Willie Nelson once told me, “Paul, fame is funny thing. Some people really want it, but when it comes, they can’t handle it.” Echoing Willie, in an interview talking about Brian Jones, Mick Jagger said, “Fame doesn’t sit comfortably on anyone’s shoulders. But some people’s shoulders don’t seem to fit it on at all.” The … Continue reading The Downside of Fame for Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, and More →

September 19, 1985 – Dee Snider, Frank Zappa and John Denver testify before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee against the Parents Music Resource Center’s plans on demanding warning labels on albums. Frank Zappa says that, “The PMRC proposal is an ill-conceived piece of nonsense which fails to deliver any real benefits to children, … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 19 in Classic Rock →

August 30, 1965 – Bob Dylan releases his sixth studio album, Highway 61 Revisited. It is Dylan’s first mostly electric album, and receives much critical acclaim and platinum status. August 30, 1969 – The second Isle Of Wight Festival takes place in front of 150,000 people over a 3-day period. Acts include Bob Dylan, The Band, Joe Cocker, Free, The Moody … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 30 in Classic Rock →

August 28, 1964 – The Beatles meet Bob Dylan for the first time, after their concert at New York’s Forest Hills Tennis Stadium. He introduces them to marijuana. August 28, 1966 – The Beatles perform at Dodger Stadium in LA  before a crowd of 45,000. Bob Eubanks is the concert’s promoter, a radio DJ who had been staging 100 concerts a year and goes … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 28 in Classic Rock →

August 2, 1973 – Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan. His biographer Mark Epstein says, “He was a great fan of Matt Dillon, the sheriff of the television series Gunsmoke. In 1958, he confided to his high school sweetheart that he planned to devote his life to music, adding that ‘I know what I’m going … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 2 in Classic Rock →

August 1, 1981 – MTV begins airing music videos with the legendary opening, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock & Roll.”  That’s followed by the now familiar power-chord-fueled guitar riff theme. The first ten videos are: The Buggles “Video Killed The Radio Star”, Pat Benatar “You Better Run”, Rod Stewart “She Won’t Dance With Me”, The Who “You Better You Bet”, … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 1 in Classic rock →

July 29, 1974 – Neil Peart officially joins Rush, replacing John Rutsey, who leaves the band due to health problems and creative differences.  Peart has to learn the band’s entire live repertoire in only two weeks, as their American debut is on August 11 in Pittsburgh, opening for Manfred Mann and Uriah Heep. July 29, 2015 – The Eagles play their … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 29 in Classic Rock →

July 25, 1965 – Bob Dylan performs an electric set for the first time at The Newport Folk Festival in Newport, RI and is booed off the stage and accused of being a sellout by leading members of the folk movement. Classic Rock Landmarks:“Like a Rolling Stone” July 25, 1999 – Woodstock closes out its 3-day festival in Rome, NY with riots … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 25 in Classic Rock →

“He not busy being born, is busy dying.” There it was, hiding in plain view in one of Bob Dylan’s most memorable lyrics, released in the spring of 1965. “He not busy being born, is busy dying.” Dylan, 23 and a firmly established toast of the thriving folk scene, laid it all out there: stagnation … Continue reading Classic Rock Landmarks: Like a Rolling Stone →

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 →

June 9, 1978 – The Rolling Stones release Some Girls, the first studio album recorded with Ronnie Wood.  The album goes on to sell over 6 million in the U.S. June 9, 1979 – The 2nd annual Texxas Jam takes place at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The bill includes bands in this order:  TKO, Sammy Hagar, Nazareth, Van Halen, Boston, Heart and … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 9 in Classic Rock →

May 24, 1994 – Bret Michaels of Poison loses control of his Ferrari and crashes into a telephone pole in Burbank, CA.  He breaks his thumb, nose and collarbone, loses four teeth, cracks his sternum, and receives a hairline fracture of his upper jawbone. According to police reports, he passed out behind the wheel while driving. May 24, 1974 – David Bowie releases his 8th studio album Diamond Dogs. … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 24 in Classic Rock →