March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2025-02-09

FEBRUARY 9th

The Beatles make their U.S. debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. An estimated 73-million people watch The Beatles perform “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” 1964

The Doors release their highly acclaimed fifth album, “Morrison Hotel/Hard Rock Cafe.” The album goes to #4 on the Billboard chart. 1970

It is The Doors’ fifth straight gold album. Containing “Roadhouse Blues,” Peace Frog” and “Queen Of The Highway,” the set is seen as a return to the band’s core Blues/Rock sound.  1970

Neither rain, sleet nor snow will keep Kid Rock from his appointed rounds. Rock performs a show in Little Rock after the state of Arkansas is hit by heavy snowfall. The state patrol advises people to stay home and some fans are unwilling or unable to brave the conditions. Rock is later criticized for not canceling the show. He responds on his website saying that fans who were not able to travel to the show will receive refunds and emphasizes that he felt it was his duty to perform for those fans who had traveled to see him. 2011

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Songwriter Carole King is born in New York City. With her former husband Gerry Goffin, King wrote “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” “The Loco-Motion” (both covered by Grand Funk Railroad) and “Don’t Bring Me Down” (The Animals). King also has a successful solo career. 1942

The Beatles play Liverpool’s Cavern Club for the first time. John Lennon and Paul McCartney performed at the venue three years earlier but were then known as the Quarrymen (or sometimes the Quarry Men). 1961

O.A.R. guitarist, Richard On, is born. 1979

The late Avenged Sevenfold founding member and drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan is born. 1981

Bill Haley dies from a brain tumor at age 55. His “Rock Around The Clock” got Rock N’ Roll going. With that song and a slew of subsequent hits, Haley & His Comets sold 60 million records worldwide. 1981

Eric Clapton is recognized for his Outstanding Contribution to British Music at the BPI Awards in London. Also, Dire Straits “Brothers In Arms” is named Best British Album. 1987

“Slip,” the debut studio album by Quicksand, is released.   Containing the collage radio hit “Fazer,” the album becomes a Post Hardcore/Alt. Metal classic.   1993

Frustrated by an equipment failure on Soundgarden’s final tour stop in Honolulu bassist Ben Shepherd throws his bass into the air and storms off the stage. The band follows with frontman Chris Connell returning to conclude the show with a solo encore. The band breaks up two months later. 1997

Looks that kill. A Los Angeles court rules that Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx is entitled to $600,000 from a shoe company for using his likeness in a magazine ad without permission. 2005

Jack White appears on CBS’ 60 Minutes Wednesday. The White Stripes frontman claims he almost gave up Rock n’ Roll to become a priest. He was accepted by a seminary but decided to go to public school instead. “I had just gotten a new amplifier and I didn’t think I was allowed to take it with me,” says White. 2005

The Band receives the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. They are saluted at an invitation-only ceremony the night before the Grammy Awards. 2008

The Boston fan forum CoolTheEngines suspends their message board after an attorney for guitarist Tom Scholz sends a cease-and-desist letter to the moderator threatening to seek “substantial monetary damages” unless all mentions of the guitarist and his wife are erased. Messages protest Scholz’s treatment of former Boston bandmembers, including late singer Brad Delp. The attorney categorizes the statements as defamatory. 2009

Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones leaves the band’s headlining North American tour due to “unforeseen circumstances” (Jones had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes). All That Remain’s Phil Labonte fills in.  2010

“Elvis’ Christmas Album” goes Diamond (10 million units sold).  The ’57 release was Presley’s first Christmas album.   2011

Paul McCartney is inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. McCartney’s star (near Capitol Records, The Beatles U.S. label) is the 2,460th was approved in ’93. He is the last Beatle to accept the honor. “When I was growing up, I never thought I’d ever come to get a star on the Walk of Fame. But here we are today,” states McCartney. 2012

“The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute To The Beatles,” is broadcast on CBS to mark the 50th anniversary to the day of The Beatles debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. The surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are interviewed by David Letterman in the Ed Sullivan theater. 2014

Bullet For My Valentine say they have parted ways with Jason James. The bassist/vocalist joined the group in ’03, replacing Nick Crandle. 2015

Lacuna Coil announce they have recruited guitarist Daniel Sahagun to replace Marco ‘Maus’ Biazzi. Sahagun previously played bass for the band in ’14 when Marco ‘Maki’ Coti-Zelati was sick and unable to tour. 2016

“Atlas, Rise!” is Metallica’s ninth #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs Airplay chart.  2017

Black Sabbath is honored with a “heavy metal” bench in their hometown of Birmingham, England.  The handmade, stainless steel bench features band members’ images with the words “Geezer. Ozzy. Tony. Bill. Made in Birmingham 1968” etched on it. Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi attends the commemorative event. 2019

Multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, co-founder of King Crimson (“In The Court Of The Crimson King”) and Foreigner (the first three albums) dies at the age of 75. 2022