March 28, 2024

This Day in History: 2024-12-19

DECEMBER 19th

Bruce Springsteen returns to Saturday Night Live as the musical guest for the first time since ‘02. During his rendition of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town,” Springsteen is joined by Paul McCartney. 2015

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

I’d love to change the world. Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) is born in Nottingham, England. 1944

James ‘Jimmy’ Bain, bassist for Rainbow, Dio and Last In Line, is born in Newtonmore, U.K. 1947

Carl Perkins records “Blue Suede Shoes.” The idea for the song comes from Sun Records labelmate Johnny Cash. Decades later it is selected as one of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  1955

Marilyn Manson initiates a countersuit against former bandmate Stephen Bier (aka Madonna Wayne Gacy) alleging that the keyboardist failed to fulfill his obligations in the group. Bier hit Manson with a breach-of-contract lawsuit the previous August. The action, filed in L.A., accuses Bier of turning up late for shows and promotional appearances, among other complaints. 2007

A vicious dig like this one is hard to ignore. Slipknot’s Corey Taylor slams Coldplay’s hugely successful “Viva La Vida.” “That (album) is one of the most self-celebratory pieces of s**t I’ve ever f**king heard in my entire f**king life,” proclaims Taylor. “I f**king hate that album. It’s music to wipe your a** to.” 2008

After the Black Crowes perform their last show of a six-night stand in San Francisco, they announce that they are going on an “indefinite hiatus.” 2010

Tony Iommi, guitarist and founding member of Black Sabbath, joins The National Guitar Museum’s board of advisors. NGM is the first museum dedicated to the history, science, and cultural impact of the guitar. “There is so much more to the guitar than six strings and a slab of wood,” says Iommi. “Everything about it is fascinating, from how it is crafted to the legion of people who have played it.” 2012

Vampire Weekend’s “Modern Vampires Of The City” tops Rolling Stone magazine’s Albums of the Year list. 2013

Foo Fighter’s “Shame, Shame” is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart.  It stays at the top for six weeks.  2020

Rock-oriented singer Huntley (Michael Huntley) is the Season 24 winner of “The Voice.”  2023