This Day in History: 2025-04-03

APRIL 3rd

Van Halen’s “Jump” is a certified gold record. 1984

“1984” had synthesizers but that didn’t weigh it down. Also, singer David Lee Roth had nursed his act to agreeable perfection. Rock radio and MTV were all over “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher” with the capper being “Jump.” Can’t top that, and Roth didn’t even want to try – he left for a solo career shortly thereafter.

“Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses named “Best Workout Song Of 2018” in Gold’s Gym’s March Music Madness competition, an interactive bracket-based competition with songs nominated by celebrities.  2018

Shinedown’s “Cut The Cord” achieves platinum status (one million units; each unit is equal to one paid download or 150 streams) and “State Of My Head” officially goes gold (500,000 units).  Both songs are from ‘15’s “Threat To Survival.” 2019

Three years passed since “Amaryllis” before Shinedown issued their fifth album, “Threat To Survival.” The ’15 set was delayed when Smith suffered nodules on his vocal cords and then had to deal with a fungal infection in his throat. “We have poured our entire being into these songs and into this album,” wrote the band in a statement. The set contained the track “Cut The Cord.”

Foo Fighters take home the Best Rock Album honor for Medicine At Midnight at the 64^th annual Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.  2022

The Foos, who were slated to perform but canceled following the sudden loss of drummer Taylor Hawkins, also take home the Best Rock Song trophy for “Waiting On A War” and Best Rock Performance for “Making A Fire.” Dream Theater earn the Best Metal Performance award for “The Alien,” a track from its ’21 album “A View From The Top Of The World.” All of the above awards were present during the pre-show event.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Band’s Richard Manuel (piano/vocals) is born in Stratford, Canada.  1943

Social Distortion’s frontman Mike Ness is born in Stoneham, MA. 1962

Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach starts his life as Sebastian Philip Bierk. 1968

Lynyrd Skynyrd record their classic “Free Bird” (often written as “Freebird”) at Studio One in Doraville, GA. The song comes out six months later. 1974

Having left Spooky Tooth for a solo career, Gary Wright peaks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Dream Weaver.” The single subsequently goes gold. 1976

Sid Vicious plays his first show with the Sex Pistols. 1977

Hinder’s ballad “Lips Of An Angel” is released.  The song lands at #3 on the Billboard 100. “Our label guy was like, ‘Nice song, it sounds like a B-side to me,” recalls singer Austin Winkler. “This is not a B-side.”  2006

Guitarist Benji Madden wins a celebrity boxing match knocking out former MTV “Headbangers Ball” host Riki Rachtman at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  “Benji Madden just kicked my ass,” says Rachtman,  “I got wasted by the guy in Good Charlotte.”

David Byrne (Talking Heads) slams President Donald Trump’s budget proposal to eliminate funding for federal arts agencies and initiatives at a rally in New York City.  2017

Kid Rock blasts Anheuser-Busch for its decision to enlist Dylan Mulvaney, a trans activist and TikTok influencer with 10-million followers, as a Bud Light brand promoter. A number of conservatives are angered over the partnership, including Rock who posts a video of him using a semi-automatic rifle to shoot up three cases of Bud Light.  2023

Metallica announces they will give $150,000, through their All Within My Hands foundation, to three separate organizations to provide assistance and relief to areas in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia recovering from multiple tornadoes.  2023