Today in Rock History
FEBRUARY 5th
It took a while, but "Gish" goes platinum (one-million copies sold). The Smashing Pumpkins album was released in ‘91. 1999
Lenny Kravitz issues his eighth album, "It Is Time For A Love Revolution," containing the singles, "Bring It On" and "I Am Waiting." "We've all got our voice," says Kravitz discussing the album. "And if I have this gift to play music, then I'm gonna talk about love." 2008The album debuts at #4 on the Billboard 200 selling about 73,000 copies in its first week. It’s Kravitz's first U.S. Top 5 album since ‘00's “Greatest Hits.”
Sheryl Crow's "Detours," featuring the title track, is out. Songs cover personal issues ("Diamond Ring"/"Now That You're Gone"), her battle with breast cancer ("Make It Go Away") and politics ("Gasoline"). 2008MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
Al Kooper, producer, songwriter, keyboardist and founder of Blood Sweat & Tears is born. 1943
Then-Beatles drummer Pete Best is ill so the group calls on Ringo Starr (Best's eventual replacement) to fill in for a show in Southport. It's Ringo's first appearance with The Beatles and probably not a gig Best should have missed. 1962
Bassist Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) is born with the moniker Michael Andrew McKagan. 1964
British tabloid News Of The World confuses Rolling Stones vocalist Mick Jagger with the group's guitarist Brian Jones in a story about Rock star drug use. Jones is overheard talking about drugs at a London club but they attribute the comments to Jagger who threatens to sue. In the end, it's Stones guitarist Keith Richards' house that is raided by police. How does that make sense? 1967
Spin Doctors singer Chris Barron (born Christopher Barron Gross) starts his life in Hawaii. 1968
Elton John's "Crocodile Rock," recorded at Strawberry Studios in France, goes gold just two days after reaching #1 in the U.S. 1973
"Africa" (Toto) is the #1 song on the Hot 100. 1983
When the local cable company drops MTV as a cost cutting measure, John Mellencamp plays a free protest concert in Johnson City, TN. MTV is returned to the cable line-up the following month. 1992
The Rolling Stones play two classics and a newer song during the Super Bowl XL Halftime Show in Detroit. They open with "Start Me Up," then play "Rough Justice." Censors cut Mick Jagger's mic during the songs to avoid airing potentially offensive lyrics. "Here's one we could have done at Super Bowl I," notes Jagger before the group launches into "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." The Seattle Seahawks certainly could empathize with that last song losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10. 2006
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" tops NME's list of the Top 500 Rock songs of All Time. 2014
Papa Roach’s single, "Born For Greatness," is named the theme song for WWE’s Monday Night Raw (wrestling). 2018
All That Remains announce that guitarist Jason Richardson is an official member replacing the late Oli Herbert who passed away the previous October. “(He is) his own man, with his own style',” says frontman Phillip Labonte. Richardson had been a touring member since the previous November. 2019
Growlers, a Memphis concert venue, cancels a planned As I Lay Dying concert due to a local backlash. Frontman Tim Lambesis was convicted in ‘14 for his role in a murder-for-hire plot of his estranged wife and had just been released from prison a few months earlier. “When the show was first announced, hundreds of people bought tickets right away,” posts the venue. “However, we've since heard the input of several people in the local community that we have the utmost respect for, and we want them to know that their voices are heard.” 2019
Machine Gun Kelly performs at the NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas. The performance is televised as part of ABC's national broadcast. 2022