December 2, 2012 – Led Zeppelin‘s three surviving members, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page, receive the Kennedy Center Honors from President Barack Obama. Their tribute is performed by the Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Jason Bonham, and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. December 2, 2003 – Alice Cooper receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Cooper’s … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 2 in Classic Rock →

November 26, 1988 – Russian cosmonauts take the Pink Floyd cassette version of Delicate Sound Of Thunder and play it in orbit, making Pink Floyd the first rock band to be played in space. David Gilmour and Nick Mason both attend the launch of the spacecraft. November 26, 1968 – Cream play their farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London with openers Yes and … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 26 in Classic Rock →

November 7, 2003 – David Gilmour of Pink Floyd is honored with the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award. Gilmour is cited for his charity work. November 7, 1966 – John Lennon meets Yoko Ono for the first time when he visits her art exhibition in London. She presents him with a card that simply says, “Breathe,” and he responds by panting. He later … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 7 in Classic Rock →

October 30, 1990 – Axl Rose is released on $5,000 bail after being arrested for allegedly hitting his neighbor, Gabriella Kantor, over the head with a bottle of wine. Kantor said, “He hit me over my head with a really good bottle of Chardonnay and a piece of chicken.  I continue to experience headaches as … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 30 in Classic Rock →

October 29, 1983 – Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon album marks its 491st week on the Billboard album chart, surpassing the previous record holder, Johnny’s Greatest Hits, by Johnny Mathis. It remained on the chart until October of 1988, setting a record for 741 weeks on the chart. David Gilmour Discusses “Dark Side of the Moon” with CDJ’s Paul Rappaport … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 29 in Classic Rock →

October 12, 1987 – Dee Snider announces he is leaving Twisted Sister, two days after the Love Is for Suckers tour concludes. Snider reunites with the band ten years later. October 12, 1991 – The Day on the Green festival in Oakland, CA features headliners Metallica, Queensrÿche, Faith No More and Soundgarden. It is the final festival presented by Bill Graham prior to his death. October 12, 2005 … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 12 in Classic Rock →

It’s taken years, but the iconic British rock band Pink Floyd has finally agreed to sell their recorded music and name and likeness rights to Sony Music for approximately $400 million. The deal, one of the largest of many in recent years, concluded despite decades of ongoing infighting between the band members, notably chief songwriters … Continue reading Pink Floyd Sells Music Rights for $400 Million →

September 15, 2014 – Apple release a tool to remove U2‘s new album, Songs of Innocence, from iTunes accounts after giving away the music for free. Songs of Innocence is considered the biggest album launch in history because about half a billion iTunes users owned it on the day of its release. Apple reportedly gave U2 a large blanket … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 15 in Classic Rock →

September 6, 1989 – Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil decks Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses with a knockout punch at the MTV Video Music Awards. Neil was seething mad because Stradlin at allegedly assaulted Neil’s wife at the Cathouse club in Hollywood several weeks prior to the event. September 6, 1970 – Jimi … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 6 in Classic Rock →

August 5, 1975 – The first all-female hard-rock band is formed when producer Kim Fowley puts together The Runaways, featuring Joan Jett, future Bangle Michael Steele, and Lita Ford. August 5, 1994 – Billy Idol is rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, CA following a suspected overdose.  Earlier in the year, he had collapsed in convulsions outside the … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 5 in Classic Rock →

August 2, 1973 – Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan. His biographer Mark Epstein says, “He was a great fan of Matt Dillon, the sheriff of the television series Gunsmoke. In 1958, he confided to his high school sweetheart that he planned to devote his life to music, adding that ‘I know what I’m going … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 2 in Classic Rock →

July 8, 1967 – The Monkees start their tour with The Jimi Hendrix Experience as the opening act. Not surprisingly, Hendrix is dropped after six shows when he is told his act is not suitable for the young audience. July 8, 1958 – The first Gold record album certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is awarded to the soundtrack Oklahoma.  At the time, a Gold record … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 8 in Classic Rock →