This Day in History: 2023-11-07

NOVEMBER 7th

“Whole Lotta Love,” probably the most famous track on “Led Zeppelin II,” is released. Recorded at London’s Olympic Studios and mixed at A&R studios in New York, the song was nicked in-part from Willie Dixon’s “You Need Lovin’.” 1969

Containing “Immigrant Song” (“We come from the land of the ice and snow”), Led Zeppelin III” tops the U.S.  and U.K. Album charts.  1970

“III” begins a four-week run at the top of the U.S. survey a week earlier.  Meanwhile, the album starts a three-week stint at #1 in the U.K.

“Diary Of A Madman,” the second studio album by Ozzy Osbourne, arrives. It’s the last Osbourne studio album to feature guitarist Randy Rhoads.  The album goes on to sell over 3-million copies worldwide.  1981

Alice In Chains release their third full-length album. The self-titled effort, the band’s final album with vocalist Layne Staley, debuts at #1 on the Billboard album chart and sells over 3-million copies.  1995

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Tommy Thayer enters the world. The guitarist goes on to replace Ace Frehley’ in ‘02 as “The Spaceman” in KISS. 1960

The Rolling Stones embark on their first American tour with guitarist Mick Taylor (replacing Brian Jones). The tour includes a stop at Altamont. 1969

MGM Records drops 18 acts for allegedly promoting drug use. Eric Burdon (The Animals), now fronting the successful War, freely admits to drug use. He is not dropped because his group is still selling records, making a mockery of the whole exercise. 1970

Guitarist Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails) is born in Park Ridge, NJ.  1971

Former Anthrax guitarist, Robert Caggiano, is born. 1976

Otep Shamaya (Otep) is born in Austin, TX.  1979

Zach Myers, Shinedown’s rhythm guitarist, is born in Memphis, TN. 1983

Bruce Springsteen takes the “Tunnel Of Love” to #1 on the Billboard 200. 1987

John Fogerty wins a plagiarism suit launched by his former record label. Fantasy, which owns the publishing rights to Creedence Clearwater Revival songs.  The label contends Fogerty used “Run Through The Jungle” to create his solo hit “Old Man Down The Road.” 1988

Frank Zappa’ s family reveal that their father has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The disease eventually claims his life. 1991

Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O’Connor, mostly commonly known as Lorde (“Royals”), is born in Devonport, New Zealand. 1996

“Fly Away” (Lenny Kravitz) tops the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. 1998

Foo Fighters release an acoustic live album titled “Skin And Bones.” The collection, recorded in L.A., features songs from the unplugged half of their “In Your Honor” double album plus classic Foo songs. 2006

KISS’ Gene Simmons wins $500,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation during his appearance on FOX’s “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” It’s a record sum earned by a celebrity guest on the game show. 2008

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd is charged with attempting to have two men killed. The New Zealand court also accuses him of methamphetamine and cannabis possession. Almost immediately, the court drops the murder-for-hire charge but pursues the drug charges. 2014

U2’s Larry Mullen says the music industry is “broken” during a radio interview. “A lot of younger artists don’t get paid, and that’s a real problem,” Mullen explains. “Companies like Spotify, the new Apple service and all the others are really going to have to pay artists more.” 2015

An acoustic guitar that John Lennon used to write and record some of The Beatles most famous hit songs is sold at auction in California for $2.4 million (£1.5 million) to an undisclosed buyer.  The jumbo J-160E Gibson acoustic guitar, purchased by Lennon in Liverpool, was stolen in ’63 during The Beatles’ Finsbury Park Christmas Show. It turned up 50 years later in a U.S. second-hand shop.  2015

Lacey Sturm officially rejoins Flyleaf (now known as “Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm”) after a 10-year absence.  She was with the band from ’02 – ’12.  2022