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 →

March 17, 1998 – Van Halen release Van Halen III, their eleventh studio album.  It is the only album with former Extreme lead singer Gary Cherone, and the only album to not attain platinum status. March 17, 1985 – Serial killer Richard Ramirez kills a man and leaves an AC/DC hat behind at the crime scene. Ramirez becomes known as … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 17 in Classic Rock →

March 12, 2010 – Over 160 people are arrested and eight people are hospitalized when fans try to gain free entrance at a Metallica show in Colombia. 1,500 policeman and several tanks were brought in to manage the riot.  Inside the venue, the concert went on as planned. March 12, 2007 – Van Halen are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 12 in Classic Rock →

March 11, 1995 – Van Halen kicks off their “Balance” tour in Pensacola, FL. It is later dubbed the “Ambulance” tour by Eddie Van Halen due to his hip surgery and Alex Van Halen’s need to wear a neck brace for most of the gigs. March 11, 2005 –  Ozzy Osbourne’s front door from his childhood home in … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 11 in Classic Rock →

March 3, 1986 – Metallica release Master of Puppets, their third album. It is the band’s final album with bassist Cliff Burton, who dies in a bus crash six months later. March 3, 1978 – Whitesnake (originally billed as David Coverdale’s Whitesnake) plays its first show in England.  The band is comprised of David Coverdale, guitarist Mick Moody, fellow guitarist … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 3 in Classic Rock →

February 28, 1987 –  Eddie Van Halen makes an appearance on Saturday Night Live, which is being hosted by his then-wife Valerie Bertinelli. He plays alongside G.E. Smith and the SNL house band for an instrumental number called “Stompin’ 8H.” Bluesman Robert Cray is the musical guest. February 28, 1972 – George Harrison and his wife Pattie Boyd Harrison are injured in … Continue reading CDJ Today: February 28 in Classic Rock →

Sometimes a band will throw around hundreds of name ideas before they finally find the right one that all members can agree on. And in some cases, like with U2 or Styx, it might just be the idea they hate the least. Previously we revealed the original names of 18 famous classic rock bands from … Continue reading Original Names of Famous Classic Rock Bands – Part Two (J-Z) →