for £1.75m. The band shared the three-bedroom top floor property in Green Street, Mayfair in the autumn of 1963. A publicity photo of the Fab Four peering over a banister, used as the cover for the December 1963 edition of The Beatles Book, was taken at the top of the property's communal stairwell.
2011: Deftones fans at the Thunder Dome in Bangkok, Thailand, riot after the band cancels a scheduled performance an hour and a half after the show was set to kick off. The venue reportedly experienced a power failure, leaving the band without the use of a P.A. system.
2011: The Rolling Stones, in partnership with Stern Pinball, announce the release of the Rolling Stones Pinball Machine. The machine takes the player on a tour of four decades of Rolling Stones albums and history while playing thirteen Rolling Stones songs.
2011: Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil begins serving a two week sentence following a Las Vegas DUI conviction. Over 25 years earlier (1984) Neil served 20 days after pleading guilty to drunk driving and manslaughter that caused a wreck that killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas Dingley. Neil also paid $2.5 million in restitution after the initial conviction.
2011: Stryper released their 8th studio album, 'The Covering.'
2012: Van Halen's 'A Different Kind Of Truth,' is #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart after selling 187,000 copies in its debut week.
2012: The Foo Fighters host a fundraising concert for President Obama's re-election campaign at the home of soap opera writer/producer Bradley Bell in Holmby Hills, CA. "I would hate to hand the administration over to another party that is just focused on corporations, greed and money," says Foo Fighters frontman David Grohl. "You know, I'm a fun, peace-loving guy, but sometimes the right wing gets a little too selfish." 1,000 supporters attend.
2013: Chubby Checker launched a half-billion dollar lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard for including an app on its phones and tablets that used the same name as the 71-year-old musician to measure a man's penis length based on his shoe size. The app had already been removed in 2012 after it was downloaded just 84 times at a cost of 99 cents. In July, 2014, the suit would be settled out of court for undisclosed terms.
2015: Paul McCartney appears during the three-hour-plus Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary special. He and Paul Simon perform The Beatles' 'I've Just Seen A Face.' Later in the show, after being introduced by the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, McCartney does 'Maybe I'm Amazed.'
2016: Among the winners at the 58th annual Grammy Awards were Best Blues Album: 'Born To Play Guitar' by Buddy Guy, Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: 'I'll Be Me' by Glen Campbell and Best Spoken Word Album: 'A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety' by Jimmy Carter.
2016: The Grammys paid tribute to the late Glenn Frey when Eagles co-founders Don Henley and Bernie Leadon, along with guitarist Joe Walsh, bassist Tim Schmit and Jackson Browne, took the stage for a rendition of 'Take It Easy,' After their performance, show producer Ken Ehrlich presented the band with the Grammy Award that they won for 'Hotel California' which were they were not on-hand to receive at the 1977 Grammys.
2016: Paul McCartney was denied access to a Grammy after-party which was being held at the Argyle club in Hollywood. McCartney, along with Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and Beck, then headed to another party hosted by Republic Records, and had no problem getting in. Alluding to the incident, Maca quipped, "How VIP do we gotta get? We need another hit."
February 16
1955: Elvis Presley plays at the Odessa Senior High School in Odessa, Texas. A young Roy Orbison is in the audience.
1957: Disc jockey Pete Murray begins hosting BBC television's first Rock 'n' Roll music program 'The Six-Five Special,' named for the time the show began, five minutes after six. The show was given air-time immediately after the abolition of what was called the Toddlers' Truce, which had seen television stop between 6 and 7pm so children could be put to bed.
1963: The Beatles saw their second release, 'Please Please Me,' reach the top of the UK singles chart. No one seemed to care that during one verse, John and Paul can clearly be heard singing different words.
1964: The Beatles made their second live appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, exactly one week after the first. Before an audience of 3,500 at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, The Beatles performed 'She Loves You,' 'This Boy,' 'All My Loving,' 'I Saw Her Standing There,' 'From Me to You,' and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand.' An estimated audience of 70 million were watching.
1965: The Who perform at the Marquee Club where they are filmed for French television performing 'Heatwave,' ';Tell Me More,' 'Shout and Shimmy,' and 'Smokestack Lightning.' The footage is later broadcast on the ORTF TV 2 program Seize Millions De Jeunes on March 18th. Pete and manager Kit Lambert are both interviewed, the latter in French. Sticking to English, Pete expresses his doubts about marriage and mocks religious belief.
1967: Pink Floyd played at Guildhall in Southampton, Hampshire, England.
1968: George and Patti Harrison, and John and Cynthia Lennon fly to India for two months of transcendental meditation study with Maharishi Mahish Yogi. Ringo and Maureen Starr, Paul McCartney, Jane Asher, Mia Farrow and Donovan join them two days later. The experience is later written about in song 'Sexy Sadie.'
1968: Jimi Hendrix played back to back shows during his US tour at the Music Hall at Fair Park, as well as at McFarlin Memorial Auditorium in Dallas, Texas.
1968: Elvis Presley's Gospel album, 'How Great Thou Art' is awarded a Gold record. It would go on to win a Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance and by 2010 was certified Triple-Platinum. The L.P. includes Presley's 1965 #3 hit, 'Crying in the Chapel.'
1969: The Doors' single 'Touch Me' peaks at #3 on the pop charts.
1971: The Rolling Stones were sued by the Hell's Angel who was accused of stabbing a concertgoer at Altamont in 1969. Alan David Pasaro alleged that the Stones invaded his privacy by including footage of the fatal attack in their documentary Gimme Shelter.
1971: Johnny Cash recorded his signature song, 'The Man In Black.'
1972: Rick Nelson begins his first British tour.
1972: Genesis played at Greens Playhouse in Glasgow, Scotland.
1972: Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watt's wife Shirley was arrested after an incident at Nice Airport for swearing and hitting custom's officials.
1972: Hell's Angel Alan David Pasaro was acquitted of the murder of Rolling Stones fan Meredith Hunter at Altamont.
1972: Led Zeppelin made their Australian live debut when they kicked off a six date tour at the Subiaco Oval, Perth. Police battled with over 500 fans who rammed locked gates trying to get into the concert. Over 4,000 fans stood outside the venue without tickets and local residents jammed police phone lines to complain about the noise.
1972: John Lennon performed 'Memphis' & 'Johnnie B. Goode' with Chuck Berry on The Mike Douglas Show. Lennon and Yoko Ono were co-hosts of the afternoon talk show for the week.
1973: Grand Funk Railroad played at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.
1974: During a tour of America the members of Emerson, Lake & Palmer were arrested in Salt Lake City after swimming naked in the hotel pool. They were each fined $75.
1974: Bob Dylan started a four week run at #1 on the album chart with 'Planet Waves.' The album was originally set to be titled 'Ceremonies Of The Horsemen,' a reference to the song 'Love Minus Zero / No Limit,' from the 1965 album 'Bringing It All Back Home.' When Dylan decided to change the title at the last minute, the release was delayed for two weeks. It's his first album to hit the top spot.
1974: Elton John releases 'Bennie And The Jets.'
1974: Winners in the UK music weekly Disc Readers Awards Poll included: Slade for Top UK group. Top musician, Roy Wood; David Bowie won UK and World male singer, as well as Top single with 'Jean Genie,' and album with 'Aladdin Sane.' Top female singer was Lynsey De Paul, and Brightest hope was won by David Essex.
1975: T. Rex 'Bolan's Zip Gun' album is released in the UK. A UK-only release, the album did not chart, however, the single 'Light of Love' reached #22 on the UK singles chart.
1975: Linda Ronstadt's 'You're No Good' hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1975: Cher started her own weekly hour of a music and comedy show on CBS-TV. The singer had co-hosted The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour with her former husband. Cher's new show featured a female guest each week. The first guests are Elton John, Bette Midler and Flip Wilson.
1975: Lou Reed's concert in Rome ends in a riot when a political group attempts to halt the show and the police use tear gas to control the crowd. During the melee, Reed is hit with a brick.
1976: David Bowie appeared at the Civic Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1976: Sweet released their 4th album, 'Give Us a Wink.'
1977: ZZ Top performed at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
1978: Santana played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1979: George Harrison's 'Blow Away' b/w 'Soft Touch' 45 single is released in the UK. The song is one of Harrison's most popular and beloved post-Apple singles and was included in 'Nuns on the Run,' a comedy starring Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane.
1980: Rush appeared at the University Of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
1982: The Grateful Dead performed at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco.
1982: Simon & Garfunkel's 'The Concert in Central Park' is released. The live reached #6 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. The single, 'Wake Up Little Susie' reached the Adult Contemporary (#5) and The Billboard Hot 100 (#27) chart.
1984: Jerry Lee Lewis surrendered to federal authorities on charges of income tax evasion. Lewis would later be acquitted.
1985: Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the UK album chart with 'Born In The USA,' his first UK #1 album and the singer's 7th studio album. It was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States, and Springsteen's most successful album ever. The album produced a record-tying string of seven top 10 singles.
1985: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo became parents for the first time as their daughter Haley Egeana was born.
1987: The Cult release their 'Love Removal Machine' single.
1988: The Church 'Starfish' is released. It reached #41 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart. The single, 'Under The Milky Way' reached both the Billboard Mainstream Rock (#2) and Hot 100 (#26).
1990: The day before he turns 18, Billie Joe Armstrong drops out of high school. A week later, he releases the first album with his band 'Green Day: 39/Smooth.'
1990: Ike Turner was sentenced to four years in prison for possession & transport of cocaine. He would be released after serving 18 months.
1991: The Simpsons were at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Do The Bartman.' The song was written by Michael Jackson and Bryan Lorenand. The Simpsons became the first cartoon characters to reach number one since the Archies hit 'Sugar Sugar' in 1969. Jackson was a massive fan of The Simpsons and had called the producers one night offering to write Bart a #1 single and do a guest spot on the show.
1992: Mick Jagger is refused entry to Japan because he didn't have proper papers to enter the country.He spends the night in a Tokyo airport hotel but eventually Japanese Immigration officials issue him with a visa.
1993: At the 12th Annual Brit Awards in London. Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones and Bill Wyman (who was filling in for the sick Ronnie Lane) play together in what turns out to be a Faces reunion. Nirvana wins the Best International Newcomer.
1993: Lynyrd Skynyrd releases 'The Last Rebel,' the band's 7th album, on which Kurt Custer appears for his first time and guitarist Randall Hall for his last.
2003: System Of A Down films the video for 'Boom' while performing at an anti-war protest. However, the Iraq war goes off as scheduled.
2004: Sir Paul McCartney telephoned the British tabloid The Sun to deny reports of a rift between his second wife, Heather Mills, and his daughter, Stella McCartney. "I'm sick of people saying Heather and Stella don't get on," he said, adding, "The truth is they do."
2004: Doris Troy (born Doris Elaine Higginsen) dies from emphysema at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was 67. Discovered by James Brown, Troy was a session singer who sang on Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon and was signed to the Beatles Apple Records label. She also sang backup vocals with The Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, George Harrison, Dusty Springfield, and Carly Simon. Her only U.S. solo hit was 'Just One Look,' co-written with Dionne Warwick.
2005: Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens was awarded substantial damages from The Sunday Times and The Sun, after they had printed articles alleging he was involved in terrorism. Both newspapers apologized to the 56 year old musician for the "false and highly defamatory allegations." The papers also paid his legal bills and pledged not to repeat the allegations. The money awarded was given to Tsunami relief projects.
2005: Jack White appears on CBS' '60 Minutes Wednesday.' The White Stripes frontman claims he almost gave up Rock n' Roll to become a priest. He was accepted by a seminary but decided to go to public school instead. "I had just gotten a new amplifier and I didn't think I was allowed to take it with me," says White.
2005: Jimi Hendrix memorabila goes on the block with a 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar fetching nearly $190,000. The London auction also features a poem written by Hendrix in 1967 and an autographed copy of the Experience's first single, 'Hey Joe.'
2005: Kid Rock was arrested in Nashville on charges that he punched a DJ at a nightclub. Rock is charged with misdemeanor simple assault. Apparently, Rock thought the DJ had insulted his friend and insisted on an apology. When he didn't get one, Rock started swinging. Police were called to the incident but Rock escaped from the club. Shortly after, he was pulled over by an officer who got an autograph but did not do a breath test despite smelling alcohol. (The officer has since been fired). The star was eventually arrested a few hours later, taken to the night court and released on $3,000 bail.
2006: Kid Rock's two month U.S. tour starts Hollywood, FL.
2006: Elton John wins a libel case he filed against London's Sunday Times newspaper over an article it ran claiming that he exhibited rude behavior at an 2005 charity ball. The amount of damages is undisclosed.
2006: 'The Taste Of Chaos Tour' kicks off in San Diego with the Deftones as the headliner.
2007: North Dakota's House of Representatives rejects a resolution to formally honor Bono for his Third World advocacy following complaints that the U2 singer has no connection with the state. "This is something that does matter to us as citizens of North Dakota, the United States and the world at large," responds state Representative Scot Kelsh, who proposed the legislation.
2007: Singer Ian Astbury announces he's leaving Riders On The Storm, the band featuring two of the three surviving Doors members. "I have enjoyed performing and sharing the stage with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger immensely," reads Astbury's statement. The singer works on the relaunch of The Cult.
2009: Elton John's songwriting skills are auctioned off to benefit Vancouver General Hospital's effort to help patients with blood cancer. Two people pay $200,000 each to have John write music to their lyrics and record the finished song. The gala raises over $2 million.
2010: The Oasis 1995 album, '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?,' is voted the Best British Album of the Last 30 Years at the BRIT Awards. But frontman Liam Gallagher swears through his acceptance speech before throwing the microphone into the audience. As a result, show host Peter Kay calls Gallagher a 'knobhead' which gets a big laugh.
2010: Eric Clapton performs at New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band. Also on stage with Ono are her son Sean Lennon, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, Paul Simon and Bette Midler. The event celebrates Ono's birthday, two days later.
2013: Tony Sheridan (born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity) dies in Hamburg after undergoing heart surgery. He was 72. Sheridan, an early collaborator with the Beatles, was one of only two non-Beatles (the other being Billy Preston) to receive label performance credit on a record with the group. As a session musician, he recorded with Eddie Cochran, Cliff Richard, Conway Twitty and many others.
2015: Jesse Carey begins listening to Nickelback constantly for a week to raise cash for charity Water. He calls it his 'ultimate test of human endurance' while raising more than $30,000 for Water, a non-profit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries.
2016: Eagles Of Death Metal play their first full concert in Paris since extremist gunmen killed 89 people at the Bataclan club during an EODM show on 11/13/15. The concert is at the Olympia Theatre.
2016: The Iowa Supreme Court hears arguments in the lawsuit filed against a Des Moines pain doctor in the fatal overdose of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, who passed away in 2010.'
February 17
1955: At the recommendation of R&B artist Lloyd Price, Richard Penniman, who is currently leading an ensemble called Little Richard And The Upsetters, sends a demo tape to Specialty Records founder Art Rupe. After some initial reluctance, Rupe will sign Penniman to a contract that will pay the singer a half cent for every record sold.
1960: After achieving more than 15 million in sales with Cadence Records, The Everly Brothers sign a ten year, $1 million contract with Warner Brothers records, where they will enjoy eight more US Top 40 hits over the next seven years.
1960: Elvis Presley receives his first gold album award for his second album 'Elvis,' originally released in 1956. It spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, making Presley the first recording artist to have both albums go straight to #1 in the same year.
1962: Gene Chandler had the top tune on the Billboard Pop chart with "The Duke Of Earl", the first of his six US chart hits.
1966: Brian Wilson begins recording The Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations.' Multiple layered overdubs spread out over eleven sessions would make this the most expensive single ever recorded to date. Before the year is done, the song tops both the U.S. and U.K. pop charts. Although the record would top charts around the world and sell millions of copies, it would be The Beach Boys' last to reach the Billboard Top 10 for ten years.
1967: John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers 'A Hard Road' album is released. It reached #8 on the U.K. Album Chart.
1967: The Beatles started recording a new John Lennon song 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite'. at Abbey Road studios in London. John's lyrics for the song came almost entirely from an antique poster advertising a circus performance scheduled to take place in Rochdale, Lancashire, in February 1843. John had purchased the poster in Sevenoaks on January 31 while The Beatles were on location for the filming of the 'Strawberry Fields Forever' promotional film.
1967: The Electric Prunes, The Left Banke, and The Beach Boys performed at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouseon the campus of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
1968: Following their first New York performance at the Anderson Theatre, Big Brother & the Holding Company are signed by Columbia Records.
1968: Canned Heat appeared at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan.
1969: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash record some duets in Nashville at CBS Studios, with 'Girl From The North Country' eventually ending up on Dylan's 'Nashville Skyline' album, which Cash writes liner notes for.
1970: Joni Mitchell announced she was retiring from live performances during a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Joni was on stage again by the end of the year.
1970: Led Zeppelin performed at Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1971: Johnny Cash is the subject of TV's 'This Is Your Life.'
1971: James Taylor makes his TV debut on ABC's 'Johnny Cash Show.' Other guests included Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt and Tony Joe White.
1971: Elton John received his first Gold album in the U.S. for his self-titled U.S. debut album.
1972: Pink Floyd begin a four-night stand at London's Rainbow Theatre during which they premiere some material that was scheduled to appear on the 'Dark Side of the Moon' album, including the song 'Eclipse.' Tickets cost £1 ($1.70). Eventually the playing of live versions of songs yet to be released would have to be stopped as bootleg copies of their material started to appear before the studio releases.
1972: Los Angeles radio station KDAY played two new Rolling Stones tracks non-stop for a day after obtaining stolen tapes from a producer's home.
1972: The (Perth) West Australian wrote about the previous night's concert by Led Zeppelin, "Perth has probably never seen a concert quite like it. Certainly, a Festival of Perth attraction has never been so "heavy". That Led Zeppelin rock group's only concert at Subiaco Oval last night at the beginning of an Australian Tour was unique. The pelting rhythm and distinctive brackets of the group – consisting of electric guitarist Jimmy Page, organist John Paul Jones, drummer John Bonham and lead vocalist Robert Plant – were different from any rock group that has appeared in Perth. And the 80000 people who went enjoyed every minute of the two and a half hour performance."
1973: War started a two-week run at #1 on the Billboard album chart with 'The World Is A Ghetto.'
1973: Free play their final live gig in Hollywood, Florida as Simon Kirke and Paul Rodgers leave to form Bad Company.
1974: KISS played Long Beach Arena.
1975: John Lennon released 'Rock n' Roll.' The album consists of Rock n' Roll covers. It was his last album before leaving the music business for five years.
1975: AC/DC release their debut album 'High Voltage.' The album, released only in Australia, was re-released internationally with a new cover and track listing. The album featured a cover of 'Baby, Please Don't Go' a blues song first recorded by Big Joe Williams and 'She's Got Balls,' which was written about singer Bon Scott's ex-wife Irene - the first AC/DC song for which he wrote lyrics.
1976: The Eagles released 'Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)' album. It topped the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart for five weeks total. It's the #1 all-time best selling album in the U.S., having sold more than 29 million copies since its original 1976 release.
1976: David Bowie performed at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado.
1977: Van Halen performed at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California for just $2.75.
1977: Pink Floyd played the first of three nights at the Sportpaleis Ahoy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
1978: Rush appeared at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland.
1979: Clash begin their first American tour. Dubbed 'Pearl Harbor 79,' the tour opens at Palladium in new York. First song is 'I'm So Bored with the USA.'
1979: Blondie scored their first UK #1 album when 'Parallel Lines' started a four-week run at the top of the charts, featuring the singles 'Heart Of Glass,' 'Hanging On The Telephone' and 'Sunday Girl.'
1981: Eric Clapton's 'Another Ticket' album is released. It reached #7 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and included the single 'I Can't Stand It.'
1981: Iron Maiden begin their first 'real' world tour dubbed the Killer World Tour.
1984: Megadeth played their first-ever show at Ruthie's Inn in Berkeley, CA. The band included Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Kerry King and Lee Rausch.
1986: King Diamond released his debut album, 'Fatal Portrait.'
1987: Lee Aaron released her self-titled 4th studio album.
1987: Manowar release their 5th album, 'Fighting the World.'
1988: a 12-year old Hollywood, FL., Motley Crue fan set his legs on fire while trying to imitate a stunt in the group's 'Live Wire' video. The boy suffered burns over ten percent of his body. Motley Crue issued a statement saying the band's stunts should not be tried at home.
1989: Whitesnake's David Coverdale marries Tawny Kitaen in Bel Air. Kitaen starred in 5 Whitesnake videos including 'Here I Go Again,' 'Is This Love' and 'Still of the Night.' The couple divorce in 1991.
1989: R.E.M., Hoodoo Gurus, and The Go-Betweens all appeared at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia.
1990: Aerosmith appears on Saturday Night Live where they perform a version of the Wayne's World theme song during a skit in which they appeared as themselves where Tom Hanks plays their roadie. They also perform 'Monkey on My Back' and 'Janie's Got A Gun.'
1996: Deep Purple released their 15th studio album, 'Purpendicular.'
1996: A Platinum American Express card once belonging to Bruce Springsteen was sold for $4,500 at a New York memorabilia sale. The singer had given the expired card to a waiter in a LA restaurant by mistake and let them keep it as a souvenir.
2000: John Lennon's Steinway piano, on which he composed 'Imagine', went on display at the Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool, England. The piano was set to be auctioned on the Internet later in the year and was expected to fetch more than $1.7 million.
2004: The Recording Industry Association of America filed 531 "John Doe" lawsuits against suspected users of peer-to-peer file-sharing services. Once a John Doe suit has been approved by a judge, the record-label plaintiffs can subpoena the information necessary to identify the defendant by name.
