Today in rock history 6th May

1945 – Bob Seger is born in Dearborn, Mich.

1965 – In their Clearwater, Florida hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards work out opening riff of the song Satisfaction, following Richard’s purchase of a Gibson fuzz-box.

1967 – The Who’s Keith Moon gives an interview in which he advises, “To get your playing more forceful, hit the drums harder.”

1967 – Mark Williams Ryan, guitarist for Hootie & The Blowfish, is born in Silver Spring, Md.

1971 – Chris Shiflett is born on This Day in rock! He is the guitarist for the Foo Fighters.

1978 – Foreigner debut on UK chart with Feels Like the First Time.

1984 – Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson record “State of Shock.”

1993 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ home in Mississippi is raided by federal agents when it’s discovered the Killer has neglected to pay $1.6 million in taxes.

1997 – The first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is held in Cleveland. Among those inducted are Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Jackson 5, the Bee Gees, Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, the Young Rascals, and Parliament-Funkadelic (meaning George Clinton).

2000 – Hoosier native son John Mellencamp delivers the commencement address to the Indiana University senior class. John Mellencamp addresses Indiana University’s Class of 2000. “Take the pressure off yourself,” he says. “I’m not talking about being lazy. I’m talking about taking time for yourself and finding out who the hell you are.

2001 – Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and his wife Skylar welcome a baby boy into their family.

2004 – David Bowie cancels a scheduled concert in Miami after a local stagehand falls to his death at the James L. Knight Centre prior to the performance.

2004 – A sale at Christie’s in London became the most successful pop auction in the company’s history after Beatles memorabilia sold for a record £788,643. The auction included a leather collar worn by John Lennon which sold for £117,250.

2005 – Audioslave becomes the first U.S. rock act to perform a free outdoor concert in Cuba when the group performs at La Tribuna in Havana, which can accommodate as many as 1 million spectators.

2005 – US coffee shop chain Starbucks banned the sale of Bruce Springsteen’s latest album Devils and Dust over concerns about its adult content. The retailer – which stocked CDs at its branches in the US – said it would be promoting other albums instead.

2006 – W. Axl Rose announces on Eddie Trunk’s syndicated radio show that the long-awaited Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy will be released this fall.

2006 – Pink Floyd reaches the staggering plane of 1,500 weeks on the Chart Toppers charts with its record setting 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon.”

2009 - Donald "Ean" Evans, the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, died of cancer at the age of 48. He joined the band in 2001 following the passing of Leon Wilkeson and remained with them until his death.

Today in rock history 5th May

1948 – Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) is born this day

1963 – On a recommendation by George Harrison, Dick Rowe Head of A&R at Decca records, (and the man who turned down The Beatles), went to see The Rolling Stones play at Crawdaddy Club, London. The band were signed to the label within a week.

1965 – Alan Price announces he is leaving the Animals at the peak of their popularity. He is replaced by Dave Rowberry.

1968 – Buffalo Springfield disbands.

1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival releases their hit “Bad Moon Rising,”

1970 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “American Woman,” Guess Who.

1973 – David Bowie scored his first UK No.1 album when ‘Aladdin Sane’ started a five-week run at the top, featuring the single ‘Drive In Saturday’.

1973 – At Tampa Stadium in Florida, 56,800 Led Zeppelin fans see Led Zeppelin. The band grosses $309,000. At the time the show set a record for the largest paying crowd at an American rock concert.

1979 - 28 year old Suzi Quatro reached #5 on the Hot 100 with a duet with Chris Norman called "Stumblin' In".

1984 – Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr married Chrissie Hynde in a horse drawn carriage in Central Park, New York.

1986 – Ahmet Ertegun announces that Cleveland will be the site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1990 – A tribute concert to John Lennon organized by his widow Yoko Ono draws less than one-third of the expected 45,000 fans in Liverpool, England.

1990 – During a North American tour Nirvana appeared at the Einstein-A-Go-Go in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

1990 - Jason Bonham delights the guests at his wedding reception when he plays a five song set with his late father's band mates, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones.

