December 26, 1963 – Capitol Records releases the first Beatles single in the United States.  It’s “I Want To Hold Your Hand” backed with “I Saw Her Standing There.” December 26, 1968 – Led Zeppelin start their first North American tour, supporting Vanilla Fudge and Spirit at Denver Auditorium, in Colorado. Tickets for the Sunday night show cost $5. Top 15 … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 26 in Classic Rock →

December 8, 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne fractures his collarbone, eight ribs and a vertebrae in his neck after he crashes his ATV at his English estate. December 8, 2013 – Metallica become the first band ever to play on all seven continents when they play a concert inside a dome at British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station. It is only the second musical … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 8 in Classic Rock →

November 18, 1993 – Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is arrested in the New Orleans French Quarter outside the Blue Crystal, a punk rock bar, for public drunkenness and disturbing the peace.  Apparently, there was a bar fight with a waiter and Vedder’s friend, Chicago White Sox pitcher and Cy Young award winner, Jack McDowell, was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital. … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 18 in Classic Rock →

November 3, 1997 – University of Iowa student Todd Miller comes to an out of court settlement with Metallica after suing them for losing his sense of smell at a concert. Miller said he was unwillingly picked up and passed along over the top of the crowd at a 1993 concert as a body surfer and was eventually dropped on his … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 3 in Classic Rock →

October 23, 1995 – Def Leppard earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for performing three concerts on three continents in one day. When midnight hits on October 23, Def Leppard is already on stage playing in Tangiers, Africa. They then fly to London, England where they perform a second show and then jump back … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 23 in Classic Rock →

September 27, 2007 – Van Halen kick off their reunion tour with David Lee Roth and new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. It was their first tour with Roth in 23 years, and it grossed over $93 million for 74 dates. September 27, 2004 – Producer Phil Spector is charged with the murder of … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 27 in Classic Rock →

August 8, 1969 – The photo session for the cover of The Beatles Abbey Road album takes place on the crossing outside the Abbey Road studios. Photographer Iain McMillan, balanced on a step-ladder in the middle of the road, takes only six shots of John, Ringo, Paul, and George walking across the zebra crossing while a policeman … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 8 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 31, 1980 – The Eagles perform their last concert at the Long Beach Arena before splitting up. They reunite in 1994. The concert – a benefit gig, no less – is played out amid muttered onstage threats between Glen Frey and Don Felder, who spend the entire show describing to each other the beating each plans to administer backstage. “Only three … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 31 in Classic Rock →

July 25, 1965 – Bob Dylan performs an electric set for the first time at The Newport Folk Festival in Newport, RI and is booed off the stage and accused of being a sellout by leading members of the folk movement. Classic Rock Landmarks:“Like a Rolling Stone” July 25, 1999 – Woodstock closes out its 3-day festival in Rome, NY with riots … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 25 in Classic Rock →

July 4, 1982 – Ozzy Osbourne marries Sharon Arden, the daughter of music business manager Don Arden. July 4, 1973 – Slade drummer Don Powell is badly injured in a car crash in which his fiancé is killed. He breaks both of his ankles and five of his ribs and is unconscious for six days after surgeons drill into his skull to … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 4 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 →