Drummer and Missy's Place

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Today In Rock 4/4

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

April Fourth Featured Artist


The Clash release their self-titled debut album. 1977

1940's Allman Brothers’ bassist Barry Oakley is born. 1948


1950's C’mon feel the noize. Dave Hill, Slade’s lead guitarist, starts his life in Fleet Castle, England. 1952
1960's Elvis Presley’s “Stuck On You” is his first mono-stereo release. 1960

The Cult’s bassist, Craig Adams, enters the world. 1962

The Hollies cut test recordings at London’s Abbey Road Studios. 1963

On Billboard’s Hot 100, The Beatles hold the top five positions with “Can’t Buy Me Love” (simultaneously #1 in the U.S. and U.K.), “Twist & Shout,” “She Loves You,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me.” By the time “Can’t Buy Me Love” is knocked from the top spot (by Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly”), The Beatles have had the #1 song for three consecutive months (“I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” contribute to the run). In related news, Billboard reports that just about everyone is tired of The Beatles (DJs, pop music writers, etc.) except the public. Guess Beatlemania is in full swing. 1964

Bassist Mike Starr (Alice In Chains) has a birthday. 1966
1970's Van Halen make their Sunset Strip debut at Gazzarri’s. The group later becomes the house band at the West Hollywood club. 1974
1980's "Paradise Theater" is #1 in the U.S. The Styx album features "The Best Of Times" and "Too Much Time On My Hands." 1981

Starship (were about down to Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick at this point) take a Diane Warren song, "Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now," to #1. 1987

1990's

"No Excuses," the lead single from Alice In Chains' third EP,” Jar Of Flies,” drops. The track peaks at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, making it Alice In Chains’ only Top 50 song. It is also their first #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks. 1994

A portion of Jerry Garcia’s ashes are scattered in India’s Ganges River. Garcia’s widow and Grateful Dead vocalist/guitarist Bob Weir do the honors. 1996

Isn’t it ironic that Alanis Morissette’s "Ironic" can only get to #4 on the pop chart? 1996

"Van Halen III," the first and last album with vocalist Gary Cherone (Extreme), enters the U.S. chart at #4. 1998
2000's Disturbed holds an open audition in Chicago to replace Fuzz. The bassist left a few months earlier. A L.A. audition session was held in March. 2004

Eric Clapton, Robert Plant and The Who's Roger Daltrey perform at the fifth Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert series at London's Royal Albert Hall. 2005

Kurt Cobain's Washington hometown adds a sign below their "Welcome to Aberdeen" that reads "Come As You Are.” The sign is up in time for the 11th anniversary of the Nirvana leader’s death. 2005

Yeah Yeah Yeahs release their follow-up to ’03 release "Fever To Tell." "Show Your Bones" features "Gold Lion." 2006

Queensryche unleashes "Operation: Mindcrime II." The original “Operation: Mindcrime” was issued in ’88. 2006

A big Priest day. The 34 song, double-disc compilation, "The Essential Judas Priest," is unleashed spanning '76's "Sad Wings Of Destiny" through '05's "Angel Of Retribution." Also, Judas Priest release Live Vengeance '82 concert DVD. The 95-minute film was shot in Memphis, TN. 2006

Red Hot Chili Peppers' video, "Dani California," premieres on MTV and the MTV Overdrive broadband service. 2006

Rob Zombie's fourth solo album, "Educated Horses," is #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums tally. The set sells over 100,000 copies in its first week. That lands the CD at #5 on the Billboard’s Top 200. 2006

Looking Back. Boston reissues their self-titled '76 debut album and their '78 sophomore effort, "Don't Look Back," with additional live recordings and previously unreleased tracks. 2006

Songs by Nickelback, Rush and Default are featured on the Canadian compilation "Oh What A Feeling 3." The four-CD box set contains tracks by artists who have won or been nominated for Juno Awards. Proceeds from the release benefit the MusiCan, the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund, Safehaven Project for Community Living and War Child Canada charities. 2006

Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, gets an inordinate amount of press after stating that he snorted his cremated father's ashes (along with cocaine) in '02. The musician's publicist later claims Richards made the comment in "jest." OK. But really, is anybody surprised by anything Richards does? 2007

