Today in rock history 25th May

 1948 - Klaus Meine-singer for The Scorpions born in Germany

1950 – Born today, Robby Steinhardt-violinist for Kansas

1965 -  Dave Davies, guitarist for The Kinks stumbled onto drummer Mick Avory’s cymbal and was knocked unconscious during a concert in London.

1969 - The Who & Led Zeppelin performed on the same bill for the only time at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

1978 -  The Who performed a secret concert for fan club members at London’s Shepperton Film Studios for their documentary The Kids Are Alright. This would be Keith Moon’s last performance with The Who.

1983 – This Day in Dio: Dio release their Holy Diver album.

1988 – Frank Zappa must have had a great agent. Because he’s invited to perform during the opening night of the historic Reagan/Gorbachev summit in Moscow. But he also had lousy business sense. Zappa declined.

1989 – “Weird Al” Yankovic records “She Drives Like Crazy” and “Isle Thing” for the UHF soundtrack.

1990 -  Lou Gramm departed Foreigner. Guitarist Mick Jones said Gramm’s departure was due to Gramm’s solo work conflicting with Foreigner’s commitments. Gramm later re-joined Foreigner in 1992 before departing again in 2003.

1997 – The day after his 56th birthday, Bob Dylan is admitted into a Los Angeles hospital with chest pains. What’s feared to be a heart attack turns out to be a case of histoplasmosis, or an inflammation of the sac around his heart. He cancels a European tour.

2000 – In Houston, Eddie Van Halen is tested for cancer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre. The hospital says that the tests are routine, and that the guitarist is not ill.

2000 – Paul McCartney wins the ultimate accolade from Britain’s music industry when he is awarded the first Fellowship of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters Award during the annual Ivor Novello awards in London.

2000 – The 21st annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards are webcast live via the House Of Blues website.

2003 – Mars Volta keyboardist Jeremy Ward is found dead of a suspected drug overdose at his Los Angeles home. He was 27.

2004 – Courtney Love pleads guilty to being under the influence of a controlled substance, a charge stemming from a 2003 arrest. She is now eligible for a sentence that would require her to attend a drug treatment program instead of going to jail.

2004 – In a surprising move, Vermont-based jam band Phish announces that it plans to split following the conclusion of its summer tour in August.

2005 - Domenic Troiano, guitarist for The Guess Who and The James Gang, died of prostate cancer at the age of 59.

2006 – Legendary songwriting and producing team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Kinks frontman Ray Davies, electro-rock outfit New Order and veteran pop siblings the Bee Gees are among the honorees at the 51st Ivor Novello Awards for songwriters.

2007 – Wayne Fontana of the 60’s group, “Mindbenders”, was taken into custody. Wayne admitted to pouring petrol on a bailiff’s vehicle and setting it on fire.

2013 - Marshall Lytle, bassist for Bill Haley And His Comets on their hits "Crazy Man, Crazy" and "Rock Around The Clock", died of lung cancer at the age of 79.

Today in rock history 24th May

1941 – Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) is born in Duluth, Minn.

1947 – Born today, Albert Bouchard-drummer for Blue Oyster Cult

1963 – Guitarist Elmore James, who influenced blues boom bands like Fleetwood Mac, dies in Chicago from a heart attack. More than 400 blues musicians attended his funeral.

1964 – On The Ed Sullivan Show tonight, the Beatles appear in a previously taped performance of “You Can’t Do That” from the set of A Hard Day’s Night.

1965 – John Lennon publishes his second volume of prose, A Spaniard in the Works, in England.

1968 – Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull are arrested on charges of marijuana possession. The same day the Stones release “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,”

1969 – Born today, Rich Robinson-guitarist for The Black Crowes.

1969 - Still riding high on the success of "American Woman", The Guess Who make their US Television debut on American Bandstand.

1979 – Patrons looking to buy tickets to Genesis’ benefit show at L.A.’s Roxy are surprised to find the band itself manning the box office. Proceeds from the show go to local hospitals.

1982 – Jefferson Starship, the Grateful Dead, Boz Scaggs, and Country Joe McDonald play San Francisco’s Moscone Center to raise money for the Vietnam Veterans Project.

1982 – Drummer Topper Headon leaves the Clash

1988 – OU812 (Van Halen) is released this day

1991 – Byrds co-founder and Rock `n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Gene Clark dies of a heart attack at the age of 46.

