It’s January 2025 y’all! January is a busy month for music birthdays. Let’s get to it.
- The pioneering and legendary Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 67th birthday on January 1
- Gang of Four co-founder and guitarist Andy Gill was born on this day 68 years ago on January 1
- Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones celebrated his 79th birthday on January 3
- French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrated his 50th –yes, y’all, 50th! — birthday on January 3
- The legendary Stephen Stills, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as for being a solo artist, celebrates his 80th birthday on January 3
- Joy Division and New Order founder Bernard Sumner celebrated his 69th birthday on January 4
- Cocteau Twins‘ co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Robin Guthriecelebrated his 63rd birthday on January 4
- Portishead frontperson Beth Gibbons celebrated her 59th birthday on January 4
- R.E.M. s Michael Stipe celebrated his 65th birthday on January 4
- Vanity was born 66 years ago on January 4
- Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein celebrated 75th birthday on January 5
- Sister Sledge‘s Kathy Sledge celebrated her 66th birthday on January 6
- AC/DC co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist Malcolm Young was born 72 years ago on January 6
- The Doors‘ Robby Krieger celebrated his 79th birthday on January 8
- The legendary David Bowie was born 78 years ago on January 8
- Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, one of the greatest guitarists to ever play celebrated his 81st birthday on January 9
- Steely Dan co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Donald Fagen celebrated his 77th birthday on January 10
- The legendary Rod Stewart celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th! — birthday on January 10
- Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul celebrated her 54th birthday on January 11
- Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon celebrated his 55th birthday on January 12
- Rage Against the Machine‘s Zack de la Rocha celebrated his 55th birthday on January 12
- Earth Wind and Fire’s Fred White was born 70 years ago on January 13
- New Orleans‘ greatest sons, the legendary singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer Allen Toussaint was born 87 years ago today
One of the greatest, most commercially successful emcees ever, LL Cool J celebrates his 57th birthday today.
His influence on hip-hop and pop culture is massive — and it shouldn’t be surprising that he’s a Kennedy Center Honors recipient and an inductee into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
When I was 12 Mama Said Knock You Out was the album: I bought a copy of it on cassette at the Nobody Beats the Wiz. I remember going to a girl’s house party: I bought my tape, because — well, it was a party and that was the album, to have at a party. So at some point, my tape was played . . . and the tape wound up getting caught in her tape player, permanently fucking up my copy of Mama Said Knock You Out. I played that warped, fucked up copy for years after that party. I still have that tape!
Happy birthday, LL! May there be many, many, many more!
Discover more from The Joy of Violent Movement
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.