1995 – Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler was arrested on a felony count of possession of heroin, as well as two misdemeanour drug charges.

1996 – Rage Against The Machine went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Evil Empire’.

1997 – Bruce Springsteen is awarded Sweden’s Polar Music Prize. It’s considered the musical equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

2002 – Two disc jockeys from Denver’s KRFX-FM, Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax, stopped a live radio interview with Detroit rocker Ted Nugent after he used derogatory racial terms for Asians and Blacks. The station received dozens of complaints.

2005 – Bruce Springsteen tops the U.S. album charts with Devils & Dust, a largely acoustic offering not featuring his E Street Band.

2013 - Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant obtained a temporary restraining order against an overzealous female fan he alleged was a threat to his safety. Plant said that the woman had been harassing him for over three years and believed that they are in a relationship, even though Plant insists the pair has never met.

Today in rock history 4th May

1942 – Born on this day, Ronnie Bond, The Troggs.

1945 -  Born on this day, Georg Wadenius, Blood Sweat & Tears.

1949 – Born on this day, Zal Cleminson, guitar, Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

1951 – Born on this day, Mick Mars (real name Bob Deal), Motley Crue.

1951 – Born on this day, Bruce Day, Santana.

1967 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV’s Top Of The Pops’.

1970 – Four students at Kent University were killed and eleven wounded by National Guard troops at a campus demonstration protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War. The incident inspired Neil Young to compose ‘Ohio’ which became a hit for Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

1972 – Born on this day, Mike Dirnt, bass, Green Day

1973 – Led Zeppelin opened their 1973 North American tour, which was billed as the ‘biggest and most profitable rock & roll tour in the history of the United States’. The group would gross over $3 million from the dates, flying between gigs in ‘The Starship’ a Boeing 720 passenger jet, complete with bar, shower room, TV and video in a 30′ lounge and a white fur bedroom.

1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Hotel California,” The Eagles.

1989 – Stevie Ray Vaughan set out on what would be his last ever tour at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia.

1996 – Alanis Morissette started a six-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Jagged Little Pill’.

1997 – Courtney Love placed an advert in The Seattle Times selling the house she had shared with Kurt Cobain. The five bedroom four bathroom house was on the market for $3m. The carriage house where Kurt Cobain died had been knocked down during refurbishment.

2003 – Modern rock act Third Eye Blind portrays veteran U.K. rock act the Kinks on an episode of the NBC series “American Dreams.”

2004 - Ex-Guns N’ Roses members Slash & Duff McKagen sue Axl Rose for $1 million, alleging that Rose turned down multiple offers to use Guns N’ Roses music on movie soundtracks without consulting them.

2006 – Pearl Jam sticks around after taping a song for CBS’ “The Late Show With David Letterman to play a 10-song set inside New York’s Ed Sullivan Theatre exclusively for members of its fan club.

2012 – Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys dies.

2016 - Little Richard's attorney told Rolling Stone that on-line reports of his client's declining health were untrue and that the 83-year-old Rock 'n' Roll pioneer was still healthy and active.

Today in rock history 3rd May

1944 – Born on this day, Pete Staples, The Troggs.

1953 – Born on this day, Bruce Hall, REO Speedwagon.

1965 - The Beatles spent the day filming for their forthcoming film ‘Help!’ on Salisbury Plain with the British Army’s Third Tank Division.

1968 – Jimi Hendrix laid down ‘Voodoo Chile’ for the ‘Electric Ladyland’ album.

1969 - Jimi Hendrix was arrested on drug charges at Toronto International Airport. He’s later released after posting $10,000 bail.

1971 - Grand Funk Railroad held a press conference at New York’s Gotham Hotel, where only six reporters show up, despite the band’s success at the time.

1972 – Born on this day, Josey Scott, lead singer, Saliva.

1975 – Chicago started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Chicago VIII’, the groups third US No.1.

1976 – David Bowie played the first of six sold out nights at Wembley, his first UK gig in three years.

1978 – The first date of a 12-date UK tour by The Climax Blues Band supported by Dire Straits.

