April 23rd

April 23rd

1969 Joe Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends” is released and subsequently goes gold.

With Steve Winwood (Traffic) and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) backing him, how could Cocker’s debut miss? It couldn’t.

The title track is a cover of The Beatles classic. The set also includes a cover of Traffic’s “Feeling Alright.”

1976 The Ramones release their self-titled debut.

The set, considered by many to be the first true Punk album, peaks at #111 on the Billboard chart and features the single “Blitzkrieg Bop.”

2012 Jack White’s debut solo album, “Blunderbuss,” is out.

“I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name,” says the former White Stripes frontman.

2025 Jelly Roll to be pardoned?

The Tennessee Board of Parole recommends a pardon for Grammy-nominated Country/Rock star Jelly Roll, a decision that is up to the state’s Republican Governor Bill Lee.

Jelly Roll, a Nashville native, was involved in drug-related crimes and incarceration. He tells the board how he overcame that part of his life as he’s risen to fame as a successful music artist.

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1936 Roy Orbison, enters the world. “(Oh) Pretty Woman” is one of his best-known songs.

1966 Rancid’s Matt Freeman is born. 

1976 The Rolling Stones release their “Black And Blue” album. The most controversial thing about the album’s release is a billboard ad on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood that depicted a ‘battered and bruised’ model in bondage.

1988 Whitney Houston’s “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” keeps INXS’ “Devil Inside” from reaching #1 on the singles chart.

1994 “The Division Bell” is #1 on the Billboard 200. The album was written predominately by guitarist/singer David Gilmour and keyboardist Richard Wright. 

1994 Oasis’ debut single, “Supersonic,” lands on the U.K. pop chart. Both the New Musical Express and Melody Maker name it the “single of the week.”

1996 Birthday wishes for Greta Van Fleet singer Joshua and guitarist Jake Kiszka.

2007 U2’s The Edge is honored for his contributions to the Food Bank for New York City at the Can-Do Awards Dinner. The event raises more than $1 million for the Food Bank, an organization that feeds 250,000 people a day. The guest list includes Bill Clinton, David Bowie, U2 bassist Adam Clayton, and members of R.E.M. The guitarist is a longtime supporter of the organization’s battle against hunger.

2008 Smashing Pumpkins are inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk in L.A. Frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin are on hand. “I’m so used to bad vibes, people hating our band and throwing things at us,” says Corgan. “So it’s strange to be honored.”

2009 Carlos Santana s honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at Billboard’s 20th annual Latin Music Conference & Awards in Miami Beach, FL. Santana is recognized for helping to spread the influence of Latin music across other genres; including Pop and Rock.

2010 The Sunday Times‘ annual list of the Top 20 richest British music millionaires includes Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting (Police), Mick Jagger, Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton. McCartney leads all other musicians with a net worth of over $700 million. For contrast, fellow ex-Beatle Starr has a ‘modest’ $215 million.

2011 Foo Fighters are #1 on the U.K.’s Album Chart with “Wasting Light.” It’s the Foos third U.K. chart topper.

2018 “Horses: Patti Smith and Her Band,” a concert film chronicling the final show of Smith’s ’15 tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of her debut album, “Horses,” makes its world premiere at the Beacon Theater during the Tribeca Film Festival.  Directed by Steven Sebring the movie was filmed at the Wiltern Theater in L.A.  After the screening Smith and her band perform a short set with help from Bruce Springsteen and Michael Stipe (R.E.M.). 

2024 During a tour stop, Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson is granted the title of “Honorary Citizen” by the city of Curitiba, Brazil.  Though it’s a bit of a stretch the honor has something to do with the band’s custom brews.