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Today in rock history: on this date in 2003, California-born and bred singer/songwriter Warren Zevon died at age 56. Zevon was diagnosed with cancer and, instead of undergoing treatment, opted to record a final album (2003’s The Wind) and invited many of his musician friends and contemporaries to join him in the recording. Zevon is best remembered for his 1978 hit “Werewolves of London,” but his vast catalog of work and his remarkable songwriting skills made him one of the most unique and gifted artists to emerge in the 1970s. Throughout his career, Zevon’s collaborators and guest stars who appeared on his records ranged from artists like Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Beach Boy Carl Wilson and various members of Fleetwood Mac and many more. Rock vocalist Linda Ronstadt covered several of Zevon’s songs throughout her massively successful run of popular records in the 1970s and was instrumental in bringing Zevon’s amazing work to a wider audience. Still highly regarded and revered, Warren Zevon was a truly distinctive and original artist who’ll never be forgotten.
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1976, Swedish pop band ABBA scored its fourth U.K. no. 1 hit single with their smash hit, “Dancing Queen.” The popular tune was the band’s one and only no. 1 hit in the United States and it topped the charts in over a dozen countries around the world. The song stayed atop the pop singles chart in the band’s native Sweden for 14 straight weeks.
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Review: Stevie Nicks, The Pretenders connect to fans with intimate, rare songs set at Amalie Arena
Today in rock history: on this date in 1951, rocker Chrissie Hynde was born in Akron, Ohio. After a move to England, the budding musician served a stint as a rock journalist and was a permanent fixture around the booming British 1970s punk rock scene. She’d soon form her own band, The Pretenders, and release some of the most inspiring and boldest records of the era, starting with the band’s incendiary self-titled 1980 debut album. Hynde continues to record and tour to this day, serving as the only original member of the Pretenders to remain a constant throughout their long tenure while still enduring as one of the most admired female rock stars of all time. See photos of The Pretenders' November 2016 set at Tampa's Amalie Arena here.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1968, The Doors made their its debut in England when they played the first night of a two-night run at London venue, The Roundhouse. The band played two shows per night and performances were attended by members of the Rolling Stones and Traffic. A live concert film entitled The Doors Are Open was filmed during the sold out performances and was shown on British television not long after these shows had occurred.
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This article appears in Sep 7-14, 2017.