Today in rock history 6th June

1939 – Gary U.S. Bonds (Gary Anderson) is born in Jacksonville 1947 – Dire Straits drummer Tony Williams is born in Hollywood 1960 – Steven “Steve” Siro Vai is born in Carle Place, New York 1962 – In London, the Beatles audition for EMI’s George Martin at the Abbey Road studios, playing their compositions “Love Me Do” and “Ask Me Why.” 1966 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Paint It Black,” The Rolling Stones. 1968 – The Rolling Stones add new lyrics to their forthcoming single “Sympathy for the Devil” referring to the recent assassination of Robert Kennedy. 1970 – Syd Barrett plays his first solo concert since leaving Pink Floyd, although he’s helped out at London’s Extravaganza event by guitarist Dave Gilmour and drummer Jerry Shirley. 1971 – Frank Zappa and his Mothers of Invention are joined onstage at New York’s Fillmore East by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. 1972 – David Bowie releases his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. 1975 – Pink Floyd fly to America for a tour. It would end in disaster when an addled Roger Waters spits on the audience. He later records The Wall in an attempt to exorcise his demons. 1982 – Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, and Crosby, Stills & Nash play the Peace Sunday: We Have a Dream concert for nuclear disarmament at Pasadena, Calif.’s Rose Bowl. 1986 – Bob Dylan performs at the Amnesty International concert at Los Angeles’ Forum. 1986 – Genesis release Invisible Touch. 1992 – David Bowie marries model and actress Iman in a church ceremony in Florence, Italy. The couple wed in a civil ceremony in May. 1994 – A son, Evan Shane, is born in Los Angeles to Paul and Pamela Bowen Stanley. 1995 – Pink Floyd releases its two-CD live album, “Pulse.” 1997 – Following Phil Collins’ departure, Genesis announce that his replacement is Ray Wilson, formerly with the band Stiltskin. 2000 – Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood checks himself into rehab in London. Wood, who is accompanied by his wife, is admitted to the Priory Clinic in an effort to overcome his addiction to alcohol before the Rolling Stones launch another world tour. 2002 – Founding Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby succumbs to AIDS after an eight-year battle with the disease. Crosby, who co-wrote many of the pop-metal band’s best-known songs, is 42. 2003 – Officials at Six Flags in Darien Lakes, N.Y., ban Marilyn Manson’s Ozzfest appearance in August. 2004 – Metallica play a rare gig without drummer Lars Ulrich, who is sidelined with an undisclosed illness. Slipknot’s Joey Jordison and Slayer’s Dave Lombardo fill in for Ulrich, along with a Metallica drum tech, at the Download Festival in England’s Donington Park. 2004 – ZZ Top are nearly swept offstage by a rainstorm at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in Dallas. 2006 – Billy Preston, the Fifth Beatle dies aged 59.