Today in rock history: On this date in 1991, Seattle- based band Pearl Jam released its debut album, Ten. The record was not an immediate success, and it wasn’t until the following year that it would catch fire and become a steadily selling phenomenon and would help put the band on the musical radar. Built from the ashes of another band from the northwest, the glam-influenced Mother Love Bone, two of that group’s members, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, put Pearl Jam together and created one of the best-selling bands of the 1990s. Ten climbed all the way to No. 2 on Billboard’s pop charts and featured the hit singles “Alive,” “Jeremy,” “Even Flow” and “Oceans.” Ten would eventually surpass the 10 million units sold mark and, to date, has exceeded sales of 13 million copies in the Unites States alone making it Pearl Jam’s best-selling record.

Today in rock history: On this date in 1990, the music world lost one of its brightest stars and one of the most gifted and versatile guitar players of all time, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Following a concert appearance in Wisconsin, the 35-year old musician, singer and songwriter boarded a four-seat helicopter that was bound for Chicago but, sadly, crashed into a ski hill not long after taking off. The phenom guitarist was killed along with the aircraft’s pilot and two other riders. Playing guitar since the age of seven, Vaughan quickly carved out a name for himself around the state of Texas and was recognized for his incredible musical gifts and his jaw-dropping guitar abilities. The younger brother of Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Jimmy Vaughan, Stevie was featured as the lead guitarist on David Bowie’s incredibly successful 1983 album Let’s Dance and, soon after, released his incredible debut solo album, Texas Flood. Vaughan went on to record and release several more strong albums before his untimely death cut his career short.

Today in rock history: On this date in 1979, native New Yorker and classically trained vocalist Pat Benatar released her debut album, In the Heat of the Night. A strong and forceful presence in the music world, the singer scored big with this first outing. The hit single “Heartbreaker” became a hit on album-oriented rock and roll radio stations across the country and soon charted as a single on its own. It fueled the popularity and the success of this album which would eventually peak at No. 12 on Billboard’s pop albums chart and boasted another radio hit, “We Live For Love.” Several covers were included on In The Heat of the Night. including selections originally recorded by acts like Sweet, Nick Gilder, The Alan Parsons Project and “I Need A Lover,” a rocker originally written and recorded by John Cougar and released on his self-titled album, which was released only a month before Benatar’s debut album.

WHAT A RUSH
Concert review: Rush delivers the R40 goods at Amalie Arena, Tampa

Today in rock history: On this date in 1953, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson was born in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. Forming the nucleus of the power trio in the late 1960s with a drummer and bassist that would soon depart, Lifeson is the only true original founding member to remain with his long-standing band since its inception. Bassist and singer Geddy Lee would join the lineup only a month after the group would form, and, after its debut album was released in 1974, another lineup change would usher in the inclusion of world-renowned drummer and songwriter Neal Peart. Lifeson has received several accolades and plenty of recognition for his inventive, unique playing style and is often ranked among the greatest guitar players of his time. Besides his prowess as an accomplished musician, Alex Lifeson is also recognized for his painting talents, for being an aircraft pilot and for being a business entrepreneur and a bar/restaurant owner. With worldwide album sales topping the 40 million mark since the band’s inception, this guitar wizard celebrates his 65th birthday today.