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 →

September 23, 1980 – Bob Marley collapses on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marley had collapsed in New York’s Central Park while jogging two days before and was told to immediately cancel the U.S. tour, but flew to Pittsburgh to perform one final performance. This was the last time Marley ever appeared on stage.  He died … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 23 in Classic Rock →

May 21, 1966 – Bruce Springsteen and his band The Castiles perform at Freehold Regional High School in New Jersey.  All the band members are juniors at the school. May 21, 2008 – Steven Tyler of Aerosmith checks into a rehab clinic in Pasadena, CA to recover from surgeries that repaired damage to his feet. May 21, 1983 – Def Leppard make their only … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 21 in Classic Rock →

May 11, 1974 – Led Zeppelin attend an Elvis Presley concert in LA and spend over two hours backstage after the show with Elvis.  Too bad no one recorded that meeting! May 11, 1972 – John Lennon claims he is under FBI surveillance on an appearance on the Dick Cavett Show.  Lennon’s visa had been revoked in March and deportation … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 11 in Classic Rock →

Since 1959, all the way back when Domenico Modugno swept the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories with “Nel Blu Dipinto Blu (Volare)” (in Italian no less!), the Recording Academy has awarded more than 8,000 Grammy Awards to a wide variety of artists.  The Beatles were the first rock band to … Continue reading You Won’t Believe This List of Rock Artists Who Have Never Won a Grammy →

In times of uncertainty, conspiracy theories thrive. And the world of classic rock has never been immune. But while these rock related conspiracy theories range from conceivable to crazy, there’s no shortage of people out there who are sure they are true. The majority of the most notorious conspiracy theories in music fit conveniently into … Continue reading Death, the Devil and the CIA: Classic Rock Conspiracy Theories that Range from Completely Crazy to Entirely Conceivable →

Helios Console (Image: Bonhams Auctions) A significant piece of rock music history is going up for auction next month. Bonhams Auction House has revealed that they will be taking bids on a console which was used to record portions of Led Zeppelin’s IV including “Stairway To Heaven.” This unique console is actually an amalgamation of … Continue reading Studio Desk Used to Record Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” Going Up For Auction →

It’s true – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Many of your favorite rock stars have produced children that have gone into the family business, with varying degrees of success. Below are some of the “kids” that have succeeded in major ways. 01 The Beatles’ offspring Ranking this list was extremely difficult, so … Continue reading The Most Musically Gifted Children of Rock Stars →

Rock artists have always been socially conscious, and their fans have generally been supportive of their causes. But sometimes, the fans get it all wrong and misconstrue the meaning of the song, as evidenced by the protest song that came in at #1. 10 Peter Gabriel – “Biko” (1980) Apartheid This tribute to Steve Biko, … Continue reading Top 10 Best Protest Songs →

From Led Zeppelin to The Rolling Stones, Elvis to Madonna, Bob Dylan to Bob Marley, John Lennon to Johnny Rotten, the world’s foremost rock ‘n’ roll photographer Bob Gruen has captured half a century of music through the eye of a lens. Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Don Letts explores Gruen’s life and work as he opens … Continue reading “Rock ‘N’ Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen” Premieres on Showtime June 13th →