Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s June 29th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Starting the day off with birthdays, we have Ian Paice of Deep Purple!
Other birthdays include Greg Hetson of Bad Religion and John Feldmann of Goldfinger!
Moving onto releases now, we got Slipknot’s self-titled debut in 1999!
Other releases include Sister from Sonic Youth in 1987, Cyberpunk by Billy Idol in 1993 and The Now Now from Gorillaz in 2018!
As well as both In Between Evolution by The Tragically Hip and Feedback from Rush in 2004 and Running with Scissors from Weird Al Yankovic in 1999!
In 1974, Neil Peart officially replaced John Rutsey as the drummer for Rush. Rutsey, who appeared on the group’s first album, left the group due to health problems that would limit his ability to tour.
Just months after breaking up with his band Little Feat, we lost Lowell George in 1979 from a heart attack caused by a cocaine overdose at the age of 34.
In 2000, the casket holding the remains of Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant was unsuccessfully stolen from its mausoleum in Jacksonville, FL. I say unsuccessfully because the would be robbers left the casket after they failed to open it. Van Zant’s bandmate Steve Gaines, who was also buried in the same cemetery, had his urn stolen the same night.
And finally, the Winterland Ballroom opened its doors in San Francisco on the this day in 1928! Originally a ice rink it would later be converted into an entertainment hall specifically for concerts. Winterland would host many rock legends ranging from The Band and the Grateful Dead, to Peter Frampton and Led Zeppelin, to The Sex Pistols and the Ramones before closing its doors for good on January 1st 1979. It would eventually be torn down and was replaced by apartment buildings in 1985.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
