Today in Rock Music History

April 21st

1984 The “Footloose” soundtrack begins a ten-week run at #1 on the Billboard 200. 

The set contains the title track (performed by Kenny Loggins), “Almost Paradise” (Ann Wilson – Heart & Mike Reno – Loverboy) and “Holding Out For A Hero” (Bonnie Tyler).

1994 Soundgarden’s “Superunknown” goes 6-times platinum (sales over 6-million).

The band’s fourth album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in ’94.

2013 Rush gets their ninth Juno Award (the Canadian Grammys).

“Clockwork Angels,” the nineteenth and final studio album by the band, is named Rock Album of the Year.

2023 Metallica’s “72 Seasons” is #1 on the U.K. Albums Chart.

Metallica’s eleventh studio album outsells the rest of the Top 5 combined to become the band’s fourth album — and first since “Death Magnetic” in ’08 – to top the U.K. chart.

MORE TODAY IN ROCK…

1943 Mars Bonfire (born Dennis Eugene McCrohan and later known as Dennis Edmonton) is born in Oshawa, Canada. He was the guitarist for The Sparrows, a forerunner of Steppenwolf, and wrote the latter’s mega-hit “Born To Be Wild,” and other songs recorded by the group. Bonfire is also the older brother of Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton.

1947 Iggy Pop is born in Muskegan, MI, with the name James Jewel Osterberg.

1956 Recorded in Nashville, “Heartbreak Hotel” is Elvis Presley’s first #1. It tops the U.S. chart for seven weeks. 

1959 The Cure’s frontman, Robert James Smith, sees his first light of day in Blackpool, England.

1959 Misfits’ Jerry Only is born. 

1973 Alice Cooper’s “Billion Dollar Babies,” with “Elected” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” is #1 on the Billboard 200. 

1982 Exhaustion causes Joe Strummer to disappear. The Clash is forced to cancel a show. Strummer returns and The Clash are performing live again by the end of the month.

1988 All Time Low’s bassist/singer Zack Merrick enters the world. 

1990 Paul McCartney draws 184,000 people to his concert in Rio, setting a world record for attendance at a single artist concert. 

1992 Beastie Boys release “Check Your Head.” Their third studio album relies less on samples and features Punk influenced instrumental contributions from all three members: Adam Horovitz (guitar), Adam Yauch (bass), and Mike Diamond (drums). The set peaks at #10 on the Billboard 200 and makes several lists as one of the best albums of the decade. 

2001 On a trans-Atlantic flight to perform at the South Africa Freedom Day Concert in London’s Trafalgar Square, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is arrested for assaulting two crewmembers.

2007 The Icons of Music Auction in New York to benefit Music Rising, the Hurricane Katrina-relief charity co-founded U2’s the Edge, raises over $2.4 million. The Edge is on hand to witness a final bid of $410,000 for a guitar once owned by the late Jimi Hendrix. A pair of axes donated by the Edge go for $240,000 and $105,000, respectively, while a signed guitar by U2 frontman Bono sells for $187,500.

2009 Jon Bon Jovi is honored for his charity work by the Food Bank for New York at the nonprofit organization’s sixth annual Can-Do Awards Dinner. The singer is recognized, in part, for his support of efforts to provide housing to low-income families.

2016 Prince (Rogers Nelson), the eclectic virtuoso known for “1999,” “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” dies at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen. MN. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was 57.

2018 Thirty Seconds To Mars debut at #2 on the Billboard 200 with “America.” Frontman Jared Leto promotes the album by traveling across America by “any means possible.”  It’s their best showing to date. It’s the band’s fifth studio effort.

2018 Belinda Marie Ramos and Tony Rosales get married during a Foo Fighters concert in Dallas. They tie the knot while the band performs “Everlong.” 

2023 Morbid Angel guitarist Trey Azagthoth collapses onstage, due to dehydration and a back injury, during the band’s concert in Tampa, FL.  

2024 Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder is quoted in the U.K. based Sunday Times that the “Dark Matter” track “Wreckage” was inspired by former President and Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. “The song is saying, let’s not be driven apart by one person, especially not a person without any worthy causes,” Vedder explains.

2024 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces that Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, Peter Frampton and Dave Matthews Band will be inducted into Hall in the fall. Also, MC5 will be presented with the Musical Excellence Award while John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton will receive the Musical Influence Award.