This Day in History: 2024-02-14

FEBRUARY 14^th

The Who play a concert at Leeds University and produce the awesome “Live At Leeds” featuring “Summertime Blues” and “Shakin’ All Over.” 1970

Bon Jovi top the Hot 100 with “Livin’ On A Prayer” from their “Slippery When Wet” album. 1987

Halestorm’s music video for “Love Bites (So Do I)” is released on Valentine’s Day. “The song is my little stab against the media’s portrayal of love,” says frontwoman Lzzy Hale. “Your heart cannot be measured or judged by the quizzes in magazines and scenes in movies. So for both boys and girls I tell you this, love who and how you want, and for god’s sake when love bites, bite back!” 2012

The song is the first single from Halestorm’s second album “The Strange Case Of…”

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Guitarist and founding member of Heart, Roger Fisher, enters the world. 1950

The pre-Castro Cuban government bans Rock n’ Roll calling it “immoral and profane” and “offensive to public morals.” 1957

Sly & The Family Stone land at #1 with “Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin).” 1970

Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas gets hassled by the ‘real world’ for the first time. It’s his birthday. 1972

John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin a one-week co-host stint on the Mike Douglas Show. The usually safe and sane midday talk show gets a jolt as Lennon talks about the U.S. government’s attempts to deport him. All in all, the week is a pretty interesting real-life soap opera. 1972

Steppenwolf officially disbands just four years after their debut album. To mark the occasion, it’s Steppenwolf Day in L.A. 1972

Liv Kristine, former lead vocalist for Leaves’ Eyes, is born in Stavanger, Norway.  1976  

Billy Idol bails on Generation X for a solo career. Turns out to be a good move. 1981

Having fired frontman Vince Neil three days earlier, Mötley Crüe issues a statement announcing the singer’s departure. “It came as a complete shock to me,” says Neil.  He rejoins the band five years later.  1992

Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson host VH1 Classic’s special Valentine’s Day programming. The sisters read romantic dedications sent in by viewers.  2006

Aerosmith are featured in the music-themed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. The band is pictured with model Bar Refaeli. While she looks far better than the band (fewer miles) Steven Tyler’s nails are killer. 2007

Boston’s Tom Scholz sends a letter to Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee demanding that he stop using “More Than A Feeling” at campaign events. “You have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed,” writes the guitarist, a Barack Obama supporter. Ex-Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau had performed the song with Huckabee at rallies. 2008

Pat Benatar, and her guitarist husband Neil Giraldo, make the first of two appearances on the CBS daytime drama The Young And The Restless. The couple play themselves and perform “Every Time I Fall Back.” 2008

Bruce Springsteen’s “Working On A Dream” tops the Billboard 200. Moving 224,000 copies in its first week of release the album is Springsteen’s ninth #1. 2009

The Vatican newspaper L’ Osservatore Romano publishes their “semiserious” list of desert island discs. They are: “Dark Side Of The Moon” (Pink Floyd); “Revolver” (The Beatrles); “Supernatural” (Santana); “If I Could Only Remember My Name” (David Crosby); “Rumours” (Fleetwood Mac); “Achtung Baby” (U2) and “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory” (Oasis).  2010

Doug Fieger, leader of The Knack, dies at his home in Woodland Hills (near L.A.) after battling cancer. Fieger co-wrote and sang lead vocals on the ’79 #1 hit “My Sharona.” He was 57. 2010

Skillet’s guitarist Ben Kasica announces that he is leaving the Christian Rock band to focus on other projects. “I had no idea how long the ride would last but have enjoyed it immensely,” says Kasica in a statement. 2011

Lacuna Coil announce via Facebook that guitarist Cristiano ‘Pizza’ Migliore and drummer Cristiano ‘Criz’ Mozzati have left after 16 years for personal reasons. 2014

Happy Valentine’s Day. Mötley Crüe drummer, Tommy Lee ties the knot with social media luminary Brittany Furlan, a year- to-the-day after he asked for her hand in marriage.  This is the fourth marriage for the 56-year old musician (his exes are Heather Locklear, Elaine Starchuk and Pamela Anderson) and the first for his 32-year old bride.  2019