Today in Rock History – March 19

Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s March 19th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!

Starting it off on a sad note, as on this day in 1982, we lost Randy Rhoads in a plane crash. Considered to be one of metal’s most innovative musicians, he is given credit for creating many guitar techniques, including dive bombs and two-handed tapping. You may know Randy for his work with Ozzy Osbourne but he was also the founding member of this band:

Yeah, I know Rhoads had already passed when Metal Health came out, but if you’re gonna play Quiet Riot, it’s gonna be off of Metal Health.

We also lost Andrew Wood, the lead singer of Mother Love Bone, in 1990 at the age of 24. Why is that important? The members of Mother Love Bone would go on to form Pearl Jam.

Moving onto releases, we have Jethro Tull’s Aqualung in 1971 and Dressed to Kill from KISS in 1975.

We also got two rock film releases today. The first being 1975’s Tommy, based off The Who’s album of the same name. The film features a huge star-studded cast including all members of the band, as well as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Tina Turner and Jack Nicholson. It was a box-office hit and was well received by fans and critics!

Then in 2010, The Runaways, about the pioneering all-girl rock group, hits theaters. Focusing on members Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) receives favorable reviews, but flops.

Moving onto birthdays, we have Brann Dailor of Mastodon and Zach Lind of Jimmy Eat World

In 2001, the 16th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place. Inductees include: Aerosmith, Steely Dan, and Queen

And finally in 1988, while performing at the Community World Theater in Tacoma, Washington, a band who used multiple names, use the name that we all know them as now for the first time. Formerly known as: Ted Ed Fred, Pen Cap Chew, and Bliss, but on this day we would come to know them as: Nirvana

This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!