June 11, 1983 – Alex Van Halen marries Valerie Kendall with Alex’s brother Eddie as the best man. The couple divorce less than a year later. June 11, 2002 – Paul McCartney marries Heather Mills in Ireland. In attendance are Elton John, David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde and Ringo Starr. After a nasty court battle, they divorce in 2008. June 11, 1971 – Dennis Wilson, drummer for … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 11 in Classic Rock →

A ZZ Top musical is in the works and expected to open in Las Vegas in 2020. The band is working with Caesars Entertainment to develop the show and members Billy F. Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard are serving as executive producers. A press release calls Sharp Dressed Man an “outrageous, bawdy musical romp”. … Continue reading ZZ Top Musical to Hit the Stage in 2020 →

May 19, 2000 – Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band is essentially kicked out of the band for “creative differences,” which are allegedly related to drugs and/or alcohol use. May 19, 1979 – Eric Clapton and Patti Boyd throw a reception party two months after their wedding featuring a jam session with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Mick Jagger … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 19 in Classic Rock →

I first got turned on to ZZ Top like most, from the album Tres Hombres in 1973.  And at the time, like most, I thought this was just a good-time boogie band with little under the surface.  That couldn’t have been farther from the truth. And as subsequent albums were released I began to realize … Continue reading ZZ Top 50th Anniversary Tour – Cause For Celebration! →

ZZ Top will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a U.S. tour this summer. Cheap Trick and Southern rock stalwarts Lynyrd Skynyrd will join the tour for select dates.  The extensive 34-show run kicks off August 16th in Ridgefield, WA and wraps up October 20th in West Palm Beach, FL. The tour will stop in 19 different … Continue reading ZZ Top Announce 50th Anniversary Tour →

March 15, 1976 – Kiss release their fourth studio album, Destroyer.  The album goes on to be certified double platinum and contains the songs “Detroit Rock City,” “Shout It Out Loud” and “Beth.” March 15, 2004 – Jackson Browne, George Harrison, Bob Seger, Traffic, and ZZ Top are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bruce Springsteen inducts Browne, fellow Traveling … Continue reading CDJ Today: March 15 in Classic Rock →

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 →

December 16, 1994 – Davy Jones, former lead singer of The Monkees, is charged with a DUI after being stopped on a rural Pennsylvania road near his home.  Jones is released on $5,000 bail. Classic Rock Birthdays December 16, 1949 – Billy Gibbons, guitar, vocals (ZZ Top) December 16, 1945 – Tony Hicks, guitar, vocals (The Hollies) December 16, 1951 – Robben Ford, guitar Rock Remembrances December … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 16 in Classic Rock →

The holidays are just around the corner and many of you are going to try to channel your inner rock star and ask Santa for an acoustic guitar.  I mean – how hard can it be, right?  Well, here’s a quick guide of songs to try first – maybe you’ll even stick with it! 10 … Continue reading Top 10 Easiest Rock Songs to Learn on Guitar →

ZZ Top will take their 50th anniversary celebration to Europe and the UK in 2019. The blues-rock trio has announced three initial dates with the bulk of the dates set to be announced soon. The tour is slated to get underway in early June in Scandinavian countries and heads to central Europe thereafter, concluding in … Continue reading ZZ Top Announce 50th Anniversary UK and European Tour →