January 22, 2004 – The Bottom Line nightclub in New York City is forced to close its doors after failed negotiations with its landlord, New York University.  Bruce Springsteen offers to pay their back rent if they can work out a new lease, but the deal does not come to fruition.

January 22, 1990 – Guns N’ Roses win Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist and Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album during the 17th annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Slash & Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses stumble to accept the awards, visibly drunk. They launch a bunch of obscenities during their acceptance speech prompting every subsequent show to be put on broadcast delay.

January 22, 2020 – Neil Young officially becomes a U.S. citizen, after living in California since 1966, after moving from his native country of Canada.

January 22, 1989 – Metallica release their first music video, “One,” from their fourth studio album, …And Justice for All. At  7:44, it becomes one of the longest videos on MTV. The song was the band’s first top 40 hit single in the U.S.

Top 20 Best Rock Albums of the ’90s

Classic Rock Birthdays

January 22, 1949 – Steve Perry, vocals (Journey)
January 22, 1960 – Michael Hutchence, vocals (INXS) (d. 1997)
January 22, 1965 – Steven Adler (born Michael Coletti), drums (Guns N’ Roses)
January 22, 1931 – Sam Cooke, vocals (d. 1964)
January 22, 1946 – Malcolm McLaren, manager (Sex Pistols) (d. 2010)
January 22, 1956 – Steve Riley, drums (L.A. Guns, W.A.S.P.) (d. 2023)

Backstage Access:
Herbie Herbert and the Incredible Story of Journey

Rock Remembrances

January 22, 1994 – Rhett Forrester dies after being shot and killed in a carjacking in Atlanta. He was 37. Rhett was the lead singer of Riot and had also made solo albums and appeared on several other projects. During the carjacking, he refused to give up his vehicle, so he was murdered.  The killers were caught many years later.