This Day in Rock History - Page 2
October 20, 1977 will forever echo as one of rock’s most heartbreaking days. Lynyrd Skynyrd—America’s fiery Southern rock powerhouse, had just released Street Survivors, their fifth album, only three days earlier. The cover showed the band engulfed in flames, an image meant to symbolize their musical heat, not tragedy. But after their plane went down […]
Jon Bon Jovi declares, “I am a Def Leppard Fan!” in his dedication speech for Def Leppard’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s always a special occasion when a big star gets immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Def Leppard couldn’t be more deserving of this honor. Doug O’Brien
October has played host to some of rock’s most defining moments. It’s the month The Who released Tommy, Elton John dropped Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Def Leppard made their live U.S. debut. Rock legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lindsey Buckingham and Tommy Lee all celebrate birthdays this month, while fans remember the losses of Tom Petty and […]
On this day back in 1987, Billy Idol turned a rock cover into a cultural phenomenon. His original studio version of “Mony Mony” had already been out for a few years, released in 1981 on his debut album. But it was the live version, officially released on October 2nd, 1987, that took the song over […]
Every generation has them — those unforgettable tracks that burst onto the airwaves, dominate the charts, and then vanish almost as quickly as they arrived. They’re called one-hit wonders, but for fans, they’re much more than that. What makes these songs so powerful isn’t just their melody or their riffs; it’s the way they capture […]
On September 24, 1980, John Bonham lived his final day much like he had lived his career, caught between thunderous brilliance and quiet struggle. Known to fans simply as “Bonzo,” he wasn’t just the drummer for Led Zeppelin. He was the heartbeat of the band, a force of nature behind the kit. His power, speed, […]
September 24th should honestly be declared a holiday for rock fans, because over the years it’s given us a wild streak of classic albums that shaped entire decades. Let’s run through the lineup. First up: The Eagles’ The Long Run (1979). This was the follow-up to Hotel California, and while critics were split at the […]
In 1985, during a severe farm crisis in America, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp answered a call sparked by Bob Dylan’s comments at Live Aid: What about helping family farmers at home? Thus, Farm Aid was born. An annual benefit concert to raise awareness and funds for the farmers who grow our food. […]
Forty years ago, in September 1985, Washington became the unlikely stage for a cultural showdown over rock ’n’ roll. The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee convened hearings to consider labeling music with explicit lyrics. The push came from the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), a group founded by Tipper Gore, wife of then-Senator Al Gore, after […]
On September 18, 1983, the world saw a different side of KISS. For the first time in nearly a decade, the band that built its empire on face paint, fire, and theatrics appeared on MTV without makeup. The unmasking came as part of the promotion for their new album Lick It Up. By the early […]
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.” […]