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 31, 1959 – Robert Zimmerman, 17, (later known as Bob Dylan) sees Buddy Holly perform at the Duluth Armory in Minnesota. Dylan later said, “Buddy Holly’s songs were much more simplified [than Chuck Berry’s songs], but what I got out of Buddy was that you can take influences from anywhere. Like his ‘That’ll Be The Day.’ … Continue reading CDJ Today: January 31 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 →

A live performance video of ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett performing the iconic Peter Green-penned tune “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” was released today. The performance was filmed in February 2020 at the Mick Fleetwood & Friends concert honoring Peter Green and the early days of Fleetwood Mac. In … Continue reading Watch: Billy Gibbons and Kirk Hammett Pay Tribute to Peter Green →

Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Nancy Wilson, Don Henley, Iggy Pop, Billy Gibbons, Dave Grohl and Billy Idol are among those honoring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 in a broadcast event airing on HBO next month. The extensive lineup of special guests will help induct performer honorees Depeche Mode, the Doobie … Continue reading Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, Nancy Wilson Among Special Guests for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Broadcast →

September 30, 1988 – John Lennon is posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The star is located in front of Capitol Records, and his widow, Yoko Ono, attends the ceremony.  None of the other Beatles are present. September 30, 1998 – On the Drew Carey Show, Drew and his gang decide to form a band … Continue reading CDJ Today: September 30 in Classic Rock →

August 17, 1991 – AC/DC headline the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. with a strong bill – Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Queensrÿche and The Black Crowes. August 17, 1985 – ZZ Top headline the Monster of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. Their bill includes Marillion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Ratt and Magnum. August 17, 2012 – The members of … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 17 in Classic Rock →

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 →

For a lot of us, the coronavirus pandemic has meant more time on our hands than we know what to do with. So if you’ve been taking this year to finally pick up that guitar in the corner, or you’ve run out of Netflix shows to binge-watch and are looking for something new to fill … Continue reading Top 10 Easiest Rock Songs to Learn on Guitar →