Today in rock history September 7th

1936 – Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holley) is born in Lubbock, Texas 1951 – Chrissie Hynde, the lead Pretender, is born in Akron, Ohio. 1954 – Benmont Tench, keyboardist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, is born in Gainesville, Fla. 1963 – The Rolling Stones’ first single, “Come On,” limps to No. 21. 1965 – Bob Dylan releases his single “Positively 4th Street.” 1968 – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham made their live debut as Led Zeppelin at Teen Club Box 45 in Gladsaxe in Denmark. 1968 – The Doors played the first of two nights at The Roundhouse in London 1971 – David Bowie started recording sessions at Trident Studios in London. This became the concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. 1973 – Elton John performs at the Hollywood Bowl, where he’s introduced by porn star Linda Lovelace. Linda “Deep Throat” Lovelace. She whips up the crowd by introducing the pianist as “the biggest, largest, most gigantic and fantastic man, the co-star of my next movie … Elton John.” 1975 – The Guess Who say good-bye – at least for this decade – with a final show in Montreal. 1976 – Paul McCartney, who earlier purchased rights to Buddy Holly’s song catalogue, commemorates Holly’s 40th Birthday with the inauguration of “Buddy Holly Week” in the U.K. 1978 – Keith Moon, drummer with The Who, died of a overdose of heminevrin prescribed to combat alcoholism. 1978 – Sid Vicious kicks off his solo career with a show at Max’s Kansas City in New York. 1987 – A Roger Waters-less Pink Floyd kick off their Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in Ottawa. Relations between Waters, who left the band in 1983, and the other three had reached such a state that the ex-bassist threatened to sue promoters if the band played under the Floyd name. 1992 – Roger Waters releases his solo album Amused to Death 1997 – The Beatles’ longtime press officer Derek Taylor dies of cancer at age 65. 2003 – Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon dies in Los Angeles. He is 56. 2005 – New York rock club CBGB is served with an eviction notice by their landlord. 2007 – A new study revealed that rock stars were twice as likely to die early as the rest of us. Researchers said that the problem was so bad the industry should be labeled a “high risk” profession. 2010 – Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was voted the greatest ‘lighter in the air song of all time’ by lighter company Zippo.

Today in rock history September 6th

1944 – Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is born in Cambridge 1961 – Bob Dylan makes his New York debut, playing at the Gaslight Café 1968 – Eric Clapton contributes a solo to the Beatles track “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” 1969 – David Bowie debuts on UK chart with ‘Space Oddity’ 1969 – Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” reaches its peak position of No. 7 on the singles chart 1970 – Hendrix, Cox and Mitchell play the Love and Peace Festival in Puttgarden, Germany. Hendrix then returns to London. 1971 – The Cranberries Dolores O’Riordan is born 1974 – Splinter’s The Place I Love album becomes the first release on George Harrison’s Dark Horse label 1975 – ‘Born to Run’ by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is released. The album garners critical raves, and Springsteen appears on the covers of both ‘Time’ and ‘Newsweek’ at the end of October. 1975 – Ritchie Blackmore’s new group Rainbow makes its chart debut with their self-titled LP. 1980 – Ginger Baker quits recently re-formed Atomic Rooster to join Hawkwind, which soon crumbles. 1986 – MTV simulcasts “The 1986 MTV Video Music Awards” live from New York and Los Angeles. Video of the Years goes to Dire Straits for “Money for Nothing.” 1989 – Neil Young had his video for “This Note’s for You” named Best Video of the Year by MTV at its sixth annual awards ceremony in 1989. The video was initially banned by the music video station because it mentioned corporate sponsors like Pepsi, which the song was putting down. 1990 – Guitarist Tom Fogerty dies of respiratory failure from tuberculosis. 1994 – Pianist Nicky Hopkins dies at age 50 in London. Following his performance on the Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, he became an in-demand session player, making appearances on albums by the Beatles, the Kinks, John Lennon, Rod Stewart, and even Spinal Tap. 1999 – Stone Temple Pilot Scott Weiland is sentenced to a year in jail for a probation violation. 2003 - Neil Young’s movie Greendale which is based on the concept album of the same name premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. 2006 – For the first time in 30 years, Bob Dylan tops The Chart Toppers 200 with “Modern Times.”

