Today in Rock History
APRIL 25th
Steely Dan release "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number." The opening track of their third album, "Pretzel Logic," is the most successful single of the group's career, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1974The album also contains the title track and “Any Major Dude Will Tell You.
“Heaven And Hell,” Black Sabbath’s ninth studio album, is their first to feature Ronnie James Dio as lead singer, replacing Ozzy Osbourne. The album goes platinum. 1980
“Joshua Tree” begins a nine-week run at the top of the Billboard 200. The U2 album has ‘legs’ with “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With Or Without You.” 1987Papa Roach release “Infest.” Recorded in Hollywood, the group’s second album peaks at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart selling more than 3 million copies in the U.S. 2000MORE TODAY IN ROCK...
Eric Avery, bassist for Jane's Addiction, celebrates his birthday. 1965
The guitar (a Fender Stratocaster) that Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock is auctioned off for $295,000. The guitar was played on his legendary rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." 1990
Soundgarden's "Batmotorfinger" enters the U.S. album chart landing at #39. 1992
"Parklife," Blur's third studio album, contains the title track and "Girls & Boys." Both U.K. hits. 1994
The Eagles perform their first reunion concert. Though having previously said it would never happen, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmitt, play for an invited audience at Warner Burbank (CA) Studios. The concert is taped and shown on MTV later in the year. 1994
Godsmack's "IV" is out. Vocalist Sully Erna admits that he "was in a very dark place" while recording the album due to a lawsuit and girlfriend troubles. That would get to anybody. 2006
"Year Zero," Nine Inch Nails' fifth studio album, sells 187,000 copies in its first week. The album subsequently peaks at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. 2007
R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe authors an op-ed in USA Today asking Georgia governor Nathan Deal to veto a bill that would allow students to carry guns on college campuses. "If the governor signs the bill on his desk, he'll be going against the 78% of Georgians who say they oppose guns on campus, as well as a host of college administrators and prominent student and faculty organizations that have spoken out against the bill," writes the Georgia native. 2016
Vicky Cornell, wife of the late Chris Cornell (Soundgarden). announces the launch of Addiction Resource Center (ARC), an online resource for individuals and families struggling with addiction, as well as the Addiction Resource Line (ARL), that connects addicts with clinicians and recovery support advocates. The singer’s substance abuse clearly led to his ’17 suicide. 2018
Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd frontman, wins a legal battle to perform a concert in Frankfurt, Germany after attempts by the city to ban the event amid accusations of Waters’ antisemitism. An administrative court rules against local officials stating neither the city of Frankfurt, nor the German state of Hesse has the right to cancel the concert. 2023
Steely Dan release "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number." The opening track of their third album, "Pretzel Logic," is the most successful single of the group's career, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1974
“Joshua Tree” begins a nine-week run at the top of the Billboard 200. The U2 album has ‘legs’ with “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With Or Without You.” 1987
Papa Roach release “Infest.” Recorded in Hollywood, the group’s second album peaks at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart selling more than 3 million copies in the U.S. 2000