It’s announced that Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx has been named president of Eleven Seven Records. The label’s artist roster includes Buckcherry, Trapt, Drowning Pool and the Crüe bassist's own xx:_am.html>Sixx: A.M. project. "I find it very interesting to take the artist's craft, the art, the music, the image, and get it out there," says Sixx. 2008

The Rolling Stones concert film, Shine A Light, opens at 93 IMAX theaters in the U.S. 2008

A whiter shade of fail. A London Court of Appeal reverses an ‘06 ruling that gave Procol Harum keyboardist Matthew Fisher a 40 percent stake in the royalties on the group's signature hit, the ‘67 single "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." Frontman Gary Brooker retains all of the song's commercial rights. The ruling is based on Fisher's "excessive and inexcusable delay (38 years) in his claim to assert joint title to a joint interest in the work." 2008

Guitar legend Jeff Beck (Yardbirds/Jeff Beck Group) and Metallica are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page does the honors for Beck, recognizing the guitarist’s solo career. In ’92, Beck was voted into the Hall for his work with the Yardbirds (as was Page). Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea does the honors for Metallica. “It was amazing,” says Flea recalling the first time he heard Metallica’s “Fight Fire With Fire.” “It opened up my mind to the mighty force of nature that is Metallica!” Former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine is invited to the ceremony but his Megadeth obligations prevent it. However, Mustaine does pen an open letter to the band congratulating them. "I'd like to say to [drummer] Lars [Ulrich] and [singer-guitarist] James [Hetfield], I am so very proud of all you have accomplished," he writes. Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted does perform with the group. Of course, Hetfield has the last word. "One of the greatest things is that we're still relevant [and] still making heavy music.” Aerosmith welcomes their "Walk This Way" collaborators, Run-DMC, into the Hall. "It'd be dumb not to have them induct us, because of what we did together and who they are," maintains Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. "They're legends." Speaking of legends, Elvis Presley’s early sidemen, drummer D.J. Fontana and bass player (the late) Bill Black are also inducted. 2009

And just to prove James Hetfield’s point (see above) Metallica’s single, "Cyanide," from “Death Magnetic,” is #1 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. 2009

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder performs at the David Lynch Foundation's Change Begins Within benefit concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall. But even he is eclipsed as Ringo Starr joins Paul McCartney at the end of the latter's event-closing set for a rendition of "With a Little Help From My Friends." Paul introduces Ringo as Billy Shears, the fictional singer of the song on “Sgt. Peppers.” The show raises approximately $3 million for the foundation. 2009
2010's

Bob Dylan is refused permission to play in Beijing and Shanghai by China’s Ministry of Culture. Dylan's involement in the ‘60’s counterculture movement is reportedly the reason. The decision forces Dylan to cancel plans for a Southeast Asia tour. 2010

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) helps the Boston Red Sox kick off their ‘10 season with a performance of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at the team's home opener against the New York Yankees. Sox rally to win! 2010

Beady Eye (with former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher) releases a cover of The Beatles' "Across The Universe" to raise funds for the British Red Cross' Japan tsunami relief. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles produced the original, Beady Eye’s version is downloadable through the band’s official website. 2011

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne owe over $1.7 million in back taxes ($718,948 from ‘08, and $1.024 million from ’09) according papers filed at the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office. "You can't rely on anyone but yourself,” tweets Sharon claiming she thought “her people” had the situation under control. “You have to be on top of your own business affairs. My fault . . . lesson learned." Ozzy’s wealth is estimated at well over $100 million. 2011

Shinedown's "Amaryllis," debuts at #1 on Billboard's "Rock Albums" and Hard Rock Albums charts. Selling over 105,000 copies in its first week, the album is #4 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the "Digital Albums" chart. 2012

Three former members of Absent Element, the band which featured one-time American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry, file suit in Guilford County Superior Court seeking royalties for “Home” and three other songs. "The songs listed in this lawsuit were written solely by me and no one else," replies Daughtry. Former band members counter that they are entitled to a share of the royalties because they, along with Daughtry, had agreed to split revenues equally. 2012

The Eagles perform their first concert in South Africa. More than 60,000 fans see the show at Cape Town Stadium. 2012

Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) cancels planned shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg over the Russian government's recent crackdowns on human rights groups - Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, among them. 2013