Today in rock history 31st August

1944 – Roger Dean, English artist is born. Designed album covers for Yes, Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep, Gentle Giant, Greenslade, Steve Howe, Asia. 1945 – Van Morrison is born in Belfast, Ireland. 1948 - Rudolf Schenker-guitarist for The Scorpions is born 1965 – The Beatles’ current American tour winds up at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. 1967 – Four days after the death of Brian Epstein, the Beatles announce that they will now be handling their own managerial affairs. 1969 – During a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Texas International Pop Festival in Lewisville. Also on the bill: BB King, The Incredible String Band, Sam & Dave and Janis Joplin. 1974 – Rolling Stone Keith Richards was quoted as saying; ‘I gave up drugs when the doctor told me I had six months to live.’ 1974 – John Lennon testifies that President Richard Nixon tried to have him deported after he joined anti-war demonstrations outside the 1972 Republican National Convention. 1974 – The Rolling Stones release Goat’s Head Soup. It’s not remembered as one of their classics, but goes to No. 1 on the back of the hit single “Angie.” 1976 – A judge says George Harrison is guilty of “unconscious plagiarism.” The melody of his hit “My Sweet Lord” was deemed to be a little too close to the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine” for comfort. 1991: Metallica’s self-titled album, also known as the Black Album entered the Billboard 200 Album Chart at number one for the first of four weeks on top of the chart. 1995 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens in Cleveland. 2003 – Poison vow to carry on with their tour after a fire in a transport trucks destroys their instruments and stage equipment. 2005 – Blondie and Public Enemy perform at a rally to save punk landmark CBGB, whose lease expires today. 2006 – The Times ran a story on the demands of rock stars when on tour. Ozzy Osbourne insists on an eye, ear, nose and throat doctor at each venue. The Beach Boys require a licensed masseur, Meat Loaf a mask and one small tank of oxygen. David Bowie requests that the dressing room temperature is between 14c and 18c and Paul McCartney must have a large arrangement of white Casablanca lilies in his dressing room. Mick Jagger must have an onstage autocue with the lyrics to all the songs, it would also tell him the name of the city in which they were performing. 2006 – Emo pin-ups Panic! at the Disco win Video of the Year at the MTV VMAs for “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.

Today in rock history 30th August

1939 – British DJ John Peel, a tireless supporter of the (Mighty) Fall and the Undertones, is born in Liverpool. 1965 – Bob Dylan releases his all-electric album Highway 61 Revisited and subsequently raises the bar for intelligent rock 1969 – If you’re near the Dallas International Motor Speedway today, check out the Texas International Pop Festival. Headliners include the Chicago Transit Authority and Led Zeppelin. 1972 – Following two concerts at Madison Square Garden earlier this month, John Lennon plays what many consider to be his first true solo show there today to benefit the One to One charity. 1973 – The Doors finally break up. Following Jim Morrison’s death in July 1971, the band had released two more albums, which absolutely no one owns. 1981 – The Rolling Stones release Tattoo You. 1984 – David Lee Roth hits #16 with “Yankee Rose” 1989 – Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses is arrested for creating a disturbance on an airline flight. 1995 – Sterling Morrison, a founding member of the Velvet Underground, dies at his home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., after a lengthy battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 53. 2000 – The National Parents Council of Ireland makes a formal complaint against Slipknot’s show tonight at Dublin’s the Point. The gig is subsequently called off. 2002 – Bruce Springsteen fans flock to stores for the release of “The Rising,” the Boss’ first album with the E Street Band since 1987. 2010 –Carlos Santana‘s new album “GUITAR HEAVEN” will feature his version of Leppard’s “PHOTOGRAPH”, with Chris Daughtry on vocals. 2010 – Axl Rose declares ‘war’ on promoters as Guns N’ Roses headline Leeds Festival 2010 – Due to illness and under doctor’s orders, Jackson Browne will not be able to perform his show in Buffalo, NY at the Shea Performing Arts Center scheduled for tonight 2011 – Chickenfoot, featuring guitar hero Joe Satriani, frontman Sammy Hagar, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and world renowned drummer Chad Smith, have confirmed multiple UK release dates and formats for their highly anticipated second album Chickenfoot II.

Today in rock history 29th August

1942 – Born on this day, Sterling Morrison, guitar, Velvet Underground 1943 – Born on this day, Dick Halligan, Keyboards, flute, vocals, Blood Sweat & Tears 1945 – Born on this day, Chris Copping, Procol Harum 1959 – The Quarry Men (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ken Brown) performed at the Casbah Coffee Club, Hayman’s Green, West Derby, Liverpool. This is the opening night of a new teen club in a large Victorian house that is owned by Mrs. Mona Best. 1969 – During a North American tour Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at the Singer Bowl Music Festival in Flushing Meadow Park. 1980 - Eddie Van Halen met future wife Valerie Bertinelli for the first time at a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, LA. They would get married eight months later. 1981 - Electric Light Orchestra reached number one on the U.K. Album Chart for the second time with Time which spent two weeks on top of the chart. 1995 – While shooting the music video for Meat Loaf’s “I’d Lie for You (And That’s The Truth,” a pilot and cameraman are killed in a helicopter crash in the Sequoia National 2003 – Radiohead’s Thom Yorke joins R.E.M. onstage in Vancouver to perform “E-Bow the Letter” and “‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It.” 2003 – Appearing on New York radio station Q104.3, Mets catcher Mike Piazza plays “IRS,” a new Guns N’ Roses tune from their long awaited Chinese Democracy. The band’s management immediately demand the track be retrieved. 2003 – Songs from Kill ‘Em All and “The Thing That Should Not Be” get a rare live outing as Metallica play a fan club only show at New York’s tiny Bowery Ballroom. 2005 – Already battling an injured knee, Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme collapses after a show in Hamburg, forcing the cancellation of the next evening’s concert in Stuttgart.

Today in rock history 28th August

1948 – Born on this day, Danny Seraphine, drums, Chicago 1963 – The Rolling Stones make their first appearance on the British TV show Ready Steady Go! 1964 – Following a concert at New York’s Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, the Beatles meet Bob Dylan for the first time. The bohemian introduces the Fab Foursome to the joys – or otherwise – of marijuana. 1965 – Bob Dylan treats an audience at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium to some of his electric material at the start of an autumn tour and is booed by folk purists for his pains. 1965 – The Rolling Stones have a new manager. The band announces that Andrew Loog Oldham will now share managerial duties with Allen Klein. 1967 – The Grateful Dead and Big Brother & the Holding Company perform at a Hell’s Angel’s funeral in San Francisco. The unlucky Angel died after being hit by a car. 1972 – David Bowie and his Spiders From Mars play Carnegie Hall in New York for the first time. The singer struggles through the performance, despite suffering from the flu. 1986 – In Long Beach, Calif., Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, and Mick Fleetwood perform at a concert billed Get Tough on Toxics. 1993 - Iron Maiden performed their final concert with singer Bruce Dickinson at the Pinewood Studios in London & it was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the U.S. Dickinson later re-joined Iron Maiden in 1999 & is still singing for them to this day. 1997 – The first Genesis album in six years is premiered live on a radio special and simultaneous webcast at www.atlantic-records.com. The band plays songs from its new set “Calling All Stations,” its first album with singer Ray Wilson. 2000 – Marilyn Manson spends a night in London checking out label mates Queens of the Stone Age. 2005 – Green Day continues its charmed year by dominating the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards at Miami’s American Airlines Arena. The group’s video for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” wins six awards 2006 – In a poll, the British public overwhelmingly selects the Beatles’ legendary 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” as the favorite No. 1 album of all time.

