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Today in Rock (March 11)

• 1948 - George Kooymans (Golden Earring - guitar) was born.
• 1961 - Bruce Watson (Big Country) was born.
• 1961 - Mike Percy (Dead or Alive) was born.
• 1967 - “More of the Monkeys” prevents the Rolling Stone’s “Between the Buttons” from hitting #1 on the US charts.
• 1970 - Crosby, Stills, and Nash bear out Chicago and Led Zeppelin for the Best New Artist grammy.
• 1978 - Talking Hits (barely) hit the US singles chart for the first time with “Psycho Killer”, it reaches #92.
• 1983 - Styx launches their theatrical “Killroy was here” tour in San Diego.
• 1997 - Paul McCartney is knighted by QUeen Elizabeth II. Now we need to call him Sir.
• 2004 - Aerosmith launches a North AMerican tour to promote their “Honkin On Bobo” album. Cheap Trick open for them.
• 2004 - The Beatles chauffer, Alf Bicknell, died. He was the inspiration to their hit “Drive My Car”.
• 2008 - Kid Rock does a meet-and-greet at a Waffle House restaurant outside of Atlanta to raise money for the Nicholas House, a local homeless shelter. Rock faces misdemeanor charges resulting from an altercation months earlier at another Waffle House restaurant in Atlanta. “We just thought after that unfortunate incident we’d try to do something silly but something more positive,” explains Rock
• 2008 - The “Now That’s What I Call the 80’s” album is released. It features songs by David Bowie, Billy Joel, Heart, the Police, Bob Seger, the Steve Miller Band, and Whitesnake.

Today in Rock (March 10)

• 1947 - Tom Schultz (Boston - vocals, guitarist, electronics engineer) was born.
• 1963 - Jeff AMent (Pearl Jam) was born.
• 1968 - Cream plays San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. During the show they uncork Robert Johnson’s Blues classic “Crossroads.” This version lands on the group’s studio/live “Wheels Of Fire” album. With vocals (and guitar) by Eric Clapton it is one of his signature songs.
• 1977 - Having inked a deal with A&M Records the day before, the Sex Pistol reenact the signing in front of Buckingham Palace. Of course, the press is invited. Blood is spilled, a woman is assaulted and damage is done. A good day. A&M cancels the deal six days later.
• 1984 - Vocalist Ian Gillan leaves Black Sabbath to participate in a Deep Purple reunion.
• 1988 - Andy Gibb (BeeGees) died.
• 2006 - Former Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and the surviving members of Alice In Chains perform with Heart. The Atlantic City performances air on VH1’s “Decades Rock Live!”
• 2006 - The documentary Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey receives its U.S. premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival. Tracing the evolution or devolution of Heavy Metal, the film has appearances by Korn, Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Audioslave’s Tom Morello, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil, Steppenwolf’s John Kay, Alice Cooper and Rush’s Geddy Lee.
• 2008 - Billy Joel inducts John Mellencamp into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in New York. “I was fortunate enough to write a couple of songs that connected with people,” says the heartland singer. “People thought the songs were about them, and I want to thank those people.” The Ventures, Dave Clark Five and Madonna (?) are also inducted. Mellencamp joins Joan Jett, John Fogerty and Joel in a tribute to the DC5.

Today in Rock (March 9)

• 1970 - Black Sabbath plays their first gig in London.
• 1974 - Bad Company play their first concert in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
• 976 - Queen’s “A Night at the Opera” (featuring ‘39, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Prophet’s Song, I’m in Love With My Car) goes gold.
• 1977 - Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors becomes their second consecutive album to go platinum.
• 1977 - Having just left EMI Records only three months earlier, the Sex Pistols sign with A&M Records. Their advance is in excess of $250,000.
• 1987 - U2’s The Joshua Tree is was released.
• 1995 - Oasis make their US TV debut on the David Letterman Show.
• 2007 - Bradley Delp (Boston - vocals) died (suicide - carbon monoxide poisoning).
• 2008 - A documentary about Boston’s Brad Delp premieres on a Salem, MA, cable station marking the one-year anniversary of the singer’s suicide. Remembering Brad Delp . . . With a Little Help From His Friends has performance clips and interviews.

