March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2025-01-25

JANUARY 25th

Nearly twelve years after its release, “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers,” the group’s self-titled debut album, goes gold.  The set contains “American Girl” and “Breakdown.” 1988

“Jar Of Flies,” the third studio EP by Alice In Chains, is released. It becomes the first EP in music history to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. The set contains “No Excuses” and is later certified double platinum by the RIAA. 1994

Mötley Crüe is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The group and 600 fans turn out for the ceremony. “We’re across the street from the Erotica Museum and Frederick’s of Hollywood. This is a perfect place for us to be,” says bassist Nikki Sixx. 2006

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Monkees hold the #1 spot on the U.K. singles chart with “I’m A Believer.”  It’s the band’s only U.K. chart topper.  1967

Charlie Manson and ‘family’ are found guilty. This doesn’t have much to do with Rock except the chain of murders was triggered, in Manson’s twisted mind, by The Beatles’ “White Album” and (in particular) the songs “Helter Skelter” and “Piggies.” 1971

Roseanne Cash’s “Never Be You,” written by Tom Petty and Heartbreakers’ keyboardist Benmont Tench, tops the Country singles chart. 1986

Bruce Springsteen’s mournful ballad “My Hometown” peaks at #6 on the U.S. charts. 1986

The Red Hot Chili Peppers cover of the Ohio Player’s disco classic “Loverollercoaster” peaks at #20 on the U.S. pop chart. Six months later, the single cracks the U.K. Top 10. 1997

Ted Nugent claims reports by the ‘hyper-liberal media’ stating he made racially offensive remarks during his performance at Texas Governor Rick Perry’s inauguration ball are untrue. “I never said a word . . . against ‘illegal immigrants’ or ‘non-English-speaking’ anyone,” writes Nuge in a Waco Tribune-Herald guest column. “I will intensify my fight for a united America by demanding all Americans speak English.” 2007

Esquire magazine presents ‘The 10 Craziest Drummers Ever’. Ginger Baker (Cream), Keith Moon (The Who), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Topper Headon (The Clash), Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Josh Freeze (Nine Inch Nails), Bill Ward (Black Sabbath), Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons) and Vinnie Paul (Pantera) make the list. 2013

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong criticizes Enfield High School (CT) for cancelling a production of the musical “American Idiot.” The school cites sex, drugs and foul language as the reasons. “This production tackles issues in a post-9/11 world, and I believe the kids should be heard and most of all be creative in telling a story about our history,” states Armstrong. The play is based on the Green Day album of the same name. 2016

Guitarist Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper) is named the first-ever female Ibanez signature artist. Her signature guitar is the Ibanez JIVA.  2018

Disturbed’s ‘15 ‘comeback’ album, “Immortalized,” is officially certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of a million copies. The set contains a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound Of Silence.” 2018

One-time Dark Tranquility rhythm guitarist Fredrik Johansson passes away after a three-year battle with cancer.  2022

Queen (#1), Guns N’ Roses (#2) and AC/DC (#3) are the top Classic Rock bands in the world. Liberty Games, the largest amusement supplier to the home market in the U.K. surveyed YouTube play counts in every country over the last 12 months to determine which artist was listened to the most. 2023