This Day in History: 2024-01-10

JANUARY 10^th

John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Double Fantasy” album goes platinum only weeks after Lennon’s murder. 1981

Airbourne’s “Stand Up For Rock ‘n’ Roll” is the theme song for World Wrestling Entertainment’s 21st annual Royal Rumble. “(The song) is just one of those rockin’ tracks that seems to go well with people getting their heads smashed in,” says Airbourne’s Joel O’Keefe. It’s on the group’s debut album “Runnin’ Wild.” 2008

“Dead Inside,” by guitarist Nita Strauss, is #1 on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart. She’s the first female Rock artist to top the chart.  2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Rod Stewart is born. He attempts a pro football (soccer) career before landing as the lead singer with the Jeff Beck Group and Faces. But his greatest fame is achieved as a solo. 1945

Aynsley Dunbar starts his life. The Liverpool born drummer is in Jefferson Airplane, Whitesnake and early Journey. 1946

Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen begins reelin’ in the years. He hails from Passaic, NJ. 1948

Pat Benatar rocks her way into the world. 1952

Elvis Presley lays down “Heartbreak Hotel” during his first recording session for RCA Records. Along with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, guitar-great Chet Atkins participates in the Nashville session. Floyd Cramer is on piano. 1956

Meat Puppets’ Curt Kirkwood celebrates his birthday. 1959

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm. Brad Roberts (born Bradley Kenneth Roberts in Winnipeg, Manitoba), the lead singer/guitarist for the Crash Test Dummies, has a birthday. 1964

A frustrated George Harrison quits The Beatles. John Lennon suggests getting Eric Clapton (Cream) to replace Harrison who returns less than a week later. 1969

3 Doors Down guitarist, Matt Roberts, is born. He’s one of the group’s founding members (with Brad Arnold and Todd Harrell). 1978

Mr. Blackwell speaks. Linda Ronstadt nails the #2 spot on the Worst Dress List behind Farrah Fawcett Majors. Ouch! 1978

“Paradise City” from Guns N’ Roses’ debut studio album “Appetite For Destruction” is released as a single. It goes to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. GN’R guitarist Slash later states it’s his favorite GN’R song. 1988

David Bowie gets a star on Hollywood’s Walk Of Fame. 1997

Green Day is named America’s Favorite Group at the 32nd annual People’s Choice Awards. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt are on hand to accept the trophy. Meanwhile, U2 nabs the Favorite Tour award, beating out Green Day, among others. Winners are determined by Internet voting. 2006

The Recording Academy announces the year’s additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Albums inducted are “Who’s Next” by The Who, “London Calling” by The Clash and “Cheap Thrills” from Big Brother & The Holding Company. Singles getting the nod are Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” and Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” 2007

Desperado seeks justice. The Eagles’ Don Henley and Glenn Frey file a $537,000 lawsuit against a South Korean insurance company that they accuse of using their group’s ballad “Desperado” illegally. A representative for Korea Life Insurance claims that the company believed an agreement with The Eagles had been reached when it aired a commercial featuring the song. “We thought the deal was closed.” the official said. Guess not. 2007

Rich Robinson’s Stamford, CN, home is sold at a foreclosure auction for $1.2 million. The Black Crowes guitarist and his ex-wife, who divorced in ’08, purchased the five-bedroom house five years earlier. Foreclosure proceedings were initiated after the couple ran up more than $400,000 in outstanding federal and local property taxes. 2009

Rolling Stone magazine reveals that David Crosby is the biological father of Melissa Etheridge and her partner Julie Cypher’s child. 2000

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor again speaks out in defense of illegal music downloading, insisting that no one wants to pay for “crap” new music. “People wanna blame the decline of album sales on downloading,” says Taylor. “I think it’s actually the record companies’ fault. If record companies would stop giving any f**king mook on the street with a fringe a record deal or their own record label, maybe you would sell more f**king albums, dipshits.” 2011

Van Halen issue “Tattoo,” the lead track from the album “A Different Kind Of Truth.” It’s also the group’s first single with singer David Lee Roth in 28-years. 2012

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder performs at President Barack Obama’s farewell address to the nation in Chicago.  He sings his song “Rise” plus Neil Young’s Rockin’ In The Free World.”  2017

Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones publishes his autobiography, “Lonely Boy,” in the North America (the book was published two months earlier in the U.K.). With journalist Ben Thompson, Jones covers his childhood in West London and the founding the Sex Pistols.  2017

“Eddie and Dave,” a Van Halen inspired play, opens off-Broadway.  In a twist, women are in the title roles revealing “what happens when the person you need is the one you find most irritating.”  2019

Mötörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke passes away after being treated for pneumonia at age 67.   Clarke, a founding member of the band with Lemmy Kilmister and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, was in the lineup for the band’s first five studio albums.  2018

Guitarist Jeff Beck dies at age 78. Overshadowed by his fellow Yardbirds guitarists, Eric Clapton (Cream), who came before, and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), who was briefly in the band in their waning days, Beck was the band’s guitarist during their prime period. He founded the Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood) and had an extensive and creative solo career. 2023