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.
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.
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Today in Boston ROCK: April 8
1962
April 8, 1962: Jeffrey Dean Isbell is born in Indiana. You know him, of course as Izzy Stradlin of Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds. Oh, and he’s the co-founder and rhythm guitarist of a little band called Guns N’ Roses.
1975
April 8, 1975: Aerosmith releases their third studio album, Toys in the Attic. It’s Aerosmith superfan (and my close personal friend) Johnny L’s favorite Aerosmith album. But how many songs from the album make our Top 50 list?
1977
April 8, 1977: The Clash release their self-titled debut album. I am six weeks older than this album. I would give anything to travel back in time 45 years, drop the needle, and have my mind blown to pieces by “Janie Jones.” Can you imagine?
1994
April 8, 1994: The Offspring release their breakthrough third album Smash. Did they know ahead of time that this would be the album that put them on the map? Is that why they chose the title that they chose? You can ask them when they come to Boston on May 15. Enter to win a pair of tickets to the show.
1997
April 8, 1997: Third Eye Blind releases their self-titled debut album. Five hit singles, six-times platinum, it’s in the conversation when shortlisting the greatest rock albums of the ’90s. “Graduate” is my fave song of the lot.