1991 - Texas Governor Ann Richards declares ZZ Top Day.

2000 – Metallica delivers over 60,000 pages of information to Napster’s San Mateo, Calif., offices, listing more than 1.4 million copyright violations of 95 Metallica songs

2004 – US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by two musicians who claimed they were owed royalties from Ozzy Osbourne. Bassist Robert Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake had fought a long-running battle since 1997 with the Osbourne family claiming they were entitled to money from the albums ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ and ‘Diary of a Madman.’

2006 – “Baywatch” actress Donna D’Errico files for divorce from Motley Crue’s bassist Nikki Sixx, citing irreconcilable differences.

2011 – Steven Tyler from Aerosmith admitted that his addiction to drugs was so drastic that he hid cocaine in a drum on stage to take a fix during shows.

2012 - Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shavell narrowly avoided a potential deadly helicopter crash when their pilot became disoriented during a flight in bad weather and missed some trees by just two feet.

Today in rock history 2nd May

1944 – Born on this day, Bob Henrit, drums, Argent

1945 – Goldy McJohn (Steppenwolf) is born this day

1950 – Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm is born in Rochester, N.Y.

1954 – Prescott Niles (The Knack) is born this day

1957 – Elvis Presley records Jailhouse Rock at MGM, Culver City, California.

1963 – The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘From Me To You’, the group’s first No.1 and the first of eleven consecutive No.1’s.

1964 – The Rolling Stones self-titled debut album started a 12-week run at No.1 on the UK charts. The album spent a total of 51 weeks on the UK chart.

1965 – Although he swore he would never allow the band to appear on his show again, Ed Sullivan plays host to the Rolling Stones for a second time.

1969 – The Who gave a press preview of their new rock opera ‘Tommy’ at Ronnie Scott’s in London

1969 – The Beatles recorded a re-make of the new George Harrison song ‘Something’ at Abbey Road Studios.

1969 – Pink Floyd record another concert for their Ummagumma album, this time at the Chamber in Commerce in Manchester

1972 – Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.

1972 – Les Harvey, guitarist with soul/rockers Stone the Crows, is electrocuted after touching a faulty microphone onstage in Swansea

1979 – The Who play their first gig since the death of Keith Moon at Rainbow Theatre, with Kenny Jones on drums.

1980 – South Africa bans Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Part II,” claiming the song is “prejudicial to the safety of the state.”

1991 – Appearing at The Marquee Club, London, Extreme.

1991 – Nirvana booked into Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California for 16 days,on a budget of $65,000 and with Butch Vig producing.

1992 – UK duo Nirvana filed a suit against the American band of the same name claiming that they had been using the name since 1968.

2000 – Metallica chat online with fans about their Napster woes.

2003 – Kings Of Leon played their first ever UK date when they appeared at The Empress Ballroom in Blackpool.

2004 – Total Guitar magazine’s readers voted Guns N’ Roses’ anthem ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ as the greatest guitar riff ever ahead of Nirvana’s grunge anthem ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.

2005 – Eric Clapton joined former Cream members drummer Ginger Baker and bass player Jack Bruce for the first of four nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

2006 – Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was released from hospital in New Zealand after the 62 year-old suffered “mild concussion” when he fell out of a coconut tree

2008 – Chad Kroeger was banned from driving for a year after being convicted of drink-driving in the Canadian city of Vancouver.

2009 – Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed with other Beatles tourists during a minibus tour to John Lennon’s childhood home.

2013 - Jeff Hanneman from the band “Slayer” died today.

2017 - Lawyers for The Eagles sought an injunction against a Mexican hotel using the name Hotel California.

Today in rock history 1st May

1956 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Heartbreak Hotel,” Elvis Presley. The song is Presley’s first No. 1 single.

1957 – Steve Farris, Mr Mister, is born

1966 – The Beatles play their last show for a paying audience in Britain at the NME Poll Winners’ Party.

1966 – Born on this day, Johnny Colt, The Black Crowes.

1968 – Born on this day, D’arcy Wretsky-Brown, bass, Smashing Pumpkins,

1969 – Jimi Hendrix is busted for narcotics possession at Toronto Airport. He is released on $10,000 bail.