2004: Don Henley of The Eagles attacked the music industry in a Washington Post editorial. "When I started in the music business, music was important and vital to our culture," he wrote, adding, "Record labels signed cutting-edge artists, and FM radio offered an incredible variety of music. Music touched fans in a unique and personal way. Our culture was enriched and the music business was healthy and strong. That's all changed."
2004: Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic pulled out of the race for lieutenant governor of Washington, his reason given was "I found out firsthand that it's really considered bad form to run against an incumbent of your own party."
2004: The Darkness performs at the (NME) Brit Awards, but a planned duet with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry doesn't happen. Tyler and Perry reportedly had agreed to perform their classic 'Love In An Elevator' with The Darkness, but later backed out. No matter, The Darkness picks up three awards including Best British Group and Best British Album ('Permission To Land').
2004: Prosecutors in the murder case of producer Phil Spector demanded that a fingernail overlooked by police investigating Lana Clarkson's shooting should be put forward as evidence. They claimed the fingernail, blackened with gunpowder, could indicate that the 40-year old actress killed herself at Spector's Los Angeles mansion. Spector, had denied murdering Clarkson.
2004: After a pair of no-shows, Courtney Love finally makes it to a court hearing on a possession of illegal drugs charge.
2004: It's announced that a civil lawsuit accusing Marilyn Manson of sexual assault has been dismissed after the two sides reached a settlement. Security guard Joshua Keasler was working on the stage during a July 2001 performance in Detroit when Manson allegedly approached him, wrapped his legs around the guard's neck and gyrated against him while wearing only a leather thong and panty hose.
2004: The 'G3: Rockin' in the Free World' album by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen is released.
2005: A 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar belonging to Jimi Hendrix sold for £100,000 at an auction in London. Other Hendrix items sold included a poem written two weeks after his appearance at the Monterey Festival which went for £10,000 and the first Jimi Hendrix Experience's single 'Hey Joe,' signed by all the band sold for £2,000.
2005: 3 Doors Down's 'Seventeen Days' sells 231,000 copies in its debut week. It's the first time the Mississippi group nails the top spot on the Billboard album chart.
2005: 'Dust N' Bones: The Untold Story of Izzy Stradlin' is in bookstores. The tome charts the guitarist's early years in Lafayette, IN, through his tenure with Guns N' Roses.
2005: The VH-1 and VH-1 Classic sponsored reunion tour, 'Motley Crue: Red White & Crue Tour-Better Live Than Dead' kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
2006: Elvis Presley's only child, Lisa Marie Presley, married guitarist and musical director Michael Lockwood in Japan. Lisa was formerly married to Danny Keough from 1988-1994, Michael Jackson from 1994-1996 and Nicolas Cage for a short time in 2002. She has two children with Danny Keough; Benjamin Storm and Danielle Riley. Lisa's mother, Priscilla Presley attended and was part of the traditional Japanese wedding service.
2006: The Rolling Stones topped Forbes Magazine's list of the top moneymakers in U.S. music for 2005. The rockers made $168 million dollars in record and ticket sales that year.
2006: Heart films a 'Decades Rock Live' segment for VH-1 at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. The surviving members of Alice in Chains; Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney and Mike Inez also appear.
2006: It's the premiere of the long-delayed puppet movie 'Live Freaky! Die Freaky!' in San Francisco. Co-produced by Rancid's Tim Armstrong, the flick features characters voiced by members of Green Day, A Perfect Circle, White Zombie, Blink-182 and Rancid.
2006: 10 Years' 'Wasteland' claims the #1 position on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, replacing Weezer's 'Perfect Situation.' 'Wasteland' is on the group's debut album, 'The Autumn Effect.'
2007: KoRn's Unplugged set airs on MTV. The group gets help from Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee and the Cure. KoRn drummer, David Silveria, was not present at the taping, taking a hiatus from the group. "I just need a break for right now." The performance was taped the previous December. A CD documenting the show is issued three day later.
2007: Journey serves as one of the grand marshals for the annual Endymion Parade, as part of New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras festivities. They also perform with Styx at a related event in the Louisiana Superdome.
2008: Little Richard got a standing ovation from a crowd of 2,400 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville without playing a single note. The 75 year old Rock 'n Roll pioneer was seated at the rear of the auditorium during a concert by The Temptations and The Four Tops when he was introduced by The Temp's Otis Williams.
2009: Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland unveils Weiland for English Laundry. The men's clothing line makes its debut at the Magic Marketplace trade show in Las Vegas. "From early on, I was inspired by Rock icons like David Bowie and Keith Richards, who helped in molding my personal sense of style," says Weiland, who worked with designer Christopher Wicks to create the line.
2009: Electric Hendrix Spirits, producers of a vodka bearing the late Jimi Hendrix's name and image (used without permission), gets nailed for $3.2 million by a U.S. District Court in Seattle. Additionally, the court rules that the vodka must be removed from distribution and the company is banned from producing any other Hendrix related products. The suit was filed by businesses (Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix) that oversee the late guitarist's copyrights.
2010: Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck appear together on the cover of Rolling Stone. There's also a joint interview with the guitar greats to promote their U.S. tour.
2010: Hole plays their first show in eleven years at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire (theatre). With Courtney Love the only original member.
2011: The Beatles controversial Butcher Block Cover for 'Yesterday And Today' sells for more than $26,000 at the Heritage Auction in Beverly Hills. The album was almost immediately recalled after its release in '66 and every album cover was supposed to be destroyed. There are thought to be 25 copies with the original album cover which features blood-splattered and chopped up doll parts strewn about John, Paul, George and Ringo, who are dressed in white butchers' smocks.
2012: Michael Davis, the bassist for MC5, dies of liver failure at age 68. Davis joined the group in 1964.
2014: Devo guitarist Bob Casale died of heart failure at the age of 61. The band had a string of New Wave hits, including 'Whip It' and 'Girl U Want.' He also engineered the first solo album for Police guitarist, Andy Summers.
2014: U2 is the first musical guest when 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon' premieres on NBC. They perform on the rooftop of Rockefeller Center before joining Fallon for a quick interview and an acoustic version of 'Ordinary Love.'
2015: The Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) California Series Stratocaster (custom guitar) is introduced.
2015: Bring Me The Horizon take home the Innovation honor at the NME Awards. The group also performs 'Happy Song' from their album, 'That's The Spirit.' However, the evening is better remembered for frontman Oli Sykes jumping on Coldplay's table and knocking it over.
2016: Dodge introduces a commercial for their car line using Metallica's 'Fuel' on the soundtrack.
February 18
1956: In a low point not only for Rock n' Roll but music in general, Pat Boone's white-bread cover of 'Tutti Frutti' hits #12 on the pop charts. Little Richard's original only peaked at #17, though it is infinitely superior.
1956: Although she was reluctant to record it in the first place, 'Rock and Roll Waltz' by Kay Starr becomes the first #1 record by a female in the Rock era. The disc would go on to sell over a million copies, but Kay would later say that she was never asked to perform the record on TV and seldom sang it during a live show.
1959: While on leave from the US Army in Paris, Elvis Presley visits the famous Lido Club, performing an impromptu show there.
1962: Having joined the Marines, the Everly Brothers, perform in uniform on the Ed Sullivan Show. The duo sang their new single, 'Crying In The Rain,' which was currently #6 on the Billboard chart.
1963: A month after giving her a 2 1/2 caret diamond ring, Phil Spector marries his girlfriend, Annette Merar. The pair would split later in the year after she suspected him of cheating with Ronnie Bennett of The Ronettes, and divorced in late 1965.
1964: The Beatles attend the training site of heavy weight boxing champion Sonny Liston for a publicity photo-op. Liston however, refuses to pose with "those sissies" and the group is then driven to Cassius Clay's gym where they are welcomed with open arms. In an odd twist, it would be Liston, not Ali, who would later be included among celebrities on the cover of 'Sgt. Pepper"s Lonely Hearts Club Band.'
1965: Working at Abbey Road studio's in London, The Beatles recorded two new songs: John Lennon's 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away' and a new Paul McCartney song 'Tell Me What You See.'
1965: The Beatles publishing company, Northern Songs, is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
1965: The Kinks were at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tired Of Waiting For You,' the group's second UK #1. According to Ray Davies, the music for 'Tired of Waiting for You' was written on the train to the recording studio and the words were written at a coffee shop during a break in the session.
1966: Beach Boy Brian Wilson recorded the future classic song 'Good Vibrations', which went on to become the band's third US number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.
1966: News breaks in Melody Maker that The Who are leaving Brunswick and U.S. Decca for the new Reaction label in Europe and Atco in the U.S. Former producer Shel Talmy threatens the group with payback that he soon delivers, launching a lawsuit against the band and its managers. 'Substitute' was to have been released on the 18th but is stopped because of the lawsuit. That night The Who are in Scotland, performing at the Volunteer Hall in Galashiels.
1966: The Rolling Stones kicked off an 11-date tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Commemorative Auditorium, Sydney, supported by The Searchers.
1967: After a short series of minor hits, The Buckinghams score their first US Top 10 smash when 'Kind Of A Drag' reaches #1.
1967: An L.A. garage band called The Seeds help to bring Psychedelic music to American A.M. radio when their only Billboard Top 40 hit, 'Pushin' Too Hard' peaks at #36 during a three week stay. Their next three releases, 'Mr. Farmer' (#90), 'Can't Seem To Make You Mine' (#41) and 'A Thousand Shadows' (#100) would not fare as well.
1968: Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, along with their female companions, head to Rishikesh, India, to join the other two members of The Beatles in studying under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1968: David Gilmour replaced Syd Barrett in Pink Floyd. Barrett had checked himself into a psychiatric hospital and later went into seclusion. Gilmour makes his film debut as a member of Pink Floyd as Belgian TV recorded several promotional clips over two days including filmed versions of 'Astronomy Domine,' 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun,' 'Apples and Oranges,' 'Corporal Clegg,' 'Paintbox,' 'Scarecrow,' and 'See Emily Play.'
1968: Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart enjoy their biggest success as recording artists when 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight' peaks at #8, where it will stay for three consecutive weeks. As songwriters, the duo wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville,' 'Come A Little Bit Closer,' 'Hurt So Bad,' 'Valleri,' and many more.
1968: The Byrds performed at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan.
1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
1969: Pink Floyd and Fairport Convention appeared at the Manchester & Salford Students' Shrove Rag Ball, held at the Main Debating Hall at Manchester University, in Manchester, England.
1970: Rare Earth's 'Get Ready' b/w 'Magic Key' 45 single is released. The song peaked at #4 on the U.S. pop charts and also peaked at #20 on the R&B chart.
1971: Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band made their New York debut at Unganos.
1972: Neil Young's album 'Harvest' is certified gold. It went on to sell four million copies in the U.S.
1972: Savoy Brown's 8th album, 'Hellbound Train' is released. It reached #34 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1972: On their first Australian tour, Led Zeppelin rescheduled to the following night their concert at the Memorial Drive in Adelaide, after heavy rain left the stage and equipment unsafe. Zeppelin had brought to Adelaide the largest PA system seen in Australia to produce what was expected to be the loudest rock show ever heard.
1972: David Bowie performed at Sheffield University in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England.
1972: Pink Floyd played at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1973: The Rolling Stones appeared at the Kooyong Tennis Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
1973: Rory Gallagher released his 4th album, 'Blueprint.'
1973: The nationally syndicated radio concert series The King Biscuit Flower Hour premieres, featuring Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
1973: At Elvis Presley's concert in Las Vegas, 4 men climb on stage and try to shake his hand. They are quickly thwarted by security and Elvis' bass player Jerry Scheff. Elvis tells the crowd, " immobilize the men using karate moves. No charges are filed. Elvis tells the audience: "I'm sorry I didn't break his goddamned neck, is what I'm sorry about."
1974: KISS release their self-titled debut which barely cracks the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #87. The album was on Casablanca Records after Warner Bros. dissolved their deal with the record label after the band refused to remove their makeup. The album initially sold only 75,000 copies, although now it is certified Gold.
1974: Yes sold out the first of two nights at Madison Square Garden without any advertising. Fans learned of the show from listings at ticket outlets.
1974: Paul McCartney & Wings 'Jet' b/w 'Let Me Roll it' 45 single is released. The song peaked at #7 in both the British and American charts on March 30, 1974.
1977: Pink Floyd played at Oude Ahoy Hallen in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
1977: Triumph performs their first U.S. concert in San Antonio, TX.
1977: KISS play their first Madison Square Garden show in New York City.
1977: Manfred Mann's Earth Band's 'Blinded By The Light' hits #1 on Billboard's Pop charts.
1978: After scoring Top 40 hits with 'Carry On Wayward Son' (#11) and 'Point Of Know Return' (#28), 'Dust In The Wind' by Kansas entered the Billboard chart on its way to becoming the group's only Top 10 hit.
1978: Winners at the Grammy Awards included Fleetwood Mac, Album of the year for Rumours, The Eagles, Record of the year for 'Hotel California,' and Best pop vocal performance, The Bee Gees for 'How Deep Is Your Love.'
1980: Bill Wyman announced that he was leaving The Rolling Stones. After an intervention by the rest of the band, the bassist was convinced to stay. He quit in 1992.
1980: Filming begins on Ringo Starr's new comedy, 'Caveman.'
1983: Neil Young appeared Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1987: Bon Jovi's 'Livin' On A Prayer' hits #1 on Billboard's Pop charts.
1988: KISS' 'Crazy Nights' album gets RIAA certified Platinum.
1989: Bon Jovi's 'Born To Be My Baby' peaks at #3 on the pop charts.
1990: Freddie Mercury made his final public appearance on stage when he joined the rest of Queen to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, held at the Dominion Theatre in London.
1992: Vince Neil quits as lead singer of Motley Crue, after 11 years with the group. The band reunited on the American Music Awards five years later only to break up again. They reunited once more in 2005.
1992: Guns N' Roses released their 10th single, 'November Rain.'
1995: Suffering from complications resulting from drug and alcohol abuse, The Replacements' Bob Stinson dies. He was just 35.
1995: Hootie and the Blowfish peaks at #10 with 'Hold My Hand.'
1998: Robert Smith of The Cure does battle with the forces of musical evil as embodied by a monstrous Barbra Streisand on the animated television show 'South Park.'
1998: Oasis' Noel Gallagher's Epiphone Supernova guitar raised £4,600 ($7,820) in aid of Children In Need at a Bonhams auction held in London.
1999: Bob Geldof wins substantial but undisclosed damages from The Sun newspaper in London in a libel case over a story in which it falsely alleges that he had "groped, fondled and kissed" a nightclub stripper.
2000: An American court ordered the release of FBI files relating to John Lennon's interests and activities including his support for the Irish Republican cause and the Workers Revolutionary Party. The British Government told the US that it wanted the files to remain secret. MI5 also had files on Lennon, which they had passed on the FBI during the 70's.
2001: Iron Maiden manager, Rod Smallwood, begins a 350 mile trek across Kenya by bicycle for SCOPE, the UK's largest charity for disabled people and their families, as part of the Kenya Bike-Away, which has been organised to help people with cerebral palsy.
2001: James Taylor marries his longtime girlfriend Kim Smedvig, the director of public relations and marketing for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, at a small ceremony in Boston. It's Taylor's third wedding, and later in 2001 the couple have twin boys through a surrogate mothe
2003: Jet plays their first of eight shows opening for the Rolling Stones on the Australian leg of their Licks World Tour. The band had to stop recording on their debut album 'Get Born' in Los Angeles to fly home and jump on the opportunity. The intimate gig is held at Sydney's Enmore Theater in front of 2000 or so lucky fans.
2003: Styx released their 14th album, 'Cyclorama.' It's their first without founding member Dennis DeYoung. It contained guest appearances from Brian Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, John Waite & Tenacious D & peaked at #127 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.
2004: Adrenaline Mob released the album 'Men Of Honor.'
2004, On his official Web site, Billy Corgan blames the 2000 split of the Smashing Pumpkins on guitarist James Iha. "James Iha broke up the Smashing Pumpkins, not me," he writes. "I would have gone on forever, the Smashing Pumpkins were essentially my entire life."
2005: Cheap Trick's Rick Neilson appears on the Food Network's 'Inside Dish' providing a tour of the Chicago restaurant he owns, Piece Brewery and Pizzeria.
2005: Linkin Park (with Jay-Z), Story Of The Year, Gavin Rossdale, Rob Zombie, Filter's Richard Patrick, ex-Cult guitarist Billy Duffy and Camp Freddy perform at the Music For Relief organization's Concert for South Asia in Anaheim, CA. A family emergency forces Ozzy Osbourne to cancel his appearance. He later issues an apology. Proceeds aid tsunami victims.
2005: The film 'Constantine' with Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and Keanu Reeves opens. Rossdale plays "Satan's Salesman."
2005: The three surviving members of Alice In Chains perform at a tsunami-relief benefit concert in Seattle and raise over $100,000. Filling in for the late Layne Stayley are Tool/A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan, Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin and Damageplan's Pat Lachman. Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic hosts the event.
2006: The Rolling Stones play a free concert at Rio de Janeiro's, Copacabana Beach. "City Hall considers this show to be like another New Year," says a Rio official. "We will treat it like that." The concert is simulcast live over the Internet via AOL Music. It's the group's first Rio show in eight years.
2007: The Rolling Stones unveil a line of auto-racing-themed merchandise for the Daytona 500. The new products sport a variation on the Stones' tongue-and-lips logo, with the red of the tongue replaced by a checkered-flag design.
2007: The CBS drama 'Cold Case' features Bob Dylan's music. The plot for the episode, titled 'Blood on the Tracks,' is loosely based on the eight Dylan songs played during the show, including 'Like a Rolling Stone,' 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' and 'All Along The Watchtower.'
2008: In San Francisco, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic performs with Flipper at the group's release party for their 'Flipper -- Live Target Video 1980-81' DVD.
2008: Bon Jovi launches their U.S. tour in Omaha. Daughty, fronted by former American Idol runner-up Chris Daughtry, is the opening act on the two-and-a-half month trek.
2009: Stage Three Music, the publisher that owns the rights to Aerosmith's 'Back In The Saddle' files a copyright-infringement claim against Virginia Republican congressman Eric Cantor. The #2 Republican in the House, used the '70's hit in a YouTube video celebrating his party's solidarity against President Obama's stimulus plan and to symbolize that "the House GOP is back" after major Election Day losses. The clip is quickly taken down.
2009: U2's Bono performs with Coldplay's Chris Martin and The Killers at a London charity show for War Child. The organization aids young people in war-stricken areas.
2010: Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton launch their North American tour at New York's Madison Square Garden. Though the two performed together sporadically over the years this is their first joint trek. Both were in the legendary Yardbirds but not at the same time. Beck was Clapton's replacement.
2010: The Federal Trade Commission and Ticketmaster (now part of Live Nation Entertainment) reach a settlement regarding the 'deceptive tactics' they used in '09 when they sent Bruce Springsteen fans to secondary-ticket retailer TicketsNow when regular-priced tickets were still available. Under the settlement, Ticketmaster refunds ticket buyers the difference between the regular cost of the tickets and the higher price they paid through TicketsNow.
2012: Slash, Lenny Kravitz and Chris Cornell appear at the 70th birthday celebration for boxing legend Muhammad Ali. "Muhammad Ali is and always has been a role model and a hero to me," says Slash. "It's a huge privilege to be able to perform in his honor. He is one of the great icons of American culture and history." The Ali tribute is at the 16th annual Power Of Love Gala, a charity fundraiser in Las Vegas.
2013: Kevin Ayers dies in his sleep in France at 68. Ayers was a founding member of the pioneering psychedelic band Soft Machine in the mid-1960s, and worked with many artists, including Brian Eno, Syd Barrett, John Cale, Elton John, Andy Summers and Nico. Critics have said, "Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett were the two most important people in British pop music. Everything that came after came from them."
2014: Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose writes an open letter protesting the Copenhagen Zoo's killing of a two-year-old giraffe to feed to lions while visitors were watching. The letter followed a series of sarcastic tweets calling attention to the killing of the baby male giraffe named Marius.
2014: The 72-year-old David Crosby postponed the final dates of his solo tour in order to undergo heart surgery.
2015: Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page is honored with a special one-off Rock n' Roll Soul award, at the NME Awards in Austin, TX. The actual ceremony takes place ln London at the O2 Academy Brixton.
2015: Iron Maiden reveals that frontman Bruce Dickinson has completed a seven-week cancer treatment program consisting of chemotherapy and radiology. A routine checkup the previous year showed a small tumor on the back of the singer's tongue. The tumor is caught in early stages.
2017: Bono and Vice-President Mike Pence meet at the Munich Security Conference. The U2 frontman publicly thanks Pence for voting twice to pass the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) — in '03 when introduced by George W. Bush and then to renew it in '08. For complimenting Pence, Bono gets trashed on Twitter. 2018: On Instagram Randy Blythe (frontman for Lamb Of God) posts his thoughts regarding gun control following a Florida school shooting that left 17 dead. He particularly objects to the phrase "our thoughts and prayers are with you," which is what politicians usually say when these shootings occur. "Instead of 'thinking & praying,' here's a CONCRETE ACTION you can take - you can contact your legislators & DEMAND that there be some reasonable, common-sense gun law changes" (caps are his).
2018: All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte, a gun advocate, weighs in on the gun control debate. "One of the things that drives me nuts about (the latest Florida shooting) is everything failed. The FBI failed (they overlooked a tip), and there was a police officer who was armed on the campus. He wasn't there. The kid got his guns legally. What do you do when everything goes wrong?"
February 19
1878: Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
1949: John Lee Hooker's 'Boogie Chillen' hits #1 on the R&B chart.
1952: 17-year-old Gene Vincent, still known by his real name Vincent Craddock, enters the US Navy.
1958: Following his initial success on Sun Records, Carl Perkins moves to Columbia where he releases 'Pink Pedal Pushers.'
1962: Chuck Berry begins serving a three year sentence in the Indiana Federal Penitentiary after being convicted the previous October of transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes. He would be released twenty months later.
