Un poco de historia del rock con algunos acontecimientos y fechas.

Birthdays

Johnny Winter - February 23, 1944
Brad Whitford (AEROSMITH) - February 23, 1952
Michael Wilton (QUEENSRYCHE) - February 23, 1962
John Norum (EUROPE) - February 23, 1964


This week in rock history

February 23, 1978: WHITESNAKE performs first concert in Nottingham, England.
February 23, 1980: IRON MAIDEN release their first single, 'Running Free'. It enters the UK chart at #44.
February 23, 1982: IRON MAIDEN embark on the Beast On The Road tour. It will take the band around the world in 180 concerts.

February 24, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN releases Physical Graffiti.


2003: IRON MAIDEN confirm they will headline the Download Festival at the famous Donington Park on Saturday 31st May, 2003.
2003: QUEENSRYCHE founding guitarist Chris DeGarmo rejoins his former bandmates at an undisclosed studio in the Seattle area where the group begin writing as a complete unit for the first time in 7 years.
2003: HELLOWEEN drummer Mark Cross announces that he will no longer remain in the band due to health problems.
2003: AGENT STEEL ink a deal with Scarlet.
2003: STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's "SYL" enters the Billboard Heetseakers chart at #97 during its first week of release.

2004: it is announced that current and former members of SAVATAGE will unite for one night only to headline ProgPower V this September in Atlanta.
2004: IRON MAIDEN's Eddie's Archive Casket wins a top accolade from the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association.

Birthdays

Brian Baker (JUNKYARD) - February 25
George Harrison (BEATLES) - February 25, 1943 RIP


This week in rock history

February 25, 1982: IRON MAIDEN's Beast On The Road tour opens.
February 25, 1984: VAN HALEN goes #1 with 'Jump'.


1977: Sid Vicious joins the SEX PISTOLS.

1978: SCORPIONS release their Taken By Force opus.

1997: GEEZER BUTLER announces that the new singer for his G//Z/R project is the Boston-based Clark Brown.

1998: ROB HALFORD states the following to Rock Hard Magazine in Germany: "For me, Metal is dead. There's nothing new happening anymore."

1999: VAN HALEN's 1984 hits 10 million copies sold in the U.S. alone.

2000: ICED EARTH announce that their new drummer is Richard Christy (CONTROLED DENIED, DEATH).
2000: former SHOK PARIS singer Vic Hix forms new act AFTERSHOK with guitarist George Mihalovich, drummer Georgie B. and bassist Nick Griska.

2001: NEVERMORE are the first band in the history of the Greek Metal Hammer polls to beat IRON MAIDEN for the position of Best Band in a year when Maiden released an album. They take the title with 16.5% of the vote.
2001: 7 WITCHES ink a deal with Noise for their third album.
2001: ANGRA announce their new bassist is Felipe (ex-KARMA).
2001: KISS' Gene Simmons signs with Americabilia.com/Unique Images to market autographed reproduced lithographs of his artwork.
2001: THE BLACK CROWES file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against international insurance provider Lloyd's of London, holding that the company failed to fulfill an insurance policy for cancelled Black Crowes-Jimmy Page tour.
2001: Elektra Records state that the second leg of the North American Stiff Upper Lip tour is the fastest selling AC/DC tour ever.
2001: AEROSMITH's Greatest Hits (the red cover with the wings) receives the RIAA Diamond Award, acknowledging 10 million copies sold.

Birthdays

Neal Schon - February 27, 1955
Adrian Smith (IRON MAIDEN/BRUCE DICKINSON) - February 27, 1957
Randy Jackson (ZEBRA) February 28, 1955
Roger Daltry (THE WHO) - March 1, 1942
Rob Affuso (ex-SKID ROW) March 1, 1963

This week in rock history

February 27, 1977: Royal Canadian Mounted Police raid ROLLING STONES' Keith Richards' Toronto hotel suite while he was asleep and seize 22 grams of heroin, 5 grams of cocaine and narcotics paraphenalia. Richards is arrested, charged with possession of heroin with intent to traffic and possession of cocaine. He is released on $25,000 bail with trial set for October.
February 27, 1990: ARMORED SAINT guitarist Dave Prichard dies of leukaemia.
February 27, 2001: Elektra Records state that the second leg of the North American Stiff Upper Lip tour is the fastest selling AC/DC tour ever.

February 28, 1970: Led Zeppelin perform in Copenhagen under the pseudonym Nobs, because of a threat of suit by Count Evan von Zeppelin, a relative of the airship designer Ferdinand, if the band play under the name Zeppelin in Denmark.
February 28, 1981: IRON MAIDEN release their Killers album.
February 28, 1986: METALLICA release Master Of Puppets.
February 28, 1998: guitarist Chris DeGarmo leaves QUEENSRYCHE. He begins working with Peter Cornell, (Chris Cornell's brother), on a future project.

