December 27, 1932 – Radio City Music Hall, the world’s largest indoor theater at the time, opens in New York City with a massive six-hour show. With 6,200 seats and a stage spanning 10,000 square feet, more than 300 million people have gone to Radio City to enjoy movies, stage shows, concerts, and special events. December … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 27 in Classic Rock →

December 26, 1963 – Capitol Records releases the first Beatles single in the United States.  It’s “I Want To Hold Your Hand” backed with “I Saw Her Standing There.” December 26, 1968 – Led Zeppelin start their first North American tour, supporting Vanilla Fudge and Spirit at Denver Auditorium, in Colorado. Tickets for the Sunday night show cost $5. Top 15 … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 26 in Classic Rock →

December 25, 1981 – The J. Geils Band play two Christmas concerts for prisoners at Boston’s Norfolk Correctional facility. Lead singer Peter Wolf tells his captive audience, “We wanna be the first to buy you all a free drink on the outside.” Classic Rock Birthdays December 25, 1940 – Pete Brown, musician and songwriter (Cream) … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 25 in Classic Rock →

December 24, 1971 – The New York Dolls make their live debut at a homeless shelter, the Endicott Hotel, in New York City. Classic Rock Birthdays December 24, 1945 – Lemmy (born Ian Fraser Kilmister), singer, bassist (Motörhead) (d. 2015)December 24, 1946 – Jan Akkerman, guitar (Focus)December 24, 1957 – Ian Burden, keyboards, bass (Human … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 24 in Classic Rock →

December 23, 1985 – Judas Priest fans Raymond Belknap, 18, and James Vance, 20, shoot themselves after listening to the Judas Priest album, Stained Class. Belknap dies, but Vance lives for more than three years before dying from the effects of the shooting.  The parents later file an infamous lawsuit against the band claiming their music was filled with subliminal messages. December 23, … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 23 in Classic Rock →

December 22, 1987 – Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue is pronounced “dead on arrival” in an ambulance when his heart stops beating for two minutes. Sixx is given two shots of adrenaline in his chest, which revives him. In his book, The Heroin Diaries, Sixx says, “I ripped out my tubes and staggered in just my leather pants … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 22 in Classic Rock →

December 21, 1970 – Elvis Presley meets with President Richard Nixon at The White House to volunteer his services in fighting the war on drugs. Elvis had written a letter to President Nixon asking to be made a “Federal Agent at Large” for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. No such position actually existed, but Nixon, wanting desperately … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 21 in Classic Rock →

December 20, 1980 – Motörhead drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor accidentally breaks his neck after being lifted above the head of a friend in a test of strength, only to be dropped upon his head. Taylor continued to play in Motörhead with the aid of a neck brace, as is visible in the music video for “Ace of … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 20 in Classic Rock →

Julien’s Auctions has announced the forthcoming auction “Celebrating Bob Dylan: The Aronowitz Archive, T Bone Burnett, & More” will be held at the Musician’s Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, TN on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The auction features 60 items, 50 of these from journalist Al Aronowitz’s personal archive including two pages containing … Continue reading Bob Dylan’s Original “Mr. Tambourine Man” Typewritten Draft Lyrics Set for Auction →

December 19, 1975 – Ronnie Wood officially leaves The Faces, leaving him free to join The Rolling Stones months later. Classic Rock Birthdays December 19, 1944 – Alvin Lee (born Graham Anthony Barnes), guitar, vocals (Ten Years After) (d. 2013)December 19, 1957 – Doug Johnson, keyboards (Loverboy)December 19, 1944 – Zal Yanovsky, guitar, vocals (The Lovin’ Spoonful) (d. 2002) Backstage Access:Alvin Lee, Finally Going Home Rock … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 19 in Classic Rock →

December 18, 1983 – Keith Richards marries model and actress Patti Hansen in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Mick Jagger is Richards’ best man. December 18, 1988 – Mike Peters of The Alarm has his eyes burnt by spotlights during a show in Chester, England. He regains his sight two weeks later. December 18, 2000 – Bob Geldof is granted custody of … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 18 in Classic Rock →

December 17, 1994 – Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi marries actress Heather Locklear in Paris. They divorce in 2006. December 17, 1969 – Singer Tiny Tim marries Miss Vicki Budinger on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with 40 million people watching. The program receives the second largest ratings of any show up to that time.  Tiny Tim was known … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 17 in Classic Rock →