April 10, 1956 – Leo Fender patents his Stratocaster guitar, which is the follow-up to the popular Telecaster. April 10, 1970 – Doors singer Jim Morrison attempts to flash his junk at a show in Boston.  He is dragged off stage by keyboardist Ray Manzarek as Morrison is already facing charges for a similar event … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 10 in Classic Rock →

January 8, 1994 – Nirvana perform their final concert in the U.S. at the Seattle Center Arena. They tour for about two more months in Europe prior to Kurt Cobain’s death. January 8, 1979 – The Canadian Government name Rush the country’s official Ambassadors of Music. The honor comes with a plaque that reads, “We wish to recognize the international aspect … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 8 in Classic Rock →

A new book featuring the writings of Doors frontman Jim Morrison is due for release on June 8th via Harper Collins Publishers. The Collected Works of Jim Morison: Poetry, Journals, Transcripts and Lyrics was born out of a list, written by Morrison at some point before his untimely death, which he had titled “Plan for … Continue reading New Jim Morrison Book Due Out in June →

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 →

I recently watched the new docu-series Laurel Canyon.  If you enjoyed Echo in The Canyon (which I thought was extraordinary), Laurel Canyon is a great follow-up.  It’s a two-part television documentary and gives a much broader view of that legendary Laurel Canyon music scene. It includes many more artists than Echo and I learned a … Continue reading Laurel Canyon, The Byrds, Elvis Costello and My Rickenbacker Guitar →

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 →

If you’ve ever formed a band, you probably know that in those tumultuous first days, coming up with a great name that really fits – and actually sticks – might be the hardest part of the process. Luckily these classic rock bands really nailed it… eventually. Can you imagine today talking about the legendary career … Continue reading Original Names of Famous Classic Rock Bands – Part One (A-H) →

Of course the blues have influenced rock ’n’ roll, well,… ever since there’s been rock ’n’ roll! But, you may not know that many of the songs you know and love were actually initially recorded back in the 1930’s. In fact, some songs on the list may date back hundreds of years!  Here’s a good starter list … Continue reading 11 Classic Rock Hits That Are Actually Blues Songs →

You know there’s bass, guitar and drums in almost every rock song. Throw in a tambourine, a keyboard and some other random percussion instruments and you’ve got a band! But, don’t forget about the lowly easy-to-pack harmonica – you too can buy a harp for under $50 and impress your friends! Here’s a list of … Continue reading Top 10 Rock Harmonica Solos →

The original artwork for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is considered to be the single most valuable piece of art in rock history. This iconic image, valued at an unspecified multi-million-dollar figure, will be exhibited and available for purchase at the San Francisco Art Exchange (SFAE) gallery from September 15 to October 20, … Continue reading Iconic ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Original Artwork on Display in Most Valuable Rock Art Collection Ever Assembled →

If you’re a classic rock fan, you’ve probably got one or two – or all – of these albums in your collection. Here is our list of the Top 10 Most Essential Classic Rock Albums of all time. 10 Revolver – The Beatles Released on August 5, 1966, Revolver was the seventh studio album by … Continue reading 10 Essential Classic Rock Albums You Need to Own →

50 years ago, The Doors‘ “Light My Fire” was at the top of the charts. Recorded in August of 1966, it was featured on The Doors’ eponymous debut album. The song entered the Billboard chart on June 3, and after a few weeks it had climbed to the top, reaching number one on July 29. … Continue reading 50 Years After it Topped the Charts, Watch Robby Krieger Talk About the Writing of “Light My Fire” →