Today in Headbanger History

August 5, 2009 – Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler falls off the stage at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.  He breaks his shoulder and has other head and neck injuries, which forces the rest of their tour to be canceled. Tyler was dancing on the catwalk and trying to entertain the crowd after the band’s sound equipment […]

August 4, 1975 – Led Zeppelin‘s tour is postponed following Robert Plant’s serious auto accident on the small Greek island of Rhodos.  Plant has multiple fractures of  his ankle, bones supporting his foot, and elbow. Doctors initally tell Plant he may never walk again. His wife, Maureen, also in the car, suffers a lengthy period of concussions, and breaks her leg in several […]

August 3, 1991 – Metallica hold a “playback party” at Madison Square Garden in New York City (a venue they had yet to play) to launch their self-titled album, commonly known as the “Black Album.” Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic both attend.  The album goes on to sell 30 million copies worldwide. August 3, 1987 – Def Leppard […]

August 2, 1973 – Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan. His biographer Mark Epstein says, “He was a great fan of Matt Dillon, the sheriff of the television series Gunsmoke. In 1958, he confided to his high school sweetheart that he planned to devote his life to music, adding that ‘I know what I’m going […]

August 1, 1981 – MTV begins airing music videos with the legendary opening, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock & Roll.”   That’s followed by the now familiar power-chord-fueled guitar riff theme.  The first ten videos are:  The Buggles “Video Killed The Radio Star”, Pat Benatar “You Better Run”, Rod Stewart “She Won’t Dance With Me”, The Who “You Better You […]

July 31, 2015 – Lollapalooza Chicago begins in Grant Park with Paul McCartney headlining the first night, and Metallica the second night. July 31, 1980 – The Eagles perform their last concert at the Long Beach Arena before splitting up.  They reunite in 1994.  The concert – a benefit gig, no less – is played out amid muttered onstage threats between Glen Frey […]

July 30, 1991 – Axl Rose throws a fit when his limo driver is cited for an illegal left turn as he was driving the singer to a Guns N’ Roses show at the Forum in Los Angeles.  Axl tells the Inglewood policeman that he will cancel the concert unless he tears up the ticket.  Police say […]

July 29, 1973 – Led Zeppelin play the last of three nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Although their 33-date North American tour grosses over 4 million, about $203,000 in cash is stolen that night from the safe at The Drake Hotel in New York where the band is staying. Tour manager Richard Cole is arrested as a suspect […]