September 25

 

Rock's most thunderous heartbeat fell silent on this day in 1980 when John Bonham died at 32 after a night of heavy drinking at Jimmy Page's home, ending Led Zeppelin's career as the loss of their irreplaceable drummer made continuing impossible for the surviving members…

 

Soul music's most dynamic performer Jackie Wilson collapsed from a heart attack today in 1975 while performing live at the Latin Casino in New Jersey, beginning the tragic final chapter for the singer whose electrifying stage presence had earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement."…

 

Saturday morning got a Beatles boost today in 1965 when their animated cartoon series premiered on ABC TV, introducing the Fab Four to a new generation of young fans through colorful adventures and classic songs reimagined for children's television…

 

Radio technology reached for the stars today in 2001 with the launch of XM Satellite Radio Network, revolutionizing how Americans consumed music by offering commercial-free programming beamed directly from space to car radios and home receivers…

 

Rock journalism found its most respected voice when Robert Hilburn was born on this day in 1939, the Los Angeles Times critic whose insightful reviews and artist interviews helped legitimize rock music as a serious art form worthy of thoughtful analysis…

 

Grunge history was made on this day in 1990 when drummer Dave Grohl auditioned for Nirvana and was instantly hired, completing the lineup that would record "Nevermind" and transform alternative rock into a mainstream force…

 

Singer-songwriter introspection reached new artistic heights today in 1974 with the release of Jackson Browne's third album 'Late for the Sky,' the meditation on love, loss, and the passage of time that many consider his masterpiece of personal storytelling.