March 29, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-04-02

APRIL 2nd

“Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac tops the Billboard 200 (less than two months after its release). Lotta hits here: “Second Hand News,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” “Go Your Own Way” and “You Make Lovin’ Fun.”  The album stays on the chart for over a year-and-a-half. 1977

Linkin Park issues the first single, “What I’ve Done,” from their third studio album, “Minutes To Midnight.” 2007

“What I’ve Done,” was an out-of-the-box #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart.

“Serving The Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain” written by Danny Goldberg, one of Nirvana’s managers from 1990 to 1994, is available.  The book contains Goldberg’s recollections of his time with the band and Cobain’s rise to icon status.   2019

After a series of drummers had come and gone (Dale Crover, Chad Channing, Dan Peters), Nirvana found David Grohl. They also had a demo that caught the attention of producer Butch Vig who ran the boards on “Nevermind.”

The album was nothing short of being a landmark creation with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are,” “In Bloom,” “Lithium” and “On A Plane.”

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Session musician, singer-songwriter, producer Leon Russell (Claude Russell Bridges), is born in Lawton, OK. 1942

Singer/guitarist Phil Demmel (Machine Head) enters the world.  1967

Smash Mouth guitarist and main songwriter, Greg Camp, has a birthday. 1967

Steve Winwood leaves the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic. 1967

Bad Company issue its second album, “Straight Shooter.” The set goes gold. 1975

KISS unleash “Rock & Roll All Nite.”  Though the song gets nowhere near the Top 40 it becomes an anthem. 1975

Beck’s “E-Pro” tops Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart ending Green Day’s lengthy run with “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams.” 2005

Green Day is named Favorite Music Group at the 18th annual Kids Choice Awards. The event is held in Los Angeles and broadcast on Nickelodeon. 2005

“Rope” is #1 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart. The song is the lead single from the Foo Fighters’ seventh studio album, “Wasting Light.” 2011

Killswitch Engage unleash “Disarm The Descent,” their sixth studio album but first since the departure of singer Howard Jones and the reuniting with the group’s original vocalist Jesse Leach (last heard on ’02’s “Alive Or Just Breathing”). “From the music, to the lyrics, to the artwork, we are all proud of what we have accomplished,” says Leach. The album debuts at #7 on the Billboard 200 but is #1 on the Top Hard Rock and Top Rock Albums charts.   2013

U2’s landmark’87 album, “The Joshua Tree,” is added to The Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry of recordings that that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ’69 single, “Fortunate Son” and Linda Ronstadt’s ’74 album “Heart Like A Wheel” are also placed in the Recording Registry. 2014

William Brockie, the father of late Gwar frontman Dave Brockie (stage name Oderus Urungus), sues the band for allegedly holding onto his son’s musical equipment, artwork and ashes. He also seeks $1 million in compensatory damages plus punitive damages for a supposed breach of contract and the unauthorized use of Brockie’s image. The group denies all charges in a statement. Brockie died from a heroin overdose in March, ’14. 2015

Megadeth officially announce the addition of guitarist Kiko Loureiro. He replaces Chris Broderick who split the previous November. 2015

Panic! At The Disco announce that founding member Spencer Smith has officially left. The drummer was on hiatus since ’13 to treat his addictions. 2015

Dave Mustaine vineyards pick up the Platinum Award/Best in Show at the San Diego International Wine Competition. The Megadeth frontman names each of his wines after one of his songs.  2017

“Whatever It Takes,” by Imagine Dragons, is #1 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart. The track is off the “Origins” album. 2018

The CMT (Country Music Television) Music Awards pay tribute to Southern Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd and the band’s late guitarist Gary Rossington with a multi-genre salute that includes Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) and Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers). Skynyrd influenced countless contemporary Country artists.  2023