This Day in History: 2023-08-13

AUGUST 13th

“Summer In The City” begins a three-week run as the #1 song in the U.S. It’s the Lovin’ Spoonful’s only chart topper. 1966

Lynyrd Skynyrd release their debut album, “Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nerd.”  The set contains the iconic “Free Bird” and goes on to sell over 2-million copies.  1973

Cheap Trick’s breakthrough single, the exciting live version of “I Want You To Want Me” recorded at the Budokan in Tokyo, goes gold. 1979

The Cleveland based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors Machine Gun Kelly with “MGK Day.” Adding to the accolades, Cleveland’s Mayor Justin Bibb declares “Machine Gun Kelly Day” while handing Kelly a celebratory plaque outside of 27 Club Coffee (which Kelly owns).  2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Dave Clark 5 singer Mike Smith is pulled off the stage during a Chicago concert by excited fans and breaks two ribs. 1965

John Lennon and Yoko Ono fly from London to New York. Lennon never returns to the U.K. 1971

The Clash give their first ‘official’ performance. It’s a media showcase at London’s Chalk Farm. 1976

Lit’s Allen Shellenberger succumbs to brain cancer following chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Diagnosed with a malignant glioma brain tumor in ’08 the drummer passes away surrounded by family, bandmates and friends. 2009

Metallica perform in China for the first time when they play the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. “It is so rare for us to be able to say that we are visiting a country for the very first time, so this is an extra special announcement for us,” posts the band. 2013

The Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ single “Dark Necessities” is their 13th #1 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, and also their 14th chart topper on the Alternative chart. A record.   2016

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong condemns Charlottesville white nationalists.  “I f–king hate racism more than anything.” A day earlier, two opposing groups protested in response to the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Civil War general Robert E. Lee. A car driven by a white supremacist plowed into a group of people supporting the statue’s removal killing one and injuring 19 others.  2017