Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s January 19th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Beginning the day in 1994 as the 9th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place. Inductees include: The Band, The Grateful Dead, John Lennon, Elton John, and Bob Marley. One of the biggest years for the Hall and if you take anything away from it, I think Paul McCartney had the best speech of the night, honoring his Beatle bandmate and friend John Lennon
Moving into birthdays, we have Rod Evans of Deep Purple!
Other birthdays include Robert Palmer, Janis Joplin, and John Wozniak of Marcy Playground!
With releases, first we have Saviors from Green Day in 2024!
Other releases, we have Frank Zappa’s Sleep Dirt in 1979, How Could Hell Be Any Worse? from Bad Religion in 1982, Mania from Fall Out Boy in 2018 and Megadeth’s So Far, So Good… So What! in 1988!
During the 1971 courtroom trial for the murder of Sharon Tate committed by the Manson Family, tracks from The Beatles’ White Album, including the song Helter Skelter were played. The songs were used to figure out if they could have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to murder Tate and four others. Manson claimed that Skelter was about an impending race war and it led to the murders.
Another courtroom moment happened on the same day in 1971, as Alan Passaro, the member of the Hell’s Angels who stabbed 18-year-old Meredith Hunter to death during The Rolling Stones Altamont Speedway concert on December 6th, 1969, was acquitted of murder after 17 days of testimony. During the trial, the jury were shown the footage of the documentary Gimme Shelter, which showed the stabbing. The Angels were hired as security for the show. When Hunter pulled out a gun, Passaro killed him. Even though Hunter was killed, the Stones kept playing as they were unaware of the death.
In 2018, the LA County Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for Tom Petty was due to an accidental mixed drug toxicity. The coroner found a combination of multiple opioids, sedatives, and an antidepressant in the singer’s body, which were used for Petty’s emphysema, knee problems and a fractured hip.
And finally in 1988, Doc McGhee, the manager of groups like Motley Crue, KISS, and Bon Jovi, plead guilty for importing more than 40,000 pounds of marijuana into the US via a Colombian shrimp boat. Doc received a five-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of $15,000, and was ordered to create an anti-drug foundation. McGhee pledged $250,000 and worked 3,000 hours to his brand new Make a Difference Foundation.
This has been Today in Rock History! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
