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, 1975 – The Who’s Tommy premieres in New York. March 18, 2002 – The Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are among those inducted into the … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 18 in Classic Rock →

February 23, 2000 – Carlos Santana ties Michael Jackson‘s 1983 record for the most Grammys won in a single year, including Album of the Year for his album Supernatural, and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Smooth,” his collaboration with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20.  Supernatural sells 30 million records worldwide. Classic Rock Birthdays February 23, 1952 – Brad … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 23 in Classic Rock →

February 1, 2009 – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform at the halftime show during Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa, Florida.  Songs include “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” “Born to Run,” “Working on a Dream” and “Glory Days.” February 1, 1985 – Glenn Frey of the Eagles makes his acting debut in an episode … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 1 in Classic Rock →

Willie Nelson, his sons Micah and Lukas, Jakob Dylan, Dhani Harrison and Amos Lee have released a new cover of the Tom Petty track “For Real”. You can watch and listen in the player below. Released as “For Real – For Tom”, proceeds from the song will go to the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles, … Continue reading Hear Willie Nelson, Jakob Dylan and More Cover Tom Petty’s ‘For Real’ →

December 13, 2000 – After former Democratic presidential hopeful Al Gore delivers his concession speech to George W. Bush in Washington, D.C., he holds a party in his home with a performance by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  It features guest appearances by Jon Bon Jovi and Stevie Wonder and others. Petty performs “I Won’t Back Down” with Jon … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 13 in Classic Rock →

November 10, 2002 – On the Simpsons episode “How I Spent My Strummer Vacation,” Homer spends a week at a Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp run by big name recording artists including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, and Brian Setzer.  The first rule of the camp: There are no rules! Second rule: No outside … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 10 in Classic Rock →

October 20, 1977 – It’s one of the saddest days in rock history as Lynyrd Skynyrd loses three of their band members when their plane crashes in a swamp near Gillsburg, Mississippi.  Singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, his sister, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 20 in Classic Rock →

October 19, 1979 – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers release their breakthrough album Damn the Torpedoes.  It goes on to sell two million copies in the U.S. October 19, 1977 – Lynyrd Skynyrd play their last show together in Greenville, South Carolina, prior to the plane crash that would kill three of their members. Nazareth is the opening act.  This was the … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 19 in Classic Rock →

October 18, 1974 – Al Green’s ex-girlfriend bursts into his bathroom and pours a pot of boiling grits in the tub, burning him badly, before going to the next room and killing herself with his gun. It leaves Green with severe burns that require months of hospitalization and also spurs him to focus his career on Gospel music and preaching … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 18 in Classic Rock →

Fleetwood Mac has added one last massive, blowout show to their world tour. The rock legends have announced that they will close out their year-long world tour with an epic final show at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on November 16. Tickets for the show are on sale now. The band’s current lineup, which … Continue reading Fleetwood Mac Adds Epic Final Show to World Tour →