Today in rock history 13th May

1941 – Joe Brown was that rarity – an English rock ‘n’ roll guitarist whose early singles influenced a young Paul McCartney. He is born today in Lincolnshire.

1945 – “Magic” Dick Salwitz of the J. Geils Band is born in New London, Conn.

1946 – Bassist Danny Klein of the J. Geils Band is born in New York City.

1950 – Danny Kirwan, guitarist and vocalist in early incarnations of Fleetwood Mac, is born.

1966 – Darius Carlos Rucker, lead singer of Hootie & The Blowfish, is born in Charleston, S.C.

1966 – The Kinks record “Sunny Afternoon.”

1966 – The Rolling Stones release the future No. 1 “Paint It Black.”

1970 – The Beatles documentary Let It Be premieres in New York.

1971 – Jefferson Airplane call a halt to recording their latest album after Grace Slick crashes her Mercedes in San Francisco.

1983 – Iron Maiden unleash Piece of Mind.

1985 – Bruce Springsteen marries actress Julianne Phillips in Lake Oswego, Ore. They divorce in 1989.

1993 – The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bette Midler and Barry White lend their voices to the season finale of the Fox animated comedy series “The Simpsons.”

2004 – Courtney Love pleads not guilty to assault charges, then holds a press conference in the Manhattan Criminal Court ladies restroom. She is alleged to have hit a fan over the head with a mic stand during a New York club show.

2004 – KISS’ Gene Simmons comes under fire from the Australian Muslim community after branding the Islamic culture “vile” in a Melbourne radio interview.

2007 – Brian May was under 24-hour security watch after a deranged man announced he was setting off to murder him – then disappeared. Police were hunting for a schizophrenic who left a letter behind at his home blaming the Queen guitarist for his illness. In it the man – said May was an “impostor” and that HE was the real rock star. He signed the letter “Brian May.”

2011 – Rolling Stone Magazine voted “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan as the best ever song.

Today in rock history 12th May

1942 – The great Ian Dury is born today

1946 – Born on this day, Ian McLagan, keyboards, Small Faces.

1948 – Steve Winwood is born in Birmingham

1950 – Billy Squier is born

1954 – Barry Borden, drummer, Molly Hatchet, is born

1958 – Born on this day, Eric Singer, drummer, Kiss.

1963 – When CBS refuses to let him play “Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues,” Bob Dylan storms off The Ed Sullivan Show.

1965 - The Rolling Stones record "Satisfaction" during a two day recording session at Chess Studios in Chicago.

1967 – Pink Floyd play London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, one of their first concerts to experiment with quadraphonic sound. The band composes a song for the Games for May event, which later becomes “See Emily Play.”

1970 – The Grateful Dead release Workingman’s Dead.

1971 – Mick Jagger and Bianca Perez-Mora marry in St. Tropez, France.

1979 – In San Francisco, Jefferson Starship play another free concert, this time introducing new singer Mickey Thomas.

1983 – Meat Loaf files for bankruptcy.

1990 – Former Eagles Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Timothy B. Schmit play together at a Los Angeles rock ‘n’ roll convention.

2000 – Thieves steal the gates to Liverpool's England’s Strawberry Fields. The children’s home inspired the John Lennon song. A scrap dealer later turns in the gates to the police.

2006 – Sum-41’s guitarist Dave “Brownsound” Baksh announces he is leaving the band to pursue a metal direction with his band Brown Brigade.

2008 – Neil Young gets a spider named after him. Jason Bond, a biologist at East Carolina University, named a newly discovered arachnid, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi.

2008 - Paul McCartney was granted a divorce from his second wife, Heather Mills. The settlement gave her a lump sum of 16.5 million pounds, together with assets of 7.8 million pounds, which included the properties she owned at the time. Paul was later quoted as saying "There'll be no more nagging, no more chaos, no more Heather... bliss. I have peace at last".

2010 – Rocker Scott Weiland refuses to feel bitter about his dismissal from Velvet Revolver, insisting he wishes his former band mates “all the best.” Weiland was kicked out of the group in April 2008 following a series of arguments with founders Slash, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan.

2011 – Lou Reed has just announced that he will release a live DVD of his historic performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago in 2009.

2011 – Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill married Victoria’s Secret model Lily Aldridge.

Today in rock history 11th May

1935 – Kit Lambert, who helped introduced the Who’s Pete Townshend to the mod phenomenon as the band’s manager, is born. He also produced albums like The Who Sell Out and Tommy.

1941 – Eric Burdon of The Animals is born in Tyneside,

1947 – Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks is born in Jacksonville, Fla.

1963 -The English music press is picking up on the Rolling Stones. In today’s New Record Mirror appears an article headlined “The Rolling Stones – Genuine R&B.”

1964 – The Rolling Stones are refused lunch at a hotel in Bristol, England, because they are not wearing jackets and ties.

1965 - The Byrds make their TV debut singing "Mr. Tambourine Man" on NBC's Hullabaloo.

