April 17, 1975 – Elvis Presley buys a $250,000 private jet, which he re-christens Lisa Marie. He spends an additional $600,000 refurbishing the jet with a dance floor (!) and other personal quarters.  That’s about $3.8 million today. April 17, 1983 – Joe Strummer of The Clash runs the London Marathon, finishing with a time of 4 hours and … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 17 in Classic Rock →

April 2, 1969 – Bruce Springsteen‘s new group Child makes their live debut at the Pandemonium Club in Wanamassa, New Jersey. April 2, 1967 –  A Rolling Stones concert in Vienna, Austria is disrupted when a smoke bomb lands on stage.  The incident leads to a riot with over 150 arrests. April 2, 1999 – After … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 2 in Classic Rock →

March 21, 1994 – Bruce Springsteen wins an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Streets of Philadelphia.” The song goes on to win four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. March 21, 1952 – Famed DJ Alan Freed (“Moondog”) presents the Moondog Coronation Ball at the Cleveland … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 21 in Classic Rock →

February 26, 1985 – Bruce Springsteen wins his first Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance for “Dancing In The Dark.”  To date, Springsteen has won 20 Grammys. February 26, 1997 – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart of Rush receive the Order of Canada, the highest civilian award from the Canadian government, for significant achievement in important fields of human endeavor.  They are … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 26 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 22, 2004 – The Bottom Line nightclub in New York City is forced to close its doors after failed negotiations with its landlord, New York University.  Bruce Springsteen offers to pay their back rent if they can work out a new lease, but the deal does not come to fruition. January 22, 1990 – Guns N’ … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 22 in Classic Rock →

January 5, 2004 – Ray Davies of the Kinks is shot in the leg in New Orleans trying to recover his date’s stolen purse.  The shooter is immediately caught, but released three years later because Davies couldn’t make it back to Louisiana with only three days notice for the trial. January 5, 1973 – Bruce Springsteen releases his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 5 in Classic Rock →

Classics Du Jour (CDJ) is excited and proud to announce the release of “Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay and The Art Of Rock Promotion” written by our own Paul Rappaport (‘Backstage Access‘)! Release date for the book is April 1st (available NOW for presale through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold ).“Gliders Over Hollywood” tells the exhilarating true … Continue reading CDJ’s Paul Rappaport Shares the Stories and Secrets Behind Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Greatest Promotional Antics in his New Memoir ‘Gliders Over Hollywood’ →

November 30, 2000 – The City of New York officially names the corner of Bowery and Second Street “Joey Ramone Place.” It is the block where Joey once lived with bandmate Dee Dee Ramone and is near the music club CBGB, where the Ramones played their first gigs. In 2010, it was reported that “Joey … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 30 in Classic Rock →

November 27, 1967 – The Beatles release Magical Mystery Tour, which goes on to sell over 6 million copies in the U.S.  Released as a double EP in the UK and an LP in the U.S., the album included the soundtrack to the film of the same name and was nominated for a Grammy. November 27, 1991 – Freddie Mercury’s … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 27 in Classic Rock →

November 22, 1963 – The Beatles release their second album With The Beatles which becomes only the second album in history to sell a million copies in the U.K.  Half of the 14 songs on the album are covers. November 22, 1968 – The Beatles release their 9th studio album The Beatles, commonly known as the … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 22 in Classic Rock →

November 10, 1986 – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band release Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85; it sells one-million copies in one day.  Live/1975–85 is the second best selling live album in U.S. history, selling 13x platinum, trailing only Garth Brooks’ Double Live. November 10, 2014 – Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan is arrested after an alleged air rage incident on a … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 10 in Classic Rock →