The rock world was stunned with the news that Rush drummer Neil Peart had died of brain cancer on this day in 2020. Peart had kept his illness under wraps since being diagnosed as having it in 2017.  Peart became a member of Rush just a couple of weeks before the group opened its first US tour in 1974.  In addition to becoming one of the best and most admired drummers in rock history,  Peart was a prolific lyricist. He wrote or co-wrote all but about 15 Rush songs.

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on January 7 include... 

 

1937 Paul Revere of Paul Revere and the Raiders born.

1941 Paul Butterfield Blues Band's Robert "Rod Hicks born. 
1945 Strawbs lead singer David Cousins is born.

1946 Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner born.

1948 Kenny Loggins is born.

1949 Marshall Chapman born.

1970 Led Zeppelin opens UK tour at the Birmingham Town Hall.

1970 Farmers near the Woodstock festival site sue Max Yasgur Farm owner for $35,000 in damage to their properties.

1974 Aerosmith opens Get Your Wings tour in Detroit's Michigan Theater.

1981 The Police open the Zenyatta Mondatta world tour at the University of Montreal.

1987 Eric Clapton opens first series of annual Royal Albert Hall concerts.

1993 REM does Greenpeace benefit concert at an Athens, Georgia club.

2004 Ozzy Osbourne pulls the plug on a UK tour due to injuries sustained in an ATV crash.

2006 Fillmore West in San Francisco hosts Bill Graham tribute concert featuring Jackson Browne and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.

2010 UK Postal Service issues stamps featuring cover art from Led Zeppelin, Stones, Clash, David Bowie and Pink Floyd albums.