Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s April 18th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
We lost legendary graphic designer Storm Thorgerson in 2013. Thorgerson was the co-founder of Hipgnosis, an art design group that specialized in creating album cover art for various rock groups of the late-60s to the early-80s. That included groups like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath; and solo artists like Paul McCartney and Sammy Hagar. Storm continued to work with many other groups until his death. You can learn more about Storm, Hipgnosis and all the amazing art in the fantastic documentary Squaring the Circle.
We also lost Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band in 2024 and Dick Clark, the longtime host of American Bandstand in 2012. Hosting Bandstand from 1956 to 1989, Clark introduced America to many of the greats that we came to know and love including: Aerosmith, KISS, Def Leppard, Talking Heads, and so many more. Here’s just a taste with the help of Bon Jovi.
Moving on now to releases, we got both Let Love In by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Pulp’s His ‘n’ Hers in 1994; ZZ Top’s live/studio hybrid album Fandango! in 1975 and the debut of the Ronnie James Dio era of Black Sabbath with Heaven and Hell in 1980.
Moving into birthdays today and we have Tommy Shannon of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Greg Eklund of Everclear and Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge and Creed. Wait?! CREED? CREEEEEEED!!!!
It’s also the birthday of legendary music exec Seymour Stein. Stein, who worked with Sire Records, helped sign many great rock acts of the 70s like the Talking Heads and the Ramones. He also helped in the creation of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was forever immortalized in the Belle and Sebastian song Seymour Stein, which in turn was featured in a classic scene in High Fidelity.
Speaking of the Rock Hall, we had two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies that took place on this day. One in 2013 and the other in 2015. The 2013 ceremony included Heart and Rush. All original members of Heart reunited for the first time in 34 years to be inducted and played their hits. While Rush, being Rush, had what would be the most memorable performance of the night. I’ll just leave this here for ya.
The 2015 Hall induction ceremony included a more rock heavier focused group compared to 2013, with inductees including Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lou Reed, Ringo Starr and Green Day (who got in the first year they became eligible).
In 1995, Tony McCarrol of Oasis was told by phone that we was fired from the group. McCarrol later sued the group for millions in unpaid royalties and in 1996 the band agreed to pay him a sum of $935,000.
In 1987, Headbangers Ball made its debut on MTV. Relive the memories metalheads!
And finally in 1996, Gavin Rossdale of Bush appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, shirtless. The article inside, however, trashes on the band. Calling them “Nirvana Wannabes,” the article claimed that people won’t take the band seriously. Rossdale pushed back by saying, “Here I am on their cover, with no top on, selling tons of copies of their magazine, and they ask: why won’t anyone take me seriously? Well, six or seven million people have our record, so that’s at least a few people who don’t hate me.” Like many other times, RS got it wrong and Bush is still killing it today.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
