January 18, 1989 – Stevie Wonder becomes the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the age of 38.  Later, in 2012, Josh Klinghoffer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers becomes the youngest Rock and Roll Hall of Famer ever inducted at the age of 32. January 18, 1991 … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 18 in Classic Rock →

November 20, 1973 – Sometime during the Who‘s show, Keith Moon downs a pile of horse tranquilizers handed to him by an audience member, and chases them with a bottle of brandy. Evidently mumbling something to the effect of “I can take it, I’m Keith ‘F***ing’ Moon.” He ends up passing out and is in a near-coma when taken to … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 20 in Classic Rock →

October 6, 1990 – A Gathering of Tribes, a two-day concert said to be the inspiration behind Lollapalooza, is staged in Mountain View, CA and Costa Mesa, CA by The Cult’s Ian Astbury and promoter Bill Graham. Artists on the bill include Soundgarden, Ice-T, Indigo Girls, Queen Latifah, Joan Baez, Steve Jones, Michelle Shocked, Iggy … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 6 in Classic Rock →

September 29, 1989 – Bruce Springsteen and a few of his bodyguards stop for a beer at Matt’s Saloon in Prescott, AZ on a motorcycle ride.  The small town quickly figures out Springsteen is there and packs the saloon when he agrees to jam with the house band for an hour. He also makes a generous $100,000 donation to a barmaid … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 29 in Classic Rock →

September 24, 1991 – Nirvana release their second studio album, Nevermind. The album goes on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide.  Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl conceive of the cover shot after watching a TV documentary on water babies.  Spencer Elden, the 3-month-old son of the photographer’s friend is the baby chosen.  Elden’s circumcised penis is visible in the image and Cobain … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 24 in Classic Rock →

Ringo Starr will release a new EP this fall. Due out September 24th, Change The World will be available on CD, cassette and digital platforms. A 10-inch vinyl edition will follow on November 19th. The lead single “Let’s Change The World” is out now and can be heard in the player below. “Let’s Change The … Continue reading Ringo Starr Announces New EP ‘Change the World’ →

July 31, 1980 – The Eagles perform their last concert at the Long Beach Arena before splitting up. They reunite in 1994. The concert – a benefit gig, no less – is played out amid muttered onstage threats between Glen Frey and Don Felder, who spend the entire show describing to each other the beating each plans to administer backstage. “Only three … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 31 in Classic Rock →

July 22, 1989 – Courtney Love marries her first husband, James Moreland, who is the singer of the band Leaving Trains. The marriage ends with an annulment only three months later, after Love is allegedly forced to have an abortion due to her drug abuse. Love says that “Moreland was a transvestite and that their marriage was a joke,” and Moreland contends … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 22 in Classic Rock →

July 19, 1986 – Van Halen headline the Texxas Jam at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, preceeded by Dio, Loverboy, Krokus, Keel and Bachman-Turner Overdrive who are joined by Leslie West on “Mississippi Queen. July 19, 1976 – Deep Purple disband at the end of their UK tour. David Coverdale goes on to form Whitesnake, and the classic line up of Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 19 in Classic Rock →

It’s rare that a live album becomes a driving force in a band’s career, but these rock albums all generated either hits, sales, or artistic recognition that changed the arc of the bands’ popularity and influence. In several cases, the bands/artists had not even been well-known in the U.S. prior to their live releases.  Although … Continue reading 12 Most Influential Live Classic Rock Albums of All Time →

June 20, 1978 – Foreigner releases their second album, Double Vision. It goes on to sell over 7 million copies. June 20, 1948 – Toast Of The Town, which would later be called The Ed Sullivan Show, premieres on CBS. The hosts of the first night’s program are Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.  The show goes on to run for 23 years, on the same network … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 20 in Classic Rock →

May 27, 1988 – The first U.S. Monsters of Rock tour kicks off with a 3-night stand at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin.  On the bill in this order are Kingdom Come, Metallica, Dokken, Scorpions and Van Halen as the headliners.  The tour lasts for two months. May 27, 1994 – After 14 years apart, The Eagles reunite for their “Hell Freezes Over” … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 27 in Classic Rock →