posted 10-05-2005 03:59 PM         

1940s
Steve Miller is born in Milwaukee. He gets his first guitar lesson from family friend Les Paul. 1943

AC/DC wailer Brian Johnson is born. 1949

1960s
The Beatles release their first single, “Love Me Do.” The song gets its first airplay on Radio Luxembourg. 1962

Cream begins its “farewell tour” of the U.S. in Oakland. Also on the road, The Who, Small Faces and Joe Cocker roll out together on a tour of England. 1968

The Rolling Stone’s “Street Fighting Man” peaks without reaching the Top 40. It is banned in some cities out of fear the song might incite riots or civil unrest. 1968

Two Hard Rock classics are released: Cream’s “White Room” and Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride.” 1968

The Who appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. 1969

1970s
Grasping at straws. The Guess Who, desperately trying to maintain their career, peak at #6 with the novelty song “Clap For The Wolfman.” It’s a tribute to legendary DJ Wolfman Jack, who is heard on the song. 1974

The soundtrack to The Who’s bio flick “The Kids Are Alright” goes platinum. 1979

1990s
Guns N’ Roses own the top two positions on the album chart with “Use Your Illusion I & II” respectively. 1991

“The Beatles 1962-1966 (Red) and 1967-1970 (Blue) are released on CD. Red is more fun and Blue more accomplished. 1993

2000s
A lot of music hits the shelves. R.E.M. unfurls their 15th album, the politically oriented "Around The Sun." “Pressure Chief,” is the fifth album from CAKE. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane`s Addiction are featured on “Left of the Dial: Dispatches From the `80s Underground,” a four-disc collection. The box set takes its name from a Replacements song and features covers `80s Alternative-Rock songs. Peter Frampton, Santana, Slash, Vernon Reid and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan appear on the “Sing A Song With Six Strings” compilation. The CD’s 13 songs are inspired by children, fatherhood and family. Several tracks are new releases. Also, Neil Young shows up again on the Vote For Change tour. This time it’s in St. Paul. Wearing a “Homeland Security” T-shirt, Young joins R.E.M. on their song “Country Feedback” and performs Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” with Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and John Fogerty. And finally, Rockers from the 60s and ‘70s suffering health problems is expected, but this? Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars undergoes hip-replacement surgery after suffering from a degenerative disease that damages ligaments, tendons and bones. 2004

John Kay...Steppenwolf....