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Today in Rock

March Twelfth Featured Artist

Metallica begin recording their follow-up to '03's "St. Anger." "We're pretty f**kin' psyched about it and pretty f**kin' psyched to be sharing this experience with (producer) Rick (Rubin)," reads the group's online post. 2007
1940's  Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne enters the world. 1949

1950's  Steve Harris is born in London. He works as an architectural draftsman but quits his day job after launching Iron Maiden in '75. The bassist also serves as the group’s principal composer and lyricist. 1956

Elvis-clone, Fabian, performs his hit "Turn Me Loose" on American Bandstand. 1959
1960's  Elvis Presley records his "Something For Everybody" album in 12 hours. The records are getting the same "rush job" as his films. 1961

John Lennon misses the first of three shows due to a severe cold. The Beatles perform as a trio. 1963

George and Patti Harrison are busted at their south London home on charges of cannabis resin possession. In a suspicious coincidence, this occurs as Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman. 1969
1970's  John Lennon and singer Harry Nilsson raise a raucous during a Smothers Brothers’ concert at L.A.’s Troubadour Club. They get tossed out making headlines. This period becomes known as Lennon’s “Lost Weekend.” 1974

1980's   
U2’s “War” enters the U.K. album chart at #1. 1983

1990's  Red Hot Chili Peppers perform "Under The Bridge" on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops. 1992
2000's  The Chinese Ministry of Culture bans four Rolling Stones’ songs prior to the group’s first tour of the mainland. The songs, banned for sexual references and/or inter-racial coupling, are “Brown Sugar,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Beast of Burden” and “Let’s Spend The Night Together.” So “Bitch” is OK? 2003

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott and bassist Rick Savage play an acoustic set in their hometown of Sheffield, England, to benefit a local charity that helps parents who have sick children. Naturally, they perform Leppard tunes, among other covers. 2004

Eric Clapton unveils his design for a Crossroads Centre benefit T-shirt. It’s a golden sunburst and smiling face against a blue backdrop. Clapton founded the alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility on the island of Antigua. 2004

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament finishes a six-day ascent to the summit of Tanzania`s Mount Kilimanjaro -- Africa`s highest peak. It`s part of the Climb for the Children 2004 initiative, which raises funds for the Save the Children youth-assistance organization. 2004

"Far Cry," the first single from Rush's "Snakes And Arrows" album, hits radio. 2007

Chevelle team up with renowned horror-flick director, Wes Craven, on a contest where fans create their own video for the band's single, "Well Enough Alone." 2007

Van Revolver? Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Slash present Van Halen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also, VR perform rather than Van Halen. Why? Well, VH has problems. David Lee Roth won't share the stage with his replacement, Sammy Hagar, who also left on a sour note. And Michael Anthony was booted out after a quarter century with the band. Van Halen has more issues, anger and angst than a divorce support group. No wonder they bailed on taking the stage. Initially, plans are made to seat various members at separate tables. In the end, neither Eddie Van Halen (who's in rehab - again), brother Alex nor David Lee Roth attend the ceremony. Roth is unhappy because producers won't allow him to perform solo. Sorry bud, it's Van Halen - the group - not Diamond Dave. Even an attempt to get the usually attention-craving Roth to front Velvet Revolver fails. "Kinda what happened was, he (Roth) wanted to sing the song 'Jump,' says Weiland. "That wasn't a song we felt comfortable with. We don't have keyboards. To bring a keyboard on stage wouldn't work for us. We said we'd do "Jamie's Cryin'" or "You Really Got Me," and he was adamant that wasn't okay." So it's down to Hagar and Anthony. Hey, did anybody think to invite Gary Cherone? Nope. 2007

One a more pleasant note… Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder welcomes R.E.M. into the Hall of Fame, while Rage Against the Machine's Zack de la Rocha handles the honors for Patti Smith. Vedder joins R.E.M. for a rendition of the group's "Man in the Moon." The show closes with an all-star jam on Patti Smith's "People Have The Power" with Sammy Hagar, R.E.M., Vedder and the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards. Well, somebody got it right. 2007

Linkin Park launch a remix contest where participants choose two LP tracks paired together. Entrants use an online program to separate the tunes into their component parts, then mash them up into a new creation. All individual participants are eligible for a $4,000 grand prize and a winning college student is awarded a Linkin Park gig at his or her school. 2008

Halloween, the Rob Zombie-directed remake of the horror classic, wins Best Film in the sixth annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards voting. The trophy is presented at the WonderFest toy collectors' expo in Louisville, KY. 2008