Drummer and Missy's Place

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Today In Rock 73

http://rockintown.com/today-in-rock.html


July Third Featured Artist


Break on through (to the other side). The Doors? vocalist Jim Morrison is found dead by longtime companion Pam Courson in the bathtub of the Paris apartment they shared. Morrison had gone to Paris to escape fame and focus on his poetry. Though the cause of death was officially listed as a heart attack there are indications that drugs (most likely heroin) played a part in the singer's demise. 1971
1950's Ratt?s frontman, Stephen Pearcy, makes his debut. 1956 (though some bios say it was actually ?59).
1960's Brian Jones, ex-Rolling Stones guitarist, is found dead in his swimming pool. Death is ruled a misadventure while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. However, murder rumors circulate. 1969

The Newport Jazz Festival allows Rock acts to appear for the first, and only, time. Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck and Ten Years After perform at the Rhode Island venue. 1969

Kevin Hearn, guitarist/keyboardist with Barenaked Ladies, has a birthday. He?s a native of Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, and joins the group in ?96. 1969
1970's The three-day Atlanta Pop Festival (actually held in Byron) opens. The festival serves as a launching pad for Grand Funk Railroad. On a more interesting note, Jimi Hendrix plays his famous version of ?The Star Spangled Banner? prompting Georgia Governor Lester Maddox to seek legislation banning Rock festivals in the state. Jethro Tull and the Allman Brothers Band also perform. 1970

Wrapping up a sixty-show tour at London?s Hammersmith Odeon Theater, David Bowie announces his retirement. Later he amends that saying the Ziggy Stardust persona has been retired, not Bowie. He?s back in action in less than a year. 1973
1980's The surviving Doors (Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore) lead the faithful in a Paris graveside tribute to Jim Morrison. It?s the 10th anniversary of Morrison?s death. 1981

The Stray Cats? ?Built For Speed? LP enters the charts. It contains the sizzling ?Rock This Town.? 1982

As a ?thank you? for sandbagging during floods, John Mellencamp plays a free concert for 20,000 high school students in Fort Wayne, IN. 1982

1990's

Ozzfest ?98 has Motorhead, Tool, Megadeth, Limp Bizkit and, of course Ozzy Osbourne. The trek starts in Holmdel, NJ. 1998
2000's The White Stripes? "White Blood Cells" is released. 2001

Velvet Revolver's "Libertad" is in stores. "She Builds Quick Machines" is the first single. "It's a great f**kin' rock song," says bassist Duff McKagan. "It has a kick-ass guitar riff, a great chorus, a really big bridge and a great Slash solo." 2007

The Evan Almighty soundtrack is released. ZZ Top contribute "Sharp Dressed Man" to the Steve Carell film. There are two versions of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain." One is by Creedence Clearwater Revival and the other is from their ex-frontman John Fogerty. 2007

Deep Purple is found guilty in a Russian court of illegally performing their songs. The group purportedly failed to apply for a license from the Russian Authors' Society, which covers the rights of international artists, before playing an ?08 concert in the city of Rostov-on-Don. 2009

Queen are presented with Hard Rock International's Ambassadors of Rock honor at the 2009 02 Silver Clef Awards luncheon in London. Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor accept the honor, which acknowledges their charitable work. 2009

Woodstock: The 40th Anniversary opens at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. The exhibit features memorabilia including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's performance contract and clothing worn by Stephen Stills. Has anybody thought to wash those clothes since then? 2009
2010's Linkin Park posts their third #1 U.K. album, "Living Things." The set debuts at the top of the British album chart beating out Maroon 5?s ?Overexposed.? 2012

Puddle Of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin pleads guilty to a felony cocaine possession charge. As a result, Scantlin avoids any jail time and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office drops two misdemeanors?under the influence of a controlled substance and driving without a license. All three charges stemmed from an arrest in L.A. six months earlier. 2012

Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good by Corey Taylor (Stone Sour/Slipknot) is in bookstores. It becomes a best-seller. 2012

The Church of England decides the lyrics "It's only rock 'n' roll - but I like it" are too flippant for a tombstone. Brothers Darren and Rick Clapham wanted the words from the ?74 Rolling Stones hit ?It?s Only Rock ?N? Roll? to be an epitaph for their musician father Charles, who passed away and was buried at All Saints Church in Standon near Stoke-on-Trent. 2013

Machine Head settle a $1.8 lawsuit filed by their former bass player Adam Duce. The band was sued for breach fiduciary duty and interference with prospective economic advantage, while singer guitarist Robb Flynn was hit with a defamation suit. Settlement terms are not disclosed. 2014