August 21, 1983  – Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone suffers a fractured skull during a fight with Seth Macklin of the band Sub Zero Construction. He endures a four-hour brain surgery operation after being found unconscious in front of his East Village apartment in New York City. August 21, 1972 – Jefferson Airplane‘s Grace Slick is maced and Paul Kantner is injured when … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 21 in Classic Rock →

August 13, 1965 – Jefferson Airplane make their stage debut at San Francisco’s new club The Matrix, which leads to them securing a record deal after receiving a positive review in the San Francisco Chronicle. August 13, 1973 – Lynyrd Skynyrd release their debut album (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd).  It goes on to sell over 2 million copies and features songs “Simple Man”, … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 13 in Classic Rock →

August 3, 1968 – The Newport Pop Festival begins in Costa Mesa, CA.  It is the first concert with more than 100,000 paid attendees.  Performers include The Grateful Dead, Alice Cooper, Canned Heat, Electric Flag, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sonny & Cher, Steppenwolf and Tiny Tim.  Admission was $5.50 per day for the … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 3 in Classic Rock →

July 6, 1957 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men (featuring Lennon) were appearing.  McCartney impresses Lennon by playing Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” from Gene Vincent.  He also shows Lennon how to tune his guitar, something he’d been paying someone else to … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 6 in Classic Rock →

June 4, 2001 – Spinal Tap tours the U.S. for its “Back From the Dead Tour” and appears at New York’s Carnegie Hall with a 20-song, 90-minute performance as part of the annual Toyota Comedy Festival. June 4, 1942 – Johnny Mercer, Glenn Wallichs and Buddy DeSylva form Capitol Records. On the same day, Wallichs gives the first free record to Los Angeles disc … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 4 in Classic Rock →

May 13, 1985 – Tipper Gore infamously creates the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) after hearing her daughter listening to the Prince song “Darling Nikki.”  The four member group of politically connected wives pressure the RIAA to put warning stickers on albums with offensive lyrics.  In testimony before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Dee Snider, Frank Zappa and … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 13 in Classic Rock →

March 19, 2001 – Aerosmith, Queen, and Steely Dan are among those inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Kid Rock inducts Aerosmith, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters inducts Queen,and Moby inducts Steely Dan. March 19, 1974 – Jefferson Airplane reform and become Jefferson Starship. They later drop the Jefferson and become Starship in 1984.  The new/old members include Paul Kantner, … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 19 in Classic Rock →

February 27, 1970 – Jefferson Airplane is fined $1,000 for for singing profanity while on stage in Oklahoma City. The ordinance prohibiting obscene language was drawn up a year earlier when Jim Morrison of The Doors allegedly exposed himself at a concert. February 27, 1977 – Keith Richards is arrested and charged with “possession of … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 27 in Classic Rock →

February 22, 1989 – For the first time, a Heavy Metal category is introduced at the Grammy Awards. Metallica performs on stage, but the award goes to Jethro Tull.  Yes, the Grammy voters picked Jethro Tull’s Crest of a Knave over Metallica’s And Justice For All.  Tull’s record label tries to make light of the faux pas by placing a Billboard ad that reads, “The flute … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 22 in Classic Rock →

January 28, 1985 – The charity single “We Are The World” is recorded in Los Angeles to benefit African famine relief. The single is the brainchild of activist Harry Belafonte and was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The song features Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Bob … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 28 in Classic Rock →

January 14, 1965 –  David Bowie releases his first single in the U.S., “Can’t Help Thinking About Me.”  This was the first single released after he changed his name from David (also Davie) Jones to David Bowie. January 14, 1967 – The first “Human Be-In” takes place at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park with more than 25,000 people in attendance. It is the prelude to … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 14 in Classic Rock →

January 11, 1985 – The first Rock in Rio festival kicks off in Rio de Janeiro. The 10-day festival features Queen, AC/DC, Yes, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions and Whitesnake. About 1.4 million people attend the shows. January 11, 2004 – Ted Nugent needs 40 stitches in his leg after a chainsaw accident occurs while filming his reality TV show, Surviving Nugent: The Ted … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 11 in Classic Rock →