March 16: This Day in Rock
In 2004 – Steve Winwood receives a lifetime achievement award at the 2004 Jammys, held at New York’s Roseland Ballroom.
In 1991 – Eddie Van Halen and his wife, actress Valerie Bertinelli, have a son. The couple names the child Wolfgang Van Halen. In 2007, Eddie Van Halen announced a reunion tour with David Lee Roth but without bassist Michael Anthony. Taking Anthony’s place would be the 16-year old Wolfgang. Eddie also went as far as having Michael Anthony’s photos airbrushed out of the original album artwork and replacing Anthony’s photos with Wolfgang’s, who wasn’t even born at the time the albums were released. Fans were outraged, so Eddie reverted back to the original covers after one day.
In 1979 – Twisted Sister sell out New York’s Palladium. It’s the first time an unsigned band has headlined and filled the 3,000-seat theater. The hard rockers don’t get a record deal, though, for another three years.
In 1964 – Ringo Starr is elected vice president of the Leeds University Law Society in England.
And in 1967 – Pink Floyd begin sessions at Abbey Road studios for their debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn.