Today in rock history 27th August

1944 – Bassist Tim Bogert, who played with Vanilla Fudge and Beck Bogert & Appice, is born in Richfield, N.J. 1953 - Rush guitar genius Alex Lifeson is born in Fernie, British Columbia 1956 – Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock is born in Paddington 1965 – The Beatles take a break from a U.S. tour to spend a private evening with Elvis Presley at his Bel Air, Calif., home. Elvis plays host to the Beatles when they visit his Bel Air, Calif., mansion. The unusual five-some find enough in common to keep themselves amused for four hours. 1967 – The Beatles manager Brian Epstein dies of an accidental drug overdose. 1971 – Pink Floyd finish recording their fifth album, Meddle. 1981 – Rush hits #44 in the US with “Tom Sawyer 1986 – At London’s Townhouse, Bob Dylan records the soundtrack to Hearts of Fire. 1990 – Grammy-winning blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, 35, is killed when a helicopter crashes into a hill in East Troy, Wis. The helicopter is returning the performer from a concert with Eric Clapton and Robert Cray. Three members of Clapton’s entourage are also killed. 1991 – Seattle’s Pearl Jam – formerly known as Mookie Blakelock – release their blockbuster debut Ten. With its hits “Alive,” “Even Flow,” “Jeremy” and “Black,” the album sails to No. 2 in the Billboard 200 and alters the grunge template forever. 1992 – At an auction, the handwritten lyrics to the Beatles’ “Day in the Life” sell for $87,000. 1995 – Neil Young played the Reading Festival in Reading, U.K., 1997 – Steven Seagal kicks off a North American music tour to promote his newest film Fire Down Below. 1998 – It is announced that Billy Joel has postponed the fall leg of his current world tour due to recurring throat problems. 2003 – The Rolling Stones play a rare club date at the London Astoria, including covers of the Miracles’ “Going to a Go Go” and “Can’t Turn You Loose.” 2009 – Noel Gallagher quit Oasis, saying he could no longer work with his brother Liam. 2010 –Twenty years after his death, a Texas community is still seeking to honour native son Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Today in rock history 26th August

1940 – Born on this day, Nik Turner, Hawkwind, 1948 – Born on this day, Jet Black, (Brian Duffy), drums, The Stranglers 1967 – The Beatles appear with their new guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at a press conference. Paul McCartney announces that the bandmates have given up drugs. 1967 - To reassure us that the world isn’t falling apart around our ears, the Jimi Hendrix Experience release the single “Purple Haze.” 1970 – Guitarist Duane Allman joins Eric Clapton’s Derek & the Dominos sessions in Florida. 1970 – The strife-ridden Isle of Wight Festival kicks off in England. Thousands turn up expecting the concert to turn into a free festival, only to discover organizers have surrounded the place with a large metal fence. The freeloaders spend most of their time banging on the fence demanding entry. 1972 – Argent hits #5 with “Hold Your Head Up” 1978 – The first Canada Jam Festival in Ontario includes sets by the Doobie Brothers, the Commodores, Kansas, Dave Mason and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. 1979 – At England’s Reading Festival, Peter Gabriel welcomes a surprise guest, former Genesis bandmate Phil Collins. The two perform the Genesis classic “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” 1980 – Bassist Tom Petersson leaves Cheap Trick, citing the time-honored personal and musical differences. By 1988 he had gotten over it and rejoined the band. 1989 – Ringo Starr wins a court case against a producer who wants to release several tracks Starr believes are below par because of the messy state he was in when he recorded them. 1990 – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble play Alpine Valley, Wis. For an encore, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray join the band for a jam. 1991 - Kiss drummer Peter Criss filed a libel lawsuit in Los Angeles against The Star for publishing a story which claimed he was a homeless alcoholic living on the streets of Santa Monica. 1995 - Ozzy Osbourne kicked off his Retirement Sucks tour in Monterey, Mexico which was Osbourne’s first tour of Latin & South America & Osbourne’s first tour in three years. 2000 – Following a Creed show in Camden, N.J., a man has his hand nearly cut off by an axe-wielding attacker. 2003 – Rolling Stone Magazine named Jimi Hendrix as the greatest guitarist in Rock history. Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ry Cooder also made the top 10 list. 2005 – Green Day were named best band on the planet at the 12th annual Kerrang! rock awards, 2005 – A plaque was unveiled by fellow Quarrymen John Duff Lowe and Colin Hantonat at the site where the band which was to become The Beatles made their first recordings.

Today in rock history 25th August

1949 – Kiss bassist Gene Simmons is born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel. 1951 – Vocalist Rob Halford of Judas Priest is born in Birmingham, 1955 – Elvis Costello (Declan McManus) is born in London. 1962 – Born on this day, Vivian Campbell, Guitarist, Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard. 1963 – After he is caught speeding, Paul McCartney is fined 31 pounds and his license is suspended for one year. 1967 – The Beatles go to Wales to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. 1970 – Elton John makes his U.S. debut at the Troubador in Los Angeles. 1970 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer give their debut performance in Plymouth 1973 – The Faces play what they say is their last British concert. The band threatened to split when the Musicians Union refused to give bassist Tetsu Yamauchi a work permit. 1973 – The Allman Brothers Band release their “Ramblin’ Man” single. It becomes their biggest hit, going all the way to No. 2. 1973 – Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks breaks a leg in a car crash in Macon, Ga. 1990 - Six months after being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, Billy Idol kicked off his tour in support of Charmed Life in Montreal. Idol had to use a walking stick while on this tour, which featured Faith No More as the support act. 1994 – Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant share a stage to record an episode of MTV Unplugged. The success of the show leads to two more albums and several tours by the duo. 1999 – Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx is charged with breach of the peace after he tells a Las Vegas audience they should turn some cars over. 1999 – Oasis bass player Paul McGuigan announced he had quit the band just a few days after guitarist Bonehead had left the band. 2005 – Two former members of Guns N’ Roses were suing singer Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the US rock band’s copyrights. Slash and Duff – otherwise known as Saul Hudson and Michael McKagan, accused Rose of “arrogance and ego”. 2006 – Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton was undergoing treatment for throat cancer causing him to sit out the first half of the band’s Route of All Evil Tour, the first time he would miss any shows in the band’s history. 2011 -Gibson is raided by the Feds for ….??? Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., Stated, “Gibson is innocent and will fight to protect its rights. Gibson has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of ANY wrong doing. We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.”

Today in rock history 24th August

1938 – Bassist David Freiberg is born. He becomes a member of Jefferson Starship and Quicksilver Messenger Service 1943 – Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina is born in Berkeley, Calif. 1945 – Uriah Heep’s Ken Hensley is born in Stevenage 1951 - Michael Derosier-drummer for Heart is born 1967 – The Beatles have their first meeting with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at the Park Lane Hilton. The bandmates were convinced they should meet the guru by George’s wife, Patti. Mick Jagger and his girlfriend Marianne Faithfull tag along. 1968 – The Jeff Beck Group, featuring Rod Stewart on lead vocals, releases its debut album, ‘Truth.’ 1968 – To celebrate his 21st birthday (which was actually yesterday), Keith Moon drives a Lincoln convertible into the pool of a Flint, Mich., Holiday Inn 1968 - Steppenwolf peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Born to Be Wild” which was their highest charting single in the U.S. 1974 – Traffic makes their final live performance at the 14th annual Reading Festival. 1975 - Queen began recording “Bohemian Rhapsody” at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales. The song took three weeks to record and featured 180 separate overdubs. 1978 – Rolling Stone puts comeback kid Bruce Springsteen on its cover to herald the release of the long-awaited Darkness on the Edge of Town. 1979 – The Cars attract an audience of 500,000 to their free gig in New York’s Central Park. 1981 –Mark Chapman, John Lennon’s killer was sentenced to 20 years in prison 1985 – Heart hits #10 with “What About Love” 1989 – At the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., the Who perform their rock opera Tommy with an all-star cast that includes Elton John, Billy Idol, and Patti LaBelle 1990 – A Nevada judge clears heavy metal group Judas Priest in a $6.2 million civil suit that charged subliminal suggestions on the group’s recordings provoked two youths to shoot themselves in 1985. 2010 –Guitarist Michael Schenker and drummer Carmine Appice perform with The Scorpions.

