This Day in History: 2025-02-08

FEBRUARY 8^th

Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker (both formerly of Cream), Traffic’s Steve Winwood and bassist Rick Grech announce the formation of the short-lived ‘supergroup’ Blind Faith. 1969

3 Doors Down release “The Better Life” album.  The band’s multi-platinum studio effort becomes the 11^th best-selling album of the year. 2000

U2, nominated for five awards, wins them all including Album of the Year (How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb”) at the 48th annual Grammy Awards in L.A. Other winners are Green Day (Record of the Year – “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”), System Of A Down (Best Hard Rock Performance), the White Stripes (Best Alternative Music Album) and Slipknot (Best Metal Performance). 2006

Scorpions‘ music video for “Wind Of Change” surpasses one billion views on YouTube.  2023

The song, composed lead singer Klaus Meine following the band’s visit to the Soviet Union during the country’s large-scale socioeconomic reforms, was uploaded to the platform in ‘09.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Mötley Crüe’s lead singer, Vince Neil, is born in Hollywood with the name Vincent Neil Wharton. He grows up all over SoCal; Inglewood, Watts and Compton. 1961

A London performance of “200 Motels” by Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention is cancelled because Royal Albert Hall officials deem the material obscene. 1971

David Michael Farrell a.k.a. Dave ‘Phoenix’ Ferrell is born. He is Linkin Park’s bassist. 1977

David and Angela Bowie divorce after ten years of marriage. 1980

The Who receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music honor at the BPI Awards in London. 1988

Del Shannon (“Runaway” and “Hats Off To Larry”), whose career appeared to be on an upswing, commits suicide – a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The 55-year-old singer, an early ’60s star, had been taking the anti-depressant drug Prozac. 1990

The record industry certifies Green Day’s “Dookie” album for selling ten million copies. It ties Pearl Jam’s “Vs” as the best-selling Alt-Rock set. 1999

Evanescence receives the Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance (“Bring Me To Life”) honors at the 46th annual Grammy Awards in L.A. The White Stripes take home awards for the Best Rock Song (“Seven Nation Army”) and Best Alternative Music Album (“Elephant”). The evening’s other winners include Foo Fighters (Best Rock Album – “One By One”) and Metallica (Best Metal Performance- St. Anger”). 2004

3 Doors Down’s third studio effort “Seventeen Days” is released. It sells 231,000 copies in its debut week to become the Mississippi band’s first effort to hold the top spot on the Billboard album chart. 2005

Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away). Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars is hit with a $10 million palimony suit by an ex-girlfriend who claims he broke a promise to financially support her throughout her life. The couple broke up the previous December. 2005

David Bowie is honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  2006

Coldplay win Rock Song of the Year (“Viva La Vida”) and Rock Album of the Year (“Viva La Vida”) at the 51st Grammy Awards in L.A. Also, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Bluegrass singer Alison Krauss nab the Record of the Year (“Please Read The Letter”) and Album of the Year (“Raising Sand”) awards. 2009

Ringo Starr gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Several hundred Beatles fans attend the ceremony in front of the Capitol Records Tower. “I want to thank Capitol Records (The Beatles U.S. label),” Starr tells the crowd. “It’s nice to look at a building that you helped pay for.” 2010

Dave Ellefson returns to Megadeth following an eight-year absence. “This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness,” writes Mustaine in a statement. 2010

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and fellow Hawaii resident Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) testify in favor of an anti-paparazzi law in Hawaii. “As a person in the public eye, I know the paparazzi are there and we have to accept that,” states Tyler. “But when they intrude into our private space, disregard our safety and the safety of others, that crosses a serious line that shouldn’t be ignored.” The bill under consideration is known as the Steven Tyler Act. 2013

Bruce Springsteen is named the MusiCares Person of the Year at a ceremony in L.A., two days before the 55th annual Grammy Awards. He is honored for both his creative accomplishments and charitable work over the years. 2013

It’s the 57th Grammy Awards at LA’s Staples Centre. The Rock Performance trophy goes to Jack White for his album “Lazaretto.” Beck gets the Best Album and Best Rock Album statues for “Morning Phase.” Paramore’s “Ain’t It Fun” (written by Hayley Williams & Taylor York) takes home the Rock Song trophy. 2015

The estate of former 3 Doors Down guitarist Matt Roberts files a lawsuit against Dr. Richard Snellgrove claiming that he is responsible for the musician’s death.  The estate also names Rite Aid in the suit for not complying with the Controlled Substances Act. Roberts died of a prescription drug overdose in ‘16 and Snellgrove was indicted for illegal drug distribution. 2018

Billie Joe Armstrong’s stolen classic 1962 Chevy II is recovered by police after the Green Day frontman put out a public plea for the help in finding it. Following up on a tip police find the car abandoned in El Modena, CA. 2022

R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, bassist Mike Mills, guitarist Peter Buck and drummer Bill Berry, appear onstage together for the first time in seventeen years. Bandmembers, who do not perform, are attending a concert in Athens, GA to support actor Michael Shannon and musician Jason Narducy’s tour playing R.E.M.’s “Murmur” album.  2024