Today in rock history 4th November

 1940 – Delbert McClinton, the country star who taught John Lennon how to play harmonica, is born in Lubbock, Texas.

1956 – Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott is born in Hereford, England. He died of a drug overdose in 1982.

1961 – Bob Dylan gives a concert at the Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York. Only 43 people attend.

1963 – The Beatles appear on London’s U.K. Royal Variety Show, which is attended by the Queen Mother.

1968 – At Abbey Road Studios, Pink Floyd record “Point Me at the Sky” and “Careful With That Axe, Eugene.

1969 – Led Zeppelin play a disastrous gig at Ontario’s Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. John Bonham is too ill to perform “Moby Dick.” Jimmy Page blows out his amplifier. And only 2,000 people turn up to see the band.

1973 – At London’s Rainbow Theater, Pink Floyd and Soft Machine perform a benefit for Machine drummer Robert Wyatt. Wyatt was paralyzed after falling from an open window during a party. He later becomes a respected singer/songwriter, recording the definitive version of Elvis Costello’s “Shipbuilding.”

1976 – A Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band concert at New York’s Palladium Theatre is delayed when someone phones in a bomb threat. Springsteen later jokes it was done by a former manager who’s suing him.

1978 – Boston plays in the city of Boston for the first time, a sold-out show at the Boston Garden.

1978 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are sued by a former bass player. Greg Reeves wants $1 million in unpaid royalties.

1991 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame admits Bobby “Blue” Bland, Booker T. & the MG’s, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, the Isley Brothers, Sam & Dave, and the Yardbirds.

1992 – Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin sign to the music publisher Warner/Chappell for an unprecedented $39 million.

1994 – Fred “Sonic” Smith, guitarist with the MC5 and husband of Patti Smith, dies of a heart attack in Detroit. He was 45.

2003 – Ryan Adams releases his third solo album Rock N Roll, featuring appearances by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Adams’ current girlfriend, actress Parker Posey.

2003 – VH1 films the opening night of Kid Rock’s winter tour in Detroit for a Christmas special. Keeping it seasonal, Rock performs “Frosty the Blowman” and “Santa Baby.”

2007 – The Eagles went to No.1 on the UK album chart for the first time ever – 33 years after their debut album On the Border.

2010 – Rush is honored at the 2010 Billboard Touring Awards.