March 1, 1993: IRON MAIDEN release the 'Fear Of The Dark' single.
March 1, 1999: CONTROL DENIED hit Morrisound Studios.


2002: ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY ink a deal with Relapse.
2002: SHADOWS FALL introduce their new drummer, Jason Bittner (ex-STIGMATA, CRISIS).
2002: DEEP PURPLE cancel the remaining dates on their UK tour, due to Ian Gillan's suffering from a flu virus.
2002: BON JOVI perform 'It's My Life' and 'You Give Love A Bad Name' during the closing ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
2002: VENOM frontman Cronos is badly injured in a climbing accident.

2003: ANTHRAX ink a deal with Sanctuary Records Group.
2003: METALLICA announce that the OFFICIAL replacement for Jason Newsted is former OZZY OSBOURNE/SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bassist Rob Trujillo.
2003: bassist Jason Newsted (VOIVOD/ex-METALLICA) confirms that he will be going to Los Angeles in early March to jam with Ozzy, Zakk Wylde, and Mike Bordin.
2003: GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell sadly reports on his website (www.planetjr.com) that guitarist Ty Longley has been identified as one of the 96 people that lost their lives last Thursday at The Station club in West Warwick, RI.

2004: longtime DIO bassist Jimmy Bain leaves the band.
2004: ANTHRAX confirm the departure of bassist Frank Bello.
2004: ARCH ENEMY are forced to cancel live dates when singer Angela Gossow falls ill.

Birthdays

Jon Bon Jovi (BON JOVI) - March 2, 1962
Kevin Steele (ROXX GANG) - March 3
Lonnie Vincent (BULLETBOYS) - March 3, 1964
Timo Tolkki (ex-STRATOVARIUS) - March 3, 1966

This week in rock history

March 2, 1969: DOORS' frontman Jim Morrison is arrested in Miami for indecent exposure.

March 3, 2001: ANGRA announce new bassist Felipe, vocalist Eduardo Falschi, keyboardist Fabio Ribeiro and drummer Achiles Priester.
March 3, 2003: OZZY OSBOURNE and wife/manager Sharon appear on Larry King Live.


1984: Ian Gillan quits BLACK SABBATH. He's replaced briefly by former DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. Born Again is the most overlooked Sabbath album to date.

1997: as part of NASA's space exploration programme, CATHEDRAL's Supernatural Birth Machine is blasted into orbit on the Huygens satellite, destined for Saturn. The band also beat ZZ TOP, who have booked themselves on the first passenger trip to the moon, to the honor of being the first band in space.
1997: U.D.O. reform.

1998: SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera debuts with his new project SOULFLY.
1998: ANTHRAX garner attention in a New York City incident involving the FBI arresting two men suspected of plotting to release the fatal Anthrax bacteria in the New York subway system.

1999: TED NUGENT backs out of retirement and immerses himself in a number of projects including a new solo record and a new DAMN YANKEES album.
1999: the cover of the forthcoming S.O.D. record, Bigger Than The Devil, is revealed: it pokes fun at MAIDEN's classic Number Of The Beast opus.

2000: a sign posted by JIMI HENDRIX's sister in the Seattle cemetery where he's buried is stolen by an apparent memorabilia seeker. The five-by-eight-foot placard detailed plans to move Jimi's body to a mausoleum.

Birthdays

Jason Newsted (VOIVOD/ex-METALLICA) - March 4, 1963
Paul Bostaph (ex-SLAYER) - March 4, 1965
Zachary Stevens (CIRCLE II CIRCLE/ex-SAVATAGE) - March 5, 1966
Luca Turilli (RHAPSODY) - March 5, 1972

This week in rock history

March 4, 1999: SEPULTURA perform on Open Mike with Mike Bullard.

March 5, 1960: ELVIS PRESLEY is discharged from the U.S. Army with the rank of Sergeant.
March 5, 1980: IRON MAIDEN appear on Britain's Top Of The Pops, performing 'Running Free'.
March 5, 2002: Angela Gossow performs her first concert with ARCH ENEMY at L.A.'s Troubadour.


1984: Ian Gillan quits BLACK SABBATH. He's replaced briefly by former DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. Born Again is the most overlooked Sabbath album to date.

1997: as part of NASA's space exploration programme, CATHEDRAL's Supernatural Birth Machine is blasted into orbit on the Huygens satellite, destined for Saturn. The band also beat ZZ TOP, who have booked themselves on the first passenger trip to the moon, to the honor of being the first band in space.
1997: U.D.O. reform.

1998: SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera debuts with his new project SOULFLY.
1998: ANTHRAX garner attention in a New York City incident involving the FBI arresting two men suspected of plotting to release the fatal Anthrax bacteria in the New York subway system.

1999: TED NUGENT backs out of retirement and immerses himself in a number of projects including a new solo record and a new DAMN YANKEES album.
1999: the cover of the forthcoming S.O.D. record, Bigger Than The Devil, is revealed: it pokes fun at MAIDEN's classic Number Of The Beast opus.

2000: a sign posted by JIMI HENDRIX's sister in the Seattle cemetery where he's buried is stolen by an apparent memorabilia seeker. The five-by-eight-foot placard detailed plans to move Jimi's body to a mausoleum.

Birthdays


Peter Jensen (D:A:D) - March 6, 1965
Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X) - March 6, 1968
Warrel Dane (NEVERMORE) - March 7, 1963

This week in rock history


March 6, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN is awarded a gold record for their classic double album Physical Graffiti.
March 6, 1989: AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and wife Theresa become parents to daughter Chelsea Anna.
March 6, 2001: SAVATAGE announce they've hired new vocalist, Damond Jiniya, and second guitarist, Jack Frost.
March 6, 2001: ARCH ENEMY announce that their new vocalist is Angela Gossow.
March 6, 2001: METALLICA land in 18th place on Forbes Magazine's list of Most Powerful Celebrities.

March 7, 1980: IRON MAIDEN head out on tour in support of JUDAS PRIEST on the British Steel tour.

March 8, 1993: Beavis and Butthead premieres on MTV as a series. The two characters had previously appeared on another MTV program, Liquid Television.
March 8, 1997: EXODUS, complete with original vocalist Paul Baloff at the helm perform at the Trocadero in San Francisco. The album is recorded for a live record.
March 8, 2000: AC/DC fan Wade Sickler buys a guitar lesson with Angus Young on eBay, he later ends up jamming with the entire band.


2001: IRON SAVIOR announce that Kai Hansen will leave the band on May 17th, 2001.
2001: SAVATAGE hired a new vocalist, Damond Jiniya, and a second guitarist, Jack Frost, who replaces Al Pitrelli.
2001: Pamela Bowen, wife of KISS' PAUL STANLEY, files for divorce after nearly nine years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences". She seeks "joint legal and physical custody" of their son, Evan Shane, and spousal support.
2001: FASTER PUSSYCAT officially reform.
2001: SLASH makes a guest appearance on ROD STEWART's cover of PRINCE's 'Peach'.
2001: AEROSMITH are certified by the Recording Industry Association Of America as the tenth highest act in music history, with total sales of 59.5 million units.
2001: Billboard.com reports that LED ZEPPELIN's self-titled four-disc box set has now sold over 10 million copies in the United States, earning it a diamond certification.

2002: Metal Blade releases the first details of their forthcoming 20th Anniversary Box Set (top secret tracklisting still withheld).
2002: former BLACK SABBATH vocalist Tony Martin returns to front BAILEY'S COMET.
2002: it's revealed that the SCORPIONS are writing a musical called Wind Of Change for Berlin's Metropolis Theater.
2002: TED NUGENT hits the UK for the first time in 20 years. He plays London's Astoria.

Birthdays

Robin Trower - March 9, 1945
Kari Kane (PRETTY BOY FLOYD) - March 10, 1969
Matthew Barlow (ex-ICED EARTH) - March 10, 1970

This week in rock history


March 9, 1974: BAD COMPANY debuts in Newcastle, England.
March 9, 1976: QUEEN's A Night At The Opera is certified gold.
March 9, 1976: THE WHO delay the second leg of their U.S. tour when Keith Moon collapses onstage at the Boston Garden ten minutes into the show.

March 10, 2000: AC/DC perform on television for the first time in more than 20 years, live from MTV Studios.
March 10, 2002: VH1 premiers it's new program, Ultimate Albums. The debut episode focuses on DEF LEPPARD's '83 release Pyromania.


1997: the MIKE VESCARA PROJECT has released an album under the title of Windows.
1997: former KYUSS screamer John Garcia forms new project called SLO BURN.
1997: BODY COUNT guitarist Ernie C. and GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan join forces as record company bosses at the new label Hollow Point.
1997: SUICIDAL TENDENCIES reform.

1998: while working on the reunion record, Psycho Circus, KISS' Gene Simmons is quoted saying "The band has never gotten along better."
1998: KINGS OF THE SUN playing a handful of return shows in Queensland, Australia.
1998: TWISTED SISTER's 1982 debut, Under The Blade, is reissued in Japan.
1998: METALLICA issues a Cease And Desist Order over the Bay Area Thrashers live album, a 1982 demo featuring an earlier incarnation of Metallica that included Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield and past members Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney.

