188 Classic Rock

April 30th 1999, Nazareth drummer Darrell Sweet died aged 52, after suffering a fatal heart attack before a show in New Albany, Indiana. Nazareth had the 1973 UK No.9 single 'Broken Down Angel' 1976 US No. 8 single 'Love Hurts'.

April 30th 1980, The film 'McVicar' with Roger Daltrey from The Who in the title role premiered in London, England. John McVicar was a 1960s armed robber turned writer who Scotland Yard publicly announced to be Public Enemy Number One and "wanted dead...

April 30th 1966, The Rolling Stones fourth album 'Aftermath' went to No.1 on the UK chart, the group's third UK No.1 album. The album is considered an artistic breakthrough for the band and is the first to consist entirely of Jagger–Richards compositions,...

April 30th 1983, American Blues legend Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) died in his sleep at his home in Westmont, Illinois, aged 68. Major influence of many acts, Cream, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones named themselves after Waters'...

30th April 1957, Elvis Presley recorded the Leiber and Stoller song 'Jailhouse Rock' as featured in his third motion picture of the same name. In the movie, Mike Stoller had a small role as a piano player. 'Jailhouse Rock' later became the first song...

April 29th 1997, American bass guitarist Keith Ferguson died of liver failure at the age of 50, due in part to a nearly thirty-year addiction to heroin. He was a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds who had two hit songs in the 1980s, 'Tuff Enuff' and...

April 29th 1963, Publicist Andrew Oldham and agent Eric Easton signed a management deal with The Rolling Stones after buying the rights to the bands first recordings for £90. They also persuade keyboard player Ian Stewart to drop out of the line up and...

April 29th 1899, Born on this day, Duke Ellington, composer, bandleader, pianist, died 24th May 1974. Worked with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday.

April 29th 1931, Born on this day, Lonnie Donegan, singer who launched the skiffle craze. He had a 1960 UK No.1 single with ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman’, plus over 30 other UK Top 40 singles. He died on November 3rd 2002.

April 29th 1933, Born on this day, Willie Nelson, country music singer-songwriter, (He was born on April 29, 1933, but his birth was recorded on April 30). Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism...