Today in rock history 23rd April

1936 – Roy Orbison is born in Vernon, Texas. 1960 – Steve Clark (Def Leppard) is born. 1969 – Famous Ash Grove, Los Angeles (home of Canned Heat and Taj Mahal) burns to the ground. 1975 – Badfinger’s Pete Ham commits suicide by hanging himself in his London garage. 1978 – Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious filmed his version of ‘My Way’ for the Sex Pistols’ film ‘The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.’ 1981 – Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins give a live performance in West Germany that is later released as the LP “The Survivors.” 1983 – David Bowie started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the Nile Rodgers produced ‘Let’s Dance’, featuring the title track which made No. 1 on the US and UK singles chart and ‘China Girl.’ 1988 – Iron Maiden: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son US LP is no. 1 chart topper. 1988 – Roy Orbison celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert, during which the audience sang happy birthday to him. 1991 Johnny Thunders dies from a drug overdose in New Orleans. The former New York Doll was 38. 1994 – Pink Floyd : The Division Bell : US LP is no. 1 chart topper. 2003 – Bruce Springsteen defends the beleagured Dixie Chicks, who suffered a backlash after criticizing George W. Bush. In a statement, he declares, “To me, they’re terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech." 2003 – Twisted Sister announce they are reforming to do a tour of military bases in Korea. 2003 – Former head Hole member Courtney Love places an ad in New York’s Village Voice looking for new band members. “We like Emily the Strange, Lolita Goth, Patty Schemel’s drumming, Nuggets and ‘Performance’ the Movie,” it reads. “We love Flea but don’t want you to play like him. We start NOW. NO BOYS.” 2004 – Green Day issue a statement to counter a widespread rumor that frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has died . “Despite what you may have heard rumored on the Internet,” the band say, “Billie Joe did not recently die in a car accident.” 2008 – Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was sentenced to three years probation after admitting to driving under the influence of alcohol. 2010 – Ozzy Osbourne will release Scream – his first album in almost three years and 10th studio album overall – June 15th via Epic Records. 2010 – Poison frontman Bret Michaels is in critical condition from a brain hemorrhage after being rushed to an undisclosed hospital after complaining of a severe headache.

Today in rock history 22nd April

1950 – Peter Frampton is born in Beckenham 1951 – Paul Carrack is born today in Sheffield, England. He has sung with Ace, Squeeze, and Mike & the Mechanics. 1963 – Gene Vincent’s recording contract with Capitol expires. His last recording is a remake of Be-Bop-A-Lula. 1965 – Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde LP released in the US. 1969 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney record “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” 1969 – John Lennon changes his middle name from Winston to Ono. 1969 In Dolton, England, the Who perform their rock opera Tommy live in its entirety for the first time. 1972 – Deep Purple: Machine Head UK LP is no. 1 chart topper. 1974 – Tina Turner starts filming in the role of Acid Queen in the Who’s film “Tommy.” 1978 – Johnny Thunders plays a surprise gig at London’s Speakeasy, backed by a band featuring Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones. 1979 Rolling Stones perform two benefit concerts for the blind in Toronto to fulfill terms of Keith Richard’s sentence for heroin trafficking. 1998 – It is announced that Faith No More has decided to break up. 1999 – Marilyn Manson releases a statement on the Columbine High School shootings. “It’s tragic and disgusting anytime young people’s lives are taken in an act of seneseless violence,” he says. “My condolences go out to the students and their families.” 2004 – It’s reported that U.S. Marines are blasting ‘s “Shoot to Thrill” at high volumes to drive Muslim insurgents from their homes in Iraq. 2004 – Metallica quashes an Internet rumor that James Hetfield committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. “Contrary to what you may have read on message boards,” say the band, “James Hetfield is alive and doing extremely well.” 2007 – Avril Lavigne went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her third album ‘The Best Damn Thing’, also a No.1 on the US chart. 2008 – WHITESNAKE‘s new album, “Good To Be Bad”, was released.