1999: contrary to rumours of a breakup, OVERKILL replace guitarist Sebastian Marino with ANGER TO ANGER axeman Dave Lynsk.
1999: bass player Sharlee D'Angelo joins ARCH ENEMY.
1999: MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio says that the rumored reunion with guitarist Ross 'The Boss' is not true.
1999: it is revealed that KISS' Paul Stanley will be playing the part of The Phantom in the famous Broadway musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, playing in Toronto - he performs from May 25 to August 1.
1999: contrary to rumours, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper is NOT dead.
1999: BLACK LABEL SOCIETY names J.D. as their new bass player - he was James LoMenzo's replacement in PRIDE & GLORY.
1999: AGENT STEEL sign a deal with Candlelight records.
1999: ANTHRAX frontman John Bush partners with HardRadio's Bob Nalbandian in a new weekly heavy metal club in Los Angeles, appropriately called Black Lodge.

2000: IRON MAIDEN's website, www.ironmaiden.com, reveal that the bands forthcoming album will be called Brave New World.
2000: the late BRUCE FAIRBAIRN is inducted into the Canadian Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
2000: GUNS N' ROSES drummer Josh Freese leaves the band.

2001: LOUDNESS' Spiritual Canoe hits the Japanese charts at #20.
2001: SAVATAGE's Poets & Madmen debuts at #7 on the German Pop charts.
2001: BRUCE KULICK reveals that he's signed on to work with GRAND FUNK RAILROAD.
2001: PANTERA's Philip Anselmo is given a release to use his real name in bands including EIBON, VIKING CROWN, ENOCH, AMICUSS and, of course, NECROPHAGIA.
2001: NECROPHAGIA featuring Philip Anselmo sign with Moonfog to release their Harvest Ritual album.

Birthdays

Lenny Wolf (KINGDOM COME) - March 11, 1962
Vinnie Paul (HELLYEAH, ex-DAMAGEPLAN, ex-PANTERA) - March 11, 1964
Uli Kusch (ex-HELLOWEEN) - March 11, 1967
Thomas "Tomen" Stauch (BLIND GUARDIAN) - March 11, 1970
Steve Harris (IRON MAIDEN) - March 12, 1957

This week in rock history


March 11, 1978: VAN HALEN's self-titled debut is released this week in 1978.
March 11, 2000: KISS open its Farewell Tour at the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix, AZ.


1997: the MIKE VESCARA PROJECT has released an album under the title of Windows.
1997: former KYUSS screamer John Garcia forms new project called SLO BURN.
1997: BODY COUNT guitarist Ernie C. and GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan join forces as record company bosses at the new label Hollow Point.
1997: SUICIDAL TENDENCIES reform.

1998: while working on the reunion record, Psycho Circus, KISS' Gene Simmons is quoted saying "The band has never gotten along better."
1998: KINGS OF THE SUN playing a handful of return shows in Queensland, Australia.
1998: TWISTED SISTER's 1982 debut, Under The Blade, is reissued in Japan.
1998: METALLICA issues a Cease And Desist Order over the Bay Area Thrashers live album, a 1982 demo featuring an earlier incarnation of Metallica that included Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield and past members Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney.

1999: contrary to rumours of a breakup, OVERKILL replace guitarist Sebastian Marino with ANGER TO ANGER axeman Dave Lynsk.
1999: bass player Sharlee D'Angelo joins ARCH ENEMY.
1999: MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio says that the rumored reunion with guitarist Ross 'The Boss' is not true.
1999: it is revealed that KISS' Paul Stanley will be playing the part of The Phantom in the famous Broadway musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, playing in Toronto - he performs from May 25 to August 1.
1999: contrary to rumours, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper is NOT dead.
1999: BLACK LABEL SOCIETY names J.D. as their new bass player - he was James LoMenzo's replacement in PRIDE & GLORY.
1999: AGENT STEEL sign a deal with Candlelight records.
1999: ANTHRAX frontman John Bush partners with HardRadio's Bob Nalbandian in a new weekly heavy metal club in Los Angeles, appropriately called Black Lodge.

2000: IRON MAIDEN's website, www.ironmaiden.com, reveal that the bands forthcoming album will be called Brave New World.
2000: the late BRUCE FAIRBAIRN is inducted into the Canadian Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
2000: GUNS N' ROSES drummer Josh Freese leaves the band.

2001: LOUDNESS' Spiritual Canoe hits the Japanese charts at #20.
2001: SAVATAGE's Poets & Madmen debuts at #7 on the German Pop charts.
2001: BRUCE KULICK reveals that he's signed on to work with GRAND FUNK RAILROAD.
2001: PANTERA's Philip Anselmo is given a release to use his real name in bands including EIBON, VIKING CROWN, ENOCH, AMICUSS and, of course, NECROPHAGIA.
2001: NECROPHAGIA featuring Philip Anselmo sign with Moonfog to release their Harvest Ritual album.

