HC's Rock Rewind - March 26 - April 8

HC's Rock Rewind

A look back at the past two weeks in Rock History

by  Anne Erickson

Week of March  26th - April 1st

From the birth of Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell to Kirk Hammett famously joining Metallica, the week of March 26 through April 1 has many significant moments in rock ‘n’ roll. Read on for some major events, historic record releases and births and deaths, this week in Rock Rewind.

Events

1967 – The photo shoot for the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band happened at Chelsea Manor Studios in London.

1967 – Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire for the first time at a gig at The Astoria in London. He would do it again many times throughout his career.

1974 - The Ramones played their first gig in front of an audience.

1983 - Kirk Hammett became a member of Metallica.

1985 – David Lee Roth exited Van Halen.

1986 – Sammy Hagar played his first gig as Van Halen’s lead singer at a show in Louisiana.

1987 – U2 performed a rooftop concert in Los Angeles to film their music video for “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

1990 – Nirvana began work on demos with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Wisconsin. Some of the tracks would end up on Nevermind.

1996 - Phil Collins announced he would exit Genesis to focus on a solo career.

2005 - U2 set off on their Vertigo Tour in San Diego, California.

Releases

1958, Chuck Berry: “Johnny B. Goode,” single

1973, Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy

1975, Jeff Beck: Blow by Blow

1976, Led Zeppelin: Presence

1976, Rush: 2112

1980, Scorpions: Animal Magnetism

1985, Bon Jovi: 7800° Fahrenheit

1987, Bryan Adams: Into the Fire

1992, Bruce Springsteen: Human Touch

1992, Bruce Springsteen: Lucky Town

1992, Def Leppard: Adrenalize

1993, Suede: Suede

1994, Pink Floyd: The Division Bell

2003, The White Stripes: Elephant

2004, Aerosmith: Honkin' on Bobo

2007, Kings of Leon: Because of the Times

2008, The Black Keys: Attack & Release

2014, Band of Skulls: Himalayan

Deaths

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, March 28, 1974

Marvin Gaye, April 1, 1984

O'Kelly Isley, March 31, 1986

Buddy Rich, April 2, 1987

Selena, March 31, 1995

Phil Ramone, producer, March 30, 2013

Duster Bennett, March 26, 1976

Randy Castillo, March 26, 2002

Births

Marvin Gaye, April 2, 1939

Emmylou Harris, April 2, 1947

Leon Wilkeson, April 2, 1952

David Robinson, April 2, 1953

Rufus Thomas, March 26, 1917

Steven Tyler, March 26, 1948

James Iha, March 26, 1968

Kenny Chesney, March 26, 1968

Tony Banks, March 27, 1950

Andrew Farriss, March 27, 1959

Johnny April, March 27, 1965

Dave Keuning, March 28, 1976

Chad Allan, March 29, 1943

Perry Farrell, March 29, 1959

Eric Clapton, March 30, 1945

Joey Castillo, March 30, 1966

Mick Ralphs, March 31, 1948

Angus Young, March 31, 1955

Jack Antonoff, March 31, 1984

Jeff Porcaro, April 1, 1954

Week of April  2nd - 8th

The start of April brought everything from the debut release for‘80s rockers Whitesnake to the untimely death of Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley. It doesn’t stop there. Keep reading for some major events, historic record releases and notable births and deaths happening April 2 through April 8.

Events 

1956 - Elvis Presley performs "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Blue Suede Shoes" on Milton Berle's NBC-TV show.

1960 - The Everly Brothers have their British concert debut.

1964 - "The Times They Are a Changin'" scores Bob Dylan his first hit on the UK singles chart.

1964 - The Beatles snag five spots on the singles charts with their songs “Twist and Shout,” "Can't Buy Me Love," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me."

1965 - The Beach Boys work in the studio, recording the instrumentals for "California Girls."

1968 - Pink Floyd announce that original member Syd Barrett has left the band due to having psychiatric disorders worsened by using drugs.

1970 -Paul McCartney exits the Beatles.

1993 - Construction begins on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

1994 - Kurt Cobain of Nirvana commits suicide by shooting himself with a shotgun at the age of 27.

2008 - Apple becomes the No. 1 music seller in the United States.

Releases  

Elton John,11-17-70, 1971

David Bowie, Drive-In Saturday, 1973

Aerosmith,Toys in the Attic, 1975

Prince,For You, 1978

Rick James,Street Songs, 1981

Whitesnake,Whitesnake LP, 1987

The Offspring,Smash, 1994

KISS,Greatest Kiss, 1997 

Deaths

Danny Rapp (Danny & the Juniors), April 3, 1983

Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), April 5, 1994

Layne Staley, (Alice in Chains), April 5, 2002

Cozy Powell (ELP, Black Sabbath, Rainbow), April 5, 1998

Tammy Wynette, April 6, 1998

Births

Richard Manuel (lead singer of The Band), April 3, 1943

Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), April 3, 1968

Drew Shirley (Switchfoot), April 3, 1974

Muddy Waters, April 4, 1915

Clive Davis, April 4, 1934

Berry Oakley (The Allman Brothers Band), April 4, 1948

Pick Withers (Dire Straits), April 4, 1958

Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy), April 4, 1952

Craig Adams (The Cult), April 4, 1962

Mike Starr (Alice in Chains), April 4, 1966

Tony Williams (The Platters), April 5, 1928

Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) April 5, 1965

Pharrell Williams, April 5, 1973

Merle Haggard, April 6, 1937

Michelle Phillips (The Mamas & the Papas), April 6, 1944

Billie Holiday, April 7, 1915

Mick Abrahams (Jethro Tull), April 7, 1943

Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead), April 7, 1946

John Oates (Hall & Oates), April 7, 1949

Steve Howe (Yes), April 8, 1947

Izzy Stradlin (Guns N' Roses), April 8, 1962

-HC- 

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Anne Erickson holds years of bylines in Gannett Media publications, as well as music magazines Premier Guitar, Guitar Edge and more. She also hosts radio shows with iHeartRadio and has been syndicated in Seattle, Dayton, Central Coast California and beyond. Anne is a loyal Spartan and holds a Master’s degree from MSU. She resides in Lansing, Michigan.A