Brit Rock 23rd April

For the finest mainstream rock show available anywhere, go to www.dominicforbes.co.nr/ click on the Brit Rock section and choose a station 1. ACDC - Thunderstruck 2. Jeff Lynne - Every little thing 3. Gary Moore - Walkin' by myself 4. Extreme - Hole hearted 5. Billy Idol - Cradle of love 6. Faith No More - From out of nowhere 7. Fish - State of mind 8. Aerosmith - Janie's got a gun 9. Quireboys - Hey you 10. Black Crowes - Hard to handle 11. Bon Jovi - Blaze of glory 12. Scorpions - Send me an angel 13. Warrant - Cherry pie 14. Metallica - Hero of the day 15. Bush - Swallowed 16. Oasis - Live forever 17. Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate love song 18. Shawn Mullins - Lullaby 19. Van Helen - Humans being 20. Queen - Too much love will kill you 21. Bruce Springsteen - Secret garden 22. The Beatles - Free as a bird 23. Joan Osbourne - One of us 24. Pink Floyd - Wish you were here 24. Tom Petty - Yer so bad Hour three is an hour of acid rock 1. Blind Faith - Can't find my way home 2. The Byrds - Eight miles high 3. Traffic - Paper sun 4. Status Quo - Pictures of matchstick men 5. Matthews Southern Comfort - Woodstock 6. Deep Purple - Space trucking 7. Blue Oyster Cult - Don't fear the reaper 8. Black Sabbath - Iron man 9. Three Dog Night - Mama told me not to come 10. Procul Harum - Homburg 11. Donovan - Mellow yellow 12. Fifth Dimension - Aquarius/Let the sunshine in 13. Moody Blues - Nights in white satin 14. The Who - Happy Jack

Timesweep 23rd April

For the finest classic rock show available anywhere, go to www.dominicforbes.co.nr/ click on the Timesweep section and choose a station Part 1 1. Genesis - Paperlate 2. Rick Springfield - Don't talk to strangers 3. The Scorpions - No one like you 4. Peter Gabriel - Shock the monkey 5. Iron Maiden - Hallowed be thy name Part 2 1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I love rock & roll 2. Judas Priest - Another thing coming 3. Donald Fagen - I.G.Y 4. Rainbow - Stone cold 5. John Mellencamp - Hurts so good 6. Van Halen - Oh pretty woman Part 3 1. Alice Cooper - Billion dollar babies 2. Bob Dylan - Rainy day women 3. Deep Purple - Highway star Part 4 1. Badfinger - Baby blue 2. Tom Petty - Running down a dream 3. Van Halen - Why can't this be love Part 5 1. Iggy Pop - The passenger 2. Peter Frampton - Show me the way 3. Def Leppard - Hysteria 4. Judas Priest - Breaking the law Part 6 1. Faith No More - We care a lot 2. Ugly Kid Joe - Cats in the cradle 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have you ever seen the rain 4. Eric Clapton - Layla (unplugged) 5. Kiss - Cold gin 6. Kiss - Beth Part 7 1. Eric Clapton - motherless child 2. 3 Dog Night - Mama told me not to come 3. Quiet Riot - Mama we're all crazy now 4. Genesis - Mama Part 8 1. Steely Dabn - Reelin' in the years 2. Nickelback - How you remind me Part 9 1. Jackson Browne - Doctor my eyes 2. The Eagles - Lying eyes 3. Billy Idol - Eyes without a face 4. Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the sky Part 10 1. ZZ Top - Tush 2. Sum 41 - Fat lip 3. Georgia Satillites - Keep your hands to yourself 4. Bon Bovi - Lay your hands on me Part 11 1. Rod Stewart - Hot legs 2. Nick Cave - Into my arms 3. Golden Earring - Radar love

Today in rock history 21st April

1947 – Punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop (James Jewel Osterburg) is born 1959 – Robert Smith of the Cure is born in Sussex 1961 – The Beatles debut at the Cavern Club in Liverpool 1963- Beatles and Rolling Stones meet for the first time during a Rolling Stones performance at Crawdaddy Club. ‘We got all nervous’, says Bill Wyman, ‘but then we had a chat with them afterwards and stayed up all night rapping and became really good mates.’ 1967 – Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles completed the sessions for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The final recordings were a short section of gibberish and noise which would follow ‘A Day in the Life’, in the run-out groove. 1969 – Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band play London’s Royal Albert Hall. 1970 – Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spooky Tooth, Jackie Lomax, Elton John (making his solo concert debut) and Heavy Jelly all appeared at The Roundhouse, London, tickets cost 25 shillings. 1973 – Alice Cooper went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Billion Dollar Babies.’ Also a No.1 album in the UK. 1978 – Folk singer Sandy Denny dies at age 31 after falling down a flight of stairs. You can hear her on Led Zeppelin IV‘s “Battle of Evermore” and with her band Fairport Convention 1981 – A car crash in Seattle hospitalizes Eric Clapton with bruised ribs and a lacerated shin. 1982 – Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks, which resulted in The Clash cancelling a tour. He was found living rough in Paris. 1990 – Fleetwood Mac scored their fourth UK No.1 album with ‘Behind The Mask.’ 1990 – Paul McCartney played in front of 184,000 fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, creating a new world record for the largest crowd attending a rock concert. 1993 – Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann saves a young surfer from a California riptide. 1993 – Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman marries the 33-year-old Suzanne Accosta in the south of France. 1994 – Courtney Love turns in the shotgun Kurt Cobain used to kill himself to a guns-for-tickets trade-in program. 2001 – R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport for allegedly assaulting two crew members on an overnight flight from Seattle to London. 2004 – California rockers Hoobastank top the American singles chart with “The Reason.” 2005 – Onstage in Asbury Park, N.J., Bruce Springsteen takes a stand against hunger by donating all of the proceeds from a tour rehearsal show to World Hunger Year. 2007 – Doris Richards died of cancer. The 91-year-old mother of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards bought her son his first guitar for his 15th birthday.

