May 13th

May 13th

2013 – A New Musical Express (NME) reader’s poll of the Greatest Britpop Anthem Of All Time is dominated by Oasis, who hold the Top 5 spots with “Live Forever” at #1 followed, in order, by “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” “Supersonic,” “Cigarettes And Alcohol’ and “Wonderwall.”

May 12th

May 12th

2007 – The Edge (U2’s guitarist) receives an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He’s acknowledged “for enduring contributions to American and international culture.” “Collaborating with talented people is not easy,” says the guitarist. “But it’s the way to really shine.”

May 11th

May 11th

1972 – On national T.V. (“The Dick Cavett Show”) John Lennon says the government is spying on him and trying to boot him out of the country. Most people dismiss this as “just another Lennon fantasy.” Imagine, twenty years later when it’s discovered that was exactly what the government was doing. The Nixon Administration felt Lennon was a dangerous subversive who had to go. Lennon prevails and gets his Green Card.

May 10th

May 10th

2008 – Kid Rock makes a donation to a Boy Scout troop from Oviedo, FL., who had their equipment stolen the previous week. A trailer and camping gear was taken, jeopardizing a planned summer expedition to Tennessee. “I will cut them a check for the difference and hopefully (that) will allow the boys to make their trip,” writes Rock in an e-mail.

May 9th

May 9th

2004 – A pastor at the New Hope Christian Reformed Church in Calgary, Canada, plays Metallica music and “The Unforgiven” video during his sermon. “Metallica are a lot like the Old Testament prophets who would rail against the crap that`s going on in the world,” says Pastor John Van Sloten. Previous services included tunes by Evanescence and U2.

May 8th

May 8th

2020 – Halestorm announce the #ROADIESTRONG campaign aimed at providing essential financial assistance to road crews all over the world.  Fans purchase #ROADIESTRONG merchandise and make donations, with all proceeds going to Live Nation’s Crew Nation which was established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic (and concert cancellations). 

May 7th

May 7th

1977 – “Hotel California” tops the Billboard Hot 100.

Don Felder composed the hypnotic 12-string guitar intro on the Eagles classic – though he didn’t initially receive a writing credit. Don Henley and Glenn Frey wrote the lyrics while Joe Walsh developed the descending arpeggio that ends the song.

May 6th

May 6th

2023 – The reformed Pantera plays its first U.S. concert in 22 years (since ’01 in the Tacoma Dome) at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City, FL. In addition to vocalist Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) and drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax) replace deceased brothers, guitarist ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. 

May 5th

May 5th

2015 – Slash’s guitar solo on Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” is #1 on the NME editors’ list of the 50 Greatest Guitar Solos. Jimmy Page’s fretwork on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven” and the Jimi Hendrix solo for “All Along The Watchtower” are second and third, respectively.

May 4th

May 4th

2023 – Florida native Tom Petty is recognized by the University of Florida with an honorary Doctor Of Music degree.  Bruce Petty, Tom’s brother, accepts the posthumous doctorate on his behalf at the university’s spring commencement ceremony.