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Today in Rock (June 2)

• 1941 - Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones - drummer) was born.
• 1955 - Michael Steele (Bangles - bass) was born.
• 1964 - The Rolling Stones make their US debut on the Les Crane show and have a concert in Lynn, Mass as part of a multi-band show.
• 1967 - David Bowie releases his debut album.
• 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono conclude their eight-day bed-in for peace in Montreal. The protest draws the world’s attention but is generally dismissed as another “wacky Lennon/Ono stunt.”
• 1973 - John Bonham gets into an argument with Bill Graham during a San Francisco show. Bonham ends up dumping a bucket of water over Graham’s head.
• 1973 - Paul McCartney’s “My Love’ is released. Despite the credits stating “McCartney & Wings” Paul writes, produces, plays bass, piano, and vocals. (One man band?).
• 1993 - U2 re-signs with Island records for “somewhere betweeen $50 and $200 million”.
• 2006 - The Grateful Dead’s last keyboard player, Vince Welnick, dies in Forestville, CA. Suicide is listed as the cause. He joined the Dead in ‘90 and stayed to the end (‘95). Here’s the weird part. Welnick is the fourth Dead keyboardist to die prematurely. The other three are Rod “Pigpen” McKernan (‘73), Keith Godchaux (‘80) and Brent Mydland (‘90). Welnick was 55.

Today’s hint.

“Marcy D’Arcy”

Married With Children? Marcy’s second husband’s name was Jefferson D’Arcy (yes, he took her name).

Today in Rock (June 1)

• 1947 - Ron Wood (Rolling Stones, The Jeff Beck Group, Faces - bass) was born.
• 1950 - Graham Russell (Air Supply) was born.
• 1960 - Simon Gallup (The Cure) was born.
• 1963 - ALan Wilder (Depeche Mode) was born.
• 1963 - Mike Joyce (Smiths - drummer) was born.
• 1967 - “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Harts Club Band” was released in the UK.
• 1972 - The Eagle’s self titled debut album is released. It contains the hit “Take It Easy”.
• 1974 - Alanis Morissette was born.
• 1975 - Ron Wood performs for the first time with the Rolling Stones. Nice birthday present?
• 1991 - David Ruffin (Temptations) died.
• 1991 - Queensryche’s first “pop” hit, “Silent Lucidity” hits #9 on the US charts.
• 2004 - Bono (U2) speaks to European Union development ministers at Dublin Castle about living up to foreign aid commitments and combating the spread of AIDS in Africa.
• 2009 - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr make a surprise appearance at the E3 electronics-industry expo in L.A. to mark the unveiling of The Beatles: Rock Band. The video game goes on sale a few months later.

Today in Rock (May 28)

• 1917 - Papa John Creech (Starship) was born.
• 1945 - John Fogerty (CCR - signer, songwriter, guitar) was born.
• 1962 - Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals) was born.
• 1946 - Marianne Faithful records her debut “As Tears Go By”. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards but the recording also features Jimmy Page on guitar and John Paul Jones on bass.
• 1969 - Mick Jagger and then-girlfriend Marianne Faithful (see above) get arrested at Mick’s London home on possession of marijuana charges
• 1977 - Bruce Springsteen and former manager Mike Appel settle. Their legal wrangling kept Springsteen out of the studio for nearly a year. Never sign a management contract on the hood of a car or without your lawyer present. “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” is Springsteen’s next effort.
• 1977 - One of Heart’s biggest hits, Barracuda, was released.
• 1986 - Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock” album, featuring the title track and “American Storm,” is certified platinum.

Today in Rock (May 27)