Today in rock history September 5th

1945 – Al Stewart, the soft-voiced singer who hit with “Year of the Cat” and once hired a young Tori Amos, is born in Glasgow, Scotland. 1946 – Freddie Mercury, lead singer with Queen, is born today in Zanzibar, Tanzania. 1965 – The Rolling Stones fly to Los Angeles. There they will record their No. 1 single “Get Off of My Cloud.” 1966 – John Lennon flies to Germany to begin filming How I Won the War with director Richard Lester. He begins to wear the granny glasses of his character, Pvt. Gripweed. 1970 – Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen album enters the charts. 1972 – At London’s Alexandra Palace you can see several avant-garde films by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. “Cold Turkey,” “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” “Give Peace a Chance,” “Instant Karma,” and “Up Your Leg” were all screened as part of the London Art Spectrum. 1981 – Bruce Springsteen joins the Pretenders onstage in Pasadena, Calif., to cover the Jackie Wilson classic “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.” 1990 – B.B. King receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 1992 – John Mellencamp marries model Elaine Irwin. It is the third marriage for the 40- year-old Indiana-born rocker and first for the 23-year-old model. 2000 – Oasis guitarist/songwriter Noel Gallagher splits with his wife, Meg Matthews, the inspiration for the song “Wonderwall.” 2003 – Greendale, the inscrutable Neil Young-directed film that accompanies Neil Young’s inscrutable concept album of the same name, premieres at the Toronto Film Festival. 2005 –Sheryl Crow announces she’s engaged to multiple Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. 2008 - Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart sent a cease-and-desist letter to John McCain’s campaign due to their usage of “Barracuda” in reference to McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin. The Wilson sisters didn’t have legal sending to send the letter due to the McCain campaign’s lawful purchase of rights to the song.

Today in rock history September 4th

1946 – Quicksilver Messenger Service see two members born today. In San Diego, it’s guitarist Gary Duncan. At the Coronado Naval Air Station in California, it’s drummer Greg Elmore. 1951 – Martin Chambers, the original drummer with the Pretenders, is born in Hereford, England. 1960 – Kim Thayil, guitarist for the Seattle-based grunge-group, Soundgarden, is born in Seattle, Wash. 1962 – The Beatles record “Love Me Do” at Abbey Road studios in London. 1964 – The Animals give their debut U.S. performance at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, N.Y. 1965 – The Who stop by London’s Battersea Dog’s Home to buy a guard dog. When they come out, the quartet discover that their equipment van has been stolen. 1968 – The Rolling Stones’ latest single, “Street Fighting Man,” is banned in Chicago, where the Democratic National Convention is being held, because of its political content. 1970 – George Harrison releases “My Sweet Lord.” The song becomes his first solo No. 1 single, but in 1976, it’s declared that he subconsciously plagiarized the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine.” 1971 – Paul McCartney tops the singles chart with “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.” 1980 – Yes sell out three nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This edition of the band boasts Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn, but no Jon Anderson. 1986 – Gregg Allman is arrested on charges of drunk driving in Florida. He had only recently gotten his license back after a five-year suspension. 1996 – In 1996, Cat Stevens signed copies of his first album in 18 years. Most of the album was spoken-word and was titled, The Life of the Last Prophet. 1997 – After performing during the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show in New York, Pat Smear publicly announces that he will no longer be the guitarist for the Foo Fighters, and introduces Franz Stahl as his replacement. 2003 – Nineties hit-makers the Spin Doctors (“Two Princes”) announce their reformation. 2008 – The first guitar torched on stage by Jimi Hendrix sold for £280,000 at an auction of rock memorabilia. The Fender Stratocaster was burned at the end of a show at the Astoria in Finsbury Park, north London, in 1967.

Today in rock history September 3rd

1942 – Beach Boy Al Jardine is born rather far from the surf in Lima, Ohio. 1945 – Steppenwolf bassist (’69 to’72 & ’74 to ’76), George Biondi, enters the world. 1947- Eric Bell from Thin Lizzy is born 1955 – Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones is born in London. 1970 – Al “Blind Owl” Wilson of Canned Heat dies in Topanga Canyon, Calif. 1970 – According to Rolling Stone Bob Dylan’s “Great White Wonder” bootleg has sold more than 350,000 copies. 1970 – In divorce proceedings between Marianne Faithfull and her husband, John Dunbar, Mick Jagger is cited as a reason for their marriage’s deterioration. 1977 – Heart hits #11 with “Barracuda” 1982 – The three day US Festival in San Bernardino, California, was held. Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, The Police, The Cars, Santana, The Grateful Dead, Eddie Money, Talking Heads, Tom Petty and others performed at the event organized by Apple Computers. 1989 – ‘Pump,’ the cornerstone album of Aerosmith’s post-sobriety renaissance, is released. 1999 – Bassist Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is arrested at a show in Raleigh, N.C., on charges of inciting a riot at a Greensboro concert in October 1997. Sixx is charged with felony rioting and three misdemeanor charges of inciting a riot, assault, and disorderly conduct. 2003 – The Rolling Stones celebrate a year of being on the road promoting their 40 Licks compilation with a gig in Glasgow, Scotland. 2005 – Judas Priest tours Latin America. Whitesnake is the opening act. 2008 – Metallica have just premiered the video for their single “The Day That Never Comes” on their MySpace page. 2008 – Great White is trying to settle the lawsuits they face over the deadly Station Nightclub fire and in the process have put a price on the lives of the fans that died in the blaze at $10,000. 2010 - Electric Light Orchestra cellist Mike Edwards was killed when a cylindrical hay bale weighing 1,300 pounds rolled and collided with the van he was driving. Edwards was 62 years old.

