Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s May 2nd and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Starting off strong with releases as we got Evol by Sonic Youth in 1986, Power, Corruption & Lies from New Order in 1983, Disintegration from The Cure in 1989 and You’re Gonna Get It! by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers in 1978!
Moving onto birthdays now, we have Alain Johannes of Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures, Bunk Gardner of The Mothers of Invention, Jeff Gutt of Stone Temple Pilots and Lou Gramm of Foreigner!
*Content Warning for the next few headlines!*
HIDE of X Japan commits suicide via hanging in 1998 and we lost Jeff Hanneman of Slayer in 2013 of liver failure.
In 1980, post-punk pioneers Joy Division played their final show with lead singer Ian Curtis at Birmingham University. A few weeks later, just a day before the band would begin their North American tour, Curtis takes his own life at age 23. The remaining members would reform as New Order.
END OF CONTENT WARNING
In 1979, The Who played their first show following the death of drummer Keith Moon at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Their new drummer, Kenney Jones, was originally a member of the Faces.
Alright now let’s get to the lighter stuff now, shall we? In 1991, Nirvana began recording Nevermind at the Sound City Studio in Van Nuys, California. The album would become pivotal to the grunge movement and would help launch the band to super stardom.
And speaking of Nirvana, a year later in 1992, a little-known UK duo also called Nirvana, sued the American grunge band, claiming that they had been using the name since the late 1960s. Both Nirvanas settled out of court, in favor of the British Nirvana.
In 1991, R.E.M.’s music video for Losing My Religion was banned in Ireland for its religious imagery.
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback was convicted of drunk driving in Vancouver in 2008. Kroeger had almost twice the legal limit in his system when stopped by police while driving in his Lamborghini. He was banned from driving for an entire year. Ok, fine we’ll put it in. But don’t ask me for anything ever again.
And finally in 1986, Judas Priest began their Fuel For Life tour in Albuquerque, NM. After going to rehab a few months prior, this would be the first time lead singer Rob Halford had ever performed sober with the band.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
