This Day in History: 2023-08-08

AUGUST 8th

The Beatles release “Revolver” in the U.S. The album features Paul McCartney’s “Got To Get You Into My Life” and “Good Day Sunshine”; John Lennon’s “She Said, She Said” and “Tomorrow Never Knows”; George Harrison’s “Taxman” and Ringo Starr’s vocals on “Yellow Submarine.” A classic. 1966

With work on their final studio album wrapping up, The Beatles pose for the famous “Abbey Road” cover shot. Photographer Iain Macmillan gets the pic in less than ten minutes while police halt traffic. The iconic image has The Beatles walking purposefully, and in step (except for Paul who is also barefoot), through the crosswalk adjacent to EMI’s Abbey Road studios. 1969

U2’s brooding “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is the #1 song in the U.S.  It’s on the “Joshua Tree” album. 1987

Breaking Benjamin’s third album, “Phobia,” drops. “We kind of tried to bridge the gap between the first and second records,” says bassist Mike James. “A lot of our hard-core fans missed the heaviness and rawness of the first record.” 2006

The album goes platinum.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

10,000 Maniacs keyboardist and founding member Dennis Drew is born. 1957

U2’s The Edge is born with the name David Evans. 1961

Drummer Rikki Rocket (Poison) enters the world. 1961

The Animals release their version of the traditional Blues song “House Of The Rising Sun.” It goes on to be a major hit. 1964

John Lennon’s “we’re (The Beatles) bigger than Jesus Christ” statement leads the South African government to ban Beatles records. 1966

Creed’s Scott Stapp is born with the name Anthony Scott Flippen. 1973

In something of a comeback, Eric Clapton gets a gold record for “461 Ocean Boulevard.” The set contains a cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff” which is a major hit. 1974

Jimmy Eat World guitarist, Tom Linton, starts his life. 1975

David Crosby (Crosby, Stills & Nash) gets out of prison after serving a sentence for drug and weapons possession. While he’s paid his debt to society he’s not out of the woods. 1986

Rough night for everybody. Metallica’s Hetfield injures his hand in an explosion at a Montreal concert. At that same show, Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Roses loses his voice which cuts short the band’s performance. Fans riot. 1992

The Presidents Of The United States Of America issue “Lump.” The track goes to #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. 1995

The perfect crime goes awry. Dave Matthews Band’s tour bus dumps human feces from a bridge, intending to unload it into the toxic Chicago River – who’d notice? Somewhat humorously, DMB’s waste lands on a tour boat. The bus driver and the band are sued by the state of Illinois. 2004

3 Doors Down donate $100,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief. Guitarist Matt Roberts presents a $25,000 check to his old school in Pascagoula, MS, while guitarist Chris Henderson gives the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance organization $75,000 for its work in Gautier, MS.  2006

High winds, torrential rain, and hail from a five-minute freak thunderstorm nearly derails Iron Maiden’s appearance at Finland’s Sonisphere Festival. Forty people are injured by the storm which destroys Maiden’s stage equipment and tour plane. The band is able to use gear provided by Slayer. “We’re not going home until you go home,” says frontman Bruce Dickinson.  2010

KISS and Mötley Crüe donate $100,000 to the Aurora Victim Relief Fund to support those affected by the Colorado movie theater shootings during a screening of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. “The terror these innocent victims of the Aurora massacre must have experienced and the profound loss their families now face is unimaginable,” states KISS’ Paul Stanley. “We hope that our small gesture helps inspire others to band together in compassion and financial support for all involved in this unspeakable tragedy.” 2012

Five Finger Death Punch’s sixth album, “Got Your Six” is officially certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.  2016

Ozzy Osbourne is at the closing of the multi-sport Commonwealth Games in his original hometown of Birmingham, England. Ozzy performs Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” with fellow Sabbath vet Tony Iommi. 2022

Scott Ian (Anthrax) is named a celebrity ambassador for the DriveH2 campaign, a public service initiative promoted by Energy Independence Now (EIN), an environmental nonprofit that supports planet-friendly projects and zero-emissions.  2023

The four members of Turnstile are on the mound for the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards.  Guitarist Pat McCrory tosses the ball with the remaining band members in support.  The Houston Astros beat the Orioles 7-6.  2023