Today in rock history September 2nd

1951 – Born on this day, Mik Kaminski, violin, Electric Light Orchestra 1957 – Born on this day, Steve Porcaro, Keyboards, Toto 1965 – The Rolling Stones appear on British TV’s Ready Steady Go! Mick Jagger and Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham perform a skit in which they duet on Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe.” 1970 – Genesis run an advertisement for a drummer in the English magazine Melody Maker. Former child actor-turned-skins beater Phil Collins answers and convinces the band to hire him by revealing that he played bongos on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. 1971 – The Rolling Stones are reported to be suing their former managers Andrew Loog Oldham and Eric Easton. The band accuses the pair of withholding royalties from it during its time on the Decca record label. 1971 – Former Grateful Dead manager Lenny Hart is arrested and charged with embezzling $70,000 from the band. The same day, the band release their second live album, titled Grateful Dead. 1975 –Some 500 ticketless fans hoping to see Jefferson Starship and the Doobie Brothers storm the gates of Syracuse, N.Y.’s Great American Music Fair. Rocks and bottles are thrown, and 60 people are eventually arrested. 1978 – George Harrison marries Olivia Trinidad Arias, a secretary with his Dark Horse record label. 1987 – The Amnesty International Tour starts in London, starring Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Tracy Chapman. 1989 – The Cars’ Ric Ocasek marries supermodel Paulina Porizkova 1993 – At the MTV Video Music Awards, Neil Young joins Pearl Jam to perform “Rockin’ in the Free World.” 1995 – A seven-hour concert with dozens of stars, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan, caps the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. 2000 – Many fans leave a Def Leppard concert at the Oregon State Fair disappointed. The band was accused of playing too quietly, in order to obey local noise ordinances. 2003 – Punk legends the Clash receive a lifetime achievement award at the GQ Men of the Year awards in London. 2009 – Guy Babylon , keyboard player with the Elton John Band died of a heart attack while swimming in his pool at his home in Los Angeles, California.

Today in rock history September 1st

1953 – The Texas duo of Buddy Holly and Bob Montgomery auditioned for radio station KDAV’s Sunday Party 1955 – Bruce Foxton, bassist with the Jam, is born 1956 – 19 year old Jerry Lee Lewis arrived at Sun Records hoping for an audition, only to find that owner Sam Phillips was on vacation in Florida. 1967 – Boz Scaggs joins the Steve Miller Band on guitar. After recording two albums with the group, Scaggs left in 1968 1972 – David Bowie releases “John, I’m Only Dancing” in the U.K. 1973 – Born on this day, J.D. Fortune, (Jason Bennison) Canadian singer, INXS, winner of the 2005 CBS reality television series Rock Star: INXS. 1979 – U2 release their first record, the U2-3 EP 1979 – INXS makes its performance debut in Sydney, Australia. 1980 – Fleetwood Mac wrap up a nine-month tour at the Hollywood Bowl, with Lindsey Buckingham telling the audience, “This is our last show for a long time.” 1984 – Born on this day, Joseph Mark Trohman, guitarist, Fall Out Boy 1989 – U2 bassist Adam Clayton pleads guilty to a charge of marijuana possession, but an Irish judge lets him off the hook in return for a donation to a Dublin women’s centre. 1998 –David Bowie unveils his online community. 1998 – Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan is charged with assault and battery for allegedly hitting a security guard in the head with a microphone during a concert in August. The guard, Michael Kennedy, was trying to move an unruly fan from near the stage. 2003 – Heavily hyped Australian rockers Jet deny they’ve signed to Elektra for a whopping $3 million. 2004 – Former Libertines frontman Pete Doherty was given a suspended four month jail sentence after admitting possession of a flick knife. 2010 –Chickenfoot is four songs and “seven pieces of new music” into its second album, according to frontman Sammy Hagar.