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 League)
December 24, 1968 – Doyle Bramhall II, guitar (Eric Clapton, Roger Waters)

Backstage Access:
Long Live Lemmy Kilmister

Rock Remembrances

December 24, 1992 – Bobby LaKind, conga player and vocalist with The Doobie Brothers, dies from colon cancer. He was 47. LaKind was a lighting roadie for the band and was hired after they heard him playing the congas onstage after a show.

December 24, 2016 – Rick Parfitt, singer and guitarist with Status Quo, dies in Marbella, Spain of sepsis. He was 68. Status Quo had early success with their song “Pictures of Matchstick Men”.

December 24, 2012 – Ray Collins, lead vocalist and co-founder with Frank Zappa of the Mothers of Invention, dies in Pomona, California after complications from a heart attack. He was 76. The debut album from Mothers of Invention, “Freak Out!”, garnered a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999.

Backstage Access:
A Day in the Life with Frank Zappa