August 15, 1979 – Led Zeppelin release their eighth and final studio album In Through The Out Door.  It is the last album from the band while John Bonham is still alive.  It goes on to sell over 6 million copies in the U.S. August 15, 1969 – The Woodstock Festival begins outside of New York City in Bethel on Max Yasgur’s 600 acre … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 15 in Classic Rock →

August 11, 1999 – Kiss receive their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with Gene Simmons sticking out his trademark tongue. Simmons is  joined by Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss. The star coincides with a new movie, Detroit Rock City, about four teenagers who embark on a wild adventure to attend a sold-out Kiss concert.  At the time, the … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 11 in Classic Rock →

August 6, 1996 – The Ramones perform their 2,263rd and final concert at The Palace in Los Angeles with a star-studded guest list. Featuring appearances by former bassist Dee Dee Ramone along with Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and  Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, the 32-song set wraps up with a cover of the Dave Clark … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 6 in Classic Rock →

July 15, 1998 – Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer narrowly escapes serious injury when his Ferrari convertible catches on fire at a gas station.  He is admitted to the hospital with second-degree burns on his arms and hands.  The Ferrari is destroyed. Classic Rock Birthdays July 15, 1956 – Joe Satriani, guitar (Satriani, Chickenfoot, G3) July 15, 1966 – Jason Bonham, drums (Bonham, Sammy Hagar and The Circle) July … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 15 in Classic Rock →

July 11, 1982 – Pete Willis is fired from Def Leppard and replaced by Phil Collen, due to excessive alcohol consumption on the job.  “Things were going too fast for me.” says Willis. “I was still enjoying it, but I was using drink as a crutch. It wasn’t nice to go that way, but it was something that … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 11 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 →

Who says rockers don’t read? Whether it’s horror, poetry, fantasy or 19th century classic literature, musicians throughout time have taken their cue from those crumpled up paperbacks they’ve toted with them to gigs around the world. See some of the most famous examples of literature that’s turned into music below. 10 “Shadows And Tall Trees” … Continue reading Top 10 Rock Songs Inspired By Literature →

April 15, 1971 – The Beatles nab their only Oscar, winning Best Original Song Score for the movie Let It Be. April 15, 1982 – Anvil release their sophomore album, Metal on Metal, then proceed to fade into obscurity in the 1990s before being resurrected by  the 2008 documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Classic Rock Birthdays April 15, 1944 – Dave Edmunds, guitarist (Rockpile) April 15, … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 15 in Classic Rock →

March 30, 2012 – Jerry Lee Lewis marries for the 7th time. The lucky lady is Judith Brown, an ex-wife of a cousin and Jerry’s caregiver.  She is also the aunt of Myra Gale Brown, who married Lewis when she was just 13. March 30, 1974 – The Ramones make their live debut at Performance Studio in New York City. … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 30 in Classic Rock →

March 18, 1978 – An estimated 350,000 rock fans attend the largest festival of the 70’s, California Jam II in Ontario, California. Performers include Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Foreigner, Santana, Heart, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush and Rubicon, featuring a young Jack Blades. March 18, 2002 – The Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 18 in Classic Rock →