This Day in History: 2023-07-06

JULY 6th

The Beatles first, and best film, A Hard Day’s Night, premieres in London. The film shows The Beatles going through a series of adventures as they prepare for a TV appearance. 1964

After losing the top spot on the Billboard 200 to Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown” album, “Band On The Run” (Paul McCartney & Wings) returns to #1 two-weeks later.  1974

“For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” is #1 on the Billboard 200.  It’s Van Halen’s third straight chart- topping album (“5150” and “OU812” are the other two). 1991

The band’s ninth album, but the third with Sammy Hagar handling vocals, begins a three-week stand atop the Billboard survey.  1991

“Help Us Stranger” is #1 on the Billboard 200. The Raconteurs third album is their first in eleven years.  2019

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Bill Haley is born. Bill Haley and His Comets had several hits but are best remembered for “Rock Around The Clock,” the song that got the party started. 1925

Santana drummer (‘69–’74) Mike Shrieve is born.  His Woodstock drum solo during “Soul Sacrifice” is a highpoint of the event.  1949

Guitarist Graham Oliver (Saxon) has a birthday.  1952

John Lennon meets Paul McCartney at a Quarrymen’s show. Lennon, the leader of the Quarrymen, talks with McCartney who knows all the words to “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and “Twenty Flight Rock” and can play proper chords. Lennon is impressed. 1957

The eldest of four brothers, Jet’s Nicholas (Nic) John Cester is born in Melbourne, Australia. 1979

Phil Collins sits at #1 with “Sussudio,” his third track to top the charts.  1985

The Grateful Dead issue one of their more commercially successful albums, “In The Dark,” containing the single “Touch Of Grey” 1987

Ozzy Osbourne is the first celebrity honored with a plaque on Birmingham, England’s Walk of Stars. “This means more to me than any f***ing Hollywood thing,” says Ozzy of the hometown tribute. He also has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. 2007

U2 bassist Adam Clayton’s former personal assistant, Carol Hawkins, is sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzling 3.8-million dollars from him to fund a lavish lifestyle.  2012

Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie comes out in a Paper magazine interview. “I’m married to a woman and I’m very much in love with her, but I’m not opposed to a man because to me, I like a person. Yeah, I guess you could qualify me as pansexual because I really don’t care,” explains Urie.  2018

Machine Gun Kelly’s “Tickets To My Downfall” returns to #1 on Billboard’s Rock Albums after 40-weeks on the chart.  It first topped the Rock chart in fall of ’20.  2021

Metallica’s “Master Of Puppets,” the title track form the band’s ’86 album, sees a dramatic sales increase after being incorporated into Netflix‘s season four finale of “Stranger Things.” The song debuts in the Billboard 100 at #40 based on 17.5 million streams the previous week.   2022

Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing‘s band KK’S Priest makes its live debut in Wolverhampton, U.K. In addition to Downing, the band includes former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens.  2023

Guitarist Nita Strauss and her drummer Josh Villalta (aka Josh V.) are officially engaged during a record release party in L.A. for Strauss’ album “The Call Of The Void.”   2023