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
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
