On October 5, 2018 PBS in collaboration with the Recording Academy will air GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends® as part of the “Great Performances” series. This third annual all-star concert pays tribute to the Academy’s 2018 Special Merit Awards recipients which include such legends as Queen, Tina Tuner, Neil Diamond and Emmylou Harris. The celebration … Continue reading ‘GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends’ Concert to Air Next Month →

For the first time ever, audio tracks from Queen’s legendary performance at Live Aid are being released as part of the soundtrack album to Bohemian Rhapsody, the forthcoming feature film which hits screens November 2nd. Watch the Bohemian Rhapsody film trailer > The film soundtrack is due out October 19th on CD and digital formats. In … Continue reading Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack Due Out Next Month →

September 5, 1976 – Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington is injured in a car crash in Jacksonville, FL after he falls asleep at the wheel while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The accident inspires Ronnie Van Zant to write “That Smell” with the lyrics, “Whiskey bottles and brand new cars, oak tree you’re in my … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 5 in Classic Rock →

August 19, 1972 – The Midnight Special TV show debuts on NBC.  The first airing is a 90-minute special encouraging young people to vote in the upcoming presidential election with War performing “Slippin’ Into Darkness.”  The next year it launches as a regular show with announcer Wolfman Jack. August 19, 2005 – A bronze statue of the late Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 19 in Classic Rock →

August 9, 1986 – Queen perform their final concert with Freddie Mercury at the Knebworth Park Festival in England in front of 120,000 people. 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. Related: … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 9 in Classic Rock →

August 3, 1991 – Metallica hold a “playback party” at Madison Square Garden in New York City (a venue they had yet to play) to launch their self-titled album, commonly known as the “Black Album.” Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic both attend.  The album goes on to sell 30 million copies worldwide. August 3, 1987 – Def Leppard … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 3 in Classic Rock →

July 26, 2003 – Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden is arrested after hitting a parking attendant with his car at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, N.Y., where the band is performing that night. McBrain was asked for his backstage credentials by the parking attendant, and when the attendant couldn’t see them clearly he asked to view them again.  Instead, … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 26 in Classic Rock →

July 19, 1986 – Van Halen headline the Texxas Jam at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, preceeded by Dio, Loverboy, Krokus, Keel and Bachman-Turner Overdrive who are joined by Leslie West on “Mississippi Queen. July 19, 1976 – Deep Purple disband at the end of their UK tour. David Coverdale goes on to form Whitesnake, and the classic line up of Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 19 in Classic Rock →

July 2, 2005 – Live 8 is a string of concerts in 10 cities taking place in the G8 states and in South Africa.  The concerts also coincide with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid.  A TV audience of several hundred million watches the shows which include Pink Floyd, The Who, Deep Purple, Mötley Crüe, U2, Coldplay, Sting, Elton John, Paul … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 2 in Classic Rock →

June 27, 1994 – Aerosmith become the first major band to release a song, “Head First” (an unused cut from the Get A Grip Sessions), as a free download on the internet.  Download speeds at the time were so slow it took between 60 and 90 minutes to download the track, but ten thousand CompuServe subscribers still … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 27 in Classic Rock →