June 24, 1999 – Eric Clapton auctions off 100 of his guitars with proceeds going toward his Crossroads Centre at Antigua, an alcohol and drug-dependency treatment center in the West Indies. The auction generates over $5 million, with his guitar “Brownie,” a 1956 sunburst Fender used to record “Layla”, going for almost $500,000. June 24, 2000 – Kiss begin a 2-day auction of costumes, instruments and … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 24 in Classic Rock →

June 14, 1986 – One fan dies at an Ozzy Osbourne/Metallica show at the Long Beach Arena after falling from a balcony.  Long Beach Police say the man “fell over backwards because he was probably overdosing, hit his head, broke his neck and died.”  Three others also jumped from the balcony and sustained life-threatening injuries. June 14, 2002 – Mick Jagger becomes Sir … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 14 in Classic Rock →

June 7, 1993 – Prince turns 35 and gifts himself with a new name that is an unpronounceable symbol, making him, literally, an icon. June 7, 2009 – Bret Michaels is injured during Poison’s performance at the 63rd Tony Awards. While exiting the stage, part of a new descending set struck him on the head and knocked him down.  The following year, Michaels … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 7 in Classic Rock →

November 4, 1977 – The Last Waltz, director Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed documentary of The Band’s star-studded last concert, premieres in New York City, featuring Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, The Staple Singers, Dr. John, and more. Classic Rock Birthdays November 4, 1956 – James Honeyman-Scott, guitar (Pretenders) (d. 1982)November 4, 1954 – Chris Difford, guitar, vocals (Squeeze)November 4, 1956 – Jordan Rudess (born Jordan Charles Rudes), … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 4 in Classic Rock →

Eric Clapton’s previously unreleased 1991 performance of the blues classic “Key To The Highway (Live at Royal Albert Hall)” is available now digitally via Warner Records. (Clapton delivers a masterful performance of the song which leads off the Blues set in his upcoming album The Definitive 24 Nights out June 23. Listen to the track here or in the … Continue reading Eric Clapton Releases New Track And Video For “Key To The Highway (Live at Royal Albert Hall, 1991) →

June 1, 1975 – Ronnie Wood performs his first official gig as a Rolling Stones guitarist on his 28th birthday. June 1, 2008 – A massive fire at the 22,320-square-foot warehouse on the lot of Universal Studios Hollywood destroys thousands of master tapes including recordings by Aerosmith, Don Henley, the Eagles, Eric Clapton Joni Mitchell, Elton John, … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 1 in Classic Rock →

May 26, 2000 – Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee begins a five day jail sentence for violating his parole by drinking alcohol.  A Malibu judge extends Lee’s probation until May 26, 2003, reinstates random drug testing and orders him to enroll in Alcoholics Anonymous. May 26, 1994 – Michael Jackson marries Lisa Marie Presley in the Dominican Republic. The couple divorce in 1995. May 26, 1973 – Deep Purple release … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 26 in Classic Rock →

Eric Clapton has released a new collaboration featuring the late Jeff Beck. “Moon River”, a cover of the song originally popularized by the Audrey Hepburn film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, was recorded not long before Beck’s passing earlier this year.  You can hear the song and watch the animated video in the player below. The release … Continue reading Eric Clapton Releases “Moon River”, a Collaboration with Jeff Beck →

As anyone knows, the supergroup is a risky proposition in rock and roll. Since the ‘60s, there have been quite a few supergroups — bands made up exclusively (or at least primarily) of musicians who have already achieved success with other bands. Sometimes even ideas that sound good on paper don’t necessarily gel on vinyl. … Continue reading Top 10 Rock Supergroups →

With just a little practice, you too could woo the love of your life with one of these romantic songs, or at least impress someone around a campfire. If you’ve always wanted to learn at least one classic rock song on guitar, pick one of these ten love songs below – they’ve all got minimal … Continue reading 10 Easiest Rock Love Songs to Learn on Guitar →

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 →

Eric Clapton has teamed up with Van Morrison on a new track protesting public health restrictions in the United Kingdom. “Stand and Deliver” is performed by Clapton and written by Morrison and is the fourth protest song the Irish singer-songwriter has released in recent weeks. “I’m not telling people what to do or think, the … Continue reading Eric Clapton and Van Morrison Release Anti-Lockdown Song →