Today in rock history 21st May

1943 – Born on this day, Vincent Crane, keyboards, The Crazy world of Arthur Brown

1943 – Born on this day, John Dalton, The Kinks

1943 - Hilton Valentine-guitarist for The Animals is born today

1955 – Born on this day, Stan Lynch, drums, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

1963 – The Beatles, recorded record two BBC radio programmes at the Playhouse Theatre in London.

1971 - Paul McCartney releases "Ram"

1971 – UK rock group Free announced that they were splitting up.

1973 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Frankenstein,” The Edgar Winter Group.

1979 – Elton John started a tour of Russia, the first Western star ever to do so.

1980 – Joe Strummer of the Clash is arrested at a Hamburg, West Germany, show after smashing his guitar over the head of an unruly audience member.

1980 - Bob Dylan performed his final gospel show in Dayton, OH. A second show there was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

1980 – Five Jimi Hendrix Gold discs were stolen from The Electric Ladyland studios in California.

1983 -  Def Leppard made their first and only appearance on American Bandstand where they performed “Photograph” & “Rock of Ages”.

1983 – David Bowie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Let’s Dance’, his second US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

1996 -  Styx and Kansas kicked off a three-month tour at the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids, IA. This was Styx’s first tour with their classic lineup in 13 years.

2000 – Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, and model Mary Forsberg, are wed in Los Angeles.

2001 – U2 lead singer Bono and his wife Ali welcome a new baby boy into their family.

2007 – Former singer with Creed, Scott Stapp was arrested at his Florida home and charged with assault. The 33-year-old was held without bail following the charges, which related to a domestic assault.

2008 -  Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler checked into Las Encinas Hospital rehabilitation clinic in Pasadena, CA to recover from multiple leg surgeries.

2013 - Trevor Bolder, bassist for Davie Bowie's Spiders From Mars before moving on to Uriah Heep, died of cancer at the age of 62.

Today in rock history 20th May

1944 – Joe Cocker (John Cocker) is born in Sheffield

1960 – The Silver Beetles consisting of John, Paul, George, Stu Stucliffe and Tommy Moore play their first tour

1966 – After waiting for John Entwistle and Keith Moon to show for a gig at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England, Roger Daltrey and Pete grab the drummer and bassist from their opening act and proceed to play the night. Keith and John finally arrive in the middle of the set. Harsh words and a fight proceeded until it ended with Pete hit Keith with his guitar.

1967 -  Jimi Hendrix signed a U.S. record deal with Reprise Records.

1968 - The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend married Karen Astley, daughter of composer Ted Astley. They would later separate in 1994 & divorce in 2000.

1968 – On returning from India, The Beatles tape 23 new songs on George Harrison’s 4 track

1969 – Led Zeppelin begins a 3 day recording session at A&R Studios

1970 – The last Beatles film, “Let It Be,” premieres in London.

1971 - Peter Cetera of Chicago lost four teeth when a gang of thugs at a Chicago Cubs baseball game beat the daylights out of him because of the length of his hair.

1977 – The stage show “Beatlemania” opens at the Winter Garden Theater, New York.

1979 – Elton John plays Leningrad and becomes the first Western solo pop star to tour the Soviet Union.

1995 – Don Henley married model Sharon Summerall. Guests included Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen.

1997 – U2 caused traffic chaos in Kansas City, Missouri after they paid for traffic control to close down five lanes so they could shoot the video for ‘Last Night On Earth’. Apart from major traffic jams a passing Cadillac crashed into a plate glass window trying to avoid a cameraman.

1998 – Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward takes ill and is hospitalized in London. Ward was to join the band for its first European tour since 1978.

1998 – Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is sentenced to six months in jail and three years’ probation for kicking his soon-to-be ex-wife, onetime “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson, as she holds their infant son. The verdict also specifies that Lee complete 200 hours of community service and donate $5,000 to a battered women’s shelter.

2001 – R.E.M. started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Reveal’.

2006 – Heavy metal monsters Lordi became Finland’s first ever Eurovision Song Contest winners after their song Hard Rock Hallelujah won in Athens.