1963: The Beatles, Freddie Starr & The Midnighters, The Pathfinders and Curtis & The All Stars all perform at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.
1964: A British company shipped a half a ton of Beatle wigs to the US. An American reporter later asked John Lennon, "How do you feel about teenagers imitating you with Beatle wigs?" John replied "They're not imitating us because we don't wear Beatle wigs."
1964: Simon and Garfunkel record 'The Sound Of Silence.' It is later overdubbed with electric instruments by producer Tom Wilson. This version is released as a single and shoots to #1 in America, launching the career of the duo.
1965: Rod Stewart plays his first major gig in a Harrow, England club, singing with his band, The Soul Agents.
1965: Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded a new John Lennon song 'You're Going To Lose That Girl' in two takes. On his new song, John Lennon sang, and accompanied himself on acoustic guitar, backed by Paul and George. The band lip-synched to the recording for the movie 'Help!' The final album mix was made four days later.
1965: The Who learn by letter that J.E. Grant has given them the go-ahead to appear on the BBC 'Light Programme' after they pass their audition of the 12th with four votes out of seven. The same day is more good news as 'I Can't Explain' makes its first appearance on a British chart, popping up at #45 in Record Mirror.
1966: The Who performed at Memorial Hall in Norwich, England.
1966: Lou Christie enjoys his only US 31 record with 'Lightnin' Strikes",' a song that his record company, MGM, hated so much, they initially refused to release. Label head Lenny Shear actually threw the tape in the wastebasket and said it was "a piece of crap." After Christie's management team promoted the record themselves, it started to gain attention and three months later, Billboard magazine featured a picture of Shear presenting Christie with a Gold record. It became a #11 hit in the UK.
1966: Bob Dylan appeared at Ottawa Auditorium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
1967: Jimi Hendrix performed at Brady's Club in London.
1967: Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane performed at the Fillmore in San Francisco.
1968: Gerry Marsden of Gerry And The Pacemakers begins a 3 1/2 year run in the London stage production of 'Charlie Girl.'
1969: Yes appeared at the Marquee Club in London.
1970: Neil Young played an acoustic show at KQED-TV Studios, San Francisco. Back in the day, KQED was responsible for spotting the best new music via their live sessions. The song selection was from the 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' era. The setlist reportedly was: 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,' 'Everybody's Alone,' 'Dance Dance Dance,' 'On The Way Home,' 'Wonderin #1,' 'Wonderin #2,' 'Instrumental Noodling (including – Out On The Weekend I – Don't Want To Talk About It – Helpless – Country Girl – Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It),' Sugar Mountain.'
1970: Monkees song writers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart guest-star on ABC-TV's 'Bewitched.'
1971: In London's Royal Courts of Justice, Paul McCartney's lawsuit against his fellow ex-Beatles begins. McCartney's suit seeks to remove Allen Klein as manager of the group's financial affairs.
1971: Yes released their third LP 'The Yes Album.' It was their first album with guitarist Steve Howe who replaced Peter Banks in 1970, and their last in the 1970's to feature keyboardist Tony Kaye.
1971: REO Speedwagon and Mountain played Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
1971: Paul McCartney's 'Another Day' b/w 'Oh Woman, Oh Why' 45 single is released in the UK. It
1972: Paul McCartney releases 'Give Ireland Back to the Irish,' his commentary about the Britain-Ireland conflict. The song was immediately banned by the BBC, but the notoriety the song received from the banning only increased its popularity and the record soared into the UK Top 20.
1972: Produced by George Harrison and Todd Rundgren, Badfinger's 'Straight Up' album hits the charts. It includes their hit 'Day After Day.'
1972: Harry Nilsson started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Badfinger song 'Without You' (written by the group's Pete Ham and Tom Evans). His vocal was recorded in a single take and his performance was rewarded with Nilsson's second Grammy Award in 1973 for Best Male Pop Vocal.
1972: Led Zeppelin performed at the Memorial Drive, Adelaide in Australia. A local paper who reviewed the show printed: Singer Robin Plant (sic) overcame an "Australian bug" in his throat and broke into his own in "Black Dog" and "Stairway To The Stars" (sic.)
1972: Led Zeppelin achieve their second biggest single, 'Black Dog', which hits #15 and goes on to become an FM radio staple.
1972: Traffic's 'Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys' reaches #7 on the U.S. album chart.
1973: The Grateful Dead performed at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois.
1974: KISS makes their TV debut performing on 'Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.'
1974: To compete wioth the Grammys, Dick Clark launches the American Music Awards where the record buying public vote on the awards. Hosts include Smokey Robinson, Helen Reddy and Roger Miller. Among this year's winners are The Carpenters for Favorite Band, Jim Croce, Favorite Male Artist, and Tony Orlando And Dawn, Favorite Single for 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree.'
1974: Black Sabbath appeared at the Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland.
1976: Former lead singer with Tower Of Power, Rich Stevens was arrested in connection with the drug related murders of three men in San Jose, California. He is found guilty and initially sentenced to death, but given a life sentence when death penalty is ruled unconstitutional in California. He is released 36 years later, and in 2016 joins Tower of Power to play a prison concert.
1976: Cat Stevens performed at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
1977: At the Grammys, Linda Ronstadt wins Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for her album 'Hasten Down The Wind.'
1977: Manfred Mann's Earth Band scored a #1 single in the US with their version of the Bruce Springsteen song 'Blinded By The Light.' It spent one week on top which is Springsteen's only #1 single as a songwriter. The Earth Band's version features several changed lyrics. The most prominent change is in the chorus, where Springsteen's "cut loose like a deuce" is replaced with "revved up like a deuce." Springsteen himself has said that it was not until Manfred Mann rewrote the song to be about a "feminine hygiene product" that it became popular.
1977: ZZ Top played at Chicago Stadium.
1979: Frank Zappa performed at the Hammersmith Odeon, London.
1980: Bon Scott (born Ronald Belford Scott) died in the wee hours of February 19 in the back seat of a friends car following an alcholic binge in London. He went out with a friend, Alistair Kennear, to see a couple bands. He drinks heavily through the night and passes out in the car. Kennear decides to let Scott sleep it off in the car but finds him unconscious the following day. At the hospital, doctors are unable to revive Scott. His death comes just months after the band scores its first big American success with the album, 'Highway To Hell.' He was just 33 years old.
1981: ABKCO Music, owner of the publishing rights to the Chiffons hit 'He's So Fine,' is awarded $587,000 from George Harrison, who was found guilty of subconsciously plagiarizing the song in his composition 'My Sweet Lord.'
1982: Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in San Antonio, Texas for urinating on the Alamo. Osbourne was wearing a dress at the time of his arrest. He is banned from performing in the city until he donates $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the group that maintains the monument. Osbourne doesn't make his donation until 1992 and finally apologizes for the incident in 2015.
1982: Alice Cooper appeared at The Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland.
1983: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers made their second appearance as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live where they performed 'Change of Heart' and 'The Waiting.'
1985: Mick Jagger releases his album 'She's The Boss.'
1987: Bon Jovi's second album '7800 Fahrenheit' goes platinum.
1987: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty, and Jesse Ed Davis join bluesman Taj Mahal onstage during his concert at Hollywood's Palomino Club.
1992: During their 'Use Your Illusion Tour' Guns n' Roses played the first of three nights at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The 55,000-seat baseball stadium (The Big Egg) is the largest concert hall in Japan.
1993: Lynyrd Skynyrd celebrated their 20th anniversary with a Lynyrd Skynyrd & Friends LYVE performance from Atlanta's Fox Theatre that aired live on pay-per-view. Special guests included Peter Frampton, Charlie Daniels, Zakk Wylde, Poison singer Bret Michaels & Cinderella singer Tom Kiefer.
1994: Green Day's 'Dookie' begins a two year stay on the U.S. album chart. The group's third studio album rises to #2 and sells over 12 million copies.
1994: Despite staying on the album chart for over a year and a half, Rage Against The Machine's self-titled debut can only reach #45.
1994: Their acoustic cover of 'Because The Night' from MTV Unplugged becomes by far the biggest hit for 10,000 Maniacs when it peaks at #11 in the US. Natalie Merchant left six months earlier - the MTV performance was one of her last with the group.
1995: Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee marries Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson on a beach in Cancun. She wore a white bikini. Anderson and Lee who married only four days after meeting had videotaped their sexual activities while on vacation which was later stolen and released on the Internet. After suing the video company who released the tape, the Lees entered into a confidential settlement agreement. The couple divorced in 1998.
1995: Jon Bon Jovi's wife Dorthea gave birth to their second child, a son named Jesse James Louis.
1996: Oasis win Best Group, Best Video ('Wonderwall') and Best Album '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' at the UK's Brit Awards. In their gracious acceptance speech they refer to record industry personnel as 'corporate pigs'. Other winners included Paul Weller who won British Male Solo Artist, British Female Solo Artist went to Annie Lennox, British Breakthrough Act went to Supergrass, International Group was Bon Jovi, International Breakthrough Act went to Alanis Morissette and David Bowie was awarded Outstanding Contribution to music. Pulp's Jarvis Cocker walked on stage during the BRIT Awards in an impromptu protest against Michael Jackson's performance. Jackson was singing 'Earth Song' (he also won Artist of a Generation) while surrounded by children and a rabbi and making 'Christ-like' poses. In the ensuing confusion, as security attempted to eject Cocker from the stage, three child performers received minor injuries. Cocker was questioned by police but later released without charges. Brian Eno wins for Best Producer. He won the same award in 1994.
1997: A New York judge dismissed a $7 million lawsuit a fan filed against Motley Crue for hearing loss suffered at one of their concerts. The judge ruled that the fan knew the concert would be loud when he purchased the ticket.
1998: The Stray Cats reunite to play a benefit for the Carl Perkins Foundation at L.A.'s House of Blues. Proceeds going to the Carl Perkins Center For The Prevention Of Child Abuse.
1999: Marilyn Manson files a defamation countersuit against former Spin executive editor Craig Marks. Manson's action is in response to a multimillion-dollar suit Marks filed the month before against defendants that included the singer, label Nothing/Interscope, and Manson's bodyguard agency.
1999: Fu Manchu released their 5th studio album 'Eatin' Dust.'
2002: Joey Ramone released his 1st solo album, 'Don't Worry About Me.'
2004: Johnny Cash's family blocked an attempt by advertisers to use his hit song 'Ring of Fire' to promote haemorrhoid-relief products. The idea is said to have been backed by Merle Kilgore, who co-wrote the song with Cash's wife, June Carter Cash. Cash's daughter Rosanne said the family "would never allow the song to be demeaned like that."
2004: Four years after the fact, Billy Corgan claims in an online post that he wasn't to blame for the Smashing Pumpkins' demise. "The truth of the matter is that (guitarist) James Iha broke up the Smashing Pumpkins." Corgan adds that bassist D'arcy Wretzky was axed from the band "for being a mean-spirited drug addict who refused to get help."
2005: John Fogerty teams up with Keith Urban on CMT's (Country Music Television) show, 'Crossroads.'
2006: Bon Jovi performs prior to the Daytona 500 stock car race at Florida's legendary Daytona International Speedway. The band's show is part of the Sprint Tribute to America, which honors men and women in the United States Armed Forces.
2007: Aerosmith celebrate the announcement of a European Tour by performing a set before a small audience at London's Hard Rock Cafe.
2008: Kinks frontman Ray Davies' solo album 'Working Man's Cafe,' is released in the U.S. The 12-song album was recorded in Nashville.
2008: Songs by Paul McCartney and Wings and Bob Seger are on track packs for 'Guitar Hero: World Tour.' McCartney and Wings contribute 'Junior's Farm' and 'Jet.' Seger is represented by 'Old Time Rock And Roll.'
2008: Two releases by Oasis were voted the best British albums ever recorded in a poll of 11,000 people. Their 1994 album 'Definitely Maybe' came top, while their 1995 follow-up '(What's the Story) Morning Glory' was 2nd in the vote for Q magazine and HMV. Radiohead's 'OK Computer' finished 3rd, followed by 'Revolver' by The Beatles and the Stone Roses' self-titled debut. The full list of 50 British albums included five by The Beatles.
2009: The Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay concludes. AC/DC's signed Gibson SG Standard guitar and autographed items from Robert Plant, Foo Fighters, Slash and 311 are auctioned off with proceeds going to MusiCares and the Grammy Foundation.
2009: Electric Light Orchestra bassist Kelly Groucutt dies in Worcestershire, England, after suffering a heart attack the previous day. Groucutt played with ELO from 1974 to '83. He was 63.
2010: It's announced that Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy will work on Avenged Sevenfold's next album - replacing James "The Rev" Sullivan who passed away the previous December.
2013: Buckcherry's sixth album, 'Confessions,' featuring the single 'Gluttony,' is released.
2013: U2, Paul McCartney and Coldplay appear on the benefit album, 'War Child 20: The Best Of,' a compilation celebrating 20 years of helping children in war zones.
2014: Just weeks after being released from prison, Pussy Riot band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina are detained by police after a protest near the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Cossack militia armed with horsewhips strike the women who are also roughly handled. Photos of their wounds, taken at a hospital, goes viral.
2014: A second DUI in as many years gets 3 Doors Down baserst and founding member Todd Harrell suspended indefinitely from the band.
2014: David Bowie was named best British male at the Brit Awards in London, although he was not there in person to collect his award. It was the third time he has won such an award.
2015: Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson was being treated for cancer after a small cancerous tumor was found at the back of his tongue.
2015: After a further 15% decline in sales in 2014, Starbucks announced that they would stop selling CDs in their over 21,000 stores by the end of March of 2015.
2016: Last In Line, featuring Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, founding Dio members Vinny Appice and the late Jimmy Bain and singer Andrew Freeman (who previously fronted Lynch Mob), release its debut album, 'Heavy Crown.'
2016: The documentary 'We Are Twisted F***ing Sister' was released in theaters. 2018: Former Creed frontman Scott Stapp is sued for $1.2 million by Vice Inc., the company that represents Art Of Anarchy, the band with Disturbed bassist John Moyer and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. Stapp was hired to front the band, replacing original vocalist Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots). The suit claims Stapp did not fully meet performance expectations after receiving $200,000. 2018: Iron Maiden's Light Brigade, an English golden ale, is in stores. A portion of the sales go to Help for Heroes, who provide support for disabled vets. 2019: "King's X: The Oral History" is published. The authorized biography examines the band's personal and professional history. Founded in 1980, King's X has singer/bassist Doug Pinnick, guitarist Ty Tabor, and drummer Jerry Gaskill.
February 20
1958: Billed as 'The Big Gold Record Stars' Bill Haley and his Comets, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmie Rodgers all performed on the first date of a six day tour of Florida.
1959: A 16 year old Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut when he played a show at the Temple De Hirsch Sinai synagogue in Seattle.
1960: Jimi Hendrix made his first stage appearance with his band The Rocking Kings at the National Guard Armory in Seattle.
1963: The Beatles drove through the night from Liverpool to London to appear on the live lunchtime BBC radio program 'Parade of the Pops.' Performing 'Love Me Do' and 'Please Please Me', the appearance lasted just over 4 minutes. They then drove another 180 mile trip back north for their performance that night at the Swimming Baths in Doncaster, Yorkshire.
1964: The Beach Boys record 'Don't Worry Baby.'
1965: Gary Lewis and the Playboys started a two week run at #1 on the singles chart with 'This Diamond Ring.' Session musicians were used on the track instead of the band and Gary's voice was heavily over dubbed with other singers. When it came time to perform the song 'live' on The Ed Sullivan Show, Gary sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments. Lewis is the son of actor Jerry Lewis.
1966: The Who play the Oasis Club in Manchester. After the show photographer Colin Jones meets The Who at Manchester Airport and shoots the color photo of Pete in the foreground wearing the Union Jack jacket with the rest of The Who lined across the back. Used a month later in the Sunday Observer, it becomes one of the most famous Who portraits.
1967: Pink Floyd appeared at the Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, England.
1968: Pink Floyd performed 'Astronomy Domine,' 'Flaming,' 'Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun,' and 'Let There Be More Light' at ORTF TV Studios in Buttes Chaumont, France for the music program Bouton Rouge. It was broadcast four days later.
1969: 'Goodbye Cream' premieres in Baltimore. It's a documentary of the power trio's farewell concert at London's Royal Albert Hall from the previous year.
1969: Blind Faith (Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech) begin recording their self-titled debut (and only) album at Morgan Studios in London. The album was finished at Olympic Studios.
1969: A film called 'Candy,' which stars Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, James Coburn, John Huston, Walter Matthau, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ringo Starr (in his first non-musical role), makes it premiere. The film received an X rating because of a scene where Candy (played by Ewa Aulin) and the Mexican gardener, Emanuel (Ringo Starr), have sex.
1970: The single 'Instant Karma' by The Plastic Ono Band was released in the US. John Lennon had written, recorded and mixed the track all in one day on the January 22, 1970. Produced by Phil Spector, the single features George Harrison, Klaus Voormann (bass), Billy Preston, Alan White (drums) and Yoko Ono. It is the third solo single issued by Lennon, and it peaked at #3 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 singles charts in the US, #2 on Canada's Singles Chart and #5 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's first appearance on album was the 1975 compilation 'Shaved Fish.' In the US, the song peaked at #3 as The Beatles' single 'Let It Be' was rising to #1. While both songs competed for position in the Top 3, the Beatles officially announced their dissolution.
1971: Yes appeared at Kingston Poly in London, England. Support act was Queen. Tickets cost 50p ($0.85c).
1971: Canned Heat and ZZ Top perform at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1971: The soundtrack to 'Jesus Christ Superstar' went to #1 on the album chart.
1971: Judy Collins enjoys her biggest chart success as her rendition of 'Amazing Grace' reaches #15 in the US and #5 in the UK. The record enjoyed one of the longest UK chart runs ever, with an initial stay of 32 weeks, and coupled with many re-entries, totaled 67.
1972: Alice Cooper and Badfinger appeared at The Convention Hall in San Diego, California.
1972: During their only tour of Australia, Led Zeppelin perform at the Kooyong Tennis Courts in Melbourne, Australia.
1972: The Allman Brothers Band performed at The Barn in Peoria, Illinois. REO Speedwagon was the opening act.
1973: Santana appeared at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1974: Black Sabbath and The James Gang played at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, NY.
1974: Yes sell out Madison Square Garden in New York. They didn't advertise and tickets sold in two days on word of mouth.
1974: Cher files for divorce from Sonny Bono after ten years of marriage.
1975: 'Johnny Cash Day' is declared in Los Angeles.
1975: Alice Cooper released his first solo album 'Welcome to My Nightmare' which went on to reach #5 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and sell one million copies in the U.S.
1976: David Bowie's ISOLAR tour stops at the Mecca in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1976: KISS have their footprints added on the sidewalk outside Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theater.
1977: Winners at this years Grammy Awards included Stevie Wonder for Best album with 'Songs In The Key Of Life,' and Best Vocal performance for 'I Wish.' Best album went to Chicago for 'Chicago X,' Linda Ronstadt won Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female for 'Hasten Down The Wind' and Best new artist went to the Starland Vocal Band.
1978: Rush performed at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.
1979 George Harrison issues his 8th, self-titled album.
1980: Bon Scott, singer from AC/DC was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after a heavy night's drinking. Scott was found in the passenger seat of a friend's parked car. The official coroner's report stated that he had "drunk himself to death," after suffocating on his own vomit.
1981: Bruce Springsteen appeared at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
1981: Rush kicked off their tour in support of 'Moving Pictures' at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, MI.
1982: King Crimson played at the Columbus Agora in Columbus, Ohio.
1982: Pat Benatar marries her guitarist Neil Gerado on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It was Benatar's second marriage. Giraldo himself had just gotten out of a relationship with famous Exorcist actress Linda Blair.
1982: The Genesis single 'ABACAB' (the title is the song's chord progression) peaks at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. It was their 4th single to reach the top 40 in the U.S.
1982: Billboard's Hot 100 includes AC/DC's 'Let's Get It Up' at #44, Foreigner's 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' at #36, The Police's 'Spirits In The Material World' at #19, The Rolling Stones' 'Waiting On A Friend' at #13, Journey's 'Open Arms' at #4.
1982: 'Death Wish II' is released in the USA with a soundtrack by Jimmy Page.
1986: Bon Jovi begin recording their third album, 'Slippery When Wet' in Vancouver. It goes on to sell over 10 million copies.
1988: Alice Cooper with special guest Motorhead played in Edmonton, Alberta at the Northlands Coliseum.
1988: Foreigner peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Say You Will' which was their 8th top 10 single in the U.S.
1988: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Aerosmith's 'Angel' at #48, Def Leppard's 'Hysteria' at #28, David Lee Roth's 'Just Like Paradise' at #18, and Foreigner peak at #6 with 'Say You Will.'
1991: Bob Dylan was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 33rd annual Grammy Awards. He delivers a perplexing acceptance speech. It's a loose paraphrase of Psalm 27, which is traditionally recited prior to Yom Kippur. Aerosmith won their first Grammy for Best Rock Performance for 'Janie's Got A Gun' & performed 'Come Together' as part of the tribute to Lennon. Other winners include Roy Orbison, Aaron Neville, Eric Clapton, Bette Midler, Linda Ronstadt, Mariah Carey and Quincy Jones.
1993: More than 34 years after his death, Buddy Holly had the #1 album on the UK chart with the 'Words of Love' compilation album. Holly reached the Top 10 of the UK album chart for five straight decades.
1996: Sepultura released their 6th studio album, 'Roots.'
2000: The biographical TV movie 'Little Richard' airs on NBC. Actor Leon plays the title role.
2002: D.A.D. released their 8th album, 'Soft Dogs.'