1994 -  Poison singer Bret Michaels lost control of his Ferrari & crashed into a telephone pole in Burbank, CA. Michaels broke his thumb, nose & collarbone, lost four teeth, cracked his sternum, & received a hairline fracture of his upper jawbone.

1998 – In an official ceremony backstage prior to Van Halen’s show at the CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell proclaims May 24th Van Halen Day in Philadelphia. Each member of the band is given a personalized replica of the Liberty Bell.

1999 – An online audience watches David Bowie write and record the song “What’s Really Happening” in a Webcast.

2004 – Bruce Springsteen’s lawyers shut down an online auction of what purports to be the Boss’ birth certificate.

2005 – Rock act Motley Crue files suit against NBC, arguing the network violated the group’s free speech rights and hurt its concert and album sales.

2005 – Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne put the Beverly Hills house that featured in their reality hit The Osbournes up for sale.

2012 – Elton John cancels shows to “The Million Dollar Piano” Last weekend Elton was treated for respiratory infection that triggered the cancelations.

Today in rock history 23rd May

1934 – Robert Moog, inventor of the synthesiser, is born

1946 – Born on this day, Daniel Klein, bass, J Geils Band

1947 – Born on this day, Bill Hunt, Electric Light Orchestra

1963 – The Beatles, touring with Roy Orbison, performed at the Odeon Cinema, Nottingham, England.

1967 – Pink Floyd went into the studio and recorded ‘See Emily Play’, the group’s second single and written by original frontman Syd Barrett.

1967  - Philip James Selway, drums, Radiohead, is born

1970 – Paul McCartney’s debut solo album, ‘McCartney’, started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

1970 – The Beatles album ‘Let It Be’ started a three week run at No.1 on the UK chart, featuring ‘The Long And Winding Road’, ‘Across The Universe’ and ‘Let It Be.’

1970 – The Grateful Dead gives its first performance outside the U.S., a four-hour set at the Hollywood Rock Festival in the U.K.

1973 – Jefferson Airplane were prevented from giving a free concert in Golden Gate Park when San Francisco authorities passed a resolution banning electronic instruments. The group later wrote ‘We Built this City’ about the ban.

1974 – George Harrison announced the launch of his own record label, ‘Dark Horse.’

1975 – Led Zeppelin started a three night run at Earl’s Court, London. Tickets cost £1 ($1.70) – £2.50 ($4.25).

1978 – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off their 117 show Darkness Tour at Shea’s Buffalo in Buffalo, New York.

1979 – Tom Petty files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing is partly the result of a dispute with Petty’s record label, which had been purchased by MCA.

1980 – Saxon and Tygers Of Pan Tang kicked off a 22-date UK tour at Bristol Coliston Hall. Tickets, £2.00-£3.00.

1987 – The Beastie Boys and Run DMC opened their UK tour in London.

1987 - Twelve former members of The Doobie Brothers reunited for a charity concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

1991 – Photographer Michael Lavine took what would be the publicity shots for Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album at Jay Aaron Studios in Los Angeles.

1992 – A statement issued by Freddie Mercury’s attorneys stated that Mercury had bequeathed the majority of his estate (£10 million/$17 million) to his long-time friend Mary Austin.

2000 – “Binaural,” Pearl Jam’s long-awaited sixth studio album hits U.S. store shelves.

2000 – Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins announces that the Seattle-based rock group will officially break up at year’s end.

2003 – Moody’s Investor Service warns $55 million worth David Bowie Bonds may be downgraded due to the record industry’s sales slump.

2010 – The Rolling Stones re-release, “Exile On Main Street”, and hit the UK No. 1 Album chart for the first time in 16 years.

Today in rock history 22nd May

1950 – Bernie Taupin is born

1954 – Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) has his bar mitzvah.

1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis arrives in London with his 14 year old bride. At Heathrow Airport he is cornered by the press and Jerry answers all their questions concerning his new found Bride and 3rd cousin, Myra Lewis. The arrival was meant to kick off his British tour, but the controversial news so shocked the public that Jerry was forced to cancel the tour!

1962 – Jesse Valenzuela, Gin Blossoms, is born.

1965 – The Beatles hit No. 1 with “Ticket To Ride” on the US charts

1966 – Bruce Springsteen, at age 16, begins his songwriting career in the back of a ’61 Mercury en route to a recording studio. He and George Theiss, the lead singer in the Boss’ first band, the Castiles, co-write “That’s What You Get” and “Baby I.”

