Today in rock history 24th January

1947 – Warren Zevon is born in Chicago. 1949 – Saturday Night Live comedian John Belushi is born in Chicago. 1958 – Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Jailhouse Rock’. 1958 – The Quarry Men performed at the Cavern Club, in Liverpool, (this was the bands only performance at the club). It was three years later when they appeared again at the Cavern but under their new name as The Beatles. 1962 – Brian Epstein signs a management contract with the Beatles. 1969 – Jethro Tull play America for the first time. They open up for Led Zeppelin in New York City. 1969 – New Jersey state prosecutors issue a warning to US record dealers that they would be charged with distributing pornography if they were caught selling the John Lennon / Yoko Ono LP ‘Two Virgins’. 1974 – Born on this day, Christopher River Hesse, drummer, Hoobastank. 1976 – Bob Dylan started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Desire’ his third US No.1. 1977 – Appearing at the Roxy, London, The Buzzcocks supported by Chelsea. 1980 – In Los Angeles, a billboard is put up advertising Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Every day a brick is added to the billboard until the entire space is covered. 1981 – Steve Tyler of Aerosmith was hospitalised after being involved in a crash on his motorbike. 1992 – Nirvana played their first ever show in Australia at the Phoenician Club in Sydney. Also on the bill, Tumbleweed and The Meanies. 1993 – Keith Richards plays Las Vegas for the first time with his solo group the X-Pensive Winos. 1995 – Balance (Van Halen) is released. 1999 – The Offspring went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Pretty Fly, For A White Guy’. 2000 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young play the first date of their reunion tour at Michigan’s Palace of Auburn Hills. It’s the first time they’ve toured together in 25 years. 2001 – AC/DC postpone their date in Adelaide, Australia after drummer Phil Rudd is diagnosed with a minor kidney infection. 2003 – With three trophies, Avril Lavigne tops the fan-voted MTV Asia Awards at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.