Van Halen's Michael Anthony born on this day in 1955.  The Van Halen bassist from 1974-2006 was a guitarist in his teens but switched to bass by literally converting a Fender guitar into one by eliminating two of its six strings.  Anthony was in a series of bands from the late 1960's into the 70's.  A Pasadena High School booking paired Michael's band at the time, Snake, and a group Eddie and Laex Van Halen had formed called Mammoth.  When that group's bassist bailed, the brothers recruited Anthony as his replacement.  Soon after Michael came onboard, the group had to changed its name to Van Halen after learning another band had laid earlier claim to Mammoth.

Anthony's role in Van Halen began to become marginalized after the groups first two albums.  Eddie Van Halen recorded bass on the majority of songs on Van Halen III.  Anthony got involved in other projects, most notably with Sammy Hagar. He also participated in a short-lived group under the name Planet Us that included Hagar, Joe Satriani and Journey's Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo.  Anthony and Hagar have hung together musically in the band Chickenfoot and the Circle.

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on June 20 include...

1942 Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys born.

1948 Deep Purple's Don Airey born.

1966 Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard born.

1969 Grateful Dead release Aoxomoxoa.

1969 David Bowie signs record contract with Mercury Records.

1974 Bob Dylan and The Band release Before The Flood.

1975 Neil Young releases Tonight’s The Night.

1975 Talking Heads do irts CBGB set.

1977 Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart crashes his car into a canyon and sustains multiple injuries. 

1980 Rolling Stones release Emotional Rescue.

1986 Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Elton John and Ike and Tina Turner perform at 4th annual Princes Trust concert
1975 The Talking Heads debut at CBGB.

1977 Steve Winwood releases self-titled solo.
1977 Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart suffers several fractures in a California canyon car wreck.

1978 Foreigner releases Double Vision.

1980 The Rolling Stones release Emotional Rescue.

1986 Dire Straits, Phil Collins, Elton Johnand Tina Turner play the 4th Prince's Trust benefit in London.

1987 Aerosmith's Permanent Vacation tour opens in Dallas.

1987 Boston plays Texas Jam - first concert in 8 years.

1988 Steve Winwood releases Roll With It.

1996 Eric Clapton appears with opera legend Pavorotti in Florence Italy benefit for Bosnian refugees.

1996 Grateful Dead members appear together for first time since Jerry Garcia's death.

1998 Green Day's Mike Dirnt suffers skull fracture after being hit by bottle wielded by Third Eye Blind's Arion Salazar in Irvine California concert.   

2006 Heart Of Gold, movie about Neil Young released on DVD.