Why May 20th Matters In Rock History

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - UNSPECIFIED: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this image released on January 28, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters speaks onstage during the 2021 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO Presented by Capital One stream on LiveXLive.com and broadcast on iHeartRadio’s Alternative and Rock stations nationwide on January 28, 2021. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - UNSPECIFIED: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this image released on January 28, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters speaks onstage during the 2021 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO Presented by Capital One stream on LiveXLive.com and broadcast on iHeartRadio’s Alternative and Rock stations nationwide on January 28, 2021. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

It’s May 20th and here are some reasons why this day matters in rock history:

- In 1997, the Foo Fighters released their second album, The Colour and the Shape.

- In 2000, Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland married model Mary Forsberg. Along with Weiland's STP bandmates, guests included Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis.

- In 1966, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey got tired of waiting for their bandmates John Entwistle and Keith Moon to show up for a gig so they took the stage with the bassist and drummer from the local band who opened for them. When Entwisle and Moon showed, there was a fight that saw Townshend hitting Moon on the head with his guitar. Entwisle and Moon quit, but rejoined a week later.

- In 1995, Don Henley of The Eagles married Sharon Summerall. At the ceremony, Henley’s famous friends Tony Bennett, Billy Joel, Sting and Bruce Springsteen performed.

- In 1997, U2 caused traffic chaos in Kansas City, Missouri after they paid for traffic control to close down five lanes of a highway so they could shoot their video for “Last Night on Earth.” During filmed, a passing Cadillac crashed into a plate glass window while trying to avoid a cameraman.

- In 2006, Tool had the No. 1 album with 10,000 Days

- In 1998, Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was taken to a hospital following a heart attack he suffered during a band rehearsal.

- In 2012, Bee Gee Robin Gibb died from cancer at age 62.

- In 1978, Paul McCartney and Wings’ “With A Little Luck” was the top song in the U.S. It was the former Beatle’s sixth solo No. 1.

- In 2007, former Creed singer Scott Stapp was arrested at his home in Florida and charged with assault after a domestic dispute. 

- In 2001, U2 singer Bono and his wife Ali became the proud parents of a baby boy. They named him John Abraham.

- In 1980, The Clash’s Joe Strummer was arrested following a gig in Hamburg, Germany where he allegedly smashed his guitar over the head of an audience member. He was released after an alcohol test came back negative.

- And in 2013, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek died at age 74 from cancer.

And that’s what happened today in rock history.

Original article by Dave Basner at iHeartRadio