Today in rock history 8th April

Wednesday April 8th
1947 – Born on this day, Steve Howe, guitarist, Yes,
1962 – Born on this day, Izzy Stradlin, guitar, Guns N’ Roses,
1963 – Julian Lennon (John Charles Julian Lennon) is born in Liverpool,
1966 – Mike Vickers leaves Manfred Mann. ‘Permanent’ replacement named as Jack Bruce.
1972 – written after the ‘Bloody Sunday Massacre’, in Northern Ireland Paul McCartney and Wings released ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish.’ The song was banned by the BBC
1973 – Neil Young’s film Journey through the Past premiers at the UK Film Festival in Dallas.
1973 – During his Ziggy Stardust world tour, David Bowie played the first of three sold out nights at Shinjuku Koseinenkin, Kaikan, Tokyo, Japan.
1977 – during a UK tour Fleetwood Mac played the first of three sold-out nights at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1979 – Van Halen embark on their first world tour. The band toured for nearly a year, opening for Black Sabbath and establishing a reputation for their performances.
1979 – Aerosmith played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the first night on their 38 date Night In The Rut Tour.
1993 – during a the European leg of his current world tour, Bruce Springsteen played the second of two sold-out nights at the Hallen stadion in Zurich, Switzerland.
1994 – The Recording Industry Association of America announced that Pink Floyd’s 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon had become the fourth biggest-selling album in US history and had passed the 13 million mark in sales.
1996 – In Lansing, Mich., rocker Ted Nugent gives an archery demonstration. He says the sport is an excellent distraction for kids, as opposed to taking drugs.
1998 – It is reported that a boat carrying Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood burst into flames just days before the Brazilian leg of the band’s Bridges to Babylon tour.
2000 – Rage Against the Machine sweep the 23rd California Music Awards, winning five prizes for their album The Battle of Los Angeles.
2002 – Marilyn Manson denied claims that he was responsible for the death of a woman after a party at his mansion in 2001.
2006 – The Rolling Stones play their first-ever concert in China with a gig in Shanghai.
2007 – Kings Of Leon started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Because Of The Times.’