1968 - Cream earns their first Gold record with their second album, "Disraeli Gears", which includes "Sunshine of Your Love", "Strange Brew" and "Tales of Brave Ulysses".

1971 – The Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers” Hit No. 1 Today in the US . Artwork for the cover was create by Andy Warhol which consisted of a zipper that when unzipped revealed an image of Joallesandro’s Privates in some briefs and tight jeans. Fan frenzy proceeded believing that the image was really Mick Jagger’s. Also on the album is the “Tounge and Lip” trademarked design by John Pasche which has become the Rolling Stones Icon.

1979 -  Cheap Trick received their first Platinum album for At Budokan, which was initially only released in Japan & only released in the U.S. after import copies sold well.

2000  -  The ASCAP awarded Steely Dan the Founders Award, the ASCAP’s top honor for lifetime achievement in songwriting.

2001 - Motley Crue released their autobiography The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band. The book went on to become a New York Times Bestseller.

2002 – Southern California alt-metal band Alien Ant Farm’s tour bus is involved in a highway crash in Spain, resulting in the deaths of the hired bus driver and injuries to the band and crew.

2006 – Led Zeppelin and conductor/artistic director Valery Gergiev are awarded the 15th annual Polar Music Prize on by His Majesty King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden. The prestigious prize is presented during a nationally televised ceremony from Konserthuset, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert hall, where the annual Nobel Prize ceremony is held.

2009 – White Stripes drummer Meg White marries Jackson Smith. They tied the knot at ex-husband and bandmate Jack White’s Nashville home.

2011 - Former Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent was arrested on assault charges at his home in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Vincent allegedly smacked his wife in the face & dragged her through a pile of broken glass. Cops also found four dead dogs at the scene.

2011 - Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer made his second appearance on The Simpsons where he appeared as himself.

2011 – The end of the world was Heralded in today when Spinal Tap’s drummer, Butch Bangin’, spontaneously exploded today which started a chain reaction that began with all drummers.

2012 - 64-year-old Gregg Allman told TV host Piers Morgan of his plans to marry wife number seven, a 24-year-old British lass.

2014 - Paul McCartney was hospitalized for a virus that caused him to cancel a string of dates in the Orient.

Today in rock history 21st May

1943 – Born on this day, Vincent Crane, keyboards, The Crazy world of Arthur Brown

1943 – Born on this day, John Dalton, The Kinks

1943 - Hilton Valentine-guitarist for The Animals is born today

1955 – Born on this day, Stan Lynch, drums, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

1963 – The Beatles, recorded record two BBC radio programmes at the Playhouse Theatre in London.

1971 - Paul McCartney releases "Ram"

1971 – UK rock group Free announced that they were splitting up.

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Frankenstein,” The Edgar Winter Group.

1979 – Elton John started a tour of Russia, the first Western star ever to do so.

1980 – Joe Strummer of the Clash is arrested at a Hamburg, West Germany, show after smashing his guitar over the head of an unruly audience member.

1980 - Bob Dylan performed his final gospel show in Dayton, OH. A second show there was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

1980 – Five Jimi Hendrix Gold discs were stolen from The Electric Ladyland studios in California.

1983 -  Def Leppard made their first and only appearance on American Bandstand where they performed “Photograph” & “Rock of Ages”.

1983 – David Bowie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Let’s Dance’, his second US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

1996 -  Styx and Kansas kicked off a three-month tour at the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids, IA. This was Styx’s first tour with their classic lineup in 13 years.

2000 – Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, and model Mary Forsberg, are wed in Los Angeles.

2001 – U2 lead singer Bono and his wife Ali welcome a new baby boy into their family.

2007 – Former singer with Creed, Scott Stapp was arrested at his Florida home and charged with assault. The 33-year-old was held without bail following the charges, which related to a domestic assault.

2008 -  Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler checked into Las Encinas Hospital rehabilitation clinic in Pasadena, CA to recover from multiple leg surgeries.

2013 - Trevor Bolder, bassist for Davie Bowie's Spiders From Mars before moving on to Uriah Heep, died of cancer at the age of 62.

