May 29, 1983 – Kiss play their last concert in their traditional makeup, but 13 years later they slap it on again when they reunite. May 29, 2009 – Ozzy Osbourne files a lawsuit against Tony Iommi, his Black Sabbath bandmate. Osbourne claims that Iommi illegally took sole ownership of the Black Sabbath name, and … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 29 in Classic Rock →

May 20, 2015 – Whitesnake release “The Purple Album,” a tribute to Deep Purple, featuring songs from singer David Coverdale’s two albums with the band. “It’s a tribute. A homage. It’s a huge thank you from me to Deep Purple for the opportunity I was given over 40 years ago,” states Coverdale. May 20, 1998 – Mötley Crüe‘s Tommy Lee is sentenced to 180 days in jail, … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 20 in Classic Rock →

April 27, 1979 – Ozzy Osbourne is fired from Black Sabbath and replaced by  Ronnie James Dio. Osbourne first reunites with the band at Live Aid in 1985 and then many times after. April 27, 2006 – Keith Richards falls out of a palm tree in Fiji, suffering a brain hemorrhage. Richards later undergoes cranial surgery in New Zealand. April 27, 2009 – Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 27 in Classic Rock →

April 25, 1980 – Black Sabbath release their ninth studio album, Heaven and Hell. It’s the first Sabbath album to feature Ronnie James Dio as lead singer, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne.  The album goes on to reach platinum status in the U.S. April 25, 1988 – Doc McGhee, manager of Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe, pleads guilty to importing more than 40,000 lbs of … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 25 in Classic Rock →

April 6, 1993 – Peter Criss, former drummer for the rock group KISS, settles a libel lawsuit against Star magazine for portraying him as a homeless alcoholic.  ”At least now I can go on with a clearer head, now that this is over,” he said. “I could write a song about this whole thing. Maybe I will.” A Jan. … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 6 in Classic Rock →

March 9, 1970 – Having recently changed their name from Earth to Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make their concert debut at The Roundhouse in London. March 9, 1981 – Robert Plant performs his first solo concert since the breakup of Led Zeppelin in Stourbridge, U.K. March 9, 1976 … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 9 in Classic Rock →

February 19, 1982 – Ozzy Osbourne is arrested in San Antonio for urinating on the Alamo Cenotaph, a 60-foot high statue erected in 1939 to honor the 189 Texans who died there. The Cenotaph is adjacent to the mission, in the Alamo Plaza.  At the time of his arrest, Osbourne is wearing Sharon’s dress. February 19, 1995 – Tommy Lee of … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 19 in Classic Rock →

February 13, 1970 – Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album is released in the U.K., although it doesn’t come out in the U.S. until June.  The album was recorded in just 12 hours, and has since been credited as one of the most influential albums of all time in heavy metal music. February 13, 2005 – Led Zeppelin are … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 13 in Classic Rock →

January 28, 1985 – The charity single “We Are The World” is recorded in Los Angeles to benefit African famine relief. The single is the brainchild of activist Harry Belafonte and was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The song features Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Bob … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 28 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 →

December 11, 1968 – Filming begins on The Rolling Stones‘ Rock And Roll Circus movie. Conceived by Mick Jagger, the event was comprised of two concerts on a circus stage and included such acts as John Lennon and his fiancée Yoko Ono performing as part of a supergroup called The Dirty Mac, along with Eric … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 11 in Classic Rock →

December 3, 1979 – Eleven fans are trampled to death at a Who concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati.  Another 26 fans are injured.  At 7:05, after the Who had finished their sound check, a paltry 5 of the Coliseum’s 134 doors were opened, because only nine ticket takers had been hired.  The Coliseum said enlisting ushers would be … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 3 in Classic Rock →