2003: At a Great White show in The Station Nightclub in West Warwick, RI, while the band opens with 'Desert Moon,' a fire erupts when pyrotechnics ignite the soundproof insulation at back of the stage, which spread to the ceiling. In the ensuing chaos, fans rush toward the main entrance. Of the 462 concertgoers, 100 are killed (including Great White guitarist Ty Longley, and WHJY DJ Mike "The Doctor" Gonsalves, the concert's MC). In addition, 230 are injured from smoke inhalation, burns or being trampled in crowd. As a result, Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is sentenced to 10 years for involuntary manslaughter (he was paroled in 2008).
2003: Red Hot Chili Peppers won International Group at The Brit Awards.
2004: Brian Wilson kicked off an 11-date UK tour at London's Royal Festival Hall. The shows saw Wilson performing the full suite of songs from his unreleased masterpiece 'Smile.'
2006: Motley Crue kick off a North American tour in Columbus, GA.
2006: Elton John and pop diva Celine Dion perform onstage for the first time to help raise money for hurricane Katrina relief efforts at a benefit show in Las Vegas. The pair sing two duets together, 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)' and 'Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word.' The show raises $2.1 million.
2007: The Who's Pete Townshend and Lou Reed perform together for the first time in New York. During the Attic Jam, Townshend plays a four-song solo acoustic set before being joined onstage by Reed. The two roll through a trio of Velvet Underground songs.
2007: Nickelback start yet another tour in support of their 2005 album 'All The Right Reasons' in Tacoma, WA. The four-week arena trek has Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin opening.
2007: Dave Navarro's divorce from actress Carmen Electra is finalized. They announced their separation seven months earlier after nearly three years of marriage.
2007: Crosby, Stills & Nash's postpone a planned U.S. tour. David Crosby unspecified medical issues are the reason. The group had just dropped out of an Australia-New Zealand tour.
2008: Paul McCartney earns the Outstanding Contribution to Music trophy at the BRIT Awards. During the London ceremony he performs 'Live And Let Die,' 'Hey Jude,' 'Lady Madonna' and 'Get Back.' Foo Fighters win the Best International Group and Best International Album honors. Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon host the awards.
2008: Foo Fighters sue Marvel Studios over the alleged unauthorized use of two of their songs, 'Best Of You' and 'Free Me,' in a trailer for the Wolverine And The X-Men animated series.
2008: Devon Townsend, the woman guilty of stalking and harassing Linkin Park's Chester Bennington and his wife, Talinda, gets a two-year sentence. Townsend used her work computer to obtain personal information about the couple.
2008: Linkin Park performs a surprise show at an Apple Store in New York.
2008: A 1976 Rolling Stones album bought for £2 at a car boot sale sold for £4,000 at an auction. The 'Black and Blue' LP was signed by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul and Linda McCartney and George Harrison as well as members of the Rolling Stones. The seller obtained the album after haggling the cost down from £3.
2009: The White Stripes appear on the final episode of 'Late Night' in New York before host Conan O'Brien takes over 'The Tonight Show' in Los Angeles.
2010: An event was staged at The Barbican in London where 40 zebra finches made music by landing on guitars and cymbals. The flock of finches would land on Gibson Les Paul guitars, which were plugged into amplifiers and land on upturned cymbals being used as bird feeders to make random sounds. A video clip of the installation, on YouTube had been watched more than 520,000 times.
2011: Tom Morello performs in Madison, WI., in support of protesters railing against a bill Republican governor Scott Walker proposed that would effectively exclude state employees from collective bargaining.
2011: Davy Jones confirmed that The Monkees were reuniting to tour the UK for the first time in 12 years.
2012: The Songwriters Hall Of Fame announced that Bob Seger and Gordon Lightfoot would be inducted on June 14th in New York.
2013: Pearl Jam's 1991 debut album 'Ten,' reaches the 10 million mark in U.S. sales.
2014: It's Kurt Cobain Day in his hometown of Aberdeen, Washington. "Aberdeen residents may justifiably take pride in the role our community played in the life of Kurt Cobain," says mayor Bill Simpson. For the record, Cobain made no secret of his animosity toward his hometown. Also, a statue is unveiled showing the Nirvana frontman shedding a single tear.
2014: Sales of Blue Swede's 'Hooked On a Feeling' went through the roof following its use in the new trailer for the film 'Guardians of the Galaxy.' The song originally became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 6, 1974.
2015: Scorpions release their 18th studio album, 'Return to Forever.'
2015: Black Star Riders release their 'Killer Instinct' album.
2015: With ticket prices ranging between $125 and $195 each, Fleetwood Mac led the Hot Tours list by taking in $3.8 million for three shows during the previous week. The 'On With The Show' tour was slated to run until April, followed by a six week European trek starting in May.
2016: A lock of John Lennon's hair, cut from his head in 1966 for his role in the film 'How I Won the War,' sold at an auction to a U.K. based memorabilia dealer for $35,000.
February 21
1952: A 17-year-old Jerry Lee Lewis marries his first wife, preacher's daughter Dorothy Barton, in what is rumored to be a shotgun wedding.
1958: Gibson's first "Flying V" guitar is shipped from a factory in factory in Kalamazoo, MI.
1961: The Beatles played three gigs in one day. The first was a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club, then at night they appeared at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool.
1964: The Beatles leave the US and return to England after their triumphant first visit.
1964: The Rolling Stones crack the U.K. Top 10 for the first time with a cover of Buddy Holly's 'Not A Fade Away.' It was their first Top 5 hit in Great Britain, reaching #3. In March 1964 it was also the Rolling Stones' first single release in the United States, on the London Records label, with 'I Wanna Be Your Man' as the B-side (briefly preceded by 'Stoned,' which had immediately been withdrawn). The single reached #48 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
1964: Billy Joel joins his first rock band The Echoes, who specialize in playing the hits by UK bands. The quartet would play cover songs under the names The Lost Souls, The Commandos and The Emerald Lords before Billy split two years later to join The Hassles. He would make his breakthrough in 1973 with 'Piano Man.'
1966: Written largely by John Lennon about himself, The Beatles release 'Nowhere Man.' The song appears on the 'Yellow Submarine' soundtrack.
1966: Elvis Presley begins filming his 22nd movie, 'Spinout.' He also tells a local Los Angeles paper about the gospel album he's currently working on, eventually titled 'How Great Thou Art.'
1967: Pink Floyd started their first sessions at the EMI Studios in St. John's Wood, London on their debut album 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn,' working on the song 'Matilda Mother'. While Pink Floyd were recording their album with former Beatles engineer Norman Smith, The Beatles themselves were working in the studio next door, recording 'Fixing A Hole' for their Sgt. Pepper album. Micky Dolenz from The Monkees attended the mixing session during the day.
1968: McGraw-Hill Publishing wins the rights to Hunter Davies' authorized bio of The Beatles. Lennon later complains the book glossed over what they were really like and how they lived.
1968: Blood, Sweat & Tears released their debut LP 'Child Is Father to the Man.' It reached #47 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. In 2003, the album was ranked #264 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1968: The Who play the Civic Auditorium in San Jose, California. Sagittarius and Blue Cheer open. For this show, the first of a six-week North American tour, The Who introduce extended jams of 'Shakin' All Over,' 'Relax' and 'My Generation.'
1969: Elvis Presley purchases a Kodak microfilm reader and begins microfilming over 4,000 personal items.
1970: Simon And Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' entered the UK album chart at #1, where it would stay for 12 consecutive weeks. It would return to the top seven times, spending a total of 41 weeks there over the next two years. In the US, the LP spent 10 weeks at #1 on the strength of three Top 10 singles and was the #7 album of the decade in America.
1970: Having been in release for only 15 weeks, 'Led Zeppelin II' approaches sales of 2 million.
1970: Alice Cooper played at the Uptown Palladium 12 Theatre in Birmingham, Michigan.
1971: Alice Cooper's 3rd album, 'Love It to Death' was released. It reached #35 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. In 2003, the album was ranked #460 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The hit 'I'm Eighteen' reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, and subsequently been included on the Rolling Stone list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at #482; and selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
1972: Yes played at Sunshine Inn in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
1972: Led Zeppelin released 'Rock And Roll/Four Sticks' as a 7 inch single in the US, peaking at #47 on the chart. The song was written as a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying to finish 'Four Sticks'. Drummer John Bonham played the introduction to Little Richard's 'You Keep A-Knockin' and Page added a guitar riff. With the tapes rolling the basic song was finished fifteen minutes later.
1973: The Rolling Stones played at Memorial Drive Park in Adelaide, Australia.
1975: Genesis performed at the Folkoner Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1975: David Bowie releases 'Young Americans' as a single, which became a breakthrough hit in the U.S. The backing vocal arrangement came at the suggestion of soul singer Luther Vandross.
1975: Status Quo released their 8th studio album, 'On the Level" is the
1976: David Bowie played Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1976: The Four Seasons were at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'December '63 (Oh What A Night'), the group's only UK chart topper.
1977: Fleetwood Mac released 'Rumours.' The album went on to sell more than 15 million copies world-wide and spent 31 weeks at #1 on the US chart.
1977: Neil Diamond plays a televised concert at the Greek theater in Los Angeles. The show was released as the live album 'Love At The Greek.'
1979: The Dire Straits album is certified gold.
1979: Bad Company's 'Run with the Pack' album was released.
1981: REO Speedwagon went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Hi Infidelity'. The album spent a total of 15 weeks at #1.
1982: American DJ Murry The K died. Murray is thought to be the first person to play a Beatles record on radio in America. During the early days of Beatlemania, he frequently referred to himself as "the Fifth Beatle". Married six times, he died of cancer a week after his 60th birthday.
1983: Rick Wakeman of Yes and girlfriend Nina Carter become the proud parents of their first child, daughter Jemma.
1986: Metallica released their third album, the highly influential, 'Master of Puppets,' considered by many in the metal community to be the best metal album of all time. This was the last Metallica album with bassist Cliff Burton.
1987: Sly Stone is jailed for possession of cocaine in Los Angeles, an arrest which sends the singer into retirement and virtual seclusion upon his release.
1987: Billboard's Hot 100 includes RATT's 'Dance' at #92 (debut), Billy Idol's 'Don't Need A Gun' at #43, Genesis' 'Tonight Tonight Tonight' at #36, Corey Hart's 'Can't Stop Falling In Love' at #24, Cinderella's 'Nobody's Fool' at #15, and Bon Jovi's 'Livin' On A Prayer' was at #1.
1990: Gamma Ray's 1st studio album, 'Heading for Tomorrow' is released.
1990: Bonnie Raitt has a big night at the 32nd Grammy Awards in L.A. She wins Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for 'Nick Of Time.' Paul McCartney is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is for his solo work; he later receives the same award in 2014 for his work with the Beatles.
1990: Bruce Hornsby and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band win the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Recording.
1991: ZZ Top performed at The Palace Of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
1995: For the first time in seven years, Bruce Springsteen performed live with the E Street Band. They play the new song 'Murder Incorporated' at a club in New York City.
2001: The RIAA certifies Aerosmith 'Rocks' at 4x Platinum, 'Classic Live' Platinum & 'Get Your Wing's 3x Platinum.
2001: Steely Dan's 'Two Against Nature,' the group's first studio album in nearly 20 years, wins Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys. It's the first time the group wins a Grammy. U2's 'Beautiful Day' is awarded Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Rock Performance while Foo Fighters get the Best Rock Album nod for 'There Is Nothing Left To Lose' and Best Short Form Music Video for 'Learn To Fly.'
2001: Johnny Cash gets out of the hospital, where he is treated for pneumonia, and makes it to the Grammy Awards that night, where he wins for Best Male Vocal Country Performance for 'Solitary Man,' his 10th Grammy.
2002: Elton John accused the music industry of exploiting young singers and dumping talented artists for manufactured group's. He said 'There are too many average and mediocre acts, it damages real talent getting airplay. It's just fodder.'
2003: Ringo Starr and Mark Hudson announce a new indie label startup of theirs, named pumkinhead.
2005: Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil releases a DVD that documents his stint co-hosting the world's sexiest stripper contest held annually in Las Vegas. 'Girls, Girls, Girls Volume I' features women competing in categories like Best Strip Tease and Best Lap Dance for the Sexiest Stripper title.
2005: Aerosmith's Steven Tyler is separating from Teresa, his wife of 17 years. No reason is given and Tyler, in a prepared statement, requests privacy and sensitivity.
2005: Bono is one of the 166 nominees for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. It's for his charity and human rights activism.
2006: Kid Rock filed a lawsuit to prevent the distribution of a videotape featuring himself and Creed's Scott Stapp being "serviced" by four women. "We don't deny the authenticity of the tape," says an attorney for Rock. "But they're using this without his permission."
2007: EMI Music (The Beatles' label) and Apple Corps (The Beatles' company) sue a cleaning firm for approximately $1.3 million, claiming a janitor in their employ tossed original photos of The Beatles shot in 1963. The suit states the firm was negligent, failed to follow instructions, failed to take reasonable care and failed to properly train or supervise their employee. The photos were in two boxes marked 'Not Rubbish - Do Not Remove.'
2007: Tool drummer Danny Carey undergoes surgery for a torn bicep. The operation is a success but Tool is forced to postpone their North American tour that was scheduled to begin in three weeks. Carey suffered the injury a few days earlier.
2007: Killswitch Engage headline the 35-city 'No Fear Music' Tour in support of their 'As Daylight Dies' disc. Ex-Damageplan singer/guitarist Pat Lachman fills in for Adam Dutkiewicz who underwent emergency back surgery the previous month. "Pat definitely shreds, and we can't thank him enough for helping us out," reads a band statement.
2008: In what is reported as one of eBay's most expensive sales yet, the online auction house brokers a deal between an unnamed US music collector and an unnamed Irish collector for three million albums and singles in various formats, for a grand total of about one dollar per item.
2008: A computer expert was jailed for two years for electronically stalking Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. Devon Townsend worked at a US national security laboratory in New Mexico, where she used a computer to track Bennington, she admitted to obtaining family photos, accessing e-mail and voicemail, and threatening his wife Talinda.
2009: Kid Rock is the Grand Marshal of New Orleans' 2009 Endymion Parade during Mardi Gras. Rock later performs at the Superdome.
2009: The Black Crowes play the first of four intimate sold-out Cabin Fever Winter 2009 live shows in Woodstock, NY, at former Band drummer Levon Helm's barn studio. The shows are culled for an album.
2009: After receiving $1.5 billion in federal bank bailout money (and laying off 450 employees), Northern Trust of Chicago throws a huge L.A. party for clients and employees, paying $50,000 to have the House of Blues shut down for a private Sheryl Crow concert.
2011: Econoline Crush sue Nickelback because they feel 'Figured You Out' is a knock-off of their single 'All That You Are.'
2011: The Cars announced that May 10th would be the release date for their first new album in 24 years.
2012: To protest the Russian Orthodox Church's endorsement of a third term for President Vladimir Putin, the female Punk band Pussy Riot perform 'Mother Of God, Chase Putin Away!' on the altar of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, the holiest site in Russian Orthodoxy. The performance lasts a little over a minute before Church security drag the band out. A couple weeks later, the group is arrested on charges of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred', which has nothing to do with their political protest.
2012: President Barack Obama joins Mick Jagger and B.B. King for a performance of 'Sweet Home Chicago' at a White House Black History Month Blues concert.
2012: The US Supreme Court refused to review Phil Spector's murder conviction. The disgraced producer was jailed for 19-years-to-life in 2009 for the second-degree murder of Lana Clarkson.
2014: Sarah Jones, 27, a crew member on the set of the Gregg Allman biopic 'Midnight Rider,' is killed when a freight train strikes her. Seven others are injured in the accident after the train rumbled over a trestle where a dream sequence was being filmed on the tracks on the first day of production. The director, Randall Miller, is later convicted of felony involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing and receives a ten-year sentence. He was released in March 2016 after serving only one year of his term. Allman later sued the producers to halt filming.
2014: The Rolling Stones played their 1st show ever in the United Arab Emirates at the du Arena, Abu Dhabi.
2015: Killer Be Killed, with former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, make their live debut at Australia's Soundwave Festival in Adelaide.
2015: Iron Maiden's 1977 line-up reunites for a London club show. Dennis Willcock (vocals), Terry Wapram (guitar), Tony Moore (keyboards) and Barry 'Thunderstick' Purkis (drums) take the stage. The only person missing is bassist Steve Harris, the band's only constant member. This edition came and went before Iron Maiden's 1980 self-titled debut.
2015: Paul McCartney takes the Major Tour of the Year Prize at the 26th annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The award for the 'Out There World Tour' is the third time McCartney has won the honor (1990 and 2002 were the other two).
2015: Rush frontman Geddy Lee is the featured guest on the season fourteen debut of VH1 Classic's 'That Metal Show.'
2016: A four-inch lock of John Lennon's hair sells for $35,000 at an auction in Dallas, Texas. A German hairdresser kept a piece of his hair after giving him a trim before the star began filming the 1967 dark comedy 'How I Won the War.'
February 22
1956: Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel' enters the Billboard Hot 100 at #68. Two weeks later it will go to #1 for 8 straight weeks and stay on the chart for over 4 months.
1957: Famed US dance instructor Arthur Murray reported that enrollment in his dance studios had increased ten percent since the "Rock and Roll craze" swept the country.
1957: The Film 'Don't Knock The Rock,' featuring appearances by Alan Freed, Little Richard and Bill Haley, opens at the Paramount Theatre in New York.
1958: The Silhouettes topped Cash Box Magazine's Best Sellers Chart with 'Get A Job' after Dick Clark started playing it on his TV show, 'American Bandstand.' The group got their name from the 1957 song by The Rays, (covered by Herman's Hermits in the '60s) and the inspiration for the tune came from writer Rick Lewis' mother, when she chided her son to "get up in the morning and go out and get a job."
1963: The Beatles formed their Northern Music Publishing Company. Michael Jackson eventually purchased it.
1963: 'Please Please Me' by The Beatles becomes the group's first Number One hit in the UK.
1965: Beatles begin filming second movie, 'Help.'
1966: During an 11-date tour of Australia and New Zealand The Rolling Stones played at the Centennial Hall in Adelaide, supported by The Searchers.
1967: The Beatles finish work on 'A Day In The Life.'
1968: Genesis releases their first single 'The Silent Sun.' Vocalist Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks and guitarist Mike Rutherford are there at the beginning.
1969: The Beatles recorded the basic track & John Lennon's vocal of 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' at Trident Studios in London.
1969: Tyrannosaurus Rex appeared at The Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. Support act was David Bowie performing a one-man mime act.
1969: Ten Years After's 3rd album, 'Stonedhenge' is released. It reached #61 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1970: The first live performance of the new band, David Bowie and the Hypetakes place at The Roundhouse Spring Festival in Camden, London.
1971: George Harrison was fined and banned from driving for a year.
1971: David Crosby released his debut solo album, 'If I Could Only Remember My Name.' It reached #12 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. Two singles were taken from the album, 'Music Is Love,' which was released in April 1971 and peaked at #95 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 'Orleans' which was released in July 1971.
1971: Stephen Stills 'Sit Yourself Down' b/w 'We Are Not Helpless' 45 single is released in the U.S. Written by Stephen Stills and released on his self-titled 1970 solo debut album. It was also released as the 2nd single from the album, following the Top 20 hit 'Love the One You're With.' and reached the Top 40, peaking at #37.
1972: Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla were legally separated. The couple had married in 1967.
1972: Wings played the last date on their 11-date unannounced UK tour at Oxford University.
1973: An interesting double bill, REO Speedwagon and Cheech & Chong at the Exposition Gardens – Youth Building in Peoria, Illinois.
1973: Black Sabbath played at the Palasport in Vicenza, Italy.
1973: The Grateful Dead performed at Assembly Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois.
1974: Former David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson plays first of two nights at London's Rainbow.
1974: After placing 12 albums on the Billboard Hot 200 and eight Top 40 albums in the UK, Ten Years After give their final concert in London.
1975: John Lennon's '#9 Dream' peaks at #9.
1975: Scotland's Average White Band's 'Pick Up the Pieces' hits #1, as does their album 'AWB.'
1975: Grand Funk Railroad peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their cover of 'Some Kind of Wonderful' which was their third top 10 single in the U.S.
1977: Electric Light Orchestra performed at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
1977: The Eagles 'Hotel California' b/w 'Pretty Maids All In A Row' 45 single is released. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week in May 1977. Three months after its release, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), representing 1 million copies shipped. The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for 'Hotel California' at the 20th Grammy Awards in 1978. In 2009, the song 'Hotel California' was certified Platinum (Digital Sales Award) by the RIAA for sales of 1 million digital downloads. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey. It was ranked #49 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The song's guitar solo is ranked 8th on Guitar Magazine's Top 100 Guitar Solos and was voted the best solo of all time by readers of Guitarist magazine.
1978: The Police appeared in a Wrigley's Chewing Gum commercial, with the band dyed their hair blonde for the appearance.
1978: Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen were arrested in New York and charged with drug possession.
1979: Rolling Stone reports that Budweiser has developed an advertising relationship with Journey. Banners, T-shirts and even the "Bud stage" soon become concert mainstays.
1979: Dire Straits played their first American show when they appeared in Boston.
1980: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, featuring Roger Glover, Graham Bonnet and Cozy Powell perform at The Royal Highland Exhibition Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1981: Rush played at Alumni Auditorium, Davenport, Iowa.
1984: KISS, Vandenberg & Heaven played the Richfield Coliseum Theatre in Richfield, Ohio.
1985: Carl Perkins plays a nightclub bouncer in the John Landis directed film Into The Night. It would be Perkins' only film role as an actor.
1986: Ozzy Osbourne released 'The Ultimate Sin' album.
1986: The INXS album 'Listen Like Thieves' enters the charts.
1986: Having acquired all 45 episodes of The Monkees, MTV aired them all in a 22-hour marathon in celebration of the group's 20th anniversary, sparking a completely unexpected career revival for the group.
