This Day in History: 2024-07-29

JULY 29th

The Doors earn their first #1 on the Billboard pop chart when the original seven-minute album version of “Light My Fire” gets edited to a more AM radio-friendly three-minutes. 1967

“Enter Sandman” is issued as a single. The Metallica song, from the band’s eponymous fifth album, peaks at #16 on the Billboard 100.  It goes on to sell over 1-million copies. 1991

Peppers fall. Three Days Grace’s “Animal I Have Become” ends the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ run with “Dani California” at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Meanwhile, the Raconteurs’ “Steady, As She Goes” pushes “Dani” out of the top spot on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks after a mere 13-week run. 2006

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

New World Man. Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib in Toronto, Ontario) has a birthday. He’s the vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for Rush. 1953

Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes enters the world. 1959

Woodroe “Woody” Weatherman, lead guitarist for Corrosion Of Conformity, is born in Raleigh, NC.  1965

The Beatles second film, “Help!” premieres at the London Pavilion. 1965

“A Whiter Shade Of Pale” by Procol Harum, peaks at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1967

Just as the Byrds are about to embark on a South African tour, multi-instrumentalist Gram Parsons quits stating he does not want to perform in the racially segregated country. 1968

While on tour, Led Zeppelin gets robbed to the tune of $180,000 in New York. 1973

David Bowie makes his theatrical debut as the title character in “The Elephant Man.” 1980

Someone’s knocking at the door. Paul McCartney files for divorce from his second wife, Heather Mills. The couple says they plan an amicable divorce. Less than a week later, McCartney changes all the locks on their house. 2006

Neil Young files for divorce from Pegi Young, his wife of 36 years and frequent musical collaborator. A petition for dissolution of marriage is filed by Young in their hometown of San Mateo, CA. 2014

Gaslight Anthem announce that they are going on hiatus to focus on individual projects. They break up after the band completes their European tour. 2015

Organizers of the Lollapalooza music festival launch the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund in partnership with Ingenuity, an arts education nonprofit.  They pledge to invest $2.2 million to support arts education in Chicago Public Schools.   2021

The National Rifle Association (NRA) distributes an email to board members informing them that Ted Nugent, who joined the NRA board in ’95, is stepping down “due to ongoing schedule conflicts.”  2021

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett officially joins the Gibson guitar family. Hammett who had previously been with ESP, receives a range of instruments across both Gibson and Epiphone brands.  2021

My Chemical Romance partner with Market, the streetwear brand, to present a limited edition of hoodies, hats and cardigans – many with the slogan “I Grew Up Listening To My Chemical Romance.”  2022

Foo Fighters and Alanis Morissette perform a live cover of “Mandinka” at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival as a tribute to the late Sinead O’Conner. “Mandinka” originally appeared on O’Connor’s ’87 debut album, “The Lion And The Corbra.”  2023

Falling In Reverse vocalist Ronnie Radke is banned from Tik Tok for his comments challenging gender identity.  2023