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 at the age of 25. 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:
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, Evolution from Journey in 1979, Depeche Mode’s Violator in 1990 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! The soundtrack for the film also released on this day!
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), the film received favorable reviews, but flopped at the box office.
Moving onto birthdays, we have Brann Dailor of Mastodon, Tom Constaten of the Grateful Dead, Ricky Wilson of The B-52’s and Zach Lind of Jimmy Eat World!
In 2001, the 16th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place. Inductees included: Aerosmith, Paul Simon, 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, Skid Row, 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!
