Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s January 9th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Only one way to start off the day than with the birth of Jimmy Page of The Yardbirds and a little band called Led Zeppelin!
Other birthdays today include David Johansen of the New York Dolls, Eric Erlandson of Hole, Carl Bell of Fuel, and Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band!
Van Halen released their biggest album ever, 1984, in well… 1984.
In 1963, Charlie Watts quit his job as a graphic designer to become the drummer for a very young Rolling Stones.
We lost James Kottak of the Scorpions in 2024
In 2016, the funeral of Lemmy Kilmister took place and was live streamed on the Motorhead website and YouTube channel. Attending the service included many of rock and metal’s biggest names including Motorhead bandmate Mikkey Dee, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Slash of GNR, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich. To honor Lemmy, his Rickenbacker bass was plugged into a stack of amps with the volume turned up playing it’s final tone. The congregation applauded as feedback filled the chapel space. Lemmy would be laid to rest in L.A.’s Forrest Hills Cemetery.
And finally in 1997, David Bowie held a charity concert benefiting Save the Children at Madison Square Garden to celebrate his 50th birthday! Many of Bowie’s famous friends including Sonic Youth, Lou Reed, Frank Black of the Pixies, Billy Corgan, and the Foo Fighters pay tribute to Bowie with cover’s of his songs. Bowie would close the show with his hit Space Oddity. Just because I’m so nice, here’s the full show for you to enjoy!
This has been Today in Rock History! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
