Happy April Fool’s Day! Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s April 1st and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Some major releases to start the day including: Rush’s prog magnum opus, 2112 in 1976! You got 20 minutes to kill right?
We also got Attack & Release from The Black Keys in 2008, Weezer’s White Album in 2016, and Elephant from The White Stripes in 2003!
As well as both There’s One in Every Crowd from Eric Clapton and Journey’s self-titled debut in 1975, AND both The Swing from INXS and the solo debut of Journey’s Steve Perry Street Talk in 1984!
We lost Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne in 2020 from COVID complications
In 2016, Guns N Roses announced that original members Slash and Duff McKagen would be returning to the group. They would join Axl Rose for the Not In This Lifetime stadium tour. Speaking of GNR, as part of an April Fool’s prank in 2006, SPIN magazine published their review of GNR’s long gestating album Chinese Democracy. The album wouldn’t be released for another two years.
With birthdays today, we have Ronnie Lane of the Faces and Jeff Porcaro of Toto!
English punk band the Buzzcocks made their live debut in 1976 when they performed at the Bolton Institute of Technology. The power would be cut after just three songs.
In 1992, Billy Idol pleads no contest to charges for assault and battery and is fined $2,000. The charges came from an incident in October 1991, where Idol allegedly punched a woman. Alcohol was involved in the altercation.
In 1976, AC/DC made their live debut in the UK
Scott Weiland left Velvet Revolver in 2008, bringing the group to an end.
In 1983, guitarist Kirk Hammett accepted an offer to audition for a new gig after getting a call from Mark Whitaker. That gig was for an opening in Metallica. Safe to say that he got the job.
In 1974, Mudcrutch leave Gainsville, Georgia and head to Los Angeles. The group never looked back as their lead singer took the lead. After arriving, the band changed their name to The Heartbreakers lead by Tom Petty.
And finally in 1985, David Lee Roth quit Van Halen. That went real well for ya, didn’t it Dave?
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
