March 29, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-11-09

NOVEMBER 9th

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers release their self-titled debut album.  Recorded in Hollywood, the album initially receives little attention in the United States. After nearly a year and positive reviews, the set eventually goes gold on the strength of the singles “Breakdown” and “American Girl.” 1976

Aerosmith’s “Toys In The Attic” goes 9x platinum (9-million units moved).  Two singles from the album, “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk This Way” pass the 3x platinum and the platinum marks, respectively.  Also, the ’98 single “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” reaches 5x platinum.  2021

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Brian Epstein sees The Beatles for the first time. He introduces himself to George Harrison and Paul McCartney. In a couple months he becomes the group’s manager. 1961

John Lennon meets his future wife and creative partner, Yoko Ono, at her gallery show in London (a few sources claim it was the 7th). 1966

Fozzy vocalist Chris Jericho is born in Manhasset, NY.  1970

Corin Tucker, singer/guitarist and founding member of Sleater-Kinney has a birthday. 1972

Billy Joel releases his “Piano Man” album. 1973

The stuttering “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” (Bachman-Turner Overdrive – BTO) is #1. 1974

Fleetwood Mac may have plodded along in the pre-Buckingham/Nicks ’70s but not without some success. The “Mystery To Me” album goes gold. 1976

No dozing.  ZZ Top hold the top spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with “Sleeping Bag.” 1985

U2’s “The Fly” is #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. 1991

Van Halen’s “Best Of Volume 1” tops the Billboard 200. The compilation features original vocalist David Lee Roth and his successor Sammy Hagar.  1996

Oasis vocalist Liam Gallagher is arrested in London on suspicion of possessing cocaine.  He is given a ‘caution’. 1996

Offspring’s classic “Pretty Fly For A White Guy” is released eventually climbing to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Mainstream Rock chart.  The song also tops the U.K. singles chart.   1998

Santana’s “Shaman” debuts #1 on the Billboard 200.  The set features “Why Don’t You & I” with Chad Kroeger of Nickelback.  2002

Incubus, Hoobastank and Breaking Benjamin appear on the soundtrack accompanying the Xbox video game “Halo 2.” 2004

David Bowie performs at the Keep A Child Alive organization’s annual Black Ball fund-raiser in New York. The charity seeks to eradicate the AIDS epidemic plaguing the African continent. 2006

The Rolling Stones accept two trophies at the third annual Billboard Touring Awards in New York. They nail the Top Tour category and Top Draw award for their A Bigger Bang jaunt. They drew 2-million fans and earned nearly $230 million in eleven months. 2006

Queens Of The Stone Age are kicked out of a Los Angeles rehab clinic after staff objects to their lyrics. QOTSA play an intimate set for residents but the sound is cut part way through their opening number, “Feel Good Hit Of The Summer,” which features a chorus of “Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol, c-c-c-c-c-cocaine.” 2007

Kid Rock wins the World’s Best Pop Male Artist and World’s Best Pop/Rock Male Artist prizes at the World Music Awards in Monaco. In addition, The Beatles receive a Diamond Award for selling more the 100 million albums worldwide. Ringo Starr is on hand to accept the trophy on behalf of the group. 2008

Neil Young’s music gear, his vintage cars and memorabilia are destroyed in a three-alarm blaze at a warehouse in San Carlos, CA. Fire investigators determine the cause was Young’s hybrid ’59 Lincoln Continental. It had been outfitted with electric batteries and a biodiesel-powered generator. The estimated damage is $1 million. 2010

Former President George W. Bush’s “Decision Points” is in bookstores. In it, Bush admits that he confused the U2’s Bono with ’70s singer-turned U.S. Congressman Sonny Bono. “He knew our budgets, understood the facts, and had well informed views about the challenges in Africa,” wrote Bush. When later asked by advisors if he knew who Bono was, Bush said he thought Bono was the man who “used to be married to Cher.” 2010

Andy Summers documentary “Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police” premiers in New York City.  It’s the guitarist’s take on the band’s tumultuous existence. 2012

Metallica’s James Hetfield receives the Livin” The Dream Award from “Little Kids Rock” during the organization’s annual benefit event at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park, CA. The Livin’ The Dream Award is named in honor of Facebook’s late president Josef Desimone. 2013

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is a judge at the Miss Universe pageant at Moscow’s Crocus City. And the winner is Gabriela Isler (Venezuela). 2013

Blink-182 take to the stage at BlizzCon Gaming Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. Guitarist Tom DeLonge calls the appearance “a perfect fit.” 2013

Ozzy Osbourne receives the Global Icon Award at the MTV EMAs (MTV Europe Music Awards) in Glasgow, Scotland. 2014

Neil Young calls for a boycott of Starbucks because of the company’s involvement in a lawsuit to overturn a Vermont state law that requires food producers to disclose the use of any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their products. 2014

Stone Temple Pilots announce that vocalist Chester Bennington has left amicably. Bennington, who is also in Linkin Park, says the time commitments didn’t leave room for a personal life. “I got to create and perform with one of the greatest Rock bands of our generation, that had so much influence on me growing up,” states Bennington. 2015

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler launches Janie’s Fund, an initiative with Youth Villages to provide services to girls who have endured neglect and abuse. 2015

After the partial cancelation of Aerosmith’s tour itinerary so frontman Steven Tyler can focus on his solo career, guitarist Brad Whitford tells Billboard the band feels abandoned by the singer. “His fans around the globe want to see him in the context of Aerosmith,” adds Whitford. 2015

Lamb Of God launch an online charity campaign with proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  The effort pays tribute to their late friend Wayne Ford. Lamb Of God’s EP, “The Duke,” was produced in Ford’s honor.   2016

Ozzy Osbourne teams up with the Soundwaves Art Foundation to create one-of-a-kind art pieces.  Ozzy autographs ten works, inspired by his songs, “Crazy Train” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” for sale to raise money for musicians and crew members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  2021

Garry Roberts, the founding lead guitarist of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats, dies at the age of 72.  2022

Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke undergoes surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive stress condition resulting from repeated hand and wrist movements.  2023