On this day in 1942 Sir Paul McCartney was born James Paul McCartney in Liverpool, England. The son of working class parents, Paul grew up modestly, but comfortably, in post-war England. His father, a jazz player and pianist, encouraged Paul to play music at an early age. In the spring of 1957, at the age […]
Music History Class
MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Paul McCartney
June 18th, 2012 
Michael McCarron 
Posted in Music History Class 
Tags: Coming Up, Diamond Jubilee, england, george harrison, II, john lennon, Johnny and the Moondogs, Linda McCartney, Liverpool, london, My Love, olympics, Opening Ceremonies, paul mccartney, Queen Elizabeth, ringo starr, solo, the beatles, the Quarrymen, the Silver Beetles, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, wings 
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June 11th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2002, pop-punk institution, New Found Glory, released their third album, Sticks and Stones. Described by Rolling Stone magazine as “just generic kiddie fodder,” Sticks and Stones broke the Coral Springs, Florida quintet into the mainstream. Featuring such abiding Scene hits as “My Friends Over You” and “Head on Collision,” Sticks and […]
Posted in Music History Class Tags: Blink 182, chad gilbert, drive thru records, Head on Collision, jordan pundik, mark hoppus, MCA Records, Music History Class, My Friends Over You, Neal Avron, New Found Glory, Sticks and Stones Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Sticks and Stones MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Enema of the State
June 1st, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 1999, pop-punk icons, Blink-182, released their mainstream shattering third album, Enema of the State. The album sold four times more than Blink’s underground breakthrough, Dude Ranch (1997), and would go on to be a massive world-wide seller. By August 1999, Enema of the State was certified Platinum, selling over 3 million […]
Posted in Music History Class Tags: adam's song, All The Small Things, Blink 182, dude ranch, enema of the state, mark hoppus, Music History Class, tom delonge, travis barker, What's My Age Again? Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Enema of the State MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: The Marshall Mathers LP
May 30th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2000, Eminem’s third album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest selling album of all time, turning 1.76 million copies in its first week. Eminem’s sales bounced the week-one sales record from the legendary Ms. Britney Spears and her sophomore record, Oops…I Did it Again (which sold 1.3 million records in […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: britney spears, eminem, Kim, marshall mathers, Music History Class, Oops...I Did it Again, slim shady, stan, The Marrslpl Mathers LP, the real slim shady, The Way I Am Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: The Marshall Mathers LP MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Pumpkins and Spandex
May 23rd, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2000, the Smashing Pumpkins called it a day after twelve years and six albums. The breakup of the influential alternative rock quartet has been a mystery ever since their final, four-hour Chicago show in December of 2000. Singer Billy Corgan blamed anyone and everyone he could for the Smashing Pumpkins’ demise. […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: axl rose, billy corgan, breakup 2000, britney spears, D'arcy Wretzky, James Iha, Music History Class, Oceania, smashing pumpkins Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Pumpkins and Spandex MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Emo Elopes
May 17th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2008, pop-starlet Ashley Simpson and emo-figurehead Pete Wentz got married. The ceremony took place at the Simpson’s home in Encinco, California and was officiated by Simpson’s father. Two weeks later, Simpson and Wentz announced that they were going to have their first child. On 20 November 2008, a baby boy named […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: Ashley Simpson, divorce, fall out boy, Jessica Simpson, marriage, Music History Class, pete wentz, Thanks for the Memories Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Emo Elopes MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Cocaine, Heroin, and Backing Tracks
May 15th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in in 1995, Stone Temple Pilots eccentric lead singer, Scott Weiland, was arrest in Pasadena, California on cocaine and heroin possession charges. It was the first of his several drug-related arrests. Weiland claims that he was first introduced to heroin when vocalist Gibby Haynes gave Weiland some of the drug while […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: arrest, Big Empty, Butthole Surfer, cocain, Gibby Haynes, Guns N Roses, heroin, Interstate Love Song, Music History Class, Purple, scott weiland, stone temple pilots, Vasoline, Velvet Revolver Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Cocaine, Heroin, and Backing Tracks MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: The Piano Man
May 10th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 1949 legendary rock pianist and song writer, Billy Joel, was born in the Bronx. Joel would spend most of his childhood on Long Island in Hicksville, New York. Born to Jewish parents, Joel took a liking to music at an early age, receiving piano lessons from a Julliard-trained pianist named Frances […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: 52nd Street, Billie Joel, Captain Jack, Glass Houses, It's Still Rock n' Roll to Me, Music History Class, Piano Man, Storm Front, We Didn't Start the Fire Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: The Piano Man MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: All Killer, No Filler
May 8th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2001, Canadian pop-punk outfit, Sum 41, officially blew up thanks to the release of their sophomore album, All Killer, No Filler. Filled to the brim with youthful anti-establishment rhetoric, catchy-as-AIDS choruses, and unabashed immaturity, All Killer, No Filler was a welcomed distraction from the monotony of the post-grunge onslaught. Riding high […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: all killer no filler, canada, island records, Music History Class, Pop-Punk. Fat Lip, sum 41 Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: All Killer, No Filler MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: From Under the Cork Tree
May 3rd, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2005, emo pop-punk outfit, Fall Out Boy, released either their sophomore record or their third record (depending on your view of 2003’s Evening Out with Your Girlfriend), From Under the Cork Tree. The record was Fall Out Boy’s mainstream breakthrough, thanks to the massive hits “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Dance […]
Posted in Columns, Music History Class Tags: Dance Dance, Evening Out with Your Girlfriend, fall out boy, from under the cork tree, Fueled By Ramen Records, island records, Music History Class, patrick stump, pete wentz, sugar we're going down, take this to your grave Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: From Under the Cork Tree MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Speed of Sound
May 1st, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 2005, United Kingdom alternative rock juggernauts, Coldplay, became only the second UK band to have a new song enter the Billboard Top Singles chart with their song, “Speed of Sound.” Coldplay’s first single off of their third album, X&Y, entered the charts at #8. What was the previous UK band to […]
Posted in Music History Class Tags: coldplay, Hey Jude, Kate Bush, Music History Class, Speed of Sound, the beatles, X&Y Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS: Speed of Sound MUSIC HISTORY CLASS – Whole Lotta Love
April 26th, 2012 Michael McCarron On this day in 1969, Hard Rock legends, Led Zeppelin, first performed their massive hit, “Whole Lotta Love.” The track comes off of Led Zeppelin’s massively successful sophomore album, Led Zeppelin II, which came out in October 1969. “Whole Lotta Love” hung around on the United States charts for fifteen straight weeks, peaking at number […]
Posted in Columns, Features, Music History Class Tags: jimmy page, led zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, Music History Class, Robert Plant, Whole Lotta Love Comments Off on MUSIC HISTORY CLASS – Whole Lotta Love