Today in Rock (March 5)

• 1948 - Eddie Grant (Electric Avenue) was born.
• 1952 - Alan Clark (Dire Straights - keyboard) was born.
• 1960 - Ft Dix (NJ) officially discharges Elvis Presley from the army after two years of service. (”Elvis was an artist, but that didn’t stop him from joining the service in time of war. That’s why he’s the King“. (Dogma)
• 1962 - Craig and Charie Reid (Proclaimers) were born.
• 1970 - John Anthony Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers - guitar) was born.
• 1982 - John Belushi died.
• 2005 - A charity cover of “Across The Universe” marks the first time in nine years that a John Lennon/Paul McCartney song lands on the Billboard Hot 100 (#22). The Beatles originally recorded the song in ’69 for the World Wildlife Fund and it appears on “Let It Be.” Bono, Velvet Revolver and other artists performed the song at the Grammys to raise funds for Tsunami Aid.

Today in Rock (March 4)

• 1948 - Chris Squire (Yes - bass) was born.
• 1950 - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top - guitar / vocal / harmonica / keyboard) was born.
• 1963 - Jason Newsteed (Metallica - bass) was born.
• 1966 - John Lennon’s notorious “We’re bigger than Jesus” comment is printed in a London newspaper. Fans protest and their records are burned and / or banned in the USA and South Africa.
• 1970 - Janice Joplin is fined $200 for “obscene language” at a Tampa, FL concert.
• 1971 - The Rolling Stones announce that they are moving to France for tax reasons.
• 1972 - Fergal Lawlor (Cranberries) was born.
• 1973 - Pink Floyd start a 3 week US tour to promote “Dark Side of the Moon”.
• 1993 - Pearl Jam wins Best New Band and singer Eddie Vedder nabs Best New Male Singer at Rolling Stone’s Music Awards. Meanwhile, the Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea (Michael Balzary) is voted Best Bassist in Rolling Stone’s Reader’s Picks.
• Aerosmith cancel several shows because Steven Tyler “seriously strains his vocal cords”.

Today in Rock (March 3)

• 1954 - John Lilley (Hooters - guitarist) was born.
• 1966 - Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay form Buffalo Springfield. They begin recording the next year.
• 1966 - The Rolling Stones begind recording on “Aftermath”. This album includes the hit “Paint it Black” (with Brian Jones in sitar).
• 1967 - The Jeff Beck group (with Rod Steward (vocals) and Ron Wood (bass) make their debut in London.
• 1971 - Elton John makes his first major London appearance at the Royal Albert Hall.
• 1973 - Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize” hits #1 in the UK.
• 1978 - Van Halen begin their first US tour in Chicago. They demand that M&M’s are available for them back stage - with all the brown ones taken out.
• 1984 - Nena’s “99 Red Balloons” hit #1 in the UK.
• 1994 - Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain is hospitalized in Rome after falling into a coma from taking valium and champagne.
• 1995 - Bill Berry (REM - drummer) goes in for surgery for a brain aneurysm. Due to this, he has to leave the band.
• 2006 - Axl Rose files a counterclaim in Los Angeles against his former Guns N’ Roses bandmate Slash to reaffirm his control of the band’s copyrights. The singer contends that Slash and ex-GN’R bassist Duff McKagan have filed “baseless lawsuits” against him. “Axl . . . has a responsibility to protect the Guns N’ Roses legacy and expose the truth,” says Rose’s lawyer.
• 2009 - The book, “John Lennon: The Essential Interviews” is released as a paperback.

Today in Rock (March 1)

• 1944 - Roger Daltrey (The Who - vocals) was born.
• 1952 - Already operating a recording studio, Memphis Recording Service, Sam Phillips starts Sun Records. The label launches the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.
• 1973 - The New York’s Joffrey Ballet performs “Deuce Coupe Ballet” consisting entirely of Beach Boys music. Good Vibrations? Not only are the Beach Boys passe at this point, the very thought of leaping around to “Be True To Your School” is truly embarrassing. But that didn’t stop others from setting Rock N’ Roll music to dance.
• 1982 - MTV launches its catchy “I Want My MTV” campaign. The effort builds public demand for cable systems to offer the channel. Pete Townshend, Mick Jagger and David Bowie verbalized the incessant demand. (”Too much is never enough” (Billy Idol)
• 1994 - Nirvana perform their last show in Munich, Germany.
• 1994 - Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” wins Best Rock Song at the 36th annual Grammy Awards in New York. Ozzy Osbourne nails the Best Metal Performance Grammy for “I Don’t Want To Change The World.” Bruce Springsteen, Steve Winwood and Bonnie Raitt perform a tribute to Cutis Mayfield.