Birthdays

Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER/ex-DESPERADO/ex-WIDOWMAKER) - March 15, 1955
Bret Michaels (POISON) - March 15, 1963
Jon Schaffer (ICED EARTH/DEMONS & WIZARDS) - March 15, 1968
Timo Kotipelto (STRATOVARIUS) - March 15, 1969

This week in rock history


March 13, 1978: VAN HALEN embark on their first tour.

March 14, 1981: IRON MAIDEN release the 'Twilight Zone'/'Wrathchild' single.
March 14, 1985: IRON MAIDEN play the first of four sold-out shows at the Long Beach Arena, the first band ever to achieve this.
March 14, 2002: BILLY JOEL is joined onstage by AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and bassist Cliff Williams during his Tampa, Florida show (with ELTON JOHN) for a version of the AC/DC staple Highway To Hell'.

March 15, 1968: Life Magazine calls JIMI HENDRIX "the most spectacular guitarist in the world."
March 15, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN's Physical Graffiti hits #1 on the UK charts.
March 15, 1976: KISS release Destroyer.
March 15, 2000: YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's Anthology 1994-1999 is released in Japan through Pony Canyon.
March 15, 2001: PANTERA's Philip Anselmo is given a release to use his real name in side-project bands.


2002: PRONG reform after several years of inactivity.
2002: OZZY OSBOURNE donates a stage worn shirt to the charity Bikers Against Drunk Drivers.
2002: BLIND GUARDIAN hit #5 on the German Media Control Charts with A Night At The Opera.
2002: REVEREND add Davey Lee and Notch Vara of BYFIST to the lineup.
2002: SHADOWKEEP replace bassist Steve Scott with Steve 'SK' Kightley.
2002: TNT ink a deal with Z Records.
2002: guitarist Michael Thomas (TUFF) joins BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, replacing DJ Ashba.
2002: LEATHERWOLF replace departed singer/guitarist Michael Olivieri with Chris Adams.

2003: SEPULTURA announce that they will name their new album Roorback.
2003: ANTHRAX' We've Come For You All enters the German Album charts at #22.
2003: KISS bassist/vocalist GENE SIMMONS inks a deal with Sanctuary for his resurrected label, Simmons Records.

2004: DIO's website reveals that former bassist Jeff Pilson (ex-DOKKEN) will be reuniting with Dio to record an as-yet untitled album.
2004: ex-MEGADETH bassist DAVID ELLEFSON formed a new group under the moniker F5.
2004: a secretly planned BLACK LABEL SOCIETY cross-Canada tour that was scheduled to begin in April is canceled.
2004: LEATHERWOLF announce that their new vocalist is former RACER X singer, Jeff Martin.
2004: the new CANNIBAL CORPSE album, The Wretched Spawn, enters the German Album Charts at #74.
2004: WARRANT welcome the return of original drummer Steven Sweet.
2004: VAN HALEN and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ink deals with William Morris Agency in Los Angeles for future touring plans.

Birthdays

Jimmy DeGrasso (ex-Y&T/MEGADETH/ALICE COOPER) - March 16, 1965
Janet Gardner (VIXEN) - March 17
Roxy Petrucci (VIXEN) - March 17
Scott Gorham (THIN LIZZY) - March 17, 1953
Jizzy Pearl (L.A. GUNS/ex-LOVE/HATE) - March 17, 1961

This week in rock history

March 16, 1979: TWISTED SISTER is the first to headline and sell out New York City's 3,000 seat Palladium without a record deal or record.

March 17, 1998: VAN HALEN releases Van Halen 3, their first with new lead singer Gary Cherone.
March 17, 1999: MOTLEY CRUE's Tommy Lee and Vince Neil exchange obscenities, Vince then punches Tommy leading to the drummer getting his own tour bus for the rest of the current tour.


1996: ROB HALFORD is surrounded by rumours that he will be replacing vocalist Tony Martin in SABBATH - Halford joined Sabbath on stage on November 15, 1992 at OZZY OSBOURNE's 'final' show in Costa Mesa, California.
1996: Dave Mustaine's dubs his new side project MD.45.

1997: it is confirmed that BLACK SABBATH (minus Bill Ward) will join the Ozzfest tour.

1998: The 900-page Ultimate Hard Rock Guide Vol 1, Europe/Scandinavia is released.
1998: a press release is issued stating that MOTLEY CRUE's Tommy Lee is set to appear in California courtroom soon for a preliminary hearing into charges of spousal and child abuse.
1998: OZZY OSBOURNE tells the world that BLACK SABBATH have "already been in the studio and recorded two tracks."
1998: Cozy Powell is forced to pull out of live commitments with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN due to a minor motorcycle accident.
1998: SPIRITUAL BEGGARS release Mantra III.
1998: DAVID LEE ROTH releases two new songs to U.S. radio - 'King Of The Hill' and 'Slam Dunk'.
1998: George Lynch sues his former DOKKEN mates for breach of contract and fraud.

