On This Day
We take you back into classic rock’s history and legacy to note important events that happened on this date as well as celebrate the birthdays of major musical artists and mourn their passing.
Oct 20, 2020: Tony Lewis, Singer For ’80s Band The Outfield, Dies
The English band with an American-sounding name had significant success with their 1985 debut album, Play Deep, thanks to the hit single, “Your Love”
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Oct 20, 2015: Three Dog Night’s Cory Wells Dies
The co-founding vocalist for the hit-making rock band died at age 74 at his home in upstate New York. He sang lead on a #1 hit
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October 20, 1950: Tom Petty Born
Elvis Presley inspired the young Petty to “follow that dream.” Then came The Beatles on TV. And guitar lessons by a future member of The Eagles.
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Oct 19, 2020: Spencer Davis, Leader of Britain’s “Gimme Some Lovin”’ Band, Dies
The band that bore his name was best known for a pair of 1967 top 10 hits, both sung by Steve Winwood, who wrote, “He was like a big brother to me”
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Oct 19, 2010: Elton John Slams Contemporary Music
The musician took aim at what he felt was the sorry state of contemporary pop songwriting and how TV singing contests don’t yield lasting musical acts
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Happy Birthday, Chuck Berry!
One of the founding fathers of rock ‘n’ roll did a stint in prison in the early 1960s after an astonishing run of now-classic hit singles
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October 17, 1969: Kinks’ First U.S. Show in 4 Years
For reasons that are unclear and complicated, The Kinks were unable to play America from 1965 to ’69, with a first show back at the Fillmore East
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Oct. 17, 2017: Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie Dies
The beloved Canadian band’s frontman went out on one last tour after he was diagnosed with cancer. He lived ‘the life,’ said the band in a statement.
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Oct 16, 1966: Grace Slick Joins Jefferson Airplane
A heartthrob for men and role model for women within the 1960s counterculture, she sang the band’s two biggest hits: “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit”
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Oct 16, 2017: Tom Petty Laid to Rest at Private Service
Two weeks after the unexpected death of the rock icon, family and friends attended a private service in Pacific Palisades, CA
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