188 Classic Rock

April 17th 1983, Felix Pappalardi, producer and bass player with American rock band Mountain was shot dead by his wife Gail Collins during a jealous rage. Collins was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to four years in prison. Pappalardi...

April 17th 1974, Vinnie Taylor guitarist with US rock 'n roll revival band Sha Na Na was found dead in a Holiday Inn hotel room in Charlottesville, Virginia from a drug overdose. Sha Na Na played at the Woodstock Festival, their 90-second appearance in...

April 17th 1994, Pink Floyd started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with The Division Bell, their fourth No.1 album.

April 17th 1934, Born on this day, Don Kirshner, who launched the careers of Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Harry Nilsson, The Monkees and The Archies. He died on January 17, 2011.

April 17th 1998, Linda McCartney died after a long battle against cancer. Married Paul McCartney in 1969 when she was working as a photographer. As well as a being a member of Wings, she became an animal rights campaigner and launched her own brand of...

April 16th 1947, Born on this day, Gerry Rafferty, UK singer songwriter, Stealers Wheel, (1973 US No.3 & UK No.8 single 'Stuck In The Middle With You', The song was used in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs, during the famous "ear" scene.)....

April 16th 1939, Born on this day, Dusty Springfield, UK singer who had her first UK hit single in 1963 with ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, which reached No.4, a 1966 UK No.1 & US No.4 single with 'You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ plus over 15 other...

April 16th 1972, The Electric Light Orchestra made their debut at The Fox and Greyhound in Croydon, London. ELO were formed to accommodate former Move members Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones....

April 16th 1969, Desmond Dekker and the Aces were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Israelites', making Dekker the first Jamaican artist to have an UK No.1 single.

April 16th 1969, Elektra Records dropped Detroit's MC5 from their label after the band took out an advertisement in a local paper that included the company logo and said; "Fuck Hudsons." The band were protesting at the Michigan department store's refusal...