This Day in History: 2024-02-03

FEBRUARY 3^rd

The day the music died. Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens are killed in a plane crash while on the Winter Dance Party Tour. 1959

Going retro, Elton John holds the #1 spot on the U.S. pop survey with “Crocodile Rock.” The song, from the album “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player,” is John’s first U.S. chart topper. 1973

Pearl Jam release their “Yield” album. The set debuts at #2, behind the “Titanic” soundtrack, on the Billboard 200. 1998

Incubus roll out “Crow Left Of The Murder.” 2004

The band’s fifth studio album marks the first appearance of bassist Ben Kenney following the departure of founding member Dirk Lance.

The album debuts at #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and goes on to sell 1.9 million copies.

Fall Out Boys earn their fourth #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with “M A N I A.”  2018

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Ray Davies’ kid brother and Kinks collaborator, Dave, is born. 1947

Guitarist Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth) is born. 1956

The Cure’s Laurence Tolhurst has a birthday. He’s born in Horley, Surrey, England. 1959

Amid The Beatles onslaught, “Fun, Fun, Fun” by the Beach Boys is released. The single gets to #5. 1964

“You Never Give Me Your Money.” Following the death of Brian Epstein, The Beatles select Allen B. Klein as their business manager (a formal contract is signed a couple months later). Paul McCartney had wanted Eastman & Eastman (his wife Linda’s father is a partner in the company). As a consolation, the next day Eastman & Eastman are appointed general counsel to Apple, a collection of Beatles related companies. The Beatles’ business affairs, already in disarray get far worse. 1969

U2 perform a three-song post 9-11 set at halftime during the Super Bowl.  During “Where The Streets Have No Name” the names of the victims from the attacks are projected onto a sheet behind the stage.   At the song’s conclusion, frontman Bono opens his jacket to reveal an American flag printed into the lining.  2002

Led Zeppelin’s “Rock And Roll” is used in a Cadillac commercial that debuts during the Super Bowl. It’s the first Zep song licensed for a commercial. 2002

Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector is arrested in connection with the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra home. Spector is later convicted. 2003

Tom Petty & The Heartbreaker are the halftime entertainment for Saluper Bowl XLII in Glendale, AZ. They open with “American Girl,” then roll through “I Won’t Back Down,” “Free Fallin'” and “Runnin’ Down A Dream.” The New York Giants pull a major upset defeating the heavily favored, and previously unbeaten, New England Patriots. 2008

Alice Cooper and exercise guru Richard Simmons appear in a Bridgestone Tire commercial that’s aired during the Super Bowl. Cooper is dark and menacing but Simmons steals the spot. 2008

Dubious honor? Mötley Crüe is the first Hard Rock band to have a Las Vegas residency when ” Mötley Crüe in Sin City” opens at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. “Vegas is based on big, big shows,” says frontman Vince Neil. In honor of the band’s milestone, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaims it Mötley Crüe Day. 2012

Maroon 5 headline the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show in Atlanta. The show augments an uneventful first half (New England Pats – the eventual winners – are leading the L.A. Rams 3-0). Prior to the game, Maroon 5 and the NFL announce a $500,000 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. 2019

Singer Josh Kiszka’s laryngitis forces Greta Van Fleet to cancel the remaining dates on their Australian tour. They scrap a concert in Birsbane before calling off the rest of the tour. 2019

All That Remains bring back Matt Deis who was the band’s bassist during the early ‘00s. He replaces Aaron Patrick who left by way of a mutual and amicable agreement after eight years with the band. 2022