March 29, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-08-09

AUGUST 9th

Blind Faith (left to right:  Steve Winwood, Rick Grech, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton) release their only album – it’s a self-titled effort.

Clapton and Baker came from Cream while Winwood was a key member of the Spencer Davis Group (“Gimmie Some Lovin’”) and Traffic.  They are a very short-lived supergroup. 1969

Staind release “Chapter V,” which becomes their third-straight studio album to reach #1 on the US Billboard 200. More than 10,000 people turn out at Boston’s City Hall Plaza to catch a free 75-minute concert celebrating the album’s arrival. 2005

Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” surpasses one billion streams on Spotify. As the third single from GN’R’s debut album, “Appetite For Destruction,” it topped Billboard’s Hot 100 becoming the band’s only #1 U.S. single. 2021

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Third Eye Blind bassist Arion Salazar is born in Oakland, California. 1970

The Mutt Lange produced “Back In Black” tops the U.K. chart. It’s AC/DC’s first album with vocalist Brian Johnson. 1980

Queen headlines the Knebworth Park Festival in England. It turns out to be singer Freddie Mercury’s last performance with the band. 1986

During a Newcastle (England) Oasis concert an audience member rushes the stage and punches Noel Gallagher. Noel, and brother Liam (the band’s vocalist), jump into the crowd in pursuit of the assailant. The concert is cancelled. Angry fans wreck the group’s van and Noel goes to the hospital. What will they do for an encore? 1994

While at a drug treatment center Grateful Dead leader and guitarist Jerry Garcia goes to a better place (the great beyond). 1995

Having decided that day to call themselves Halestorm Lzzy Hale and her brother Arejay play their first show under that moniker.  It’s at the Schuylkill County talent show in PA. 1997

Beastie Boys play their first-ever gig in Brooklyn. “When we came up none of the clubs (were) really in Brooklyn,” says Mike D. “My theory is that they didn’t really want to have Hip-Hop functions because they figured it would just end badly.” 2007

Paramore take home the Rock Group and Rock Track (“Decode”) trophies at the Teen Choice Awards. “Decode” was featured in the romantic fantasy “Twilight” which probably didn’t hurt. 2009

Kid Rock, an ardent supporter of President Trump, takes aim at pop singer and anti-Trump adherent, Taylor Swift on Twitter claiming she “wants to be a democrat because she wants to be in movies… period. And it looks like she will suck the doorknob of Hollyweird to get there.”  The responses range from Sheryl Crow telling him to “spread love, not hate” to model Chrissy Teigen calling him “pathetic.”  “Hey Kid – The 50’s called – they want their sexist, outdated thinking back,” is another Twitter response.  2019

“South Park,” celebrates its 25th anniversary with a two-day event at the Red Rocks Amphitheater (CO) featuring Primus, the band who wrote and recorded the animated show’s theme song.  Primus also backs Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson for a version of “Closer To The Heart.”  2022

Robbie Robertson, who made his mark as the leader of the influential Rock group The Band, dies after a long illness.  The singer/guitarist was 80. 2023