Today’s history marks the birth of a punk rock pioneer, an unprecedented retail stunt by rock’s biggest spectacle, and the tragic loss of the most influential guitarist of all time.

Notable Births

• 1933: Jimmie Rodgers, the American pop singer best known for his million-selling crossover hit “Honeycomb,” was born in Camas, Washington.
• 1940: Frankie Avalon, the American singer, actor, and former teen idol (“Venus”), was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 1949: Kerry Livgren, musician, songwriter, and founding member of the progressive rock band Kansas (“Dust in the Wind,” “Carry On Wayward Son”), was born in Topeka, Kansas.
• 1951: Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin), the founding member, bassist, and primary songwriter of the punk rock pioneers The Ramones, was born in Fort Lee, Virginia.
• 1955: Keith Morris, the highly influential frontman for hardcore punk bands Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Off!, was born in Hermosa Beach, California.

🎵 Major Events & Releases

• 1970: Jimi Hendrix, widely celebrated as the greatest and most influential guitarist in rock history, tragically died of a barbiturate overdose in London at the age of 27.
• 1971: The Who topped the UK album charts with their rock opera masterpiece Who’s Next, earning their first and only No. 1 album on that chart.
• 1976: Boston released their now-signature, arena-rock anthem “More Than a Feeling” as the lead single from their massive debut album.
• 1978: In an unprecedented commercial move, all four original members of KISS (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss) released their own self-titled solo albums on the exact same day.
• 1983: KISS appeared in public without their iconic face makeup for the very first time during an MTV interview to promote their new album, Lick It Up.
• 1993: Meat Loaf went to No. 1 on the UK album chart with Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, propelled by the massive, chart-topping single “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).”

Bio-Musik Feature: Austin’s Live Music Pioneers

Continuing our focus on the venues that sustain the Texas music ecosystem, today we head to the Red River Cultural District to spotlight a legendary BBQ joint with a world-class backyard.

• Stubb’s Bar-B-Q (Waller Creek Amphitheater): Located at 801 Red River Street, Stubb’s perfectly marries two of Austin’s greatest exports: authentic Texas brisket and phenomenal live music. Continuing the legacy of founder C.B. Stubblefield—who famously hosted blues legends in his original Lubbock joint—the Austin venue features a massive outdoor amphitheater carved into the landscape along Waller Creek, as well as a sweaty, intimate indoor stage. As an absolute giant on the MusicWayATX calendar, Stubb’s hosts everyone from iconic rock bands and hip-hop titans to sprawling Latin alternative showcases. It remains a quintessential Austin experience, serving up plates of ribs alongside roaring Sonidos Frescos under the open Texas sky.