Rock and Metal History, a day like today April 17
1960: Eddie Cochran dies and Gene Vincent is seriously injured when their car blows a tyre and crashes on the A4 at Chippenham. (Sharon Sheely was also injured)
1964: Rolling Stones release first LP in UK
1965: Bob Dylan's first album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan topped the U.K. Album charts.
1970: Santana began sessions for what would be their breakthrough album Abraxas at Wally Heider Recording Studio, San Francisco, California. When released in September of this year, Abraxas peaked at No.1 on the US chart.
1973: Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of The Moon went gold in the US. The LP went on to stay in the US chart for more than ten years and became the longest charting rock record of all time.
1980:Lead singer Ronnie James Dio performed with Black Sabbath for the first time at the Stadhalle in Aurich, Germany.
1982: Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'N Roll" spent a fifth out of seven weeks at #1.
1983: Felix Pappalardi, producer and bass player with American rock band Mountain was shot dead by his wife Gail Collins during a jealous rage. Collins was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to four years in prison. Pappalardi who was 43 had produced the Cream albums 'Disraeli Gears' and 'Wheels of Fire.'
1971: The Doors, released "Love Her Madly"
1976: KISS had their hit single Shout It Out Loud ranked at #31, on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, in the USA. This song is featured on the fourth studio album from KISS, released in 1976: Destroyer.
1977: The Stranglers, Cherry Vanilla, The Police and The Jam all appeared at The Roundhouse, London, England.
1991: Nirvana appeared at the OK Hotel in Seattle, where they played a new song, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', live for the first time. Other local bands such as Mudhoney, Tad, Mother Love Bone, and Soundgarden all appeared at the club, which has now been turned into a residential property.
1993: David Bowie went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Black Tie White Noise' his eighth UK No.1 LP.
1994: Pink Floyd started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Division Bell', their fourth No.1 album.
2002, Music weekly The NME published a list of the 50 most influential icons. At No.10, Public Enemy, 9, U2, 8, The Jam 7, Radiohead, 6, Oasis, 5, Sex Pistols, 4, David Bowie 3, The Stone Roses, 2, The Beatles and No.1 The Smiths.
2004: Kurt Cobain's Mark IV-style Mosrite Gospel guitar sold for $100,000 at the Icons of 20th Century Music auction held in Dallas, Texas. Other items sold included Elton John and Bernie Taupin's song writing piano which sold for $140,000 and a 1966 Rickenbacker guitar owned by The Byrds Roger McGuinn's sold for $99,000.
2008: Danny Federici, the longtime keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen and a member of The E Street Band, died of cancer at the age of 58. Federici had worked with Springsteen for over 40 years, starting with Steel Mill and Child with Springsteen.
2015 – Sweden’s mighty SABATON achieve a sold out concert at the Agora Theatre, in Cleveland, Ohio
Born on this day
1934: Born on this day, Don Kirshner, who launched the careers of Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Harry Nilsson, The Monkees and The Archies. He died on January 17, 2011.
1948: Born on this day, Jan Hammer, keyboard player, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, solo, (1985 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'Miami Vice Theme', 1987 UK No.2 single 'Crockett's Theme').
1964: Born on this day, James Keenan, Tool, (2001 US No.1 album 'Lateralus'). Also a member of A Perfect Circle and Puscifer.
1967: Born on this day, Matt Chamberlain one of the world's most widely-heard session drummers. Worked with, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, Morrissey, Fiona Apple, Christina Aguilera, Dido, David Bowie, Elton John,Peter Gabriel, The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant, Robbie Williams, Kanye West, Garbage, John Mayer and William Shatner.
