October 26, 1991 – Ozzy Osbourne breaks his foot onstage after doing one of his famous “frog leaps” during a concert at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom.  After three more shows, infection sets in causing him to postpone the Theatre of Madness tour. October 26, 1970 – Alta Mae Anderson, mother of Meredith Hunter, The Rolling Stones fan who was killed at the Stones’ Altamont … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 26 in Classic Rock →

October 15, 2006 – Patti Smith headlines the final night of the infamous club, CBGB in New York City, which closes due to $300,000 owed in unpaid back rent.  She says, “CBGB is both the scrappy symbol of rock’s promise and a temple that no one wanted to see go.”  With an open booking policy, … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 15 in Classic Rock →

October 10, 1975 – Deep Purple release Come Taste the Band, their only studio album to feature guitarist Tommy Bolin.  The album is also the final of three albums to feature Glenn Hughes on bass and a pre-Whitesnake David Coverdale on lead vocals. October 10, 1995 – Peter Frampton releases Frampton Comes Alive II, the long-awaited sequel to his record-setting live album released in 1976. October 10, 1969 … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 10 in Classic Rock →

October 8, 1979 – Fleetwood Mac release their first double album, Tusk, which is the follow-up to Rumours.  Costing over $1 million to record, at the time it was the most expensive rock album ever made.  It sold 4 million copies worldwide, and featured the USC Trojan Marching Band on the title song “Tusk.” October 8, 2010 – Ozzy Osbourne blasts … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 8 in Classic Rock →

August 29, 1980 – Eddie Van Halen meets his future wife Valerie Bertinelli for the first time at a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, LA. Her brother had dragged her to the show, even though she didn’t want to go. They would marry eight months later. August 29, 1977 – Three men are arrested and charged with trying to steal Elvis Presley’s body … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 29 in Classic Rock →

August 26, 1990 – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble perform their last show at Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI. During their encore, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy and Jimmy Vaughan join them onstage.  A few hours later, Stevie Ray Vaughan dies in a helicopter crash. August 26, 1970 – The five-day Isle of Wight festival begins in … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 26 in Classic Rock →

August 1, 1981 – MTV begins airing music videos with the legendary opening, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock & Roll.”  That’s followed by the now familiar power-chord-fueled guitar riff theme. The first ten videos are: The Buggles “Video Killed The Radio Star”, Pat Benatar “You Better Run”, Rod Stewart “She Won’t Dance With Me”, The Who “You Better You Bet”, … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 1 in Classic rock →

April 1, 1985 – David Lee Roth officially leaves Van Halen to start a solo career. Roth later reconsiders and joins Van Halen briefly in 1996 and in 2000, before re-joining permanently in 2006. April 1, 2008 – Scott Weiland officially leaves Velvet Revolver. April 1, 1970  – The Woodstock movie premieres in Hollywood; it eventually grosses $50 million in the United States. April 1, 1976 – Pink Floyd guitarist David … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 1 in Classic Rock →

March 30, 1974 – The Ramones make their live debut at Performance Studio in New York City. March 30, 2012 – Jerry Lee Lewis marries for the 7th time. The lucky lady is Judith Brown, an ex-wife of a cousin and Jerry’s caregiver.  She is also the aunt of Myra Gale Brown, who married Lewis when she was just 13. … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 30 in Classic Rock →

March 18, 1978 – An estimated 350,000 rock fans attend the largest festival of the 70’s, California Jam II in Ontario, California. Performers include Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Foreigner, Santana, Heart, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush and Rubicon, featuring a young Jack Blades. March 18, 1975 – The Who’s Tommy premieres in New York. March 18, 2002 – The Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are among those inducted into the … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 18 in Classic Rock →

March 9, 1970 – Having recently changed their name from Earth to Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make their concert debut at The Roundhouse in London. March 9, 1981 – Robert Plant performs his first solo concert since the breakup of Led Zeppelin in Stourbridge, U.K. March 9, 1976 … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 9 in Classic Rock →

May 29, 1983 – Kiss play their last concert in their traditional makeup, but 13 years later they slap it on again when they reunite. May 29, 2009 – Ozzy Osbourne files a lawsuit against Tony Iommi, his Black Sabbath bandmate. Osbourne claims that Iommi illegally took sole ownership of the Black Sabbath name, and … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 29 in Classic Rock →