September 7, 1968 – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham make their live debut as Led Zeppelin (but are billed as The Yardbirds) at Gladsaxe Teen Club in a suburb on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark. Around 1,200 people attend the show. The band is later billed as “The New Yardbirds,” before choosing the … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 7 in Classic Rock →

August 5, 1975 – The first all-female hard-rock band is formed when producer Kim Fowley puts together The Runaways, featuring Joan Jett, future Bangle Michael Steele, and Lita Ford. August 5, 1994 – Billy Idol is rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, CA following a suspected overdose.  Earlier in the year, he had collapsed in convulsions outside the … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 5 in Classic Rock →

February 3, 1969 – The Beatles hire Allen Klein as their new manager, following the death of Brian Epstein. Klein got his start working for Sam Cooke and Bobby Darin, with whom he gained a reputation for being ruthless on behalf of artists whose royalties were being hidden through accounting tricks. This endeared him to the Rolling Stones, … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 3 in Classic Rock →

January 31, 1959 – Robert Zimmerman, 17, (later known as Bob Dylan) sees Buddy Holly perform at the Duluth Armory in Minnesota. Dylan later said, “Buddy Holly’s songs were much more simplified [than Chuck Berry’s songs], but what I got out of Buddy was that you can take influences from anywhere. Like his ‘That’ll Be The Day.’ … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 31 in Classic Rock →

One of the coolest things that happened working closely with so many great musicians while I was at Columbia Records was talking music with them and especially talking guitar with all the great players I met. The most fascinating thing was the discovery that at the end of the day, after all the fame, all … Continue reading Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll – Now At The Met in New York! WOW!! →

Almost six decades later, the National Transportation Safety Board has said they will consider re-opening their investigation into the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, as well as the pilot, 21-year-old Roger Peterson. The crash, which happened in February 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa was ruled to have been … Continue reading NTSA May Open New Investigation into Plane Crash That Killed Buddy Holly →

Bobby Keys, saxophonist for The Rolling Stones for more than 40 years, passed away Tuesday. He was 70 years old. “The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys,” reads a statement from the band. “Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since … Continue reading Rolling Stones Saxophonist Bobby Keys Dies at 70 →