August 3, 1968 – The Newport Pop Festival begins in Costa Mesa, CA.  It is the first concert with more than 100,000 paid attendees.  Performers include The Grateful Dead, Alice Cooper, Canned Heat, Electric Flag, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sonny & Cher, Steppenwolf and Tiny Tim.  Admission was $5.50 per day for the … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 3 in Classic Rock →

This extraordinary film is a must see.  The trailer (you can watch it below) will immediately get you hooked. Laurel canyon, for those that don’t know, is a central thoroughfare that runs from the Sunset Strip up through the Hollywood Hills to Mulholland Drive and then down again, pouring out into the San Fernando Valley.  … Continue reading Echo In The Canyon – Mighty Big Echo! →

June 20, 2011 – Leslie West of Mountain has his right leg amputated below the knee at a Biloxi, Mississippi hospital the day after performing at the Hard Rock Cafe in the city. West later says, “When I play ‘Mississippi Queen’ now, I think about Jesus Christ.” June 20, 1978 – Foreigner releases their second album, Double Vision. It goes on to sell … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 20 in Classic Rock →

June 11, 1983 – Alex Van Halen marries Valerie Kendall with Alex’s brother Eddie as the best man. The couple divorce less than a year later. June 11, 2002 – Paul McCartney marries Heather Mills in Ireland. In attendance are Elton John, David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde and Ringo Starr. After a nasty court battle, they divorce in 2008. June 11, 1971 – Dennis Wilson, drummer for … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 11 in Classic Rock →

Brian Wilson has postponed his upcoming June tour, saying he feels “mentally insecure”. The man who was the genius behind The Beach Boys has famously struggled with mental illness for decades. “As you may know in the last year or so I’ve had 3 surgeries on my back. The surgeries were successful and I’m physically … Continue reading Brian Wilson Cancels Tour Due to ‘Mental Insecurity’ →

May 1, 1967 – Elvis Presley (32) marries Priscilla Beaulieu (21) at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. This was the first marriage for them both and the only time Elvis was officially married.  The cake cost $3200, which at the time was more than the price of an average car.  The only celebrity guest was comedian Redd … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 1 in Classic Rock →

Surf rock pioneer Dick Dale has died at the age of 81. Affectionately known as “The King of the Surf Guitar”, he is credited with originating surf-style music. Dale was born ‘Richard Anthony Monsour’ in Boston, MA in 1937. The son of a Lebanese immigrant, he grew up in Massachusetts but relocated to Southern California … Continue reading Dick Dale, Surf Rock Pioneer, Dead at 81 →

February 6, 2001 – Guitarist Don Felder is fired from The Eagles. He would later launch a $50 million law suit against drummer Don Henley and guitarist Glen Frey, alleging wrongful termination and breach of contract and fiduciary duty. Both parties settled out-of-court for an undisclosed amount.   Folder is a co-writer along with Frey and … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 6 in Classic Rock →

January 20, 1982 – Ozzy Osbourne bites the head off a live bat at a show in Des Moines, Iowa, thinking it was a rubber bat thrown on the stage.  In his memoir, he says, “Immediately, though, something felt wrong. Very wrong. For a start, my mouth was instantly full of this warm, gloopy liquid, with the … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 20 in Classic Rock →

January 3, 1967 – Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys declares himself a conscientious objector and refuses to be sworn in after receiving an induction notice from the US Army, leading to his indictment and criminal prosecution for draft evasion. Finally, in September 1971, the judge agreed to a plan that allowed Wilson to perform community service by … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 3 in Classic Rock →