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While each day of this column is an opportunity to look back on days of music past, today is indeed a day to look back on, and remember as one of the most tragic events in music took place on this day in 2003.  But before we take a look at that event and give it the honor and respect that it deserves, let's take a look at the other things that happened on February 20th.

Like most days, we have two birthdays to look at today.  Born on this day in 1946 and turning 63, is J Geils of The J Geils Band.  Our other birthday, or would have been birthday if not for his untimely death, would be that of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.  Today, he would have turned  42.

In 1974, Yes sold our Madison Square Garden in New York.  Now, you may be asking yourself, what is so special about that.  I'm so glad you asked.  The band did not advertise this show at all.  The news spread by word of mouth and the tickets sold in two days.

What would this day in rock be without KISS?  A KISSoff article!  Ok, I know that puns are the lowest form of humor, but I couldn't help myself.  I guess they couldn't either, when in 1976 the band had their footprints implanted in the sidewalk outside of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.

This brings us back around to the event that I really want to be the highlight of today's This Day in Rock.  Not because of the tragedy, but so that we will remember.  On this day in 2003, 100 people died in The Station fire when the nightclub was destroyed due to a pyrotechnic accident during Great White's performance.  Guitarist Ty Longley was one of the victims.  The owners of the club, two brothers were charged, along with the band's former tour manager with involuntary manslaughter.  In July of that year, Great White began a tour to raise money for the survivors and families of the victims.