This Day in History: 2025-01-05

JANUARY 5^th

Creedence Clearwater Revival release their second album, “Bayou Country.” 1969

The set has the classics “Proud Mary” and “Born On The Bayou.”

Nielsen SoundScan reports that Nickelback’s “Dark Horse” is the best-selling Hard Rock album of ’10 – even though the set was released in November, ’08. At #2 is Linkin Park’s “A Thousand Suns,” followed by AC/DC’s “Iron Man 2.” 2011

Billy Idol gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Rebel Yell,” “Cradle Of Love,” “White Wedding” and “Eyes Without A Face” are his signature songs.  2023

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Blondie’s Chris Stein has a birthday. The guitarist hails from Brooklyn. 1950

Coral Records releases “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” which turns out to be Buddy Holly’s last record issued while he is alive. The plane crash in Clearwater, Iowa (“the day the music died”), is just weeks away. 1959

Brian Warner is born in Canton, OH. He attends a Christian school and even plays Jesus in a school production. However, an attraction to Heavy Metal leads him to become Marilyn Manson. 1969

Guitarist Troy Dean Van Leeuwen (Queens Of The Stone Age) is born. 1970

“Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.” is Bruce Springsteen’s debut studio album. It sells a mere 25,000 copies in its first year of release. 1973

The Sex Pistols begin their only U.S. tour in Atlanta. “Where’s my beer?” Those are Johnny Rotten’s first words to the packed house. 1978

Jon Bon Jovi, a member of the Summer Jobs initiative, visits the White House to brainstorm ways to put the nation’s youth to work. “The White House Council met with youth, corporate representatives, various White House staff and the President as we discussed the Summer Jobs initiative . . . good day,” writes Bon Jovi on Facebook. 2012

Sammy Hagar, a longtime Los Cabos (Mexico) resident and business owner is made the city’s honorary ambassador. He also receives the municipality’s first Medal Of Honor.  2022

Soulfly announce they have recruited guitarist Mike DeLeon – just prior to the band’s extensive U.S. tour.  He replaces Marc Rizzo who left in ’21 due to personal differences. Deleon had been a member of Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals.  2023

Cage The Elephant vocalist Matt Shultz is arrested for unlawfully having two guns in his possession after “an employee at the Bowery Hotel . . . allegedly saw him carrying a handgun into a ground floor public bathroom.” Shultz makes bail with a hearing in New York City scheduled.  2023

Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour) cancels his North American solo tour. “For the past several months my mental and physical health have been breaking down, and I reached a place that was unhealthy for my family and I,” Taylor writes in a post.  2024

The Smashing Pumpkins announce on Instagram that they are conducting an open audition for a new guitarist following the departure of Jeff Schroeder, after sixteen years with the Pumpkins. Applicants submit a tape and resume.  2024