1969 – Neil Young releases Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.

1969 – Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash videotape a special to appear on ABC. They play Dylan’s “I Threw It All Away,” “Living the Blues,” and “Girl From the North Country.”

1970 – In New York, Bob Dylan records with George Harrison. The two mess around on the Beatles’ “Yesterday,” Dylan’s “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” and “Da Doo Ron Ron.”

1973 – Bachman-Turner Overdrive release their self-titled debut album.

1975 – In one of their best-ever publicity stunts, the Rolling Stones announce their Tour of the Americas by playing “Brown Sugar” on the back of a flatbed truck driving down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue.

1977 – The Clash begin their first tour of England at London’s Roxy.

1984 – Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac files for bankruptcy.

1993 – Supermodel Naomi Campbell announces her engagement to U2 bassist Adam Clayton.

1998 – Columbia Records presents Jeff Buckley’s posthumous set, “Sketches for `My Sweetheart, The Drunk,’” in its entirety during an online listening session.

1999 – An exhibition of Paul McCartney’s paintings, including a portrait of David Bowie, opens in Siegen, Germany.

2000 - Neil Young was sued for $1.8 million by Jimmy McDonough, a writer who claimed that Young had blocked the publication of an authorized biography that he spent several years working on.

2001 – “Touring Band 2000,” the first full-length DVD featuring Pearl Jam, is released. The three-hour disc features 28 live songs filmed in various cities during the band’s 2000 U.S. tour.

2005 – Nine Inch Nails close the Coachella Festival in California. Other performers during the day included New Order, The Bravery and Mos Def.

2005 – Bruce Springsteen’s Devils & Dust tops the U.K. album chart in its first week of release.

2005 – Matchbox 20 singer Rob Thomas went to No.1 on the US album chart with his first solo album ‘Something To Be.’ T

2009 – A Queen fan won a private two-hour guitar lesson with Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil’s Children Trust, of which May is a patron.

Today in rock history April 30th

1948 - Wayne Kramer-guitarist for MC5 born today.

1965 – The Kinks begin their first U.K. tour.

1970 – Twiggs Lyndon, road manager with the Allman Brothers, is arrested on charges of murder after stabbing a club manager over alleged breach of contract.

1976 – The alleged date of a great Keith Moon story. The Who drummer reportedly pays several New York cab drivers $100 each. All they have to do is block either end of the block of his hotel. He then proceeds to empty his hotel room of its contents onto the empty street below.

1977 – Led Zeppelin play the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. The audience of 77,229 sets a new record for attendance at a single-act concert.

1980 – The film “McVicar,” starring Roger Daltrey and Adam Faith, premieres.

1983 – The original Manfred Mann, reunites for a London concert.

1983 - Muddy Waters dies

1988 – Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon drops out of the Billboard 200 chart for the first time in 725 weeks. It would be back.

1999 – Darrell Sweet, the drummer for Scottish rock group Nazareth, suffers a fatal heart attack as the band arrives at an amphitheater in New Albany, Ind., to begin the second leg of its U.S. tour. He is 51.

2002 - The Who’s Roger Daltrey made a guest appearance on the 100th episode of That 70’s Show as music teacher Mr. Wilkinson

2003 – AC/DC wannabes The Datsuns win Album of the Year, Export Gold Best Group, Outstanding International Achievement and Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards.

2004 – Courtney Love enters a formal plea of “not guilty” to two charges of felony drug possession in Los Angeles after turning up an hour late for her court appearance.

2005 – The Dave Matthews Band agreed to pay $200,000 (£105,000) after their tour bus dumped human waste on a boatload of tourists in Chicago in August 2004.

2008 – A giant inflatable pig which floated away during a Roger Waters concert was recovered in tatters in California. Two families from La Quinta who found what was left of the inflatable, decided to share four life tickets to the Coachella festival that were offered as part of the reward.

2015 - John Fogerty paid a visit to The Late Show With David Letterman during a week-long farewell to the legendary host who was set to retire on May 20th.