Today in rock history 23rd July

1950 – Bachman-Turner Overdrive guitarist Blair Thornton is born in Vancouver, British Columbia. 1955 – Chess Records releases “Maybellene,” the first single by a guitarist called Chuck Berry. 1963 – Neil Young participates in his first recording session in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 1964 – The Beatles take part in the Night of a Hundred Stars at the London Palladium. 1965 – Awlright! Guitar god and top-hat lover Slash is born today in Stoke-on-Trent 1965 – The Kinks storm through “You Really Got Me” on the TV show, Where the Action Is. 1966 – Prime Minister Harold Wilson personally reopens The Cavern Club in Liverpool, 1971 – The Rolling Stones and Brian Jones’ father sue former manager Allen Klein for $29 million, alleging that he mismanaged the band’s funds. 1977 – Judas Priest begins its first U.S. tour in Oakland, Calif., as the opening act for Led Zeppelin. 1977 – It’s a rock-promoter rumble between the forces of Led Zep manager Peter Grant and Bill Graham. Grant, Zep’s John Bonham, and two others are arrested after fighting with three of Graham’s employees at the Oakland Coliseum. The Zep crew pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges and later settles a lawsuit out of court. 1980 – Keith Godchaux, former keyboardist of the Grateful Dead, dies in an auto wreck at the age of 32 1987 – The surviving Beatles sue EMI-Capitol, demanding $40 million in back royalties and the right to own their recordings. 1989 – Ringo Starr kicks off his first-ever solo tour with the All-Starr Band, featuring Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, and Clarence Clemons. 1992 – Bruce Springsteen begins a solo world tour at New Jersey’s Brendan Byrne Arena. 1993 – Nirvana plays a surprise show at the New Music Seminar at Roseland in New York City. The band showcases songs from its yet to be released album, “In Utero.” 1998 – It is announced that Iron Maiden will have to cancel the remainder of its U.S. dates due to throat troubles for vocalist Blaze Bayley, whose doctor advises him not to sing for one month. 2003 – Weezer begin working with producer Rick Rubin on the follow-up to Maladroit. Guitarist Brian Bell says expect “more textures.” 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime tour manager Bobby Thomson dies in his sleep prior to Ozzfest’s Detroit stop. 2004 – Courtney Love turns herself in at a Los Angeles police station. The grunge princess became a wanted woman after failing to appear at arraignment to respond to a charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon. 2004 – Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour kicks off in Cincinnati. Among the performers in the package jaunt are Snoop Dogg, Korn, the Used, Less Than Jake, Ghostface and Funeral for a Friend.