This Day in History: 2024-10-31

ROCKTOBER 31^st

The Rolling Stones earn a gold record for “It’s Only Rock N’ Roll,” their last album with guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones in ’69. 1974

The original, seven-minute version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” is released in the U.K. A shorter version is subsequently issued. 1975

“Awake,” the second studio album by Godsmack, is released. The only Godsmack album to feature drummer Tommy Stewart, debuts at #5 on the Billboard 200, on its way to moving over 2-million copies in the U.S.  2000

Santana’s star-studded “All That I Am” arrives in the U.S. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler contributes vocals to “Just Feel Better” while Metallica’s Kirk Hammett is heard on the instrumental track “Trinity.” 2005

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Argent’s Russ Ballard has a birthday.  He’s from Waltham Cross, U.K.  1945    

U2’s drummer Larry Mullen is born in Dublin, Ireland. 1961

Guitarist Johnny Marr (born John Martin Maher) has a birthday. He’s known for his work with The Smiths. 1963

Mikkey Dee (Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou), Mötörhead’s drummer (’92 –’15), is born.  1963

Ad-Rock (Adam Keefe Horowitz) of the Beastie Boys starts his life in NYC.  1966

The Stooges make their live debut as The Psychedelic Stooges in Ann Arbor, MI. 1967

“Led Zeppelin III” is #1 on the Billboard 200.  The album includes the thunderous “Immigrant Song.”  1970

My Chemical Romance’s guitarist, Frank Anthony Thomas Iero Jr., enters the world. 1981

Roger Waters goes to court in London to legally dissolve Pink Floyd and prevent his ex-bandmates from using the name. Despite Waters’ efforts, the remaining members continue as Pink Floyd. 1986

“Digging In The Dirt” takes Peter Gabriel to #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.  1992

Rumored that he will commit suicide on Halloween, Marilyn Manson survives the night. Of course, the talk helps spike sales of “Antichrist Superstar.” 1996

“Psycho Circus” from KISS is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. 1998

Elton John supports a Wisconsin group that opposes a ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in the state. He waives his usual $20,000 fee allowing Fair Wisconsin to use “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” in a campaign ad. 2006

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS serve as the grand marshals for New York’s Village Halloween Parade. They ride on a KISS float in full costume and makeup. 2006

Marilyn Manson opens a Hollywood art gallery, Celebritarian Corporation Gallery of Fine Art. There are paintings of Edgar Allan Poe and even a nude Adolph Hitler. Somehow, that sounds appropriate. 2006

Who else? Alice Cooper hosts “The Monstrous Munster Mash,” an eight-hour marathon of the ’60s sitcom on WGN America cable network. And at midnight, WGN premieres Alice Cooper’s “Along Came A Spider,” a 30-minute special featuring music videos and clips from the album of the same name. 2008

“We were great, but you sucked,” are Paul Stanley’s parting words to the audience at the end of KISS’ set at the Voodoo Experience Music Festival in New Orleans. The band, despite the usual stage antics and fireworks, fails to excite the audience. 2009

Marilyn Manson wins the Favorite Male Celebrity Who Dresses for Halloween Every Day category at the first annual Fright Night Awards. The awards are sponsored by Cancer Bites, a national blood cancer education and awareness campaign. 2012

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) receives the King of Rock n’ Roll Award at the 2nd annual Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund Awards Gala in Hollywood. The guitarist is living with lymphoma. 2012

Evanescence singer Amy Lee is awarded more than a million dollars to cover legal fees in connection with a lawsuit brought against her by her former management company.  Essentially, 110 Management Inc. sued Lee for unpaid commissions and fees, she won, and they got the bill.  2017

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson publishes his autobiography, “What Does This Button Do?”  2017

Slipknot premiere “All Out Life,” on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 radio show. It’s the group’s first new music in four years.  Frontman Corey Taylor adds that the group is recording an album (“We Are Not Your Kind”).  “It’s going to be one of the darkest chapters in Slipknot’s history, it’s that good. 2018

Ghost return to Milwaukee to honor a fan who passed away after the band’s show earlier in the year. The May concert came to an abrupt and tragic end when Jeff Fortune collapsed at the venue and later died. The concert is only for those who attended the abbreviated show. 2018

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) reveal that Mötley Crüe guitarist Nikki Sixx sent a letter to Texas A&M University (TAMU) requesting they stop breeding golden retrievers and other dogs for testing purposes.  The University counters saying the Food and Drug Administration “requires therapies be proven to be safe in animals before they can be tested in humans.” 2018

DC Shoes offer an official DC x Black Sabbath line of footwear and apparel based on the art for Sabbath’s classic 1971 album, “Master Of Reality.”  2021

Stephen Pearcy, frontman for Ratt, announces a collaboration with Writers & Rockers Coffee Company for a line of premium signature coffees.  The collection includes “Round And Round,” “Hollywood Wired,” “Double Shot” and “Ultra Nitro” – all premium blended to Pearcy’s specifications. 2022

Greta Van Fleet, in conjunction with organic soda manufacturer Tribucha, launch Controlled Burn a special limited edition kombucha.   2023