Rock History

2010 – Stevie Wonder receives an honorary doctorate in music as part of the two-day opening celebration of the Kohl Building for Jazz Studies, an addition to Oberlin College, a private Liberal Arts institution. Located in Oberlin, OH, the school is noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and Black students.

2023 – Metallica’s “72 Seasons” debuts at #2 in the U.S. Selling 146,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release “72 Seasons’ marks the band’s 12th Top 10-charting album. It is second only to Country singer Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing At A Time,” which is in its seventh consecutive week at the top.

2010 – Bassist Gene Simmons tells Britain’s Daily Telegraph in an interview that KISS is among the world’s most recognizable brands. “You don’t know how big the image is,” says Simmons. “By some experts, it is believed to be the most recognized pop culture image on Earth — even above Mickey Mouse.”

1979 – Ozzy Osbourne is fired from Black Sabbath and replaced by Ronnie James Dio.   
Ozzy embarks on a successful solo career and even manages a return stint with Sabbath.

2022 – Dio’s “Holy Diver” is certified double platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of two million copies. Released in ’83, the album went gold (500,000 units) in ‘84 and platinum in ‘89. 

2024 – Over 250 popular musicians, including members of Green Day and Dave Matthews, sign a letter urging the Senate Commerce Committee to support The Fans First Act that aims to reform the live-event ticketing system – providing ticket transparency, consumer protection and preventing bad actors from charging exorbitant resale prices. 

2010 – Stone Temple Pilots’ single “Between The Lines,” is #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Rock chart. It is the first track off the group’s self-titled album. “When the four of us get into a room to make a musical statement, it’s undeniable that things happen,” says guitarist Dean DeLeo.

2008 – Smashing Pumpkins are inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk in L.A. Frontman Billy Corgan (pictured) 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.”

2023 – Machine Gun Kelly’s 33rd birthday is interrupted when a police helicopter issues a demand for everyone to leave the party after Kelly is seen wielding an active flamethrower. 

1973 – Alice Cooper’s “Billion Dollar Babies,” with “Elected” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” is #1 on the Billboard 200.
 
It’s the second to last album released by the band’s original line-up. Alice (the singer) would go solo while the remaining band members briefly emerged as the Billion Dollar Babies.