This Day in History: 2025-01-15

JANUARY 15^th

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave. The Eagles “Hotel California” is the #1 album in the U.S. It has the title track and “New Kid In Town.” 1977

Following years of internal strife, guitarist Rich Robinson issues a statement announcing the end of the Black Crowes after 24 years. 2015

Panic! At The Disco roll out their fifth studio effort “Death Of A Bachelor.” The album, produced by Jake Sinclair (Fall Out Boy), debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200. 2016

Guitarist Nita Strauss and Disturbed vocalist David Draiman have the #1 song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart with “Dead Inside.” 2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant, is born in Jacksonville, FL. 1948

The Rolling Stones appear on The Ed Sullivan Show but are forced to change the lyrics of their recent hit “Let’s Spend The Night Together” to “let’s spend some time together.” 1967

The Jaycees name Elvis Presley one of the “ten outstanding young men of America.” 1971

George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” is released in the U.K.  It tops the singles charts worldwide and is Harrison’s first #1 as a solo artist. 1971

Guitarist Joe Walsh makes his debut with the Eagles. He’s onboard for the group’s Australia/Japan tour. 1976

With a budget of only £1,500 borrowed from Stewart Copeland’s brother Miles Copeland III, The Police start recording their debut album, “Outlandos d’Amour,” in Surrey, England. Two songs stand out: “Roxanne” and “Can’t Stand Losing You.”  1978

“You Got Lucky,” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, tops Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. 1983

Neil Young inducts Jimi Hendrix into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Yardbirds also make it into the Hall. 1992

Relatives, fearing Adam Ant is suicidal, have him taken to London’s Royal Free Hospital where he’s placed in a secure ward. 2002

A lyric sheet to The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” handwritten by George Harrison, goes for $300,000 at an auction in Scottsdale, AZ.  2007

Jon Bon Jovi performs at a New York fundraiser to help Hillary Clinton pay off the debt she amassed during her failed ’08 presidential campaign. According to reports she’s over $6 million in the red. 2009

Ozzy Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, wins a libel suit brought against British newspaper The Sun. An ’07 article claimed that she was driving her husband “to destruction.” Sharon receives an apology and undisclosed monetary damages from The Sun. 2009

Kid Rock’s birthday concert at Detroit’s Ford Field takes place. The venue is renamed (for the day) 40 Field in honor of Rock’s 40th birthday. Over 45,000 attend the show, which sells out in 19 minutes. Rock’s actual birthday is 1/17. 2011

During a Dead Kennedys show at the Belly Up Tavern in San Diego a pair of fans perform a sex act onstage. “Of course, we don’t condone this activity in our establishment and security stopped it right away,” states the tavern’s management. 2015

Metallica return to China for the first time in four years, and just as on previous trips, they face censorship.  “Master Of Puppets,” “One” and “Hardwired” are not performed during the Shanghai show. “Why shouldn’t you respect their culture when you’re there as a guest and you’ve been invited to play,” asks frontman James Hetfield.  “Hopefully we’ll keep coming back and they’ll realize we’re not a threat.”  2017

Vocalist Dolores O’ Riordan of The Cranberries (“Linger,” “Zombie”) dies at age 46. Later, a coroner’s inquest concludes that she accidentally drowned in a bathtub at a London hotel after drinking heavily.  The 46-year-old singer was found submerged.  2018

Five Chevelle singles are certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for accumulating 500,000 certified units. The songs are “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along),” originally released in ‘05, “Jars” (‘07), “I Get It” (‘09), “Face To The Floor” (‘11) and “The Clincher” (‘04).  2021

Singer/television personality Kelly Clarkson honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. (on MLK Day) on her self-titled talk show by performing a cover of U2‘s “Pride (In the Name of Love),” a song U2’s Bono wrote in part about the civil rights leader.  2024

Elton John wins the Best Variety Special (Live) Emmy for his live Disney+ concert film “Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.” The honor makes him only the 19^th person to receive a Grammy, Oscar, Tony and Emmy for an EGOT – an acronym for winning the top prizes in four different fields.  2024