Today in rock history 20th May

1944 – Joe Cocker (John Cocker) is born in Sheffield

1960 – The Silver Beetles consisting of John, Paul, George, Stu Stucliffe and Tommy Moore play their first tour

1966 – After waiting for John Entwistle and Keith Moon to show for a gig at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England, Roger Daltrey and Pete grab the drummer and bassist from their opening act and proceed to play the night. Keith and John finally arrive in the middle of the set. Harsh words and a fight proceeded until it ended with Pete hit Keith with his guitar.

1967 -  Jimi Hendrix signed a U.S. record deal with Reprise Records.

1968 - The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend married Karen Astley, daughter of composer Ted Astley. They would later separate in 1994 & divorce in 2000.

1968 – On returning from India, The Beatles tape 23 new songs on George Harrison’s 4 track

1969 – Led Zeppelin begins a 3 day recording session at A&R Studios

1970 – The last Beatles film, “Let It Be,” premieres in London.

1971 - Peter Cetera of Chicago lost four teeth when a gang of thugs at a Chicago Cubs baseball game beat the daylights out of him because of the length of his hair.

1977 – The stage show “Beatlemania” opens at the Winter Garden Theater, New York.

1979 – Elton John plays Leningrad and becomes the first Western solo pop star to tour the Soviet Union.

1995 – Don Henley married model Sharon Summerall. Guests included Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen.

1997 – U2 caused traffic chaos in Kansas City, Missouri after they paid for traffic control to close down five lanes so they could shoot the video for ‘Last Night On Earth’. Apart from major traffic jams a passing Cadillac crashed into a plate glass window trying to avoid a cameraman.

1998 – Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward takes ill and is hospitalized in London. Ward was to join the band for its first European tour since 1978.

1998 – Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is sentenced to six months in jail and three years’ probation for kicking his soon-to-be ex-wife, onetime “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson, as she holds their infant son. The verdict also specifies that Lee complete 200 hours of community service and donate $5,000 to a battered women’s shelter.

2001 – R.E.M. started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Reveal’.

2006 – Heavy metal monsters Lordi became Finland’s first ever Eurovision Song Contest winners after their song Hard Rock Hallelujah won in Athens.

2007 – Linkin Park went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Minutes To Midnight’ the bands fifth Top 20 UK album. Also a US No.1.

2007 -  Rush singer & bassist Geddy Lee made an appearance on Bob and Doug McKenzie Two-Four Anniversary special which aired in Canada. A short film of Bob and Doug would be shown as an intro to a song on their tour that year.

2013 – Ray Manzarek of The Doors died on this day.

2014 - Two former members of Heart, bassist Mark Andes and drummer Dennis Carmassi, launched a lawsuit against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for using their likenesses in promoting the 2013 induction ceremony even though they were not inducted.

Today in rock history 19th May

1945 – Pete Townshend, lead guitarist/songwriter of the Who, is born in London.

1947 – Greg Herbert of Blood Sweat & Tears is born

1947 - Steve Currie-bassist for T. Rex is born

1949 - Dusty Hill-bassist for ZZ Top born in Texas

1951 - Joey Ramone-singer for The Ramones is born

1954 - Phil Rudd-drummer for AC/DC is born

1960 – Alan Freed is indicted for accepting payola

1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Ticket to Ride,” The Beatles. It is the first Beatles single to feature Paul McCartney on lead guitar.

1976 - After falling asleep at the wheel, Keith Richards crashed his Bentley in Buckinghamshire, England. Police discovered cocaine & LSD in the car.

1979 – Eric Clapton marries George Harrison’s ex-wife, Patti Boyd. Harrison, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney are among the musicians who perform at the wedding reception.

1984 – On this day, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon has been on the American charts for 10 years solid.

1992 - Aerosmith donated $10,000 to MIT in Boston to fund an explicit exhibition of photographs & sculptures after the National Endowment for the Arts pulled support.

1996 -  Peter Frampton, The Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth made guest appearances on The Simpsons where they were on tour as part of a music festival that Homer Simpson joined as a carnival freak.

2000 – Folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary celebrate their 40th year together with a U.S. tour that kicks off with a three night stand in Las Vegas.

2000 – The Allman Brothers announce that founding guitarist Dickey Betts will not be a part of the veteran Southern rockers’ summer tour. In a statement, the band says, “sadly, there are creative differences.”

2000 – Three ex-members of the Dead Kennedys are awarded approximately $220,000 in damages after a San Francisco jury finds that band leader Jello Biafra (real name Eric Reed Boucher) failed to pay them back royalties or to promote their catalogue.

