AC DC Has Big Day Today: Today in Classic Rock History 9-28-12

Today In Classic Rock History

In 1956
RCA Records credited Elvis Presley with selling more than ten-million records in his first year with the label. (before that he just wrote his name in the middle with a Sharpie)

In 1958
The Teddy Bears released the single "To Know Him Is To Love Him," a song that eventually became a chart-topper.  It was the first single written, arranged, and produced by a then-18-year-old Phil Spector.

In 1963
New York DJ Murray the K played The Beatles' single "She Loves You," which is said to have been the first time a Beatles record aired in the U.S.

In 1968
Janis Joplin's manager announced that the singer would be leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company in about two months.  According to Joplin, she and the band, quote, "weren't growing together anymore." (Sadly, she didn't grow much more after that, either)

The Beatles topped the pop singles chart with "Hey Jude."  The song stayed at number one for nine weeks. (The song is actually a message to Julian Lennon)

In 1972
David Bowie sold out his first U.S. show at New York's Carnegie Hall.

In 1973
The Rolling Stones appeared on the ABC-TV show "In Concert."

In 1974
John Lennon was the guest DJ on New York's WNEW-FM.

Guitarist Mick Ronson replaced Ariel Bender in Mott the Hoople.

Bad Company's self-titled album hit number one on the albums chart.

In 1976
George Harrison was sued by his record label for not delivering his next album on time.

AC/DC released the album "High Voltage."

In 1986
Stevie Ray Vaughan had to cancel the last 13 dates of a tour of Europe because he collapsed -- reportedly from years of substance abuse that had taken its toll on him.

In 1987
Elton John successfully sued a British tabloid that reported he had guard dogs at his mansion, but that the dogs couldn't bark because the rocker had the dogs' larynxes removed.

Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson were guests on the game show "$10,000 Pyramid."

In 1988
Ozzy Osbourne released the album "No Rest for the Wicked." (about Sharon?)

In 1989
Jimmy Buffett published a book of short stories called "Tales From Margaritaville."

In 1990
Iron Maiden released the album "No Prayer for the Dying."

In 1991
AC/DC was a headliner the "Rock Monsters" concert.  The show took place in near Moscow in Russia. (They performed Dirty Deeds done with Sheep, and everyone had a shot of Vodka, and chuckled Ha-Ha-Ha)

In 1992
Ex E Streeter keyboardist Danny Federici rejoined the group for a performance with Bruce Springsteen in Los Angeles.

In 1993
Ronnie Wood released the solo album "Slide On Live."

In 1996
Bob Dylan's name was submitted as a nominee for the Nobel Prize for literature by Professor Gordon Ball, from the Virginia Military Institute.

In 2000
The "Ballet for Life," a dance tribute to the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, had its premiere in London.  Queen drummer Roger Taylor was among those who attended the event.

In 2001
Peter Gabriel was among the artists participating in the "Quebec-New York" concert in Montreal.  The Canadian benefit concert raised money to aid in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against America.

In 2004
Yusuf Islam -- also known as Cat Stevens -- wrote an editorial about the U.S. government's refusal to let him into the country, which was published in the "Los Angeles Times."  He referred to himself as, quote, "a victim of an unjust and arbitrary system," which he said was hurting America's image as a champion of the civil liberties.  He added that he was "a man of peace," who denounced all forms of terrorism and injustice. (YOU ARE CAT STEVENS! YOUR MUSIC SUCKED! YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED BACK IN THIS COUNTRY! b wally rant!)

New album releases included Brian Wilson's "Smile," the studio project he began in 1966 with Van Dyke Parks; Mark Knopfler's "Shangri-La," and Nancy Sinatra's self-titled effort, for which she collaborated with several modern rockers including U2's Bono, former Smiths frontman Morrissey, and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore.

In 2005
Dr. John, Ivan Neville, and the Drive By Truckers were among the performers at "Soul to Soul: From the Heart of New York City to the Heart of New Orleans."  The concert, at Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park raised money for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic.

In 2007
Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen announced plans to build "Rick's" -- a proposed 25-million-dollar hotel-restaurant-museum complex in his native Rockford, Illinois.

The 9th annual Standin' On The Corner Festival, which draws its name from The Eagles' hit "Take It Easy," began in Winslow, Arizona.

In 2008
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were confirmed as the halftime performer for Super Bowl 43.

In 2010
Ozzy Osbourne hosted his first Ozzfest in Israel.  Korn, Soulfly, and the Israeli metal band Betzefer also performed at the concert, which took place in Tel Aviv.

New album releases included Phil Collins' "Going Back," Eric Clapton's "Clapton," the Doobie Brothers' "World Gone Crazy," and Halford's "Halford IV - Made Of Metal."