June 20th

June 20th

1978 Foreigner release their multiplatinum album, “Double Vision.” 

The set features the title track hit single. 

1980 “The Blues Brothers” is in theaters. 

John Belushi (right) is “Joliet” Jake Blues and Dan Aykroyd is his brother Elwood. They are Blues musicians “on a mission from God.”

2000 “De Stijl,” is White Stripes’ sophomore set.

The title is the Dutch word for ‘the style’.

During the supporting tour, frontman Jack White closes his Detroit upholstery shop to focus on the band full-time.

2015 Florence + The Machine’s “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200

Selling 137,000 units in its first week it’s the group’s first effort to top the Billboard survey.

2024 Queen’s legendary catalog is acquired by Sony Music for £1 billion (approximately $1.27 billion).

Sony also acquires name and likeness rights, but Broadway rights and “other brand monetization” are not part of the deal. 

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

1942 The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson is born. As a songwriter, arranger, singer and musician he creates some incredible Rock n’ Roll but at an extreme personal and professional price.

1954 Van Halen bassist, Michael Anthony, enters the world.

1960 Duran Duran bassist, John Taylor (Nigel John Taylor), starts life in Birmingham, England.

1971 Jeordie White, more commonly known as Twiggy Ramirez, Marilyn Manson’s one-time bassist, enters the world.

1973 Deftones singer Chino Moreno (Camillo Wong Moreno) is born in Sacramento.

1989 “The Real Thing,” Faith No More’s first album with Mike Patton (replacing Chuck Mosley) is released.  The set contains the hit “Epic.” 

1998 Green Day’s bassist Mike Dirnt gets his skull fractured in a backstage fight in Irvine Meadows, CA. Though Third Eye Blind’s Arion Salazar is involved, it remains uncertain who smacked Dirnt with a beer bottle.

2000 “White Pony,” the third studio effort from the Deftones is released. The set is certified platinum two years later. 

2008 Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey in Guildford, England. The guitarist is presented with a degree in recognition of his “services to the music industry.” He is also acknowledged for his work with the Action for Brazil’s Children Trust charity.

2009 Shinedown’s “Sound Of Madness” begins a three-week run at #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. 

2019 Founding Offspring bassist Greg Kriesel (aka Greg K.) files a lawsuit in Orange County (CA) Superior Court against Dexter Holland and Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman alleging trademark infringement and breach of (the) partnership agreement. Kriesel alleges that they sought to divest him without fair compensation and denied his continued status as a general partner of the band.

2019 Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour launches the “largest and most comprehensive sale of guitars ever offered at auction” through Christie’s in New York. The auction garners $21,490,750 with “The Black Strat” selling for $3,975,000. All sale proceeds are donated to ClientEarth.

2020 Bad Wolves’ “Sober” begins a two-week stay atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. 

2021 The Foo Fighters headline the first concert at Madison Square Garden in over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Comedian Dave Chappelle joins the band for a version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” The show grosses $1.4 million. 

2023 Greta Van Fleet’s Josh Kiszka writes on Instagram that he’s been “in a loving, same-sex relationship with my partner for the past 8 years.” Kiszka adds, “It’s imperative that I speak my truth for not only myself, but in hopes to change hearts, minds, and laws in Tennessee (where he lives) and beyond.” 

2024 Hootie & The Blowfish are presented with a plaque celebrating the Diamond certification (22x platinum) for debut set “Cracked Rear View” during their appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”