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Rock and Metal History, a day like today April 24

1961: Bob Dylan appeared on Harry Belafonte's album 'The Midnight Special' playing harmonica on the title track. Dylan was paid a $50 session fee for this his first ever recording.

1968: The Beatles new company, Apple Records turned down the offer to sign new artist David Bowie. (Apple later signed Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston).

1971 Alice Cooper hits #21 on theBillboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in the USA, with their hit:I’m Eighteen. The song is featured on the third studio album from Alice Cooper , released back in 1971: Love It To Death.

1974: David Bowie releases Diamond Dogs.

1975: Peter Ham, British singer, songwriter with Badfinger committed suicide by hanging himself in the garage of his Surrey home, aged 27. Ham co-wrote 'Without You', with band mate Tom Evans (who also later committed suicide). The song won an Ivor Novello award for Song Of The Year in 1973, and was a hit for Harry Nilson and Mariah Carey. Ham was a founder member of The Iveys, who became Badfinger, were signed to the Beatles' Apple label, their first hit 'Come And Get It' was written by Paul McCartney.

1976: Led Zeppelin scored their sixth UK No.1 album with ‘Presence’, also No.1 in the US.

1977: Talking Heads begins its first European tour, supporting the Ramones.

1981: New Order started work on their first album at Strawberry studios in Stockport, England.

Motley Crue Play Their First Concert at West Hollywood club the Starwood Hotel.

1989: Black Sabbath released Headless Cross

1989: Tom Petty releases his first solo album, Full Moon Fever.

1990: The road crew for Roger Waters discovered an unexploded World War II bomb while constructing the set for The Wall concert in Potsdamer Platz, Germany.

1994: RUSH performed at The Hartford Civic Center, in Hartford, Connecticut. RUSH were touring in support of their 15th studio album, released in October of 1993: Counterparts.

1995: Oasis released 'Some Might Say' which went on to give the band their first UK No.1 single. The planned promo video for the song was cancelled due to Liam not turning up for the shoot. Instead, a makeshift video was created using footage from the 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', US 'Supersonic' and UK 'Whatever' videos.

2003: The first official UK download chart was compiled after the big five record companies- EMI, Warners, Sony, BMG and Universal combined for a Digital Download day. Over 150,000 computer users had downloaded 1.1m tracks. The Net Parade Top 3: No.3, Tatu, 'All The Things She Said', No, 2, Coldplay 'Clocks' and No.1 Christina Aguilera, 'Beautiful.'

2003: The White Stripes perform their cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” on Late Night With Conan O’Brien.

2007: The Arctic Monkeys sold 85,000 copies of their new album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' on its first day in UK shops, putting it on course to be the year's fastest-selling new release.

2013: 3 Doors Down Cancels tour due to bassist Robert Todd Harrell’s arrest

Born on this day

1945: Doug Clifford, drums, Creedence Clearwater Revival, (1969 UK No.1 and US No.2 single 'Bad Moon Rising' plus 11 other US Top 40 singles, 1970 US & UK No.1 album 'Cosmo's Factory').

1947: Glenn Cornick, bass guitar, Jethro Tull, (1969 UK No.3 and US No.11 single 'Living In The Past'). Cornick died on 29th Aug 2014.

1951: Nigel Harrison, British bass player with Blondie from 1977-82. Also a member of Silverhead.

1954: Jack Blades was born in California.Jack Blades is known as being a member of the following bands: Night Ranger, Damn Yankees, Revolution Saintsand Shaw-Blades.

1958: Boris Williams, drums, The Cure, (1992 UK No.6 single 'Friday I'm In Love' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).

1963 Joey Vera Armored Saint

1967: Shannon Larkin, drummer, Ugly Kid Joe, Godsmack, (2003, US No.1 album ‘Faceless’, 2006 US No.1 album ‘IV’).

1968: Aaron Comess, drums, The Spin Doctors,