1986: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Dokken's 'In My Dreams' at #93 (debut), Loverboy's 'This Could Be The Night' at #27, John Cougar Mellencamp's 'R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.' at #, James Brown's 'Living In America' at #5, and Mr. Mister's 'Kyrie' at #2.
1987: Andy Warhol, pop artist and producer died after a gall bladder operation. The founder of the Pop Art movement, produced and managed The Velvet Underground, designed the 1967 Velvet Underground And Nico 'peeled banana' album cover and The Rolling Stones 'Sticky Fingers' album cover. During the 60s, he produced paintings of iconic American objects such as Campbell's Soup Cans, Coca-Cola bottles and celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley. His most expensive painting sold for $105.4 million in 2013. Warhol donated his entire estate to The Andy Warhol Foundation, which remains one of the largest grant-giving organizations for the visual arts in the U.S.
1989: Jethro Tull win the first Hard Rock/Metal Grammy Award at the 31st Grammy Awards held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Metallica performs on stage, but the award goes to Jethro Tull. The Grammy voters picked Jethro Tull's 'Crest of a Knave' over Metallica's 'And Justice For All.' Tull's record label tries to make light of the faux pas by placing a Billboard ad that reads, "The flute is a heavy, metal instrument." Tull's record label tries to make light of the faux pas by placing a Billboard ad that reads, "The flute is a heavy, metal instrument." Tracy Chapman is named Best New Artist and Tina Turner won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for 'Tina Live in Europe.'
1990: Damn Yankees release their self-titled debut album. It reached #13 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart. The band was formed in 1989, consisting of Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent, and Michael Cartellone (then an unknown drummer, but one who would later join Lynyrd Skynyrd). Produced by rock producer Ron Nevison, the new band's self-titled debut album went double-platinum in 1990. Jack Blades's leading single 'Coming of Age,' hit #60 on the U.S. Hot 100, and #1 on the AOR charts, while Tommy Shaw's 'Come Again' received extensive AOR airplay. 'High Enough' rose to #3 on U.S. Hot 100, and #2 on AOR charts. The band's songs appeared on several Hollywood film soundtracks, such as 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch,' 'Nothing But Trouble' and 'The Taking of Beverly Hills.'
1990: Love/Hate release their album 'Blackout In The Red Room.'
1992: Bonnie Raitt is named MusiCares Person of the Year at the foundation's dinner in New York.
1992: When the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform 'Under The Bridge' on 'Saturday Night Live,' their guitarist John Frusciante sabotages the song, playing unevenly and screaming into the microphone during his background part. His frustrations would lead him to quit the band in May.
1993: Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson announced he was leaving the group in order to pursue a solo career. He returned in 1999.
1993: Doro released her album 'Angels Never Die.' The video for the song 'Bad Blood' was voted best anti-racism video during the first MTV Europe Awards ceremony in 1994.
1994: "Papa" John Creach dies of congestive heart failure at 76. Creach was a blues violinist who played with Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship and also recorded a number of solo albums. He was also a frequent guest at Grateful Dead and Charlie Daniels Band concerts up until his death.
1997: Offspring's 'Ixnay On The Hombre' enters the U.S. album chart coming in at #9.
2000: The engagement ring that The Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious gave to his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, was put up for sale. The asking price for the ring, which Sid bought in 1977, was 1,500 Pounds ($2,550). Also on sale was a pair of John Lennon's blue jeans for 2,250 Pounds ($3,825).
2001: Winners at the 43rd Grammy Awards included U2 for record of the year and song of the year with 'Beautiful Day', with Steely Daninningalbum of the year for 'Two Against Nature'
2001: U.K. newspaper Sunday Mirror reported that The Beatles were the highest grossing musicians in the year of 2000 earning $50 million.
2002: Little Richard gets the NAACP Image Award.
2003: Sir Paul McCartney played a private show in San Diego for the 50th birthday of Wendy Whitworth, the executive producer of CNN's Larry King Show. Sir Paul donated his $1 million fee to the Adopt-a-Minefield charity.
2004: Wes Scantlin is arrested for disorderly conduct and other infractions in Toledo, OH, after showing up to a Puddle Of Mudd concert intoxicated. The frontman heckles and abuses concertgoers when his bandmates walk offstage after only four songs.
2005: An online post by KoRn announces that founding guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch has left the band after 12 years. The statement adds that Welch "has chosen Jesus Christ as his savior, and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end."
2005: Blink-182 announce they are going on an indefinite hiatus, which lasts four years.
2006: Kid Rock sues Red Light – the same company that distributed the Paris Hilton sex video – accusing the firm of violating his trademark and privacy rights by distributing footage featuring himself and Creed's Scott Stapp having sex with four women. Distribution of the videotape is later halted.
2007: Van Morrison is honored for his contributions to movie music at the US-Ireland Alliance's second annual Oscar Wilde: Honoring Irish Writing in Film pre-Academy Awards bash in L.A. A collection of his songs used in films was released the previous week.
2007: Peter Frampton donates the guitar he used to compose both 'Baby, I Love Your Way' and 'Show Me The Way' to the Musicians Hall Of Fame in Nashville.
2007: Sammy Hagar, participates in a variety of NASCAR-related events, including a performance, at the California Speedway in Fontana, CA.
2007: Puddle Of Mudd announce they have recruited drummer Ryan Yerdon to replace Greg Upchurch, who quit the band in 2005 to join 3 Doors Down.
2008: Styx singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw is one of the inductees into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Shaw performs at a gala event in his hometown of Montgomery.
2008: The U2 concert film 'U2 3D' is released worldwide.
2010: AC/DC, on their 'Black Ice' tour, break U2's record for playing before the largest audience in Australia. AC/DC sells 212,729 tickets for three shows at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The total tops U2 by less than 1,000.
2011: The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde writes a letter to the Country group Lady Antebellum asking them to take a stand for animal rights when they perform at a KFC franchisee's meeting in San Diego two weeks later. The letter is sent to the group through PETA, and it asks them to tell KFC to adopt less cruel slaughter practices as recommended by the restaurant chain's own advisory board. "My friends at PETA and I are hoping that you will use your unique position to appeal to the company," writes Hynde. "With your influential public platform, KFC might not so easily turn a deaf ear to you."
2012: Tommy Lee settles his court battle with former assistant Michael 'Tony' Sullivan who accused the Motley Crue drummer of being 'the boss from hell'. Lee is ordered to pay over $400K to Sullivan and deliver 'a public apology'.
2012: Guitarist Billy Strange, who worked with Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Rick Nelson, the Everly Brothers and Phil Spector, dies in Nashville at age 81. Strange, a member of the Wrecking Crew, a top tier L.A. session group, was also in the Musicians Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
2013: Styx sues A&M Records over what they claim were deceptive accounting practices that deprived the band of royalties. The suit contends that, "for every one dollar the band has received from A&M they should have been paid anywhere from two to five dollars."
2015: Kid Rock performs at the Daytona 500. His set includes songs from his recent 'First Kiss' album plus 'Bawitdaba.'
2017: Longtime blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge receives the UFO Researcher Of The Year Award from the International UFO Congress for his work and interest regarding extraterrestrial life at the International UFO Congress.
2017: Travis Barker (Blink-182) and his daughter Alabama are featured in PETA ad titled "Never Be Silent" speaking about being vegetarian and their love for animals.
2017: Eddie Van Halen speaks out in favor of music education is schools during a CNN interview. "Music is such a necessity," says the guitarist. "It touches people's souls. Music is the universal language to me. It transcends everything." Van Halen has donated countless guitars and other instruments to school programs.
2017: David Bowie dominated the 2017 Brit awards. The star was awarded best British male and best British album for 'Blackstar.' As well as honoring Bowie, the Brits paid tribute to George Michael, who died on Christmas day 2016.
February 23
1963: The Chiffons' 'He's So Fine' enters the Hot 100. The song had been rejected by ten different record companies before Laurie Records decided to take a chance on it. By the end of March, it will top both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts and reach #16 in the UK.
1964: The Beatles appeared on a prerecorded segment for The Ed Sullivan Show, performing 'Twist and Shout,' 'Please Please Me' and 'I Want To Hold Your Hand.' Sullivan tells his audience that the group are "fine professional singers." It was the first time Sullivan had an act on three times. They also appeared on the front cover of Newsweek.
1965: Filming began on The Beatles follow up to 'A Hard Days Night' on location in the Bahamas with the working title of 'Eight Arms To Hold You.'
1966: During an 11-date tour of Australia and New Zealand The Rolling Stones played the first of four nights at the Palais Theatre in St Kida, Melbourne.
1970: 'Morrison Hotel' becomes The Doors' 5th straight gold album. Even though it contained no hit singles, the disc climbed to #4 on the Hot 200 chart and #12 in the UK.
1970: Ringo Starr makes his first solo TV appearance, on NBC's 'Laugh In.'
1970: The Beach Boys 'Add Some Music To Your Day' b/w 'Susie Cincinnati' 45 single is released in the U.S. Written by Brian Wilson, Joe Knott and Mike Love, it was first released as a single in February 1970. It reached #64 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1970: The first annual Juno Awards, Canada's version of the Grammys, was held in Toronto. The awards had existed since 1964 under the name The RPM Gold Leaf Awards, which were established by Walt Grealis, editor and publisher of RPM magazine.
1971: Poco's 'C'mon' b/w 'I Guess You Made It' 45 single is released in the U.S. Written by Richie Furay, from the 1971 LP, 'Deliverin'. It reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1972: Humble Pie's "Rockin' at the Fillmore" goes gold.
1972: Pink Floyd began a week-long recording session at Château d'Hérouville studios near Paris, working on 'Obscured by Clouds,' music for the soundtrack to More director Barbet Schroeder's next film, 'La Vallée.'
1972: After nearly five years of marriage, Priscilla Presley moved out of Elvis Presley's California home and into a two bedroom apartment near the Pacific Ocean. Their divorce would be finalized on October 9, 1973, with Priscilla being awarded an outright cash payment of $725,000 as well as spousal support, child support, 5% of Elvis' new publishing companies and half the income from the sale of their Beverly Hills home.
1974: Gregg Allman's version of 'Midnight Rider' (originally recorded by the Allman Brothers Band) peaks at #19.
1976: AC/DC shot the video clip for 'It's A Long Way To The Top, (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)' for the Australian music television program 'Countdown.' It featured the band's then-current lineup, along with members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band, on the back of a flat-bed truck traveling on Swanston Street in Melbourne.
1978: David Coverdale's Whitesnake made their debut at the Sky Bird Club in Nottingham, England.
1978: Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols and Nancy Spungen were arrested in New York for possession of drugs.
1978: The Eagles received the Grammy for Record of the Year for 'Hotel California.' The band refused to perform during the ceremony because they didn't think they were going to win.
1978: At the 20th annual Grammy awards The Eagles win Record of the Year for 'Hotel California' and Best Arrangement for Voices for 'New Kid in Town.' Fleetwood Mac win the Best Album of the Year for 'Rumours.'
1978: The Police sign with A&M Records.
1979: Dire Straits played their first American show when they appeared at the Paradise Club in Boston. They sell out every one of their 51 scheduled shows.
1979: The Police released their single 'Roxanne.' It became their first American hit.
1979: Thin Lizzy released their 19th single, 'Waiting for an Alibi.'
1980: U2 appeared at The Moonlight Club, at The Railway Hotel in London, tickets cost £2.
1980: Queen's 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' is the #1 US single. Freddy Mercury's tribute to Elvis Presley was supposedly written while he was in the bath.
1980: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Rush's 'The Spirit Of The Radio' at #88 (debut), The Babys' 'Back On My Feet Again' at #45, Toto's '99' at #30, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 'Don't Do Me Like That' at #26 and Queen's 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' at #1.
1980: Iron Maiden released their debut single 'Running Free' on EMI Records in the U.K. where it peaked at #34.
1983: The Ramones released their 7th studio album, 'Subterranean Jungle.'
1983: Toto win Album Of The Year for 'Toto IV' and Record Of The Year for 'Rosanna,' at the 25th Grammy Awards.
1985: The Honeydrippers, featuring former Led Zep members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, peak at #25 with their version of 'Rockin' At Midnight.'
1985: The L.A. quartet Autograph enter the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Turn Up The Radio,' which will peak at #39. The single, taken from their Platinum selling album 'Sign In Please,' was later featured in an episode of 'Miami Vice' and numerous other films.
1985: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Simple Minds' 'Don't You Forget About Me' at #90 (debut), Duran Duran's 'Save A Prayer' at #29, Steve Perry's 'Foolish Heart' at #22, REO Speedwagon's 'Can't Fight This Feeling' at #4 annd Philip Bailey & Phil Collins' 'Easy Lover' at #3.
1986: The Rolling Stones play live for the first time in five years. At London's 100 Club they join a tribute to late keyboardist, Ian Stewart. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend also played.
1989: Roy Orbison's voice was heard on two of the top albums in the US, two months after his death. His solo album, 'Mystery Girl' featured the hit 'You Got It' and The Traveling Wilburys first album contained 'Handle With Care' and 'End of the Line.'
1993: Nuclear Assault released their 5th studio album, 'Something Wicked.' It was the first and only album not to feature founding members Dan Lilker and Anthony Bramante, who left the band in 1992.
1993: Sacred Reich released the album 'Inbdependent.' Future Machine Head drummer Dave McClain played on the album.
1993: Van Halen released their first live album 'Live: Right Here, Right Now.'
1993: Aerosmith released their 46th single 'Livin' on the Edge.'
1993: Little Richard gets a Lifetime Achievement Award from NARAS (the Grammys).
1994: Among the guests for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas are Eddie Van Halen, Chris Isaak and B.B. King.
1995: Foo Fighters play their first club show at the Jambalaya Club in Arcata, CA.
1997: Yngwie Malmsteen released his 10th studio album 'Facing the animal.'
1998: Metallica released the single 'The Unforgiven II.' It reached #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1998: All members of Oasis were banned for life from flying Cathay Pacific Airlines after "abusive and disgusting behaviour" during a flight from Hong Kong to Perth, Australia.
1999: Overkill released their 10th studio album, 'Necroshine.' It was the first album to feature a guest vocalist, with singer Blitz's sister Mary Ellsworth on background vocals for 'Let Us Prey.'
1999: Jimi Hendrix 'Live at the Fillmore East' album is released. It documents Hendrix's performances with the Band of Gypsys at the Fillmore East on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970.
2000: Carlos Santana ties Michael Jackson's record of eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for his album 'Supernatural,' and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for 'Smooth,' his collaboration with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. 'Supernatural' sells 30 million records worldwide. 'Smooth' wins Song of the Year. Sting wins Best Pop Album for 'Brand New Day,' Phil Collins wins Best Soundtrack for 'Tarzan' and Jimi Hendrix wins his first Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video for 'Band of Gypsys - Live at Fillmore East.' Elton John is honored with the Living Legend Award.
2001: Linkin Park peaks at #5 on the pop chart with 'In The End.'
2003: Simon & Garfunkel sing together for the first time in ten years as they receive a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award.
2003: Howie Epstein bassist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers died of a suspected drug overdose in New Mexico. He had replaced The Heartbreakers original bassist Ron Blair, Epstein also worked with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Linda Ronstadt and Del Shannon.
2003: The winners at the 45th Grammy Awards, held at Madison Square Garden, New York, included: Best male pop vocal, John Mayer, 'Our Body Is A Wonderland'. Best male rock vocal, Bruce Springsteen, 'The Rising', Best female rock vocal, Sheryl Crow, 'Steve McQueen', and Best rock performance by group, Coldplay.
2004: George Harrison's 'The Dark Horse Years 1976–1992' (Box Set) is released. Comprising all of the output on his Dark Horse Records label, the set encompasses his studio albums from 1976's 'Thirty Three & 1/3' to 1987's 'Cloud Nine' with bonus tracks, while 1992's 'Live in Japan' features a special SACD remix in addition to its original mix. Furthermore, Harrison's intended artwork for 'Somewhere in England' has been reinstated, while the lettering on the front of the album 'George Harrison' has been modified.
2005: Disturbed headlines a benefit concert in Chicago with Drowning Pool, Soil and Anthrax for the Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund.
2005: Beatallica, a cover band that plays Metallica and The Beatles, are hit with a cease-and-desist order by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the company who owns The Beatles catalog. They want the removal of all music and lyrics from the tribute act's website.
2005: Singer Josh Homme's severe lung infection forces Queens Of The Stone Age to cancel remaining European tour dates. "We've toured with everything from broken ankles to bruised livers, but simply weren't prepared for this relentless attack of teeming bacteria," reads a post on the band's site.
2005: A lack of business forces the legendary Muscle Shoals Studio in Sheffield Alabama to close its doors. The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Aretha Franklin were among the legends that recorded there.
2006: The surviving members of Alice in Chains announced they were reforming for a series of concerts. Singer Layne Staley died in 2002.
2006: Twenty people were injured when ticketless fans try to gatecrash a Rolling Stones concert in Buenos Aires. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to control the unruly crowd.
2006: Ex-Creed frontman Scott Stapp starts a North American club tour in support of his debut solo album, 'The Great Divide.' It gets underway in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
2006: Ted Nugent, Jason Bonham, Sebastian Bach, Scott Ian and Evan Seinfeld participate in a VH1 reality series called 'Supergroup.' Based in Las Vegas, cameras record the musician's attempts to write and record original material while living in a house together.
2007: KoRn's MTV Unplugged performance premieres online. The show airs a week later.
2008: Guitarist James 'Munky' Shaffer rejoins KoRn on the Milan stop of their European tour. Shaffer left the trek the previous month citing 'personal and family reasons'.
2008: George Thorogood & The Destroyers begin their '08 North American tour at a NASCAR event in Fontana, CA.
2009: Lamb Of God released their album 'Wrath.' It won best album at the 2009 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards Ceremony.
2009: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles launches an auction of autographed construction hardhats by Linkin Park, Green Day, U2 and ex-Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.
2009: Ticketmaster reaches a settlement with the New Jersey Attorney General's office regarding its controversial handling of sales of Bruce Springsteen concert tickets. As part of the deal, the company pays the state $350,000 in legal fees and promises, for one year, to stop automatically linking to its TicketsNow subsidiary, which re-sells ducats at inflated prices. Ticketmaster also offers restitution to Springsteen fans who had filed complaints about their difficulties buying tickets.
2010: The British Culture Minister declares Abbey Road studios, where The Beatles recorded nearly all their albums, an official historic landmark due to "the historic merit of the studios" and because of its "huge cultural importance."
2011: Ginger Fish (known to his mom as Kenneth Robert Wilson) announces his departure from Marilyn Manson via Facebook and Twitter: "I am regretful to inform the fans that I have decided to step down as a member of Marilyn Manson, and see where my life, and the knowledge of my availability cares to take me." He was with Manson from '95-'11. After some fill-in shows, he lands a full-time gig with Rob Zombie (replacing Joey Jordison who returned to Slipknot).
2012: Hip-Hop label Cash Money Records announces the signing of Limp Bizkit. Only a year earlier, the group was dropped by Interscope following disappointing sales of their album 'Golden Cobra.'
2013: Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and Van Halen fall in behind Madonna on Billboard magazine's Music's Top 40 Money Makers 2013 list based on touring revenue, music sales (online and hard copies) and publishing royalties over the past 12 months. Madonna had an income of $34.5 million while Springsteen was close with $33.4 million.
2015: KISS opened the Japanese leg of their 40th Anniversary Tour at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
2015: UFO released their 21st studio album, 'A Conspiracy of Stars.'
2016: Lita Ford releases her memoir 'Living Like A Runaway.'
February 24
1943: George Harrison is born at 11:42 PM. For years the ex-Beatle thought he arrived at least 18 minutes later and that his birthday was the 25th.
1956: Police in Cleveland shut down a Rock concert under an obscure law that prohibits people under 18 from dancing in public without a guardian.
1962: Elvis Presley had his 10th UK chart topper with 'Can't Help Falling In Love'/'Rock-A-Hula Baby.'
1963: The Rolling Stones started a Sunday night residency at The Station Hotel, Richmond, Surrey. The Stones were paid £24 for the gig ($41) and played on the first night to 66 people.
1965: The Beatles began filming their second, as yet un-named movie, on New Providence in the Bahamas. The film would eventually be called 'Eight Arms to Hold You' before producers finally settled on 'Help!' Co-starring in the movie was actor Victor Spinetti, who also appeared in 'A Hard Day's Night,' 'Magical Mystery Tour' and John Lennon's 'How I Won The War.'
1965: The Beach Boys record 'Help Me Rhonda,' with guitarist Al Jardine singing lead vocal. The disc will become their second Billboard #1 and stay on the chart for eleven weeks.
1966: The Who perform at the Victoria Ballroom in Chesterfield, England, without Roger Daltrey, who had come down with laryngitis. Pete Townshend and John Entwistle share the vocals. Beforehand, John and Keith Moon sit in with the opening act, The Fruit Eating Bears.
1967: The Who play two shows at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Bologna, Italy.
1967: Pink Floyd performed two shows on this date. An early show took place at the Ricky Tick Club, at the Thames Hotel in Windsor, and a late show, their regular Friday gig at the UFO, held at the Blarney Club on Tottenham Court Road in London.
1968: Jimi Hendrix, Soft Machine, Eire Apparent, and The Paupers played at CNE Coliseum in Toronto. After the concert, Hendrix reportedly jammed with Robbie Robertson and members of The Hawks, soon to be known as The Band, at an area club.
1968: Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled debut album. It brought the band overnight success; in the UK, the album reached #4 and stayed on the charts 37 weeks, despite the lack of a hit single. The album barely made the charts in the U.S., reaching #198.
1968: Cream with special guests Taj Mahal and James Cotton Blues Band play the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, CA.
1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their last ever-British performance when they appeared at the Royal Albert Hall.
1969: Led Zeppelin appeared at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England.
1970: Syd Barrett participated in two recording sessions for the BBC at Maida Vale Studios in London. Playing along with Syd were David Gilmour, and Jerry Shirley on drums.
