April 12, 2000 – Metallica files suit against Napster, Yale University, The University of Southern California and Indiana University for copyright infringement. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich says, “We take our craft — whether it be the music, the lyrics, or the photos and artwork — very seriously, as do most artists. It is therefore sickening to know that our art is being traded like a commodity rather than the art that it is.”
April 12, 2008 – Lou Reed marries singer Laurie Anderson in Boulder, CO. They had lived together for the previous 10 years. They remained married until his death in 2013.
April 12, 1990 – The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ announced that Asteroids 4147-4150 were named Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr. Astronomer Dr. Bowell says, “My colleague and I have been fans of the Beatles for 25 years. We thought this would be an unusual distinction for them.”
April 12, 1966 – Jan Berry of Jan and Dean is almost killed when he crashes into a parked truck near Dead Man’s Curve in Los Angeles. Berry is partially paralyzed and suffers brain damage after being in a coma for almost two months. He later dies in 2004 after suffering years of medical issues due to his accident.
April 12, 1988 – Sonny Bono is elected mayor of Palm Springs, California. He would hold the position until 1992. He died as California’s 44th district congressman in 1998.
12 Rock & Roll Romances That Inspired the Music
Classic Rock Birthdays
April 12, 1954 – Pat Travers, guitar, vocals
April 12, 1944 – John Kay, guitar, vocals (Steppenwolf)
April 12, 1950 – David Cassidy, vocals, guitar (The Patridge Family) (d. 2017)
April 12, 1951 – Jakson Spires, drums (Blackfoot) (d. 2005)
April 12, 1944 – John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat), guitar, vocals (Steppenwolf)
April 12, 1978 – Guy Berryman, bass (Coldplay)
April 12, 1964 – Amy Ray, guitar, vocals (Indigo Girls)
April 12, 1962 – Art Alexakis, guitar, vocals (Everclear)
April 12, 1940 – Herbie Hancock, keyboards
April 12, 1961 – D. D. Verni (born Carlo Verni), bass, vocals (Overkill)
April 12, 1932 – Tiny Tim (born Herbert B. Khaury), vocals “Tiptoe Through The Tulips” (d. 1996)
