Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s September 11th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
Today is a day many Americans will remember for the tragedy in New York in 2001. The day affected the music world as well. On that tragic day, while walking to work at his internship at Cartoon Network, a young Gerard Way witnessed the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. The events of that day inspired him to follow his dreams and starts a band. That band? My Chemical Romance.
That day in 2001 was a Tuesday which is when new music is typically released. On that day we saw the release of P.O.D.’s album Satellite, Nickelback’s Silver Side Up and The Strokes’ debut album Is This It released on vinyl. The Strokes album featured the song New York City Cops, an anthem against police brutality. It was promptly removed from the CD versions.
Now as we move away from 2001, other releases include ELO’s A New World Record in 1976, The Great Escape from Blur in 1995, The Resistance from Muse in 2009 and Foreigner’s Head Games in 1979.
Moving onto birthdays, we have Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and Tommy Shaw of Styx!
In 1982, John Cougar Mellencamp became the first male solo artist to have two singles in the US Top Ten (Hurts So Good at #8 and Jack and Diane at #4) and No.1 album (American Fool) at the same time.
Also in 1982, Frank Zappa scores his highest charting song as Valley Girl, a song he recorded with daughter Moon as the titular valley girl, hits #32 on the Hot 100. This would be Zappa’s first and only Top 40 song.
And finally in 2023, Aerosmith announce the postponement of their “Peace Out” farewell tour after just three shows. This is due to a vocal chord injury suffered by lead singer Steven Tyler. The tour would return the following year, but would be eventually be canceled permanently, ending the band’s touring careers on a whimper.
This has been Today in Rock History! Keep on Rocking, keep on Rolling! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
