December 4

 

Today in 1993, Frank Zappa succumbed to his battle with prostate cancer...

 

On this day in 1976, Tommy Bolin died from a heroin overdose at age 25 after a show in Miami FL opening for Jeff Beck...

 

Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers) is 78 today...

 

John Lyon (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes) is 74 today...

 

Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys was born on this date in 1944...

 

Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd was born on this date in 1951...

 

Today in 1956, a jam session took place at Sun Studios in Memphis with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins...

 

Today in 1971, The Montreux Casino in Switzerland burnt to the ground during a gig by Frank Zappa and inspired the song “Smoke on the Water”