This Day in History: 2024-02-07

FEBRUARY 7^th

Shocking Blue’s biggest claim to fame, “Venus,” is #1 on the pop survey. 1970

Whitesnake issues “The Definitive Collection.” The compilation contains “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again.” Just what you’d expect. 2006

Van Halen’s album, “A Different Kind Of Truth,” arrives. It’s the band’s first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since ’84. 2012

Fall Out Boy score their third #1 album as “American Beauty/American Psycho,” debuts in the top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart. 2015

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Iraq bans the film “Rock Around The Clock” (featuring Bill Haley & His Comets and Little Richard) because it “dangerous to teenagers and youths.” 1957

David Bryan (born David Bryan Rashbaum in Edison, NJ) has a birthday. The Tony Award winning composer (for the Broadway musical Memphis) is better known as the keyboard player and backing vocalist for Bon Jovi. 1962

Vee-Jay Records release the first Beatles record in the U.S. “Please, Please Me” goes nowhere. 1963

The Beatles arrive in New York for their first U.S. TV appearances and a brief tour. 1964

Godsmack’s Sully Erna is born.  The singer hails from Lawrence, MA.  1968

Rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty leaves Creedence Clearwater Revival to spend more time with his family. CCR continues for another year and a half as a trio. 1971

Limp Bizkit guitarist Wesley (Wes) Louden Borland is born in Richmond, VA. 1975

Really? “When I’m at home I listen to the Carpenters,” says Mötörhead’s Lemmy in an interview with Britain’s New Musical Express. 1991

Cream and David Bowie receive the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. They are also recognized the following night at the 48th annual Grammy Awards. 2006

Fuel announce that singer Brett Scallions has left the group. Though throat problems are initially said to be the cause Scallions actually departs for personal reasons. 2006

The world premiere of the Martin Scorsese-directed Rolling Stones documentary film “Shine A Light” is at the Berlin International Film Festival. Both Scorsese and the Stones attend. 2008

Former Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley reveals that he’s suffering from terminal cancer. “It happens, but I’ve had a fantastic life,” says Galley. “I have been very lucky. And I have enjoyed some tremendous experiences.” He contributed to Whitesnake’s “Saints & Sinners” (’82) and “Slide It In” (’84). 2008

Can’t have a Super Bowl without controversy. And SB XLIV is no different. The Air Force Reserve uses a version of the White Stripes “Fell In Love With A Girl” for their Grab Some Air recruitment campaign that premieres during the game. “We believe our song was re-recorded and used without permission of the White Stripes, our publishers, label or management,” the band writes in a statement. “We plan to take strong action to stop the ad containing this music.” Two days later, the Air Force pulls the spot from their site as the musician responsible for scoring the commercial takes full responsibility for the sound-alike track. 2010

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announces that it has acquired the “Frank 2” guitar that Eddie Van Halen used during Van Halen’s ’07-’08 North American tour. The red, white and black guitar is a replica of the original “Frankenstein” guitar that Van Halen used for more than 30 years. Museum director Brent Glass says the guitar reflects Van Halen’s innovation, talent and influence. 2011

Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose loses his case against Activision. He claimed the video game company violated an agreement over the use of “Welcome To The Jungle” in ’07’s Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock. Rose had stipulated that Slash not be included in the game but the former GN’R guitarist was the main image on the cover artwork. The court dismisses Rose’s arguments. 2013

The late George Harrison receives a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award during an invitation-only ceremony the day before the Grammy Awards. The songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil receive a Trustees Award. 2015

Kobra & The Lotus vocalist Kobra Paige states on Facebook that she has beaten Lyme disease. She was afflicted with the debilitating condition the previous year and spent several months receiving treatment.  2018

Bring Me The Horizon scores its first #1 album in the U.K. with “Amo.”  The British band recorded the set in L.A., with singer Oli Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish handling the production.  “We’ve created an album that’s more experimental, more varied, weird, and wonderful than anything we’ve done before,” says frontman Oli Sykes.    2019

The estates of original Alice In Chains members Layne Staley and Mike Starr sell publishing rights and master recording income to Primary Wave Music. 2022

U2’s Bono is among the guests President Joe Biden invites to the State of the Union address in Washington D.C. Featured guests sit alongside first lady Jill Biden during the speech. Bono, one of two dozen guests, is known for his advocacy and philanthropic support for global health and AIDS relief initiatives.  2023