1967 – The Beatles cut “Baby You’re a Rich Man” at Olympia Studios. It’s the first time they’ve recorded outside of Abbey Road.

1967 – Jimi Hendrix hits UK chart with The Wind cries Mary.

1970 – The Who release Live at Leeds. The Beatles release their single “The Long and Winding Road.” Both compete in the shops with the Woodstock soundtrack.

1972 – In a TV interview with Dick Cavett, John Lennon says he thinks the FBI is tapping his phone as part of a plan to have him deported from the U.S.

1974 – Backstage at Elvis’ L.A. Forum concert, the King meets rising combo Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant and Presley sing “Love Me” together.

1975 – Gregg Allman, a future Mr. Cher, appears on her TV variety show.

1977 – Iggy Pop releases ‘The Idiot’ and it hits #30 in the UK and #32 in the US. The album is produced by David Bowie.

1981 – Reggae star Bob Marley dies of cancer in a Miami hospital at the age of 36.

1995 – Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray reunite for a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan in Austin, Texas, the late blues guitarist’s hometown

1996 – During a Smashing Pumpkins concert at a Dublin rock club, a girl is crushed to death in the mosh pit.

2003 – Rock musician Noel Redding, best known for his stint as the bassist of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, is found dead at his home in Ireland of unknown causes. He is 57.

2005 – Nine Inch Nails’ With Teeth debuts at No. 1, and a rare smile cracks Trent Reznor’s face.

2008 - Rush’s original drummer John Rutsey died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack due to complications from diabetes. He was 55 years old.

2011 - Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall's daughter Elizabeth appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine.

Today in rock history 10th May

1944 – Dave Mason, who went from being a road manager for the Spencer Davis Group to guitarist with Traffic, is born.

1946 – Born on this day, Donovan.

1957 – Moron, I mean punk rocker Sid Vicious (John Simon Ritchie) is born in London.

1960 – The Silver Beetles audition for a spot supporting Billy Fury on This Day in Rock. The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore.

1960 – Bono (Paul Hewson) of U2 is born in Dublin, Ireland.

1963 – The Rolling Stones recorded ‘Come On’

1966 – A year after returning to her home state of Texas from San Francisco, Janis Joplin heads west again. She was summoned by Chet Helms, a friend who is now managing Big Brother & the Holding Company.

1967 – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards appear in court on charges of drug possession in Chichester, England. They plead not guilty and elect to go to trial. The same day, fellow Rolling Stone Brian Jones is arrested on charges of unlawful possession of drugs.

1968 – Jim Morrison of the Doors incites an audience riot during a Chicago concert, then escapes backstage as the crowd battles with police.

1969 – The Who debut the Tommy tour in Detroit Michigan

1969 – The Moody Blues started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘On The Threshold Of A Dream’

1970 – David Bowie won the Ivor Novello Award for “Space Oddity”

1974 – A party to celebrate the launch of Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label at Los Angeles’ Bel Air Hotel ends with the guests tossing food and chinaware at one another.

1985 – The Go-Go’s announce their breakup.

1986 – Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue marries actress Heather Locklear.

1994 – Linda McCartney unveils a line of frozen meatless dinners at a Chicago press conference.Yuk.

2000 – Courtney Love is among those participating in the Million Mom March on Washington, D.C. Love is campaigning on behalf of gun control.

2006 – Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is sentence to four years in jail after pleading guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter

2006 – Panic! at the Disco announce that bassist Brent Wilson is leaving the band. Later the rising emo group will claim Wilson never played a note on their hit album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.

2007 -  A tribute concert to former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett took place at the Barbican Centre in London. The concert featured performances from Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde, John Paul Jones, Nick Mason & Rick Wright.

2011 – Accept guitarist Herman Frank punctures a lung

2011 – The Cars release ‘Move like this’ on CD.

Today in rock history 9th May

1944 – Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco is born in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

1945 – Born on this day, Steve Katz, guitar, vocals, Blood Sweat & Tears,

1949 – Billy Joel is born in Hicksville, Long Island, N.Y.

1950 – Born on this day, Tom Petersson, bass, vocals, Cheap Trick

1963 – Paul McCartney meets Jane Asher after a Beatles’ Albert Hall gig.

1964 – Chuck Berry starts his first U.K. tour in London, supported by the Animals, Carl Perkins and the Nashville Teens.

1965 – During a UK tour Bob Dylan played the first of two sold out nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

1969 – Beatles guitarist George Harrison’s experimental album Electronic Sounds was released on Zapple records.

1970 – Guess Who: American Woman US 45 is no. 1 chart topper.

1973 – Mick Jagger makes official donation of $350,000 to aid victims of Nicaraguan earthquake, adding £150,000 of his own money to the receipts of Stones benefit concert at La Forum.

1974 – Bruce Springsteen’s performance at Boston’s Harvard Square Theatre prompts Jon Landau to say: ‘I have seen the future of rock and roll and his name is Bruce Springsteen.’

1974 -  Bachman-Turner Overdrive received their first Gold record for Bachman-Turner Overdrive II which contained the hit singles “Let It Ride” & “Takin’ Care of Business”.