1971: Janis Joplin's 'Pearl,' released after her death, goes gold.
1971: Cactus released their 2nd album, 'One Way...Or Another.' Produced by Eddie Kramer, it reached #88 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
1972: The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.
1972: Genesis performed at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England.
1973: The Byrds made their final live appearance when they played at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. It was their current incarnation of the group, which included Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, John York and Gene Parsons.
1973: Billboard's Hot 100 includes debuts The New Seekers' 'Pinball Wizard/See Me Feel Me (medley)' at #88, Dobie Gray's 'Drift Away' at #87, Alice Cooper's 'Hello Hooray' at #50, Chuck Berry's 'Reelin' & Rockin' at #47 and Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' at #17.
1974: Yes appeared at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
1975: Led Zeppelin releases their legendary 'Physical Graffiti' album. It's a double album featuring 8 new songs, and songs left over from their previous albums 'Led Zeppelin III,' 'Led Zeppelin IV' and 'Houses Of The Holy.' Featuring an intricate die-cut cover of a New York City brownstone, the album goes on to sell over 8 million copies in the U.S. It topped the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart for six weeks beginning March 22, 1975. In 2003, the album was ranked #70 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
1976: Eagles 'Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975' becomes the first album in history to be certified platinum. The new certification represented sales of at least 1 million copies for albums and 2 million copies for singles. The Platinum award was originated in the early seventies because Gold status was achieved by most popular records in a very short period of time. The Eagles' greatest hits album stayed on Billboard's Hot 200 chart for two and half years.
1976: KISS wrap up a two night stint at the Los Angeles Forum with special guests Montrose.
1977: ZZ Top played at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
1978: Bob Dylan performed at Matsushita Denki Taiikukan in Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan.
1978: 'Follow You Follow Me" by Genesis released.
1979: The Police released their single 'Roxanne.' It became their first American hit.
1979: Rush appeared at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1979: Billboard's Hot 100 includes The Police's 'Roxanne' at #82 (debut), Ace Frehley's 'New York Groove' at #61, Foreigner's 'Blue Morning, Blue Day' at #16 and Chic's 'Le Freak' at #7.
1981: Rick Springfield released his album 'Working Class Dog.' It reached #7 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart, bolstered by the #1 hit, 'Jessie's Girl,' which topped the charts for two weeks, and won a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
1982: 'Fire and Ice' wins Pat Benatar a Grammy for best rock performance of 1981.
1982: King Crimson performed at the E.J. Thomas Auditorium, Akron, Ohio.
1982: At the BRIT Awards in London, the Police are named Best British Group. A few hours later, on the other side of the pond, they earn a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance ('Don't Stand So Close To Me').
1982: Winners at the Grammy Awards included John Lennon & Yoko Ono's Album of the year with 'Double Fantasy.'
1984: Blue Oyster Cult appeared at the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York.
1984: Europe released their 2nd studio album, 'Wings of Tomorrow.'
1984: Lee Aaron released her 2nd studio album, 'Metal Queen.'
1987: 'Higher Love' earns Steve Winwood Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance trophies at the 29th Grammy Awards in L.A. Paul Simon's 'Graceland' wins Best Album, Bruce Hornsby And The Range wins Best New Artist and Robert Palmer won his first Grammy award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male category for 'Addicted to Love' at the Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
1987: Fats Domino, Ray Charles and B.B. King win Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Grammies.
1987: Bruce Hornsby and the Range take home the Grammy award for Best New Artist, winning over Glass Tiger, Nu Shooz, Simply Red, and Timbuk3.
1988: Alice Cooper announces he is going to run for Governor of Arizona, as a member of the "Wild Party." He is looking to replace impeached governor Evan Mecham. Cooper's slogan: "A troubled man for troubled times."
1990: Iron Maiden released their 'The First Ten Year' box-set, covering the 1980-90 years.
1990: The Roy Orbison Concert Tribute To Benefit The Homeless features Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Dwight Yoakam and Bob Dylan. The show takes place in Universal City, CA. The Byrds' David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, and Chris Hillman also reunite for the first time in years, performing 'Mr. Tambourine Man' and 'Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).' A couple of months later, the trio would record four more songs for their upcoming Boxed Set, which also included the two songs from the tribute concert.
1992: The U.S. Postal Service allows Elvis fans to vote on two proposed designs for a commemorative stamp, an early Elvis and a later bloated seventies version. Eventually, the younger Elvis wins and is issued on January 8, 1993.
1992: Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii, with a non-denominational, female minister conducting the ceremony. The press reported that the couple were expecting a baby on Sept 10th of this year.
1993: Eric Clapton wins six Grammy's including included Record of the Year for 'Tears in Heaven.' The Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Give It Away' earns a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Song. The band also performs. Melissa Etheridge's 'Ain't It Heavy' takes Best Rock Performance, Female. Peter Gabriel opens the L.A. show.
1994: James Taylor appears on the 'Deep Space Homer' episode of 'The Simpsons.'
1994: Daltrey Sings Townshend, an event which celebrated Roger Daltrey's 50th birthday finished the second of two nights at New York City's Carnegie Hall. The event also featured Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed & Eddie Vedder.
1998: Elton John receives his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in front of his parents and his partner David Furnish.
1998: Tommy Lee is arrested and charged with hitting his wife Pamela Anderson Lee.
1998: Virgin Records sues the Smashing Pumpkins claiming non-compliance with their contact. The label contends an album was due three months earlier. Meanwhile, the group is trying to get out of the deal.
1998: King Diamond released his 8th studio album, 'Voodoo.' Dimebag Darrell did a guitar solo on the song 'Voodoo.'
1998: Dio released their 2nd live album, 'Inferno: Last in Live.' It was recorded during the 'Angry Machines' tour in 1996/97.
1998: Morbid Angel released the album 'Formulas Fatal To The Flesh.'
1998: The 2nd album from W.A.S.P. 'Double Live Assassins' was released.
1998: Union featuring Brent Fitz, John Corabi, Jamie Hunting and KISS' Bruce Kulick release their debut album, 'Union.'
1999: The record industry certifies that 'Garbage' and 'Version 2.0' (both by Garbage) have sold one million and two million copies, respectively.
1999: Eric Clapton's 'My Father's Eyes' is named Best Pop Vocal Performance Male at the Gramy Awards.
2000: Carlos Santana won eight awards at this year Grammy Awards. Before the 'Supernatural' album, the guitarist had not had a Top 10 album since 1981. Sting won two awards, one for best pop album and another for best male pop vocalist. Sir Elton John won the legend award and Phil Collins the best soundtrack award for 'Tarzan.'
2002: Paul McCartney performed 'Yesterday' at a special Liverpool concert tribute to George Harrison on what would have been the late Beatles guitarist's 59th birthday.
2002: Kiss performed with original guitarist Ace Frehley for the last time to date at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
2002: Charlie Daniels appears on the 'Peggy's Fan Fair' episode of the animated Fox TV series 'King Of The Hill.'
2003: Robert Trujillo joined Metallica.
2004: Tantric release their sophomore album, 'After We Go.' This is nearly three years after their self-titled debut came out.
2004: Disturbed unfurl their live 'Music As A Weapon II' CD/DVD. Recorded during the Chicago stop of their '03 tour the album features six Disturbed tracks, plus performances from supporting acts Taproot and Chevelle.
2004: Estelle Axton, who helped create the legendary US soul music label Stax, died in hospital in Memphis at age 85. Stax was home to Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes and Booker T and the MG's and the Stax studio, "Soulsville USA" was second only to Motown in its production of soul hits during its 1960s heyday.
2006: The side street behind Rabobank Arena in the group's hometown of Bakersfield, CA, is officially designated 'Korn Row'. The group gets a bronze plaque honoring their musical achievements during a ceremony outside the arena before the band kicks off its tour with Mudvayne.
2006: 'Every Day Is Exactly The Same' is the 3rd consecutive single from Nine Inch Nail's With Teeth to reach #1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart. The other two are 'The Hand That Feeds' and 'Only.'
2006: The Sex Pistols gave a virtual middle finger to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when they issued an open letter on front man Johnny Rotten's Website, saying they have no intention of attending the induction ceremony at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. "Next to The Sex Pistols, rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum, urine in wine. We're not coming."
2006: U2's Bono is one of a 191 nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize. The singer's efforts to cancel Third World debt make him a contender for the $1.3 million honor which is awarded later in the year. He doesn't win, but is honored to be nominated.
2007: Sammy Hager, serves as the grand marshal for the Stater Bros. 300 race at the California Speedway in Fontana, CA, the Red Rocker's hometown.
2007: Arcade Fire perform on Saturday Night Live. After the show, the group plays a few songs for the cast and crew.
2008: ZZ Top play a pre-race show at the Auto Club 500, the debut West Coast event of the NASCAR season, at the California Speedway.
2008: The 16th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party happens in L.A. Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Harrison Ford and Sean Penn attend. Hosted by John and his partner, David Furnish, the dinner and auction raises $5.1 million for the nonprofit foundation.
2008: A statue of departed AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott is unveiled in his hometown of Fremantle, Australia.
2009: Comcast and U2 announce an agreement to present high-definition performances to subscribers. There's HD footage from concert and promotional clips from throughout the band's career.
2009: 'Covered, A Revolution In Sound' is released. The set contains Disturbed's rendition of Faith No More's 'Midlife Crisis.'
2009: 'The War Child Presents Heroes' compilation is out with songs by Paul McCartney, David Bowie, The Kinks, Bruce Springsteen along with a younger generation - Beck, Franz Ferdinand and Yeah Yeah Yeahs (to name a few). The collection benefits the War Child organization's campaign to aid young people in war-stricken areas.
2010: The personal assistant to former Ramones manager Linda Stein was convicted in a New York court of bludgeoning her boss to death at her Manhattan apartment on October 30, 2007. Prosecutors said Natavia Lowery, 28, stole more than $30,000 from Stein, then clubbed her with a piece of exercise equipment. Jurors spent less than a day reaching a second-degree murder verdict.
2010: Promotions company MCD launched a $2.3 million lawsuit against Prince for pulling out of a concert in Dublin, Ireland in June, 2008, just ten days before it was to take place. The singer blamed the William Morris Agency for booking the event without permission, but the agency said the star cancelled the gig and gave "no reason of substance" for deciding to pull out.
2011: Stevie Wonder and Sheryl Crow are among the performers at the White House tribute to Motown. Motown was 'the soundtrack of the civil rights era', says President Obama.
2011: Suze Rotolo, the companion of Bob Dylan pictured on his famed 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' album cover, dies at the age of 67. Dylan and Rotolo dated between 1961 and '64.
2011: 'Sixx Sense' radio with Nikki Sixx was launched.
2011: Eddie Serrato, the drummer for Question Mark And The Mysterians on their 1966 hit '96 Tears,' suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 65.
2012: Keith Richards leads an all-star tribute to Howlin' Wolf's late guitarist Hubert Sumlin. In addition to Richards, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons and Derek Trucks perform at New York City's Apollo Theater. The show benefits the Jazz Foundation of America.
2012: Kid Rock is featured on the fourth season of PBS' Live from the Artists' Den. His performance was taped at Elvis Presley's Automobile Museum in Graceland, which had previously never been filmed for television.
2013: Aerosmith's Steven Tyler admits he's used over $5 million dollars worth of cocaine. "Realistically, $5 or $6 (million), easy," says Tyler during an interview on Australia's 60 Minutes.
2014: Franny Beecher, the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, died in his sleep from natural causes. He was 92 years old. He continued to perform with surviving members of the Comets into 2006.
2015: 'First Kiss,' is Kid Rock's debut release on Warner Brothers Records. The set includes the songs 'Johnny Cash,' 'Ain't Enough Whiskey,' 'Drinking Beer With Dad' and 'One More Song.'
2015: All That Remains issue their 7th studio album, 'The Order Of Things.'
2015: Kim Gordon's memoir 'Girl In A Band' is available. The book, by the former Sonic Youth bassist, focuses on "the examination of what partnership means-and what happens when it dissolves." That includes the demise of Sonic Youth and Gordon's divorce from the band's frontman, Thurston Moore
2016: Elvis Presley's former personal physician, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, passed away at the age of 88. Known as "Dr. Nick", Nichopoulos was Presley's doctor for eleven years before the singer's death from heart disease on August 16th, 1977. The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners later suspended and ultimately revoked his medical license after it ruled he had over-prescribed potentially addictive drugs to thirteen patients, including Presley and fellow rock 'n' roller Jerry Lee Lewis.
2016: Lennie Baker, vocalist and sax player for the '50s Tribute group Sha Na Na, passed away at the age of 69. Joining the group in 1970, he appeared with the band on their TV show, which ran from 1977 to 1981, as well as appearing in the 1978 movie Grease where he sang lead vocal on 'Blue Moon.'
2016: Iron Maiden starts 'The Book Of Souls World Tour" in Sunrise, Florida.
2016: Ghost win a Grammy Award for their 3rd album, 'Meliora,' in their native Sweden. Meanwhile, Australia's Tame Impala take home the Best International Group honor at the Brit Awards.
2016: 'Scott Weiland: Memories of a Rock Star' is out. The book contains exclusive interviews regarding the late frontman for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver.
2017: Shinedown's 'How Did You Love' is #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart. It's the eleventh time they top the list. 'How Did You Love' is the 4th single from the group's 5th studio album, 'Threat To Survival.'
February 25
1957: Buddy Holly recorded a new version of 'That'll Be The Day,' at Norman Petty Recording Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Holly had recorded the song with his band The Three Tunes in Nashville in 1956, but Decca Records brass didn't like the result and refused to release it. Holly's new version would become his signature tune, rising to #1 in both the US and the UK.
1961: After being discharged from the US Army nearly a year ago, Elvis Presley makes his first concert appearance since 1958 at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee. During the show, RCA Records presents The King with a plaque to commemorate 76 million records sold worldwide.
1963: 'Please Please Me' became the first Beatles single to be released in the United States, but the name of band is misspelled "Beattles." It was issued on the Vee Jay record label and went relatively unnoticed.".
1964: George Harrison attended a birthday party in his honor, but when he saw that the press had been invited, he smashed the cake and walked out.
1964: The Beatles finished recording their next single 'Can't Buy Me Love', at Abbey Road studiosin London, (they had first recorded the song on January 29, 1964 at Path Marconi Studios in Paris). They also recorded the B-side, 'You Can't Do That' and another new song 'I Should Have Known Better'.
1965: The Rolling Stones performed their just-released single 'The Last Time' on the British rock show 'Ready! Steady! Go!'
1966: The Yardbirds 'Shapes of Things' b/w 'You're a Better Man Than I' 45 single is released in the UK. It reached #3 on the UK Singles chart. The U.S. version, backed with 'New York City Blues,' reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In March 2005, Q magazine placed 'Shapes of Things' at #61 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll."
1966: The Kinks 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion' b/w 'Sittin' on My Sofa' 45 single is released in the UK. It lampoons the contemporary British fashion scene and mod culture in general. It reached the top of the charts in The Netherlands and New Zealand. In the U.S., however, it barely managed to crack the Top 40, peaking at #36. The lyrics won Davies an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting in 1966.
1967: The Spencer Davis Group peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with Gimme Some Lovin' which was their first top 10 single in the U.S.
1969: At EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles began recording the George Harrison composition, 'Something,' on George's 26th birthday.
1970: Led Zeppelin performed at Sweden's Goteborg Courthouse. While Jimmy Page played the instrumental 'White Summer,' a fan in the audience decided to accompany him on harmonica. When the song was over, Page spat on him.
1972: Led Zeppelin performed in front of over 25,000 fans at the Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, the group's first ever gig in New Zealand, (and the largest crowd ever to attend a concert on the island). A special train was chartered from Wellington to bring fans to the concert. News reviews the next day reported the band could be heard over five miles from the Stadium.
1973: Alice Cooper's 6th studio album, ' Billion Dollar Babies' is released. It topped both the Billboard 200 Top LP's and UK Albums charts, and features four Billboard Hot 100 singles - 'Elected' (#26), 'Hello Hooray' (#35), 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' (#25), and 'Billion Dollar Babies' (#57). After the album was released, the band embarked on a tour that broke the U.S. box offce records at the time.
1973: Dr. John released his album 'In the Right Place.' It reached #24 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and #28 on the Billboard Top R&B LP's chart. It features two Billboard Hot 100 hit singles - 'Such A Night' (#42) and 'Right Place Wrong Time' (#9). 'In the Right Place' became the biggest selling album of Dr. John's career.
1977: Peter Gabriel first solo album is released. It's the first of four with the same eponymous title, released on February 25 1977. It reached #38 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and #7 on the UK Album chart. It is often referred to as 'Peter Gabriel 1,' 'Car,' or 'Rain,' referring to the album cover by Peter Christopherson (a.k.a. "Sleazy" from Hipgnosis). The car was a Lancia Flavia owned by Storm Thorgerson.
1978: Jefferson Airplane declared it to be 'Earth Day.'
1978: Styx's 'The Grand Illusion' album peaks at #6. It's the first platinum album for the band.
1978: Billboard's Hot 100 includes KISS' 'Rocket Ride' at #89 (debut), Eddie Money's 'Baby Hold On' at #84 (debut), Tom Petty's 'Breakdown' at #60, Van Halen's 'You Really Got Me' at #47, Kansas' 'Dust In The Wind' at #34, with The Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive' at #1.
1980: Bob Seger releases his 11th studio album 'Against the Wind.' It was his 3rd album with The Silver Bullet Band. The album went on to reach #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, staying there for 6 weeks and features four Billboard Hot 100 hits - 'Against The Wind' (#5), 'Fire Lake' (#6), 'You'll Accomp'ny Me' (#14), and 'The Horizontal Bop' (#42). The album also earned two Grammy Awards for "Best Recording Package" and "Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal".
1981: Rush received their first Platinum album in the U.S. for '2112,' which was certified by the RIAA for sales of one million copies. It was last certified on Nov. 17th 1995 at 3X platinum.
1981: Winners at this years Grammy Awards included Bob Seger who won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for 'Against The Wind,' Pat Benatar won Best female performance for 'Crimes Of Passion.' Billy Joel's 'Glass Houses' album garners the Best Rock Vocal Performance Grammy and Kenny Loggins' 'This Is It' is named Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.
1982: Bad Religion release their first full-length studio album, 'How Could Hell Be Any Worse?'
1982: Iron Maiden kick of their The Beast on the Road' tour in Dunstable, U.K. in support of 'The Number of the Beast.' They play 179 shows in 16 countries before one million fans. When they toured North America, they opened tours for Rainbow, 38 Special, the Scorpions & Judas Priest.
1983: Having won same category the previous year, Pat Benatar is awarded Grammy for 'Shadows of the Night.'
1983: Toto awarded record-equalling five Grammys for the 'Toto' album and 'Africa' single.
1984: 'Jump', by Van Halen started a five-week run at #1 on the US singles chart, a #7 hit in the UK.
1984: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Bon Jovi's 'Runaway' debut at #92, UB40's 'Red Red Wine' at #48, Queen's 'Radio Ga Ga' at #43, Genesis' 'That's All' at #11, The Police's 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' at #9 and Van Halen at #1 with 'Jump.'
1985: U2 began their first full north American arena tour, starting at the Dallas Reunion Arena in Texas.
1985: Sting makes his solo debut at the Ritz Club in New York.
1985: Tears for Fears 2ndalbum, 'Songs from the Big Chair' is released. It reached #2 on the UK Albums chart, and became a huge hit in the US; reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart, and #38 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It also had a multitude of singles and remixes hit the charts, as follows: 'Mothers Talk' (Billboard Hot 100 - #27), 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' (Billboard Hot 100 - #1), (Adult Contemporary #2), (Dance Music/Club Play Singles #1), (Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #1), (Mainstream Rock #2), 'Head Over Heels' (Billboard Hot 100 - #3), (Adult Contemporary #5), (Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #49), (Mainstream Rock #7), 'Shout" (Billboard Hot 100 - #1), (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks #56), (Mainstream Rock #6), (Dance Music/Club Play Singles #1), and (Remix) (Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #1). The album title was derived from the 1976 television film 'Sybil' about a woman with multiple personality disorder who only feels safe when she is sitting in her analyst's "big chair".
1986: The 28th Grammy Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Phil Collins won Album of the Year for 'No Jacket Required,' Dire Straits won Best Rock Performance for 'Money for Nothing' & Don Henley won Best Rock Vocal Performance for 'The Boys of Summer' and 'We Are The World" wins Grammys for Best Record and Best Song.
1987: London newspaper The Sun begins printing a series of articles in which Elton John's personal life comes into question. After lawyers got involved, The Sun would end up paying 1 million Pounds ($1.9 million) and issuing a printed apology which consisted of simply "Sorry, Elton."
1990: U.D.O. released their 3rd studio album, 'Faceless World.'
1991: Director Cameron Crowe brings members of the cast and crew of his movie 'Singles' to the Off Ramp in Seattle, where Pearl Jam, who appear in the film, is playing. Matt Dillon and Campbell Scott hang out with the band all night.
1992: Pantera release their 6th studio album, 'Vulgar Display Of Power.' It sells over 2 million copies.
1992: The Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, goes to Bonnie Raitt for her 'Luck Of The Draw' album. She also wins Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for 'Something To Talk About.' Eric Clapton wins six Grammys, including Best Record and Best Song for 'Tears In Heaven' as well as Best Album for 'Unplugged.' James Brown is recognized for Lifetime Achievement and Michael Bolton is given a statue for Best Pop Vocal Performance for his note-for-note remake of Percy Sledge's 1966 #1 smash, 'When a Man Loves a Woman.' The awards ceremony is in NY.
1993: Toy Caldwell dies from a cocaine overdose in South Carolina. He was 45. Caldwell was the lead guitarist, main songwriter and a founding member of The Marshall Tucker Band. He was also the lead vocalist on their biggest hit 'Can't You See.' Sadly, both of his brothers died within a month of each other in car accidents in 1980.
