Classics Du Jour

June 25, 2010 – Rush receive their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Musicians Institute.  They are inducted by Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan and Donna Halper, a former music director at Cleveland’s WMMS-FM who was among the first to champion the band on their debut album. June 25, 2004 – After a final encore … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 25 in Classic Rock →

June 24, 1999 – Eric Clapton auctions off 100 of his guitars with proceeds going toward his Crossroads Centre at Antigua, an alcohol and drug-dependency treatment center in the West Indies. The auction generates over $5 million, with his guitar “Brownie,” a 1956 sunburst Fender used to record “Layla”, going for almost $500,000. June 24, 2000 – Kiss begin a 2-day auction of costumes, instruments and … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 24 in Classic Rock →

June 23, 1974 – The first World Series of Rock concert sponsored by WMMS in Cleveland takes place at Cleveland Stadium.  The bill includes The Beach Boys, Joe Walsh & Barnstorm, Lynyrd Skynyrd and REO Speedwagon and attracts over 80,000 fans.  The stadium is demolished in 1996, but not before fifteen more festivals occur. June 23, 1975 – Alice Cooper plummets from the stage … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 23 in Classic Rock →

June 22, 2005 – Ted Nugent is ordered to pay $3,500 per month in child support to Karen Gutowski of Dover, NH.  While married to his current wife, Shemane, with whom he has 4 children, Nugent fathered a son with Gutowski in 1994. June 22, 1981 –  Mark David Chapman says that “God has told me to plead guilty” to the charge of murdering … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 22 in Classic Rock →

June 21, 1985 – Mötley Crüe release their third studio album Theatre of Pain which goes on to sell over four million copies in the U.S. and spawns the hits “Home Sweet Home” and the remake “Smokin’ In The Boys Room.” June 21, 1975 – Ritchie Blackmore leaves Deep Purple to form Rainbow. Blackmore says, “I wasn’t interested in the direction they were going. I thought … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 21 in Classic Rock →

June 20, 1978 – Foreigner releases their second album, Double Vision. It goes on to sell over 7 million copies. June 20, 1948 – Toast Of The Town, which would later be called The Ed Sullivan Show, premieres on CBS. The hosts of the first night’s program are Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.  The show goes on to run for 23 years, on the same network … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 20 in Classic Rock →

June 19, 1987 – Guns N’ Roses perform their first concert outside of the U.S. at London’s legendary Marquee Club.  They neglect to play “Welcome To The Jungle” or “Sweet Child O’ Mine” in their 12-song set. June 19, 2004 – A stick from a thrown lollipop somehow becomes wedged in between David Bowie‘s left eyeball and his eyelid. It’s … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 19 in Classic Rock →

June 18, 1948 – Columbia Records unveils the new 33 rpm record, a replacement for the 78. Nathan Milstein, performing the Mendelssohn violin concerto, was the first 12″ album produced. June 18, 1983 – The Cotton Bowl in Dallas hosts The Texxas Jam, with Uriah Heep, Ted Nugent, Triumph, Sammy Hagar and Styx performing in that order. June 18, 1967 – The Monterey International Pop Festival concludes it’s 3-day … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 18 in Classic Rock →

June 17, 1991 – Van Halen release their 9th album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, also known as F.U.C.K.  Sammy Hagar titles the album, allegedly wanting to push the issue of censorship. The album goes on to sell over 3 million copies in the U.S. June 17, 1997 – Fans riot at an Ozzfest concert in Columbus, Ohio, after Ozzy Osbourne cancels his performance due to throat issues.  The … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 17 in Classic Rock →

June 16, 1967 – The three day Monterey Pop Festival begins and is regarded historically as the start of the “Summer of Love.”  The festival becomes the pre-cursor to Woodstock.  All artists (with the exception of Ravi Shankar) perform for free, with ticket sales donated to charity.  On the first night, the line up is:  The Association, The Paupers, Lou Rawls, … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 16 in Classic Rock →

May 11, 1974 – Led Zeppelin attend an Elvis Presley concert in LA and spend over two hours backstage after the show with Elvis.  Too bad no one recorded that meeting! May 11, 1972 – John Lennon claims he is under FBI surveillance on an appearance on the Dick Cavett Show.  Lennon’s visa had been revoked in March and deportation … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 11 in Classic Rock →

May 10, 2006 – Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter after The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island in February 2003.  Biechele, 29, could have gotten as much as 10 years behind bars, but served less than half of his four-year sentence.  Many … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 10 in Classic Rock →