This Day in History: 2023-12-05

DECEMBER 5^th

“Waiting For A Girl Like You” (Foreigner) is #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.  1981

Bruce Springsteen’s handwritten working lyric sheet for his ‘75 hit “Born To Run” sells for $197,000 at Sotheby’s in New York City. “Although Springsteen is known to have an intensive drafting process,” said Sotheby’s, “few manuscripts of ‘Born To Run’ are available, with the present example being one of only two identified that include the most famous lines in the song.” 2013

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ video for “Californication” surpasses one billion views on YouTube. The Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris directed video placed the band’s members inside a fictional video game depicting each band members’ California-based adventure.  2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Little Richard (Penniman) is born in Macon, GA. He is easily the prettiest of Charles and Leva Mae’s 12 children. Shut up! 1932

Great White (“Once Bitten, Twice Shy”) vocalist Jack Russell has a birthday. 1960

Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) is born. The vocalist/guitarist is a native of Buffalo, NY. 1965

With riots on the Sunset Strip Buffalo Springfield (also in L.A.) record “For What It’s Worth.” 1966

The Police’s Stewart Copeland apologizes to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet after her government objects to comments the drummer made about her. Copeland was quoted saying Argentinean president-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was “good for one beer” while Bachelet was good “for four.” He sends a message to Bachelet expressing his regrets and invites her to the Police’s concert in Santiago, Chile, that evening. 2007

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen makes a surprise visit at L.A. Unified School District’s Foshay Learning Center. “I wasn’t born ‘Eddie Van Halen’ successful or famous, it took years of dedication and practice, practice, practice,” Van Halen tells the music students. Van Halen and the Fender Musical Instruments Company donate one of his signature amplifiers to the class. 2013

One of Ringo Starr’s early drum sets, a 1963 Ludwig kit, is auctioned for $2.2 million to Indianapolis Colts (football) owner Jim Irsay. Also, Ringo’s personal copy of The Beatles’ “White Album,” No.0000001, is sold for a record $790,000 at the Julien’s auction. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Lotus Children Foundation, which was founded by Starr and his wife Barbara. 2015