Rock and Metal History, December 16
1945: Tony Hicks, guitarist of the Hollies, was born in Nelson, Lancashire, England.
1949: Billy Gibbons, lead singer, songwriter and great guitarist from ZZ Top, was born in Houston, Texas. He began his career in the Moving Sidewalks, who recorded Flash (1968) and opened four dates for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Gibbons formed ZZ Top in late 1969 and released ZZ Top's First Album in 1971.
1963: A Beatles song (I Want To Hold Your Hand) is played on American radio for the first time, in Washington DC at WWDC.
1966: The debut single “Hey Joe” was released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
1967: The Monkees topped the singles chart for a third week with "Daydream Believer".
1968: Bob Seger released his first career single "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man".
1968: Pink Floyd released " Careful With That Axe, Eugene".It is a composition by the British rock band Pink Floyd. The studio recording was originally released as the B-side of their single "Point Me at the Sky" and is also featured on the Relics compilation album; live versions can also be found on Ummagumma and in the film Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii.
1970: Creedence Clearwater Revival received their first Gold records and singles for their first five albums, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Down on the Corner”, “Up Around the Bend”, & “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”
1971: David Bowie releases his fourth album, Hunky Dory, which opens with the anthemic "Changes."
1972: Living in the Past by Jethro Tull moved from 12 to 5, the only new entry among the Top 10 albums.
1974: Mick Taylor, guitarist of The Rolling Stones, announced that he was leaving the band, saying he felt that now was the time to move on and do something new.
1974: America released the single "Lonely People".
1974: John Lennon released the single "#9 Dream".
1977: The Sex Pistols, booked on Saturday Night Live, are denied entry into the U.S. based on various band members' criminal records and "moral turpitude." Elvis Costello takes their place and makes his last appearance on Saturday Night Live - he is banned because he performs Radio Radio after being told not to by the show's producer.
1979: Kiss performed their last concert with their original lineup at the Toledo Sports Arena until their reunion tour in 1996.
1982: The Who play the last show of their farewell tour at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, which is filmed for an HBO special called Who's Last. They re-form to play Live Aid in 1985, then tour again in 1989.
1983: The Who disband (until the seemingly unending series of "reunions")
1986: Guns n' Roses released their debut EP " Like a Suicide"
1989: Bon Jovi received their eighth top ten single in the U.S. with “Living in Sin.”
1989: Whitesnake had their second and final top ten album in the U.S. with “Slip of the Tongue.”
1989: "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel was #1 again with Phil Collins in hot pursuit with "Another Day In Paradise".
1989: KIX hits #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their power ballad: Don’t Close Your Eyes. This song is featured on the fourth studio album from KIX, released in 1988, Blow My Fuse.
1997: Oasis played the first of three nights at Wembley Arena in London.
2003: Ron Wood, guitarist of the Rolling Stones, joined the Stereophonics on stage to play "Handbags And Gladrags" and the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" at Earls Court in London.
2005: U2’s Vertigo tour was the top grossing tour of 2005 grossing $260 million & drew 3 million people to 90 sellout concerts.
2009: Helloween’s Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary.
2011: IRON MASK’s Black As Death, was released.