Today in rock history 22nd August

1917 – John Lee Hooker is born 1947 – Occasional Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Godchaux is born in San Francisco. 1958 – Former Living Colour metal god-turned-avant-garde guru Vernon Reid is born in London. 1962 – The first TV appearance of The Beatles was recorded by Manchester based Granada TV, who filmed a lunchtime session at The Cavern Club Liverpool, 1965 – Beatles’ second film, ‘Help’, premieres in US this fine day 1966 – Police in New York manage to talk two teenagers down from a 22nd-floor ledge. The girls had threatened to commit suicide unless they met the Beatles. Instead, they’re sent to Roosevelt Hospital to get their heads examined. 1967 – Born on this day, Layne Staley, Alice In Chains 1968 – A day before their sixth anniversary, John Lennon’s wife, Cynthia, sues the Beatle for divorce after discovering Yoko Ono living in their London home. 1968 – Ringo Starr quit The Beatles during the White Album sessions when the constant bickering and tension became too much for him. The news of Ringo’s departure was kept secret, and he rejoined the sessions on September 3. After Ringo walked out, the remaining Beatles recorded ‘Back In the USSR’, with Paul on drums. 1969 – The three-day Wild West Festival starts at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium, featuring performances by Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Santana, and the Youngbloods. 1970 – Eric Clapton enters the studio to begin recording the Derek & the Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. 1978 – Sex Pistol Sid Vicious made his last live stage appearance when he appeared with Rat Scabies from The Damned, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Nancy Spungen at London’s Electric Ballroom. 1979 – Led Zeppelin release ‘In Through the Out Door’ LP 1981 – The first Monsters of Rock Festival takes place at Donnington Castle 1998 – Actor Jim Carrey launches an unexpected musical direction when he joins Elton John onstage in Anaheim, Calif., to sing “Rocket Man.” 2003 – Twenty people are injured in a crowd crush during System of a Down’s performance at the Leeds festival in England. 2008 – Velvet Revolver Pay Up Over Song Theft. According to Rolling Stone, Velvet Revolver has reportedly settled a song theft case brought U.K. musician Tony Newton. Newton claimed that Velvet Revolver lifted the riff and melody for “Dirty Little Thing” from his band Voodoo Six’s track “Cyber Baby.” 2008 – PR reports: Metallica have just released the first single off their upcoming album, Death Magnetic. The epic track is entitled “The Day That Never Comes” and it’s now available through iTunes and is streaming on the band’s site. 2008 –Ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar recently spoke to Ralph Sutton of the nationally syndicated rock radio show “The Tour Bus” about his former band’s reunion with frontman David Lee Roth and their decision to replace bassist Michael Anthony with guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s 17-year-old son Wolfgang. 2013 – It’s reported today that Richie Sambora was fired from Bon Jovi.

Today in rock history 21st August

1951 - Glenn Hughes-bassist for Deep Purple is born 1952 - Joe Strummer-singer & guitarist for The Clash is born 1954 - Steve Smith-drummer for Journey is born 1964 – Ever since the Beatles expressed a love of jellybeans, their concerts have featured plenty of offerings from the fans. However, at today’s gig in Las Vegas, they have to stop playing twice in order to ask the audience to let up with the barrage of sweets. 1965 – Big day in singles releases if you’re a manic depressive hippie. You can be miserable to Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction,” 1965 – No. 1 on the albums chart are the Rolling Stones with Out of Our Heads. 1967 – The Doors started recording their second album 1967 – Bob Dylan re-signs with Columbia upon the expiration of his initial five-year contract. 1967 – Pink Floyd abandon their German tour after their singer, Syd Barrett, disappears. 1969 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Honky Tonk Women,” The Rolling Stones. 1971 – The Who hit US chart with ‘Who’s Next’ LP. 1972 – Not a great day in Jefferson Airplane history. First police receive a bomb threat before their show in Akron, Ohio. The heavy pig presence incenses the crowd, who throw rocks at a police car. The cops respond by using tear gas, which causes Airplane bassist Jack Casady to denounce them from the stage. 1973 – The Doobie Brothers achieved gold status for the first time in 1973. Their second album, Toulouse Street, did the trick with the help of the tracks “Listen to the Music,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway” and “Jesus is Just Alright.” 1983 – Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone had a four-hour brain surgery operation, after being found unconscious in a New York Street where he had been involved in a fight. 1992 – Rock singer Sting marries his longtime girlfriend, Trudie Styler, in a civil ceremony in London. The two have been together 10 years and have three children. 1995 – R.E.M. sue Hershey Foods, saying their name was improperly used in a Kit Kat bar promotion. The suit is later dropped. 1998 – Journey played its first live show with new lead singer, Steve Augeri, in Kentucky, 2003 – Fred Durst takes to Limp Bizkit’s Web site to announce that the name of the band’s new album has changed … again. No longer Panty Sniffer, the record will be called Results May Vary. 2005 - The Rolling Stones kicked off their tour in support of A Bigger Bang at Fenway Park in Boston. The tour would go on to be the biggest grossing tour of all time grossing over $550 million.

Today in rock history 20th August

1948 – Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin is born in West Bromwich 1949 – Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy is born in Dublin, Ireland 1966 – Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as “Diamond Darrell”, and “Dimebag Darrell” (August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004) was an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. 1969 – The Beatles convene in the studio together for the last time as they wrap up recording “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” 1969 – Frank Zappa disbands the Mothers of Invention following a short tour in Canada. 1970 – William Frederick “Fred” Durst of Limp Biskit is born 1973 – The Rolling Stones release their single “Angie.” 1981 – At Los Angeles’ Sport Arena, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band play a benefit for Vietnam veterans. 1988 – Performing at the Donington rock festival in England, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose tells the audience to “try not to kill yourselves.” Tragically, two people die in a crowd surge while the band plays. 1990 – Aerosmith appeared at the Marquee Club London. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page joined the band on stage for a blues jam. 1991 – Nirvana and Sonic Youth kicked off a joint European tour at Sir Henry’s Pub, Cork, Ireland. 1993 – Santana kick off a tour with Bob Dylan supporting in Portland, Ore. 2000 – Bon Jovi brings down the curtain on the 28-year career of London’s Wembley Stadium as a live music venue. The show is the group’s fifth at the 80,000-seat venue. 2001 – Foo Fighters cancel the remaining three dates of their U.K. and European tour after drummer Taylor Hawkins is hospitalized. Hawkins “apparently overindulged during festivities” 2003 – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines Great White and Station club owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian a total of nearly $100,000 for workplace violations related to the fire that killed 100 people during a February concert in Providence, R.I. 2006 – The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at Twickenham Stadium on their ‘A Bigger Bang’ world tour. 2010 - As Ozzy Osbourne gears up for the August 14 launch of the 2010 OZZ Fest, the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has released “Life Won’t Wait,” the second single from his worldwide smash Epic Records album.

Today in rock history 19th August

1940 – Drummer Ginger Baker (Peter Baker) is born in Lewisham 1945 – Ian Gillan, vocalist with the best-known incarnation of Deep Purple, is born in Hounslow 1951 – Queen bassist John Deacon is born in Leicester 1963 – Joey Tempest, lead screamer with Swedish pop/metal band Europe is born. 1964 – The Beatles kick off their second American tour at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. Support comes from the Righteous Brothers, Jackie DeShannon, the Exciters, and Bill Black’s Combo. 1967 – To Ringo Starr, a son. He and wife Maureen are the proud parents of Jason. 1967 – Pink Floyd debut on UK LP chart with ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ 1971 – Led Zeppelin kicked off a North American tour at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. The band played to a sold out crowd of over 17,000 fans, another 3,000 fans outside the venue who didn’t have tickets started a battle with local police. 1980 – After Alice Cooper cancels a Toronto show because of illness, 1,400 entertainment-starved ticket-holders riot. 1991 - Judas Priest performed their last concert with Rob Halford for 13 years at the CNE Grandstand in Toronto. During the concert Halford was injured as he rode a motorcycle onstage when he collided with a drum riser hidden behind dry ice. Halford later returned to finish the concert. 1997 – Fleetwood Mac’s reunion album “The Dance” is released. 2000 – In Meridan, Miss., Gregg Allman plays a benefit for Jeff Fountain, the father of his fiancee, Stacey. Fountain was injured in a motorcycle accident in June. 2003 – David Bowie plays songs from his new album Reality at a low-key tour warm-up gig in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 2005 - A bronze statue of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Lynott’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland. 2005 – Courtney Love is sentenced to a chemical dependency program after a judge finds she has broken her probation. Love admitted to taking drugs in July. 2007 - A concert in honour of late Boston singer Brad Delp was held at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston & featured performances by Godsmack, Extreme, RTZ & Boston.

