This Day in History: 2023-12-16

DECEMBER 16^th

Incubus’ “Light Grenades” sells 165,000 copies in its first week to debut on top of the Billboard 200, marking the first time the group has scored a #1 album. 2006

All American Rejects release their third studio album, “When The World Comes Down.” The album sells 112,000 copies in its first week to land at #15 on the Billboard 200.  2008

The album peaks at #4 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums and #6 on Top Rock Albums charts.  The set achieves gold status (500,000 copies shipped) in ’09.

Metallica’s third concert benefiting the band’s All Within My Hands foundation (AWMH) is in L.A.  The event and related activities raise approximately $3,000,000 — 100% of which go directly to efforts supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, disaster relief and other critical local services. 2022

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

Sharp dressed man. ZZ Top guitarist, Billy Gibbons, is born. Nicknamed Reverend Willie G, he’s the vocalist/guitarist for that ‘Little Ol’ band from Texas’. 1949

Billy Joel’s “Storm Front” is #1 on the Billboard 200.  The album is best known for the song “We Didn’t Start A Fire,” a cataloging of mid-20th century historical events.  1989

Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne perform in Sioux City, ND, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the massacre at Wounded Knee. 1990

Billboard’s Boxscore states U2’s Vertigo tour is the top-grossing jaunt of the year taking in $260 million over the course of 90 shows, all of which were sold out. More than 3 million people saw the group live. 2005

Billboard magazine names the Rolling Stones the top touring act of the decade: 2000-2009. The group grossed $869 million from 264 shows before 8.2 million people. U2 made $822 million with 288 shows – all of which sold out. 2009

Rumors that John Frusciante had left the Red Hot Chili Peppers are confirmed on the guitarist’s MySpace blog. “To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction.” According to Frusciante, this isn’t exactly new news. He writes that he left the band over a year earlier when the Peppers were on indefinite hiatus. At the time of the announcement, RHCP are in the studio recording a follow-up to ‘06’s “Stadium Arcadium” with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. It’s the second time Fusciante has parted company with the RHCP. 2009

Mike Portnoy confirms that he is no longer in Avenged Sevenfold. The drummer joined the band to fill in for Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan, who passed away unexpectedly in ‘09. “I had a great time with them (AX7) throughout 2010, but it was their choice to end the relationship at the end of 2010 as was always the initial plan,” writes Portney on his website. He left Dream Theater only months earlier to work full-time with AX7. 2010

‘Tis the season. Sting is paid £1-million (approximately $1.5 million U.S.) to play a Christmas office party for Czech tycoon Petr Kellner’s finance firm PPF in Prague. 2011

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially announce the class of ‘15: Lou Reed, Green Day, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. 2014

Joe Strummer of The Clash is the inspiration for the name of a newly discovered snail, Alviniconcha strummeri. The golf ball-sized invertebrates have a “spikey shape that resembles the look of many classic Punks.” 2014

“(Presidential candidate) Donald Trump is the hellraiser America has needed for a very long time,” posts Ted Nugent on Facebook, well in advance of the ’16 election. “He and (Senator) Ted Cruz may be the only hope to end the criminal jihad on America by our own corrupt punkass government, media and bigBiz goons. Are there enough Americans smart enough to end the nightmare?” Meanwhile, Disturbed’s David Draiman says he supports Senator Bernie Sanders, but admits that the Democratic candidate needs ‘a miracle’ to win the White House. 2015

Scientists name a plant is found only in a small area of Baja California, after the late Jimi Hendrix. Dudleya hendrixii is described as a thin, stalky plant less than a foot tall with succulent leaves and brilliant pinkish white flowers. 2016

San Francisco mayor London Breed proclaims “Metallica Day” in the city.  The Bay Area based band is celebrating their 40^th anniversary. 2021