December 14, 1980 – There is a 10-minute silent vigil worldwide at 2PM EST in New York City to remember John Lennon.  Over 100,000 people gather in Central Park; 30,000 people observe silence in Liverpool. For those ten minutes, every radio station in New York City goes off the air. At least three Beatles fans commit suicide after the murder, leading Ono to make a public … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 14 in Classic Rock →

December 11, 1968 – Filming begins on The Rolling Stones‘ Rock And Roll Circus movie. Conceived by Mick Jagger, the event was comprised of two concerts on a circus stage and included such acts as John Lennon and his fiancée Yoko Ono performing as part of a supergroup called The Dirty Mac, along with Eric … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 11 in Classic Rock →

A new exhibit will open at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this month. Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll explores the history of the instruments that have “inspired the musicians and made possible the songs we know and love.” The Play It Loud exhibit, which was previously on display at … Continue reading New Rock Hall Exhibit ‘Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll’ to Open this Month →

November 5, 1999 – Gary Cherone is fired from Van Halen after recording just one album, 1998’s Van Halen III. November 5, 2014 – Jack Bruce’s funeral is held in London, attended by Eric Clapton, Cream drummer Ginger Baker, band lyricist Pete Brown, Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid and Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker.  The superstars … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 5 in Classic Rock →

15 Journey – 48 million Once Steve Perry joined Journey, the band started its meteoric rise in the U.S. with 1978’s Infinity release.  That juggernaut continued with the addition of Jonathan Cain, peaking with 9 million in sales for Escape.  Those sales were eclipsed by their Greatest Hits release, which garnered 15 million in U.S. … Continue reading Top 15 Best-Selling Rock Artists of All Time in U.S. Sales →

Eddie Van Halen is seeking treatment in Germany for throat cancer, according to a new report. Apparently a metal guitar pick that the guitarist often held in his mouth may have been the cause of the cancer. According to the report, which was published by TMZ, the rock icon has been receiving radiation treatment in … Continue reading Eddie Van Halen Seeking Treatment for Throat Cancer in Germany →

October 10, 1975 – Deep Purple release Come Taste the Band, their only studio album to feature guitarist Tommy Bolin.  The album is also the final of three albums to feature Glenn Hughes on bass and a pre-Whitesnake David Coverdale on lead vocals. October 10, 1995 – Peter Frampton releases Frampton Comes Alive II, the long-awaited sequel to his record-setting live album released in 1976. October 10, 1969 … Continue reading CDJ Today: October 10 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 … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 27 in Classic Rock →

September 21, 1978 – “Do you remember, the 21st night of September?”  is the first line of Earth, Wind & Fire’s song  “September.”  Song co-writer Allee Willis says the line wasn’t written for any particular reason – it just sounded good. “We went through all the dates: ‘Do you remember the first, the second, the third, the fourth … ‘ … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 21 in Classic Rock →

September 9, 1992 – The 9th annual MTV Video Music Awards do not disappoint.  Van Halen wins Video of the Year for “Right Now,” Howard Stern appears as “Fartman,” and Krist Novoselic gets clocked by his own guitar after he throws it up in the air and misses the catch.  He says, “I was fine, but I … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 9 in Classic Rock →