March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-10-26

ROCKTOBER 26th

Pearl Jam sells nearly a million copies of their “Vs” album in the first week of its release. At the time it’s a sales record. 1992

Incubus release “Make Yourself.” The band’s third album contains “Drive,” the band’s only Top 10 song (#9) on Billboard’s Hot 100. The album goes on to be certified double platinum. 1999

“Life,” an autobiography by Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards, is in bookstores. It covers just about every aspect of the guitarist’s life in candid fashion.  2010

The Black Keys issue “Lonely Boy,” the first single from their seventh album, “El Camino.” The song subsequently wins Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song trophies at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. 2011

Oasis is the subject of a documentary titled “Supersonic.” “Oasis was like a Ferrari,” singer Liam Gallagher states. “Great to look at. Great to drive. And it’ll f*cking spin out of control every now and again.”  2016

The documentary also chronicles Liam and Noel Gallagher’s legendary battles.   “Oasis’ greatest strength was me and Liam,” Noel states.  “It’s also what drove the band into the ground in the end.”

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Singer Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs) begins her life in Jamestown, NY.  1963

The Beatles are awarded Members of the British Empire (MBE) for their contributions to the British economy. John Lennon later returns his in protest to Britain’s support of U.S. policy in Vietnam. 1965

Elton John’s ballad “Your Song” is out.  Released in the U.S. as the B-side of “Take Me To The Pilot,” radio DJs prefer “Your Song” and it goes to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.  1970

“Freeze-Frame,” the 12th album by The J. Geils Band, is released. Containing the title track and “Centerfold,” it’s band’s only #1 album and their biggest seller. 1981

Queen and David Bowie release “Under Pressure.”  The song tops the U.K. singles chart but doesn’t crack the Top 20 in the U.S. 1981

Less than a month after joining, Bruce Dickinson makes his live debut with Iron Maiden in Bologna, Italy.  He replaces Paul Di’Anno.  1981

Van Halen’s “Top Of The World” tops Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.  1991

Five years later, Van Halen’s “Me Wise Magic” is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.  1996

A private bidder shells out $15 million for the rights to some of Jimi Hendrix’s best-known songs. The auction is organized by the estate of late Hendrix manager Michael Jeffrey. The Hendrix family contests the validity of the auction. In a prepared statement they say, “the assertion that the catalog is the property of (Jeffery’s estate) has never been upheld by any court.” 2006

Alice Cooper urges governments to legalize hard drugs but believes that booze and tobacco should be outlawed. “You know, looking at statistics, I think drugs should be legal and alcohol and cigarettes should be illegal,” Cooper tells OK Magazine. “They kill more than drugs do.” Cooper, who battled alcohol-addiction during the ’70s, quit in ’83. 2011

Two Rolling Stones concerts in Newark sell out in one minute. The shows are part of the group’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Scalpers sell tickets for the sold-out shows at a huge mark-up. A spokesperson for Ticketmaster insists that the brisk sellout was driven by simple demand. 2012

“Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen’s ’75 hit, is named the “most uplifting” song in a BBC poll. Respondents say the song makes them “feel perkier when they are sick or faced with hard times.” 2014

Highly Suspect are #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with “16.”  The track is from the group’s third studio album, “MCID.”2019

Kurt Cobain’s acrylic and mohair cardigan sweater, with a burn hole, that he wore during Nirvana’s MTV’ Unplugged In New York” live performance sells for $334,000 at Julien’s Auctions’ “Icons & Idols: Rock ‘N’ Roll.”  Only four years earlier the sweater was auctioned for $137,500.  2019

The “Package Mix-Up With Alice Cooper” commercial for Progressive Insurance debuts. It’s part of the insurance company’s popular “At Home With Baker Mayfield” campaign that features the Cleveland Browns quarterback. 2021

Nightwish‘s Floor Jansen says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has successful surgery a couple days later. Jansen states she might not have discovered the cancer if had it not been for a Mammogram checkup, adding “she didn’t feel the cancer.” 2022

Guitarist Mick Mars says he will not participate in Mötley Crüe’s worldwide “Stadium Tour” due to health issues.  A day later the band states that Mars is retiring from Mötley Crüe altogether.  2022

Following Hardcore Punk bands Live Without and Wacko, Blink-182 live up to the “What The F*ck Is Up Denny’s ” meme when they play an unannounced show at a Denny’s in Long Beach, CA. Live Without’s ’13 Denny’s appearance has generated over 2-million YouTube views while Wacko’s ’19 Denny’s performance resulted in $1,000 in damages. No damages are associated with Blink-182’s show. 2023

Canadian telecommunications company Telus uses Judas Priest’s You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” in a campaign to promote the arrival of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro.   2023