Today in Rock History – 16th MARCH:

BIRTHDAYS
1943: Jerry Goodman (The Flock / Mahavishnu Orchestra)
1948: Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper Band)
1954: Nancy Wilson (Heart)
1963: Stuart Kerr (Texas)
1991: Wolfgang Van Halen

EVENTS
1975: Death of innovative blues guitarist, Aaron “T-Bone” Walker [aged 64].
2008: Death of singer, Daniel MacMaster of the group, Bonham [aged 39].
2015: Death of drummer, Bruce Crump of Molly Hatchet [aged 57].
2015: Death of bassist, Andy Fraser of Free & Sharks [aged 62].
2017: Death of blues harmonica player / singer / songwriter, James Cotton [aged 81].
2019: Death of guitarist, Dick Dale [aged 81]. Dick was a true original, known as “The King of Surf Guitar”.
2019: Judas Priest & Halestorm played a concert at Spark Arena, Auckland ~ I was there!
2025: Death of singer / songwriter / musician, Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods [aged 83]. Two of Jesse’s best known songs are “Get Together” (sung briefly by Kurt Cobain on Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album) and “Darkness, Darkness” (covered by Robert Plant in 2002).

Happy 77th Birthday to Michael Bruce, original guitarist for Alice Cooper! Michael is on all those classic Coop LPs from 1969 to 1974 and made a guest appearance on Alice’s 2017 album, ‘Paranormal’.

Also, Happy Birthday to guitarist / singer / songwriter, Nancy Wilson of Heart, who is 71 today! I took the above photo of her at the concert at Taupo Amphitheatre on Saturday, 24th of January, 2015. It was a scorching hot day and Heart rocked!