• 1948 - Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship) was born.
• 1957 - Susan Ballion (a.k.a. Sioxsie from Siouxsie and the Banshees) was born.
• 1957 - Eddie Harsch (The Black Crowes - keyboard) was born.
• 1966 - Sean Kinney (Alice in Chains - drummer) was born.
• 1977 - British radio bans the Sex Pistols’ “God Save The Queen.” It goes to the top of the charts anyway.
• 1980 - During a performance taped for Italian TV David Lee Roth vaults off drummer Alex Van Halen’s drum riser and right into some low hanging lights. The Van Halen frontman suffers a fractured nose and multiple contusions
• 1993 - The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ greates hits album, “What Hits!?” is certified platinum.
• 1994 - The Eagles embark on their Hell Freezes Over Tour. The title is a reference to a prior Don Henley quote regarding the prospects of an Eagles reunion. Apparently, Henley misspoke.
• 2003 - Led Zeppelin’s definitive live CD “How The West Was Won” is released. It was recorded during the California portion of their 1973 North American tour.
• 2006 - Bruce Springsteen’s U.S. tour in support of his album “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions” launches in Boston. The Boss takes along a 17-member backing band to do justice to the songs of the legendary Folk singer Pete Seeger.
• 2007 - The Police play a special show for fan club members at General Motors Place in Vancouver, Canada, a day prior to the launch of their world tour (also in Vancouver).
• 2008 - Bono’s (U2) humanitarian efforts earn him an honorary doctorate from Tokyo’s Keio University.
• 2008 - John Lennon’s estate backs a joint initiative between Ben & Jerry’s and Peace One Day to promote the nonprofit organization’s Peace Day event on September 21st. The partnership announcement in New York is highlighted by a re-creation of Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘69 Montreal “bed-in” event to promote the ice-cream company’s Lennon-themed flavor –Imagine Whirled Peace

American Idiots

Today’s American Idiots featured songs based on Tiger Woods’ “habits”. Kelly went first and I thought she had it until Toast sung his. It was a very close call between the two but in the end, I think Kelly came out ahead. Here’s how I ranked them:

1. Kelly Craig - Can’t Buy Me Love
2. Toast - Paint it Black
3. OMG Mike - The Power of Love
4. Paul - Eleanore Rigby (Yes Paul, you were way off though part of the song)
5. “Young” Ron Brewer - Come Together

Today in Rock (May 26)

• 1942 - Levon Helm (The Band - drums) was born.
• 1945 - Gary Peterson (Guess Who) was born.
• 1948 - Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac - vocals) was born.
• 1964 - Lenny Kravitz was born.
• 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their eight-day bed-in for peace at Montreal’s Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel (Suite 1742). During their stay, the couple is interviewed by journalists from around the world and the song “Give Peace A Chance” is recorded (on 6/1).
• 1973 - Deep Purple release “Smoke on the Water”.
• 1994 - Lisa Marie Presley (Elvis’ only child) marries Michael Jackson. It lasts less than 2 years.
• 2004 - Rush start their 30th anniversary tour in Nashville, TN.
• 2005 - Nine Inch Nails leader, Trent Reznor, pulls his band from the MTV Movie Awards over the stage’s design. “We were set to perform ‘The Hand That Feeds’ with an unmolested straightforward image of George W. Bush as the backdrop,” says Reznor. Not wanting to get political MTV vetoes the idea. “Apparently, the image of our president is as offensive to MTV as it is to me,” concludes Reznor.
• 2008 - Paul McCartney receives an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Yale University in New Haven, during the school’s ’08 commencement ceremony. A Yale band plays “Hey Jude” as McCartney is presented with the doctorate

Today in Rock (May 25)

• 1926 - Miles Davis was born.
• 1948 - Klaus Meine (Scorpions - vocals) was born.
• 1965 - The Kinks cancels the rest of their UK tour after Dave Davies (guitar) was knocked unconscious when he smashed into one of Mick Avory’s cymbals during a London concert.
• 1969 - Glen Drover (Megadeth - guitar) was born.
• 1978 - The Who perform a second concert in London as part of the documentary movie on the band`s history, “The Kids Are Alright.” It is Keith Moon`s last performance with the group.
• 2000 - Eddie Van Halen undergoes tests in a Houston hospital. They deny that Eddit has cancer but tests prove different.
• 2004 - Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) helps honor the Chicago area Neuqua Valley High School`s music program when he presents the school with a special honor from the Grammy Foundation. He also performs and fields questions from students during the ceremony.
• 2006 - The Steve Miller Band hit the road in Sonona, CA, to promote the reissue of their “Fly Like An Eagle” album. It’s the record’s 30th anniversary.
• 2006 - Kinks leader Ray Davies and Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson are honored at the United Kingdom’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, held in London. Davies nabs the Outstanding Contribution to British Music honor, while Anderson receives the International Achievement trophy.
• 2006 - Queen, Def Leppard, KISS and Judas Priest are recognized for their musical achievements at the inaugural VH1 Rock Honors in Las Vegas. Members of Queen perform with the Foo Fighters and Godsmack plays a four-song medley of Judas Priest tunes. A one-off supergroup featuring Velvet Revolver’s Slash and Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee pay musical tribute to KISS. The show airs six days later
• 2007 - The Doors exhibit opens at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. On display are Ray Manzarek’s Vox Continental keyboard and a Jim Morrison poem, “Ode To L.A. While Thinking Of Brian Jones, Deceased.”
• 2010 - The self-titled Stone Temple Pilots comeback album is out. “(Guitarist) Dean (DeLeo) really stepped up,” says frontman Scott Weiland. “His playing is amazing.” The 12 track album is the band’s first studio effort since ’01’s “Shangri-La Dee Da.” It features the #1 single (on Rock and Alternative charts) “Between The Lines.”
• 2010 - The first EP from the Smashing Pumpkins 44-song “Teargarden By Kaleidyscope”– “Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor” — is available as a digital download but there’s also a limited edition physical release packaged in a silk screened wooden box

