7/2 Heart postpones its “Royal Flush” tour so that singer Ann Wilson can undergo cancer treatment. She had undergone an operation to remove “something that, as it turns out, was cancerous.”
7/4 System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian continues his criticism of Imagine Dragons for playing a show in Baku, Azerbaijan because it helped “whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image.”
In a Rolling Stone interview, Dan Reynolds, Imagine Dragons’ frontman, states “(there are) corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?”
“Respectfully, I draw the line at ethnic cleansing and genocide,” writes Tankian on social media.
7/5 Visions Of Atlantis drops “Pirates II – Armada.” The set features the tracks “Monsters” and “Armada.”
Influenced by Nightwish and fascinated by the myth of Atlantis, the band was founded in ’00.
7/5 AC/DC receive the Legend Award at the annual O2 Silver Clef Awards in London. They are acknowledged for their five decades as an influential and iconic band.
In addition, Blur takes home the flagship O2 Silver Clef Award in celebration of the band’s contribution to music during its three-decade-long career.
The O2 Silver Clef Awards aid the U.K. music-therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins.
7/6 AC/DC top the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart this week with their ‘90 hit “Thunderstruck” (from the band’s “The Razor’s Edge” set). The song had previously claimed the top spot on the Hard Rock Digital Sales chart in ’12.
7/8 AC/DC’s ’80 breakthrough album “Back In Black“ is certified for U.S. shipments of 26 million copies by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA).
7/9 Queens Of The Stone Age cancel the remaining nine concerts of their European tour because frontman Josh Homme (pictured above) needs to return to the U.S. to undergo ’emergency surgery’.
7/9 KISS’s “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” surpasses one-billion streams on Spotify. The disco-tinged track originally released in ’79 is on the band’s seventh studio effort, “Dynasty.“
It was written by lead guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley (pictured) and ace songwriter Desmond Child, along with songwriter/producer Vini Poncia.
7/9 A three-way lawsuit involving Nirvana’s ‘smiley face’ logo is settled out of court. The band sued fashion designer Marc Jacobs in ’18 for infringing on their copyright for a line of clothing. Then earlier this year Robert Fisher, the former art director from Nirvana’s record label, filed his own lawsuit claiming ownership.
7/10 The Killers are awarded two Guinness World Records titles for “Mr. Brightside.” The song spends the most amount of time on the U.K. singles chart compared with any other song, with 416 non-consecutive weeks.
It also earns the record for the longest stay in the U.K. singles chart by a group – also at 416 weeks. Ironically, the U.K,’s biggest single never reached #1.
7/10 Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is sued for wrongful death after striking and killing 47-year-old Israel Sanchez, with his GMC SUV, while the victim was walking in a crosswalk on his way to get groceries. The suit, filed in California by the victim’s daughter, alleges that Klinghoffer was distracted by his phone.
7/11 Beastie Boys (Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz and Dechen Yauch, executor of the late Adam Yauch’s estate) file a complaint seeking a jury trial to determine whether the Chili’s restaurant chain infringed on the band’s copyright by using portions of “Sabotage” in posts and a commercial without permission.
The band seeks a financial award of not less than $150,000 in each case.
7/12 Phish unfurl their 16th studio set and first in over four years, “Evolve.” “I think I’ve historically felt safer playing the guitar than I have walking down the street,” offered Trey Anastasio. “When I’m playing the guitar… that’s been my safe way of emoting over the years.”
7/12 Southern Rock singer/guitarist, Tim Montana, rolls out his sixth full-length set, “Savage,” containing the title track, “The Devil You Know” and “Shut Me Out.” Of the latter track, Montana says, “It might sound like a relationship song, but it’s actually about some feelings I had as a teenager. Unwanted feelings, and so I’m glad I got it out.”
7/12 With founding members Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar) and Billy Sheehan (bass), Mr. Big’s tenth studio album contains the track “Good Luck Trying.”
7/13 Pearl Jam’s “Wreckage” is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. It follows “Dark Matter,” title track from the twelfth studio effort, which had a four-week run at the top the previous March.
7/13 Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson (pictured) finally meets the singer he replaced, Paul Di’Anno, for the first time in Croatia.
Dickinson, promoting his solo album, “The Mandrake Project,” performs in Zagreb, where Di’Anno is receiving physiotherapy treatments after undergoing major knee surgery nearly two years ago. A fan brings them together.
7/15 Billboard reports that Metallica’s self-titled set, commonly referred to as the “Black Album” (due to the cover art), has spent 750 non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, sitting at #178.
