This Day in Rock History - Page 2
Rick Davies, the keyboardist, singer, and co-founder of Supertramp, has died, leaving behind a catalog that helped define progressive pop and classic rock radio. Known for his bluesy playing style and understated vocals, Davies was the steady hand at the center of a band that thrived on contrasts. While Roger Hodgson brought the high tenor […]
August 25 is like the birthday of badassery. It all began in 1970, when a fresh-faced Elton John strummed his way into American hearts at The Troubadour in L.A. The intimate 300-seat club was packed with industry legends. One attendee later admitted, “We knew within forty-five minutes that we had a superstar. It was electrifying.” […]
On a steamy night in West Hollywood, August 25, 1970, Elton John took the stage at The Troubadour for his very first U.S. performance, and the world was never the same. In a club packed with just around 300 fans, he poured out early gems like “Your Song,” “Border Song,” “Take Me to the Pilot,” […]
A video of artists talking about the influence of Jeff Buckley’s music popped up on my timeline. It reminded me of how amazing he was and his impact on so many. His only album “Grace” was released August 23, 1994, but still lives on almost 30 years later. Jeff Buckley sang like he had one […]
August 21, 1984, one of the iconic tracks of the 80s hit record stores. Scandal, featuring the electric vocals of Patty Smyth, released their debut full-length album, “Warrior”. Fast forward to 1985. As Van Halen was searching for a new voice after David Lee Roth’s exit, they turned to a surprising candidate: Patty Smyth. She […]
On August 15, 1965, The Beatles stepped onto the stage at Shea Stadium in New York and changed music history. More than 55,000 fans packed the ballpark, setting a record for the largest concert ever held at the time. The sheer volume of the crowd was deafening and the screams were so loud the band […]
Today marks the anniversary of the first day of Woodstock, the legendary 1969 music festival that grew to nearly 500,000 attendees through nothing more than word of mouth, radio, and underground buzz. At its core, Woodstock was a miracle of organic momentum. It wasn’t the product of social media algorithms or influencer hype. Tickets were […]
The setting: Monsters of Rock, August 1984, in Stockholm. Three heavy-duty bands on the bill – Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, and AC/DC. It didn’t take long before rock and roll antics turned real. According to Tommy Lee, “We were all on the ‘Monsters of Rock’ tour… Motley had this thing we would do if we really loved […]
At 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, a rocket launched on TV, not from NASA, but from a network no one had heard of: MTV – Music Television. The screen faded in with footage of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the flag planted, and a voice declaring, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” Then came […]
It was supposed to be a high-profile, feel-good event: a benefit concert for California Senator Alan Cranston at the Long Beach Arena. The Eagles, one of the biggest bands on the planet, were closing the show. But backstage tensions were already boiling over, and they’d hit a breaking point after a long run on the […]
On July 28, 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis rocked The Steve Allen Show and America! Blasting through “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” with wild hair, flying fingers, and beating a piano into submission, the 21-year-old turned a polite TV variety show into a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll riot. Millions of Americans, many seeing Lewis for the […]
1948 English musician Pete Sears, best known for being the bassist for Rod Stewart and Jefferson Starship, was born in Bromley, England. He played on several of Stewarts albums, including songs Maggie May and Reason to Believe. He joined Jefferson Starship in 1974, remaining with the band after it became Starship, finally departing in 1987. […]