October 5, 2003 – Surviving Nugent, Ted Nugent’s reality show, set on Nugent’s 2000-acre Michigan ranch, premieres on VH1. Seven contestants compete in a series of challenges, like building an outhouse and skinning a boar, for a new pickup truck and $25,000. October 5, 2008 – Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night finally tie the knot after dating for 20 years. … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 5 in Classic Rock →

September 26, 1995 – AC/DC release Ballbreaker, their 12th studio album. The album is produced by Rick Rubin, and marks the return of former drummer Phil Rudd. September 26, 1981 – Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Samson, officially joins Iron Maiden, replacing Paul Di’Anno. It’s a month before performing his first show with the band. … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 26 in Classic Rock →

September 24, 1998 – Former Guns ’N Roses drummer Steven Adler is sentenced to 150 days in jail for attacking two women in separate domestic violence incidents, which also violates his probation from a 1997 conviction in another domestic violence case.  He is additionally sentenced to three years of probation, with the conditions of undergoing a year of domestic violence … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 24 in Classic Rock →

September 20, 1976 – AC/DC release their third studio album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. The album is later certified 6x Platinum and in addition to the title track, includes the songs “Big Balls” and “Problem Child.” Classic Rock Birthdays September 20, 1966 – Nuno Bettencourt, guitar (Extreme, Rihanna) September 20, 1967 – Matthew Nelson … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 20 in Classic Rock →

August 17, 1991 – AC/DC headline the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. with a strong bill – Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Queensrÿche and The Black Crowes. August 17, 1985 – ZZ Top headline the Monster of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. Their bill includes Marillion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Ratt and Magnum. August 17, 2012 – The members of … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 17 in Classic Rock →

July 25, 1980 – AC/DC release Back In Black, their first album with lead singer Brian Johnson.  The album sells over 50 million copies worldwide, making it the second highest-selling album of all time (Thriller is #1), and the best-selling hard rock or heavy metal album. Watch Kids React to AC/DC > July 25, 1999 – Woodstock closes out its 3-day festival … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 25 in Classic Rock →

July 9, 1995 – Jerry Garcia performs his last concert with the Grateful Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field.  At the time, no one knew this would be Garcia’s last show, even Garcia himself.  Although he’d been clean for several years, Garcia had returned to using drugs to ease some physical ailments.  He died exactly one month later at … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 9 in Classic Rock →

June 6, 1981 – The first issue of heavy metal magazine Kerrang is published as a special pull-out by UK weekly music paper Sounds.  AC/DC is on the front cover and there are features on Motörhead, Girlschool and Saxon. June 6, 2004 – Metallica play a rare gig at the Download Festival in England’s Donington Park without drummer Lars Ulrich, who is … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 6 in Classic Rock →

April 8, 1998 –  Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee is sentenced to at least six months in County Jail after pleading no contest to a felony charge of beating his wife, actress Pamela Anderson Lee. He was released after 90 days for good behavior. Concurrently, he completed a 30-day sentence for beating a security guard at a Crüe concert … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 8 in Classic Rock →

March 31, 2015 – Van Halen releases their first-ever live album to feature original singer David Lee Roth. Recorded on June 21, 2013 at the famed Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO DOME LIVE IN CONCERT includes 23 songs, spanning all seven of the band’s albums with Roth. March 31, 1992 – Def Leppard releases Adrenalize, their first album after the death of … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 31 in Classic Rock →