Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s April 14th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
It’s a HUGE day for albums. Starting us off we have Iron Maiden’s debut release in 1980!
We also have Generation X’s final album Sweet Revenge in 1998, Into the Wild Life by Halestorm in 2015, Diver Down by Van Halen in 1982, and 72 Seasons from Metallica in 2023!
As well as Bowie’s Let’s Dance in 1983, Like a Rock from Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band in 1986 and Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll from Rainbow in 1978!
Oh, and we also got Off the Deep End from Weird Al in 1992.
Just two birthdays today and they belong to Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and Ritchie Blackmore of Rainbow and Deep Purple!
We lost Pete Farndon of The Pretenders in 1983 after he drowned in his bathtub after a drug overdose.
In 2016, Prince played his final concert when he performed at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, with his final song being Purple Rain. He would die a week later.
Kurt Cobain was cremated at the Bleitz Funeral Home in Seattle in 1994.
In 1980, a New Jersey State legislator introduced a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen’s classic Born to Run the official state song of NJ. It failed as the song’s lyrics depicted the desire to leave the state. Jersey remains one of few states to still not have an official state song.
Two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies took place: 2012 and 2018! The 2012 ceremony included big groups like Guns N Roses, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Beastie Boys. Axl Rose of GNR skipped the ceremony and even asked not to be included. The Hall ignored his request and included him anyways. The other members of the band performed with Myles Kennedy on vocals.
The 2018 ceremony included Bon Jovi, Dire Straits and The Cars. Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler and brother/guitarist David Knopfler both skipped the ceremony. The Hall couldn’t find anyone to induct the band, so they got announced, bassist John Illsley gave a speech and the ceremony continued. Yeaaaah. Here’s Bon Jovi instead.
And finally in 1975, after rumors of various guitarists, including Jimmy Page, Steve Marriott, and Jeff Beck, would replace Mick Taylor as the guitarist of The Rolling Stones, a press release announced that Ronnie Wood of the Faces would become the band’s new guitarist.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
