Rock History

December 8th 1943 Singer/poet Jim Morrison, of The Doors, is born in Melbourne, FL. 1967 Traffic deliver their debut album “Mr. Fantasy.” The set has “Dear Mr. Fantasy, “Paper Sun” and “Heave Ins On Your Mind.” 1976 The Eagles release their classic, “Hotel California.” You can check out anytime you like but you can never…

December 7th 1984 Foreigner releases their fifth studio album “Agent Provocateur.”  Featuring the mega-hit ballad, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” the effort sold three million copies in the U.S.   1986 Guitarist extraordinaire Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper Band and solo) is born in L.A.  On her father’s side, Strauss is related to Johann Sebastian…

December 6th 1968 The Rolling Stones issue “Beggar’s Banquet.” The album contains “Sympathy For The Devil” and “Stray Cat Blues.” 1969 The Rolling Stones Play Altamont. Having missed out on Woodstock, the Rolling Stones wanted to create what they hoped would be “Woodstock of the West” in San Francisco. But the City by the Bay declined…

December 5th 1981 “Waiting For A Girl Like You” (Foreigner) is #1. On the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.  2013 Bruce Springsteen’s handwritten working lyric sheet for his ‘75 hit “Born To Run” sells for $197,000 at Sotheby’s in New York City. “Although Springsteen is known to have an intensive drafting process,” said Sotheby’s, “few…

December 4th 1975 “Alive!” is the fourth straight KISS album to go gold. 1976 Rod Stewart’s “A Night On The Town” lands at #2 on the U.S. album chart. The set contains the chart-topping single, “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright),” 2015 Coldplay rolls out “A Head Full Of Dreams.” The group’s seventh album features…

December 3rd 1965 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.  1977 Linda Ronstadt’s “Simple Dreams” is #1 on the Billboard 200. A cover of the Rolling Stones’…

December 2nd 1997 Green Day’s single “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” is released. The acoustic ballad sells over 2 million copies. 2000 The Beatles’ “1” tops the Billboard 200. The 27 songs on this collection are over 30 years old. The Beatles once again demonstrate their lasting appeal. 2023 KISS close out their “End of…

December 1st 1992 Pearl Jam’s classic album “Ten,” containing “Jeremy,” passes the 6-million sales mark. Two decades later “Ten” crosses the 10-million threshold. 2017 U2’s 14th studio album, “Songs Of Experience,” arrives.  It sells 180,000 total copies in its first week of release to become their 8th #1 on the Billboard 200.  U2 is the…

November 30th 1979 Pink Floyd releases “The Wall.”    The ‘concept album’ tops the Billboard 200 chart for 15 weeks.   1982 Michael Jackson unleashes “Thriller.” The classic effort features Eddie Van Halen (the “Beat It” guitar solo). Paul McCartney (duet with Jackson on “The Girl Is Mine”) and Toto’s Steve Lukather. The album establishes Jackson as…

November 29th 1986 Bon Jovi has the #1 song in the U.S. with “You Give Love A Bad Name.” From the album “Slippery When Wet” it’s the band’s first #1. 1988 Guns N’ Roses unleash “GN’R Lies.” Their second studio set is the last to feature drummer Steven Adler. It peaks at #4 on the Billboard…