Today in Headbanger History

January 12, 1969 – Led Zeppelin release their self-titled debut album. The album was completely funded by Jimmy Page (who was also the producer) and took only 36 hours to record and mix.  Page also picked out the image of the burning Hindenburg (the “lead zeppelin”) on the cover.Rolling Stone wrote that “The cover of Led Zeppelin … shows the Hindenburg airship, in all its phallic glory, going […]

January 11, 1985 – The first Rock in Rio festival kicks off in Rio de Janeiro. The 10-day festival features Queen, AC/DC, Yes, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions and Whitesnake.  About 1.4 million people attend the shows. January 11, 2004 – Ted Nugent needs 40 stitches in his leg after a chainsaw accident occurs while filming his reality TV show, Surviving Nugent: The Ted Commandments, in […]

January 10, 1964 – The Beatles release their first U.S. album Introducing… The Beatles on Vee-Jay records.  The release came only 10 days before Capitol’s Meet the Beatles! hit the shelves.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: January 10, 1955 – Michael Schenker, guitar (Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group, McAuley Schenker Group, Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock) January 10, 1953 – Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski), […]

January 9, 1984 – Van Halen release their sixth studio album 1984.  With the songs “Jump,” “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher” and “I’ll Wait,” the album goes on to sell over 10 million copies. January 9, 2005 – Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil marries his girlfriend Lia Gerardini in Las Vegas. It’s Neil’s fourth marriage, and buddy MC Hammer performs the ceremony. The […]

January 8, 1994 – Nirvana perform their final concert in the U.S. at the Seattle Center Arena. They tour for about two more months in Europe prior to Kurt Cobain’s suicide. January 8, 1979 – The Canadian Government name Rush the country’s official Ambassadors of Music. The honor comes with a plaque that reads, “We wish to recognize the international aspect […]

January 7, 2004 – Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and wife Kate Hudson announce the birth of their first child Ryder Russell Robinson. January 7, 1997 – Two bronze busts worth $70,000 are stolen from George Harrison’s estate in Henley-on-Thames, England.  Thieves cut the figures of two monks from their stone plinths.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: January 7, 1937 – Paul […]

January 6, 1976 – Peter Frampton releases one of the biggest double live albums in history, Frampton Comes Alive! The album goes on to sell over 11 million copies in the U.S. January 6, 2001 – Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour wins the right to his “dot com” name. David took legal action in his battle to reclaim davidgilmour.com from a man who had […]

January 5, 2004 – Ray Davies of the Kinks is shot in the leg in New Orleans trying to recover his date’s stolen purse.  The shooter is immediately caught, but released three years later because Davies couldn’t make it back to Louisiana with only three days notice for the trial. January 5, 1973 – Bruce Springsteen releases his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, […]