This Day in History: 2023-07-16

JULY 16th

Left to right: Ginger Baker (drums), Jack Bruce (bass) and Eric Clapton (guitar) form Cream. 1966

When Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton accepts the Democratic Presidential nomination Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” (“Don’t stop thinkin’ about tomorrow”) is played repeatedly. Spoiler alert:  He wins. 1992

The Foo Fighters’ “Sonic Highways” documentary receives four Emmy nominations while the Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) bio “Montage Of Heck” earns five. 2015

“Sonic Highways” wins two technical Emmys while “Montage Of Heck” gets shut out.

Shinedown’s “Planet Zero” is #1 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts. 2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK..

Stewart Copeland, drummer for the Police, is born. 1952

Ed Kowalczyk, lead singer for Live, is born in York, PA. 1971

One-time Drowning Pool singer, Ryan McCombs, is born in Muncie, IN. He is heard on two studio albums (“Full Circle” and “Drowning Pool”) and the live set (“Loudest Common Denominator”). 1974

Styx drummer John Panozzo dies of gastrointestinal hemorrhage at age 47. 1996

The Pretenders Chrissie Hynde is detained by police following a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) protest outside a Paris KFC. Despite the efforts of Hynde and others, the chickens inside, original recipe and extra crispy, remain dead. 2003

Ronnie Wood’s spokeswoman announces that the Rolling Stones guitarist has entered a rehabilitation facility to treat his ongoing battle with alcohol.  An alcohol-fueled trip to Ireland and fling with a young Russian waitress appear to have triggered the return to rehab. 2008

Billy Joel plays the first of two shows at New York’s Shea Stadium; the final concerts the ballpark. John Mellencamp, Don Henley and Tony Bennett join Joel onstage. Joel performs Beatles songs as a tribute the famous ’60s concerts at the stadium. 2008

Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord dies in London from a pulmonary embolism after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lord co-wrote many Deep Purple classics including “Smoke On The Water.” He was 71. 2012

Texas Blues singer/guitarist Johnny Winter dies in Zurich, Switzerland, while on tour. He was 70. 2014

Pop Evil perform at the Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, MI.  It’s the band’s first show with drummer Jason Hartless and bassist Joey “Chicago” Walser – replacing drummer Hayley Cramer (COVID-19 travel restrictions) bassist Matt DiRito announces his departure from the band.  2021