This Day in History: 2023-06-16

JUNE 16th

“Brave New World” is the third album by The Steve Miller Band. The set is notable for the songs “Space Cowboy,” “Celebration Song” and “My Dark Hour.” The latter two tracks feature Paul McCartney (backing vocals, bass and drums) – credited as Paul Ramon. 1969

David Bowie’s seminal album, “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars,” is released. “Ziggy Stardust” was recorded in London and featured Mick Ronson (guitar, piano, backing vocals, string arrangements), Trevor Bolder (bass) and Mick Woodmansey (drums). A true classic. 1972

“Born Free” is certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments in excess of one million copies. The Kid Rock album holds the title track, “Slow My Roll” and “Collide” (featuring Sheryl Crow with Bob Seger on piano). 2011

Nickelback unveil “Feed The Machine,” their ninth album. “(It) is definitely heavier, as a whole, than a lot of our previous records,” states frontman Chad Kroeger. 2017

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The three-day Monterey Pop Festival begins. The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin (with Big Brother & the Holding Company) make their first major appearances. Also on the bill are, the Byrds, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Buffalo Springfield. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones attends and introduces Jimi Hendrix. Later, Burdon & the Animals record a hit song about the event, aptly titled “Monterey.” 1967

It’s a free concert from now on. Or is it breakfast in bed for 500,000? Woodstock Ventures, the company that provided the financial support for the original Woodstock festival announces they lost more than $1.2 million. They hope an album with Woodstock performances and souvenirs will get them to the break-even point. Good luck. 1970

Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth) enters the world.  1972

Former Beatle John Lennon sues the U.S. government charging it with “selective prosecution.” Seen as a dangerous anti-war (Vietnam)) radical whose immigration efforts must be halted, the U.S. government hit Lennon with various deportation actions. 1975

It’s a bad day for heroin users. The Pretender’s guitarist James Honeyman-Scott dies from wounds resulting from cocaine and heroin addiction. 1982

Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff dies from a heroin overdose. 1994

Sammy Hagar splits from Van Halen after the group (sans Hagar) offers a return engagement to former lead singer David Lee Roth. 1996

The Verve release “Bittersweet Symphony” which samples an orchestral version of the Rolling Stones hit, “The Last Time” created by Andrew Oldham, the Stones’ original producer. As a result, all the song’s royalties go to the Stones’ publishing company, ABKCO, and Oldham comes after the Verve for money as well. Kinda takes the joy out of having a hit. 1997

“The Big Four,” Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, perform on the same bill for the first time in front of 81,000 fans at the Sonisphere festival.  2010

Radiohead ‘s stage collapses during construction in Toronto killing the group’s drum tech, Scott Johnson. Obviously, the show is cancelled as authorities investigate. 2012

As I Lay Dying’s classic lineup, including singer Tim Lambesis, play their first comeback concert in San Diego.  In ‘14, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty of paying an undercover San Diego police officer, posing as a hit man, $1,000 to kill his wife. Lambesis served two years before being paroled.  2018

“The Stadium Tour” kicks off in Atlanta with Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard. Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.  Def Leppard endures heavy rain at Truist Stadium and Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, who broke four ribs just prior to the tour, plays five songs against his doctor’s orders, before turning over the sticks to Tommy Clufetos to finish out the set.  The long-delayed (due to COVID-19) North American trek has over 30 shows.  2022

Quiet Riot urges fans not to buy a re-issued version of their “Alive & Well” album stating Cleopatra Records is prohibited from re-issuing the band’s material.  The ’99 album, which features a reunion of the Quiet Riot’s classic line-up, drops the following day. 2022

In an interview published by The Telegraph, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson says he doesn’t want the group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “The people that get us are not the people that run the music business establishment, whatever that is, because that is largely run by people that can’t make a living doing anything else,” Dickinson explained.  2023