Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s March 31st and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Break out those school boy outfits, cause it Angus Young’s birthday today!
Other birthdays include Ali McMordie of the Stiff Little Fingers and Erik Turner of Warrant!
Moving onto releases we have Presence from Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard’s Adrenalize, which was the first album since the death of guitarist Steve Clark; we also have Ronnie James Dio – This is Your Life from 2014. The album features many of metals greatest acts paying tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio by performing many of Dio’s work from Sabbath, Dio, and Rainbow. Here’s a taste with Adrenaline Mob doing The Mob Rules.
Another release for today is the film High Fidelity starring John Cusack and Jack Black as record store clerks. It is an absolute classic and what I would call a guy’s rom-com. If you’ve never watched it and consider yourself a music snob, give it a watch.
Speaking of records, on this day in 1949, RCA Victor unveiled the 45 RPM single and revolutionized the market. It quickly became the most popular physical format for music until CD’s.
In 1967, Jimi Hendrix sets his guitar ablaze for the first time ever, taking place at Finsbury Park Astoria theater in London. The Fender Stratocaster guitar would later be sold at auction for almost $500K! The fire probably looked a little like this.
And finally in 1995, a crazed fan attempted to stab Jimmy Page during a Page and Plant show in Michigan. The fan was stopped by security, who gets stabbed instead of Page. After his arrest, the man told police that he ‘wanted to kill Page because of the Satanic music he was playing.’
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
