Today in Rock History
DECEMBER 3rd
The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” is released in the U.K. This edition includes “Nowhere Man” which does not appear on the U.S. version. Also, the group undertakes their final U.K. tour. The first stop is Glasgow. 1965 
Linda Ronstadt’s “Simple Dreams” is #1 on the Billboard 200. A cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice” plus “It’s So Easy,” “Blue Bayou” and Warren Zevon’s “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” are the drawing cards. 1977
Rolling Stone magazine calls R.E.M. "America’s Best Rock & Roll Band." 1987
Two days earlier, "Document" (pictured) containing "The One I Love" and "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine," peaks at #9 0n the Billboard 200.
Three Black Keys songs from their seventh studio album “El Camino” are certified platinum or multi-platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). They are: “Lonely Boy” (double platinum – two million sales); “Gold On The Ceiling” (double platinum); and “Little Black Submarines" (platinum - one million sales). “El Camino” dropped in ’11. 2021MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
Ozzy Osbourne (born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham England) enters the world. The Dark Prince rolls through Black Sabbath and a successful solo career (becoming a package tour icon with Ozzfest) before playing a befuddled dad on MTV (The Osbournes). 1948
Jefferson Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas is born. 1949
The Beatles’ release the two-sided single, “We Can Work It Out”/"Day Tripper.” 1965
An electrical-short knocks out Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards during a Sacramento concert. Richards takes about ten minutes to get back up to speed. He finishes the show. 1965
One of the greatest albums ever recorded of girls screaming, “Got Live If You Want It,” is released. The Rolling Stones are also in there somewhere. 1966
Though The Monkees already have a popular T.V. series and hit records, they make their live debut in Honolulu. This is a major step for the pre-fab four. 1966
“Singer (program sponsor) Presents Elvis” airs on NBC. This soon becomes known as the “Comeback Special.” Presley appears in black leather and proves to the world that he's still "got it." 1968
A Soviet music critic dismisses The Beatles and their fans claiming the group has become the “rich idols of the Philistines.” 1968
The Sex Pistols’ Anarchy In The U.K. Tour gets underway with The Clash and the Damned who get dumped early on. Only three of nineteen scheduled shows actually happen. 1976
When pigs fly or going back to the farm. Having failed to get their forty-foot inflatable pig off the ground the day before, Pink Floyd’s photo shoot for the “Animals” album cover goes seriously awry when the pig, affectionately known as Algie, breaks from its moorings over London's Battersea Power Station. Flights are cancelled at Heathrow Airport because the pig is an air traffic hazard. Algie eventually lands on a farm in Kent. 1976
Eleven people are killed trying to get to unreserved (festival) seating at The Who’s Riverfront Coliseum concert in Cincinnati, OH. 1979
“Show No Mercy,” Slayer’s debut album, is released. It goes on to be Metal Blade Records first major success. 1983
Will To Power’s medley of "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird" is the #1 song in the U.S. Frampton fans are relatively silent but Lynyrd Skynyrd fans get mighty riled that one of the all-time great Southern Rock songs gets a pop treatment. 1988
In an MTV Europe interview, the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger states that bassist Bill Wyman has quit the band. Wyman turns out to be a relative short timer spending a mere thirty years with the Stones. 1992
Singer Peter Garrett leaves Midnight Oil for a political career in his native Australia. 2002
Marilyn Manson and his longtime girlfriend, striptease artist Dita Von Teese (Heather Sweet), wed at a castle in Kilsheelan, Ireland. About 60 people attend the ceremony that is officiated by underground movie director Alejandro Jodorowsky. The bride and groom read self-penned vows. 2005
A version of "21 Guns," featuring Green Day with the cast from “American Idiot,” debuts on Spinner.com. The track was recorded in an Oakland studio just days after the musical’s final performance at the Berkeley Rep in November. "They sung the hell out of it," says Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong. "It's great to have something out there for people to hear who didn't get to see the show." The song goes to radio the next day. 2009
Nickelback are the first major contributors to the Obakki Foundation which helps orphaned children in Cameroon, Africa. The band donates $1 of every ticket sold during their previous summer tour for a total contribution of $500,000. "Through the ongoing support of our incredible fans, Nickelback has the opportunity to step up, contribute and make a difference," says the band’s Ryan Peake, who founded the organization with his wife Treana. "I will personally be making the trip to Africa this weekend and I’m really looking forward to visiting the villages and communities to see where we can make the largest impact. 2009
VH1’s Divas Salute the Troops special features Paramore (fronted by Hayley Williams), Heart’s Nancy & Ann Wilson and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. The show is at San Diego's Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. 2010
Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe is indicted on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic for the death of a fan who died two weeks after allegedly being injured at the band's ‘10 concert in Prague. “Obviously, we intend to fight vigorously against these charges as we feel that in no way did Randy intend to cause bodily harm on the young fan who subsequently died from injuries sustained at the show,” says Larry Mazer, the band’s manager. Blythe is later acquitted. 2012
The Faces keyboardist Ian 'Mac' McLagan passes away after suffering a stroke. He was 69. 2014
Former Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland dies in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, MN, with his band The Wildabouts. The troubled singer was 48. 2015
Jack White's Third Man Records and Third Man Books announce a collaborative project with the Defender of the Water School in Standing Rock that will both publish activist students' work as well as raise funds for the North Dakota school. The effort supports the protest of the Dakota Access (oil) Pipeline. 2016
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler receives the Humanitarian Award from the Hospitality Committee for United Nations Delegations at the Ambassadors' Ball in New York. He’s honored for his philanthropy: Janie’s Fund. 2016
KoЯn and Hollywood Vampires perform at the 15th annual "Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding" at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. Proceeds benefit Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center. 2016
Former Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel plays his first show with Slayer after band member Gary Holt left to be with his dying father. Demmel says that he is "beyond honored" to fill in for Holt for the remainder of Slayer’s European tour. 2018
The estate of Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott (Pantera/Damageplan) wins a copyright suit in Florida filed by Buddy Webster (aka Buddy Blaze), an instrument designer, who claimed to have not received compensation for Dimebag’s custom "Dean From Hell" guitar which he allegedly helped create. Blaze filed a lawsuit in ‘17 against the parent company of Dean Guitars and Dimebag's estate. 2018
Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley announces that he is taking a break from the road to focus on his mental health. “Keith needs to take this time to rest… and we wish him a quick recovery," responds the band in a statement while adding that they will play the final three tour shows without a vocalist. Buckley then implies that issues within the band contributed to his mental health challenges. 2021