This Day in History: 2024-08-29

AUGUST 29th

“Definitely Maybe,” an Oasis album, arrives. The set subsequently sells over 8-million copies worldwide (1-million U.S.) on the strength of the songs “Supersonic,” “Shakermaker” and “Live Forever.” 1994

The Red Hot Chili Peppers issue their first album in five years (since “Stadium Arcadium” in ’06), “I’m With You.” The group’s tenth album is their first with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced longtime Chili Pepper John Frusciante. 2011

AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock And Roll)” is selected for inclusion in Australia’s National Registry Of Recorded Sound. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, the song first appeared on the band’s ’75 album, “T.N.T.” 2012

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Velvet Underground founding member Sterling Morrison has a birthday. 1942

Chris Copping has a birthday. He played organ, piano and bass with Procol Harum. 1945

The Beatles last concert: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA. For a group with two incredible songwriters and another pretty good one, the group opens and closes with covers. Chuck Berry’s “Rock n’ Roll Music” starts the show and it ends with Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally.” The Beatles never tour again. 1966

(David) Kyle Cook, Matchbox Twenty guitarist, enters the world. He’s a Frankfort, IN, native. 1975

Los Lobos top the pop chart with a cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba.” 1987

The Beastie Boys song “Brass Monkey” reportedly increases sales of the cocktail mix. 1987

“Basket Case,” by Green Day, drops. The “Dookie” track spends five-weeks at #1 on the Modern Rock chart.  1994

MTV Video Awards in Miami: Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” wins Best Rock Video honors. Linkin Park’s animated “Breaking The Habit” clip takes the Viewer’s Choice Award. 2004

Guns N’ Roses vocalist Axl Rose is sued by a security guard who claims that the singer kicked him in the head during a gig in Universal City, CA. Rose’s lawyer insists that video exists proving Roses’ innocence. Perhaps ‘innocence’ is the wrong word to use in conjunction with Rose. A better term might be “lack of guilt.” 2007

An already contentious election year gets worse. Van Halen’s “Right Now” is played at the Dayton, OH, political rally where Republican presidential candidate John McCain announces his running mate is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Eddie Van Halen is not pleased stating that the McCain camp never submitted a request to use the song, and “had they asked, permission would not have been granted.” Meanwhile, ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar, who sang on the ’91 hit, issues a statement saying that he didn’t object to McCain using the song. 2008

Eddie Van Halen’s emergency surgery for a life-threatening case of diverticulitis forces Van Halen to cancel a tour of Japan. 2012

Sweden’s Ghost secures their first Top 10 album on the Billboard 200 when “Meliora” goes to #8 on sales of 29,000 copies. 2015

Metallica introduce their Blackened American Whiskey. There are a series of tasting that coincide with the band’s tour stops.  The inaugural batch produces 5,000 bottles.  2018

Ron Bushy, of the Iron Butterfly, dies in Santa Monica. His drum solo in the band’s epic “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” is legendary.  In addition, he is the only band member who appeared on all six of the group’s albums.  2021

Ghost cancels shows in Jacksonville and Tampa as Hurricane Idalia hits Florida’s Gulf Coast. In addition to damage caused by high winds there is also extensive flooding.  2023