1999: QUEENSRYCHE ink with Ray Daniels/SRO Management in Toronto.

2000: STRATOVARIUS' Infinite smashes into the charts in Finland at #1.
2000: PRIMAL FEAR re-sign with Nuclear Blast for another four albums.
2000: Damon Johnson (ex-BROTHER CANE), replaces Tommy Shaw in the DAMN YANKEES.

Brthdays

Bernie Torme (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, ex-GILLAN, ex-DESPERADO) - March 18, 1955
Jeff LeBar (CINDERELLA) - March 18, 1963
Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS) - March 18, 1965
Jerry Cantrell (ex-ALICE IN CHAINS) - March 18, 1966
Billy Sheehan (STEVE VAI/ex-MR. BIG/ex-DAVID LEE ROTH/TALAS) - March 19, 1953

This week in rock history

March 18, 1981: IRON MAIDEN's Killers world tour opens.
March 18, 1982: RANDY RHOADS' final performance in Fayetteville, NC.
March 18, 1996: THE SEX PISTOLS announce they are reuniting for a 20th anniversary tour.
March 18, 1997: AUTOGRAPH release Missing Pieces.
March 18, 2000: AC/DC perform on Saturday Night Live.

March 19, 1968: The JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's debut LP, Are You Experienced?, is certified gold.
March 19, 1974: The Jefferson Airplane began their first tour under the name Jefferson Starship.
March 19, 1975: KISS release Dressed To Kill.
March 19, 1976: former FREE guitarist Paul Kossoff dies on a London-to-New York plane flight of unknown causes.
March 19, 1982: in the early hours, OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Randy Rhoads is killed in Leesburg, Florida when the plane he's riding in buzzes Osbourne's tour bus and crashes into a house. The plane's pilot and a female passenger also die. Randy Rhoads was 25 years old.
March 19, 1999: nude photos of ROLLING STONE Keith Richards are published on the web by the Internet Entertainment Group.
March 19, 2001: AEROSMITH are inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.


1996: ROB HALFORD is surrounded by rumours that he will be replacing vocalist Tony Martin in SABBATH - Halford joined Sabbath on stage on November 15, 1992 at OZZY OSBOURNE's 'final' show in Costa Mesa, California.
1996: Dave Mustaine's dubs his new side project MD.45.

1997: it is confirmed that BLACK SABBATH (minus Bill Ward) will join the Ozzfest tour.

1998: The 900-page Ultimate Hard Rock Guide Vol 1, Europe/Scandinavia is released.
1998: a press release is issued stating that MOTLEY CRUE's Tommy Lee is set to appear in California courtroom soon for a preliminary hearing into charges of spousal and child abuse.
1998: OZZY OSBOURNE tells the world that BLACK SABBATH have "already been in the studio and recorded two tracks."
1998: Cozy Powell is forced to pull out of live commitments with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN due to a minor motorcycle accident.
1998: SPIRITUAL BEGGARS release Mantra III.
1998: DAVID LEE ROTH releases two new songs to U.S. radio - 'King Of The Hill' and 'Slam Dunk'.
1998: George Lynch sues his former DOKKEN mates for breach of contract and fraud.

1999: QUEENSRYCHE ink with Ray Daniels/SRO Management in Toronto.

2000: STRATOVARIUS' Infinite smashes into the charts in Finland at #1.
2000: PRIMAL FEAR re-sign with Nuclear Blast for another four albums.
2000: Damon Johnson (ex-BROTHER CANE), replaces Tommy Shaw in the DAMN YANKEES.

Birthdays

Carl Palmer (ELP/ASIA/ex-ATOMIC ROOSTER) - March 20, 1951
Robert Sweet (STRYPER, BLISSED) - March 21, 1960
Luis Mariutti (ANGRA) - March 22, 1971

This week in rock history

March 22, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN's Physical Graffiti reaches #1.
March 22, 1993: IRON MAIDEN release the album, A Real Live One.
March 22, 2000: AC/DC have a street in the Leganes district of Madrid, Spain, named in their honor.


2001: former DORO PESCH guitarist Mario D. Parillo II passes.
2001: it is announced that Joey Ramone, lead singer of the RAMONES, is battling lymphoma.

