January 26, 1977 – Peter Green, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, is committed to a mental hospital after threatening a delivery boy with an air rifle when he tried to deliver his royalty check to him.  Green became the ultimate acid casualty and spent years in mental hospitals and clinics undergoing electroconvulsive therapy. He gave away much of his money and … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 26 in Classic Rock →

January 24, 1981 – Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler runs into a tree on his motorcycle, tearing open his heel.  The accident leaves him hospitalized for two months, and recovering for almost a year. January 24, 1995 – Van Halen release their tenth studio album Balance, which is their final album with Sammy Hagar. The album reaches #1 on the Billboard 200 … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 24 in Classic Rock →

January 9, 1984 – Van Halen release their sixth studio album 1984.  With the songs “Jump,” “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher” and “I’ll Wait,” the album goes on to sell over 10 million copies. January 9, 2007 – At the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Steve Jobs introduces Apple’s latest invention: the iPhone.  He is joined by John Mayer, … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 9 in Classic Rock →

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 →

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 →

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 the murder of … 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, 1971 – John Lennon releases his second solo album Imagine. The title track becomes his signature song and the album goes on to sell over 2 million copies in the U.S. 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 … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 9 in Classic Rock →

August 31, 2012 – Eddie Van Halen undergoes emergency surgery for “a severe bout of diverticulitis” causing Van Halen to reschedule a tour of Japan slated for November. August 31, 1976 – George Harrison is found guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” when Bright Tunes Music Corporation sues him, claiming that he plagiarized “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons for his song “My Sweet Lord.” The case … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 31 in Classic Rock →

August 29, 1980 – Eddie Van Halen meets his future wife Valerie Bertinelli for the first time at a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, LA. Her brother had dragged her to the show, even though she didn’t want to go. They would marry eight months later. August 29, 1977 – Three men are arrested and charged with trying to steal Elvis Presley’s body … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 29 in Classic Rock →