This Day in History: 2023-04-04

APRIL 4th

On Billboard’s Hot 100, The Beatles hold the top five positions with “Can’t Buy Me Love” (simultaneously #1 in the U.S. and U.K.), “Twist & Shout,” “She Loves You,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me.” 1964

By the time “Can’t Buy Me Love” is knocked from the top spot (by Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly”), The Beatles have had the #1 song for three consecutive months “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” contribute to the run). In related news, Billboard reports that just about everyone is tired of The Beatles (DJs, pop music writers, etc.) except the public. Beatlemania is in full swing. 1964

“Wayne’s World” soundtrack tops the Billboard 200.  In addition to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” the album has songs by Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath and Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1992

Shinedown‘s “Amaryllis,” debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums charts.  2012

“It’s not a record for the faint of heart,” admitted vocalist Brent Smith. “Every single song makes a statement. I was looking for the kind of emotion that made every hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Because of that, I feel in my heart and soul that this album is a game changer for our band.” 

Selling over 105,000 copies in its first week, Shinedown’s fourth full-length album debuted #4 on the Billboard 200.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley (Raymond Berry Oakley III) enters the world.  The Chicago native was one of the band’s founding members.  1948

Van Halen make their Sunset Strip debut at Gazzarris. The group later becomes the house band at the West Hollywood club. 1974

“Paradise Theater” is #1 on the Billboard 200, The Styx album features “The Best Of Times” and “Too Much Time On My Hands.” 1981

“No Excuses,” the lead single from Alice In Chains’ third EP, “Jar Of Flies,” drops. The track peaks at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, making it Alice In Chains’ only Top 50 song. It is also their first #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks. 1994

Kurt Cobain‘s Washington hometown adds a sign below their “Welcome to Aberdeen” that reads “Come As You Are.” The sign is up in time for the 11th anniversary of the Nirvana leader’s death. 2005

Rob Zombie‘s fourth solo album, “Educated Horses,” is #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums tally. The set sells over 100,000 copies in its first week. That lands the CD at #5 on the Billboard’s Top 200. 2006 

“Shine A Light,” a Rolling Stones concert film directed by Martin Scorsese, opens. 2008

Guitar legend Jeff Beck (Yardbirds/Jeff Beck Group) and Metallica are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine is invited to the ceremony but his Megadeth obligations prevent it. However, Mustaine does pen an open letter to the band congratulating them. Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted does perform with the group. 2009

Metallica‘s single, “Cyanide,” from “Death Magnetic,” is #1 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. 2009

Ghost lead singer and founder Tobias Forge, who performs as Papa Emeritus, is sued by four former members (Nameless Ghouls)  who accuse him of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from album sales and tours. Forge’s lawyer disputes the claims and infers the group was never a partnership.  2017

Slipknot’s “All Out Life” is chosen as the theme song for the weekly show NXT, on WWE Network.  “All Out Life,” the lead single from the group’s sixth studio album, is accompanied by a music-video directed by the band’s percussionist and backing vocalist Shawn “Clown” Crahan.  2019

Green Day have the #1 song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart with “Oh Yeah.”  2020

On World Rat Day, Davey Havok of AFI appears in a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals video with a rat on his shoulder. It’s part of a campaign “against animal testing and speciesism, the human-supremacy world view.” The focus is the practice of animal testing by pharmaceutical companies.  2022

Travis Barker (Blink-182) and celebrity Kourtney Kardashian get married in Las Vegas following Barker’s performance at the Grammys backing H.E.R. on her version of the Lenny Kravitz song “Are You Gonna My Way.”   2022