Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) killed more than three dozen Canadians in 2003 and prompted the country's biggest-ever rock concert. The Rolling Stones led the way in organizing what was unofficially known as SARSstock and SARSapalooza. AC/DC, the Guess Who and Rush were among the rock bands signed on for the event, which happened 10 years ago today.
It's been 40 years since Led Zeppelin had more than $200,000 in cash stolen from a safety-deposit box at their New York City hotel. Hardly a crippling loss, seeing as it came near the end of a tour that grossed more than $4 million. But it was almost a sign that the legendary group's career had peaked and more troubles were on the way.
It's one of the most famous songs of the 20th century and an anthem that, to this day, still ends the main set of Paul McCartney's concerts. On July 29, 1968, the Beatles began recording 'Hey Jude,' a process that would take one week and two studios to complete.
Ever the restless wanderer, Neil Young spent much of the 80s exploring different musical avenues. It's only natural that one path would eventually take him back to the past, which is what happened on 'Everybody's Rockin,'' released on July 27, 1983.
Before ZZ Top became global superstars -- synonymous with infectious boogie rock, fast cars, beautiful women, synchronized hand gestures and bodacious beards -- they were just three men from Texas. Tres hombres. Three bluesmen, to be precise, whose third album proved to be their commercial breakthrough.
Their first live album saved their career. The second confirmed their place as global superstars, and the third proved they could succeed without two original members and their famous facepaint. So what could Kiss possibly do to make their fourth live album different?
As the saying goes, artists have their entire life to make a debut album, but only a year to record the follow-up. But Talking Heads managed to avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx on their second album, 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' which was released in July 1978.
Mott the Hoople officially entered the second and greatest chapter of their career in July 1973, when they released their sixth album. The LP's title, a simple 'Mott,' said it all: The band that had been kicking around since 1969 as an often heavy-handed British bluesy rock group led by a singer with a serious Bob Dylan obsession was no more. It was glam time.
It was held at the Westfield School in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, and they were paid only five pounds, but July 8, 1978, nevertheless was a very big deal for Def Leppard: It marked the group's first-ever public performance.
The Grateful Dead's self-titled debut album from 1967 was a casserole of folk, rock, blues and psychedelia. But it didn't quite capture the live Dead experience. So on their second album, 'Anthem of the Sun,' they set out to bring their celebrated concert experience into the studio.
Every Rolling Stones show comes with a certain amount of expected drama, but even by the band's elevated standards, their 1972 tour was especially crazy.
