August 22, 1987 – Bon Jovi headlines the eighth annual Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. Other acts include Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella. For the encores, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister join them onstage for CCR’s “Travelin’ Band” and Grand Funk’s “We’re An American Band”.
August 22, 1978 – Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols makes his last live stage appearance when he appears with Rat Scabies from The Damned, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Nancy Spungen at London’s Electric Ballroom. In the audience are Elvis Costello, Blondie and Joan Jett. He dies in February of 1979 of a drug overdose.
30 Rock Stars That Changed Their Name
Classic Rock Birthdays
August 22, 1959 – Juan Croucier, bass, vocals (Ratt)
August 22, 1967 – Layne Staley, vocals (Alice In Chains) (d. 2002)
August 22, 1958 – Vernon Reid, guitar (Living Colour)
August 22, 1948 – David Marks, guitar, vocals (The Beach Boys)
August 22, 1963 – Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos), vocals, keyboards
August 22, 1961 – Roland Orzabal, vocals, guitar (Tears For Fears)
August 22, 1961 – Debbie Peterson, drums, vocals (The Bangles)
August 22, 1947 – Donna Godchaux, vocals (Grateful Dead)
August 22, 1912 – John Lee Hooker, vocals, guitar (d. 2001)
Backstage Access:
Explaining the Grateful Dead
Rock Remembrances
August 22, 2006 – Bruce Gary, drummer for The Knack, dies of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Tarzana, California. He was 55. After the breakup of The Knack in 1982, Gary became an in-demand session drummer for artist including Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Stephen Stills, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Harry Nilsson and Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. He also worked with blues masters Albert King and John Lee Hooker.
August 22, 2011 – Songwriter and producer Jerry Leiber dies in Los Angeles from cardio-pulmonary failure. He was 78. With composer Mike Stoller, he wrote many hits including “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Stand By Me,” “Poison Ivy,” “Love Potion #9” and “Stuck in the Middle With You.” They were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
August 22, 2018 – Ed King, guitarist for Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd, dies of cancer at his home in Nashville, TN. He was 68. King began his career as co-founder and guitarist of Strawberry Alarm Clock (“Incense and Peppermints”) and when they disbanded in 1972, he joined Lynyrd Skynyrd replacing Leon Wilkeson as their bassist. When Wilkeson returned to the band, King switched to guitar and famously co-wrote “Sweet Home Alabama” and many more hits. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Classic Rock Landmarks:
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird
