Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s July 2nd and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Starting the day in 2005, Live 8 began in 10 cities across the world to help tackle poverty in Africa. Some of the bigger concerts, like in London, Berlin, and Philadelphia featured some heavy hitters that would take too long to name those that played to hundreds of thousands of people! One of the most talked about performances from Live 8 comes from the London concert: The reunion of Pink Floyd.
Moving onto releases now and we’ve got a great list. First up is Into the Great Wide Open from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers in 1991!
Other releases include Mirage by Fleetwood Mac in 1982, The Last in Line by DIO in 1984 and Hey Stoopid from Alice Cooper in 1991!
Birthdays today include Dave Parsons of Bush, Roy Bittan of the E Street Band, and Frank Zummo of Sum 41!
Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1969, just after the band finished performing at the three-day Denver Pop Festival.
During a 1991 Guns N Roses show at the Riverpoint Amphitheatre in St. Louis, singer Axl Rose caused a riot to break out after he leaped into the crowd to get a camera that a fan had snuck in. Axl would call out the security and promptly left the stage. 50 were injured and 15 fans were arrested.
In 2015, Rush appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine for the very first time.
In 2008, the tombstone of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis was stolen from the Macclesfield Cemetery in the UK. The size of a brick to cover the singer’s ashes, the stone was replaced just a few weeks later. The original stone has never been recovered.
And finally in 1971, Queen played their very first gig with their classic line-up of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
