March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-06-07

JUNE 7th

Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.jpg“Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy” tops the Billboard 200. Elton John (Captain Fantastic) and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin (Brown Dirt Cowboy) have a six-week run at #1.  1975

Led by the single “Vasoline,” Stone Temple Pilots release their sophomore album, “Purple.” 1994

Three Ghost singles are certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for accumulating 500,000 certified units moved. The songs are Cirice” (from Ghost’s third album, ‘15’s “Meliora”),”Dance Macabre” (from ‘18’s “Prequelle”) and “Square Hammer” (from ‘16’s “Popestar” EP). These are Ghost’s first RIAA certifications.  2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson) is born in Minneapolis, MN. 1958

Guitarist Dave Navarro (Red Hot Chili Peppers/Jane’s Addiction) enters the world. 1967

Blind Faith play a free show in London’s Hyde Park in front of 120,000. It’s the group’s first major concert. 1969

The Who perform “Tommy” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. It’ the first time The Who play this venue and the last time they perform “Tommy” in its entirety for nearly two decades. 1970

There’s a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame building in Cleveland. 1993

Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship) has to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and perform 200 hours of community service for pointing a shotgun at police officers earlier in the year. 1994

Staind find the top of the Billboard 200 with “14 Shades Of Grey.”  2003

During the encore at the Foo Fighters concert at London’s Wembley Stadium Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones come onstage for renditions of Zep’s “Rock And Roll” and “Ramble On.” “This is the greatest f-in’ night in our band’s life,” Grohl tells the audience. 2008

Elton John’s stage version of the film “Billy Elliot” wins big at the Tony Awards, snagging 10 trophies, including Best Musical. Poison performs in support of the ’80’s based musical “Rock Of Ages.” During the show’s opening number singer Bret Michaels is hit by a descending piece of scenery fracturing his nose and cutting his lip. And that’s why you show up for rehearsals!  2009

Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist/vocalist Bob Welch dies after shooting himself at his Nashville home. Welch was with the band from ’71 until ’74 and had experience health issues in recent months.  2012

Black Sabbath issue “13.” The set has original Sabbath members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, plus drummer Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine) in place of Bill Ward who passed on the reunion due to a contract dispute. The Rick Rubin produced set marks the first time the trio has recorded an album since ’78’s “Never Say Die.” 2013

Trump uses “We Are The Champions” at a campaign rally.  Queen guitarist Brian May subsequently states he doesn’t want the presidential candidate to use the song ever again.  2016

Ghost fans raise over $9,500 via a crowdfunding drive for the family of Jeffrey Allan Fortune, a 52-year old man who died after collapsing in the mosh pit at a Ghost concert in Milwaukee. 2018

Metallica sues Lloyd’s of London in L.A. Superior Court for allegedly refusing to compensate the band for financial losses suffered when the band was forced to postpone six shows in South America in ‘20 because of the coronavirus. 2021

The Sex Pistols top the U.K. music streaming charts with “God Save The Queen,” 45 years after its initial release. The anti-government protest song originally dropped in ’77 to mock Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. It’s return to #1 coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration.  2022

Busy day for Slipknot.  Just prior to the start of a European tour, Slipknot co-founder and percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) writes on social media that he will sit out a number of the band’s shows in order to stay home with his wife, who is suffering from an undisclosed health issue.  Next, Slipknot announce that they have parted ways with keyboardist Craig Jones who joined the band in early 1996, replacing original guitarist Donnie Steele but soon moved to sampling and keyboards.  And just hours later, Slipknot play its first show with a “new mystery member” at the Nova Rock Festival in Austria.  2023

Social Distortion founder and bandleader Mike Ness reveals that he has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer. The 61-year-old singer/guitarist is undergoing treatment.   2023