2007 – Linkin Park went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Minutes To Midnight’ the bands fifth Top 20 UK album. Also a US No.1.

2007 -  Rush singer & bassist Geddy Lee made an appearance on Bob and Doug McKenzie Two-Four Anniversary special which aired in Canada. A short film of Bob and Doug would be shown as an intro to a song on their tour that year.

2013 – Ray Manzarek of The Doors died on this day.

2014 - Two former members of Heart, bassist Mark Andes and drummer Dennis Carmassi, launched a lawsuit against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for using their likenesses in promoting the 2013 induction ceremony even though they were not inducted.

Today in rock history 19th May

1945 – Pete Townshend, lead guitarist/songwriter of the Who, is born in London.

1947 – Greg Herbert of Blood Sweat & Tears is born

1947 - Steve Currie-bassist for T. Rex is born

1949 - Dusty Hill-bassist for ZZ Top born in Texas

1951 - Joey Ramone-singer for The Ramones is born

1954 - Phil Rudd-drummer for AC/DC is born

1960 – Alan Freed is indicted for accepting payola

1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Ticket to Ride,” The Beatles. It is the first Beatles single to feature Paul McCartney on lead guitar.

1976 - After falling asleep at the wheel, Keith Richards crashed his Bentley in Buckinghamshire, England. Police discovered cocaine & LSD in the car.

1979 – Eric Clapton marries George Harrison’s ex-wife, Patti Boyd. Harrison, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney are among the musicians who perform at the wedding reception.

1984 – On this day, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon has been on the American charts for 10 years solid.

1992 - Aerosmith donated $10,000 to MIT in Boston to fund an explicit exhibition of photographs & sculptures after the National Endowment for the Arts pulled support.

1996 -  Peter Frampton, The Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth made guest appearances on The Simpsons where they were on tour as part of a music festival that Homer Simpson joined as a carnival freak.

2000 – Folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary celebrate their 40th year together with a U.S. tour that kicks off with a three night stand in Las Vegas.

2000 – The Allman Brothers announce that founding guitarist Dickey Betts will not be a part of the veteran Southern rockers’ summer tour. In a statement, the band says, “sadly, there are creative differences.”

2000 – Three ex-members of the Dead Kennedys are awarded approximately $220,000 in damages after a San Francisco jury finds that band leader Jello Biafra (real name Eric Reed Boucher) failed to pay them back royalties or to promote their catalogue.

2004 – The Strokes play a homecoming show at New York’s Central Park, covering Guided By Voices’ “A Salty Salute.”

2010 – Radio Station, “Absolute Classic Rock” names, “Stairway to heaven” the UK’s favorite classic rock song.

2011 - Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler revealed he once had sex with a man during his wild youth.

2012 – Van Halen postpones over 30 concert dates in the US.

Today in rock history 18th May

1911 – Big Joe Turner is born in Kansas City, Mo. His shouting blues inspired rock singers like Elvis Presley and Little Richard.

1944 – Albert Hammond, who wrote the meteorologically misleading “It Never Rains in Southern California,” is born in London. He also wrote “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” for Starship with Diane Warren.

1949 – Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes is born in London.

1949 – William Wallace, Guess Who, is born

1963 – Bob Dylan duets with Joan Baez on “With God on Our Side” at the Monterey Folk Festival.

1963 – The Beatles begin their third U.K. tour supporting Roy Orbison. By the end of the 21-date tour, the fast-rising band was the headliner.

1964 -  The Animals recorded their rendition of “The House of the Rising Sun” in one take in London.

1964 – David Frost interviews Paul McCartney on the BBC show A Degree of Frost.

1965 – Here’s a Grammy Awards ceremony to remember. After Peter Sellers presents the Beatles with the Best Performance by a Vocal Group trophy, John Lennon leads the band in an a cappella rendition of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”

1966 – It’s Bruce Springsteen’s first day at a recording studio as the Castiles (of which the Boss is a member) cut their song “That’s What You Get.”

1968 – The Doors, the Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Country Joe & the Fish, and Taj Mahal all play the Northern California Folk Rock Festival.

