September 22, 1985 – The first Farm Aid benefit concert is held at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois to help American farmers.  Organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, the event draws over 80,000 people, raises over $9 million and features The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Foreigner, Don … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 22 in Classic Rock →

August 22, 1987 – Bon Jovi headlines the eighth annual Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. Other acts include Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella. For the encores, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister join them onstage for CCR’s “Travelin’ Band” and Grand Funk’s “We’re An American … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 22 in Classic Rock →

August 18, 1987 – Aerosmith release their “comeback” album Permanent Vacation. It goes on to sell five million copies in the U.S. and spawn the hits “Rag Doll,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” and “Angel.” August 18, 1990 – The Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. features Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Poison, Quireboys and Thunder.  During Aerosmith’s set Jimmy Page joins them onstage … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 18 in Classic Rock →

July 11, 1982 – Pete Willis is fired from Def Leppard and replaced by Phil Collen, due to excessive alcohol consumption on the job.  “Things were going too fast for me.” says Willis. “I was still enjoying it, but I was using drink as a crutch. It wasn’t nice to go that way, but it was something that … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 11 in Classic Rock →

July 1, 1983 – Bon Jovi signs with Mercury Records, and goes on to sell over 130 million records worldwide.  Initially, they had considered calling themselves “Johnny Electric.” July 1, 1978 – The very first Texxas Jam takes place at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, with Aerosmith, Van Halen, Journey, Ted Nugent, Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush, Heart, Head East, Eddie Money, … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 1 in Classic Rock →

May 17, 1963 – The first Monterey Folk Festival takes place over three days in Monterey, California. The festival features Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary and Jerry Garcia.  It is the precursor to the infamous 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. May 17, 1987 – Tom Petty and his family barely escape a fire that engulfs their home in Encino, CA and destroys everything.  It is … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 17 in Classic Rock →

The Kingsmen – “Louie Louie” April 28, 2014 – Scorpions drummer James Kottak is sentenced to one month in a Dubai jail for being intoxicated and drinking without a license, flipping off passengers on his flight from Russia, and allegedly exposing himself.  He is also convicted of insulting Islam. Kottak spent time in prison, forcing the Scorpions to find a … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 28 in Classic Rock →

Bon Jovi’s original line-up reunited on stage Saturday night for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Guitarist Richie Sambora, who left the band in 2013 and original bassist Alec John Such who quit in 1994 took the stage with their former bandmates to deliver a fiery performance of some of Bon … Continue reading Bon Jovi Reunite for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction →

March 25, 1990 – Mötley Crüe‘s Tommy Lee is arrested for mooning the audience during a gig in Augusta, GA.  Lee is charged with “Indecent Exposure/Live Sexually Explicit Act” and fined $1,647.  The arresting officer tells the Augusta Chronicle that Lee, “…could not have been a nicer guy, and the entire group was extremely cordial and even thanked us … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 25 in Classic Rock →

  March 2, 1988 – U2 win their first Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Performance by a Rock Duo or Group with Vocal for the album The Joshua Tree.  Currently, they now have 24 Grammy Awards. March 2, 1984 – This Is Spinal Tap is released in theaters, forever changing the perception of hard rock and heavy … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 2 in Classic Rock →