1992: Pantera releases their 'Vulgar Display Of Power' album. It goes on to sell over 2 million copies.
1992: Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.
1992: The Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, goes to Bonnie Raitt for her 'Luck Of The Draw' album. She also wins Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for 'Something To Talk About.'
1993: Toy Caldwell, lead singer for The Marshall Tucker band on their 1977 million seller, 'Heard It In A Love Song,' died in his sleep at the age of 45.
1998: Bob Dylan won three Grammys, including Album of the Year for 'Time Out of Mind.' During Dylan's performance at the 40th annual ceremony, an audience member, with the words "soy bomb" painted across his chest, jumped on stage. Bob's son Jakob and his band The Wallflowers' 'One Headlight' earn Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance By A Group and the Best Alternative Music Performance award goes to Radiohead for 'OK Computer.' Also winning awards were John Fogerty, who picked up Best Rock Album for 'Blue Moon Swamp,' Elton John for Best Male Vocal for 'Candle In The Wind 1997' and Van Morrison And John Lee Hooker who won for Best Pop Collaboration for 'Don't Look Back.' Bo Diddley and Roy Orbison receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Grammys.
2002: Riverhead Books bought the rights to publish Kurt Cobain's journals.
2002: Billy Joel was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in Los Angeles.
2003: Krokus released their album 'Rock The Block.' It peaked at #1 on the Swiss Album Chart and was certified Gold in Switzerland.
2003: Paul McCartney and his band performed at the 50th birthday of fan Wendy Whitworth in San Diego. Whitworth's husband paid one-million dollars to McCartney, who donated his fee to the Adopt-a-Minefield charity.
2003: Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd undergoes emergency heart surgery. The guitarist has a successful bypass operation in Atlanta after a routine screening finds him to be suffering from coronary artery disease. Rossington is the last original member still with the band.
2004: The Rolling Stones topped a U.S. Rich List of music's biggest money makers. The list was based on earnings during 2003 when the band played their 'Forty Licks' tour, which made them $212 million in ticket, CD, DVD and merchandise sales. The three million fans who went to the shows spent an average of $11 each on merchandise. Bruce Springsteen was listed in second place and The Eagles in third.
2005: Shinedown and Tesla headline a benefit concert in Providence for survivors of the February 2003 fire (caused by Great White's pyro show) at the Station nightclub.
2006: Green Day, My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy collect trophies at MTV's 4th Annual TRL Awards. Winners are determined by votes placed through the network's website. Green Day receive the Roc Da Mic prize, My Chemical Romance earn the Best Group That Actually Plays Instruments honor and FOB nail Best New Artist.
2006: Carlos Santana is inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame at the 37th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles.
2007: A Bon Scott Celebration Concert attracts more than 10,000 fans to Perth, Australia's, Claremont Showgrounds. Performers include former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans and Dave Evans, the singer who preceded Scott in the band. Organizers raise more than the $80,000 needed to fund a statue of Scott in his hometown of Fremantle, Australia.
2007: Elton John's 15th annual fundraising party in honor of the Academy Awards is in West Hollywood, CA. The event raises nearly $4.2 million for Elton's AIDS Foundation. Jon Bon Jovi and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are among those in attendance.
2007: Melissa Etheridge gets an Oscar for her song, 'I Need To Wake Up.' The Best Original Song is in Al Gore's documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth.'
2007: Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil makes a pair of appearances at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach, FL. Neil demonstrates his margarita-making technique using his own Tres Rios brand of tequila before presiding over an auction offering a variety of Neil-themed offerings.
2008: Guitarist Eddie Van Halen's ex-wife, actress Valerie Bertinelli, discusses the couple's ill-fated marriage on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
2008: Eric Clapton and former Blind Faith bandmate Steve Winwood play the first of three shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. The two had previously performed together a few months earlier at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival.
2009: Nickelback's 'Dark Horse' supporting tour, with Saving Abel and Seether kicks off in Nashville, TN.
2010: Bob Dylan is awarded the National Medal of Arts, which recognizes 'the breadth and depth of American architecture, design, film, music, performance, theater and visual art'.
2011: Black Label Society announce that drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative) has replaced Will Hunt, who returned to Evanescence for the recording of that band's 3rd studio album.
2011: Rick Coonce, drummer for The Grass Roots on their eleven Billboard Top 40 hits, died of heart failure at the age of 64.
2013: 'Amok,' from Atoms For Peace, is released. The group includes Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Radiohead producer and multi-instrumentalist Nigel Godrich.
2014: Timothy Lambesis, lead singer for As I Lay Dying, admits to soliciting the murder of his wife in a San Diego courtroom. The 33 year-old Lambesis is also in the midst of a contentious divorce from his wife of 8 years, the intended victim, Meghan Lambesis.
2015: The Foo Fighters get the International Group trophy BRIT Awards at London's O2 Arena. The Best British Group honor goes to Royal Blood.
2015: On what would have been his 72nd birthday, a memorial tree honoring George Harrison was planted in a Los Angeles park to replace one that was earlier killed by a beetle infestation.
February 26
1955: Billboard reported that for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45rpm singles were outselling the old standard 78's.
Sales of 45 rpm records outsold 78 rpm discs in the US for the first time. The number 45 came from taking 78 and subtracting Columbia's 33 rpm. RCA introduced the first 45 on March 31, 1949 when they released 104 single vinyl records. The first 45 to hit the Billboard charts was 'You're Adorable' by Perry Como, on May 7th, 1949.
1955: R&B singer LaVern Baker appeals to the United States Congress in a letter to Michigan Representative Charles Digges Jr., to revise the Copyright Act of 1909. She says that recording artists should be protected against "note-for-note copying" of already recorded R&B tunes and arrangements by White artists and arrangers. Her request was denied.
1956: Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel' (his first million-seller) debuts on the Billboard charts.
1964: The Beatles worked on the final mixes for 'Can't Buy Me Love' and 'You Can't Do That' tracks. The single, which was released the following month, topped the charts all over the world.
1964: Elvis Presley begins filming his sixteenth movie, 'Roustabout,' in Hollywood.
1965: The Rolling Stones' 'The Last Time' b/w 'Play with Fire' 45 single is released in the UK. It was the band's 3rd UK single to reach #1, spending four straight weeks at the top on most of the numerous UK music charts (there was no one UK chart at the time considered to be an absolute and definitive authority) in March and early April 1965. 'The Last Time' was recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood in January 1965. On his website, Jimmy Page lists this song as one on which he plays. The Last Time was mixed in true stereo, but only bootleggers have a poor quality version, and the stereo version is noticeably shorter than the mono counterpart.
1965: Guitarist Jimmy Page released a solo single called 'She Just Satisfies' in the UK. Page played all the instruments on it except for the drums, and produced the track, as well as singing lead vocals.
1966: The Beatles 'Rubber Soul' was at #1 on the US album chart, the group's 7th US album chart topper. Paul McCartney conceived the album's title after overhearing someone's description of Mick Jagger's singing style as "plastic soul."
1966: David Bowie & The Buzz appeared at The Corn Exchange in Chelmsford, England.
1966: The Who appear at Gliderdrome Bingo Hall in Lincolnshire, England.
1966: The Rolling Stones release '19th Nervous Breakdown.' It becomes their 9th hit single, reaching #2 on the American charts.
1967: After buying a ranch in Mississippi, Elvis Presley spends a lot of time on horses and gets saddlesores. He is referred to Dr. George Nichopoulos, who becomes his personal doctor and supplies his prescription drugs.
1968: The Who return to Los Angeles and Gold Star studios to finish recording and mixing 'Call Me Lightning' and 'Little Billy.' Prior to this, they head up to the Hollywood Hills for a photo shoot.
1968: Pink Floyd appeared as a last minute replacement for the group Wages of Sin, and performed a gig at the Domino Club, in the Lion Hotel, Cambridge, England.
1968: Jimi Hendrix Experience 'Up From The Skies' b/w 'One Rainy Wish' 45 single is released. Featured on their 1967 second album 'Axis: Bold as Love' and written by Jimi Hendrix, the song details the experience of a specimen of extraterrestrial life returning to Earth and displaying concern with the damage caused by the human beings living there. It was released as the only single from Axis: Bold as Love, in the United States and France only, and reached #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
1968: The Monkees 'Valleri' b/w 'Tapioca Tundra' 45 single is released. 'Valleri' is a song written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart for The Monkees, who had a #3 on Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Cash Box with it in early 1968. The song also rose to #12 in the UK.
1969: Yes played at the Marquee Club in London.
1970: Led Zeppelin received a gold disc for Swedish sales of 'Led Zeppelin II' while in Stockholm. Later that evening they performed at the Konserthuset.
1970: The Beatles 'Hey Jude (The Beatles Again)' album is released. It reached #2 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. It is a collection of non-album Beatles singles and B-sides, as well as 'I Should Have Known Better' and 'Can't Buy Me Love,' two singles released by Capitol Records whose only previous American album appearance had been on the A Hard Day's Night soundtrack album which had been released by United Artists Records. It is currently out of print. The 'Hey Jude' album was not compiled by Capitol; the project was conceived by Allen Klein and Apple Records.
1971: Pink Floyd played a concert at Stadthalle in Offenbach, Germany.
1971: Johnny Cash 'Man In Black' b/w 'Little Bit Of Yesterday' 45 single is released. A protest song written and sung by and about Johnny Cash, originally released on his 1971 album of the same name. It reached both the Billboard Hot 100 (#58) and Hot Country Singles (#3) charts.
1972: The Allman Brothers Band played at the Salem Armory Auditorium in Salem, Oregon.
1973: During a 9-date tour of Australia and New Zealand, The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
1973: Alice Cooper and artist Salvador Dali pose for a photo session. The finished result hangs in the Knoedler Gallery in New York.
1973: Raspberries 'Let's Pretend' b/w 'Every Way I Can' 45 single is released in the U.S. Written by Eric Carmen - from the LP ' Fresh.' 'Let's Pretend' reached the Top 40 at #35.
1975: The Eagles 'Best Of My Love' is the #1 Billboard Pop Hit.
1975: Genesis appeared at the Palais des Grottes in Cambrai, France.
1976: David Bowie performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
1977: The Eagles 'New Kid In Town' hits #1 on the charts. The song earns the Eagles their first gold single. In the UK, it reached #20. At next year's Grammy Awards, the song would win for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices.
1977: Bluesman Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White, who composed 'Fixing to Die,' is dead in Memphis at age 70.
1979: The Sex Pistols and their manager, Malcolm McLaren, go to court to split up the group's earnings. It was revealed that only £30,000 ($51,000) was left of the £800,000 ($1,360,000) the band had earned.
1979: The soundtrack to the Sex Pistols film 'The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle' is released.
1979: 'Cheap Trick at Budokan' live album is released. It reached #4 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart, and #29 on the UK Album chart. Two singles reached the Top 40 chart - 'I Want You to Want Me' (#7) and 'Ain't That a Shame' (#35). It was ranked #430 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
1980: Van Halen's 'Women And Children First' album is released. It's the first album to contain compositions written solely by the band.
1980: After seeing U2 play at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium in front of 2,400 people; Rob Partridge and Bill Stewart from Island Records in the UK offered the band a recording contract.
1981: Judas Priest released their 7th studio album, 'Point of Entry.' The album was remastered in 2001, with two bonus tracks added, a live version of 'Desert Plains' and 'Thunder Road.'
1981: The Grateful Dead performed at the Uptown Theater in Chicago.
1983: Thanks to heavy MTV play, Duran Duran's 'Hungry Like A Wolf,' peaks at #3 on the U.S. singles chart.
1983: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Prince's 'Little Red Corvette' at #66, Night Ranger's 'Don't Tell Me You Love Me' at #40, Saga's 'On The Loose' at #26, Styx's 'Mr. Roboto' at #24 and Sammy Hagar's 'Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy' at #13.
1983: Bob Seger peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Shame on the Moon,' Seger's 6th top 10 single in the U.S.
1985: 'Dancing In The Dark' earns Bruce Springsteen a Grammy for Best Rock Male Performance. Tina Turner's 'What's Love Got To Do With It' gets Best Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year.
1986: Roger Daltrey appears on the British TV show 'Saturday Night' lip-syncing to'"Under A Raging Moo.'
1986: Van Halen released their 25th single, 'Why Can't This Be Love.'
1987: In the U.S. Capitol Records releases the first 4 Beatles albums on CD.
1990: Frank Zappa hosts the first of three T.V. programs entitled Frank Zappa's 'Wild Wild East' on the Financial News Network.
1990: 53 year old Cornell Gunter, former lead singer of The Coasters died in a hail of gunfire when an unknown assailant sprayed his '78 Camaro at a Las Vegas intersection.
1991: Motorhead released their 9th studio album, '1916.' The album reached #142 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart.
1991: Great White released their 5th full-length studio album, 'Hooked.' The album reached #18 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.
1992: The video 'Nothing Else Matters' by Metallica premiered on MTV.
1995: Billed as Piss Bottle Men, Neil Young and Pearl Jam perform together at Seattle's Moore Theater.
1995: Former Led Zeppelin duo Jimmy Page and Robert Plant kick off a year-long world tour in Pensacola, Florida, supporting their live 'No Quarter' reunion album.
1996: Pearl Jam wins a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance ('Spin The Black Circle').
1997: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart of Rush receive the Order of Canada, the highest civilian award from the Canadian government, for significant achievement in important fields of human endeavor. They are the first rock band to receive the award.
1997: At the Grammys ceremony, Eric Clapton and The Beatles each win three awards the Beatles win two for 'Free As A Bird' and another for their Anthology video. Clapton wins the Best Male Pop Vocal category for 'Change the World.' The song is also named Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year.
1998: Rocker Tommy Lee of Motley Crue fame is formally charged with abusing his wife, actress Pamela Anderson Lee, and one of their sons, Dylan.
2001: Rage released their 14th studio album, 'Welcome to the Other Side.'
2001: The Darkness made their live debut when they played at Camden HQ. It was a tribute gig to raise money for the family of Ed's band mate from his previous band Q-Sling who had committed suicide earlier that month.
2001: U2 won Outstanding contribution to music at the UK's Brit Awards.
2001: Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose's stalker Karen McNeil was found guilty of violating her probation by a Malibu Supreme Court judge. McNeil had been ordered to stay at least 300 yards from Rose's residence in 1997 & the Malibu police had records of her trespassing on Rose's property at least six times.
2002: Four Concerts for Artists' Rights take place in the L.A. area. The concerts raise funds to repeal or change sections of the California Labor Code that hurt recording artists. The Eagles (drummer Don Henley is a prime mover behind the effort), Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, No Doubt, Eddie Vedder and Beck perform.
2005: 'Some Kind Of Monster' wins the Best Documentary honor at the 20th annual Independent Spirit Awards, held in Santa Monica, CA. The Metallica film charts the recording of the album of the same name.
2006: Elton John earns the Best New Musical trophy at the United Kingdom's prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards in London. The award is for his work on the stage adaptation of Billy Elliot.
2006: Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme's side project, the 5:15ers with Masters Of Reality's Chris Goss makes its live debut in Los Angeles.
2006: U2 frontman Bono receives the Pablo Neruda medal of honor, Chile's highest award for the arts, from Chilean President Ricardo Lagos in Santiago. Later U2 are awarded Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award from Chile's president-elect, Michelle Bachelet.
2007: Lou Reed, Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Patti Smith perform at the 17th annual Tibet House benefit concert in New York. The event supports the organization's efforts to promote and preserve Tibet's cultural heritage.
2007: Manowar released their album 'Gods Of War.' It was the last studio album to feature drummer Scott Columbus.
2008: Death Angel released their album 'Killing Season.'
2008: Ex-Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles dies at age 60 at his home in Austin, TX. Miles played on the legendary 'Electric Ladyland' album and co-founded, with Hendrix, the short-lived Band Of Gypsys in 1969. Miles also played drums for Wilson Pickett, The Delfonics and The Ink Spots before founding The Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield and later joined Jimi Hendrix in Band Of Gypsys.
2009: A 10-minute version of The Beatles 'Revolution 1' was leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what 'The White Album' sessions must have been like. Only two copies of the take were made when the song was completed on June 4th, 1968. One copy left the studio with Lennon that day and the other remained behind. It was unclear which copy appeared on the bootleg, nor how anyone acquired it.
2010: Krokus released their 16th studio album, 'Hoodoo.'
2010: 'American VI: Ain't No Grave,' the 6th and final installment of Johnny Cash's American Recordings series is issued on what would have been the legend's 78th birthday. Produced by Rick Rubin, the set list includes covers of Sheryl Crow's 'Redemption Day' and Kris Kristofferson's 'For The Good Times.' There's also the Cash original 'I Corinthians: 15:55.'
2010: White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights appears in theaters. The documentary, directed by Emmett Malloy, chronicles the group's 2007 tour across Canada. The film made its debut at 2009's Toronto Film Festival.
2010: Iggy Pop and Patti Smith perform at the 20th annual Tibet House U.S. Benefit Concert at New York's Carnegie Hall.
2011: It was announced that Queen's 'We Will Rock You' was still the most-played song at US sporting events, according to a new survey from BMI, the royalty-distribution service. According to its data, based off of MLB, NFL and NHL games in 2009-2010, We Will Rock You was the #1 song overall, as well as for the NFL specifically.
2011: The Art of John Lennon exhibit, with drawings not previously displayed, opens at London's Mandeville Hotel.
2011: The Doobie Brothers make their debut at the Grand Ole Opry in support of their 'World Gone Crazy' album which features a guest performance by Willie Nelson.
2011: Mark Tulin collapses and dies while helping out at the Avalon Underwater Clean-Up in Avalon, CA. He was 62. Tulin was the bassist for The Electric Prunes who became famous with the release of the Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 compilation album in 1972 with their song 'I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night).' In 2009, Tulin began work with the Smashing Pumpkins, recording and touring. He somehow also found time to get a PhD in Psychology.
2012: Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen are the first two recipients of PEN New England's Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. In an email read during the ceremony, Bob Dylan states that Berry is "the Shakespeare of Rock n' Roll."
2013: Ten fans of The Who, who bought tickets to a show in Providence, RI, which was canceled, get redeemed tickets for the band's Quadrophenia tour stop. The '79 show was nixed by then-Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. after the fatal audience stampede at the group's Cincinnati concert two weeks earlier.
2014: Tim Lambesis, the singer for U.S. metal band As I Lay Dying, pleaded guilty to attempting to hire an undercover agent to murder his estranged wife. He was arrested in May 2013 after prosecutors said he met a sheriff's deputy posing as a hitman, called Red, and handed over $1,000 along with his wife's address and front door security code.
2015: The childhood home of former Beatle Paul McCartney sold for £150,000 ($231,000) at an auction in Liverpool. McCartney moved into the house, in Western Avenue, Speke, aged four with his parents Jim and Mary in 1947, and lived in the three-bedroom house for six years.
2016: Bonnie Raitt delivers her 20th studio album, 'Dig In Deep' via her own Redwing Records.
2016: 'For All Kings' by Anthrax is released. The album marks the debut of former Shadows Fall lead guitarist Jon Donais, who replaced Rob Caggiano, following his departure in 2013.
2016: Anvil released the album 'Anvil Is Anvil.' It was the first Anvil album to feature bassist Chris Robertson.
2016: A Guns N' Roses exhibit opens at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland.
February 27
1956: Little Richard hits the top of the R&B chart for the first time with 'Slippin' And Slidin'.
1959: Jerry Lee Lewis and his third wife (and first cousin once removed) Myra have a son, Steve Allen Lewis, who is named after the TV host. The boy dies in a swimming pool accident three years later.
1961: Five months after topping the US charts with 'The Twist,' Chubby Checker does it again with 'Pony Time.' The song reached #27 in the UK.
1964: The Rolling Stones made their second appearance on BBC TV show Top Of The Pops performing 'Not Fade Away.'
1965: This marked the first date of a 21 twice- nightly UK package tour with Del Shannon, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, and Herman's Hermits, stopping at Sheffield's City Hall in England.
1967: Pink Floyd recorded their first single 'Arnold Layne,' with producer Joe Boyd at Sound Techniques studio in Chelsea, England. The song cracks the U.K. Top 20.
1967: The Mamas & The Papas 3rd album, 'Deliver' is released. It reached #2 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart. Three of the album's singles ranked in the Hot 100 chart: 'Dedicated to the One I Love' at #2, 'Creeque Alley' at #5 and 'Look Through My Window' at #24.
1967: Simon & Garfunkel's 'At The Zoo' b/w 'The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)' 45 single is released. 'At the Zoo' was one of Simon's and Garfunkel's single releases in 1967. It was first released as a single in 1967, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. After that, it was released on 'Bookends' (1968).
1969: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash record 'Girl From The North Country' for Dylan's 'Nashville Skyline' album. Other Dylan/Cash duets are recorded but not released.
1969: The Grateful Dead played at the Fillmore West in San Francisco.
1970: Elvis Presley performed the Astrodome in Houston.
1970: Jefferson Airplane is fined $1,000 for onstage profanity in Oklahoma City.
1971: Five months after her death, Janis Joplin started a nine-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Pearl.'
1971: Small Faces, The Grease Band, and Savoy Brown appeared at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1971: Three Dog Night performed at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis.
1972: T. Rex performed at New York's Carnegie Hall.
1972: Led Zeppelin performed at Sydney Showgrounds in Australia. Over 25,000 fans attending the show. Jimmy Page appeared clean shaven having shaved of the beard he had grown since the summer of 1970.
1972: Yes played at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut.
1973: The Rolling Stones played at the Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
1974: Cher filed for divorce from Sonny Bono. Cher married Gregg Allman from The Allman Brothers band on June 27, 1975.
1975: Blue Oyster Cult released their 1st live album, 'On Your Feet or on Your Knees.'
1976: Mick Jagger is hospitalized in New York with a respiratory infection.
