This Day in History: 2024-11-19

NOVEMBER 19^th

“MTV Unplugged In New York,” a live album by Nirvana, is #1 on the Billboard 200. Nirvana plays lesser-known material and covers with backing from rhythm guitarist Pat Smear and cellist Lori Goldston, plus members of Meat Puppets on selected songs. 1994

Audioslave’s self-titled debut album arrives. It enters the Billboard 200 chart at #7 on its way to selling over 3-million copies. 2002

“Rebel Soul,” from Kid Rock, is out. His label, Top Dog/Atlantic Records says, “this album cements his place as the premier genre-hopping Rock and Roller of all time.” The set features the track, “Let’s Ride.” 2012

Just two weeks after its release, “Bohemian Rhapsody” becomes the second highest-grossing music biopic in the U.S. earning $127 million (behind “Straight Out Of Compton” with $161 million).  2018

Starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, the film which will gross over $200 million in the U.S./over $900 million worldwide, takes Queen from their creation in ‘70 through to their legendary ‘85 Live Aid appearance.  

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Matt Sorum is born. The drummer is known for his seven-year stint (’90-’97) with Guns N’ Roses. 1960

Tool’s Justin Chancellor begins his life in London.  1971

Emerson, Lake & Palmer release “Brain Salad Surgery.” Their fourth effort contains “Still… You Turn Me One” and “Karn Evil – 1st Impression Part 1” (“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends…”).  1973

Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine” tops the pop chart. It’s #1 for two weeks.  1988

Scott Weiland of The Stone Temple Pilots is arrested on one count of domestic battery after a fight with his wife over a prescription he was going to have filled.  Weiland has a history of drug abuse.  His wife is scared of what might happen if he took the pills.  2001

Producer/songwriter Terry Melcher dies. The son of actress Doris Day, he worked with The Byrds, Beach Boys and Paul Revere & The Raiders. In the late ‘60s, Melcher was allegedly the actual target when Charlie Manson’s followers killed Sharon Tate. Manson didn’t think Melcher gave his music a chance. 2004

Opening: Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda presents his first art exhibition at a Los Angeles gallery. The show, titled “Diamond Spades Hearts Clubs,” features paintings and other works. 2006

The members of Red Hot Chili Peppers file a lawsuit against Showtime Networks for unfair competition and unjust enrichment over the TV show “Californication” – the same name as the band’s multi-platinum ’99 album. “‘Californication’ is the signature album, video and song of the band’s career,” says vocalist Anthony Kiedis. “For some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right.” 2007

Queen guitarist Brian May is appointed chancellor of Liverpool’s John Moores University in recognition of his contribution to the arts and promotion of science education. “This is a great honor and a great new challenge for me,” says May. 2007

AC/DC release their entire catalog on iTunes. In less than a week, 696,000 individual songs are sold in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan. 2012

Billy Joel is the recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, presented by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. “The great composer, George Gershwin, has been a personal inspiration to me throughout my career,” says Joel. 2014

The tour bus carrying L.A. Metalcore band The Ghost Inside is involved in a fatal crash with an 18-wheeler semi-truck. The driver of the 18-wheeler and the driver of the bus are killed. 2015

The tour bus carrying Hinder is involved in a crash outside Cookeville, TN. Bassist Mike Rodden suffers broken ribs. 2015

Survivor’s Frankie Sullivan files a lawsuit against Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee for using Survivor’s “Rocky III” theme “Eye Of The Tiger” (which Sullivan co-wrote), without permission the previous September at the high-profile rally for Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 2015

Europe’s “The Final Countdown,” featured in a Geico (insurance) ad, accumulates 48,000 in digital sales and 9.5 million U.S. streams on its way to a four-week run atop Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Songs chart, marking the band’s first #1 on a Billboard chart. The song peaked at #8 on the Hot 100 in ‘87. 2015

The Beastie Boys call on fans to join a “stand against hate messages” after swastikas and a “Go Trump” message are found graffiti in a Brooklyn park dedicated to the late Adam “MCA” Yauch. “Hate has no place in Brooklyn, NYC, or America,” the group tweets. A rally at Yauch Park, which was dedicated to the late Beastie Boys’ member in 13, is held the following day. 2016.

Spotify, the music streaming service, says Metallica is the most-streamed Heavy Metal band in the world with 7-million listeners a month. The band’s most popular song, “Enter Sandman,” has been streamed over 108-million times. 2016

Metallica land three songs simultaneously on a Billboard chart. “Atlas, Rise!,” from the group’s tenth album, “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct,” debuts at #22 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs Airplay chart.  “Moth Into Flame” is at # 6 with “Hardwired” slotted at #23.  It’s the first time that an act has charted at least three songs on Mainstream Rock Songs simultaneously since Metallica last did it in ’08.  2016

Skillet’s “Feeling Invincible” is the group’s first song to top Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.  2016

Linkin Park wins the Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock trophy at American Music Awards in L.A. They dedicate the award to their late singer Chester Bennington. 2017

The two-day “Icons & Idols: Rock N’ Roll” auction begins in New York City. Eric Clapton’s ’68 Martin D-45 acoustic guitar sells for $625,000; The Edge’s (U2) ‘76 Gibson Explorer electric guitar goes for $437,500; and a Fender Stratocaster Vintage ’57 reissue owned and stage played by David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) is auctioned for $200,000.  2021

Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx disses pop singer Taylor Swift who has been grappling with a Ticketmaster snafu (that she had no control over) that left fans angry. “”Is it just me or does Taylor Swift always seem like she’s whining about something new every time she’s gonna drop an album,” tweets Sixx. The response on Twitter is swift (no pun intended) and lethal. Swift fans dismiss Sixx as an “old man,” “petty,” and pointing out that Swift has never told fans this was her last tour-then going out on tour again (a regular Crüe practice). 2022