September 8th

2005:  Rod Stewart was ordered to pay the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas $2 million plus interest for a scheduled New Year concert in 2000.  Stewart said his voice disappeared at the time which led to the concert cancellation.

2003:  David Bowie performed the first interactive concert when his performance was beamed into 21 cinemas around the world.  He also took song requests & questions.

2002:  Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson began another job as an airline pilot with airline Astraeus, based in London.  Dickinson would later fly Iron Maiden’s plane for their 2008 world tour documented in band’s documentary Flight 666.

1994:  At the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Aerosmith won Video of the Year for Cryin’, which featured the first appearance of Alicia Silverstone, who appeared in three of their music videos. 

1990:  Jon Bon Jovi reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with his debut solo single Blaze of Glory from the movie Young Guns II.

1988:  Elton John sold 2,000 items of his personal memorabilia at a Sotheby’s auction in London.  His giant Pinball Wizard boots from the movie Tommy sold for $11,000 & the auction brought in a total of $6.2 million.

1979:  Dire Straits kicked off their second North American tour at The Orpheum in Boston.

1976:  Peter Frampton spent the day at the White House as a guest of President Gerald Ford’s son Stephen.  Frampton received a tour of the place and the day ended with a visit to the living quarters to watch TV with the Ford family.

Birthdays:

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan-organist for the Grateful Dead born in 1945