April 6, 1993 – Peter Criss, former drummer for the rock group KISS, settles a libel lawsuit against Star magazine for portraying him as a homeless alcoholic.  ”At least now I can go on with a clearer head, now that this is over,” he said. “I could write a song about this whole thing. Maybe I will.” A Jan. … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 6 in Classic Rock →

March 11, 1995 – Van Halen kicks off their “Balance” tour in Pensacola, FL. It is later dubbed the “Ambulance” tour by Eddie Van Halen due to his hip surgery and Alex Van Halen’s need to wear a neck brace for most of the gigs. March 11, 2005 –  Ozzy Osbourne’s front door from his childhood home in … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 11 in Classic Rock →

February 2, 2003 – Phil Spector is charged with murder after police find Lana Clarkson dead from a gunshot wound in his home in Alhambra, CA. He is later sentenced to the maximum sentence of 19 years to life for the murder of the actress. February 2, 1976 – Genesis release A Trick Of The Tail, their seventh studio album and the … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 2 in Classic Rock →

January 30, 1973 – Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss make their first appearance as Kiss at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.  They had recently changed their name from Wicked Lester.  The band was paid $50 for the show, and less than 10 people were in the audience. January 30, 1969 … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 30 in Classic Rock →

Prog Rock:  a style of rock music popular especially in the 1970s and characterized by classical influences, the use of keyboard instruments, and lengthy compositions. (Oxford Dictionary) Progressive rock is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid to late 1960s. Additional elements contributed to … Continue reading Top 10 Prog Rock Bands →

There are tons of lists of the best rock drummers ever, but ours ranks the best drummers that are still playing. You may not be able to see them with their original bands, and it’s possible they may never play again live, but at least there is the potential to still witness their greatness.  It wasn’t … Continue reading 14 Great Rock Drummers Still Drumming →

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!! →

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Yes have announced a 2019 North American summer concert tour that will see them joined by Asia, The Moody Blues’ John Lodge and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. See the trailer for the tour below. “This is a unique celebration of the British contribution to classic rock over many decades,” … Continue reading Yes Announce Summer Tour with Asia, Carl Palmer and More →

Just ahead of tonight’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Yes has announced their touring plans for the summer.  The 2017 outing, called Yestival, will feature a set list of greatest hits from all of the band’s studio albums up to 1980, showcasing the storied history of one of the world’s most … Continue reading Yes Announces Summer Tour →

Greg Lake, best known as a member of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has died at the age of 69. Lake passed away Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. Lake was born November 10, 1947 in Poole, Dorset and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In school, he met and … Continue reading RIP Greg Lake (November 10, 1947 – December 7, 2016) →

Keith Emerson, keyboardist and founding member of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has died at the age of 71. A post on the band’s official Facebook page announced confirmed the news. “We regret to announce that Keith Emerson died last night at his home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, aged 71. We ask that the family’s … Continue reading Keith Emerson, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Dies at 71 →