This Day in History: 2023-08-25

AUGUST 25th

“Born To Run” is Bruce Springsteen’s third album is out.

It’s Springsteen’s first set to go platinum. 1975

More than a feeling. Boston’s self-titled debut is released. It becomes the fastest selling debut album for any American group – logging sales in excess of seventeen million copies. 1976

“My Sharona” rules. The Knack’s biggest single has a six-week run at the top of the pop chart. 1979

Eric Clapton’s “Unplugged” arrives. 1992

Recorded for the MTV Unplugged series the album contains an acoustic version of “Layla.”

It sells 26-million copies worldwide and even wins a Grammy.

Godsmack’s self-titled debut, essentially a remastered version of “All Wound Up,” a local (Boston) release, is available nationally. The multi-platinum album features the songs “Whatever,” “Keep Away” and “Voodoo.” 1998

Halestorm’s “Uncomfortable,” from its fourth album “Vicious” (pictured) tops Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. It’s the band’s fourth #1, and it ties them with The Pretty Reckless for the most chart toppers by a female-fronted act. Halestorm’s previous #1 songs are “Freak Like Me,” “Apocalyptic” and “Amen.”  2018
One day after former president Donald Trump is booked in Georgia’s Fulton County jail (in Atlanta), Green Day offers a limited-edition t-shirt featuring the first mugshot of the former president who was arrested on felony charges for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to overturn his ‘20 election loss in Georgia. Proceeds go to Greater Good Music, to bring food to those affected by the recent Maui wildfires. 2023

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

KISS demon Gene Simmons is born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel. 1949

Robert John Arthur Halford, better known as Rob Halford, has a birthday. The Judas Priest vocalist’s multi-octave range, high-pitched screams and leather-clad image (not to mention his straddling a motorcycle on stage) made him a Metal prototype. 1951

Keyboardist Geoff Downes (Yes/Asia) begins his life in Stockport, Cheshire, England. 1952

Declan Patrick McManus is born in London. Taking the most famous first name in Rock and his grandmother’s maiden name, he becomes Elvis Costello. 1954

Def Leppard guitarist, Vivian Campbell (he joins in ’92), is born in Belfast. 1962

Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian has a birthday. 1966

The Beatles attend a Spiritual Regeneration League conference in Bangor, Wales to study meditation with Marharishi Mahesh Yogi. So begins the group’s relatively brief flirtation with Eastern mysticism. 1967

Powerman 5000 vocalist Spider One (Michael David Cummings) is born. 1968

Elton John plays his first U.S. show. It’s at the Troubadour in L.A. 1970

After getting bounced from the top of the Billboard 200 by Jethro Tull’s “A Passion Play,” Chicago’s “VI” returns to #1 one week later.  1973

Billed as a “diary of life on the road,” Jackson Browne’s “Running On Empty” goes platinum (one million copies). 1978

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards sign a contract with Columbia Records. The deal provides the Rolling Stones $28 million for four albums. 1983

Aerosmith release their “comeback” album “Permanent Vacation.” Featuring the songs “Rag Doll” and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” the album sells five-million copies in the U.S.  1987

Rob Zombie’s solo debut, “Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales Of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International,” drops. The former White Zombie leader sees the album rise to #5 on the Billboard 200.  It goes platinum. 1998

Ravonettes issue “Chain Gang Of Love,” their full-length debut.  2003

U2 give their first concert in Russia at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. But before the show police arrest Amnesty International activists who are handing out leaflets, and force volunteers for other non-profits, including Greenpeace Russia and U2’s own ONE Campaign Against AIDS, to leave the area. All those arrested are later released. 2010

Publisher Little, Brown and Company announce that Keith Richard’s memoir, “Life,” the critically acclaimed autobiography by the Rolling Stones guitarist, has sold over 1-million copies in less than a year since publication. 2011

30 Seconds To Mars take home the Best Rock Video statuette for “Up In The Air” at the MTV Video Music Awards. 2013

The Replacements play live for the first time in 22-years when they perform at the Chicago stop of Riot Fest. Their last show before breaking up in ’91 was at Grant Park, also in Chicago. 2013

Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” is voted the greatest guitar riff of all time by listeners of BBC Radio 2. The ’69 track tops a list that includes “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Guns N’ Roses), “Back In Black” (AC/DC) and “Smoke On The Water” (Deep Purple). 2014

Glenn Danzig (Misfits and Danzig) films an episode of IFC’s Portlandia with show principals Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney/Wild Flag). “I had a blast,” exclaims Danzig. 2015

Hinder file a trademark infringement lawsuit against the group’s former lead singer Austin John Winkler, claiming he unlawfully used the band’s trademark to promote his solo career after leaving Hinder in ‘13.  2017

“Rats” concludes a seven consecutive week run as the #1 song on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart. The Ghost single is the longest running #1 of the year on the chart but is replaced at the top by Halestorm’s “Uncomfortable.”  2018

We Came As Romans singer Kyle Pavone dies at age 28 of an “accidental overdose.” 2018

Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation donates $50,000 to Direct Relief’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund following a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake twelve days earlier that left at least 2,207 people dead, more than 12,200 injured, and over 50,000 homes destroyed. 2021

Better Noise Music sues ex-Bad Wolves singer Tommy Vext for copyright infringement. He is accused of encroaching on the label’s intellectual property by allegedly posting unreleased recordings and videos related to Bad Wolves without the company’s permission. The action comes weeks after Vext filed suit against the head of the label over his ouster from the band. 2021

Pop singer Olivia Rodrigo retroactively adds two members of Paramore (singer Haley Williams and former guitarist Josh Farro) to the writing credits of her hit single “Good 4 U” which is similar to Paramore’s ’07 song “Misery Business.”  Earlier in the year, “Good 4 U” topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.  2021

Prosecutors decide not to move forward with criminal charges against singer Michelle Branch after her alleged assault of husband Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. Earlier, the couple revealed their separation amid Branch’s claims that Carney had been unfaithful. She then filed for divorce.  2022