April 17, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-09-23

SEPTEMBER 23rd

“The Boss” Bruce Springsteen is born to run in Freehold, NJ. 1949

Santana’s sophomore album, “Abraxas,” is released.  1970

Containing the songs “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va,” the set has a six-week run at #1 in the U.S.

Nirvana’s Like Teen Spirit” is declared the most iconic song of all time by researchers from Goldsmiths, University of London. Songs were evaluated using analytical software to compare their key, beats per minute, chord variety, lyrical content, and sonic variance. John Lennon’s “Imagine” is second. 2015

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson) is born in Albany, GA. Blind since the age of seven, Brother Ray’s recording career spans five decades. 1930

“The Letter” (Box Tops) is #1 in the U.S. Alex Chilton is the vocalist. 1967

The Illinois University newspaper, The Northern Star, publishes “Clues Hint At Beatle Death.” This launches the ridiculous “Paul is dead” rumors. A few weeks later Paul McCartney speaks to the press to let them know he’s fine. 1969

Steely Dan issues “Aja,” containing the title track, “Deacon Blues” and “Josie” is released.  The album peaks at #3 on the Billboard 200 and goes platinum.  1978

Elton John runs afoul of the Taiwan media calling them “rude vile pigs.” When John arrives at Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek International Airport he is angry that police didn’t hold the media back and protect him “from the ensuing chaos.” 2004

Is foie gras bad? It is if you’re Paul McCartney. In a formal letter, he asks California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to ban the French delicacy. The former Beatle urges the governor to make California the first state to outlaw the pate made from geese and duck livers. Foie Gras is produced by force-feeding the birds to expand their livers, a practice McCartney calls “inhumane.” 2004

Blasted from the past. Drummer Bobby Blotzer confirms that he’s taken over the Ratt name following a five-year trademark battle with former singer Stephen Pearcy, who quit in ’14. However, Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini says that he is “totally against” Blotzer’s decision to use the Ratt name for his “tribute band” and takes steps “to prevent any further misuse.”  2015

Weeks after San Francisco 49er’s 2nd string quarterback Colin Kaepernick began sitting or taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest the treatment of African-Americans, Staind’s Aaron Lewis says, “It absolutely infuriates me. And it makes me even more angry that the NFL, which is so intertwined into this nation, is allowing it to take place — that they’re not benching him, they’re not financially penalizing him every time he doesn’t stand… That is a direct slap against the country that makes the NFL as great as it is.”  2016

What are Bruce Springsteen’s five favorite Springsteen songs?  Asked that question on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Springsteen lists: “Born To Run,” “The Rising,” “Thunder Road,” “Nebraska,” and “Racing In The Street.” 2016

Four singles from the Red Hot Chili Peppers ’91 album “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” receive awards from the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Under the Bridge” is now six-times platinum. “Give It Away,” the album’s lead single, is certified double platinum for over two million certified units.  “Suck My Kiss” and “Breaking The Girl” go gold with over 500,000 certified units each.  2021

It’s a big day for Motor City legend Alice Cooper. He unveils “Alice Cooper Court” at Eloise Asylum (30712 Michigan Avenue) in Westland, Michigan. “Alice Cooper Court” joins other Detroit-area landmarks including Bob Seger Boulevard” and “Glenn Frey (The Eagles) Drive.”  2021

A lawsuit against Marilyn Manson is refiled.  The original suit filed by an unnamed woman (Jane Doe) claimed Manson raped and threatened her life in 2011.  That action was rejected by a California judge due to the statute of limitations. The refiling contains further detail regarding her accusations against Manson.  2021

Corey Taylor scores his second solo #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, with “Beyond.” Taylor’s first solo chart topper was “Black Eyes Blue” in ’20. 2023

“Black Sabbath – The Ballet” premieres at Hippodrome theatre in London. The ballet includes eight specially reorchestrated Black Sabbath songs, including “Paranoid,” and “Iron Man,” plus other songs from the band’s early 1970s catalog.  2023 Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil’s solo set at the Oklahoma State Fair is cut short due to an active shooter on the fairgrounds. During an altercation one person fires a shot sending the victim to the hospital in critical condition. 2023