April 18th
1984 The Pretender’s “Learning To Crawl” is a certified million seller.
After just two albums drug abuse led to the departure of both bassist Pete Farndon and guitarist James Honeyman-Scott (overdoses would claim both). Only frontwoman Chrissie Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers were left.
They started working with Rockpile guitarist Billy Bremner and bassist Tony Butler producing “My City Was Gone” and “Back On The Chain Gang.” Then Robbie McIntosh and his pal Malcolm Foster were installed on guitar and bass. This line-up the recorded the remaining tracks for the group’s premier album.
2000 Creed’s power ballad, “With Arms Wide Open” is released.
The song. off the band’s “Human Clay” album. tops the Mainstream Rock chart, goes to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaches double platinum status in a little over two decades.
2017 “From Cradle To Stage: Stories From The Mothers Who Rocked And Raised Rock Stars” arrives.
Written by Virginia Grohl, the book’s forward is by her son, Dave, of Foo Fighters fame.
There are interviews with the mothers of music stars discussing what it’s like to raise a creative child. There is also a TV series of the same name.
2023 Eddie Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” guitar sells for $3,932,000.
Played in the song’s music video, the guitar sells for $3,932,00 during an auction at Sotheby’s. It was Van Halen’s primary guitar in ’83 – ’84.
2024 Dickey Betts dies at the age of 80.
The singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, defined the band and Southern Rock in general.
MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
1974 Guitarist Mark Tremonti (Creed, Alter Bridge, Tremonti) has a birthday.
1981 The battle between REO Speedwagon and Styx for dominance of the Billboard 200 continues. “Paradise Theater” (Styx) is pushed from the top by the return of “Hi Infidelity” (REO Speedwagon) which has another extended stay at #1.
1992 “Adrenalize,” Def Leppard’s fifth studio album, is #1 on the Billboard 200. The band’s first album since the death of guitarist Steve Clark stays at the top for five weeks.
1992 U2’s ballad “One” sits atop Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
1998 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band score a #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart with “Blue On Black.”
2012 The “world’s oldest teenager” is gone. Legendary host of American Bandstand and television producer Dick Clark dies of a massive heart attack at Saint John’s hospital in Santa Monica. Clark was 82.
2013 Rush and Heart are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Nokia Theater in L.A. “They (Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson) blasted any sexist barriers in front of them,” says Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell in his induction speech.
2015 Lou Reed, Green Day, Ringo Starr, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Starr is the last Beatle inducted for his solo career.
2020 “Far Away” is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. The Breaking Benjamin track features Cold’s Scooter Ward.
2020 Kurt Cobain’s guitar from Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged” performance sells for a record six-million dollars. Julien’s Auctions says there were seven bids for the guitar.
2023 Suicidal Tendencies announce that they have parted ways with drummer Brandon Pertzborn and replaced him with Greyson Nekrutman. “The thing about life is, there comes a time when you have to make decisions — hard decisions,” adds Pertzborn in a post.
2024 Creed plays its first show in 12 years as the headliners of the sold-out Summer Of ’99 cruise.
