This Day in History: 2024-11-15

NOVEMBER 15^th

Grand Funk Railroad release “E Pluribus Funk.” The critics bash the album, which contains “Footstompin’ Music,” but fans buy it. 1971

Ozzy Osbourne’s third solo album “Bark At The Moon” drops.

Prior to its release Ozzy lost guitarist Randy Rhoads in a horrific plane crash (while on tour).

Jake E. Lee replaced Rhoads and played on the album.  Weeks after the set arrived it was certified gold with over 500,000 sales in the U.S. on its way to moving over 3-million units.  1983

The Beastie Boys issue their debut album, “Licensed To Ill.”  1986

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Bassist Steve Fossen is born. He is one of Heart’s founding members. 1949

Janis Joplin is arrested for obscene language at a Tampa concert. Months later, she is fined is $200. 1969

A leader of men. Chad Kroeger, Nickelback’s vocalist/guitarist, has a birthday. He’s a native of Hanna, Alberta. 1974

The Doobie Brother release their Country oriented hit “Black Water.” Originally slotted as a B-side (with “Another Park, Another Sunday” on the A-side) the song goes to #1.  1974

Former Adema vocalist, Mark “Marky” Anthony Chavez, is born in Bakersfield. CA. He’s a graduate of Bakersfield’s Garces Memorial High School. Yes, he’s also the half-brother of KoЯn vocalist Jonathan Davis. 1978

Ozzy Osbourne performs what he claims is his last concert. Former Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terry “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward join Osbourne on stage. “Who wants to be touring at 46,” asks Ozzy. “I screwed all the groupies when it was safe… It’s time to go home.” But this isn’t even close to the end. And like The Who and Bowie, Osbourne eventually chucks retirement. 1992

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen donates $20,000 to San Diego’s Gerson Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the holistic treatment of cancer and other degenerative diseases. Collen auctions off his ‘Wings’ guitar for $15,000 and then kicks in $5,000 of his own money. 2012

Journey donates more than $350,000 to victims of a typhoon that struck the Philippines. The band also leads a U.S. appeal for more funds. Journey’s Arnel Pineda is from the Philippines. 2013

Eagles Of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes leads A Peaceful Noise charity concert at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London to mark the anniversary of the Paris terrorist attacks and celebrate the life of Eagles Of Death Metal merchandise man Nick Alexander, who died in the attacks. Funds raised are donated to the Alexander Memorial Trust and the Sweet Stuff Foundation.  2016

Eric Clapton auctions a Gerhard Richter painting, “Abstraktes Bild 809-2” in New York City.  It sells for over $22-million to the Richard Gray Gallery of Chicago and New York.  2016

Laura Jane Grace, the frontwoman for “Against Me!”, publishes her memoir “Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout.” 2016

Quinn Allman, former guitarist for The Used sues the band over proceeds from past touring, album and merchandise sales.  Claiming he was fired in ‘15, Allman also seeks damages for late and irregular royalty payments.  2017

KISS’ Gene Simmons gets banned for life from FOX News and FOX Business News after appearing on Fox & Friends and Maria Bartiromo’s FOX Business Network show, Mornings with Maria, to promote his book “On Power: My Journey Through The Corridors Of Power And How You Can Get More Power.”  Simmons crudely insults female FOX staffers, taunts them and exposes his chest.   2017

Change.org reports that over 40,000 people have signed a petition urging Maroon 5 to back out of the ‘19 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Atlanta in support former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.  “Colin Kaepernick has sacrificed his NFL career to call out violent racism in America,” the petition states.  The quarterback famously knelt during the pre-game National Anthem on several occasions.  Still, Maroon 5 performs at the Super Bowl. 2018

KISS debuts their premium gin and rum portfolio, “Drink It Up by KISS,” in 25 U.S. states. The portfolio has found success Europe, Japan and Australia. “Drink It Up By KISS” is a collaboration between the band and spirits producer Brands For Fans.  2021

Disturbed partners with Dead Sled Coffee to present “Get Up: Dark Java Blend.” The coffee is from the Indonesian island of Java, located between Sumatra and Bali. 2021

A public funeral service for Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali is held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. Banali died 8/20/20 after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer but due to COVID-19 there was no public service following his passing. Banali co-founded Quiet Riot in ‘82 and played on its breakthrough album, ‘83’s “Metal Health.” The service is live streamed.  2021