1975 – Born on this day, Ryan ‘Nik’ Vikedal, drums, Nickelback.

1980 – Supertramp’s ‘The Logical Song’ won Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 25th Ivor Novello Awards held in London.

1987 – Starship: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now UK 45 is no. 1 chart topper!

1991 – Bill Wyman divorces his rather young bride, Mandy Smith.

1992 – Bruce Springsteen made his North American network television debut on Saturday Night Live.

1998 – Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page are musical guests on “Saturday Night Live.” The two perform their collaboration “Come To Me,” which borrows heavily from Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”

2004 – The No. 1 album is Guns N’ Roses’ Greatest Hits.

2016 - 67-year-old Ozzy Osbourne and his 63-year-old wife Sharon split up after more than 33 years of marriage. They later reunite.

Today in rock history 8th May

1940 – Ricky Nelson (Eric Hilliard Nelson) is born in Teaneck, N.J.

1943 – Paul Samwell-Smith (The Yardbirds) is born this day

1953 – Billy Burnette (Fleetwood Mac) is born

1953 – Alex Van Halen (Van Halen) is born this day

1968 – T. Rex debut on UK chart with Deborah.

1969 – John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr signed a business management contract with Allen Klein and his company ABKCO, but Paul McCartney refused to sign, continuing to let the Eastmans represent his interests.

1970 – The Let It Be album is released

1971 – Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers UK LP is no. 1 chart topper

1976 – BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Walker announced he was quitting the station after being told he must pretend to like The Bay City Rollers.

1976 – Rolling Stones’ Black and Blue hits UK LP chart.

1993 – Aerosmith’s “Get a Grip” enters The Chart Toppers 200 top pop album chart at No. 1., becoming the group’s highest-debuting album and highest-charting album ever.

1993 – Mark Knopfler received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

1996 – A Los Angeles judge ruled against Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson in their bid to keep Penthouse magazine from publishing still photos from an X-rated home movie that was stolen from their home.

1996 – Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has spousal battery charges refiled against him in Los Angeles. He had failed to finish a substance abuse counseling program, one of the conditions of the 1995 charges being dropped.

2005 – Bruce Springsteen was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Devils and Dust’ his 13th No.1 studio album.

2006 – A British judge rules that Apple Computers did not break an agreement with The Beatles – who own the Apple label – not to enter the music with their iPod and iTunes stores.

2006 – Eric Clapton kicked off a 12 date UK tour at the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland.

2006 – The Rolling Stones called off their forthcoming European tour after guitarist Keith Richards underwent emergency brain surgery. The 62 year-old guitarist suffered “mild concussion” when he fell out of a coconut tree on holiday in Fiji.

2009 - Jane’s Addiction kicked off their first tour with their original lineup in eighteen years in West Palm Beach, FL in a co-headlining tour with Nine Inch Nails.

Today in rock history 7th May

1946 – Bill Kreutzmann, drummer for the Grateful Dead is born

1946 - Jerry Nolan-drummer for The New York Dolls is born

1950 – Prairie Prince, drummer for The Tubes is born

1961 – Phil Campbell (Motorhead) is born

1964 – Chuck Berry’s No Particular Place to Go hits UK chart.

1967 – Jimi Hendrix played two shows at London’s Saville Theatre. Ringo Starr, Brian Jones and members of The Beach Boys and The Moody Blues were in the audience.

1967 – Bob Dylan gives his first interview since his 1966 motorcycle accident to the Daily News.

1970 – During a North American tour Pink Floyd appeared at Pauley Pavilion, at the University of California in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

1972 – Reginald Dwight changed his name by Deed poll to Elton Hercules John.

1977 – The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hotel California’, the groups fourth US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK.

1978 – David Bowie played the first of three nights on his Low / Heroes world tour at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.

1986 – John Mellencamp protests with farmers before the Farmers Home Administration office in Chillicothe, Mo.

1991 – At a Court in Macon, Georgia a local couple lose their case against Ozzy Osbourne. They claimed that their son was inspired to attempt suicide by Ozzy’s music.

1992 – A leather Jacket worn by John Lennon during 1960-1963, was sold at Christies, London, for £24,200.

1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.

1994 – Aerosmith played the first of seven nights at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, during their 245 date Get A Grip world tour.

1998 – Steve Perry leaves Journey a second time after the band decides to tour without the lead singer, who is suffering from back trouble.

2003 – London’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) formally cautions Pete Townshend for “accessing a Web site containing child abuse images” in 1999.

2003 – Fleetwood Mac kick off their tour in support of Say You Will in Columbus, Ohio.

2011 – AC/DC refuses to allow their songs for download.

2015 - Three of B.B. King's 11 surviving children lost a bid in a Las Vegas court to take control over their father's affairs after they said they suspect the 89-year-old Blues legend's manager of stealing his money and neglecting his medical care

2017 - The British publication The Sunday Times named 74-year-old Paul McCartney as the richest musician in the UK.