December 9, 1974 – John Lennon stops by the Monday Night Football announcer’s booth at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park to meet Howard Cosell. The other celebrity guest that night was California governor Ronald Reagan, who explained the rules of football to Lennon. December 9, 1992 – Bill Wyman, bassist for the Rolling Stones, quits the group over frustrations stemming from their … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 9 in Classic Rock →

December 2, 2012 – Led Zeppelin‘s three surviving members, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page, receive the Kennedy Center Honors from President Barack Obama. Their tribute is performed by the Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Jason Bonham, and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. December 2, 2003 – Alice Cooper receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Cooper’s … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 2 in Classic Rock →

November 25, 1976 – The Band film their final performance on Thanksgiving Day at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.  Director Martin Scorsese makes it a documentary called The Last Waltz.  The show also features guest stars  Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, Neil Diamond, Bobby Charles, The Staple Singers, and Eric Clapton. It is generally hailed as one … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 25 in Classic Rock →

November 24, 1984 – Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe marries for the first time, to model Elaine Starchuk (AKA Candice).  They divorce the following year. November 24, 1972 – The music TV show In Concert debuts with Alice Cooper, Bo Diddley and Seals and Crofts. November 24, 2007 – Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea loses his $4.8 million home in a wildfire that sweeps through Malibu.  He … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 24 in Classic Rock →

October 21, 1976 – Keith Moon plays his last show with The Who at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada.  It is the final date on the band’s 1976 tour.  Though Moon would perform with the Who in a couple of special performances filmed for use in the documentary, The Kids Are Alright, this would be his last … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 21 in Classic Rock →

A classic rock themed Halloween costume is… well, a classic. But a boring, off-the-shelf, out-of-the-box costume is no way to impress. Dig through your closets or make a quick stop at a thrift store and I bet you can pull together any of these classic rock costume ideas with just a few bucks and not … Continue reading 10 Best Classic Rock Halloween Costumes and How to Pull Them Off →

August 12, 1991 – Metallica release their fifth album, commonly known as The Black Album. With songs like  “Enter Sandman”, “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “Wherever I May Roam”, and “Sad but True”, the album becomes their best-selling ever, racking up over 31 million copies worldwide. August 12, 1989 – The two-day Moscow Music Peace Festival begins with an … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 12 in Classic Rock →

July 27, 1973 – The self-titled debut by the New York Dolls, produced by Todd Rundgren, is released to critical acclaim and mediocre sales.  However, the album serves as an influential precursor to the developing punk rock scene with such songs as “Personality Crisis,” “Trash,” and “Jet Boy.” July 27, 2010 – Growing Up Twisted, starring Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 27 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 →

March 20, 1969 – John Lennon marries Yoko Ono at the British Consulate Office in Gibraltar. Lennon said at the time, “We chose Gibraltar because it is quiet, British and friendly. We tried everywhere else first. I set out to get married on the car ferry and we would have arrived in France married, but they wouldn’t … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 20 in Classic Rock →

February 24, 1975 – Led Zeppelin release their sixth album Physical Graffiti. It’s a double album featuring 8 new songs, and songs left over from their previous albums Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses Of The Holy.  Featuring an intricate die-cut cover of a New York City brownstone, the album goes on to sell over 8 million copies in the … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 24 in Classic Rock →

February 14, 1970 – The Who play a legendary concert at Leeds University in England which will become the Live at Leeds LP.  The album has been cited by critics and fans as the best live rock recording of all time. February 14, 1992 – Vince Neil is fired from Mötley Crüe and the band releases a statement saying he’s left … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 14 in Classic Rock →