Rock and Metal History, a day like today May 4
1964: The Moody Blues were formed in Erdington, Warwickshire, England.
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV's Top Of The Pops, performing 'Purple Haze'. During afternoon rehearsals for the show, Mick Jagger pops into the studio to see Hendrix.
1968: Jimi Hendrix laid down ‘Voodoo Chile’ for the ‘Electric Ladyland’ album on This Day in Rock History. It went on to a UK no. 1 hit single on November 21 1970. Much the same in the US, but sadly after Jimi died two months prior.
Steppenwolf appeared on American Bandstand.
1970: Four students at Kent University were killed and eleven wounded by National Guard troops at a campus demonstration protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War. The incident inspired Neil Young to compose 'Ohio' which became a hit for Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
1973: Led Zeppelin opened their 1973 North American tour, which was billed as the 'biggest and most profitable rock & roll tour in the history of the United States'. The group would gross over $4 million from the dates, flying between gigs in 'The Starship' a Boeing 720 passenger jet, complete with bar, shower room, TV and video in a 30' lounge and a white fur bedroom.
1975: Chicago started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Chicago VIII’, the groups third US No.1.
1976: David Bowie played the first of six sold out nights at Wembley, his first UK gig in three years.
KISS chose Queens, New York for their first live performance. The group debuted at the Popcorn Club, which is now the Coventry.
1977: The Patti Smith Group, David Johansen, Dead Boys, Blondie, Suicide and Richard Hell & The Voidoids all appeared at a Punk Benefit at CBGB's in New York City.
1986: Robert Palmer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Addicted To Love’, it made No.5 in the UK. Palmer originally recorded the song as a duet with Chaka Khan but due to contractual problems her voice was removed.
1987: American blues vocalist, harmonica player Paul Butterfield, who fronted The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, died at his home in North Hollywood, California, of drug-related heart failure, he was 44. Gained international recognition, as one of the early acts performing during the Summer of Love, at Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock festival.
1997: Courtney Love placed an advert in The Seattle Times selling the house she had shared with Kurt Cobain. The five bedroom four bathroom house was on the market for $3m. The carriage house where Kurt Cobain died had been knocked down during refurbishment.
2000: Metallica were demanding online music service Napster cut off 335,000 users who they claimed had been illegally trading their songs. The band had passed on the names of all those they considered to be "stealing" their material over the internet in the latest development in an ongoing battle over the protection of music copyrights on the web.
2004: Ex-Guns 'N Roses members Slash and Duff McKagen sued lead singer Axl Rose, alleging that Rose turned down several offers to use songs by the group on movie soundtracks without consulting the rest of the band.
2006: Boston Metallica wannabes Godsmack top the U.S. album charts with their fourth album, cleverly titled IV.
2011: Steven Tyler from Aerosmith admitted that his addiction to drugs was so drastic that he hid cocaine in a drum on stage to take a fix during shows.
“I blew 20 million. I snorted my Porsche, I snorted my plane, I snorted my house in that din of drugs and booze and being lost.”
2015: The eleventh studio album from KAMELOT, Haven (Deluxe Edition), is ranked at #1 on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. Haven will be released on May 5th, 2015. The regular version of Haven is also ranked at #11, on this same chart.
Motörhead’s fourth studio album, Ace Of Spades, is ranked at #89, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart.
Sad Wings Of Destiny, the second studio album from the powerful Judas Priest, is ranked at #90 on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. This would be the only Judas Priest album to feature Alan Moore as the drummer.
Born on this day
1942: Ronnie Bond, drummer, The Troggs, (1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Wild Thing'). Bond died on 13th November 1992.
1951: Bruce Day, Santana, (1970 US No.4 single 'Black Magic Woman', 1977 UK No.11 single 'She's Not There'), Pablo Cruise.
1951: Mick Mars (real name Bob Deal), Motley Crue (1988 UK No.23 single 'You're All I Need' & 1989 US No.1 album 'Dr Feelgood').
1959: David Ball, Soft Cell, (1981 UK No.1 single ‘Tainted Love’).
1972: American musician , bassist with Green Day who had the 1995 US No.2 album 'Dookie'. Green Day are one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