1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Get Back,” The Beatles.

1972 – According to today’s New York Times, the Beatles have agreed to split the fortune they accrued in their partnership. Paul McCartney says they’ve come to this arrangement to free up the $17 million that was frozen as they sued one another.

1979 – Journey host The Midnight Special, with special guests the Jacksons and Herbie Hancock.

1982 – Joe Strummer reappears after fleeing the Clash and moving to Paris for a month. He claims his disappearance was due to exhaustion and doubts about his career.

1993 – Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS are given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2003 – Aussie rockers INXS play a gig at a Singapore restaurant to prove the country is safe despite the outbreak of the deadly SARS virus.

2005 – Dave Matthews Band top the album charts with Stand Up, while Weezer’s Make Believe debuts beneath the jam rockers at No. 2.

2011 – Roger Waters performs “The Wall Live” in London at the 02 Arena.! The show was sold out.

Today in rock history 17th May

1948 – Prog-rock drummer Bill Bruford is born in Sevenoaks

1958 - Paul Di’anno-original singer for Iron Maiden born in London today.

1963 – The Monterey Folk Festival opens with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Pete Seeger

1965 – Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor is born today in Mercer, Pa.

1967 – The Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back debuts at San Francisco’s Presidio Theatre.

1968 - Dave Abbruzzese-drummer for Pearl Jam is born

1968 – Wonderwall, a psychedelic film with soundtrack by George Harrison, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.

1969 – Chicago release their double debut album, Chicago Transit Authority.

1974 – ABC broadcasts the Elton John special Say Goodbye to Norma Jean and Other Things, during which the singer plays “Candle in the Wind” and “Rocket Man.”.

1975 – Elton John picks up a platinum disc for Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The album is the first to sell a million copies on its first day of release.

1975 – Mick Jagger needs 20 stitches in his hand after putting it through the window of a restaurant in Montauk, N.Y.

1978 – Lou Reed begins a week-long stand at New York’s Bottom Line club. The concerts are taped for his live album Take No Prisoners.

1980 – Drummer Peter Criss left Kiss and was replaced by Eric Carr

1981 – Appearing at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England, Whitesnake

1987 – A fire sweeps through Tom Petty’s Encino, Calif., mansion, causing a million dollars in damage

1989 – Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s first Sticky Fingers restaurant opened in London.

1989 – At the Cannes Film Festival, Roger Daltrey announces that he intends to pursue the study of Chinese medicine.

1990 – Nirvana played the last date of a North American tour at the Zoo in Boise, Idaho. This was Chad Channing’s final gig with the band.

1992 – A sore throat forces Phil Collins to abandon a Genesis gig in Tampa, Fla., after only two songs.

1999 -  Bruce Fairbairn, producer for artists such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, & Kiss, was found dead in his Vancouver home shortly after completing recording sessions for Yes’ album The Ladder. He was 49 years old.

2003 – Stone Temple Pilot singer Scott Weiland is arrested after police stop him for driving without lights shortly before midnight in L.A. Cocaine and heroin is found in his car.

2008 – Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty posted a two-minute clip of themselves playing with newborn mice on Youtube. The video showed Doherty and Winehouse in a bare room, making rambling comments, picking up the mice and talking to them.

2010 -  ZZ Top made a cameo appearance on Two and a Half Men appearing in a fantasy sequence.

2015 - George Harrison's Maton Mastersound guitar, used during the Beatles' live performances in the summer of 1963, sold for $485,000 by Julien's Auctions in New York.

Today in rock history 16th May

1946 – Born on this day, Robert Fripp, King Crimson,

1947 – Born on this day, Darrell Sweet, Nazareth

1964 – Born on this day, Boyd Tinsley, violinist, Dave Matthews Band,

1965 - Krist Novoselic-bassist for Nirvana is born this day in California

1966 -  Jeff Beck recorded “Beck’s Bolero” which would be the B-Side of his debut single “Hi Ho Silver Lining” at IBC Studios in London. The song was written by Jimmy Page who also played on the song along with John Paul Jones and Keith Moon.