Only Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” (990 weeks). Bob Marley’s “Legend” (843 weeks) and Journey’s “Greatest Hits” (813 weeks) have been on the chart longer.
7/17 Former Great White singer Jack Russell announces his retirement from touring following a recent diagnosis of Lewy body dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).
“I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you (the audience) deserve,” Russell states.
7/17 Following cruise appearances, Creed kicks off the “Summer Of ’99,” its first tour in 12 years. The band’s 16-song set at the Resch Center in Green Bay, WI, includes seven songs off the band’s diamond-certified second album, ’99’s “Human Clay.”
7/17 Foo Fighters are forced to cut short their concert at Citi Field in Queens, New York, due to severe weather in the area. “When it was determined that there was no safe way to continue the show in this dangerous weather, we had no choice but to call it a night,” explains frontman Dave Grohl (pictured).
7/19 Highly Suspect release “As Above, So Below.” “If my life is a book, then this album is the first chapter that truly addresses the central conflict. The recognition of an ego, the problems it caused, “offers singer/guitarist Johnny Stevens. “‘Summertime Voodoo‘ is the introductory paragraph to this chapter.”
7/19 Deep Purple unfurl “=1.” Containing the tracks “Portable Door” and “Pictures Of You,” it’s Deep Purple’s first studio effort featuring guitarist Simon McBride, who joined two years ago following Steve Morse’s departure.
7/20 “All My Life,” a Country-Rock collaboration between Falling In Reverse (frontman Ronnie Radke pictured) and Jelly Roll is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The song has a brisk five-week trip to the top.
7/20 The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, returns to the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in over 15 years singing with Country’s Zach Bryan on “Sandpiper.”
The song debuts at #71 on the chart and marks Springsteen’s 27th Hot 100 showing that began in ’75 with “Born To Run.”
7/20 Butcher Babies announce via social media they have parted ways with singer Carla Harvey. The band thanks Harvey for her dedication and Harvey thanks fans for their support. She was with Butcher Babies for fifteen years (5 albums/2 EPs).
7/21 Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash cancels four tour dates of his “S.E.R.P.E.N.T.” (Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance) Blues tour to mourn the death of his stepdaughter Lucy-Bleu Knight (daughter of Meegan Hodges), who died on July19th at the age of 25.
7/21 The Who’s “Tommy” closes on Broadway. The Rock opera originally ran on Broadway from ’93 through ’95. The revival of the show at the Nederlander Theater opened earlier this year and closed after 132 standard performances and 20 previews.
7/22 John Mayall, legendary Blues musician and founder of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, dies at the age of 90. As a singer, guitarist, harmonica player, and keyboardist, he had a career that spanned decades and was often referred to as the “godfather of the British Blues.”
7/24 Jane’s Addiction unveil “Imminent Redemption,” the first release by the ‘classic lineup’ consisting of vocalist Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery, in 34 years.
7/25 Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose joins Billy Joel on stage during the final show of Piano Man’s residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Rose is around for renditions of Wings’ “Live And Let Die,” a song that was also a GN’R hit.
The hits keep coming with AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell,” which Rose previously performed with Joel during a ’17 concert at Dodger Stadium in L.A. and Joel’s ’80 hit “You May Be Right.”
7/26 Ghost deliver the “Rite Here Rite Now” soundtrack. The concert film was recorded at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA on the final two North American dates of the band’s ’23 Re-Imperatour tour. “The Future Is A Foreign Land,” a “newly uncovered 1969-era” track is included.
7/26 Verni’s second solo effort “Dreadful Company” arrives. “So psyched to finally do a Punk-ish record,” enthused D.D. Verni, a founding member of Thrash Metal’s Overkill. The singles were “Lunkhead” and “Cemetery Safari.”
7/26 Gojira perform at the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris. The French Progressive Metal band’s appearance consists of an “original” collaboration with opera singer Marina Viotti.
7/26 Tyrone Wood marries Faye Harris in London. He is the son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and she is a daughter of Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris.
7/27 Butcher Babies make their first live appearance since the departure of co-founding/co-vocalist Carla Harvey at the Stonehenge Festival in Steenwijk, The Netherlands. Co-founder Heidi Shepherd (pictured) handles all lead vocals.
7/29 Legendary producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies PJ Harvey) is honored with a street in his longtime hometown of Chicago. He died on May 8th, ’24 of a heart attack at the age of 61.
7/30 “Celebrity Family Feud” airs on ABC featuring Papa Roach and Daughtry. Both bands try to win money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Papa Roach (pictured) raises $25,000 for the charity. The episode was taped in April.
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