This Day in History: 2024-10-23

ROCKTOBER 23^rd

John Lennon releases “(Just Like) Starting Over.” The “Double Fantasy” single is Lennon’s first record in five years. 1980

“Smooth,” a Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) collaboration, is #1 in the U.S. With lyrics by Thomas, the track was recorded for Santana’s comeback album, “Supernatural.” 1999

Incubus release their third full-length major label album “Morning View.” The set, which features “Wish You Were Here,” debuts at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 (266,000 copies sold in its first week). It’s their last album with bassist Alex Katunich. 2001

The world premiere of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is at the SSE Arena in London.  The Queen biopic stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. The event raises funds to benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust, founded in Freddie’s name to support HIV/AIDS initiatives globally. Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor attend. 2018

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

She goes out with other guys. Dion (sans the Belmonts) takes “Runaround Sue” to #1. 1961

Metallica bassist, Robert Trujillo (born Roberto Agustin Miguel Samuel Trujillo Veracruz), has a birthday. He grows up in Venice, CA and joins Metallica in ’03 (replacing Jason Newsted). 1964

“Chestnut Mare,” by the Byrds, is released. The song becomes an FM staple. 1970

Shinedown bassist, Eric Bass, is born in Jacksonville, FL. 1974

Four years after announcing his retirement, Ozzy Osbourne returns with his seventh studio album, “Ozzmosis.”  The double platinum set, featuring bassist Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) and keyboardist Rick Wakeman (Yes), debuts at #4 on the Billboard 200. 1995

The Fort Zumwalt (MO) high school marching band is forbidden from playing an instrumental version of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” The school superintendent feels the song promotes the drug culture. The case goes to a federal judge who sides with the superintendent. 1998

Seether’s third studio album, “Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces,” with the single “Fake It,” is released. “It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a single at radio, so we’re extremely excited to be back in the saddle, so to speak,” says frontman Shaun Morgan. 2007

Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland endorses Senator Barack Obama for President in an online post. “Obama can take us from fear to faith,” writes Weiland. 2008

Wolfmother issue “Cosmic Egg,” the group’s second album but first with the revised line-up of Aidan Nemeth (guitar) Ian Peres (bass) and Dave Atkis (drums). “I did a yoga class and one of the poses we were doing was called ‘cosmic egg’, and I thought yeah, that’s it,” says frontman Andrew Stockwell. “It’s like the fetal pose.” 2009

Yoko Ono unveils an English Heritage blue plaque at the first home she shared with her late husband John Lennon. The couple occupied the ground floor and basement of the residence located at 34 Montagu Square in London. Lennon worked on The Beatles’ “White Album” while living in the flat which was owned, at the time, by Ringo Starr. 2010

Slipknot’s annual Knotfest kicks off at San Manuel Amphitheater & Campgrounds in San Bernardino, CA. It’s the first time Knotfest is held at the same location for multiple days. 2014

Singer Roger Daltrey (The Who) publishes his memoir, “Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story,” in the U.S. The title refers to the headmaster who expelled Daltrey predicting, “You’ll never make anything of your life.” 2018

Heart’s Ann Wilson sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the first home game of the Seattle Kraken hockey franchise.  Kraken lose 4-2 to Vancouver.  2021

Papa Roach announces that they have made a $150,000 donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) “Talk Away The Dark” campaign. 2023