March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-05-01

MAY 1st

“Blood Sugar Sex Magik” is certified multi-platinum for selling four-million copies. The Red Hot Chili Peppers album was released five years earlier. 1996

Rush release their 19th studio album, “Snakes & Arrows.” Produced by Grammy-winner Nick Raskulinecz, the album is the trio’s first studio effort in five years. The first single is “Far Cry.” “It’s big, it’s bold, and I think it’s some of the best work we’ve done in years,” says bassist/frontman Geddy Lee. 2007

The Eagles file a lawsuit accusing the owners of a Mexico hotel of using the name Hotel California, the band’s most famous song, without permission. The suit claims the hotel owners “actively encourage” guests to believe the hotel is associated with the band, in order to sell t-shirts and other merchandise.  2017

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Rolling Stones sign a management agreement with Andrew Loog Oldham and Eric Easton. Oldham, who worked for The Beatles, helps shape the Stones’ rebellious image. 1963

Trade a Mickey Mantle for a George HarrisonThe Beatles receive $140,000 for allowing their pictures to be used for Topps bubble gum cards.  1964

The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who perform at the New Musical Express‘ Poll Winner’s show in London. Aside from the awesome line-up, the event is notable for being The Beatles last live U.K. appearance… if you don’t count the “Let It Be” rooftop set. 1966

Original Smashing Pumpkins bassist, D’Arcy Wretzky-Brown, is born in South Haven, MI. 1968

Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Beaulieu in Vegas. It doesn’t last but she becomes the keeper of the flame and organizes the Graceland estate. 1967

The Eagles first single, “Take It Easy,” arrives. Written by Jackson Browne and The Eagles Glenn Frey the song peaks at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1972

Led Zeppelin’s “Presence” begins a two-week run at the top of the Billboard 200. Subsequently, the band’s seventh studio album goes triple-platinum in the U.S. 1976

The Clash launch their first U.K. tour. The forty show “White Riot Tour” begins at London’s Roxy Theatre and actually includes a ‘riot’ (audience goes wild ripping the bolted seats from the floor) at the Rainbow Theatre. 1977

John Lennon’s home recordings (singing to his step-daughter Kyoko) are auctioned off in London for $195,000.  2002

“Spider-Man 3″ soundtrack” arrives. The set includes “Falling Star” from Jet plus previously unreleased tunes by Wolfmother and The Killers. The film hits screens three days later. 2007

U2 frontman Bono presents the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders to Gege Katana, an activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, at a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland. For once Bono is giving an award rather than receiving one! 2007

A judge in Surrey, B.C, rules that Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger must pay a $600 fine and is prohibited from driving for one year for a ‘06 drunk-driving offence.  2008

“Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage,” a documentary about the Canadian band, wins The Heineken Audience Award at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival. “You don’t think a film about a Rock band is going to be taken seriously,” says Rush frontman Getty Lee. “It’s a nice surprise.” 2010

Kid Rock is given the NAACP’s Great Expectations Award during ceremonies held at Detroit’s Cobo Center. Rock delivers the keynote address at the Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner despite protests over his use of the Confederate flag in his shows.” Kid Rock has consistently lifted up the Great Expectations of many persons concerning the future of the city,” says Donnell R. White, interim executive director of the organization’s Detroit branch. Rock answers critics saying, “I’ve never flown that (Confederate) flag with any hate in my heart. Not one ounce.” 2011

John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), John Mellencamp, Darius Rucker (Hootie & The Blowfish), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) and Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) are heard in public service announcements for Veterans Matter, an Ohio based charity dedicated to decreasing the number of homeless former military service people. The campaign runs for a month. 2014

8” by Incubus is the band’s fifth consecutive album to debut in the Billboard Top 5, landing at #4. It’s also the band’s first album in six years.  2017

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry receive a Tony Award nomination for their song “Bikini Bottom Boogie” in the “Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written For The Theatre” category. The song is in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical,” a Broadway show based on the Nickelodeon cartoon series. 2018

According to Livefootsteps.org, a non-profit that tracks all things Pearl Jam, the group has played “Even Flow” 844 times in concert making it the band’s most performed song. “Alive,” is second with 776 performances. “Jeremy,” “Better Man,” and Daughter” check-in with over 500 appearances each.  2019