2002: CELTIC FROST's website reveals that the bands forthcoming reunion CD will feature the classic three-piece line-up of guitarist/vocalist Tom Gabriel Fischer, drummer Reed St. Mark and bassist Martin Ain along with APOLLYON SUN guitarist Erol Unala.
2002: reports surface that ROB ZOMBIE's directorial film debut, House Of 1000 Corpses, will not to be distributed by Universal after executives view a grisly rough cut, even after the firm bankrolled the $7 million film.
2002: Jack Frost announces that Joey Vera is the new SEVEN WITCHES bassist.
2002: GEOFF TATE (QUEENSRYCHE) opens his new website at geofftate.com.
2002: VINCE NEIL's European tour is canceled after the promoter gets cold feet when Vince asks for all the cash up front, before getting on the plane.
2002: AEROSMITH are selected as the second MTV-Icon honoree in celebration of its nearly 30-year career.
2002: DEEP PURPLE founding member and keyboardist Jon Lord retires from the band. He is replaced by Don Airey.
2002: original PRETTY BOY FLOYD guitarist, Kristy 'Krash" Majors leaves the band to concentrate on running his business, the booking agency Artist Worldwide.
2002: TUFF announce the return of original lead guitarist Jorge DeSaint.

2003: OZZY OSBOURNE introduces former METALLICA/present VOIVOD bassist Jason Newsted as the replacement for the departed Robert Trujillo (now in Metallica!).
2003: DANZIG announce through their website, www.danzig-verotik.com, that guitarist Tommy Victor (PRONG) is back in the band.
2003: UFO replace departed guitarist Michael Schenker with new axeman John Norum (ex-EUROPE, DOKKEN).
2003: Z Records signed a deal with WARRANT frontman Jani Lane.
2003: MICHAEL SCHENKER's 1979 Gibson Flying V guitar sells at auction on eBay for $25,600.00 US.

2004: EYES OF FIRE part ways with keyboardist Ben Smith.
2004: DISTANT THUNDER are introduced, a new project featuring SEVEN WITCHES singer James Rivera, SYMPHONY X bassist Mike Lepond and ex-DESTINY'S END guitarist Eric Halpern.
2004: CROWBAR announce the addition of former BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bassist, Steve Gibb, as the band's new guitarist.
2004: former VIRGIN STEELE guitarist Jack Starr inks a deal with Magic Circle Music.
2004: LILLIAN AXE vocalist Ron Taylor leaves the band.
2004: prosecutors in Southwest Florida file charges against RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson, related to an altercation he had with Collier County deputies at the Ritz Carlton, Naples, on New Year's Eve.
2004: A GENE SIMMONS box set will surface sometime in 2005 and will contain 100 never-before-heard solo tracks from the KISS legend.
2004: THE QUIREBOYS sign a new record deal with German label SPV.
2004: TESLA enter Billboard's album chart at #37 with their new album, Into The Now.
2004: former VAN HALEN frontman DAVID LEE ROTH inks a European distribution deal for the release of his Diamond Dave album.

This day in rock history

March 23, 1976: JUDAS PRIEST release their album, Sad Wings Of Destiny.
March 23, 2001: SPV Records and Osmose Productions ink a deal to bring the entire Osmose catalog to the U.S.

March 24, 1986: VAN HALEN release 5150.
March 24, 2000: WARRANT launch a U.S. Spring Club tour.
March 24, 2000: a man falls to his death from a third floor balcony at the Oakland arena during KISS' performance.
March 24, 2002: at about 2:45am after playing to a packed house in Charlotte North Carolina, LIZZY BORDEN guitar tech Ulrik Zander is shot three times in an attempted robbery. He recovers in a North Carolina hospital.

This week in rock history

1974: Ritchie Blackmore leaves DEEP PURPLE for the first time, in Paris.

1980: JUDAS PRIEST release their classic British Steel opus.
1980: SCORPIONS release Animal Magnetism.

1981: OZZY OSBOURNE bit the head off a dove at a press conference in L.A., claiming it was a rubber one and the whole legend is born.

1996: BRUCE DICKINSON releases Skunkworks.
1996: HELLOWEEN releases The Time Of The Oath.
1996: MELIAH RAGE, reform and releas Death Valley Dream.

1997: W.A.S.P. release K.F.D., reuniting Blackie Lawless and original axeman Chris Holmes.
1997: it's announced that there is a new project from ex-HELLOWEEN/GAMMA RAY guitarist Kai Hansen entitled IRON SAVIOUR.
1997: U.D.O. releases Solid.

1998: former MOTORHEAD axeman WURZEL releases an ambient new age CD called Chill Out Or Die.

1999: YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's classical album, Concerto Suite does incredible business in Japan where it has sold over 100,000 units.
1999: KISS are forced to cancel their planned concerts in Russia because of anti-Western sentiment in the wake of NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia. The band were sent a letter by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow saying that their safety could not be guaranteed.
1999: former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley breaks his silence and offers up the following press release: "I have had five great years with Iron Maiden. It's been a great few years for me. Regrets? I have a few, but then again, too few to mention."
1999: Chrysalis TV's Heavy Metal Top Ten names IRON MAIDEN the most successful British Metal band of all time.