Today in rock history 18th August

1950 – Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott is born in London 1953 – Drummer of the Canadian power trio Mahogany Rush is born. 1962 – Ringo Starr plays with the Beatles for the first time at a Horticultural Society Dance in Birkenhead 1966 – Paul Jones left Manfred Mann, just as “Pretty Flamingo” was climbing the charts. 1969 – Mick Jagger is accidentally shot on the set of ‘Ned Kelly’ 1969 – Hendrix debuts a new band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, at the Woodstock music festival in New York State. 1969 – Crosby, Stills, Nash play at Woodstock with newly added member Neil Young in what is their second public performance. 1974 – Keyboardist Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in Yes 1977 – The funeral for Elvis Presley is held at Graceland before 150 invited mourners. 1977 – The Police Play their first gig without original guitarist Henri Padovani at Rebecca’s Club in Birmingham 1979 – On PBS, John Lennon and Bob Dylan star in the documentary Eat the Document. While sitting in the back of his limo, Dylan tells Lennon he’s going to throw up. 1981 – The new Moody Blues album, Long Distance Voyager, hit the platinum level in sales 1984 – Motley Crue gives its performance debut at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington, 1990 - During Aerosmith’s set at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K., Jimmy Page joined Aerosmith onstage for a rendition of The Yardbirds’ “Train Kept A-Rollin’”. Other acts on the bill included Whitesnake & Poison. 1992 – Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Courtney Love of Hole have their first child. Daughter Frances Bean is born in Los Angeles. 1995 – Security guards carry a sobbing Courtney Love offstage after she begins fighting with Hole fans because they aren’t cheering loudly enough during the last night of the Lollapalooza tour in Mountain View, Calif. 1997 – To announce their Bridges to Babylon tour, the Rolling Stones drive to a press conference at the Brooklyn Bridge in a ’55 Cadillac. Mick steers. 1999 – It is announced that Spin Doctors’ lead singer Chris Barron has been diagnosed with a rare paralysis of his vocal chords. Doctors indicate that he may never regain the full use of his voice. 2000 – Badfinger’s Joey Molland fractures his leg after falling off stage during the Classic Rock Festival in Darrington, Wash. 2003 – The Rolling Stones make over 300 of their post-1971 songs available as purchasable downloads on Listen.com. 2005 – Iron Maiden are pelted with eggs, bottle caps and ice on their last appearance at Ozzfest. The power is also cut off several times. Sharon Osbourne later accuses Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson of having “disrespected” the heavy metal festival.

Today in rock history 17th August

1949 - Born on this day, Sib Hashian, drums, Boston 1958 – Belinda Carlisle is born. 1960 – The Beatles begin their first Hamburg engagement at the Indra Club, Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, West Germany, playing the first of 48 nights at the Club. 1962 – Born on this day, Gilby Clarke, guitarist, spent 3 years as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in November 1991. 1965 – Born on this day, Steve Gorman, drums, The Black Crowes 1966 - The Beatles created more controversy during a press conference in Toronto when John Lennon sided with American draft dodgers that moved to Canada rather than go to war in Vietnam. 1970 – Christine McVie joins Fleetwood Mac on keyboards. 1977 – Tens of thousands of fans travel to Memphis to pay tribute to Elvis Presley. President Jimmy Carter issues a tribute statement. 1984 – Elton John announces he is retiring from touring. 1985 - ZZ Top headlined the Monster of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. Other acts on the bill included Bon Jovi, Metallica & Ratt. 1991 - Nirvana filmed the music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in Culver City, CA. The video cost less than $50,000 to make & led MTV to favour alternative bands in place of pop metal bands. 1991 - AC/DC headlined the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. on a bill that included Metallica, Motley Crue, Queensryche & The Black Crowes. This was the first & only time in the festival’s history that every band on the bill had a Platinum album in the U.S. 1998 – Carlos Santana’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is unveiled 2004 - Chevrolet ended its 15 year association with Bob Seger whose song “Like A Rock” had been used in their commercials for its Silverado truck. 2006 – The Smashing Pumpkins enter the studio to work on their first album since splitting in 2000 and Billy Corgan’s subsequent failure to get us interested in anything else.

Today in rock history 16th August

1948 - Barry Hay-singer for Golden Earring is born 1949 - Scott Asheton,drummer for The Stooges is born 1962 – Brian Epstein told Pete Best that the other Beatles wanted him out of the group, and that he was being replaced. Epstein then asked Best to perform with The Beatles that night at the Riverpark Ballroom in Chester, Cheshire. Pete Best does not show up, 1965 – David Jones’ official stage name became David Bowie. 1966 – During a US tour The Beatles appeared at the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia playing their set during huge electric storm. 1966 – The Byrds played the first of two nights at the Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, California. 1968 – Working at Abbey Road studios, The Beatles recorded 14 takes of the new George Harrison song ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, taking the song from its early acoustic version into an electric version. 1968 – Bruce Springsteen’s new band Earth made their live debut at the Off Broad Street Coffee House in Red Bank, New Jersey, admission was 75c. 1969 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young supported by Joni Mitchell appeared at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois. 1969 – During a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park with Joe Cocker as support. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment were unable to attend. 1975 – Peter Gabriel announces his departure from Genesis. 1977 – Elvis Presley is found unconscious in his bathroom at Graceland Mansion. He is pronounced dead of heart failure. 1986 - Def Leppard performed their first concert in the U.K. since drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident at the Monsters of Rock Festival, Castle Donnington. The headliner was Ozzy Osbourne and other acts on the bill included the Scorpions and Motorhead. 1998 – Pete Townshend performs to a SRO crowd at the Chicago House of Blues in a benefit concert that raised about $300,000 in proceeds for Maryville Academy, a residential child-care facility for abused or neglected children. 2002 – The Rolling Stones perform a surprise club show in Toronto in preparation for their upcoming Licks world tour. 2005: The reality television show Tommy Lee Goes to College premiered on NBC. The show featured Lee attending the University of Nebraska and attempting to fit in. 2010 – Ozzy appears on Jimmy Kimmel tonight doing the classic Crazy Train and closing out the show with Fearless.

Today in rock history 15th August

1942 – Drummer Peter York of the Spencer Davis Group is born in Middlesborough 1950 - Tommy Aldridge-drummer for Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake & Thin Lizzy is born 1958 – Buddy Holly marries Maria Elena Santiago at his parents’ home in Lubbock, Texas. 1962 – Drummer Pete Best plays his last gig with the Beatles at the Cavern in Liverpool. 1964 – The Kinks hits #1 in the UK with “You Really Got Me” 1965 – The Beatles play New York’s Shea Stadium for an audience of 56,000. The crowd sets a record for attendance at a rock concert. 1967 – Fleetwood Mac appeared at the Marquee Club London, 1969 – During a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Hemisfair Arena in San Antonio. Jethro Tull and Sweet Smoke were also on the bill. During the show Zeppelin received abuse from locals due to the length of their hair. 1969 - The first Woodstock Festival kicked off in White Lake, NY. It was attended by over 400,000 concertgoers & featured acts such as Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Santana, the Grateful Dead, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Mountain, Joe Cocker, The Band, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young & Jimi Hendrix. 1974 – Neil Young taps into the spirit of Seventies malaise with ‘On the Beach,’ which ‘Rolling Stone’ calls “the most despairing album of the decade.” 1983 – Joey Ramone goes under the knife today. He has brain surgery after being beaten up in a fight. 1987 – Keith Richards enters a studio in Montreal to begin work on his first solo album, Talk Is Cheap. 1995 – Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil’s 4-year-old daughter, Skylar, dies of multiple organ failure in Los Angeles. 2000 – David Bowie and Iman welcome their first child, Alexandria Zahra Jones, into the world. A statement reports that Bowie is involved in the delivery process and even cuts the umbilical cord. 2001 – Dave Matthews and his wife Ashley welcome the birth of their twin daughters Stella Busina and Grace Anne. 2001 - Peter Frampton made a guest appearance on Family Guy. When Death visited Frampton’s house, Frampton said Death should be at Keith Richards’ house, which was a joke pitched by Frampton himself. 2013 – Paul McCartney wins back song rights from Michael Jackson.

