October 2

 

Rock's everyman Tom Petty passed away on this day in 2017 from an accidental overdose of pain medications at 66, ending the life of the Heartbreakers frontman whose honest songwriting and defiant independence made him one of America's most beloved rockers…

 

The Police's literate frontman Sting, born Gordon Sumner, celebrates his 74th birthday today, the bass-playing songwriter whose intelligent lyrics and jazz-influenced compositions helped define new wave before his successful solo career spanning four decades…

 

The studio world lost a quiet giant today in 2012 when British session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan died at 71, ending the career of the unsung hero who appeared on 55 number-one hits and countless classic recordings without ever achieving household name status…

 

Folk storytelling's master Don McLean celebrates his 80th birthday today, the singer-songwriter whose eight-and-a-half-minute epic "American Pie" became a cultural touchstone while chronicling the day the music died and the loss of innocence in American rock…

 

Genesis's melodic architect Mike Rutherford turns 75 today, the bassist and guitarist whose songwriting anchored the progressive rock giants before finding commercial success with his side project Mike and the Mechanics…

 

Comedy met soul power on this night in 1976 when Joe Cocker guested on Saturday Night Live and performed a memorable duet with John Belushi, creating one of the show's most beloved musical moments as Belushi's manic impression met Cocker's spastic authenticity…

 

The singing cowboy rode into the sunset today in 1998 when Gene Autry died at 91, ending the life of the entertainer who brought country music to Hollywood and became America's most famous cowboy through film, radio, and recordings…

 

Britpop reached its commercial zenith today in 1995 with the release of Oasis's '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?', the album featuring "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger" that made the Gallagher brothers' swagger impossible to ignore worldwide.