This Day in History: 2025-02-06

FEBRUARY 6^th 

John Lennon releases “Instant Karma (We All Shine On),” his best Rock song. 1970

J. Geils Band tops the Billboard 200 with “Freeze Frame.” The album has a four-week run at the top.  1982

“Angel is a centerfold.” J. Geils Band also score a #1 pop hit with “Centerfold.”

The Bangles remake of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Hazy Shade Of Winter” stalls at #2 on the pop chart. (behind Tiffany’s “Could’ve Been”). 1988

The song is on the “Less Than Zero” soundtrack.

Fall Out Boy’s “Infinity On High” drops. “It’s taken from a quote by Vincent van Gogh,” says bassist Pete Wentz. The first single is “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race.” 2007

The album debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 selling over 260,000 copies in its first week.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Elvis Presley meets his future manager, the already legendary Col. Tom Parker. The encounter takes place between Memphis shows. 1955

The “sweet child” of Sharon Rose, Axl (Guns N’ Roses), is born. 1962

Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock And Roll” begins a five-week run at #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.  1982

Beach Boys’ Carl Wilson succumbs to cancer in Los Angeles. He was 51. 1998

Don Felder is fired from The Eagles. Felder later sues the band for wrongful termination and is countersued by Don Henley and Glenn Frey for breach of contract. So much for a peaceful, easy feeling. 2001

Incubus files a lawsuit to get out of their contract with Epic Records with four albums to go. They object to deductions for video production and packaging. 2003

Paul McCartney performs “Drive My Car,” “Get Back,” “Live And Let Die” and “Hey Jude” during the Super Bowl XXXIX half-time show at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, FL. The fireworks display during “Live And Let Die” eclipses the show put on by the New England Patriots, who escape with a 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. 2005

Singer Scott Weiland “voluntarily enters a rehab clinic” after Velvet Revolver’s concert in Los Angeles. As a consequence, the group’s scheduled performance in San Diego the next night is postponed. That would have been the last show of VR’s U.S. tour. 2008

Axl Roses gives Billboard magazine his first major interview in nine years. The Guns N’ Roses singer says he may perform with ex-GN’R members at some point but vows never to play again with Slash. “One of the two of us will die before a reunion, however sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it,” declares Rose. Seven years later Axl and Slash are together again. 2009

Hunting advocate Ted Nugent is inducted into the National Bowhunters Hall of Fame. 2009

“Hope For Haiti Now,” a compilation album designed to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims tops the Billboard 200 with debut week sales in excess of 150,000. It’s the first digital-only production to top the chart. The set includes songs by Bono and The Edge (U2), Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young and Sting (Police). 2010

Ozzy Osbourne and teen heart throb Justin Bieber appear in a Best Buy ad that’s broadcast during the Super Bowl (3rd quarter). The ad has the pair dressed in futuristic black jumpsuits. Ozzy asks, “What’s a Bieber?” 2011

Thin Lizzy’s Gary Moore is found dead at a hotel in Estepona. The 58-year-old guitarist was in Spain on vacation. 2011

Killswitch Engage confirm that vocalist Jesse Leach has returned. Leach, a founding member, left the group in ’02. He replaces Howard Jones who bailed a month earlier citing health issues and a lack of commitment. 2012

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett hosts his first horror convention, “Kirk von Hammett’s Fear FestEvil” is a three-day event in San Francisco.  2014

Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully launches the Falcon Heavy rocket into space releasing a “midnight cherry Tesla Roadster” into the cosmos playing David Bowie’s ‘69 classic, “Space Oddity.” Inside the car is a dummy known as “Starman,” a reference to the Bowie song of the same name.  2018

According to ReptileMagazine.com (yes, there is such a publication) a lizard species has been named after Iron Maiden’s singer Bruce Dickinson. Enyalioides dickinsoni is found 460 miles north of Lima, Peru.   2024