On This Day In History, July 24th

On this day in history we lost a comic genius, a cinematic boxer's theme hits #1, Lou Diamond Phillips plays a deceased rocker and one of the best war movies of all time was released to theaters.

35 years ago: In 1979, LITTLE RICHARD, billed as the Reverend Richard Penniman, spoke to a revival meeting in San Francisco about the dangers of Rock 'n Roll.

34 years ago: In 1980, the great PETER SELLERS died of a heart attack at the age of 54.

32 years ago: In 1982, SURVIVOR'S "Eye of the Tiger", the theme song from "Rocky 3", fought its way to the #1 spot on the U.S. pop charts.

30 years ago : In 1984, after four Super Bowl titles, TERRY BRADSHAW retired from football to clear the way for a career as a professional sportscaster.

29 years ago: In 1985, DISNEY released its first non-G-rated cartoon, "The Black Cauldron".  It was rated PG but It was a box office failure.

27 years ago: In 1987, "La Bamba" was released with LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS.

In 1990, (24 years ago) at a wrongful death trial against JUDAS PRIEST, parents of some suicidal teenagers accused the band of recording subliminal messages on their "Stained Class" album. Judas Priest admitted that backwards messages were recorded on the song"Love Bites" from the disc, "Defenders of the Faith", but denied the "Stained Class" allegations.  A judge eventually cleared them of any responsibility in the deaths.

16 years ago: In 1998, "Saving Private Ryan", arguably one of the best war movies ever made, was released.  It went on to win FIVE Academy Awards.

15 years ago: In 1999, PHIL COLLINS married his third wife, the much younger Orianne Cevey.  Today would have been their 14th anniversary but they divorced in August of 2008.

Nine years ago: In 2005, LANCE ARMSTRONG won his seventh straight Tour de France race before "retiring" from the sport.  All of the titles have now been stripped since it turns out he was doping at the time.