October 15, 2006 – Patti Smith headlines the final night of the infamous club, CBGB in New York City, which closes due to $300,000 owed in unpaid back rent.  She says, “CBGB is both the scrappy symbol of rock’s promise and a temple that no one wanted to see go.”  With an open booking policy, … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 15 in Classic Rock →

June 26, 1996 – Van Halen announce that Sammy Hagar is leaving the band and that David Lee Roth will again become the lead singer.  Hagar reunites with the Van Halen brothers for a 2004 tour that is quite successful, but once again, the two factions split. June 26, 1973 – Keith Richards and his girlfriend Anita Pallenberg are arrested on drug and gun … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 26 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 →

May 19, 2000 – Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band is essentially kicked out of the band for “creative differences,” which are allegedly related to drugs and/or alcohol use. May 19, 1979 – Eric Clapton and Patti Boyd throw a reception party two months after their wedding featuring a jam session with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Mick Jagger … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 19 in Classic Rock →

April 27, 1979 – Ozzy Osbourne is fired from Black Sabbath and replaced by  Ronnie James Dio. Osbourne first reunites with the band at Live Aid in 1985 and then many times after. April 27, 2006 – Keith Richards falls out of a palm tree in Fiji, suffering a brain hemorrhage. Richards later undergoes cranial surgery in New Zealand. April 27, 2009 – Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 27 in Classic Rock →

April 3, 1967 –  Steve Winwood leaves The Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic. April 3, 2007 – When interviewed by NME in the UK, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones speaks about snorting the ashes of his dead father. He said, “He was cremated and I couldn’t resist grinding him up with a little bit of … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 3 in Classic Rock →

December 18, 1983 – Keith Richards marries model and actress Patti Hansen in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Mick Jagger is Richards’ best man. December 18, 1988 – Mike Peters of The Alarm has his eyes burnt by spotlights during a show in Chester, England. He regains his sight two weeks later. December 18, 2000 – Bob Geldof is granted custody of … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 18 in Classic Rock →

May 6, 1937 – The Hindenburg airship crashes in New Jersey, killing 36 people. A photograph from this accident is later used as the cover art for Led Zeppelin’s debut album. May 6, 1965 – Keith Richards suffers insomnia in his hotel room in Florida because of a guitar riff running through his head.  He records the hook, falls asleep and wakes … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 6 in Classic Rock →

Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit has released a new single featuring Sheryl Crow, titled “The Good Fight.” Listen in the player below. The song was dropped with little fanfare and Schmit hasn’t revealed whether or not the nearly 8-minute long track is connected to an upcoming album – stating only “I recorded a new song, … Continue reading Listen: Eagles Bassist Timothy B. Schmit Drops New Single Featuring Sheryl Crow →

On November 8th the inimitable Rolling Stones dropped their previously unreleased live album and concert film Bridges to Buenos Aires, which captures the band’s full April 5, 1998 show at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina – the last of a five-night, sold-out run at the venue. The Stones were in the midst … Continue reading Watch the Rolling Stones Perform “Jumpin Jack Flash” from their ‘Bridges to Buenos Aires’ Concert Film →

A new exhibit will open at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this month. Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll explores the history of the instruments that have “inspired the musicians and made possible the songs we know and love.” The Play It Loud exhibit, which was previously on display at … Continue reading New Rock Hall Exhibit ‘Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll’ to Open this Month →

A new trailer for the forthcoming Ronnie Wood documentary Somebody Up There Likes Me has been released to promote the film’s U.K. opening next month. You can watch the preview in the player below. Somebody Up There Likes Me explores the life and career of the veteran guitarist from his childhood in post-war England through … Continue reading Watch the Trailer for the New Ronnie Wood Documentary ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ →