Today in rock history 24th February

1942 – Vocalist Paul Jones of Manfred Mann is born in Portsmouth. 1944 – Session pianist Nicky Hopkins is born in London. He played with just about everybody, making valuable contributions to the Beatles’ White Album, Jefferson Airplane’s Volunteers, and more than a dozen Rolling Stones albums, including Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed. 1969 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Hendrix breaks up the trio shortly afterward, making this their last British gig together. 1975 – After nearly a two-year wait since Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin release Physical Graffiti. It goes to No. 1 on the Billboard album chart in a record-breaking two weeks. 1976 – The Recording Industry Association of America certifies The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits platinum. It’s the first time a platinum disc has been awarded for sales of a million copies.1976 – The Recording Industry Association of America certifies The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits platinum. It’s the first time a platinum disc has been awarded for sales of a million copies. 1979 – The Police release their single “Roxanne.” It becomes their first American hit, peaking at No. 32. 1982 – Pat Benatar wins a Grammy for “Fire and Ice,” Best Female Rock Performance. 1988 – Alice Cooper must have a new album to promote. The shock rocker announces he’s going to run for governor of Arizona. 1990 – Bob Dylan unexpectedly joins Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman and David Crosby to sing “Mr. Tambourine Man” at a Los Angeles tribute to the late Roy Orbison. 1992 – Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Courtney Love of Hole are married in Hawaii. 1993 – Eric Clapton wins six Grammys, including Best Record for “Tears in Heaven,” at this year’s award ceremony. 1998 – John Fogerty, whose well-crafted guitar lines are a trademark of his solo work and classic output as ex-leader of Credence Clearwater Revival, receives the 1998 Orville E. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. 1999 – Johnny Rotten emcees VH1’s live Grammy coverage – a two-hour pre-show and 30-minute post-show wrap at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. 2002 – Paul McCartney performs “Yesterday” at a special concert tribute to George Harrison held in Liverpool. 2002 - Kiss performed with original guitarist Ace Frehley for the last time to date at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. 2003 – Veteran rock band Fleetwood Mac previews a new song, “Peacekeeper,” on the NBC series “Third Watch.” 2006 – Sex Pistols singer John Lydon posts a missive on his Web site claiming the band will not attend their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. “We’re not coming,” he writes, “You’re not paying attention.” 2010 – Roger Daltrey wants to start a super-group with Jimmy Page. The Who singer is keen to form a new band with the Led Zeppelin guitarist and go back to the blues roots he established before he started writing songs with bandmate Pete Townshend.