Rock History

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.

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.

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). 

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

1971 – Grand Funk Railroad, having been dismissed by the press as untalented riff mongers, holds a New York press conference. They invite 150 journalists. Six show up. It’s the first press conference in history that doesn’t run out of booze.

2005 – Linkin Park seeks an end to their contract with Warner Music Group. They are distraught over the label’s financial condition and commitment (or lack thereof) to its artists, like Linkin Park. The band represents 10% of WMG’s worldwide sales.

2018 – Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry receive a Tony Award nomination for their song “Bikini Bottom Boogie” in the “Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written For The Theatre” category. The song is in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical,” a Broadway show based on the Nickelodeon cartoon series.