September 19, 1985 – Dee Snider, Frank Zappa and John Denver testify before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee against the Parents Music Resource Center’s plans on demanding warning labels on albums. Frank Zappa says that, “The PMRC proposal is an ill-conceived piece of nonsense which fails to deliver any real benefits to children, … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 19 in Classic Rock →

August 10, 2012 – During their joint concert in Denver, Kiss and Mötley Crüe announce their donation of $100,000 to a relief fund set up to help the victims of the “Dark Knight” movie shooting that occurred on July 20 in nearby Aurora, Colorado.  Nikki Sixs says, “Following the heartbreaking news of the senseless shootings in Colorado we wanted to do something to … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 10 in Classic Rock →

July 23, 1994 – Frank Zappa fan John Scialli is rewarded after embarking on a quest to get Zappa recognized in space when a Czech astronomer at The International Astronomical Union names an asteroid in Mars’ orbit after Zappa, who had passed away from cancer the year before. The asteroid (actually a minor planet) is named Zappafrank. The official release says: Discovered … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 23 in Classic Rock →

June 6, 1992 – Guns N’ Roses release what is at the time the most expensive video ever made, “November Rain”.  Roughly half of the $1.5 million dollar budget is spent constructing a church in the New Mexico desert for Slash to use as a background for his guitar solo.  Currently, the video has almost 2 … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 6 in Classic Rock →

December 25, 1981 – The J. Geils Band play two Christmas concerts for prisoners at Boston’s Norfolk Correctional facility. Lead singer Peter Wolf tells his captive audience, “We wanna be the first to buy you all a free drink on the outside.” Classic Rock Birthdays December 25, 1940 – Pete Brown, musician and songwriter (Cream) … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 25 in Classic Rock →

December 21, 1970 – Elvis Presley meets with President Richard Nixon at The White House to volunteer his services in fighting the war on drugs. Elvis had written a letter to President Nixon asking to be made a “Federal Agent at Large” for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. No such position actually existed, but Nixon, wanting desperately … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 21 in Classic Rock →

December 10, 2007 – Led Zeppelin reunite after 19 years at London’s O2 Arena.  Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones are joined on stage by John Bonham’s son, Jason, at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert. More than one million people register for fewer than 20,000 available tickets.  With proceeds going to Ertegun’s charity, the cost … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 10 in Classic Rock →

December 4, 2012 – Randy Blythe, the frontman of Lamb of God, is charged with the death of a 19-year-old fan at a concert in Prague in 2010 after he pushed him off the stage. The fan, Daniel Nosek, hits his head when he falls to the concrete floor and dies of his injuries 2 weeks later. Blythe is later acquitted, … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 4 in Classic Rock →

December 3, 1979 – Eleven fans are trampled to death at a Who concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati.  Another 26 fans are injured.  At 7:05, after the Who had finished their sound check, a paltry 5 of the Coliseum’s 134 doors were opened, because only nine ticket takers had been hired.  The Coliseum said enlisting ushers would be … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 3 in Classic Rock →

Have you watched the Frank Zappa documentary? It’s one of the very best and most moving films you’ll ever see.  I spent $6.99 to watch it and would have spent $100.00.  It’s that good, that compelling, and that important. Unless you’re an avid fan, you probably don’t know that much about Frank Zappa.  I know … Continue reading A Day in the Life with Frank Zappa →

On Friday, December 20, 2019, the Zappa Family Trust in partnership with UMe will release The Hot Rat Sessions boxset in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s groundbreaking debut solo album Hot Rats. The 6-CD set features an incredible collection of previously unreleased material from the late musician including “Dame Margret’s Son To … Continue reading Listen to Frank Zappa’s “Dame Margret’s Son To Be A Bride” from ‘The Hot Rats Session’ Boxset →

Two new Frank Zappa books honoring the legacy of the legendary composer will be released this fall. Zappa Gear: The Unique Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects, Units, Keyboards and Studio Equipment is due out November 29th. Written by Mick Ekers, it includes a foreword by Zappa’s son, Dweezil Zappa, and gives the reader an unprecedented look at … Continue reading Two Frank Zappa Books Set for Release This Fall →