Key Events: July 2023
Here’s a review of what happened….
7/1 Queens Of The Stone Age (pictured above) sit at #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock and Top Alternative charts with “In Times New Roman…”
7/5 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensk tells CNN that listening to AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and Eric Clapton helps him get through Ukraine’s war with Russia. “AC/DC, I don’t understand all the words, but I like the energy,” states the president.
7/6 Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing’s band KK’S Priest makes its live debut in Wolverhampton, U.K. In addition to Downing, the band includes former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens.
7/6 Guitarist Nita Strauss and her drummer Josh Villalta (aka Josh V.) are officially engaged during a record release party in L.A. for Strauss’ album “The Call Of The Void.”
7/7 Iron Maiden receive a gold disc in recognition of “Senjutsu” selling over 100,000 physical copies in the U.K. The presentation is made during the first of two sold-out shows at London’s O2 Arena.
The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first week sales of 64,000 album units.
7/8 Wrapping up his “Farewell Yellow Brick” trek, Elton John plays what he says is the last show on the final tour of his career in Stockholm, Sweden. Though touring is done, John stills plans to continue performing.
7/10 Ozzy Osbourne cancels his Power Trip festival appearance citing health issues. “My body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet,” explains Ozzy. He doesn’t want his first show in nearly five years to be “half-assed.” Judas Priest is named Ozzy’s replacement.
7/12 The tribute concert for the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is nominated for an Emmy in the ‘Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special’ category.
7/13 Metallica’s “Fuel,” the third single from their seventh album “Reload,” is the soundtrack for a NASA video promoting the agency’s Artemis lunar missions.
7/13 Armored Saint are inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood.
7/15 Five Finger Death Punch singer Ivan Moody (pictured) celebrates the opening of his Cheyenne, WY businesses at his Moody’s Rock Stop, a Rock and Roll-based convenience store and fueling station for everyday “recharging.” He also offers discounts to military personnel.
7/20 All That Remains drummer Jason Costa announces his departure from the band for “deeply personal reasons.” “For the last 17 years I have had an absolute blast writing, touring, creating and partying in this band with people that I love and respect,” states Costa.
7/22 Malaysia’s government cuts short the Good Vibes music festival in Kuala Lumpur after Matt Healy, lead singer for The 1975, slams the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and kisses his bassist, Ross MacDonald, during their performance the previous evening.
7/22 Disturbed’s concert in Phoenix is canceled due to “excessive heat” which keeps the band’s equipment from powering up properly. Also, Paramore postpones their concert in San Francisco two hours before it is scheduled start “due to sickness within the touring party.” Fans take to Twitter to express concern and to criticize Paramore for announcing the cancelation so late. The concerts are rescheduled.
7/22 Guitarist Christopher Amott announces his departure from Dark Tranquillity. Amott, a founding member of Arch Enemy, officially joined Dark Tranquillity in ‘20 after being in the band’s touring lineup since ‘17.
7/23 Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) receives the key to the city in his family’s ancestral hometown of Pratiglione, Italy.
7/25 Staind is #1 on Billboard’s Active Rock survey with “Lowest In Me,” the lead single from the band’s “Confessions Of The Fallen” album.
7/25 Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions are awarded the Great Lower Saxony Cross Of Merit by the prime minister of Lower Saxony, in Hannover, Germany.
7/26 Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge and his To The Stars… Academy Of Arts & Sciences are credited during congressional hearings for reinvigorating interest in and bringing legitimacy to UFO studies. “I am so proud of the three witnesses today that blew the lid off the UFO secrecy that has been intact for decades,” writes DeLonge on Instagram.
7/26 Five Finger Death Punch frontman Ivan Moody is presented with the key to the city of Cheyenne, WY for his “support of the Cheyenne community.”
7/26 Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor dies at the age of 56. She courted controversy throughout her long career but rose to fame with her ‘90 rendition Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which went to #1 on the Billboard chart.
7/26 The Eagles founding member, bassist, and vocalist, Randy Meisner, passes away in L.A. at age 77, due to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD). Meisner was the original bassist for Poco, before joining Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Bernie Leadon, to form The Eagles.
