David Lee Roth has reacted in his own style to comments from Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. The online collision between two of rock's loudest mouths started when Simmons was asked why the former Van Halen frontman appeared to have been dropped from Kiss's End Of The Road Tour upon its resumption earlier this month. Simmons told Rolling Stone, "He was the ultimate frontman. Not Plant, not Rod Stewart, nobody. He took being a frontman way beyond anything. And then, I don’t know what happened to him… something. And you get modern-day Dave. I prefer to remember Elvis Presley in his prime. Sneering lips, back in Memphis, you know, doing all that. I don’t want to think of bloated naked Elvis on the bathroom floor."
Roth has responded, by taking to Instagram to post 18 identical photos of a young child giving to camera the middle finger. And, in case there were any doubt as to the target of his vexation, the message "Roth to Simmons" has been added to each.
Johnny Rotten has lost his court case with ex-bandmates, freeing up use of Sex Pistols’ music in a Danny Boyle biopic. Lydon’s former bandmates, guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook, took the singer to court after he attempted to ban the use of songs written and recorded by the iconic punk quartet in the tv drama Pistol, which is based upon Jones’ acclaimed memoir Lonely Boy. Lydon's lawyer had claimed the drama portrays the singer in “a hostile and unflattering light”. Lydon previously referred to Pistol as “disrespectful shit.”
In the History of Rock in 1968 – Ringo Starr quit The Beatles during the White Album sessions when the constant bickering and tension became too much for him. The news of Ringo’s departure was kept secret, and he rejoined the sessions in a few weeks. After Ringo walked out, the remaining Beatles recorded “Back In the USSR”, with Paul on drums and John playing bass.
In 1969 – The Rolling Stones enjoy their fifth American chart topper with "Honky Tonk Women". The record also made #1 in the UK. It was the last hit that included original guitarist Brian Jones.
And in 2007 – Queen guitarist Brian May completed his Doctorate in astrophysics at Imperial College in London.