1976: The Who begin a European tour at Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland.
1977: Keith Richard was busted for dope in Toronto. Police find heroin, cocaine and narcotics paraphernalia. Authorities accuse Richards of intending to traffic the drugs but Keith's attorney claims his client's drug problem is so extreme all the drugs are for his personal use. He is released on $25,000 bail, and eventually receives a suspended sentence after the court concludes that Richards did not bring the drugs into the country, but rather purchased them while in Canada.
1977: Led Zeppelin cancel the first date of their world tour in Dallas after Robert Plant comes down with tonsillitis.
1977: Pink Floyd performed at Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany.
1977: The classic KISS album, 'Dressed To Kill,' gets RIAA certified Gold. It has yet to be certified Platinum.
1978: Rush appeared at the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton, England.
1980: Winners at the Grammy Awards included: record and song of the year, 'What A Fool Believes' from The Doobie Brothers and album of the year, Billy Joel's '52nd St,' and Best new artist, Rickie Lee Jones.
1981: A little over six weeks after its U.S. release, the Police's 'Zenyatta Mondatta,' their third album, is a certified million seller.
1981: Billboard's Hot 100 includes Journey's 'The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love)' at #73, April Wine's 'Just Between You And Me' at #49, AC⚡DC's 'Back In Black' at #37, Styx's 'The Best Of Times' at #6 and REO Speedwagon's 'Keep On Loving You' at #.
1981: The first Who single recorded after Keith Moon's death, 'You Better You Bet,' is released in the UK. The b-side is John Entwistle's song 'The Quiet One.' It reaches #9 on the charts.
1982: The Cars peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with 'Shake It Up' their first top 10 single in the U.S.
1983: Blue Oyster Cult played at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kansas.
1987: KISS released their 37th single, 'Turn On the Night.'
1988: Aerosmith performed at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1988: David Lee Roth peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with 'Skyscraper,' which was his second and final top 10 album in the U.S.
1988: Billboard's Hot 100 inludes White Lion's 'Wait' at #88 (debut), Aerosmith's 'Angel' at #39, INXS' 'Devil Inside' at #38, Def Leppard's 'Hysteria' at #24 and Foreigner's 'Say You Will' at #7.
1989: XTC's 10th studio album, 'Oranges & Lemons' is released. It reached #44 on the Billboard Top Albums chart and #1 on the on the US college / alternative album chart, and #28 on the UK Albums chart. The album produced three hit singles: 'The Mayor of Simpleton' - reaching #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #46 on the UK singles chart. 'King for a Day' which reached #10 on the US alternative / modern rock chart.
1990: Armored Saint guitarist Dave Prichard dies of leukaemia.
1995: Bruce Dickinson released his 'Alive in Studio A' double-disc set. The first CD was recorded live in the studio, and the second one at the Marquee Club.
1996: KISS with original Spaceman Ace Frehley & original Catman Peter Criss appear at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards. It leads a successful Reunion Tour.
1996: Green Day's 'Insomniac' album earns a platinum award for selling two-million copies.
1996: Bad Religion release their 9th full-length studio album 'The Gray Race.' This is the first Bad Religion album to feature Brian Baker on guitar, replacing Brett Gurewitz, who left the band two years earlier.
1996: Fu Manchu released their 3rd studio album, 'In Search Of...'
1996: Sacred Reich released their 4th studio album , 'Heal.' Future Machine Head drummer Dave McClain played on this album.
1998: A day after his wife Pamela Anderson Lee files for divorce for the second time Tommy Lee of Motley Crue pleads innocent in court on charges that he abused her.
1998: Motley Crue member Vince Neil announces an agreement with Internet Entertainment Group and Vivid Video to distribute a 60-minute home video of him having sex with two adult film models while on vacation in Hawaii.
2000: 'The Beach Boys: An American Family' TV mini-series begins on ABC.
2001: Cheap Trick released their 3rd live album , 'Silver.'
2001: Opeth released the album 'Blackwater Park.' In 2012, Loudwire listed 'Blackwater Park' as #2 on their list of the Top 50 Metal Songs of the 21st Century.
2001: Elektra Records state that the second leg of the North American 'Stiff Upper Lip' tour is the fastest selling AC/DC tour ever.
2001: Carlos Santana returns to the Mexican town where he grew up, Autlan De Navarro, for the first time in 46 years. A statue honor in Carlos and his father, mariachi player Jose Santana, is unveiled.
2002: U2 win Grammys for Best Rock Album for 'All That You Can't Leave Behind.' They also pick up trophies for Record of the Year ('Walk On'), Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group ('Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of') and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group ('Elevation').
2003: KISS featuring Tommy Thayer & Peter Criss play the Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Australia accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO). It gives us the CD/DVD, 'KISS Symphony: Alive IV.'
2004: Minnesota State University cancels a Mar. 29 Puddle Of Mudd concert in the wake of frontman Wes Scantlin's arrest on Feb. 22 in Toledo, OH, on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. "Safety is our first and foremost concern," says an MSU official. Scantlin spit on and threw a bottle at audience members during the drunken performance.
2005: Carlos Santana takes the stage at the 77th annual Academy Awards. He and singer Enrique Iglesias perform the Oscar nominated song 'Al Otro Lado Del Rio' from 'The Motorcycle Diaries.' Also, Elton John's annual Oscar party is held to benefit his AIDS Foundation. Elton plays and then autographs an $80,000 cherry red piano before it is auctioned off.
2005: Less than a week after his departure from KoRn, guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch addresses more than 10,000 people during three services at the Valley Bible Fellowship Church in Bakersfield, CA.
2006: Monster Magnet frontman Dave Wyndorf is hospitalized due to a drug overdose. As a result, the group cancels their European tour.
2008: Maxim magazine apologizes for running a lukewarm review of the Black Crowes' 'Warpaint' album. Seems the magazine's music critic didn't listen to the entire disc before assigning a two-and-a-half-star rating (pretty low). Maxim admitted that it hadn't followed editorial policy. The Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, calls the publication's statement 'self-serving damage control' and wants Maxim to 'issue a public apology' to the band.
2008: Linkin Park and Coheed & Cambria take a day off from their joint North American tour to help build homes in New Orleans for families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
2009: Having blasted former Gun N' Roses guitarist Slash just a month earlier in a Billboard magazine interview, Axl Rose is at it again. He tells Spinner magazine that Slash is "a cancer, and better removed," and claims the guitarist's attempt "to take over Guns" was a reason for the disintegration of the classic GN'R lineup. "There's zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash other than by ambush, and that wouldn't be pretty."
2009: U2 play a surprise 20-minute set on the roof of the BBC Broadcasting House in London to promote their 'No Line On The Horizon' album. An estimated 5,000 people witness the concert.
2010: U2 raked in more money than any other music act in the U.S. in 2009 making $109 million from touring, record sales and other royalties, almost twice as much as the second best, Bruce Springsteen who took home $58 million, followed by Madonna with $47 million and AC/DC with $44 million.
2010: Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, who played bass for nearly 30 years with Daryl Hall And John Oates and also recorded with Elvis Costello and Billy Joel, died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 58.
2011: Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and co-composer Atticus Ross win an Academy Award for their score for The Social Network, the David Fincher-directed film about the founding of Facebook.
21012: UFO released their 20th studio album, 'Seven Deadly.'
2012: The Sex Pistols signed a record deal with Universal that would lead the way to releasing an expanded and repackaged edition of the band's 'Never Mind The Bollocks' and 'Here's The Sex Pistol,', later in the year.
2012: Kid Rock formally endorses Mitt Romney in the Michigan Republican presidential primary. Rock performs 'Born Free,' Romney's campaign theme song, at a rally. Prior to the endorsement, Rock sought assurances from Romney that he would look out for Michigan and the city of Detroit if elected President.
2012: Slash's single, 'You're A Lie,' goes to radio. The track is from his second solo album, 'Apocalyptic Love.'
2013: "Stone Temple Pilots announce they have officially terminated Scott Weiland," reads a terse statement from the band. Weiland, who has a history of drug abuse and run-ins with the law, had only recently denied rumors the group was breaking up. "Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded," Weiland says in a statement that threatens legal action.
2013: The Rolling Stones win Best Live Band and Best Music Film (for Crossfire Hurricane) honors at the NME Music Awards at London's Troxy. Stones' guitarist Ronnie Wood is on hand to pick up the award.
2013: AC/DC Premium Lager Beer, a German lager that contains 5.0% alcohol, is available in Germany.
2014: Lamb Of God's documentary 'As The Palaces Burn' is screened in the U.S. The film tells the story of frontman Randy Blythe's arrest and trial for manslaughter after a fan died falling from the stage during a 2010 concert in Prague. The singer was acquitted.
2014: Rick Rubin (Def Jam founder and producer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys and Johnny Cash, to name a few) receives the David Lynch Foundation's Lifetime of Harmony Award at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
2014: Slash, Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Matt Sorum, Vince Neil of Motley Crue and System Of A Down's John Dolmayan perform at the Kerry Simon Says Fight MSA benefit concert in Las Vegas. The night features 'creative tastes' from celebrity chefs. Chef Simon is battling MSA, 'an aggressive form of Parkinson's disease'.
2015: Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was sentenced by a British judge to 16 years in prison for attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one of having sex with a girl under 13. Glitter reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 with 'Rock And Roll Part 2.'
2016: The Turtles announced via their Twitter account that front man Mark Volman had been given a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for throat cancer last Fall. The band planned to go ahead with their annual 'Happy Together' tour scheduled for the following Summer.
2016: Elton John gave a free, surprise concert outside of the old Tower Records building in Los Angeles. John performed an hour-long set of his hits to thank the city of West Hollywood for its support of his AIDS Foundation and his Academy Awards Viewing Party.
February 28
1964: The Yardbirds played at the Rhythm and Blues Festival at The Town Hall in Birmingham, England.
1966: Police were called after over a 100 music fans barricaded themselves inside Liverpool's Cavern Club to protest at the clubs closure. The club had run up debts of over £10,000.
1966: The Who appeared at Eltham Bath in London.
1966: Paul Revere And The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay 'Kicks' b/w 'Shake It Up' 45 single is released. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100
1969: Yes played at the Richmond Athletic Grounds, in the London borough of Richmond upon
1970: Pink Floyd performed at the Refectory Hall, Leeds University in Yorkshire, England.
1970: Van Morrison's 'Moondance' album is released.
1970: Led Zeppelin
1970: In an interview with the New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. The following year Green confronted his accountant with a gun after he sent him an unwanted royalty check. The guitarist went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum and was committed to a mental hospital in He
1970: The title track of Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' album hits #1 on the Hot 100, where it will remain for six weeks, longer than any other song in 1970. The song would go on to win five awards at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971, including Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. The piano player on the track is Larry Knechtel, who also played for the soft-rock group, Bread. The drummer was legendary session man Hal Blaine.
1970: Billed as David Bowie's New Electric Band, David Bowie played at the Basildon Arts Lab experimental music club at the Basildon Arts Centre in Essex, England. Also on the bill were High Tide, Overson
1972: George and Patti Harrison were injured in a car crash; Patti was unconscious for several days.
1973: The Grateful Dead performed at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1975: Genesis played at the Parc Des Expositions in Colmar, France.
1976: Paul Simon's 'Still Crazy After All These Years' was named Best Pop Vocal Performance and Album Of The Year at the 18th annual Grammy Awards. In his acceptance speech, Simon told the audience "I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year."
1976: The Eagles 'Lyin' Eyes' wins a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
1976: The theme from the ABC-TV program 'S.W.A.T.' became the first television theme song to top the Billboard Hot 100. Before that, the theme from the original Hawaii 5-0 had made it to #4.
1977: AC/DC played at the Village Bowl in Bournemouth, England.
1979: Judas Priest released their 5th studio album, 'Hell Bent for Leather' in the U.S. It was released in the rest of the world as 'Killing Machine,'
1981: Iron Maiden release their 'Killers' album.
1981: Rush released their 18th single, 'Tom Sawyer.'
1982: King Crimson appeared at the Pritchard Gymnasium in Stony Brook, New York.
1982: Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham collapsed during the
1983: U2's 3rd studio album, 'War' is released.It reached #12 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's
1984: The Police win Grammys for 'Every Breath You Take' (Best Pop Performance and Song of the Year) and Best Rock Performance ('Synchronicity').
1985: Uriah Heep lead singer David Byron (born David Garrick), dies in England from
1985: Bruce Springsteen wins for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in the Rolling Stone reader's poll.
1987: Eddie Van Halen appeared on 'Saturday Night Live' which was being hosted by his then-wife Valerie Bertinelli.
1989: Bob Dylan recorded the first sessions for the 'Oh Mercy' album at The Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana. What became Dylan's 26th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1989 was produced by Daniel Lanois.
1990: Eric Johnson's 'Ah Via Musicom' album is released. It reached #67 on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart, anchored by four tracks that reached the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart - 'Cliffs of Dover' (#5), 'Trademark' (#7), 'Righteous' (#8), and 'High Landrons' (#31). 'Cliffs of Dover,' was ranked #17 in a list of "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" by Guitar World magazine and remains a highly regarded staple within the guitar community; later going on to win the award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1992 Grammy Awards.
1990: Riot released the album 'The Privilege Of Power.' The song 'Killer' is about convicted killer Jeffrey R. MacDonald and features a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner.
1994: Eric Clapton played his 100th performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, in aid of the 'Children In Crisis' charity.
1995: Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) and wife Adrienne
1995: Aerosmith guitarist Brad Withford & drummer Joey Kramer appeared at the Massachusetts State House in Boston where they received the 1995 Commonwealth Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities.
1996: At the 38th annual Grammy Awards, Nirvana's 'Unplugged' wins
2000: AC/DC released their 14th studio album, 'Stiff Upper Lip.' The album was co-produced by George Young, and this was the last AC/DC album that he produced before his death in 2017.
2001: Courtney Love sues to get out of her contract with Vivendi Universal, on the grounds that music industry contracts are too lengthy.
2005: Legendary New York recording studio the Hit Factory closes. John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen
2005: Chris Curtis, drummer, vocalist and charismatic
2005: For the first time in nine years, a Lennon / McCartney song charted on the Billboard Hot 100. 'Across the Universe' was first issued for a charity album for the World Wildlife Fund, but after a group of artists performed the song live at the Grammy Awards to raise funds for Tsunami Aid, the song quickly rose to #22.
2006: Bruce Springsteen releases 'Hammersmith Odeon London 1975.'
2006: Kid Rock releases his first concert album, 'Live Trucker.' The tracks were recorded between '00 and '04 and include 'Cowboy,' 'Bawitdaba' and 'Cocky.'
2007: The Doors receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Guitarist Robby Krieger and keyboardist Ray Manzarek were on hand, along with Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman, who signed the band and worked closely with them in the studio. Drummer John Densmore did not attend the event.
2007: The Carlos by Carlos Santana shoe line and the Spirit of Women Health Network partner to launch the Red Shoe Celebrity Auction campaign. Red shoes from Santana's footwear company are autographed by celebrities and sold on eBay. The initiative benefits the Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition and various other health-related charities.
2007: Billy Thorpe, best known in the U.S. for his song and space opera 'Children of the Sun,' dies of a heart attack at his home in Sydney. He was 60. Born in England but raised in Australia, Thorpe first had success as the leader of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs. Their singles included 'Blue Day,' 'Poison Ivy,' 'Over the Rainbow,' 'Sick and Tired' and 'Mashed Potato.' A huge star in Australia, Thorpe was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to music as a musician, songwriter
2008: Mike Smith, singer
2008: Drummer Buddy Miles, who played with Jimi Hendrix in his last regular group, Band of Gypsys, died at age 60 at his home in Austin, Texas after struggling with a long-term illness. Born George Allen Miles in Omaha, Nebraska, Buddy's nickname was a tribute to his idol, jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Rich also played with The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters
2009: Singer Rome makes his debut as Sublime's frontman at a show in Sparks, NV. The group hadn't performed since the 1996 drug-overdose death of original frontman Bradley Nowell.
2010: 60,000 people hear hometown band Nickelback perform 'How You Remind Me'and 'Burn It To The Ground' at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Fellow Canadian Neil Young plays his classic 'Long May You Run.' Avril Lavigne and Alanis Morissette also take the stage at the event.
2010: Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, who played bass for nearly 30 years with Daryl Hall And John Oates died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 58. T-Bone also headed the Saturday Night Live house band from 1986-1992 with his Hall & Oates bandmate G.E. Smith. In addition, he had worked extensively with Carly Simon, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin
2012: Corrosion Of Conformity issue their self-titled comeback and 8th studio album. Recorded at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in L.A., the offering is their first release in seven years.
2012: U2's Adam Clayton sues his former assistant, Carol Hawkins, for misappropriating $7.5 million of his money over a five-year period beginning with the launch of the 2005 Vertigo Tour. The bassist seeks full restitution.
2012: Dark New Day release their sophomore album 'New Tradition." The band includes members from Sevendust and Evanescence. "It seems the time is right to make these songs public and share with the fans that continue to support this project," states guitarist Clint Lowery (of Sevendust). "[We] think
2014: Rickey Charles Goodrich, Pearl Jam's former accountant, admits in court that he stole over $380,000 over a four-year period as chief financial officer for the group's management company. Goodrich is sentenced to 14 months in prison.
2014: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale have their third child: Apollo Bowie Flynn.
2014: Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) plays a free eight-hour concert that's an interpretation of Hermann Hesse's 1922 novel Siddhartha. The show, at Madame ZuZu's Tea Shop and Art Studio in Highland Park, IL, is a 'modular synthesis, on the fly'.
2015: Tygers Of Pan Tang release their 'Tygers Sessions: The First Wave' album.
2017: Ghost spirit win the trophy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album for their '
2017: British singer/songwriter Paul Rose sues U2 claiming 'The Fly' was lifted from his '89 song 'Nae Slappin.' Though Rose waited 25 years to file the suit, he wants $5 million and songwriting credit for the '91 track on the 'Achtung Baby' album.
February 29
1956: Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes' enters the pop charts.
1964: Betty Everett's rendition of 'The Shoop Shoop Song' enters the Billboard chart, where it will peak at #6. The Shirelles' management team had turned the song down and Soul singer Merry Clayton's version, recorded as 'It's in His Kiss' in 1963, failed to catch on.
1964: The Trashmen enter the American Top 40 with 'Bird Dance Beat,' a follow-up to their #4 hit, 'Surfin' Bird.' The song will top out at #30.
1968: The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper' won album of the year (the first rock album to receive this honor), best cover and best-engineered and recorded album at this year's Grammy Awards.
1972: John Lennon's U.S. visa expires, sparking a four-year fight for immigrant status. The couple are viewed as political radicals by the Nixon Administration who wants them deported. John and Yoko eventually win the right to stay.
1972: On the last date of an Australian tour Led Zeppelin played at the Festival Hall in Brisbane.
1977: Two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were knocked unconscious after a scuffle broke out between the band and members of the metropolitan police boxing team, who were holding a dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
1980: Buddy Holly's iconic glasses, which were lost in the plane crash that killed him in Iowa, are found in evidence by a local sheriff. The glasses were found two months after the crash and turned in to police, where they stayed for the next 21 years. Holly's cuff links worn during the crash had already been presented to Paul McCartney back in 1976 when the first Buddy Holly Week was held. Holly's widow would eventually launch a lawsuit to recover his glasses.
1984: The LP 'Sports' by Huey Lewis And The News is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. It will go on to top the Billboard album chart in June and become the second largest selling album of the year, behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.' The collection also spawned four Billboard Top Ten singles, 'Heart and Soul' (#8), 'I Want a New Drug'(#6), 'The Heart of Rock & Roll' (#6) and 'If This Is It' (#6).
1988: Robert Plant released his 4th solo album, 'Now And Zen.' The tracks 'Heaven Knows' and 'Tall Cool One' featured Jimmy Page.
1992: Mr Big started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with 'To Be With You.'
1992: U2 premieres their Zoo TV tour in Lakeland, Florida, making their first US concert appearance in four years.
1996: Helloween released their 7th studio album, 'The Time of the Oath.'
2000: Smashing Pumpkins release their 5th studio album 'MACHINA/The Machines of Gods,' their last studio LP before pulling the plug.
2000: Dennis Danell, founding guitarist of the Southern California Punk Rock band Social Distortion, dies of a brain aneurysm at age 38.
2000: Steely Dan's 8th album, 'Two Against Nature' is released. The album won the 2001 Grammy Award for Album Of The Year, won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album and 'Cousin Dupree' won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It marked the first Steely Dan studio album in 20 years, following 1980's 'Gaucho.' It has been certified 2x platinum in the US.
2000: Eric Clapton was banned from driving for six months after speeding at 45mph in a 30mph zone near his UK home in Surrey.
2000: Sir Elton John stormed out of the opening of his new Broadway musical show, 'Aida', after 15 minutes complaining that his songs had been ruined.
2012: 64-year-old Davy Jones, of the made-for-TV group The Monkees, suffered chest pains while riding one of his fourteen horses at a farm near Indiantown, Florida. He was rushed to Martin Memorial South Hospital in Stuart, Florida, where he was pronounced dead of a severe heart attack due to coronary artery disease. His former band mate Micky Dolenz would later say, "He was the brother I never had and this leaves a gigantic hole in my heart."
2012: Slash and actress Betty White appear in the first of a series of commercials promoting a new exhibit, The Lair (featuring reptiles), at the L.A. Zoo. Both Slash and White are long time zoo supporters.
2012: 64-year-old vocalist Meat Loaf fell ill just moments before he was to appear on the UK TV show 'Loose Women.' Although he missed the program, he was later able to carry on with his full line-up of appearances.
2016: The Rolling Stones announced that they would play a landmark concert in Havana, Cuba on March 25th. Rock music was marginalized in Cuba for political reasons after the Cuban revolution in the 1950s which saw Fidel Castro come to power.