Eagle Classic Hitstory August 25 on birminghamseagle.com

On This Day in Eagle Classic Hitstory...

August 25

1949
Gene Simmons, bassist and vocalist for KISS, is born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel. He is best known as "The Demon," his blood-spitting, fire-breathing, and tongue-wagging persona in the hard rock band Kiss, an act he co-founded in the early 1970s. Simmons also contends that he has "never been high, drunk, or smoked in his life."
Gene Simmons Interview on the Mike Douglas Show

1951
Robert John Arthur Halford (Rob), vocalist for Judas Priest, enters the world hellbent for leather and screaming for vengeance.
Judas Priest "Living After Midnight" Live Aid 1985

1954
Elvis Costello (Declan McManus) is born in London.
Elvis Costello "Alison"

1961
Achy-Breaky singer Billy Ray Cyrus is born in Flatwoods, Ken.

1962
The Four Seasons' "Sherry" enters the Hot 100 at #91. The song will make it to the top spot on the pop chart within a month.

1963
Paul McCartney is fined 31 pounds and given a 1 year suspended license for speeding.

1967
The Beatles go to Wales to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Reuters video footage of The Beatles with Guru Maharishi Yogi in 1967

1970
Elton John makes his first appearance in the U.S. at Los Angeles' Troubador, kicking off a 17 day tour.

1970
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer make their world debut at Plymouth Guild Hall in Plymouth, England.

1973
The Faces play what they claim is their last U.K. date. Faces bassist Tetsu Yamaychi has been denied a work permit by the Musicians Union, which has Rod Stewart calling the decision, "a disgrace." However, the group stays together and Stewart claims he's devoting all his time to the group and his next solo LP will be his last.

1973
The Allman Brothers' "Ramblin' Man" is released, and the album Brothers and Sisters enters the album charts.

1973
Stevie Wonder's Innervisions enters the album charts. It would go on to win the Grammy for Album Of The Year.

1975
Elton John plays two sets on the first of three nights at L. A.'s Troubadour to raise money for UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. Over $150,000 is raised for the clinic. John's dates at the Troubadour are special to him because five years ago on this date, he began a weeklong stint there that helped establish his superstar status in the U.S.

1976
Boston releases its self-titled album, which becomes the best-selling debut album ever.

1978
Jackson Browne's Running on Empty turns platinum. His fifth album is a cleverly constructed diary on the road that includes performances recorded on stage and even in hotel rooms. He garners two Top 20 hits, the title track and "Stay/The Load Out."

1979
The Knack's "My Sharona" hits #1 on the chart while Dire Straits' "Lady Writer" peaks at #45.

1979
Gary Numan releases "Cars."

1979
Jazz leader, composer, and arranger Stan Kenton dies following a long illness at Hollywood's Midway. He did influence rock and roll music and it can be heard in the horn charts used by the band, Chicago.

1981
John Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, is sentenced to 20 years in prison.

1982
Fleetwood Mac chalks up another platinum record for the album Mirage. It contains the hit singles "Hold Me" and "Gypsy."

1984
Billy Joel's "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" hits #27 on the pop singles chart.

1984
Glenn Frey's The Allnighter LP enters the charts.

1986
Paul Simon's Graceland is released.

1989
John Mellencamp becomes a grandfather at age 38 when his daughter Michelle gives birth to daughter Elexis Suzanne Peach.

1989
Duran Duran lead singer Simon LeBon and wife Yasmin become parents to daughter Amber Rose.

1993
22-year-old Philip Woldemariam is shot in Los Angeles and rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg is charged with first-degree murder as an accomplice. Dogg's bodyguard, McKinley Lee, is charged with first-degree murder. Lee and Dogg say the shooting was in self-defense after Woldemariam pulled a gun on the performer.

1994
A New York judge formally dissolves the marriage between Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley.

1994
Jimmy Buffett ends up in the drink after his plane turns over follow a takeoff from Nantucket. Buffett escapes the plane and swims to safety.

1994
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page reunite in a London studio to record their MTV "Unplugged" show, which they call, "Unledded."

1995
Dwayne Goettel of the industrial rock group Skinny Puppy is found dead of an apparent heroin overdose at his parents' home in Canada.

1996
Opera singer Sylvia Fisher dies at the age of 86.

1997
Mindy McCready, Kenny Chesney, Jason Sellers, Ray Vega, Sara Evans, Ricochet’s Heath Wright, Skip Ewing, and Kippi Brannon join catalyst Randy Owen for a special "We Are the World"-style recording session aimed at helping the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The group records the song "Make a Miracle."

1998
A historic concert at the Miami Beach Convention Center is interrupted by a bomb threat during the opening performance by 90-year-old singer and Buena Vista Social Club member Compay Segundo. More than two dozen Cuban musicians are granted visas to perform Stateside at the show.

1999
Lionel Richie plays the pyramids. Well, actually, he performs a gig in front of the Sphinx. Says Richie, "It's civilization at its beginning, and for me it's a homecoming."

1999
Concord, Calif. demands from Whitney Houston reparations of $100,000. The ill diva canceled an August 1 concert there at the last minute, after the town had paid for advertising and the rider.

1999
Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx is charged with breach of the peace after he tells a Las Vegas audience they should turn some cars over.

2000
Jack Nitzsche, the noted musician, songwriter, producer, and arranger, dies of cardiac arrest in Hollywood, Calif., He is 63. Nitzsche rose to prominence during the '60s as an arranger of produce Phil Spector's hit singles.

2001
R&B singer and actress Aaliyah dies when a small plane that was to carry her and eight others back to the United States crashes after takeoff in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas.

2003
The Olsen twins sign a recording contract with Sony Music. They're no Ann & Nancy Wilson.

2006
Record executive Lou Wills, who helped Warner Bros. build a powerful lineup of acts, including Larry Graham, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, George Benson, Richard Pryor, Dionne Warwick, Parliament Funkadelic, Prince, and the Time, dies.

August 25 Birthdays