2001: TESTAMENT's official website reports that vocalist Chuck Billy has been diagnosed with cancer.
2001: SLASH'S SNAKEPIT are forced to cancel performances on the second leg of AC/DC's Stiff Upper Lip tour when Slash is diagnosed with pneumonia and is ordered by his doctor to rest.

Birthdays

Peter Olander (220 VOLT) - March 25, 1965
Jeff Walker (ex-CARCASS) - March 25, 1969
Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH) - March 26, 1948
Jeff Plate (SAVATAGE/TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) - March 26, 1962
Alessandro Lotta (RHAPSODY) - March 26, 1973

This week in rock history


March 25, 1967: THE WHO perform their first U.S. concert.
March 25, 1990: MOTLEY CRUE drummer Tommy Lee is arrested for allegedly exposing his buttocks during a concert in Augusta, Georgia.
March 25, 1993: IRON MAIDEN's Real Live Tour of Europe begins.

March 26, 1983: MOTLEY CRUE open the first of five shows for KISS on the West Coast leg of their Creatures Of The Night tour.
March 26, 1988: IRON MAIDEN's 'Can I Play With Madness' single is released.
March 26, 1991: BLACK CROWES are dropped as the opening act on ZZ TOP's tour for repeatedly criticizing Miller Beer, the tour's sponsor.


1974: Ritchie Blackmore leaves DEEP PURPLE for the first time, in Paris.

1980: JUDAS PRIEST release their classic British Steel opus.
1980: SCORPIONS release Animal Magnetism.

1981: OZZY OSBOURNE bit the head off a dove at a press conference in L.A., claiming it was a rubber one and the whole legend is born.

1996: BRUCE DICKINSON releases Skunkworks.
1996: HELLOWEEN releases The Time Of The Oath.
1996: MELIAH RAGE, reform and releas Death Valley Dream.

1997: W.A.S.P. release K.F.D., reuniting Blackie Lawless and original axeman Chris Holmes.
1997: it's announced that there is a new project from ex-HELLOWEEN/GAMMA RAY guitarist Kai Hansen entitled IRON SAVIOUR.
1997: U.D.O. releases Solid.

1998: former MOTORHEAD axeman WURZEL releases an ambient new age CD called Chill Out Or Die.

1999: YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's classical album, Concerto Suite does incredible business in Japan where it has sold over 100,000 units.
1999: KISS are forced to cancel their planned concerts in Russia because of anti-Western sentiment in the wake of NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia. The band were sent a letter by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow saying that their safety could not be guaranteed.
1999: former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley breaks his silence and offers up the following press release: "I have had five great years with Iron Maiden. It's been a great few years for me. Regrets? I have a few, but then again, too few to mention."
1999: Chrysalis TV's Heavy Metal Top Ten names IRON MAIDEN the most successful British Metal band of all time.

2001: TESTAMENT's official website reports that vocalist Chuck Billy has been diagnosed with cancer.
2001: SLASH'S SNAKEPIT are forced to cancel performances on the second leg of AC/DC's Stiff Upper Lip tour when Slash is diagnosed with pneumonia and is ordered by his doctor to rest.

Birthdays

Andy Bown (STATUS QUO) - March 27, 1947
Jorg Michael (STRATOVARIUS) - March 27, 1963


This week in rock history

March 27, 1986: OZZY OSBOURNE embarks on his Ultimate Sin tour in Wichita, KS.
March 27, 1986: VAN HALEN's 5150 tour kicks off in Shreveport, LA.
March 27, 2001: MEGADETH's single, 'Moto Psycho', hits radio.

March 29, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN registers all six of their albums on the Billboard charts simultaneously, a feat never before made in pop history.
March 29, 1996: MOTLEY CRUE's Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson file a $10 million lawsuit in the LA Superior Court against Penthouse magazine and its executives, claiming photos of the couple engaged "in explicit sexual and intimate relations" that were about to be published, came from a home video allegedly stolen from their home by construction workers.


2002: Chris Cornell (ex-SOUNDGARDEN) withdraws from the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE project, effectively scrapping plans to participate in the annual Ozzfest festival.
2002: LED ZEPPELIN sue their label Atlantic for unpaid royalties on their first five albums.

2003: MTV (Europe) suggest that the following videos, among others, NOT be played during the current outbreak of war in Iraq: AEROSMITH's 'Don't Want To Miss A Thing' (contains footage from the film Armageddon), SYSTEM OF A DOWN's 'Boom!' (anti-war video containing facts and figures about, amongst other things, the projected casualties in the war in Iraq), BON JOVI's 'This Ain't A Love Song' (contains war scenes and victims in distress) and MEGADETH's 'Holy Wars' (song title may offend).
2003: DANZIG report that guitarist Tommy Victor (PRONG) has rejoined the band.