Today in rock history 14th August

1941 – David Crosby is born David Van Courtland in Los Angeles 1962 – Beatles manager Brian Epstein approaches the marketable Ringo Starr, currently performing at Butlin’s holiday camp in Skegness, England, about replacing the ordinary Pete Best on the drum stool. Starr starts with the Beatles four days later. 1966 – John Lennon can’t win. After he apologizes for his “more popular than Jesus” remarks earlier in the week, the London Catholic Herald brands his apology “arrogant.” Meanwhile, the Beatles play the first rock concert held at Cleveland Stadium before 24,000 people. 1970 – At a La Jolla, Calif., hotel, Stephen Stills is arrested and charged with cocaine possession 1971 – Rod Stewart releases “Maggie May.” It becomes his breakthrough single in the U.S., going to No. 1. 1985 – Michael Jackson outbids Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono, at $47.5 million, to obtain catalogue rights to 250 songs written by Lennon and McCartney. 1988 – Robert Calvert, the “resident poet with Hawkwind, dies in Kent, England, of a heart attack. 1994 – On the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival, Santana performs at Woodstock II. 1995 – Members of the Grateful Dead meet and decide to cancel their fall tour in the wake of Jerry Garcia’s Death 1999 – Van Halen singer Gary Cherone is given a Courage Award by the American Life League for his stance against abortion. 1999 – The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform with local Russian artists during a free music festival in Moscow’s Red Square. 2003 – A black out hits the North East of America. Among those cancelling shows as a result are KISS and Aerosmith, Bob Dylan and Tori Amos. 2004 – Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts announces he is being treated for throat cancer. 2004 – The Strokes play the first Little Steven’s International Underground Garage Festival in New York. Also performing are Iggy & the Stooges, New York Dolls, Big Star, and The Raveonettes. 2008 - Jackson Browne sued Republican Party presidential candidate John McCain and the Republican National Committee over unauthorized use of his song “Running on Empty” in a McCain campaign commercial in Ohio.

Today in rock history 13th August

1951 – Dan Fogelberg is born in Peoria, Ill. 1965 – Jefferson Airplane makes its performance debut at the Matrix Club in San Francisco. 1968 – Buffalo Springfield’s recorded swan song, ‘Last Time Around’, is issued. 1975 – Tubes release their self-titled debut album, featuring the band’s anthem “White Punks On Dope”. 1975 – The selling of Bruce Springsteen is in full swing in the run-up to Born to Run‘s release. He begins a five-night stand at New York’s Bottom Line club that soon passes into legend. Most of those attending are influential industry people, who spread the word about the emerging artist. 1976 – The selling of the Clash is in full swing as manager Bernie Leadon unveils the punk act. The Clash play an exclusive concert at a rehearsal hall in London. Those attending are members of Britain’s influential music press, who spread the word about the emerging act. 1977 – AC/DC makes US chart debut with ‘Let There Be Rock’. 1977 – Yes hits #8 in the US with ‘Going For the One’. 1977 – Bachman-Turner Overdrive announce they are splitting up as Canada goes into mourning. 1980 – In Woodstock, N.Y., four masked men break into Todd Rundgren’s home. After tying up Todd and his girlfriend, the thieves strip the place bare. Rundgren later claims that while his house was being ransacked, one of the thieves was humming his song “I Saw the Light.” 1983 – Def Leppard hits #16 with “Rock of Ages” 1986 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ 23-year-old wife, Kerry, announces she is pregnant. Not so unusual, except the couple are in the process of getting divorced. They decide to stay together instead. The boy is later named Jerry Lee Lewis III. 1991 - Metallica released their self-titled fifth album, commonly referred to as The Black Album. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart & go on to sell sixteen million copies in the U.S. 1995 – Four days after Jerry Garcia’s death, the largest of many memorials draws 20,000 fans to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. 1996 – Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen files for divorce from his estranged wife, Kelly. 1999 – Scott Weiland, lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots, is sent to jail for again violating his probation by continuing his illegal drug use. 1999: Detroit Rock City a movie about four teenagers who travel to Detroit to see Kiss in concert premiered in theaters. The movie bombed at the box office, but would go on to become a cult classic. 2004 – Guitarist Wes Borland rejoins sports metal whiners Limp Bizkit. 2013 – Jon Brookes, The Charlatans drummer dies aged 44.

Today in rock history 12th August

1949 – Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler is born in Glasgow, Scotland. 1954 – Pat Metheny, jazz guitarist is born in Lee’s Summit, Mo. 1960 – Pete Best becomes the drummer for the Silver Beetles. Former drummer Tommy Moore had to give up the stool after taking a job as a forklift driver. 1966 – At San Francisco’s Fillmore, it’s a none-more-psychedelic double bill featuring the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. 1966 – At Chicago’s International Amphitheatre, the Beatles begin their final U.S. tour under the storm clouds surrounding John Lennon’s “more popular than Jesus” comment. 1969 – The supergroup Blind Faith make their U.S. live debut at Madison Square Garden. 1970 – The Hollywood Bowl plays host to a tribute to Woody Guthrie, featuring Bob Dylan and Joan Baez among the performers. 1972 – Charity rock begins today with the Festival of Hope, starring the Jefferson Airplane and James Brown. While this is the first concert event in which all the money goes to a specified charity, the festival actually ends up losing $100,000. 1978 – The Who’s press officer, Pete Meaden, 35, commits suicide by overdosing on barbiturates. Meaden was the manager of Townshend and company when they were the High Numbers. 1989 – The Rolling Stones play a secret club gig at Toad’s Place in New Haven, Conn. The band is warming up for its Steel Wheels tour. 1992 – The Grateful Dead announce they are canceling five shows in the Northwest so Jerry Garcia can recover from exhaustion. 1993 – Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar turnover continues. Jesse Tobias replaces Arik Marshall. Three months later Tobias would be supplanted by Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro. . 1994 - Woodstock ’94 kicked off in Saugerties, NY. The three day festival included performances by Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers Band, The Band, Joe Cocker, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Metallica, Todd Rundgren, Santana & Traffic. 1995 – A mass wake is held for Jerry Garcia at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. 1995 – Michael Stipe has an operation for a hernia. 1998 – Scott Weiland, the lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots, pleads guilty to felony heroin possession and is sentenced to three months in a drug treatment facility. 1999 - Alice Cooper’s music publisher reached an out of court settlement with Kiss’ music publisher over a claim that Kiss’ song “Dreamin’” sounded a little too close to Alice Cooper’s breakthrough hit “I’m Eighteen”. 2006 – Up-their-own-topographic-ocean prog rockers The Mars Volta are bottled offstage at the U.S. Endfest festival. 2009 – Guitar legend-inventor Les Paul dies at age 94.

