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Rock and Metal History, a day like today May 25

1965: Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, Sonny Boy Williamson died in his sleep. Van Morrison, Aerosmith, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds and Moody Blues all covered his songs. According to the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods, touring the UK in the 60's, Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator.

1967: Pink Floyd appeared at the Gwent Constabulary ('A' Division) Spring Holiday Barn Dance, held at The Barn, Grosmont Wood Farm in Cross Ash, Wales, UK.

1969: The Who and Led Zeppelin appeared at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland, USA. This was the only time the two group's ever appeared together, with Zeppelin opening the show. On the tickets Led Zeppelin was spelt Lead Zeppelin.

1974: KISS had their first hit when "Kissin' Time" debuted on this date. It would reach #83.

Sweet hits #27 in the United Kingdom with their second studio album: Sweet Fanny Adams.

1978: The Who perform secret gig to be filmed for the almost-completed Kids Are Alright movie

1982: Survivor released the single "Eye Of The Tiger".

1983: The debut studio album "Holy Diver" released from DIO.This enormously grand Heavy Metal album went on to peak at #56 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Holy Diver would go on to sell one million (plus) copies in the United States alone.Vocalist Ronnie James Dio had just finished his first tenure in Black Sabbath, whose drummer Vinny Appice he took with him to put together his own band. The roster was completed by his former band mate in Rainbow Jimmy Bain on bass and by the young guitarist Vivian Campbell, coming from the NWOBHM band Sweet Savage. The album was acclaimed by the music press and is the most successful of the band.

1985: Dire Straits scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Brothers In Arms', also No.1 in the US and 24 other countries. 'Brothers In Arms' was one of the first albums to be directed at the CD market, and was a full digital recording (DDD) at a time when most popular music was recorded on analog equipment. The album won two Grammy Awards at the 28th Grammy Awards, and also won Best British Album at the 1987 Brit Awards, and has gone on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide.

1990: Lou Gramm departed Foreigner. Guitarist Mick Jones said Gramm’s departure was due to Gramm’s solo work conflicting with Foreigner’s commitments. Gramm later re-joined Foreigner in 1992 before departing again in 2003.

1997: Bob Dylan was diagnosed as suffering from histoplasmosis pericarditis, a fungal infection of the lung, and was admitted to hospital he stayed until June 2nd. Having just turned 56, Dylan later admitted: 'I really thought I'd be seeing Elvis soon'. Treated by drugs and rest, Bob was back on the road only 10 weeks later, for 22 American and Canadian shows.

1998: Coldplay released their first ever record, an EP called Safety, which featured 3 tracks; 'Bigger Stronger', 'No More Keeping My Feet on the Ground', and 'Such a Rush'. The EP was intended as a demo for record companies and is now such a rarity that it is known to fetch in excess of £2000 on eBay.

2003: Marilyn Manson were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Golden Age of Grotesque', a No. 4 hit in the UK and the bands second US No.1.

2004:Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot.It is the band's only album produced by Rick Rubin, and also the only one not to feature profanity.The cover of the album features the "maggot mask" designed by Shawn Crahan

2005: System of a Down had the #1 album with Mesmerize.

2013: American rock and roll bassist Marshall Lytle, died aged 79. He was best known for his work with the groups Bill Haley & His Comets and The Jodimars in the 1950s. He played upright slap bass on the iconic 1950s rock and roll records 'Crazy Man, Crazy', 'Shake, Rattle and Roll', and 'Rock Around the Clock'.

Born on this day

1948: Klaus Meine, The Scorpions, (1991 UK No.2 single 'Wind Of Change').

1950: Robert Steinhardt, Kansas, (1978 US No.3 single 'Dust In The Wind', UK No.59 single 'Carry On Wayward Son').

1958: Paul Weller, UK singer, guitarist, songwriter, The Jam (1980 UK No.1 single 'Going Underground' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). Style Council, (1983 UK No.3 single 'Long Hot Summer', plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles). Solo (1995 UK No.7 single 'The Changing Man'). Weller has received four Brit Awards, winning the award for Best British Male twice, and the 2006 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

1959: Rick Smith, keyboards, Underworld, (1996 UK No.2 single 'Born Slippy').