Are you ready to learn some stuff? It’s January 6th and here’s what happened Today in Rock History!
In 1975, Thousands of Led Zeppelin fans caused a riot as they wait overnight inside the lobby of the Boston Garden for tickets to go on sale for the band’s upcoming show. One report claimed the riot caused an estimated $30,000 in damages, while another claimed it was anywhere from $50,000-$75,000. The mayor of Boston would cancel the show and the gig would be rescheduled for February 4th.
Birthdays today features Malcolm Young of AC/DC!
Other birthdays include Muzz Skillings of Living Colour and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys!
One other birthday today belongs to the late Syd Barrett, formerly of Pink Floyd and on this day in 1975, Pink Floyd began recording their ninth album Wish You Were Here at Abbey Road Studios in London. The record would feature a nine-part tribute to Barrett titled Shine On You Crazy Diamond that would open and close the record. There is an infamous and sad story about the recording of the album that took place in June of that year while mixing Shine On. The band speak about it below.
And speaking of albums, in 1976, we saw the release of one of if not THE biggest live album of all time: Frampton Comes Alive! from Peter Frampton.
We lost Ron Asheton of The Stooges in 2009 of a heart attack at the age of 60.
In 1986, Rob Halford of Judas Priest enters rehab following a suicide attempt and an alcohol-induced nervous breakdown. Halford would get out a month later, stay sober, and help Priest complete their album Turbo.
Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones announced his departure from the band in 1993. Wyman would continue his music career with solo projects and would eventually return to the Stones in 2023 to record just one bass track on the group’s Hackney Diamonds album for the song Live By the Sword.
And finally in 2024, Maynard James Keenan of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer earned his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu after 20 years of training in the martial art. Now we already knew not to mess with Maynard (just ask that one fan that jumped onstage), but now we definitely know to leave him alone.
This has been Today in Rock History! Check back tomorrow for your next rock history lesson!