1969 -  Pete Townshend spends the night in a New York City jail after assaulting a man who jumped onstage during a Who concert at The Filmore East. It turned out that this man was a plainclothes police officer trying to warn the audience that a fire had broken out, which Townshend wasn’t aware of.

1970 - Lead guitarist Randy Bachman quits The Guess Who. He would later form Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

 1984 - Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in Memphis, TN on charges of public intoxication on Beale Street. According to the police report, Osbourne was “staggering drunk”.

1986 – Guitarist Robert Fripp married one time punk singer Toyah

1986 – Caitlin O’Riordan of the Pogues marries Elvis Costello in Dublin, Ireland.

1987 – David Crosby married his long time girlfriend Jan Danceon

1998 - Keith Richards broke his ribs after falling off of a ladder in his library, which caused the Rolling Stones to reschedule several dates of their European tour in support of Bridges to Babylon.

1999 – Jean Davis, co-founder of the Glastonbury Festival dies of cancer. He is 60.

2010 - Ronnie James Dio passes away.

2011 – Celebrated rock band ‘TOTO’ will perform a rare concert at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Sunday 26th June, 2011.

2016 - Irish singer Sinead O'Connor was found safe two days after being reported as missing in Chicago.

Today in rock history 15th May

1948 – Brian Eno (Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno) is born in Suffolk,

1951 – Dennis Fredericksen (Toto) is born this day

1953 – Mike Oldfield is born in Reading.

1965 – The Byrds release their first single, “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Written by Bob Dylan.

1967 – Paul McCartney visits the Bag O’ Nails club in London to see Georgie Fame perform. The same night he meets Linda Eastman for the first time.

1968 – At a press conference, Paul McCartney and John Lennon say they’ve ended their association with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

1970 – In the new releases section of the local record store is the self-titled debut from the mighty Black Sabbath.

1970 – A Pink Floyd concert at London’s Crystal Palace is so loud it kills fish in a nearby lake.

1971 – Paul McCartney releases his album Ram.

1974 – Ahmet, son of Frank Zappa and bald MTV host, is born.

1974 – Bill Wyman releases the first solo album by a Rolling Stone, Monkey Grip.

1975 – Fleetwood Mac debut their new lineup in El Paso, Texas. It’s the first incarnation of the band that includes Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and John and Christine McVie.

1976 – Rolling Stones: Black and Blue US LP is the no. 1 chart topper

1980 – Sex Pistols film The Great Rock and Roll Swindle is released.

1981 – John Lydon with his band Public Image Ltd get booed offstage at New York’s Ritz Club. Lydon posed behind a screen while his band shadow synced to a tape.

1982 – Asia US LP by the band with the same name is the no. 1 chart topper

1994 – Singers Sting and Nancy Wilson receive honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

1995 – Stone Temple Pilot Scott Weiland is arrested in Pasadena, Calif., on charges of drug possession.

1997 – Rock winces as the Muzak company announces it will turn four Kiss songs into elevator-friendly instrumentals.

1997 – Courtney Love sold the Seattle mansion she shared with Kurt Cobain.

2000 – Free, one of the U.K.’s best-respected rock bands, is celebrated with the U.K. release of a five-CD box set.

2000 – Sweden’s King Carl XVI presents Isaac Stern and Bob Dylan each with the Polar Music Prize at Stockholm’s Berwaldhallen venue.

2001 – Megadeth release their tenth album The World Needs a Hero, their first on new label Sanctuary.

2003 – The Police’s former road manager, Kim Turner, dies of cancer. He was also the brother of Wishbone Ash founders Martin and Glenn Turner.

2004 – Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder plays a surprise five-song solo set at Seattle’s Showbox club, as part of a benefit concert that raised approximately $16,000 for the local chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

2004 – The Beastie Boys play a secret show for fans at London’s ICA to promote their new album To the 5 Boroughs.

2005 – Nine Inch Nails hit No.1 on the US album chart with “With Teeth”

2009 - Randy Bachman, a founding member of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaelle Jean in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The Order of Canada is the country's highest civilian honor and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement.