April 19, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-09-06

SEPTEMBER 6th

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“Red Octopus,” the second album by Jefferson Starship (a Jefferson Airplane spin-off), lands at #1 on the Billboard 200. It spends four non-consecutive weeks at the top.  Marty Balin’s “Miracles” is the standout track.  1975

“The Dance,” with Fleetwood Mac’s most successful line-up, tops the Billboard 200.  The live album revisits the band’s hits and popular album tracks.  1997

“Rainier Fog” debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums, Alternative Albums and Hard Rock Albums charts. It’s #12 on the Billboard 200.  2018

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Roger Waters, Pink Floyd’s bassist-singer, is born in Surrey, England. He helps launch the group in ’65. 1944

Alice In Chains’ William DuVall, starts his life. He is the late Layne Staley’s replacement in the group. 1967

Eric Clapton records the guitar solo for George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” The song appears on The Beatles “White Album.” 1968

The last Jimi Hendrix concert. It’s at the “Love & Peace Festival” at Fehmarn, Germany. 1970

Late singer Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) is born.  1971

Originally banned (or just not played because of its anti-commercialism message) by MTV, Neil Young’s “This Note`s For You” wins the MTV Best Video Award. 1989

Former Creedence Clearwater Revival rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty dies at age 48. 1990

Session keyboardist extraordinaire Nicky Hopkins passes away.  Among his more notable sessions was playing piano on the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil.  1994

Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx speaks at the 18th annual National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month luncheon in Washington, DC. He discusses his struggle with drug abuse which led to writing of his memoir, “The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star.” 2007

PJ Harvey becomes the first artist to win the prestigious Mercury Prize for a second time. Harvey is honored for her album “Let England Shake.” She also won the prize in ’01 for “Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea.” The Mercury Prize is given each year to an English or Irish artist. 2011

Coldplay takes home the Best Rock Video trophy for “Paradise” at the MTV Video Music Awards. 2012

Lawyers for R.E.M. issue a cease-and-desist letter to FOX News, ordering the network to discontinue its use of their ’91 track “Losing My Religion” as a music bed during its coverage of the Democratic National Convention.  A rep for FOX News claims the song’s use was “in full accordance with its license agreements with all appropriate parties.” 2012

Proceeds from Fall Out Boy’s show at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA, go to the victims of April’s Boston Marathon bombing. “We’d like to send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and everyone affected,” reads a band statement. 2013

“Janis: Little Girl Blue,” with Chan Marshall (Cat Power) reading Janis Joplin’s personal letters, debuts at the Venice Film Festival. 2015

Kid Rock delivers a heated political speech during his concert in Grand Rapids, MI. He’s against “deadbeat dads” and those who “take a knee” during the national anthem and concludes with “If ‘Kid Rock for Senate’ has got folks in disarray, wait ’til they hear ‘Kid Rock for President of the U.S.A.!’”  2017

Blink-182 announces the cancellation of their fall tour dates because drummer Travis Barker remains unable to perform due to blood clots in his arms.  2018

Metallica and Carhartt, the workwear brand, announce that they raised $377,000 from online sales over the Labor Day weekend for the Metallica Scholars workforce education program, which connects students to hands-on learning and provides support to 23 schools via the American Association of Community Colleges. 2021

Cheap Trick: This Band Has No Past” is available.  The title is a bit of a joke since the book chronicles the band’s history.  2022

A baby grand piano that once belonged to Queen’s Freddie Mercury sells for over £1.74 million ($2.2 million) at a Sotheby’s auction. The piano was used to complete the band’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”  2023

Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation introduces a limited-edition guitar-shaped ice cream bar – dark chocolate and creamy vanilla – in partnership with Enlighted, an ice cream products company. A portion of the proceeds from each purchase helps fund the All Within My Hands mission of supporting local food banks.  2023