On This Day: March 31

March 31st, 2025 by Liz Kosik

1. 1967: Jimi Hendrix sets his guitar on fire for the first time during a performance at the London Astoria, creating one of rock’s most iconic moments.

2. 1986: O’Kelly Isley of The Isley Brothers passes away at age 48, marking the end of an era for the influential R&B group.

3. 1995: Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is tragically murdered by her former fan club president, shocking the music world and cementing her legacy as the “Queen of Tejano Music.”

4. 2001: Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown are banned for life from a Caribbean airline after a dispute with staff, adding to Houston’s troubled public image.

5. 2015: Joni Mitchell is hospitalized after being found unconscious in her home, raising concerns about the health of the legendary singer-songwriter.