This Day in History: 2023-04-15

APRIL 15th

Poison’s cover of Loggins and Messina’s ’70s hit, “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” reaches #10 on the pop chart. That’s as high as it goes. 1989

Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman) goes to that great Rockaway Beach in the sky. The Ramones lead vocalist dies of lymphoma at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Ramone was 49. 2001

Metallica continues touring Europe despite the eruption of an Iceland volcano that spews so much ash into the air that all Euro flights are cancelled. So? Well, the band relies on bus travel, a mode of transportation they have avoided since ’86 when a tour bus accident took the life of original bassist Cliff Burton. “When we boarded the bus again… I realized that those bad memories are still here,” says Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. “I still haven’t overcome the fear of buses.” The 28-hour trek takes Metallica from Oslo to their next show in the Latvian capital of Riga. 2010

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Dave Edmunds is born in Cardiff, Glamorgan, South Wales. The singer, guitarist and producer is best known for his ’71 solo hit “I Hear You Knocking” and as a founder (with Nick Lowe) of Rockpile. 1944

CBS broadcasts an ‘in-depth’ look at the impact Rock n’ Roll is having on America’s youth. DJ and Rock promoter, Alan Freed, says the media is overreacting. 1956

The Rolling Stones issue “Aftermath.” Recorded in Hollywood, the album contains “Paint It Black” with Brian Jones on sitar. 1966

Frankie Poullain, bassist for The Darkness, has a birthday.  1967

Radiohead guitarist, Edward ‘Ed’ John O’Brien, is born in Oxford, England. 1968

Phil Labonte is born.  He’s the singer for All That Remains.  1975

The Black Keys drummer, Patrick Carney, has a birthday.  1980

Brian Johnson is AC/DC’s new lead singer replacing the deceased Bon Scott. “Back In Black” is the first album with Johnson. 1980

Vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin) is born in Doylestown, PA.  1982

 A car plows into Billy Joel’s motorcycle on Long Island breaking the singer’s left wrist. Surgery is required. 1982

The award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music goes to Queen at the 32nd Ivor Novello Awards in London. 1987

What’s the prime minister having for breakfast? Radiohead’s Thom Yorke performs a five-song acoustic set for thousands of London protesters at an all-night rally organized by the Trade Justice Movement. The group favors revised trade sanctions for the world’s poor countries. The protest concludes the following morning with a march on PM Tony Blair’s residence. 2005

A ’61 Mosrite guitar once owned by late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain sells for $118,000 in an online auction. Cobain purchased the guitar in ’90 in San Francisco and it reportedly was one of his favorites. The original case bears the words ‘Nirvana’ and ‘F**k Elvis’. 2006

Kings Of Leon are on the cover of Rolling Stone for the first time. “It’s one of those things I’m pretty sure will sink in down the road, like, ‘holy s**t,” says frontman Caleb Followill. The accompanying article is titled “The God-Fearing, Booze Swilling Rise of America’s Hottest Band.” 2009

Bruce Springsteen auctions off four pairs of tickets and backstage passes to his concerts in Boston. Bidders who exceed $10,000 are automatically invited to a meet-and-greet with the Boss and his E Street Band. All proceeds benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. 2009

A poll conducted by the British Forces Broadcasting Service finds that Queen‘s ’75 hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” is the favorite song of the British Army. “It makes me feel very, very proud,” says Queen drummer Roger Taylor in a statement. 2011

Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley collapses due to years of alcohol abuse.  He’s rushed to the hospital when he is put in an induced coma.  Near death, Whibley recovers.  2014

Montreal is officially recognized, by its own city council, for its Heavy Metal scene. Councillor Craig Sauvé’s motion to have Montreal hailed as a “city of excellence” in Heavy Metal music is formally approved during a city council meeting. The city hosts an annual the Metal festival dubbed Heavy Montreal. “The Heavy Metal music that we make is really well-regarded by many people all over the world because there’s a certain technical edge that we have here,” states Sauvé. 2019

Paramore’s Haley Williams tells an audience during a show in Cardiff, Wales that Ticketmaster “need to get their shit together.”  Since the end of the pandemic, concert ticket prices have skyrocketed, gouging music fans.   2023