Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s May 28th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Starting off with releases, we got Gish from the Smashing Pumpkins in 1991, Every Picture Tells a Story from Rod Stewart in 1971, Carry On by Chris Cornell in 2007, and The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here from Alice in Chains in 2013!
Rocky III was released in theaters in 1982. This is important because it gave us one of films greatest themes: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor!
It’s Wendy O. Williams’ birthday today!
It’s also Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America’s birthday today!
Oh did I forget to mention that it’s John Fogerty’s birthday today? Crank up that CCR!
In 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) was established. A year later they would host the first every Grammy Awards.
In 1983, the first day of the four day US Festival ’83 took place in California with over 750,000 fans attending all four days. On the bill for the four day event included: The Clash, David Bowie, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, and Ozzy Osbourne. Funded by Steve Wozniak of Apple, the festival is intended to be the “Super Bowl of Rock,” but gets attention for how much Van Halen and Bowie were paid to perform, $1m and $2m respectively.
Also in 1983, while hanging out at Gazzarri’s On The Sunset Strip in L.A., a young guitarist listened to the house band Rapidfire. The lead singer of the band Axl Rose blew the guitarist away. They would soon form one of the biggest hair metal bands of the 80’s just a year later. Oh, did I forget to mention the guitarist was Slash?
In 2000, the White Stripes performed on television for the very first time on the Detroit Public Television series Backstage Pass, playing songs Apple Blossom and Death Letter
In 1995, System of a Down played their first concert ever at the Roxy in LA. They played songs that would appear on their debut record three years later, like P.L.U.C.K. and Sugar
In 1977, Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting perform together for the very first time as part of Mike Howlett’s band, Strontium 90. The three would ditch Howlett and form their own band, The Police.
The Police feature again as in 2007, the trio reunited for their first tour since 1983 in Vancouver. Putting aside differences and some clashes along the way, the tour lasted over a year with 151 shows.
And finally in 1976, The Allman Brothers Band disbanded after the younger Allman, Greg, testifies in court against road manager/bodyguard Scooter Herring. Herring was charged with drug trafficking and sentenced to 75 years in prison. The band would reunite two years later and Herring would get a reduced sentence thanks to a presidential pardon from President Jimmy Carter.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
