This Day in History: 2025-01-19

JANUARY 19^th

Janis “Pearl” Joplin is born in Port Arthur, TX, and begins what turns out to be a twenty-seven year struggle for acceptance. 1943

Megadeth’s “So Far… So Good… So What!” is released. The platinum album contains Megadeth’s cover of “Anarchy In The U.K.” with help from Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. 1988

Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” tops the Billboard 200 album chart. 2008

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Phil Everly, Don’s kid brother, is born. The pair are forever known as the Everly Brothers. 1939

Original Deep Purple vocalist, Rod Evans, is born in Slough, Berkshire. 1945

Power Station’s original singer and long-time solo act, Robert Palmer, makes his debut. 1949

The Beatles begin work on the classic “A Day In The Life.” 1967

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” is the #1 album on the Billboard 200.  The concept album features “Another Brick In The Wall.”1980

Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” returns to #1 on the Billboard 200.  The album first topped the chart in the summer of ’84.  1985

John Lennon, The Band and the Grateful Dead are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Being inducted as a Beatle for John was to be expected,” states Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. “But being inducted for his solo effort would have made John very happy.” The Band perform “The Weight.” It’s the first time Robbie Robertson has performed with the group in fifteen years. 1994

Rockabilly legend, Carl Perkins (best known for composing “Blue Suede Shoes”), dies following a series of strokes. 1998

Geffen Records files a lawsuit in L.A. against Hole over non-delivery of albums. The dispute lasts a couple years. 2000

Dressed in Oakland Raiders gear, Metallica performs a surprise concert in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot prior to the AFC Championship game. Raiders win the game (but lose the Super Bowl). 2003

“Coachella,” a two-hour documentary featuring highlights from past editions of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, premieres in L.A. Making appearances in the film are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, White Stripes and Queens Of The Stone Age’s Josh Homme. 2006

Influential ’60s singer Wilson Pickett dies of a heart attack at age 64. Pickett’s more memorable hits include “In the Midnight Hour” and “Mustang Sally.” 2006

A historical marker honoring Janis Joplin is unveiled outside the late singer’s childhood home in Port Arthur, TX. Joplin, who died of a drug overdose at age 27 in October ’70, would have turned 65 on this day (see above). 2008

Dream on! Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and pop singer Jennifer Lopez debut as judges on American Idol. 2011

Elton John gives a private concert at the Beverly Hills estate of Ron Burkle to raise money to challenge California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state. “We are deeply honored to have the support of Sir Elton John,” says Chad Griffin, board president of American Foundation for Equal Rights, in a statement. 2011

Bad Wolves release a cover of the Cranberries hit “Zombie.” Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan was in London to contribute vocals to the track when she passed away at age 46.  All proceeds from the song go to O’Riordan’s three children.  2018

Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society) is the honoree at Guitar World’s Rock and Roll Roast. “We’ve all known each other for a while, we all love each other,” Slipknot’s Corey Taylor tells Rolling Stone magazine. “So let’s just rip the crap out of each other.” Wylde responds saying, “How can they roast me? I’m a good Catholic boy.” Sharon Osbourne is the roastmaster though Ozzy is absent-off recording with Black Sabbath. 2012

KoЯn’s Jonathan Davis launches a two-week campaign to help those that are suffering from bullying or suicidal thoughts. “As you know, bullying is something a lot of people have to deal with, and many times that type of harassment leads to suicide,” explains Davis.  2017

3 Doors Down perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration.” The concert takes place on the steps of Washington, D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial.  2017

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson confirms that the band is unlikely to play any more shows or make new music. “We have no plans to tour or record anymore,” he tells The Globe and Mail.  “We’re basically done.”  Rush had a “brief” four-decade year run.  2018

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS announce that they are offering free food at their Rock & Brews restaurants to every TSA employee working without pay during the partial government shutdown. “(We) respect the diligent, hard work of each and every TSA employee,” reads a joint statement by the pair.  Many Rock & Brews restaurants are located at airports.  2019

Greta Van Fleet make their Saturday Night Live debut giving a stoic performance of “Black Smoke Rising” and melodic version of “You’re The One.” Later in the show, “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost reports, “Sunday night will bring a Super Blood Wolf Moon, which is a rare lunar eclipse, and not, as I had assumed, the name of the band that just performed on our show!”  2019

David Crosby, the Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young), dies at the age of 81.  The singer-guitarist was also a member of The Byrds and had a decades long solo career.  2023

Green Day issues “Saviors.” The band’s fourteenth studio album goes on to top the Rock Albums chart (#4 on the Billboard 200) and yields two #1 songs on the Mainstream Rock chart – “The American Dream Is Killing Me” and “Dilemma.”  2024

Comings and goings. Mercyful Fate adds bassist Becky Baldwin replacing Joey Vera. Meanwhile, Asking Alexandria’s Ben Bruce (lead guitar/backing vocals/keyboards) steps away from the band to focus on his family.   2024

Founding Asking Alexandria guitarist Ben Bruce announces his departure from the band via Instagram. He thanks fans for their “years of love and support” before explaining that “it’s time to dedicate my life to my family.”  2024

“The Greatest Night In Pop,” a documentary that chronicles the all-star recording session for the ‘85 charity single, “We Are the World,” premieres at the Sundance Film Festival before going to Netflix. It’s estimated the song helped raise over $63 million (in ’85 dollars) for humanitarian aid in Africa.  2024