May 8

We remember blues' greatest mythical figure Robert Johnson on his birthday today in 1911, the Mississippi guitarist whose legendary crossroads deal with the devil and "Hellhound on My Trail" influenced every rock musician that followed before his mysterious poisoning death at 27 in 1938 made him the 27 Club's founding member…

 

Music video history began today in 1965 when Bob Dylan filmed the promotional clip for "Subterranean Homesick Blues" in a London alley, the simple concept of Dylan dropping lyric cards while Allen Ginsberg lurks in the background essentially inventing the music video format two decades before MTV…

 

The Beatles' dissolution became official today in 1970 with the release of 'Let It Be,' the album capturing the band's disintegration on tape while Phil Spector's overproduced arrangements frustrated Paul McCartney, making their breakup album an appropriately messy ending to rock's greatest partnership…

 

We remember swamp pop's novelty king John Fred on his birthday today in 1941, the Louisiana singer whose Beatles parody "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" became a number one hit despite critics dismissing it as disposable garage rock before his death in 2005…

 

We honor Crazy Horse's most tragic voice Danny Whitten on his birthday today in 1943, the guitarist whose heroin addiction led Neil Young to fire him before an overdose killed him at 29 in 1972, inspiring "The Needle and the Damage Done" and haunting Young for decades…

 

Talking Heads' rhythmic foundation Chris Frantz celebrates his 75th birthday today, the drummer whose partnership with wife Tina Weymouth created the groove that allowed David Byrne's neurotic art-rock to function while their Tom Tom Club side project proved they could funk without him…

 

Disco lost its greatest mogul today in 1982 when Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart died at 39 from cancer and lymphoma, ending the career of the visionary who signed Donna Summer and Kiss while proving that excess and business acumen could coexist briefly…

 

Hard rock's most powerful timekeeper Alex Van Halen turns 73 today, the eldest brother whose thunderous drumming provided the foundation for Eddie's guitar wizardry while his recent memoir revealed decades of frustration living in his younger sibling's shadow.