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Timeline : The Simpsons

December 23, 1943

Harry Shearer (aka Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap) is born in Los Angeles, California. Shearer is also known for voicing a number of characters on The Simpsons, including Principal Skinner and Ned Flanders.

June 16, 1969

Experimental avant-garde/free-jazz artist Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, releases Trout Mask Replica, a polyrhythmic, polytonal collection of noise that is either an unlistenable mess or a work of genius.More

December 17, 1989

The Simpsons debuts on Fox with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." The show quickly attracts big-name guest stars, including many musicians. In Season 3, Michael Jackson, Sting and Aerosmith appear.

April 11, 1991

Ringo Starr appears on the Season 2 episode of The Simpsons "Brush With Greatness."

September 19, 1991

Michael Jackson is a guest voice on The Simpsons, where he plays a mental patient Homer befriends named Leon Kompowsky.

November 21, 1991

An animated Aerosmith perform "Walk This Way" on the "Flaming Moe's" episode of The Simpsons. The band is one of the first musical guests on the show.

November 19, 1992

Linda Ronstadt appears on the famous "Mr. Plow" episode of The Simpsons, where she appears in a commercial for Homer's rival, Plow King (Barney Gumble).

November 5, 1992

Tom Jones appears on The Simpsons in the episode "Marge Gets a Job."

April 29, 1993

Barry White guests on The Simpsons, where he serves as MC of Whacking Day.

September 30, 1993

George Harrison and David Crosby play their animated selves on the Season 5 premiere of The Simpsons, "Homer's Barbershop Quartet."

November 11, 1993

James Brown appears on The Simpsons in the episode "Bart's Inner Child."

October 29, 1995

Paul Anka guest stars on the "Treehouse of Horror VI" episode of The Simpsons.

October 15, 1995

Paul McCartney and his wife Linda appear on an episode of The Simpsons where they help Lisa become a vegetarian. Paul explains that if you play "Maybe I'm Amazed" backwards, you'll hear a recipe for lentil soup.

May 19, 1996

Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Peter Frampton and Cypress Hill appear on the "Homerpalooza" episode of The Simpsons.

January 5, 1997

Johnny Cash plays Coyote, Homer Simpson's imaginary guru, on The Simpsons. Coyote tells Homer to buy more material possessions.

February 14, 1999

Elton John appears on the "I'm with Cupid" episode of The Simpsons, where he does a re-worked version of "Your Song."

January 23, 2000

Britney Spears guest stars on The Simpsons in the episode "The Mansion Family," where she presents the award for Springfield's oldest man.

November 5, 2000

The Who guest star on the "A Tale of Two Springfields" episode of The Simpsons.

November 10, 2002

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, and Brian Setzer guest star on The Simpsons in an episode where they run a rock and roll fantasy camp. The first rule of the camp: There are no rules! Second rule: No outside food.More

January 5, 2003

Little Richard guest stars on the "Special Edna" episode of The Simpsons.

May 11, 2003

Jackson Browne appears on the "Brake My Wife, Please" episode of The Simpsons.

February 13, 2005

50 Cent appears on The Simpsons in the episode "Pranksta Rap."

July 27, 2007

The Simpsons Movie debuts. Early in the film, Green Day sink into Lake Springfield.

September 23, 2007

Lionel Richie appears on The Simpsons in the episode "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs."

May 20, 2012

Lady Gaga appears on The Simpsons, where she tries to help Lisa improve her social standing in the episode "Lisa Goes Gaga."

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