Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s July 5th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Starting the day in 2025, the Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne farewell/benefit concert Back to the Beginning took place in Birmingham, England. Featuring a star studded cast of bands and singers paying tribute to the metal giants with covers of various Ozzy and Sabbath tracks, highlights of the 10+ hour event included Ozzy’s tearjerker performance of Mama, I’m Coming Home, guest host Jason Mamoa jumping into the mosh pit, and Yungblud’s star making version of Changes during one of the two supergroup performances. The concert has also been viewed by fans as a “funeral for the living”, as Ozzy would die from his Parkinson’s 17 days later.
In 1969, just two days after the death of former bandmate Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones played a free tribute concert for Jones at Hyde Park in London. Coincidentally, the concert was the debut of Jones’ replacement for the band, Mick Taylor.
In 1975, Pink Floyd debuted their new album Wish You Were Here at that year’s Knebworth Festival!
And speaking of albums, we got Slayer’s South of Heaven on this day in 1988!
Moving onto birthdays, we have Robbie Robertson of The Band!
Other birthdays include Terry Chimes of The Clash, Nick O’Maley of Arctic Monkeys and Huey Lewis of Huey Lewis & The News!
At a 1980 Led Zeppelin show in Munich, Germany, Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke joined the band on stage to perform the song Whole Lotta Love. Kirke would be the final guest musician to play alongside Zep as their tour would end just two days later and John Bonham died that September.
And finally in 2015, the four surviving members of the Grateful Dead (Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart) played their final show ever for the Fare Thee Well concert series. Performing at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Dead were joined by Trey Anastasio of Phish, Bruce Hornsby, and Jeff Chimenti. The show came a little under 20 years (by 4 days) since their final show with Jerry Garcia at Soldier Field in 1995.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
