Elton John’s fifth studio album, “Honky Château,” is released. Featuring “Rocket Man” and “Honky Cat” the set tops the Billboard 200 becoming the first of John’s seven consecutive U.S. number one albums. 1972
The title references the 18th century French Chateau d’ Herouville where the album was recorded.
“One More Light” is the title of Linkin Park’s seventh album. It’s the group’s last studio effort with frontman Chester Bennington, who commits suicide months later. The set features “Heavy” with guest vocals by Kiara Saulters. 2017
Papa Roach releases their ninth album “Crooked Teeth.” The set features “American Dreams” and “Help,” which tops the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Third single, “Born For Greatness,” also goes to #1 on the Mainstream Rock survey. 2017
The album debuted at #20 on the Billboard 200 and #1 Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart, selling 23,000 equivalent units in its first week.
MORE TODAY IN ROCK…
The original guitar smasher and Rock opera composer, The Who’sPete Townshend, has a birthday. 1945
ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill is born in Dallas. In ’79, both Hill and guitarist Billy Gibbons grow chest-length beards that quickly became a part of the group’s image. 1949
Vocalist Joey Ramone (of the Ramones) enters the world kicking and screaming. 1952
Phillip Rudd, AC/DC drummer, is born in Melbourne. He’s with the group from ’75 to ’83 and rejoins in ’94. Years later, legal troubles lead to another exit. 1954
The Glasgow born guitarist, Iain Harvie (Del Amitri), has a birthday. 1962
Kinks drama. During a U.K. show The Kinks drummer Mick Avory hits guitarist Dave Davies over the head with a cymbal. Davies requires 16 stitches but declines to press charges. Now that’s being a good sport. 1965
The Grateful Dead debut at San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom. 1966
The Eagles roll out the single “One Of These Nights.” 1975
“Sweet Emotion” is released. The Aerosmith song was composed by lead singer Steven Tyler and bassist Tom Hamilton. It becomes the band’s first Top 40 hit. 1975
Keith Richards crashes his car in England after falling asleep at the wheel. None of the seven people in the vehicle are seriously injured. 1976
Dire Straits release their first major label single, “Sultans Of Swing,” in the U.K. 1978
Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr play together at Eric Clapton and Patti Boyd Harrison’s (George’s ex-wife) wedding reception. Almost a Beatle reunion. 1979
Supertramp’s “Breakfast In America,” with “Goodbye Stranger” and “Take The Long Way Home,” is the #1 album in the U.S. 1979
Peter Gabriel delivers his best-selling album, “So.” 1986
Sonic Youth appear (animated) and perform on The Simpsons season finale. 1996
U2 give a concert in Belfast in support of an upcoming Peace Agreement vote. The show comes right after frontman Bono being named one of the 20 most hated men in Northern Ireland. 1998
Stevie Wonder receives an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rutgers University. 1999
Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose is involved in an altercation with designer Tommy Hilfiger at a New York club during a private birthday party for actress Rosario Dawson. Rose claims the fashion mogul began smacking him, apparently after a dispute over a V.I.P. table. Following the incident, Hilfiger is removed from the celebrity-filled bash. 2006
Rush’s “Snakes & Arrows,” lands at #3 (behind Ne-Yo and Michael Buble) selling 93,000 units in its debut week. It’s the group’s first album in five years. 2007
Evanescence, Hinder and Velvet Revolver headline the inaugural Rock on the Range music festival in Columbus, OH. 2007
From Life To Life, a garden tribute to the late George Harrison, opens in London at the Chelsea Flower Show. The garden was co-designed by Harrison’s widow, Olivia. 2008
Howard Jones rejoins Killswitch Engage for a string of shows. Jones left the band abruptly during a tour the previous November and was replaced by All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte. 2010
Elvis Costello cancels a pair of planned summer concerts in Israel, citing the region’s ongoing political struggles as the reason. In a statement, he says he’s unwilling to face the nearly unavoidable backlash associated with a performance in Israel. Costello also acknowledges the Palestinians’ “many despicable acts of violence perpetrated in the name of liberation.” 2010
Black Sabbath (sans drummer Bill Ward) play their first hometown show in 13 years at Birmingham’s 02 Academy. The show sells out in 10 minutes. 2012
Coldplay issue their sixth studio album, “Ghost Stories.” The album is partially inspired by lead singer Chris Martin’s divorce or ‘conscious uncoupling’, if you prefer, from actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The Atlantic calls it “The Most Forgettable Coldplay Album Ever.” 2014
“Gimme Danger,” an Iggy & The Stooges documentary, makes its official premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Director Jim Jarmusch calls the film a “love letter to possibly the greatest band in Rock n. Roll history.” 2016
John Berry, an original member of the Beastie Boys, dies at a hospice in Danvers, MA. He played on the Beastie Boys’ first seven-inch EP in ’82 then left a short time later. Credited with originating the group’s name, Berry was 52. 2016
A comic bookstore owned by System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan reopens in Las Vegas. The new store is twice the size of the previous location. Dolmayan’s comic book ventures go back to the early ‘90’s. 2017
On the fifth anniversary of Linkin Park’s “One More Light” (see above) “Heavy,” the lead single with guest vocal by Kiiara, is certified a double platinum digital single with over 2-million units moved. Also, the title track is certified as a platinum digital single (1-million units). 2022
Andy Rourke, bassist for The Smiths, dies from pancreatic cancer in New York at the age of 59. 2023
Peter Brown, the British poet and singer best known for co-writing Cream’s “White Room” and “Sunshine Of Your Love,” passes away at the age of 82. 2023
