Today in Rock History – 5th APRIL:

BIRTHDAYS
1935: Peter Grant (Manager of Led Zeppelin)
1941: Eric Burdon (The Animals / War)
1941: Dave Swarbick (Fairport Convention )
1942: Alan Clarke ( The Hollies)
1948: Dave Holland (Judas Priest)
1954: Stan Ridgeway (Wall of Voodoo)
1965: Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)

EVENTS
1980: Genesis scored their first UK No.1 album with ‘Duke’.
1981: Death of Bob “The Bear” Hite of Canned Heat [aged 36].
1994: Death of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana [aged 27].

1998: Death of Cozy Powell of Jeff Beck Group / Rainbow/ Whitesnake / Black Sabbath [aged 50].
2002: Death of singer / songwriter, Layne Staley of Alice in Chains [aged 34].
2007: Death of guitarist, Mark St. John of Kiss [aged 51].
2012: Death of Jim Marshall a.k.a. “The Lord of Loud”, pioneer of guitar amplification [aged 88].
2017: Death of composer / producer, Paul O’Neill of Trans-Siberian Orchestra [aged 61].
2024: Death of singer / songwriter, C.J. Snare of FireHouse [aged 64].
2025: Death of bassist, Dave Allen of Gang Of Four and Shriekback [aged 69].

Phenomenal drummer, Cozy Powell died on this day in 1998. He lost control of his Saab car, while speeding in wet weather at 170 kph! He left a great musical legacy though ~ my favourite Cozy playing is when he was with Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow. Here is the mighty “Stargazer”!