Today in Rock (Feb 23)

• 1943 - George Harrison (Beatles - guitar) was born.
• 1947 - Lonnie Turner (Steve Miller Band - bass / vocals) was born.
• 1950 - George Thorogood (Bad to the Bone) was born.
• 1976 - The Eagles Greates Hits (1971-1975) officially goes platinum with one million sales. It continues on to be the top selling album of all time.
• 1982 - At the BRIT Awards in London, the Police are named Best British Group. A few hours later, on across the ocean, they earn a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance (“Don’t Stand So Close To Me”).
• 1992 - Kurt Kobain and Courtney Love married.
• 1998 - Virgin Records sues the Smashing Pumpkins claiming non-compliance with their contact. The label contends an album was due three months earlier. Meanwhile, the group is trying to get out of the deal.
• 1999 - The record industry certifies that “Garbage” and “Version 2.0” (both by Garbage) have sold one million and two million copies, respectively.
• 2006 - U2’s Bono is one of a 191 nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize. The singer’s efforts to cancel Third World debt make him a contender for the $1.3 million honor which is awarded later in the year. He didn’t win - but it’s an honor just to be nominated
• 2007 - Sammy Hager, serves as the grand marshal for the Stater Bros. 300 race at the California Speedway in Fontana, CA, the Red Rocker’s hometown. (I guess he really can’t drive 55?).
• 2009 - Comcast and U2 announce an agreement to present high-definition performances to subscribers. There’s HD footage from concert and promotional clips from throughout the band’s career.

Today in Rock (Feb 23)

Sorry I missed yesterday - work was busy.

• 1950 - Steve Priest (Sweet - bass) was born.
• 1950 - Brad Whitford (Aerosmith - guitar) was born.
• 1955 - Howard Jones (solo - Things Can Only Get Better) was born.
• 1962 - Michael Wilton (Queensryche - guitar) was born.
• 1972 - Elvis and Pricilla Presley seperate after four years of marriage. They had one child, Lisa-Marie.
• 1993 - Little Richard gets a Lifetime Achievement Award from NARAS (the Grammys). Richard grouses that he’s getting the award the night before the annual Grammy show rather than at the ceremony itself.
• 1995 - Melvin Franklin (The Temptations) died.
• 2000 - Carlos Santana picks up several Grammys for his comeback album, “Supernatural.” Elton John gets a Living Legend Award and says the whole awards thing is B.S. Elton gets it right
• 2009 - Ticketmaster reaches a settlement with the New Jersey Attorney General’s office regarding its controversial handling of sales of Bruce Springsteen concert tickets. As part of the deal, the company pays the state $350,000 in legal fees and promises, for one year, to stop automatically linking to its TicketsNow subsidiary, which re-sells ducats at inflated prices. Ticketmaster also offers restitution to Springsteen fans who had filed complaints about their difficulties buying tickets

Today in Rock (Feb 19)

• 1946 - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath - guitar) was born.
• 1949 - Mark Andes (Spin / Heart - bass) was born.
• 1957 - Falco (Rock Me Amadeus) was born.
• 1974 - In response to the Grammy Awards, Dick Clark launches the American Music Awards where the record buying public vote.
• 1974 - KISS makes their TV debut on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.
• 1980 - Bon Scott (AC/DC) died.
• 1994 - Green Day’s “Dookie” begins a two year stay on the U.S. album chart. The group’s third studio album rises to #2 and sells over 12 million copies.
• 2006 - Bon Jovi performs prior to the Daytona 500 stock car race at Florida’s legendary Daytona International Speedway. The band’s show is part of the Sprint Tribute to America, which honors men and women in the United States Armed Forces. “Bon Jovi is a great fit,” says Sprint Nextel executive Michael Robichaud.
• 2009 - Songs by Paul McCartney and Wings and Bob Seger are on track packs for Guitar Hero: World Tour. McCartney and Wings contribute “Junior’s Farm” and “Jet.” Seger is represented by “Her Strut” and “Old Time Rock and Roll.”
• 2009 - Electric Light Orchestra’s (ELO) bassist, Kelly Groucutt dies after suffering a heart attack.