2004 – The Strokes play a homecoming show at New York’s Central Park, covering Guided By Voices’ “A Salty Salute.”

2010 – Radio Station, “Absolute Classic Rock” names, “Stairway to heaven” the UK’s favorite classic rock song.

2011 - Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler revealed he once had sex with a man during his wild youth.

2012 – Van Halen postpones over 30 concert dates in the US.

Today in rock history 18th May

1911 – Big Joe Turner is born in Kansas City, Mo. His shouting blues inspired rock singers like Elvis Presley and Little Richard.

1944 – Albert Hammond, who wrote the meteorologically misleading “It Never Rains in Southern California,” is born in London. He also wrote “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” for Starship with Diane Warren.

1949 – Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes is born in London.

1949 – William Wallace, Guess Who, is born

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

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

1964 -  The Animals recorded their rendition of “The House of the Rising Sun” in one take in London.

1964 – David Frost interviews Paul McCartney on the BBC show A Degree of Frost.

1965 – Here’s a Grammy Awards ceremony to remember. After Peter Sellers presents the Beatles with the Best Performance by a Vocal Group trophy, John Lennon leads the band in an a cappella rendition of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”

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

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

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

1972 – According to today’s New York Times, the Beatles have agreed to split the fortune they accrued in their partnership. Paul McCartney says they’ve come to this arrangement to free up the $17 million that was frozen as they sued one another.

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

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

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

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

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

2011 – Roger Waters performs “The Wall Live” in London at the 02 Arena.! The show was sold out.

Today in rock history 17th May

1948 – Prog-rock drummer Bill Bruford is born in Sevenoaks

1958 - Paul Di’anno-original singer for Iron Maiden born in London today.

1963 – The Monterey Folk Festival opens with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Pete Seeger

1965 – Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor is born today in Mercer, Pa.

1967 – The Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back debuts at San Francisco’s Presidio Theatre.

1968 - Dave Abbruzzese-drummer for Pearl Jam is born

1968 – Wonderwall, a psychedelic film with soundtrack by George Harrison, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.

1969 – Chicago release their double debut album, Chicago Transit Authority.

1974 – ABC broadcasts the Elton John special Say Goodbye to Norma Jean and Other Things, during which the singer plays “Candle in the Wind” and “Rocket Man.”.

1975 – Elton John picks up a platinum disc for Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The album is the first to sell a million copies on its first day of release.

1975 – Mick Jagger needs 20 stitches in his hand after putting it through the window of a restaurant in Montauk, N.Y.

1978 – Lou Reed begins a week-long stand at New York’s Bottom Line club. The concerts are taped for his live album Take No Prisoners.

1980 – Drummer Peter Criss left Kiss and was replaced by Eric Carr

1981 – Appearing at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England, Whitesnake

1987 – A fire sweeps through Tom Petty’s Encino, Calif., mansion, causing a million dollars in damage

1989 – Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s first Sticky Fingers restaurant opened in London.

1989 – At the Cannes Film Festival, Roger Daltrey announces that he intends to pursue the study of Chinese medicine.

1990 – Nirvana played the last date of a North American tour at the Zoo in Boise, Idaho. This was Chad Channing’s final gig with the band.

1992 – A sore throat forces Phil Collins to abandon a Genesis gig in Tampa, Fla., after only two songs.

1999 -  Bruce Fairbairn, producer for artists such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, & Kiss, was found dead in his Vancouver home shortly after completing recording sessions for Yes’ album The Ladder. He was 49 years old.

2003 – Stone Temple Pilot singer Scott Weiland is arrested after police stop him for driving without lights shortly before midnight in L.A. Cocaine and heroin is found in his car.

2008 – Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty posted a two-minute clip of themselves playing with newborn mice on Youtube. The video showed Doherty and Winehouse in a bare room, making rambling comments, picking up the mice and talking to them.

2010 -  ZZ Top made a cameo appearance on Two and a Half Men appearing in a fantasy sequence.

2015 - George Harrison's Maton Mastersound guitar, used during the Beatles' live performances in the summer of 1963, sold for $485,000 by Julien's Auctions in New York.