Rock Talk – Ace – Skunk Anansie

Part 1 1. Skunk Anansie – I believed in you 2. Skunk Anansie - Charity 3. Skunk Anansie - Secretly 4. Motorhead – Overkill 5. Skunk Anansie – Weak Part 2 1. Skunk Anansie - Twisted 2. Skunk Anansie - Brazen 3. Skunk Anansie – Death to the lovers 4. Skunk Anansie - Hedonism

Timesweep 12th August

Part 1 A brief spin back to 1981 1. Foreigner – Urgent 2. Rush – Tom Sawyer 3. Journey – Who’s crying now 4. Phil Collins – In the air tonight 5. The Who – You better you bet Part 2 1. The Pretenders – Message of love 2. Rainbow – I surrender 3. Rod Stewart – I know I’m losing you 4. Rod Stewart – Hot legs 5. Chicago – Baby what a big surprise Part 3 Back to 1985 1. Queen – One vision 2. David Lee Roth – California girls 3. Y&T – Summertime girls 4. ZZ Top – Rough boy Part 4 1. Heart – Never 2. Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – Out in the fields 3. Motley Crue – Home sweet home Part 5 1. Marillion – Lavender 2. Dio – Rock and roll children 3. Dire Straits – Money for nothing 4. Pat Benatar – We belong Part 6 This week in rock history 1. Fleetwood Mac – Rhiannon 2. Bon Jovi – Raise your hands 3. Bryan Adams – Can’t stop this thing we started Part 7 Rocker’s celebrating their birthdays 1. Deep Purple – Highway star 2. Europe – The final countdown 3. Led Zeppelin – Whole lotta love 4. Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – Out in the fields Part 8 1. John Lee Hooker – Boom boom boom boom 2. The Who – Won’t get fooled again 3. Rick Springfield – Don’t talk to strangers Part 9 Booking our holidays 1. Sex Pistols – Holidays in the sun 2. Aerosmith – Permanent vacation 3. Alice Cooper – School’s out 4. Don Henley – Boys of summer Part 10 1. Guns ‘N’’ Roses – Paradise city 2. Y&T – Summertime girls 3. Lindsey Buckingham – Holiday road Part 11 1. Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69 2. The Scorpions – Holiday 3. David Lee Roth – California girls 4. The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the city

Brit Rock 12th August 1.Bruce Springsteen – Born to run 2.Iron Maiden – Running free 3.Bryan Adams – Run to you 4.Stills Young Band – Long may you run 5.Jackson Browne – Running on empty 6.The Quireboys – 7 o’clock 7.Faith No More – From out of nowhere 8.Billy Idol – Cradle of love 9.They Might Be Giants – Birdhouse in your soul 10. Depeche Mode – Enjoy the silence 11.Living Colour – Love rears its ugly head 12. Gary Moore – Still got the blues 13.Marillion – Cover my eyes 14.Slade – Radio wall of sound 15.Van Halen – Right now 16.Jesus Jones – Right here right now 17.Queen – Innuendo 18.Thunder – Love walked in 19.Metallica – Enter sandman 20. Nirvana – Smells like teen spirit 21. Def Leppard – Let’s get rocked 22.Genesis – No son of mine 23. Manic Street Preachers – Motorcycle emptiness 24. Kiss – God gave rock and roll to you It’s an hour of very long songs for hour three 1. Marillion – Grendel 2. Genesis – Supper’s ready 3. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird 4. Moody Blues – Question 5. Steven Stills – Love the one you’re with

Today in rock history 11th August

1943 – Guess Who bassist Jim Kale is born this day 1949 – Eric Carmen is born in Cleveland. 1954 – Bill Haley & the Comets crash into the top 40 with “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” 1957 – Richie Ramone, who drummed with his brothers from 1984 to 1987, is born. He was really Richard Beau of the Velveteens. 1963 – The Rolling Stones perform at the third National Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond 1964 – The High Numbers, (later to become The Who), played at The Railway Hotel in Harrow, England. Just before the band were due on stage, Roger Daltry’s father-in law came into the venue and dragged the singer outside and hit him. 1966 – John Lennon tries to put out the fire he started when he noted that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus by apologizing at a televised press conference. Meanwhile, the city of Memphis asks the Beatles not to play any concerts there and the price of Capitol Records’ stock drops. 1966 – The Beatles arrive at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to start their last tour of the United States. 1967 – Pink Floyd spend the day at Abbey Road Studios, where they work on recording “Apples and Oranges.” The song would later become their third single. 1967 – Appearing at this years’ UK Reading festival, The Small Faces, The Move, Marmalade, Paul Jones, Pink Floyd, Amen Corner, Donovan, Zoot Money, Cream, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown. An advance 3 day ticket cost £2. 1973 – Bill Aucoin approaches Kiss after seeing them play in New York to offer his services as manager. He also promises them a record deal, which they later make with Casablanca. 1976 – The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, is admitted into a Miami hospital after collapsing. 1979 – The Knack started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Get The Knack’. 1987 – Rolling Stone declares the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band the best album of the last 20 years. 1989 – The Moscow Music Peace Festival kicks off. The two-day bill of metal acts was corralled by manager Doc McGhee, who hopes to make a judge forget his role in a drug-smuggling scam with this charity concert. All proceeds from the gigs, which feature Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and the Scorpions, go to fighting drug abuse in the U.S. and USSR. 1993 – At a U2 concert in London, the band is joined onstage by author Salman Rushdie. Rushdie had been in hiding since a fatwa was declared against him by Iran. 1995 – In Belvedere, Calif., the funeral of Jerry Garcia is held at an Episcopal church. 1999 - Kiss received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 2001 – Appearing at the Ozzfest at PNC Bank Arts Centre, New Jersey, Black Sabbath, Linkin Park, Slipknot and Marilyn Manson. 2002 – Bruce Springsteen started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘The Rising’, the singers fifth US No.1. Also No.1 in the UK.

Today in rock history 10th August

1909 – Leo Fender, founder of Fender Guitars, is born. 1947 – Ian Anderson, lead singer of Jethro Tull, is born in Edinburgh, Scotland. 1976 – Elton John sells out his first Madison Square Garden show. 1982 – Appearing on Late Night With David Letterman are Frank Zappa and Moon Unit Zappa. The two quickly recite “Valley Girl.” 1985 - Over nine months after its initial release, Reckless by Bryan Adams reached number one on the Billboard 200 album chart where it would stay for two weeks. 1985 – After Paul McCartney advises him to invest in a music catalog, Michael Jackson buys ATV’s for $47.5 million. The catalogue contains 251 Beatles songs written by Lennon and McCartney. 1993 – Billy Joel is sued by songwriter Gary Zimmerman, who says Joel’s No. 3 “River of Dreams” sounds suspiciously like one of his own tunes. Zimmerman wants $10 million. 1995 – Jimmy Buffett serenades President Bill Clinton on his birthday. 1995 – Bob Dylan releases his statement about the death of Jerry Garcia the day before. He says, “He’s the very spirit personified of whatever is Muddy River country at its core and screams up into the spheres 1995 – Tonight on the Late Show With David Letterman the musical guests are Van Halen. 1996 – Tickets to the Pearl Jam concert at the University of Toledo go on sale. However, because of an AT&T screw up, people who try to buy tickets by phone get a busy signal instead. 1999 – It is announced that Oasis founding member Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs has decided to leave the band. 2000 – The recording industry asks Congress to repeal the “work for hire” amendment. Sheryl Crow and Don Henley had been among those artists complaining that the law prevented them from ever owning their masters. 2005 – A judge rules that legendary New York punk club CBGB does not have to pay its landlord $90,000 in back rent. The Bowery Residents’ Committee are attempting to evict the venue from the neighborhood. 2011 – Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band canceled a series of summer concerts. The 63 Year old Rock and Roll Hall of famer was having respitory problems.

