March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-06-21

JUNE 21st

Mötley Crüe issue their third album, “Theater Of Pain.”  Thanks, in  large part, to the tracks “Home Sweet Home” and “Smokin’ In The Boys Room,” the set sells four million copies.  1985

Linkin Park’s “Minutes To Midnight” is certified platinum by the RIAA, the record-industry organization. The album takes less than a month to hit the 1 million-sales mark. The single “What I’ve Done” tops both the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and the Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts. 2007

An orange background with a red clenched fist caught in a rope.Metallica’s “St. Anger” is #1 on the Billboard 200. It’s Metallica’s only album as an official trio since bassist Jason Newsted departure prior to the recording sessions.  Producer Bob Rock fills in.  2003

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Ray Davies (The Kinks) begins the life of a well-respected man. For his birthday, thirteen years later, he gets a guitar. The rest is history. 1944

Badfinger guitarist Joey Molland arrives on the scene. He’s a Liverpool native. 1947

It wouldn’t be Aerosmith without him. Drummer Joseph (Joey) Michael Kramer has a birthday. He’s the one who names the band ‘Aerosmith’ in ’73. 1950

E Street Band guitarists Nils Lofgren has a birthday. 1951

Winger’s Kip Winger is born.  1961

The Rolling Stones sue 14 New York hotels that won’t let the group on the premises. The Stones claim the ban hurts their reputation. 1966

Noted session guitarist and future founder of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page makes his live debut with the Yardbirds at the Marquee Club in London. As a replacement for Paul Samwell-Smith, Page plays bass. He later shares guitar duties with Jeff Beck before becoming the group’s sole lead guitarist. 1966

Released after Traffic had disbanded, “Last Exit,” a combination of studio and live material, reaches #19 on the Billboard 200. 1969

Anette Olzon, onetime lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic Metal band Nightwish (’07 – ’12), has a birthday.  1971

Singer/actress Juliette Lewis is born in L.A. 1973

L.A. is where Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger is born. 1976

The Killers’ Brandon Flowers has a birthday. He’s from Henderson, NV. 1981

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker announce the dissolution of Steely Dan. The group released seven studio albums including “Aja” (’77), the band’s most popular set.  1981

Little Richard gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. What took them so long? 1990

The first Bonnaroo Music Festival is held in Tennessee. The three-day festival features Widespread Panic and Gov’t Mule. 2002

Billy Corgan takes out a full-page ad in two Chicago newspapers saying he wants the Smashing Pumpkins to reform. “I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams,” writes Corgan. The Pumpkins split in ’00. 2005

Elton John raises over $215,000 with a rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” at The Karaoke With the Stars in London. The event provides health and education support for young Palestinian refugees. 2007

Disturbed’s “Indestructible” debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Selling 252,000 copies in its first week the album marks the third straight time the group has topped the survey.  2008

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer invites 20 wounded soldiers to attend the band’s performance in Bristow, VA, to help him celebrate his 59th birthday (see above). “I can’t think of a better gift to receive on my birthday than to have the privilege of sharing a night of our music with these brave and heroic warriors,” says Kramer. The troops are Iraq/Afghanistan veterans and patients from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. 2009

An autopsy report states that Slipknot bassist Paul Gray’s death was caused by an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl, a narcotic analgesic that is 100 times more potent than morphine. According to the Polk County, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office, Gray also had “significant heart disease” at the time of his death (on 5/25/10). 2010

The Black Keys file lawsuits in L.A. against Home Depot and Yum! Brands Inc., parent company of Pizza Hut, over unauthorized use of their songs in commercials. They allege Home Depot played “Lonely Boy” to promote power tools and that “Gold On The Ceiling” was featured in a Cheesy Bites pizza ad. The suit is settled five months later.  Terms are not disclosed. 2012

Bassist Mia Wallace announces she has rejoined Abbath after being fired in January ’20.  2021

Dolly Parton’s single, “Bygones,” featuring Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford (with Mötley Crüe‘s Nikki Sixx and John 5), debuts at #1 0n the Mediabase Classic Rock Songs chart.  2023