On This Day:
In 1970 The movie “Performance,” starring Mick Jagger, opened in theaters.
In 1971 Paul McCartney formed his first post-Beatles band with his wife, Linda, ex-Moody Blues singer-guitarist Denny Laine, and Denny Seilwell. They called themselves Wings.
In 1973 Stevie Wonder released his 16th studio album “Innervisions.”
In 1974 Bruce Springsteen opened for Anne Murray at a concert in New York.
Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter officially joined The Doobie Brothers. Baxter had been playing with Steely Dan.
In 1987 Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” was released. It was their fourth studio album and their best selling album to date, selling over 20-million-copies worldwide.
In 1991 Metallica hosted the world’s largest album listening party at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic from Nirvana both attended.
In 1993 Sheryl Crow released her debut album “Tuesday Night Music Club.”
In 2002 Bob Dylan made his first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island since his legendary 1965 performance during which purist folk fans booed him for playing an electric set. The performance also began a month-long North American tour.
Surviving members of the Grateful Dead, performing as The Other Ones, began the two-day “Terrapin Station: A Grateful Dead Family Reunion” at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin. The shows marked the first time they had performed together since the death of the group’s frontman, Jerry Garcia, in 1995.
In 2003 Pop singer Roger Voudouris died at the age of 48 after a long battle with liver disease. “Get Used To It” in spring 1979 was his biggest U.S. hit.
In 2004 A proposed Traffic reunion tour was cancelled because drummer Jim Capaldi was ill. While at the time he said he was suffering from a stomach ailment he actually had cancer, and died five months later.
Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland was in Los Angeles court for a progress hearing, during which officials praised him for doing so well with his rehab program and congratulated him on the success of his band. They also apologized for the mix-up in scheduling his appearance, which forced the judge to issue a bench warrant for Weiland. After court the singer lashed out at the media for its reporting on the warrant, saying the press made it look like he had done something wrong when it was the court’s clerical error.
Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special cancelled several upcoming concerts following the death of Lacy Van Zant, father of Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant and .38 Special guitarist Donnie Van Zant. The elder Van Zant died at his home in Jacksonville, Florida of chronic pulmonary disease. He was 89.
In 2006 Two members of My Chemical Romance were injured during the shoot for the video “Welcome to the Black Parade.” Drummer Bob Bryar suffered serious burn on his legs, while singer Gerard Way tore ligaments in his ankle.
The Knack frontman Doug Fieger had brain surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to remove two tumors. The surgery was deemed a success, and the singer was expected to make a full recovery.
Former Love frontman Arthur Lee died of leukemia at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. He was 61.
Elvis Presley’s childhood teddy bear was mauled by a guard dog that was supposed to be protecting an exhibit of toy bears on display at the Wookey Hole Caves in southern England.
In 2007 DNA tests positively identified two people as the late James Brown’s children and potential heirs to his estate.
In 2010 Squeeze released the album “Spot The Difference,” in which the group performed new versions of their old hits in an effort to reclaim the rights to their back catalog.
In 2012 Stevie Wonder filed for divorce from wife Kai Millard Morris, ending their eleven-year marriage.
In 2013 Last In Line — featuring surviving Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell, drummer Vinny Appice, bassist Jimmy Bain, and keyboardist Claude Schnell with singer Andy Freeman — made their concert debut at The Slidebar in Fullerton, California.
In 2015 Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd pleaded not guilty to breaching the conditions of his current home detention by drinking alcohol.
In 2017 Camila Cabello released her single “Havana” (biggest song worldwide in 2018, 19 million copies sold).
In 2021 Singer Tony Bennett celebrated his 95th birthday with Lady Gaga in the first of two “farewell” performances at Radio City Music Hall, NYC.
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