Today in rock history 12th July

1943 - Christine McVie-keyboardist and singer for Fleetwood Mac is born

1950 - Eric Carr-drummer for Kiss is born

1952 – Bassist Phil Kramer of Iron Butterfly is born in Youngstown, Ohio.

1954 – Elvis Presley signs his first recording contract (Sun Records) and quits his job as a truck driver.

1962 – The Rolling Stones make their performing debut at the Marquee Club in London.

1969 – Blind Faith makes its live debut in the United States at Madison Square Garden in New York.

1970 – A solo Janis Joplin plays her first gig backed by the Full Tilt Boogie Band in Louisville, Ky.

1979 - Chicago disc jockey Steve Dahl held the infamous Disco Demolition between games of a baseball doubleheader at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

1979 – Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice joins Whitesnake

1992 – Police arrest Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose at New York’s Kennedy Airport on charges related to a 1991 incident at a concert in St. Louis. The singer is said to have started a melee by diving into a crowd during the Guns N’ Roses concert.

1999 – Limp Bizkit frontman and Interscope senior executive Fred Durst is arrested in St. Paul, Minn. after allegedly kicking a local security guard in the head during the band’s show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

2000 -A statue honouring John Lennon is unveiled in London. The sculpture is of a handgun with a knotted barrel.

2003 –Rob Halford announces he’s rejoining Judas Priest for a new album and tour – their first together in 13 years.

2005 – Veteran rock group INXS emerges from the land down under with a new record deal and a very public search for a new singer. The band launches their reality show, Rock Star: INXS, to replace late frontman Michael Hutchence, who committed suicide in 1997.

2012 – The Rolling Stones release “The Rolling Stones: 50″ Photo album

2012 – Steven Tyler, Aerosmith, quits‘American Idol’ for the following season,saying he wants to dedicate himself to his band. “I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back,”

2012 - Pollstar magazine announced that former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters had racked up $158.1 million in concert ticket sales worldwide so far this year with 'The Wall Live' show.