Today in rock history 9th August

1946 – Golden Earring bassist and keyboardist Rinus Gerritsen is born in the Hague, Netherlands. 1964 – In Forest Hills, N.Y., Joan Baez and Bob Dylan play the same bill for the first time. 1967 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ set at England’s Sunberry Jazz and Blues Festival inspires such fervor in the audience that the organizers tell him to cut his set short. 1973 – Guitarist Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell leave Wings. 1975 – Major Promoter Don Kirshner, holds the first Rock Music Award Show in Santa Monica, Calif. The winners include the Eagles, Bad Company, and Stevie Wonder. 1978 – Muddy Waters performs for President Jimmy Carter at the White House. 1980 – A thief steals 10 Gerald Scarfe illustrations based on Pink Floyd’s The Wall album. The pictures were exhibited in the foyer of London’s Earls Court, where the band was performing five shows. 1980 - AC/DC reached the top of the U.K. Album Chart with Back in Black which spent two weeks on top of the chart. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 Album Chart in the U.S. & went on to sell 45 million copies worldwide, making it the second biggest selling album of all time. 1986 - Queen performed their final concert with Freddie Mercury at the Knebworth in England in front of 120,000 people. 1987 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” U2. 1995 – Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia dies of a heart attack at a drug treatment center in San Francisco. He is 53. 1996 – The Ramones split. 2003 - Roger Daltrey made his Los Angeles stage debut at the Hollywood Bowl playing Dr. Doolittle in My Fair Lady. 2010 – Welcome news for Van Halen fans: The clearest signs that an album and tour are in the works for next year have emerged.

Today in rock history 8th August

1952 – Journeyman drummer Anton Fig (Frehley’s Comet, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper) is born in Cape Town, South Africa. 1959 – Poison drummer Rikki Rocket is born in Mechanicsburg, Pa. 1961 – The Edge, U2 guitarist with the funny name, is born in East London as mere Dave Evans. 1963 – Oregon band the Kingsmen release “Louie Louie.” Many radio stations ban the song when they decide the indecipherable lyrics must be obscene. 1964 – Bob Dylan releases his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. 1970 – Janis Joplin buys a headstone for the grave of blues singer Bessie Smith, one of her idols. 1976 – Epic Records releases Boston’s self-titled first album. The album becomes the fastest-selling debut ever. 1980 – The Plasmatics suffer a blow in London when local authorities tell them they can’t blow up a car onstage at the Hammersmith Odeon. 1981 – MTV makes its first live concert stereo broadcast. The lucky band is REO Speedwagon. 1982 – Mickey Thompson, singer with Starship, marries Sara Kendrick in San Francisco. 1985 – Keith Richards guests on Phantom, Rocker & Slick’s “My Mistake.” He accepts a leopard-skin coat as payment. 1986 – David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is released from prison after serving time for drug and weapons charges. 1992 – Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses walks off stage after 55 minutes at a concert at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, complaining of a sore throat. Many of the 53,000 fans who came see the group and Metallica riot. 1998 – The Rolling Stones perform their first concert in Russia, playing through a driving rain before an appreciative crowd estimated at 70,000. 1999 - The Guess Who reunited with Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings for the first time in 16 years to appear at the closing of the Pan American Games in Winnipeg as a personal request from the Premier of Manitoba. 2006 - Dennis DeYoung formerly of Styx & Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp served as mentors on Canadian Idol where they also performed.

Today in rock history 7th August

1952 – Free bassist Andy Fraser is born in London 1957 – The Quarry Men Skiffle Group, led by a young John Lennon, perform at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. 1958 – Vocalist Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden is born in Sheffield 1964 – The nation’s weeklies review the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. “Avoid this film at all costs!” declares Time. “Some Marx Brothers surrealism!” notes Life. “Amusing and engaging!” decides The Los Angeles Herald Examiner. 1965 – In England, the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” is knocked out of the No. 1 spot by the Beatles’ “Help!” 1967 – Pink Floyd begin a tour of Denmark 1970 – Fleetwood Mac welcome new member Christine McVie, the wife of bass player John McVie and a former vocalist with Chicken Shack. 1971 – At Los Angeles’ Pauley Pavilion, Frank Zappa & the Mothers play the gig that becomes their album Just Another Band from L.A. 1974 – Vocalist Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band marries actress Faye Dunaway. 1978 – Rolling Stones publicist Les Perrin dies 1982 – Sting sues Virgin Music Publishing. He alleges that he signed a deal with the company that gives it unfair control of his early material. 1985 – To Mick Jagger, a son. Mick and Jerry Hall are the proud parents of James Leroy Jagger. 1986 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Glory of Love,” Peter Cetera. 1989 – After his arrest on charges of marijuana possession, U2’s Adam Clayton stays silent during a 90-second hearing in Dublin. He’s set free on bail and will return to court on September 1st. 1995 – Alanis Morissette’s biting “You Oughta Know” soars to No. 1 on Chart Toppers’s Modern Rock chart and is the most requested tune on rock radio. 2006 - Gene Simmons Family Jewels premiered on the A&E Network. The program follows the life of Simmons, his longtime partner Shannon Tweed & their two children. 2008 – Elvis’ Peacock Jumpsuit sells for $300k 2008 - The Police performed what they said would be their final concert ever at Madison Square Garden, which was a benefit concert for public television.

Today in rock history 6th August

1964 – Rod Stewart makes his television debut on the British show “The Beat Room.” 1970 – An anti-war rock festival is held at Shea Stadium, New York, with Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Steppenwolf, and Johnny Winter. 1981 – Motorhead bassist Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor is fined 40 pounds after being found guilty of cannabis possession. The judge throws another 15 pound fine on top of that because Philthy didn’t show up for his initial trial in April. 1988 - After 57 weeks on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction finally reached number one where it spent the first of five non-consecutive weeks on top of the chart. 1996 – Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder videotapes the Ramones placing their hands in cement on the Hollywood Rock Walk prior to a Ramones show at The Palace. The Ramones claim this is their last show ever. 1996 – Vince Neil, former singer of ’80’s metal band Motley Crue, attempts to play a show at an Indiana club. The show, starting more than four hours late, ends after only three songs. Neil claims that he isn’t feeling well, and that the audience of “rednecks” don’t appreciate his talent. No refunds are offered 1998 – Ted Nugent, the singer/songwriter, guitarist, politician, self-proclaimed outdoorsman, and morning talk-show host embarks on a 15-city U.S. jaunt in Los Angeles. 1999 - Dick Latvala, the curator for the Grateful Dead’s bootlegs died of a heart attack at 56 years old. His collection of bootlegs was officially released as part of the Dick’s Picks series. 2007 – Marilyn Manson was being sued by a former band member who said he was owed $20m (£9.8m) in shared profits. Stephen Bier, who played keyboards under the stage name Madonna Wayne Gacy, claimed he was not paid properly over a period of almost two decades.

Today in rock history 5th August

1947 - Rick Derringer born 1955 - Eddie Ojeda,guitarist for Twisted Sister is born 1966 – In Britain, the Beatles release Revolver, frequently cited as the best album ever made. 1967 – Pink Floyd release their debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in England. 1972 – Clive Davis signs a young band called Aerosmith to CBS Records after seeing them play Max’s Kansas City in New York. They receive $125,000 for their services. 1974 – Svengali Kim Fowley brings together the four girls who will form the Runaways, including Joan Jett and Lita Ford. 1983 - David Crosby was sentenced to five years in prison in Texas for cocaine possession and carrying a gun into a bar. Crosby slept through most of the trial & would later be allowed to enter a drug rehabilitation program in lieu of serving jail time. 1992 – Drummer Jeff Porcaro dies of cardiac arrest at age 38. The co-founder of Toto was spraying insecticide in his yard and developed an allergic reaction that triggered the heart attack. 1994 – Billy Idol is admitted to Burbank, Calif.’s St. Joseph’s Medical Center after collapsing from a drug overdose in a Los Angeles nightclub. He’s released two days later. 1996 – Bruce Springsteen sues two London bootleggers who were distributing an album attributed to him titled Unearthed. 2001 – The Foo Fighters treat 300 lucky fans to a rare club show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, Calif. Winners are chosen from a pool of E-mail entries submitted to the group’s official Web site. 2003 – Smash Mouth release their new album Get the Picture?. The band celebrate with a performance in a New York Toys ‘R’ Us. 2003 – The Rolling Stones are forced to postpone a gig in Benidorm, Spain after 60-year-old Mick Jagger contracts laryngitis. 2003 – Lynyrd Skynyrd cancel the remainder of their Party of a Lifetime tour after lead guitarist Gary Rossington’s doctor tells him to take it easy. Rossington underwent open-heart surgery in February. 2009 - Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler fell offstage during a concert in Sturgis, SD. Tyler was dancing on the catwalk after the band’s sound equipment suffered an outage during “Love in an Elevator”. Tyler suffered a broken shoulder along with head & neck injuries.