Today in rock history 20th April

1966 – During a 12 hour session at Abbey Road studios in London The Beatles worked on a new John Lennon song ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’’, and a new George Harrison song ‘Taxman’. 1967 – During a UK tour, Pink Floyd appeared at the Queen’s Hall in Barnstable. 1968 – Deep Purple makes its live debut in Denmark. 1970 – Traffic, Mott The Hoople, If and Bronco all appeared at The Roundhouse, London, tickets, 25 shillings. 1971 – Born on this day, Mikey Welsh, bass, Weezer. 1985 – The charity record ‘We Are The World’ by USA For Africa was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. 1991 – Credence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty marries Julie Lebiedzinksi in Bristol, Ind. 1991 – Steve Marriott dies in a fire at his home in Essex, England. Age 44. He was a guitarist and lead singer for the rock bands Small Faces and Humble Pie. 1992 – ‘A Concert For Life’ took place at Wembley Stadium as a tribute to Queen singer Freddie Mercury and for aids awareness. 1996 – Tickets ranging in price from $27.50 – $85.00 go on sale for the KISS reunion tour. This marks the first time in 15 years that all four original members of the ’70’s rock group join together in original costume and face paint. 1999 – The “No Security” tour, the Rolling Stones’ first arena outing in 20 years wraps with a make-up date at the San Jose Arena in California. 2000 – Robert Plant appeared at Disney’s Theatre of the Stars in Orlando, Florida to leave his handprints outside the theatre. 2001 – A memorial concert for former Small Faces and Humble Pie front man Steve Marriott took place at the London Astoria with Peter Frampton, Midge Ure, Chris Farlowe and Humble Pie. 2002 – In the dispute over who owned the rights to Nirvana’s recordings former members Dave Grohl and Kirst Novoselic asked a Seattle Court to prove that Courtney Love was mentally stable. They told the court that Love was ‘irrational, mercurial, self-centered, unmanageable, inconsistent and unpredictable.’ 2012 – Bert Weedon, guitarist who wrote ‘Play in a Day’ died today at 91.

Today in rock history 19th April

1942 – Born on this day, Alan Price, keyboards, The Animals, 1947 – Born on this day, Mark Volman, The Turtles 1965 – The film T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show featuring The Rolling Stones, Supremes Four Tops, James Brown, The Beach Boys and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles opened in London, England under the title Teenage Command Performance. 1967 – Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdink and Cat Stevens, played two shows at The Odeon, Birmingham. 1968 – John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives left the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh, India two weeks before their study was complete. Ringo and Paul had already left. 1980 – Brian Johnson 32 year old singer with Geordie joined AC/DC replacing Bon Scott who had died after a drinks binge. 1990 – On this weeks BBC- TV’s ‘French and Saunders’ show, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Lemmy, Mark King (Level 42), and Gary Moore all appeared in a comedy courthouse sketch. The sketch ended with all the guitarists jamming together. 2000 – Phil Collins won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error but because the two musicians had no other income they would not have to pay it back. 2001 – David Lee Roth reveals that he briefly reunited with Van Halen in July and wrote some “astonishing” music. 2002 – The body of Layne Staley, singer of the grunge rock group Alice In Chains, is found by a relative in Staley’s North Seattle apartment. Staley had been missing for two weeks. 2003 – At their Montreal concert, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band are joined by Max Weinberg’s daughter Allie on keyboards. 2004 – Billy Corgan plays his first-ever solo acoustic show in his Chicago hometown at the Metro. 2012 - Levon Helm dies.