December 4

 

Rock lost one of its most uncompromising visionaries today in 1993 when Frank Zappa succumbed to prostate cancer at 52, ending the life of the composer-satirist whose fearless creativity and opposition to censorship made him one of music's most important and difficult artists…

 

Guitar's most promising voice was silenced today in 1976 when Tommy Bolin died from a heroin overdose at 25 after performing in Miami opening for Jeff Beck, ending the career of the virtuoso who had just joined Deep Purple but never escaped addiction's grip…

 

Country-rock's foundation was laid by Chris Hillman, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, the Byrds bassist and Flying Burrito Brothers co-founder whose bluegrass background helped create the Americana sound that would influence generations of roots rockers…

 

Jersey Shore's soul voice Southside Johnny Lyon turns 77 today, the Asbury Jukes frontman whose horn-driven R&B kept the spirit of classic soul alive while standing in the shadow of his more famous neighbor Bruce Springsteen…

 

We remember The Beach Boys' wildest spirit Dennis Wilson on his birthday today in 1944, the only surfing Beach Boy whose drumming, Charles Manson association, and troubled life ended with his drowning death in 1983 at just 39…

 

We honor Lynyrd Skynyrd's last surviving guitarist Gary Rossington on his birthday today in 1951, the band's only constant member who survived the 1977 plane crash and kept Southern rock's flame burning until his death in 2023…

 

Country and rockabilly royalty gathered today in 1956 when an impromptu jam session at Sun Studios in Memphis brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins in what became known as the "Million Dollar Quartet" session…

 

Rock immortality was born from disaster today in 1971 when the Montreux Casino in Switzerland burned to the ground during a Frank Zappa concert, inspiring Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" about watching the fire from across Lake Geneva.