April 19th
1971 “L.A. Woman,” is in stores.
The Doors sixth studio album is their last with lead singer Jim Morrison (on the right on the album cover), who dies in Paris just two-and-a-half months later.
Though “Love Her Madly” was a Top 30 hit, the album is best remembered for the title track and the darkly haunting “Riders On The Storm.”
1980 Blondie’s “Call Me” (from the American Gigolo soundtrack) is the #1 song in the U.S.
Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall” is #2.
2018 Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven” is voted the U.K.’s favorite Rock anthem.
That’s from a poll conducted by the digital station Absolute Classic Rock. The song is on Led Zeppelin’s fourth album (“Led Zeppelin IV” or “Untitled).
At #2 is The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
1980 R.E.M. play their first show as R.E.M. It takes place at 11:11 Koffee Club in Athens, GA in front of 150 people. Police shut down the show because the venue is unlicensed.
1997 The late Taylor Hawkins makes his debut as the Foo Fighters’ drummer at the Alligator Lounge in Santa Monica, CA.
2002 No excuses. Alice In Chains’ frontman Layne Staley is found dead. Drug overdose is listed as the probable cause. Coroner says he may have been dead for up to two weeks before his body was discovered.
2006 Universally Speaking. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea denounces President George W. Bush in an online message. “Bush should definitely be impeached,” writes Flea. “He is a liar and his lies have (brought) misery to millions of people.” As a result, the Peppers fall from the short-list of White House entertainment options.
2006 A Florida judge throws out an invasion-of-privacy suit brought against Scott Stapp and video distributor World Wide Red Light District by a woman who appeared in a ’99 sex tape with the ex-Creed singer and Kid Rock. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Gerald Hubbart rules that the woman cannot sue while remaining anonymous. She is given 20 days to re-file under her own name.
2010 The soundtrack to “Iron Man 2” is released. It features AC/DC tracks including “Highway To Hell” and “Let There Be Rock.” There’s also a special edition with a 50-minute DVD featuring AC/DC footage and movie clips.
2011 Jon Bon Jovi opens Covenant House, a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. The development has 10 two-bedroom units which houses 20 formerly homeless people aged 18 to 21.
2012 Nugent meets with the Secret Service over comments he made about President Barack Obama during the National Rifle Association convention the previous week. Nugent tells the gun rights group he would be “dead or in jail” if Obama is re-elected. The Secret Service decides to let the matter drop determining that Nugent doesn’t pose a threat to Obama.
2012 Levon Helm, drummer and singer for The Band, dies after a long battle with cancer in Woodstock, NY. Helm was the only American in the otherwise Canadian group that backed Bob Dylan before becoming The Band. Helm was 71.
2017 Party at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Ted Nugent and Kid Rock visit President Trump in the Oval Office They are joined by Sarah Palin, the former Alaskan governor and GOP vice presidential nominee. Palin jokes that she invited Rock and Nugent because ‘Jesus was booked.”
2018 Bono is awarded the inaugural George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership. The U2 singer is honored for his work in combating the HIV/AIDS crisis and poverty in Africa.
2023 Adam Gontier reunites with Three Days Grace onstage in Huntsville, AL to perform “Riot” and “Never Too Late” from their hit ‘06 album “One-X.” Three Days Grace’s is on tour opening for Shinedown. Gontier left Three Days Grace in ’13.
2024 The ashes of Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister are enshrined at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Fans raise a very toast to Lemmy and Motörhead with the unveiling of brand new Motörhead Whiskey.” Lemmy, who passed away on 12/28/15, was a longtime regular at the Rainbow.