Today in rock history 16th May

1946 – Born on this day, Robert Fripp, King Crimson,

1947 – Born on this day, Darrell Sweet, Nazareth

1964 – Born on this day, Boyd Tinsley, violinist, Dave Matthews Band,

1965 - Krist Novoselic-bassist for Nirvana is born this day in California

1966 -  Jeff Beck recorded “Beck’s Bolero” which would be the B-Side of his debut single “Hi Ho Silver Lining” at IBC Studios in London. The song was written by Jimmy Page who also played on the song along with John Paul Jones and Keith Moon.

1969 -  Pete Townshend spends the night in a New York City jail after assaulting a man who jumped onstage during a Who concert at The Filmore East. It turned out that this man was a plainclothes police officer trying to warn the audience that a fire had broken out, which Townshend wasn’t aware of.

1970 - Lead guitarist Randy Bachman quits The Guess Who. He would later form Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

 1984 - Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in Memphis, TN on charges of public intoxication on Beale Street. According to the police report, Osbourne was “staggering drunk”.

1986 – Guitarist Robert Fripp married one time punk singer Toyah

1986 – Caitlin O’Riordan of the Pogues marries Elvis Costello in Dublin, Ireland.

1987 – David Crosby married his long time girlfriend Jan Danceon

1998 - Keith Richards broke his ribs after falling off of a ladder in his library, which caused the Rolling Stones to reschedule several dates of their European tour in support of Bridges to Babylon.

1999 – Jean Davis, co-founder of the Glastonbury Festival dies of cancer. He is 60.

2010 - Ronnie James Dio passes away.

2011 – Celebrated rock band ‘TOTO’ will perform a rare concert at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Sunday 26th June, 2011.

2016 - Irish singer Sinead O'Connor was found safe two days after being reported as missing in Chicago.

Today in rock history 15th May

1948 – Brian Eno (Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno) is born in Suffolk,

1951 – Dennis Fredericksen (Toto) is born this day

1953 – Mike Oldfield is born in Reading.

1965 – The Byrds release their first single, “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Written by Bob Dylan.

1967 – Paul McCartney visits the Bag O’ Nails club in London to see Georgie Fame perform. The same night he meets Linda Eastman for the first time.

1968 – At a press conference, Paul McCartney and John Lennon say they’ve ended their association with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

1970 – In the new releases section of the local record store is the self-titled debut from the mighty Black Sabbath.

1970 – A Pink Floyd concert at London’s Crystal Palace is so loud it kills fish in a nearby lake.

1971 – Paul McCartney releases his album Ram.

1974 – Ahmet, son of Frank Zappa and bald MTV host, is born.

1974 – Bill Wyman releases the first solo album by a Rolling Stone, Monkey Grip.

1975 – Fleetwood Mac debut their new lineup in El Paso, Texas. It’s the first incarnation of the band that includes Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and John and Christine McVie.

1976 – Rolling Stones: Black and Blue US LP is the no. 1 chart topper

1980 – Sex Pistols film The Great Rock and Roll Swindle is released.

1981 – John Lydon with his band Public Image Ltd get booed offstage at New York’s Ritz Club. Lydon posed behind a screen while his band shadow synced to a tape.

1982 – Asia US LP by the band with the same name is the no. 1 chart topper

1994 – Singers Sting and Nancy Wilson receive honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

1995 – Stone Temple Pilot Scott Weiland is arrested in Pasadena, Calif., on charges of drug possession.

1997 – Rock winces as the Muzak company announces it will turn four Kiss songs into elevator-friendly instrumentals.

1997 – Courtney Love sold the Seattle mansion she shared with Kurt Cobain.

2000 – Free, one of the U.K.’s best-respected rock bands, is celebrated with the U.K. release of a five-CD box set.

2000 – Sweden’s King Carl XVI presents Isaac Stern and Bob Dylan each with the Polar Music Prize at Stockholm’s Berwaldhallen venue.

2001 – Megadeth release their tenth album The World Needs a Hero, their first on new label Sanctuary.

2003 – The Police’s former road manager, Kim Turner, dies of cancer. He was also the brother of Wishbone Ash founders Martin and Glenn Turner.

2004 – Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder plays a surprise five-song solo set at Seattle’s Showbox club, as part of a benefit concert that raised approximately $16,000 for the local chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

2004 – The Beastie Boys play a secret show for fans at London’s ICA to promote their new album To the 5 Boroughs.

2005 – Nine Inch Nails hit No.1 on the US album chart with “With Teeth”

2009 - Randy Bachman, a founding member of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaelle Jean in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The Order of Canada is the country's highest civilian honor and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement.