This Day in History: 2025-01-03

JANUARY 3^rd

Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows is quoted as saying he’s unfazed by the backlash his band has received from the Metal community since “Bat Country” became a #1 hit on MTV’s TRL. “The video’s not gonna change ’cause it’s on TRL, the band’s not gonna change, there’s nothing to change,” says Shadows. The track is off the group’s “City Of Evil” album. 2006

In an interview with Maxim magazine, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich says the covers for Metallica’s “Load” and “Reload” albums are his favorites. “The amazing pieces by Andres Serrano… will always hold a special place in my heart,” says Ulrich. “I love him as an artist. I love the imagery.” 2018

A lawsuit filed against Nirvana over the “Nevermind” album cover (with a naked toddler in a pool reaching for dollar on a fishhook) is dismissed. The court rules that Spencer Elden, the 30-year-old man photographed for the album cover when he was a baby, missed a deadline to file an opposition in the case (the statute of limitations had expired). Elden claimed the photo was child porn but spent three decades profiting from being the “Nirvana Baby.”  2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Beatles’ producer and mentor, George Martin, is born. 1926

Guitarist Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, Manassas and the Stills-Young Band) is born. 1945

Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones is born in Sidcup, London. Like Zep’s guitarist Jimmy Page, Jones starts his career as a session musician. 1946

The Beatles get an early positive review from Billboard magazine for “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Meanwhile, a clip of the group performing in England is broadcast in the U.S. on the Jack Paar Show. Paar says he doesn’t care much for The Beatle haircuts. Regardless, the U.S. iteration of Beatlemania is only weeks away. 1964

Beach Boys’ guitarist Carl Wilson declares himself a conscientious objector (to the Vietnam War) and refuses to be sworn in after receiving an induction notice from the U.S. Army.  As an alternative, Wilson performs community service by providing musical performances at hospitals and prisons. 1967

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT! As if to prove that pre-fab groups with cute guys is still viable the Bay City Rollers score a #1 hit with “Saturday Night.” 1976

Working for “The Donald” (Trump). Gene Simmons is one of 14 contestants on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.” The KISS bassist gets an ego stroke and a chance to show off his vaunted business acumen with the proceeds going to charity. “I’m the rat that knew the maze to get to the cheese as a Rocker,” says Simmons. “But how good am I in a brand-new maze?” 2008

“Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?,” an autobiography by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, is in bookstores. The publisher, Ecco, an imprint of Harper Collins, says the 400-page book has “all the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex and drugs and transcendence you will ever want to hear.” 2012

Jack White’s solo debut album, “Blunderbuss,” is the biggest selling vinyl album of ’12 according to Nielsen Soundscan. Selling 33,000 copies, “Blunderbuss” knocks The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” from the top spot – which it had held the previous three years. 2013

Phil Everly (Everly Brothers) dies at age 74 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Everly was a longtime smoker. The Everly Brothers had 15 Top 10 hits between ’57 and ’62, including “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Cathy’s Clown” and “When Will I Be Loved.” 2014

Kid Rock states he’s in favor of legalizing and taxing “pot, cocaine, (and) heroin,” in an interview published in the Guardian. “Has it not been proven that people will always find a way to get what they want,” asks Rock. 2015

Kid Rock donates $50,000 to the Second Harvest Food Banks of Western Michigan and Middle Tennessee. “I wanted to start 2018 off on a positive note, hoping to influence others who have been as blessed as me,” states Rock. 2018

Following Nashville Metro Council’s approval, Mayor David Briley signs into law a council resolution for Kid Rock’s recently opened bar authorizing the installation of a 20-foot-tall neon sign – a guitar with the instrument’s body intentionally shaped like a woman’s buttocks.  Of course, not everyone is “in tune” with the plan. 2019

Warner Chappell Music (WCM) and the estate of David Bowie announce that WCM has acquired the global music publishing rights to Bowie’s song catalog. The deal covers Bowie’s entire body of work including the songs “Space Oddity,” “Changes,” “Ziggy Stardust,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Fame,” “Young Americans,” “Golden Years,” “Modern Love” and “Let’s Dance.” The deal follows major acquisitions by various companies of the catalogues of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and members of Fleetwood Mac. 2022

Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho donates $10,000 to Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin’s toy drive charity after the athlete suffers cardiac arrest and is hospitalized in critical condition during the team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. 2023

A California judge dismisses a lawsuit accusing Marilyn Manson of sexual assault and unlawful imprisonment brought by model Ashley Morgan Smithline.  The ruling is handed down because Smithline failed to hire legal representation after her attorney withdrew from the case.  2023

Rage Against The Machine’s Brad Wilk says the band will not tour or perform live again, likely being the third time the group has broken up.  The drummer says there won’t be any new tour dates after the band canceled the remainder of their ’22 North American tour due to frontman Zack de la Rocha’s torn Achilles tendon.  2024