January 17, 1990 – The Fifth Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are held in New York City. Inductees include The Kinks (inducted by Graham Nash), Simon & Garfunkel (inducted by James Taylor), and The Who (inducted by U2).
January 17, 1996 – The 11th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are held in New York City. Inductees include David Bowie (inducted by David Byrne), Jefferson Airplane (inducted by Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart), Pink Floyd (inducted by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins) and The Velvet Underground (inducted by Patti Smith).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
January 17, 1949 – Mick Taylor, guitar (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Rolling Stones)
January 17, 1971 – Kid Rock (born Robert James Ritchie), vocals, guitar
January 17, 1955 – Steve Earle, vocals, guitar
January 17, 1963 – Kai Hansen, guitar, vocals (Gamma Ray, Helloween)
January 17, 1959 – Susanna Hoffs, guitar, vocals (The Bangles)
HEADBANGERS HEAVEN:
January 17, 2011 – Don Kirshner, songwriter, manager, publisher and music executive, dies of heart failure in Florida. He was 76. Kirshner helped launch the careers of Neil Diamond, The Monkees, The Archies and Kansas, and also created the legendary TV show Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, which presented the most successful rock bands of the era, singing live, rather than lip synching. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
January 17, 2016 – Dale Griffin (born Terence Dale Griffin), drummer and cofounder of Mott The Hoople, dies in his sleep. He was 67. The band, who made eight albums during their five-and-a-half year existence, reformed to mark their 40th anniversary in 2009, with Griffin playing during the encores only, due to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Griffin was also a successful producer, working with Hanoi Rocks, The Cult, Nirvana, OMD and many others.