November 1, 1994 – Nirvana releases MTV Unplugged in New York, the first Nirvana album following the death of Kurt Cobain.  The album debuts at number one on the Billboard 200, and is certified 5x platinum in the United States by 1997. It also wins the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996. November 1, 1968 – George Harrison releases Wonderwall Music, … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 1 in Classic Rock →

October 16, 2010 – Auburn University researcher Justin Havird names a new species of fish “Lepidocephalichthys zeppelini” because the pectoral fin reminds him of the double-neck guitar used by Jimmy Page. “I’m a big Led Zeppelin fan, and I was listening to them while I was working on the fish,” Havird says. “The structure that makes this species … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 16 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 23, 1980 – Bob Marley collapses on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marley had collapsed in New York’s Central Park while jogging two days before and was told to immediately cancel the U.S. tour, but flew to Pittsburgh to perform one final performance. This was the last time Marley ever appeared on stage.  He died … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 23 in Classic Rock →

September 8, 1994 – Aerosmith win Video of the Year for “Cryin’” at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.  This marks the first appearance of Alicia Silverstone in a band video, and she goes on to appear in two other Aerosmith videos.  This is also the year when Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley open … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 8 in Classic Rock →

September 2, 1989 – Ozzy Osbourne is charged with threatening to kill his wife Sharon. Sharon later said, “He went to bed. I was reading downstairs. He came down in his underpants, sat on the sofa right opposite me and said, ‘We’ve come to a decision.’ I was like, ‘Yeah’ — sort of sarcastic — … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 2 in Classic Rock →

August 9, 1986 – Queen perform their final concert with Freddie Mercury at the Knebworth Park Festival in England. An audience of 120,000 sees them close out the set with “We Will Rock You”/”We Are The Champions” and “God Save The Queen.” Mercury dies in 1991 of complications related to AIDS. August 9, 2005 – Marc Cohn is shot in … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 9 in Classic Rock →

July 29, 1974 – Neil Peart officially joins Rush, replacing John Rutsey, who leaves the band due to health problems and creative differences.  Peart has to learn the band’s entire live repertoire in only two weeks, as their American debut is on August 11 in Pittsburgh, opening for Manfred Mann and Uriah Heep. July 29, 2015 – The Eagles play their … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 29 in Classic Rock →

July 28, 1973 –  Outdrawing the previous Woodstock concert by almost two to one, more than 600,000 people sardine themselves into the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway for the single-day festival, Summer Jam.  Only three groups play – The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead and The Band.  One out of every 350 people living in America at the … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 28 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 →

July 9, 1995 – Jerry Garcia performs his last concert with the Grateful Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field.  At the time, no one knew this would be Garcia’s last show, even Garcia himself.  Although he’d been clean for several years, Garcia had returned to using drugs to ease some physical ailments.  He died exactly one month later at … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 9 in Classic Rock →

July 5, 1968 – Creedence Clearwater Revival release their self-titled debut album. It goes on to sell one million copies in the U.S. July 5, 1995 – More than 100 Grateful Dead fans are injured, some seriously, at a Missouri campground when a balcony they crowded onto to escape the rain collapses, police say. More than 4,000 Deadheads … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 5 in Classic Rock →