SingleU2 – With Or Without You (1987)
AlbumPink Floyd – The Final Cut (1983)
1956Rock and roll crashes onto the silver screen as the film Rock Around the Clock premieres, bringing teenage rebellion and infectious rhythms to theaters everywhere. Starring Bill Haley and His Comets, the film follows a DJ-turned-promoter (played by the real-life DJ Alan Freed) as he introduces the world to this wild new sound. One of the earliest films dedicated entirely to rock music, it sets the stage for future rock ’n’ roll cinema.
1967John Lennon’s first full-blown LSD trip does not go as planned—especially since it happens while recording vocals for “Getting Better.” Mid-session, Lennon starts to lose it, prompting producer George Martin—blissfully unaware of John’s psychedelic state—to escort him up to the roof of Abbey Road Studios for some fresh air. When Paul McCartney and George Harrison hear about this, they sprint to the roof in terror, dragging Lennon back inside before their bandmate floats off into the sky (or at least before he thinks he does).
1976David Bowie adds a new kind of glam to his tour schedule—getting arrested for marijuana possession. Following a gig in Rochester, New York, Bowie, Iggy Pop, and two others find themselves on the wrong side of a police raid at their hotel. The Thin White Duke gets his day in court on April 20 (yes, 4/20), but ultimately, the charges are dropped. Probably a good thing—Bowie had a tour to finish.
1991Leo Fender, the man who revolutionized rock ’n’ roll with a slab of wood and six strings, passes away at 81. The Telecaster—the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar—changed the game, but he didn’t stop there. His Stratocaster became an instant classic, and his innovations extended to bass guitars and amplifiers. Every power chord, every wailing solo, every legendary rock riff—they all owe something to Leo Fender’s vision.
Born1950 Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
1961 Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats)
1968 Andrew Copeland (Sister Hazel)
1980 Deryck “Bizzy D” Whibley (Sum 41)
1961 Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats)
1968 Andrew Copeland (Sister Hazel)
1980 Deryck “Bizzy D” Whibley (Sum 41)
Dead1991 Leo Fender at age 81