September 9th
1971 John Lennon’s solo “Imagine” album arrives.
1992 Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” wins Best Alternative Music Video and Best New Artist Video.
The group performs “Lithium” at the MTV Music Awards. Krist Novoselic launches his bass skyward only to have it land on him. Later, frontman Kurt Cobain gets into a backstage argument with Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses).
As all this is happening, the Best Video Award goes to Van Halen for “Right Now” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers earn the Viewer’s Choice trophy for “Under The Bridge.”
1996 R.E.M.’s “New Adventures In Hi-Fi” arrives.
It debuts at #2 on the U.S. Album Chart and goes on to sell seven-million units.
2024 The White Stripes sue Donald Trump.
They ask for “significant monetary damages” over the use of their ’03 song, “Seven Nation Army,” for campaigning purposes without permission. This is Trump’s third run for president, And each time he has been hit with unauthorized use complaints.
MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
1946 Iron Butterfly leader, singer, songwriter and organist, Doug Ingle, is born. He is the one who wrote and sang “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”
1950 Doobie Brothers guitarist John McFee begins his life.
1956 Elvis Presley makes the first of three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. He is shown from the waste up so his gyrations don’t offend. The power still comes through.
1957 Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” is lodged at #3 on the pop chart.
1968 The Beatles get the final version of Paul McCartney’s “Helter Skelter” recorded. After the 18th take, Ringo Starr flings his drumsticks across the studio and screams, “I got blisters on me fingers!,” which is included on the song’s stereo mix. The song appears on “The Beatles” aka “The White Album.”
1974 Guitarist Marcos Curiel has a birthday. The San Diego native subsequently co-founds P.O.D. in ’92.
1975 Wings launch a 13-month world tour that is seen by over two-million fans.
1978 Foreigner’s sophomore album, “Hot Blooded” peaks at #3 on the U.S. chart.
1989 Warrant ascends to #4 on the Hot 100 with “Heaven.”
1994 Boston radio station WFNX presents a free Green Day concert at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade. Between 70,000 to 100,000 fans show up and quickly things get out of control. More than 100 people are treated for illness and injuries, at least 20 are transported to local hospitals, and least one police officer is injured, Green Day lasts about 20 minutes on stage. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” says a state police captain. “We’ll have to bring the Boston Pops back,”
2007 Kid Rock gets into a dust up with Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. The former spouses of ‘actress’ Pamela Anderson exchange words before Rock throws a punch (according to witnesses) sending Lee to the turf. Rock also takes a blow when he is slapped with a misdemeanor battery charge. The following month the Clark County District Attorney’s Office decides not to pursue any charges against Rock after Lee himself requests that Rock not be prosecuted for the incident.
2007 On a more pleasant note, Fall Out Boy wins Best Group honor at the MTV Video Music Awards. But this is overshadowed by pop singer Britney Spears. She stumbles through the show opener and that’s the big news (figures).
2007 Founding Outlaws guitarist-singer Hughie Thomasson dies after apparently suffering a heart attack at his home in Brooksville, FL. Thomasson, 55 years old, was also a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd from ’96 to ’05.
2014 U2’s “Songs Of Innocence,” with the lead single, “The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone),” is available for free download to iTunes customers. The band also performs at Apple’s iPhone 6 launch event in Cupertino, CA. Those who purchase the iPhone 6 get the album pre-loaded – which greatly annoys some customers.
2014 The Replacements perform on TV for the first time in 25 years when they appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The appearance on the NBC show is ironic coming 28 years after The Replacements were banned for life from Saturday Night Live following a recklessly drunken, but entertaining, performance.
2019 Breaking Benjamin’s “The Diary Of Jane” is certified triple platinum by the RIAA.
2017 Wes Scantlin (Puddle OF Mudd) is arrested at LAX (L.A.) for having a BB gun on him as he is getting on the plane for a show in Keller, TX.
2020 The Rolling Stones launch global retail fashion flagship store, RS No.9 Carnaby, at 9 Carnaby Street in London that sells a collection combining the Tommy Jeans streetwear aesthetic with tour merchandise-inspired apparel.
2021 Ozzy Osbourne’s album, “Ordinary Man” (released in ’20) is certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.
2021 Tom DeLonge (Blink-182, Angels & Airwaves) reveals his secret to playing guitar at lightning speed when playing Punk Rock. “It’s all about masturbating,” DeLonge explains. “That’s the only one way to do it, and if you don’t masturbate, you can’t play Punk Rock.
2023 Peter Frampton (“Frampton Comes Alive”) receives The Myositis Association Patient Ambassador Award during the annual “Heroes In The Fight” ceremony at TMA’s annual patient conference in San Diego, CA. The singer/guitarist is recognized for raising awareness of myositis diseases. He was diagnosed in ‘19.
