This Day in History: 2023-07-20

JULY 20th

Bob Dylan’s epic “Like A Rolling Stone” is released. The track from the “Highway 61 Revisited album, gets to #2, Dylan’s biggest pop hit. 1965

The Doors release “Absolutely Live.” Though recorded absolutely live, producer Paul Rothchild had to splice together song segments from a number of shows to get the final tracks. 1970

Candlebox release their self-titled debut. With the singles “Change,” “You” and “Far Behind” the set sells more than three million copies. 1993

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Moody Blues bass player, John Lodge, enters the world. The Birmingham, England, native is the composer “Ride My See-Saw” and “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock N’ Roll Band).” 1943

Carlos Santana is born in Autlan de Navarro, Mexico. 1947

Jay Jay French, Twisted Sister guitarist, is born.  1954

The Sex Pistols’ drummer Paul Cook is born in London.  1956

Two girls for every guy. Jan & Dean’s “Surf City” tops the pop chart only two weeks after its release. 1963

Soundgarden vocalist/guitarist Chris Cornell (Christopher John Boyle) is born in Seattle. 1964

Pearl Jam guitarist and founding member, Stone Gossard, is born in Seattle. 1966

Miami Steve Van Zant performs for the first time as a member of the E Street Band. It takes place in Providence, RI. 1975

Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale is born in Brisbane, Australia. 1976

Houston native Mike Kennerty is born. He’s the rhythm guitarist for All-American Rejects. 1980

The film “Sid & Nancy” premieres in London. Gary Oldman plays Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols). 1986

EMF’s “Unbelievable” knocks-off Paula Abdul (“Rush, Rush”) to claim the top spot on the Billboard singles chart. 1991

Van Halen issue “The Best of Both Worlds,” a compilation featuring material recorded with lead vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Three new recordings with Hagar are the last to feature bassist Michael Anthony. 2004

The announcement is made that Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch (aka MCA) has a cancerous tumor in his parotid salivary gland and lymph node that requires surgery followed by several weeks of localized radiation. “This is something that is very treatable,” says Yauch in a video message. As a result, the group cancels all scheduled shows. Yauch battles the disease for three years. 2009

U2 launches an initiative offering music and vocal lessons to Irish youth. The band pledges more than $7-million to the program, which is administered by the Music Network nonprofit group. “The Music Network scheme is really well thought out and (U2 decided) that we should just get behind it,” says guitarist the Edge. 2009

Sheryl Crow issues her seventh album “100 Miles From Memphis.” She gets help from a diverse collection of performers ranging from the Stones’ Keith Richards to pop singer/actor Justin Timberlake. It’s her 8th Top 10 album.  2010

Though a settlement had been reached over a month earlier, Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi issue a joint statement announcing that they have “amicably resolved” their legal battle over the rights to the Black Sabbath name.  The suit was filed in ’09 by Ozzy who claimed that Iommi had illegally assumed sole ownership of the Black Sabbath moniker. 2010

Vocalist Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) dies at age 41. He is found dead in a private residence in Palo Verdes Estates, L.A.  He hangs himself on the birthday of his friend Chris Connell who took his own life two months earlier.  2017

Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMY) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) announces that nine schools will receive $100,000 as a means to prepare students for the workforce. This is the third year of the Metallica sponsored program.  2021

Pearl Jam cancels a handful of concerts after singer Eddie Vedder develops throat problems following an outdoor gig in Paris. “Due to the extreme circumstances (heat, dust and smoke from the fires) our singer’s throat was left damaged,” reads a band statement. “He has seen doctors and had treatment but as of yet, his vocal cords have not recovered.”  2022

Jody Abbott, Fuel’s original drummer, dies after living with Huntington’s disease for several years.  Abbott co-founded Fuel in ’89.  2022

All That Remains drummer Jason Costa announces his departure from the band for “deeply personal reasons.” “For the last 17 years I have had an absolute blast writing, touring, creating and partying in this band with people that I love and respect,” states Costa.  2023