Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s September 13th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Starting off with birthdays, it’s Dave Mustaine of Metallica and Megadeth’s birthday!
Other birthdays include Vinny Appice of Dio, Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell and Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction!
Speaking of Jane’s Addiction, it was on this day in 2024 that singer Perry Farrell attacked guitarist Dave Navarro on stage during a concert in Boston. The band would issue an apology the following day and on September 16th, they cancelled the remaining dates of their tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgUgvaML80
In 1991, Geffen Records hosted a launch party for Nirvana’s new single Smells Like Teen Spirit. The band were thrown out of the party after starting a food fight.
Moving onto releases we got Staind’s 2011 self-titled album, Jackson Browne’s Late for the Sky in 1974, Bush’s The Sea of Memories in 2011, Linkin Park’s A Thousand Suns in 2010 and KISS’ Animalize in 1984.
We lost Eddie Money in 2019 and Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon in 2015.
In 2000, the fantastic rock period piece Almost Famous, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film follows a teenage journalist as he tours with and writes a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming group, the fictional Stillwater. If you’re a fan of 70’s rock culture, this is the movie for you.
And finally in 1969, John Lennon and Eric Clapton were scheduled to perform at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival as a part of the Plastic Ono Band. Lennon was nervous backstage and began chain smoking. Host Kim Fowley noticed this and wanted to calm Lennon’s nerves. As he stepped out in front of the crowd, we saw the beginning of a rock tradition, as Fowley asked the crowd to hold up their lighters for the next act. The audience did just that, and holding up lighters (or cell phone lights) has been commonplace at many rock shows since, especially when Free Bird is played.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
