On this day in rock history, Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth was born. Years later, we said a sad goodbye to Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

In a truly scary moment on this date, members of Aerosmith were injured when a fan in Philadelphia threw an M-80 onstage. The incident reportedly burned Steven Tyler's cornea and ruptured an artery in Joe Perry's hand, forcing the group off the road for a while.

Frank Zappa threw out the playbook (and the Mothers of Invention) with the release of Hot Rats, while the Kinks forged determinedly ahead – despite a tepid commercial reaction for 1968's excellent The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society – with their second consecutive concept album. Today, as with most of the Kinks' late-'60s material, Arthur is understood to contain some of their finest work. King Crimson was busy elsewhere, setting the standard for prog with In the Court of the Crimson King.

Watch an exciting recap of many of the day’s biggest rock anniversaries above, narrated by our radio host Zach Martin. And learn more about these important events by clicking the links below.

News Anniversaries:
Aerosmith are injured on stage in Philadelphia (1977)
John Bonham's is remembered at an intimate memorial (1980)

Album Anniversaries:
Kinks - Arthur (1969)
Frank Zappa - Hot Rats (1969)
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
Deep Purple - Come Taste the Band (1975)
Thin Lizzy - Chinatown (1980)
U2 - Rattle and Hum (1988)
Hindu Love Gods (Warren Zevon and R.E.M.) - Hindu Love Gods (1990)

Birthdays:
David Lee Roth (1954)

Aerosmith Albums: Worst to Best

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