This Day in History: 2024-11-20

NOVEMBER 20^th

Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock,” written by John and Bernie Taupin, is released in the U.S. It becomes Elton’s first U.S. #1. 1972

“The Beatles Anthology I” sets first day sales records. 450,000 copies sold. 1995

Kid Rock’s fifth album, “Cocky,” is out.  It goes on to sell over five-million copies in the U.S.  2001

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

It’s guitar great Duane Allman’s birthday. Starting as a session musician he becomes the founder and original leader of the Allman Brothers Band.  1946

Life’s been good to me so far. Joe Walsh begins life in Wichita, KS. The slightly off-kilter guitarist/vocalist does time with the James Gang, Barnstorm and even works as a solo, before finding steady employment with The Eagles (he joins in ‘76). 1947

Beastie Boys Mike D (Michael Diamond) is born. 1965

Keith Moon collapses twice during The Who’s San Francisco show. Following the second breakdown, guitarist Pete Townshend asks if anyone in the audience can fill in for Moon. Nineteen-year-old Scott Halpin sits-in on drums for three songs. 1973

Oliver “Oli” Sykes, lead vocalist for Bring Me The Horizon, has a birthday. 1986

Rolling Stones sign with Virgin Records and set the record (since broken) for being the highest paid group at $45 million. 1991

The Beatles’ “Free As A Bird” is gets its first radio airplay (on BBC Radio 1). The song starts as a John Lennon demo with instrumentation added by the surviving Beatles.  1995

Rage Against The Machine have the #1 album in the U.S. with “The Battle Of Los Angeles.” 1999

30 Seconds To Mars premiere their video for the single “From Yesterday” on MTV2. Filmed in the People’s Republic of China, the martial arts-themed clip is (to date) the only American Rock video shot in its entirety in the country. 30 Seconds To Mars’ Jared Leto directed. 2006

The soundtrack to the Cirque du Soleil troupe’s Beatles-themed Las Vegas production, “Love,” is released. Beatles’ producer George Martin and his son Giles compiled the soundtrack developing mash-ups of several songs. 2006

A 10-foot guitar replica signed by Paul McCartney goes for more than $120,000 at the London GuitarTown benefit auction.  2007

KISS bassist-singer Gene Simmons gives the keynote address at the Billboard Touring Conference in New York. Simmons takes the opportunity to express some frustration that his band isn’t yet in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it’s OK.” 2008

Kid Rock, a Detroit native, teams with the NFL’s Detroit Lions to donate 500 tickets to the National Guard and the Paralyzed Veterans Association for a (11/25) game against the New England Patriots at Ford Field. 2010

Maroon 5 win the Favorite Pop-Rock Band award at the 39th annual American Music Awards in L.A. Christina Aguilera joins Maroon 5 for “Moves Like Jagger.” Also, the Foo Fighters are named Favorite Alternative Artist.  2011

Rush is inducted into the Guitar Center’s RockWalk on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard. “It is an honor to have our names added to this illustrious list of great and highly talented musicians,” says frontman Geddy Lee. 2012

Hinder announces that frontman Austin Winkler has officially left the band. This comes after the singer sat out a tour earlier in year for “personal reasons.” “We hold no animosity towards Austin, and wish him the best,” says Hinder drummer Cody Hanson. “It was the best thing for everyone involved and time for us to move on.” 2013

Josh Homme, co-founder of Eagles Of Death Metal, seeks donations for his Sweet Stuff Foundation to help the families of victims killed in the 11/13/15 terrorist attacks in Paris. The Eagles Of Death Metal were performing at the Bataclan club where dozens of people were killed. Homme was not on tour with the group and was not in Paris at the time of the attack. 2015

Five Finger Death Punch singer Ivan Moody donates 50 sleeping bags for the homeless to Catholic Charities Of St. Paul and Minneapolis during a stop on the band’s co-headlining tour with Breaking Benjamin.  2018

Ghost, Machine Gun Kelly & Måneskin are American Music Award winners. Ghost takes the Favorite Rock Album category for “Impera.” Machine Gun Kelly is the Favorite Rock Artist and Måneskin’s “Beggin'” earns the Favorite Rock Song honor.  2022

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine confirms that Teemu Mäntysaari will continue as the band’s guitarist for the foreseeable future (replacing “Kiko” Loureiro ).  2023