This Day in History: 2025-02-13

FEBRUARY 13^th

Costing less than $2,000 to produce, “Black Sabbath,” the group’s self-titled debut album is unleashed on an unsuspecting U.K. public. It’s widely regarded as the first Heavy Metal album. 1970

Dire Straits begin work on their debut album in London. The record, produced by Muff Winwood (Steve’s older brother), contains “Sultans Of Swing.” 1978

“Shake Your Money Maker” is released. The Black Crowes debut album peaks at #4 on the Billboard 200 selling more than 5-million copies on the strength of the singles, “She Talks To Angels” (#1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart), “Hard To Handle” and Jealous Again.  1990

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Monkees’ Peter Tork is born. 1942

Eclectic musician, performer and singer, Peter Gabriel is born in Chobham, Surrey, England. Before embarking on a solo career (“Sledgehammer” and “Shock The Monkey”), he is the frontman for Genesis. 1950

Vocalist Henry Rollins (Black Flag/Henry Rollins Band) is born in Washington, D.C. 1961

Annihilator guitarist Jeff Waters is born in Ottawa, Ontario.  1966

“Let me take you down.” The Beatles issue “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” as a two-sided single in the U.S. Both songs later appeared on the “Magical Mystery Tour” LP. 1967

Jimi Hendrix returns to Garfield High School in Seattle. Hendrix dropped out of Garfield when he was 17 for social (holding a white girl’s hand), legal (riding in a stolen car) and academic (low grades and poor attendance) reasons. Now, he gets the key to the city. 1968

Matthew Berninger (The National) is born in Cincinnati.  1971

Led Zeppelin is forced to cancel their Singapore concert because government officials won’t let them off the plane. Drugs? Immoral behavior? Foul mouths? Actually, it’s because their hair is too long. 1972

3 Doors Down bassist Todd Harrell has a birthday. 1972

“Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite,” the soundtrack to an Elvis Presley TV special, goes gold. Not surprising, since the program, broadcast two weeks earlier, was seen by one billion viewers. 1973

John Lydon’s London house is raided by police. The Sex Pistols frontman confronts (and confounds) authorities by waving a ceremonial sword at them. The only illegal item found is a tear gas canister (kept to ward off intruders). 1980

Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant’s gravestone is stolen. Police later find it in a dry riverbed. 1982

Loverboy’s “Working For The Weekend” only makes it to #29 on the pop chart. Tough week. 1982

The Gin Blossoms issue “Congratulations, I’m Sorry.” The album contains hits “Til I Hear It From You” and “Follow You Down.” 1996

Hola! Hello! Hello! U2 win Best Rock Song (“Vertigo”) while Green Day takes home the award for Best Rock Album (“American Idiot”) at the 47th annual Grammy Awards in L.A. Velvet Revolver nab the Best Hard Rock Performance (“Slither”) honor while Led Zeppelin are awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  2005

The Rolling Stones’ classic “Let It Bleed” makes it into the Grammy Hall Of Fame. The album contains the title track, “Gimme Shelter,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Also getting the nod is Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry.” 2005

Thievery at the Grammy Awards is nothing new but this one is over the top (hat). The headgear that Slash has worn for the past 15 years is stolen from the limousine that carried the Guns N’ Roses guitarist to the awards ceremony.  Slash’s wife also has some personal items stolen. 2005

Alice In Chains become the act with the most Grammy nominations (8) to never win an award when The Crooked Vultures beat them for the Best Hard Rock Performance honor at the 53rd Grammys. On the plus side, Arcade Fire win Album of the Year for “The Suburbs” and Muse’s “The Resistance” takes home the trophy for Best Rock Album. The Black Keys score the award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. 2011

Hellyeah announce that guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob Zilla have left the band, and that Zilla’s replacement is Kyle Sanders. 2014

The 30th annual Pollstar Awards in L.A. honor the top achievers in the live entertainment industry.  And the winners are: Best Rock Tour: Foo Fighters’ Concrete and Gold trek; Best Residency: Bruce Springsteen -Walter Kerr Theatre in NYC; Best New Headliner: Greta Van Fleet; and Linkin Park’s Brad Delson accepts the Music Unites Award for his band’s charitable work through the organization Music For Relief.  2019