July 20, 1986 – Van Halen manager Ed Leffler is beaten up at a Dallas hotel by an unknown assailant. July 20, 1975 – The Born To Run tour kicks off at The Palace Theatre in Providence, RI.  This is also the live debut of Steven Van Zandt (Little Steven) as a member of Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band. July 20, 1999 – The Ramones make their … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 20 in Classic Rock →

July 14, 2011 – Triumph has a street named after them in their hometown of Mississauga, Ontario.  All three members attend the ceremony, and in true rock and roll style, they cut the ribbon with a chainsaw. July 14, 1987 – The Steve Miller Band receives a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in front of the Capitol Records Tower. Classic … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 14 in Classic Rock →

July 13, 1984 – For the first and only time, Eddie Van Halen performs “Beat It” live in concert with Michael Jackson, at The Jacksons concert at Texas Stadium in Dallas. Jackson screams, “You got it, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!” July 13, 1984 – The Live Aid concerts take place in London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium.  The concerts are … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 13 in Classic Rock →

July 12, 2007 – Rod Stewart is awarded the CBE Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. July 12, 1979 – The MLB makes a fateful decision when they team up with Chicago disc jockey Steve Dahl for a “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park in Chicago, IL between … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 12 in Classic Rock →

July 11, 1982 – Pete Willis is fired from Def Leppard and replaced by Phil Collen, due to excessive alcohol consumption on the job.  “Things were going too fast for me.” says Willis. “I was still enjoying it, but I was using drink as a crutch. It wasn’t nice to go that way, but it was something that … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 11 in Classic Rock →

July 10, 2012 – Slash gets his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. Ex-bandmates Duff McKagan, Gilby Clark and Steven Adler are in attendance.  Charlie Sheen is the master of ceremonies and quips, “It seems quite fitting that Slash is getting a star on the very street Axl Rose … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 10 in Classic Rock →

July 9, 1995 – Jerry Garcia performs his last concert with the Grateful Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field.  At the time, no one knew this would be Garcia’s last show, even Garcia himself.  Although he’d been clean for several years, Garcia had returned to using drugs to ease some physical ailments.  He died exactly one month later at … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 9 in Classic Rock →

July 8, 1967 – The Monkees start their tour with The Jimi Hendrix Experience as the opening act. Not surprisingly, Hendrix is dropped after six shows when he is told his act is not suitable for the young audience. July 8, 1958 – The first Gold record album certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is awarded to the soundtrack Oklahoma.  At the time, a Gold record … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 8 in Classic Rock →

July 7, 1980 – Led Zeppelin play their last show with the four original members in  West Berlin. They close the set with a 17-minute version of “Whole Lotta Love.”  Unofficially, the band labeled it the “Cut The Waffle” tour. July 7, 1968 – The Yardbirds disband after a gig in Luton, England. Jimmy Page, with outstanding touring obligations for the Yardbirds, assembles … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 7 in Classic Rock →

July 6, 1957 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men (featuring Lennon) were appearing.  McCartney impresses Lennon by playing Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” from Gene Vincent.  He also shows Lennon how to tune his guitar, something he’d been paying someone else to … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 6 in Classic Rock →

July 5, 1968 – Creedence Clearwater Revival release their self-titled debut album. It goes on to sell one million copies in the U.S. July 5, 1995 – More than 100 Grateful Dead fans are injured, some seriously, at a Missouri campground when a balcony they crowded onto to escape the rain collapses, police say. More than 4,000 Deadheads … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 5 in Classic Rock →

July 4, 1982 – Ozzy Osbourne marries Sharon Arden, the daughter of music business manager Don Arden. July 4, 1973 – Slade drummer Don Powell is badly injured in a car crash in which his fiancé is killed. He breaks both of his ankles and five of his ribs and is unconscious for six days after surgeons drill into his skull to … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 4 in Classic Rock →