Then and Now

Released in March 1984, Rob Reiner's 'This Is Spinal Tap' is a comedic film about a fictional British heavy metal band. Considered one of the best music-related movies ever, 'Tap' wasn't an immediate hit.

'A Hard Day's Night' may not have started as a rock 'n' roll movie, but it certainly perfected the genre. Conceived as a day in the life of the Beatles, the 1964 film idealized the Fab Four as music's Marx Brothers who encounter (and often wreak havoc on) various stock characters...

Released in 1999, the film 'Detroit Rock City' followed four young Kiss fans as they endured an ever-escalating series of comedic challenges in order to see their heroes live in concert.

Prog rockers Focus are only known to most for their sole moment of chart glory -- 1973's immortal 'Hocus Pocus,' which brought yodeling to the forefront in classic rock. So where are they now?

When it comes to modern day arena rock, the smooth, sultry voice of Steve Perry wrote the book. The raven haired former lead singer of Journey manned their melodically rocking ship for nine monster albums throughout the '80s and early '90s -- with his elusive mix of sex appeal and that incomparable voice -- before leaving the band permanently and pursuing a solo career.

Maybe it's because he's always bouncing around the stage with the energy of the schoolboy whose uniform he wears, but it's hard to believe Angus Young of AC/DC was born on this day in 1955. So let's wish a happy 57th birthday to the man responsible for some of the greatest riffs in rock history, including 'Thunderstruck,' 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' and 'Back in Black.'

Eric Clapton said he’d try to be our ‘Forever Man,’ so in honor of his turning another year old today (March 30) we’d like to be the first to wish him a Happy 67th birthday. At age 15, Clapton asked his grandparents for help in purchasing an electric double cutaway Kay guitar, and the rest is history.

It’s hard to imagine all the great singers and showman the world could have missed out on in the history of rock ‘n’ roll if not for one Mr. Robert Plant paving the way.

A big -- dare we say heartfelt? -- happy birthday to guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart, who turns 58 today (March 16). For more than 35 years now, Wilson and her older sister Ann have endured and adapted to many changes in the rock landscape to remain one of the more popular bands in classic rock.

As one of MTV's earliest stars, Billy Idol was pretty much all over the radio and TV in the 1980s -- and he still rocks just as hard today.