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 →

The original line-up of Bon Jovi will reunite on stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this coming April. Former members Alec John Such, the group’s original bassist who left in 1994 and guitarist Richie Sambora who quit in 2013 will join up with fellow founding members Jon Bon Jovi, David … Continue reading Original Bon Jovi Lineup Reuniting for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony →

February 7, 1964 – The Beatles are greeted by over 5,000 fans, mostly young girls, who are crowded onto the upper balcony of New York’s JFK airport, waving placards and banners to welcome the group. Paul McCartney remembers it like this, “There were millions of kids at the airport, which nobody had expected. We heard about it in mid-air. … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 7 in Classic Rock →

Bon Jovi have announced the spring leg of their This House Is Not For Sale Tour. The run will kick off in Denver, Co on March 14 and conclude May 14 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The band will also celebrate their return to the road with the re-release of This House Is … Continue reading Bon Jovi Announces 2018 North American Tour Dates →

December 17, 1994 – Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi marries actress Heather Locklear in Paris. They divorce in 2006. December 17, 1969 – Singer Tiny Tim marries Miss Vicki Budinger on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with 40 million people watching. The program receives the second largest ratings of any show up to that time.  Tiny Tim was known … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 17 in Classic Rock →

Bon Jovi, The Moody Blues, The Cars, Dire Straits and Nina Simone will all be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 it was announced Wednesday. The inductees were chosen by the organizations international voting body that includes artists, historians and industry members. Nominees that didn’t make the cut include The … Continue reading Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Reveals 2018 Inductees →