April 6, 1987 – Roger Waters says he will contest the use of the name “Pink Floyd” by anyone else other than himself as he believes he is the creative driving force behind the band. April 6, 1993 – Peter Criss, former drummer for the rock group KISS, settles a libel lawsuit against Star magazine for portraying him as … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 6 in Classic Rock →

April 4, 2009 – Flea inducts Metallica into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a moving tribute to the deceased Cliff Burton.  This is the first-ever induction ceremony open to the public.  Jeff Beck is also inducted by his former Yardbird colleague Jimmy Page. April 4, 2015 – Marilyn Manson is sucker-punched at a Denny’s in Alberta, … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 4 in Classic Rock →

March 24, 2001 – A stretch of road on Highway 19 in Macon, Georgia, is named Duane Allman Boulevard, near where the Allman Brothers guitarist died at age 24 in a motorcycle crash on October 29, 1971. March 24, 1962 – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards perform their first paid gig when they appear as Little Boy Blue & … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 24 in Classic Rock →

March 22, 1994 – Pantera release their 7th studio album, Far Beyond Driven. It joins the elite group of million-selling hard rock albums, going platinum in the U.S., Australia and Canada.  It’s also the first album where Darrell Abbott is credited as “Dimebag Darrell,” having switched from the moniker “Diamond Darrell.” March 22, 1974 – The Eagles release … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 22 in Classic Rock →

January 24, 1981 – Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler runs into a tree on his motorcycle, tearing open his heel.  The accident leaves him hospitalized for two months, and recovering for almost a year. January 24, 1995 – Van Halen release their tenth studio album Balance, which is their final album with Sammy Hagar. The album reaches #1 on the Billboard 200 … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 24 in Classic Rock →

January 23, 2004 – David Palmer, former keyboardist for Jethro Tull, announces he has had a sex change and is now known as Dee Palmer. Palmer was born with genital ambiguity, assigned male at birth, and said her desire to change sex had been an “open secret” in the music business for many years. She did not have her sex change operation until the … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 23 in Classic Rock →

December 12, 2003 – Mick Jagger becomes a Sir after being knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Jagger’s 92-year-old father is at the Palace to see his son receive the award. “The thing about honors is that you should never ask for them, and you should never really expect them, but I think you should accept them if … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 12 in Classic Rock →

November 20, 1973 – Sometime during the Who‘s show, Keith Moon downs a pile of horse tranquilizers handed to him by an audience member, and chases them with a bottle of brandy. Evidently mumbling something to the effect of “I can take it, I’m Keith ‘F***ing’ Moon.” He ends up passing out and is in a near-coma when taken to … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 20 in Classic Rock →

November 11, 1968 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono release Unfinished Music No.1: Two Virgins which is the first of three experimental albums they produce.  The album features a cover photo of the pair naked, which many record stores carry in a brown paper wrapper. November 11, 1990 – A 21 year-old AC/DC fan dies after suffering fatal head injuries … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 11 in Classic Rock →

October 29, 1983 – Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon album marks its 491st week on the Billboard album chart, surpassing the previous record holder, Johnny’s Greatest Hits, by Johnny Mathis. It remained on the chart until October of 1988, setting a record for 741 weeks on the chart. David Gilmour Discusses “Dark Side of the Moon” with CDJ’s Paul Rappaport … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 29 in Classic Rock →

October 28, 2014 – The Allman Brothers Band play their last show together at the Beacon Theater in New York City.  The end came after more than four hours of music – three sets and the perfect encore, “Whipping Post.” October 28, 1997 – R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry announces he is leaving the group after 17 years. Berry now works on … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 28 in Classic Rock →

August 26, 1990 – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble perform their last show at Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI. During their encore, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy and Jimmy Vaughan join them onstage.  A few hours later, Stevie Ray Vaughan dies in a helicopter crash. August 26, 1970 – The five-day Isle of Wight festival begins in … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 26 in Classic Rock →