This Day in History: 2024-01-29

JANUARY 29^th

“Walk This Way” is a Top 10 single (peaks at #10). The Aerosmith song was inspired by a line in the Mel Brooks comedy “Young Frankenstein.” 1977

“Tighten Up” by the Black Keys tops the Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart. 2011

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

David Byron (David Garrick), vocalist for Uriah Heep, enters the world.  1947

Tommy Ramone is born with the name Tamas Erdelyi in Budapest Hungary. He grows up in Queens, NY and is the group’s manager before becoming a band member. 1952

Bassist Eddie Jackson is born in Robstown, TX. He joins Queensryche in ’81. 1961

Blues legend Willie Dixon passes away. A musician, songwriter (“Back Door Man,” “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “I Ain’t Superstitious”), arranger and record producer, Dixon is recognized as one of the founders of the Chicago Blues sound and his influence on Rock, especially the British vein, is immeasurable. 1992

Bryan Adams plays a benefit show in Karachi to aid relief efforts following the earthquake that ravaged Pakistan the previous October. Adams is the first Western Rock star in Pakistan since the commencement of the “war on terror.” 2006

Nickelback announce they are donating profits from their single, “If Everyone Cared,” to charity. For six months, proceeds from download sales and accompanying video, which features humanitarians Nelson Mandela and Bob Geldof, goes to Amnesty International and International Children’s Awareness Canada. 2007

Carlos Santana helps lead a campaign to have late United Farm Workers Union founder Cesar Chavez’s birthday, March 31, recognized as a U.S. holiday. “It’s supremely important that a day be selected to honor the life of Chavez for his quality of service to all humanity,” says the guitarist. 2008

Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready appears in front of the Washington state legislature to promote a bill that would require local businesses to give sufferers of Crohn’s disease and other digestive disorders emergency access to private restrooms. “I’m 42 years old. I’m doing fine,” says the guitarist, who has been living with Crohn’s more than 20 years. “But when you’re 13 or 14 and you’re going through those years with the shame and indignation — it’s embarrassing.” 2009

Roy Orbison gets a posthumous star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame (on Vine Street in front of the Capitol Records building, next to John Lennon and George Harrison). 2010

MusiCares at the Los Angeles Convention Center pays tribute Neil Young for his achievements in both music and philanthropy (Farm Aid and the Bridge School benefit concerts). 2010

Black Label Society’s tenth full-length effort, “Grimmest Hits, is #1 on iTunes Top Rock Albums Chart and #2 on the Billboard Rock Chart.  2018