January 12

 

The Bee Gees lost their middle brother today in 2003 when Maurice Gibb died at 53 in Miami from complications following emergency surgery for a twisted intestine, the multi-instrumentalist's death devastating Barry and leaving Robin as the sole surviving twin…

 

Rock royalty suffered another tragic loss on this day in 2023 when Lisa Marie Presley died at 54 from cardiac arrest, ending the life of Elvis's only daughter who had pursued her own music career while struggling with the weight of her famous name and personal tragedies…

 

We remember British blues giant "Long John" Baldry on his birthday today in 1941, the 6'7" vocalist who mentored Rod Stewart and Elton John while helping establish Britain's blues scene before his death in 2005 ended a career of influential but underappreciated work…

 

Rock lost its original bad girl on this day in 2022 when Ronnie Spector died of cancer at 78, ending the life of the Ronettes' frontwoman whose powerful voice on "Be My Baby" and escape from Phil Spector's abuse made her both a musical icon and survivor…

 

Jazz-funk's keyboard master George Duke was born on this day in 1946, the versatile musician whose work with Frank Zappa and solo fusion hits like "Dukey Stick" showcased his ability to bridge jazz sophistication with R&B accessibility before his death in 2013…

 

We honor Delta blues keeper Mississippi Fred McDowell on his birthday today in 1904, the slide guitarist who preserved traditional blues before being discovered by folk revivalists in the 1960s, influencing Bonnie Raitt and others before his death in 1972…

 

Rap-metal's most political voice Zack de la Rocha was born today in 1970, the Rage Against the Machine frontman whose furious lyrics and confrontational performances made the band the 1990s' most uncompromising fusion of punk rage and hip-hop consciousness…

 

Horror rock's master showman Rob Zombie celebrates his 61st birthday today, the White Zombie founder turned solo artist and film director whose industrial metal and B-movie aesthetics brought theatrical gore back to mainstream rock…

 

Heavy metal was officially born today in 1969 with the release of Led Zeppelin's debut album, Jimmy Page's post-Yardbirds project introducing the world to the thunderous combination of blues, folk, and sheer volume that would define hard rock for decades.