Today in Headbanger History

May 21, 1983 – Def Leppard make their only appearance on American Bandstand, performing “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages.” May 21, 1966 – Bruce Springsteen and his band The Castiles perform at Freehold Regional High School in New Jersey.  All the band members are juniors at the school. May 21, 1992 – MTV airs the first episode of their new series The Real World.  It is one of […]

May 20, 2015 – Whitesnake release “The Purple Album,” a tribute to Deep Purple, featuring songs from singer David Coverdale’s two albums with the band. “It’s a tribute. A homage. It’s a huge thank you from me to Deep Purple for the opportunity I was given over 40 years ago,” states Coverdale. May 20, 1998 – Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee is sentenced to 180 days in jail, […]

May 19, 2000 – Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band is essentially kicked out of the band for “creative differences,” which are allegedly related to drugs and/or alcohol use. May 19, 1979 – Eric Clapton and Patti Boyd throw a reception party two months after their wedding featuring a jam session with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Mick Jagger […]

May 18, 1980 – Peter Criss leaves Kiss for the first of three times.  He is replaced by drummer Eric Carr. May 18, 2004 –  New Jersey’s Country Cow Creamery gets permission from Ozzy and his wife Sharon to create flavors in their name.  Ozzy’s is called Carnivorous Carrot Cake – cinnamon spice ice cream with carrot cake dipped in hazelnut liqueur, and Sharon’s is Death […]

May 17, 1963 – The first Monterey Folk Festival takes place over three days in Monterey, California. The festival features Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary and Jerry Garcia.  It is the precursor to the infamous 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. May 17, 1987 – Tom Petty and his family barely escape a fire that engulfs their home in Encino, CA and destroys everything.  It is […]

May 16, 1984 – Ozzy Osbourne is arrested in Memphis, Tennessee for being “staggering drunk,” according to police.  He is released from jail five hours later, and continues on with his tour in support of Bark at the Moon. May 16, 1965 – The Rolling Stones barely escape the parking lot after their show at Civic Hall in Long Beach, California, when their limo is besieged by […]

May 15, 1987 – Mötley Crüe release their fourth album Girls, Girls, Girls.  It  becomes the band’s third straight album to go quadruple platinum. May 15, 1995 – Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland is arrested for heroin and cocaine possession in Pasadena by sheriff’s deputies who find cocaine in his car and heroin in his wallet. He is later sentenced to […]

May 14, 1988 – Led Zeppelin reunites with John Bonham’s son, Jason, playing drums at Atlantic Records’ 40th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Other featured artists include Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, Foreigner, Genesis, Vanilla Fudge and Crosby, Stills & Nash. May 14, 1957 – Elvis Presley swallows his own porcelain tooth […]