March 29, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-11-24

NOVEMBER 24th

Pearl Jam’s “Live On Two Legs,” with “Daughter,” “Even Flow,” and “Better Man,” is released. It’s one of those rare Top 20 live albums. 1998

 China’s communist government condemns Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy.” They claim the album as an attack on the country and say GN’R is part of a Western conspiracy to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.” 2008

Kid Rock’s “Born Free” debuts at #1 on the Billboard Rock Albums chart. The Rick Rubin produced album, Rock’s eighth studio effort, also debuts at #5 on the Billboard 200. 2010

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

The Beatles’ original drummer Pete Best is born in Madras, India. He spends two years with the group before being unceremoniously sacked in favor of Ringo Starr in ‘62. 1941

Stone Roses’ guitarist, John Squire, celebrates his birthday. 1962

Chad Taylor has a birthday. The Baltimore native is the lead guitarist for Live. He’s also a founding member. 1970

Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side” is released. Herbie Flowers plays the hypnotic bass line. 1972

In the time before MTV or not ready for prime time.  The late-night TV show In Concert debuts with Alice Cooper and Bo Diddley.  The first broadcast is terminated early in Cincinnati when the station manager of WKRC TV is so disgusted by Alice Cooper’s performance that he calls the station’s master control room and orders them to take the show off the air, which they do.  Protests ensue and everybody gets publicity.   1972

Ringo Starr (The Beatles) has his first solo #1 single in the U.S. with “Photograph.”  1973

Reverend Little Richard officiates the marriage of pop singer Cyndi Lauper and actor David Thornton. 1991

Queen’s Freddie Mercury dies of complications from AIDS. 1991

Talk about the great divide. An intoxicated Scott Stapp (Creed) gets into a brawl with members of 311 at a Baltimore hotel. 311 singer S.A. Martinez, suffers a fractured knuckle during the altercation and maintains that he and his bandmates acted in self-defense.” 2005

Negative reinforcement. Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose drops Eagles Of Death Metal from GN’R’s’ tour after just one performance (in Cleveland). The vocalist refers to the band as the “pigeons of s**t metal.”  2006

Wildfires burn through Malibu (CA) destroying dozens of homes including one owned by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. The mansion, which had been on the market for $4.8 million, “burnt to a crisp” according to Flea in a text message to the Los Angeles Times. The home was not the bassist’s primary residence. 2007

Queen guitarist Brian May attends a ceremony in honor of Freddie Mercury in Feltham, Middlesex, U.K. Mercury moved to the town when he was 17. “As well as celebrating his life and success, it can serve as a reminder to local people that it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you work hard you can succeed in whatever you do,” says memorial organizer Paul Jabbal.  2009

Imagine Dragons win the Favorite Artist: Alternative Rock trophy at the pop oriented American Music Awards. 2013

Unused photographs taken during The Beatles “Abbey Road” photo session are sold at auction for £180,000. The outtakes show The Beatles out of step and walking in the opposite direction. 2014

Scorpions are the first band to perform in Paris since an extremist group orchestrated a terror attack that left 130 dead. Fans sing the French national anthem during the sold-out concert at the Bercy arena. 2015

Rock beats the rap.  The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) announces that it will not pursue legal action against Kid Rock over his ‘17 “joke” run for the U.S. Senate.  The commission dismissed a complaint from Common Cause ruling that Rock didn’t abide by candidate registration and financial reporting rules because he was never an actual candidate.  The stunt was designed to promote his eleventh studio album “Sweet Southern Sugar” and supporting tour.  2018

“Dead Inside” lands at #10 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart making Nita Strauss the first solo woman as a lead artist to score a Top 10 song on the chart in nearly 26 years – Melissa Etheridge cracked the Top 10 in ’95 with “Your Little Secret.”  “Dead Inside” features vocals by Disturbed’s David Draiman.  2021

Protest The Hero lead guitarist Luke Hoskin announces his retirement from touring with the band. Hoskin does plan to continue contributing creatively in the studio.  2021