Today in Boston ROCK: April 11

Welcome to another edition of Today in Boston ROCK, where I, Adam 12, spotlight Very Important Days In Rock History. April 11th is one.

• 1989

  April 11, 1989: The Cult releases their fourth studio album, Sonic Temple. It was their first to be produced by Bob Rock. It was also their first to feature drummer Mickey Currey, who came to the band from Hall & Oates, of all places. Fun fact: while demoing tracks for the album, The Cult worked with two other drummers: Chris Taylor of the Bob Rock Band and Eric Singer of KISS. Of course, when the band struck out on tour, it was Matt Sorum behind the kit. Remember when they played the ’89 MTV VMAs?

• 1994

  April 11, 1994: Pearl Jam plays the first of two shows at Boston Garden. Days earlier, the death of Kurt Cobain had shaken the rock world, and the Eddie Vedder & Co. were feeling the shockwaves. In his grief, the singer used the base of his mic stand to bash a hole in the Garden stage, then crawled down into it. I was at the show; I saw it all happen.

  Revisiting the "Smashing" Pearl Jam Boston Garden Set from 1994

  April 11, 1994. Pearl Jam played the first of two shows at Boston Garden, just days after the death of Kurt Cobain. I was there, and it was intense. Some background: this was my first proper live rock show.

• 2017

  April 11, 2017: John Warren Geils, Jr. passes away at the age of 71. Let’s go back 50 years to the J. Geils Band at the Orpheum in ’72 and witness a young J. Geils doing what he did best.