May 27, 1988 – The first U.S. Monsters of Rock tour kicks off with a 3-night stand at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin.  On the bill in this order are Kingdom Come, Metallica, Dokken, Scorpions and Van Halen as the headliners.  The tour lasts for two months. May 27, 1994 – After 14 years apart, The Eagles reunite for their “Hell Freezes Over” … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 27 in Classic Rock →

May 8, 1965 – Bob Dylan shoots a film clip for his song “Subterranean Homesick Blues” which becomes the forerunner to what we now know as music videos.  The famous “flashcard” clip theme is then duplicated many times in music videos and movies. May 8, 1996 – Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson lose their suit against … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 8 in Classic Rock →

April 29, 1998 – Steven Tyler incurs a knee ligament injury when he drops his mic on his knee at a concert in Anchorage, Alaska while singing “Mama Kin.”  The tour is postponed through September of that year. April 29, 2003 – Great White play their first gig since the infamous Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island that killed 100 people.  Proceeds from … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 29 in Classic Rock →

April 21, 1990 –Van Halen christen the opening night of their Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with a live performance.  Sammy Hagar would eventually buy out the rest of the band due to the club’s early financial failure.  In later years, Cabo Wabo becomes a huge success. April 21, 2005 – Alex Lifeson of Rush pleads no contest to a … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 21 in Classic Rock →

April 20, 1971 – Five friends at San Rafael High School in California coin the term “4:20” as a euphemism for smoking pot so they could talk about their “activity” in front of their parents. April 20th becomes a popular day to spark one up, as does 4:20 pm… every day. April 20, 2011 – K.K. Downing, guitarist … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 20 in Classic Rock →

April 14, 1975 – Former Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood gets a coveted Rolling Stones gig, replacing Mick Taylor.  Other rumored replacements for the position are Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Steve Marriott and Chris Spedding. April 14, 2009 – George Harrison is honored posthumously with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in front of the Capitol Records building.  In attendance … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 14 in Classic Rock →

April 11, 2007 – Richie Sambora and wife, actress Heather Locklear, divorce after 11 years of marriage. April 11, 2014 – Kiss, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens and the E Street Band  are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Kiss is inducted by former Rage Against the Machine guitarist and obsessive Kiss fan Tom Morello.  He closes his speech by saying, … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 11 in Classic Rock →

April 7, 1990 – Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee suffers a mild concussion after falling 20 feet from the scaffolding above his elevated drum kit. Tommy was descending as usual on a bungee rope but panicked when he thought his roadie wouldn’t pull the brake in time.  He was turned upside down and smashed heads with a person … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 7 in Classic Rock →

April 1, 1985 – David Lee Roth officially leaves Van Halen to start a solo career. Roth later reconsiders and joins Van Halen briefly in 1996 and in 2000, before re-joining permanently in 2006. April 1, 2008 – Scott Weiland officially leaves Velvet Revolver. April 1, 1970  – The Woodstock movie premieres in Hollywood; it eventually grosses $50 million in the United States. April 1, 1976 – Pink Floyd guitarist David … Continue reading CDJ Today: April 1 in Classic Rock →

March 31, 2015 – Van Halen releases their first-ever live album to feature original singer David Lee Roth. Recorded on June 21, 2013 at the famed Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO DOME LIVE IN CONCERT includes 23 songs, spanning all seven of the band’s albums with Roth. March 31, 1992 – Def Leppard releases Adrenalize, their first album after the death of … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 31 in Classic Rock →

March 27, 1986 – Sammy Hagar sings his first concert with Van Halen at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, LA.  Nicknamed “Van Hagar”, the show sells out in five minutes.  Hagar says, “We had made the commitment that we weren’t going to play any of the old material – only  ‘You Really Got Me,’ ‘I Can’t Drive … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 27 in Classic Rock →

March 26, 1971 – For the first time, the iconic Rolling Stones‘ Lips & Tongue logo is unveiled on VIP passes for their concert at the Marquee Club in London. March 26, 1980 – Van Halen release their third album, Women and Children First, which goes on to sell three million copies in the U.S. March 26, 1966 – The Strangeurs, featuring … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 26 in Classic Rock →