This Day in History: 2025-02-22

FEBRUARY 22^nd

What a coincidence. John Lennon’s “#9 Dream” peaks at #9. 1975

The track is from Lennon’s fifth studio album “Walls And Bridges.”

“Rooster,” a single from Alice In Chains’ sophomore album “Dirt,” is out. Written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell for his father, who went by the nickname ‘Rooster’ while serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, the song peaks at #7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. 1993

Offspring’s “Ixnay On The Hombre” enters the U.S. album chart coming in at #9. 1997

Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White-Gluz is featured as a mermaid in a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ad campaign.  2023

White-Gluz, a longtime vegan, encourages people to go vegan and stop eating fish and shellfish by illustrating commercial fishing’s environmental impact.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Beatles finish work on “A Day In The Life.” 1967

Bradley James Nowell, the frontman for Sublime, is born in Long Beach, CA. 1968

The Police dye their hair blonde for a Wrigley Gum commercial. The new hair color becomes part of their ‘look’. 1978

Melissa Etheridge performs “Bring Me Some Water” at the 31st Grammy Awards in L.A. Otherwise, this year’s show sucks up and down the line. But the topper comes when Jethro Tull beats out Metallica for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental trophy. 1989

Wes Scantlin is arrested for disorderly conduct and other infractions in Toledo, OH, after showing up to a Puddle Of Mudd concert intoxicated. The frontman heckles and abuses concertgoers when his bandmates walk offstage after only four songs. 2004

Children of the Lord. An online post by KoЯn announces that founding guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch has left the band after 12 years. The statement adds that Welch “has chosen Jesus Christ as his savior and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end.” However, Welch later states that as a single parent he left to spend more time with his daughter. 2005

Blink 182 announce they are going on an indefinite hiatus; which lasts four years. 2005

The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde writes a letter to the Country group Lady Antebellum asking them to take a stand for animal rights when they perform at a KFC franchisee’s upcoming meeting in San Diego. The letter is sent to the group through PETA and asks them to tell KFC to adopt less cruel slaughter practices as recommended by the restaurant chain’s own advisory board. “My friends at PETA and I are hoping that you will use your unique position to appeal to the company,” writes Hynde. “With your influential public platform, KFC might not so easily turn a deaf ear to you.” 2011

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler admits he’s used over five million dollars- worth of cocaine. “Realistically, $5 or $6 (million), easy,” says Tyler during an interview on Australia’s 60 Minutes. “You know, it’s what we did.” 2013

Styx sues A&M Records over what they claim were deceptive accounting practices that deprived the band of royalties. The suit contends that, “for every one dollar the band has received from A&M they should have been paid anywhere from two to five dollars.” 2013

Kid Rock performs at the Daytona 500. His set includes songs from his recent “First Kiss” album plus “Bawitdaba.” 2015

The Mötley Crüe/Def Leppard joint “Stadium Tour” wins the Rock Tour of the Year honor at the Pollstar Awards in L.A. The twice-postponed North American “Stadium Tour” grossed over $173 million in ’22.  2023

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl spends 16-hours cooking ribs, pork butt, brisket, cabbage, coleslaw and beans to help feed 450 homeless people at the Hope of the Valley rescue mission in L.A. Grohl uses his massive meat smoker for the charity BBQ.  2023

Pantera (Phillip Anselmo, Rex Brown, Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante) play Madison Square Garden for the first time.  2024