Today in rock history 4th August

1940 – Born on this day, Larry Knechtel, guitar, Keyboards, Bread 1963 – The Beatles appeared at the Queen’s Theatre in Blackpool. So many fans crowded around the theatre, blocking every entrance, that The Beatles had to go through a construction area, up and across some scaffolding to the roof of the theatre, from where they were lowered through a trap door. 1965 – Bob Dylan completes recording Highway 61 Revisited after laying down “Desolation Row” and “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues.” 1966 – Several American radio stations pull Beatles records from their playlists following John Lennon’s “more popular than Jesus” comment. 1968 – The two day Newport Pop Festival took place in California with Canned Heat, Sonny & Cher, Steppenwolf, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Tiny Tim, Iron Butterfly and Jefferson Airplane. Over 100,000 fans attended the festival. 1970 – After falling asleep on a woman’s porch in Los Angeles, Jim Morrison is arrested for public drunkenness. 1975 - Rainbow released their debut album Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow 1975 – Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and his family are hospitalized after a car crash on the Greek island of Rhodes. 1979 – Led Zeppelin play to 120,000 people at Knebworth Park in England. It’s their first concert in the U.K. in four years. 1979 – Some 20,000 people attend a benefit in Inglewood, Calif., for the family of the late Lowell George. Among those paying tribute to the Little Feat frontman are Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, and Jackson Browne. 1980 – Pink Floyd kick off five nights of the Wall tour at London’s Earls Court. During the ambitious show, a giant wall is built across the stage between the band and the audience. 1980 – John Lennon began recording what would become his final album ‘Double Fantasy’ at The Hit Factory, New York. 1984 – Genesis drummer and solo artist Phil Collins marries Jill Tavelman. At the reception, Collins “jams” with Eric Clapton and Robert Plant. 1990 - Billy Idol peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Cradle of Love” which was Idol’s last top forty single in the U.S. 2002 – Bruce Springsteen scored his fifth UK No.1 album with ‘The Rising’, also No.1 in the US. 2003 – Jack White posts graphic video footage of his hand operation on the White Stripes’ Web site. The guitarist had to have three screws implanted to set the bones in his hand after a July car accident. 2003 – Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic announces on the Eyes Adrift Web site that he’s quitting the music business, although he will continue to play music with his band. 2012 – Marshall Tucker Band guitarist Stuart Swanlund died in his sleep at home in Chicago.

Today in rock history 3rd August

1955 – Rock ‘n’ roll litigation as Bill Haley files suit against Essex Recordings. Now that he’s a big star, he accuses his old label of releasing his early recordings, which are “of inferior quality to said plaintiff’s current releases.” 1963 – Bob Dylan appears as a guest at a Joan Baez show in Camden, N.J. 1963 – Metallica’s James Hetfield is born this day 1963 - The Beatles appeared at The Cavern Club in Liverpool for the last time, almost two years to the day after they started playing there as a regular fixture. 1966 – The South African government bans the broadcast of Beatles songs after John Lennon makes his “more popular than Jesus” remark. 1966 – The Rolling Stones record “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow” in Los Angeles. 1968 – “Hello, I Love You” becomes the Doors’ second and last No. 1 single. 1968 – The Newport Pop Festival starts today, featuring performers like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Steppenwolf. 1969 – Janis Joplin sings with Little Richard at the Atlantic City Pop Festival. 1971 – Paul McCartney announces he’s forming Wings. 1974 – Here’s a weird gig Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band opening for Canadian songbird Anne Murray in New York. 1974 – Guitarist Jeff (Skunk) Baxter quits Steely Dan and joins the Doobie Brothers. 1987 - Def Leppard released their fourth album Hysteria which went on to reach number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart the following year & sell 12 million copies in the U.S. alone. 1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Roll with It,” Steve Winwood. 1989 – The Rolling Stones film the video for “Mixed Emotions,” probably the last good song they ever recorded. 2004 – Legendary Southern Rock figure Lacy Van Zant dies at his home in Jacksonville, Fla., due to chronic pulmonary illness. He is 89. 2004 – Traffic cancel their reunion tour after drummer Jim Capaldi is diagnosed with a severe gastric ulcer. 2005 –Melissa Etheridge announces she is cancer free nine months after being diagnosed with the disease. 2006 – Arthur Lee, the singer and guitarist for psychedelic rock pioneers Love, dies at the Methodist University Hospital in his hometown of Memphis after battling leukemia. He is 61.

Today in rock history 2nd August

1937 – The Band’s Garth Hudson is born in London, Ontario. 1944 - Jim Capaldi,drummer for Traffic is born in Worcestershire. 1951 - Former Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner is born today 1962- Robert Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan. 1967 – Jimi Hendrix Experience started a 5 night gig at the Salvation club in NYC.The set list included: Foxy Lady, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Purple Haze and Burning Of The Midnight Amp. 1969 - Bob Dylan & his wife showed up unannounced at Dylan’s ten year high school reunion in Hibbing, MN. They would leave early when a drunk tried to pick a fight with Dylan. 1971 - Creedence Clearwater Revival kicked off their final North American tour at the Assembly Center in Tulsa, 1981 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Jessie’s Girl,” Rick Springfield. The song wins Springfield a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. 2002 – A van driven by blues guitarist Popa Chubby (Ted Horowitz) overturns, injuring Horowitz and two band members, keyboard player Dave Keyes and drummer Rod Gross. 2003 - Aerosmith & Kiss kicked off their co-headlining tour dubbed the Rocksimus Maximus Tour in Hartford, CT. This was Kiss’ first tour with Tommy Thayer playing guitar & wearing Ace Frehley’s makeup & costume. The tour went on to gross $64 million. 2004 – Eric Clapton bought a 50% share in Cordings to save the historic gentleman’s outfitters from closure. The store, based in London since 1839 had run into financial difficulties. The guitarist said he had been fond of the shop since a window display caught his eye when he was 16.

Today in rock history 1st August

1942 – Jerry Garcia (Jerome John Garcia) of the Grateful Dead is born in San Francisco. 1946 - Boz Burrell-bassist for Bad Company & King Crimson is born 1951 - Tommy Bolin-guitarist for the James Gang & Deep Purple is born 1959 – Singer Joe Elliott of Def Leppard is born in Sheffield 1971: The Concert for Bangladesh, organized by George Harrison took place at Madison Square Garden. The concert featured Harrison, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar and members of Badfinger. 1974 - The Who’s Pete Townshend & Keith Moon joined Eric Clapton onstage during a concert at the Omni in Atlanta. Townshend jammed on “Layla” & Moon sang along on “Little Queenie”. Townshend later smashed a plastic ukulele over Clapton’s head. 1979 - During a concert at Madison Square Garden, Peter Frampton was awarded the Gold Ticket for performing to over 100,000 fans at the Garden. 1994 - The Rolling Stones kicked off their Voodoo Lounge Tour at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. This tour would last over a year & go on to gross $320 million, becoming the highest grossing tour at the time. 1997 – Ireland’s Supreme Court gives the go-ahead for two U2 Popmart concerts scheduled for August 30 and 31 at Landsdowne Road stadium in Dublin. Earlier in the week, the country’s High Court had, under pressure from locals fearing excessive noise and general mayhem, overstepped its jurisdiction and banned the two gigs. 2004 – Red Hot Chili Peppers top the UK albums chart with Live at Hyde Park. 2006 – A man dies after being severely beaten by two unidentified assailants in the moshpit at Korn’s Atlanta concert. The band appeal for witnesses to the attack to help with the investigation. 2006 – Drummer Jon Theodore leaves egghead rockers The Mars Volta shortly before the release of their third album Amputechture. He is replaced by Blake Fleming. 2007 – John Lennon’s “granny” sunglasses sold at auction. 2009 – Daughtry hits No.1 on the US album charts.