Today in Rock (May 24)

• 1941 - Robert Zimmerman (a.k.a. Bob Dylan) was born.
• 1944 - Patti LaBelle was born.
• 1947 - Albert Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult - drums and cowbell) was born.
• 1969 - Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes - guitar) was born.
• 1974 - Duke Ellington died.
• 1991 - Gene Clark (Byrds - drums / vocals) died.
• 1994 - Poison lead singer Bret Michaels crashes his Ferrari into a Burbank telephone pole. He suffers multiple injuries.
• 1999 - David Bowie broadcasts the sessions for the song “What’s Really Happening” over the Internet. The song is co-written by Alex Grant, the winner of a songwriting contest
• 2003 - Paul McCartney plays a show in Moscow’s Red Square. Yes, he performs “Back In The U.S.S.R” even though the U.S.S.R. no longer exists.
• 2006 - Bob Dylan’s American Journey 1956-1966 officially opens at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. The exhibit debuts on Dylan’s 65th birthday.
• 2007 - Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End opens. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards plays the father of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp’s role). (It was) just something to do,” says Richards. “I don’t know if I can really pull it (off) or not.” Richards sees similarities between being a pirate and life in a Rock group. “Both are ways to make a good dishonest living.”

Today in Rock (May 21)

• 1943 - Hilton Valentine (Animals) was born.
• 1947 - Bill Champlin (Chicago - keyboards, guitar, vocals) was born.
• 1955 - Stan Lynch (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - drummer) was born.
• 1963 - Tim Lever (Dead or Alive) was born.
• 1968 - Pete Townsend marries dressdesigner Karen Astley.
• 1969 - the Beatles announce that Allen Klein and his ABKCO is going to handle their financial affairs. Earlier, he also acquired the Rolling Stones as a client.
• 1975 - Elton John performs the first of eight concerts in the USSR. He is the first western rock star to play there.
• 1976 - British Punks refer to the Rolling Stones as “dinosaurs”. I wonder what that makes them now?
• 1980 - The Clash live up to their name as members get in a fight with audience members in Hamburg, Germany.
• 1980 - Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry, and Michael Stipe form a group at the University of Georgia. They decide to call themselves R.E.M.
• 2006 - A businessman bids $117,000 at a charity auction in Hetfordshire, Englan to eat a meal prepared by Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy was quoted as saying “I hope that guy knows all I can f—ing cook is beans on toast”.
• 2008 - Pink Floyd wins the 2008 Polar Music Prize, the Swedish music award. The honor recognizes Floyd’s “monumental contribution over decades to the fusion of art and music in the development of popular culture.” Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf officially presents the award three months later in Stockholm. Past award winners include Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
• 2008 -Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler enters rehab. He checks himself into a Pasadena, CA clinic for treatment of unspecified substance-abuse problems. Tyler battled drug addiction throughout much of Aerosmith’s early career, undergoing rehabilitation in the ’80s
• 2008 - At BMI’s Film & Television Awards in L.A. the performing-rights organization bestows trophies on The Who’s Pete Townshend for composing the theme songs to CBS’ CSI, CSI: NY and CSI: Miami.
• David Cook becomes the first “Rocker” to win American Idol. He beats out teen-heartthrob David Archuletta. On the season finale, ZZ Top performs “Sharp Dressed Man” with Cook. Graham Nash and Bryan Adams also appear.
• 2009 - Green Day blasts retail chain Wal-Mart for refusing to stock “21st Century Breakdown” due to explicit lyrics. “They won’t carry our record because they wanted us to censor it,” explains frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. “We just said no. We’ve never done it before. You feel like you’re in 1953 or something.” Wal-Mart offers to sell a “clean” version of the CD, but Green Day refuses to provide one. Despite Wal-Mart’s ban “21st Century Breakdown” is the #1 album in the U.S.