This Day in History: 2023-08-07

AUGUST 7th

“Mirage,” featuring “Hold Me” and “Gypsy” Fleetwood Mac’s thirteenth album (but only the fourth with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) is #1 on the Billboard 200.  1982Neil Young with Pearl Jam as his backing band release “Mirror Ball.” Young’s 21st album is subsequently certified gold (500,000 units moved) by the RIAA in the United States. 1995

Evanescence’s “Call Me When You’re Sober” clip debuts on MTV. Singer Amy Lee plays a modernized Little Red Riding Hood in the company of live wolves. “The song is so literal that we felt like the video would have the freedom to go in a less literal direction,” says Lee. She later adds that the track is about her relationship with ex-boyfriend, Shaun Morgan (Seether). The song is the first single from “The Open Door.” 2006

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickenson is born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. 1958

Time magazine pans “A Hard Day’s Night” saying the public should “avoid this film at all costs.” Later, critics call The Beatles film the best Rock n’ Roll movie of all-time. 1964

J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf marries actress Faye Dunaway. 1974

Cult classic “Heavy Metal” is released.  The soundtrack features Sammy Hagar, Blue Öyster Cult and Black Sabbath.  1981

Was Ozzy Osbourne’s “Suicide Solution” the reason for a teen’s suicide? A Los Angeles judge doesn’t think so and throws out the case against Osbourne filed by the teen’s parents. 1987

Too much information. “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” reality series featuring the KISS bassist-singer premieres on the A&E network. The show documents the lives of Simmons; his longtime partner, actress-model Shannon Tweed and their teenage children Nick and Sophie. 2006

When it’s 2 against 1, the majority splits. It’s announced that bassist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskitt have left Wolfmother after “longstanding frictions within the group.” Frontman Andrew Stockdale plans recruit new musicians to continue on as Wolfmother. 2008

Elvis Presley’s favorite stage attire, the so-called ‘peacock jumpsuit’, is sold at an auction for $300,000. Presley bought the rhinestone embroidered outfit for $10,000. 2008

Cage The Elephant nail the #1 spot on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart with “In One Ear.” The song is the second single from their self-titled debut album. 2010

Thirty-two years after Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) presented the first No Nukes concerts at Madison Square Garden, many of the original performers; Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt, plus Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), hold a No Nukes event in Mountain View, CA in response to the nuclear disasters in Japan. Proceeds go to MUSE to support disaster relief efforts. 2011

Evanescence guitarist Terry Balsamo is replaced by Jen Majura. “After two albums, countless adventures around the world and on the stage, Terry’s time has come to an end,” states frontwoman Amy Lee. She goes on to describe Majura as the “missing piece.” 2015

It’s the fifth annual “Metallica Night” at AT&T Park in San Francisco as the Giants take the field against the world-champion Chicago Cubs. Metallica is on hand to perform the National Anthem and throw out the first pitch. 2017

“Nowhere Generation” from Rise Against owns the top spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.  It’s the title track from the band’s ninth album.  2021

Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour) speaks out about mental health during an interview.  “I would tell my 18-year-old self that it’s going to be okay, because no one ever f*cking told me that. And anyone who needs to hear that, right now, listen to me. It is going to be okay, no matter what is going on, it is all temporary.”  2023