This Day in History: 2024-06-18
JUNE 18th
Fifteen months after its U.S. release, Ozzy Osbourne’s solo debut “Blizzard Of Ozz” earns a platinum certification. (for sales of one million copies). 1982
Melissa Etheridge’s self-titled debut album enters the U.S. chart. It stays on the chart for over a year. The set contains the classic “Bring Me Some Water” peaks at #22. 1988
Melissa Etheridge’s self-titled debut album enters the U.S. chart. It stays on the chart for over a year. The set contains the classic “Bring Me Some Water” peaks at #22. 1988
Beastie Boys “Ill Communication” is #1 on the Billboard 200. 1994
MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
Paul McCartney’s birthday. The Beatle, Wings leader and solo artist is born at Walton Hospital, Liverpool. 1942
Dizzy Reed, keyboardist for Guns N’ Roses, starts life in Hinsdale IL, with the name Darren Arthur Reed. 1963
Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” is #1 on the U.S. pop chart. 1977
Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten gets his face and hands slashed by some thugs who apparently didn’t take to kindly to the group’s U.K. hit “God Save The Queen.” 1977
Talking Heads members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth marry. 1977
Judas Priest is banned for life from New York City’s Madison Square Garden after concert goers trash the venue doing over $250,000 in damage. 1984
All Time Low guitarist Jack Barakat has a birthday. 1988
Mötley Crüe file a $20 million lawsuit against Carl Stubner, one of their managers. The suit, filed in L.A., accuses Stubner of damaging Crue’s reputation by deliberately promoting Tommy Lee’s solo projects ahead of the group’s in order to net a higher commission for himself. The suit asserts that the drummer’s involvement in the reality shows “Tommy Lee Goes to College” and “Rockstar: Supernova” harmed his image and lost revenue for the group. 2007
Hand-written lyrics by John Lennon of “A Day In The Life” are auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York. The auctioneer describes the closing track from The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” as “the revolutionary song that marked the Beatles’ transformation from pop icons to artists.” Estimated to sell for between $500,000 to $700,000, an undisclosed bidder pays $1.2 million for the lyrics. 2010
Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, passes away after suffering a stroke six days earlier. “(Clarence) loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage,” says Springsteen. 2011
Slash (Guns N’ Roses) receives the inaugural Tom F. Mankiewicz Leadership Award from the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association at its 41st Annual Beastly Ball. The honor recognizes Slash’s longtime contributions to establishing environmental welfare programs. 2011
PETA sends a 70th birthday card to Paul McCartney (see above) recognizing his efforts to help raise awareness for ethical animal treatment. The card has people dressed as animals in a parody of the famous Beatles “Abby Road” album cover. A sign reads “Happy Birthday, Paul! Thank You for Loving Us, Not Eating Us.” 2012
Linkin Park is inducted into Guitar Center’s RockWalk on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The ceremony comes the day after the band releases their sixth album, “The Hunting Party.” 2014
Pearl Jam bassist and skateboarder, Jeff Ament, donates $40,000 to enable a skateboarding park to open in Glendive, MT, where he grew up. 2014
A mashup featuring Iron Maiden‘s “Trooper” and Michael Jackson‘s “Beat It” garners over 600,000 streams. The mashup is the work of Nightmare Lyra. 2017
“Prequelle” debuts at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Ghost’s highest charting record to date, sits behind Kayne West’s “Ye” and Post Malone’s “beerbongs & bentleys.” 2018
