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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1944 Jimmy Page is born.
1955 Rosemary Clooney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mambo Italiano' the singers second No.1. The song was banned by all ABC owned stations in the US because it "did not reach standards of good taste".
1963 Drummer Charlie Watts joined The Rolling Stones after leaving Blues Incorporated.
1967 Dave Matthews was born.
1976 Queen were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The single enjoyed a nine week run on the chart selling more than a million copies by the end of the month. It reached No.1 again in 1991 for five weeks following Mercury's death, eventually becoming the UK's third best selling single of all time.
1979 The music for UNICEF concert took place in New York City featuring Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees, Earth Wind and Fire, Abba and Donna Summer.
1988 Whitney Houston scored her sixth consecutive No.1 in the US with 'So Emotional'.
2005 Elvis Presley went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jailhouse Rock.' The single sold just 21,262 copies to reach No.1, the lowest sales ever for a UK chart topper since data began in 1969. The single was released to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his birth, a previous Elvis chart topper was re-released each week.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1945 Rod Stewart is born in London.
1968 In New Delhi, India, the General Secretary for the Movement for the Spiritual Regeneration (not, we suspect, a real government office) announces that the Beatles are coming to India to study transcendental meditation. George Harrison is currently in Bombay recording the soundtrack to Wonderwall.
1977 David Bowie wins the US Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films Best Actor Award for 'The Man Who Fell to Earth'.
1981 John Lennon's 'Imagine' started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart, 10 years after it was recorded. Lennon had two other songs in the Top 5 this week, 'Happy Christmas, (War Is Over') and '(Just Like) Starting Over.' 'Imagine' was voted by the viewers of BBC TV as the best lyrics of all time in a poll broadcast in Oct 1999. Also on this day John and Yoko's 'Double Fantasy' album started an eight-week run at No.1 on the US chart. 'Just Like Starting Over' was at No.1 on the US singles chart.
2000 Def Leppard have some personal effects stolen from their tour bus in Kelowna, Canada. The thief made off with nearly $5000 worth of the band's personal items, including videotapes belonging to singer Joe Elliott.
2006 An Australian woman appeared in court charged with repeatedly stabbing her partner with a pair of scissors in the back, shoulder and thigh because he played Elvis Presley's song 'Burning Love' over and over again.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1958 The release date for the Elvis Presley single 'Jailhouse Rock' was put back a week after Decca Records pressing plant in the UK were unable to meet the advance orders of 250,000 copies.
1962 Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK sing.
les chart with 'The Young Ones'. It stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and made Cliff the first UK artist to enter the chart at No.1.
1964 'Ring Of Fire' by Johnny Cash became the first Country album to go to No.1 in the US album chart.
1975 Led Zeppelin play "Kashmir" live for the first time during a gig at the Ahoy in Rotterdam.
1986 The Pet Shop Boys scored their first UK No.1 single with 'West End Girls.' The first version of the song was released in April 1984, becoming a club hit in the United States, after the duo signed with EMI, the song was re-recorded with producer Stephen Hague.
1990 Paul McCartney played the first of 11 sold out nights at Wembley Arena, London, England.
1992 In Johannesburg, Paul Simon becomes the first First World pop star to perform in South Africa since a cultural boycott was lifted by the United Nations.
2003 Britain’s oldest rockers came out winners in The Pollstar listing of the Top 10 grossing US tours of 2002: Paul McCartney $68m (£40m), The Rolling Stones $58m (£34m), Elton John $47m (£27.6m), The Who $20m (£11.8m), Ozzy Osbourne $18m (£10.6m), Peter Gabriel $10m (£5.88m), Yes $6m (£3.5m), Elvis Costello $5m (£2.94m), The Moody Blues $4m (£2.35m) and Jethro Tull $3m (£1.76m).
2008 Ringo Starr helped launch the celebrations for Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. He was joined by acrobats who dangled on wires from cranes as the opening party kicked off a year-long programme of more than 350 events. Organisers hoped the Capital of Culture tag would attract an extra two million visitors to Liverpool and boost the economy by £100m.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1959 Per Gessle (Roxette) is born.
1963 Parlophone releases the Beatles' second single "Please Please Me" in Britain.
1968 The Beatles change the name of their partnership from Apple Music Limited to Apple Corps Limited. It's a pun, you see.
1968 In one of TV's odder moments, the Supremes appear on the program Tarzan as a troupe of nuns.
1996 The psychedelic film Wonderwall premieres in London, with a soundtrack by George Harrison. Halliwell's Film Guide says the movie is "vapid and witless." Oasis write a song about it.
1993 Cream reform at tonight's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles. Other inductees are Creedence Clearwater Revival - who don't reform at all - the Doors - who can't reform - Van Morrison, Sly & the Family Stone, Frankie Lymon, Dinah Washington and Etta James. The reclusive Sly Stone appears at the ceremony rocking the Prince look, but says nothing. He's later found to be living in sheltered housing in Los Angeles.
1995 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame holds its annual induction dinner to welcome Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers Band, Martha & the Vandellas, Neil Young, Janis Joplin, Al Green and Frank Zappa to their ranks.
1998 Tonight at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Mamas & the Papas, Santana, Lloyd Price, Gene Vincent, Allen Toussaint and Jelly Roll Morton.
2003 Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees died.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1969 Elvis Presley began a ten day recording session that would produce his final US number one record, ‘Suspicious Minds’. The tracks were laid down at American Sound Studios in Memphis and marked the first time Presley had recorded in his hometown since his Sun Records days in 1956.
1973 Eric Clapton made his stage comeback at the Rainbow Theatre, London, with Pete Townsend, Ronnie Wood, Stevie Winwood, Rebop, Jim Capaldi and support from The Average White Band. The night's two shows were recorded for the 'Rainbow Concert' album. The Who's Pete Townshend had organised the concert to help Clapton kick his heroin addiction.
1978 The Police started recording their first album at Surrey Sound Studios, Surrey, England with producer Nigel Gray.
1990 New Kids On The Block had their second and last No.1 UK single with 'Hangin' Tough.' They had a further 7 Top 10 hits by the end of 1991. They broke up after that, but set the scene for numerous boy bands throughout the 90s.
2005 a report showed that more songs had been written about Elvis Presley than any other artist. It listed over 220 songs including: ‘Graceland’ by Paul Simon, ‘A Room At The Heartbreakhotel’ by U2, ‘Calling Elvis’, Dire Straits, ‘Happy Birthday Elvis’, Loudon Wainwright III, ‘There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis’, Kirsty MacColl, ‘I Saw Elvis in a UFO’, Ray Stevens. ‘Elvis Has Left the Building’ by Frank Zappa and 'My Dog Thinks I'm Elvis' by Ray Herndon.
2010 A plaque of the Beatles' iconic yellow submarine, which was stolen six months ago from Liverpool's Albert Dock, was set to be replaced by a new creation. The 5ft (1.5m) design featured the faces of the John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison peering through its portholes. The new submarine would hang outside the museum dedicated to the band, The Beatles Story. The former plaque has never been found and the thieves had never been caught.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
May I also add that in 1971, Poco's DELIVERIN' album was released. This album is so important to me because it is how I first discovered Poco, & Timothy B Schmit...This is such a gem of an album, If you can get your hands on it, please do so. The entire album is fantastic. :yay:
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Topkat
May I also add that in 1971, Poco's DELIVERIN' album was released. This album is so important to me because it is how I first discovered Poco, & Timothy B Schmit...This is such a gem of an album, If you can get your hands on it, please do so. The entire album is fantastic. :yay:
Yep, such a great album. I have the Deliverin' vinyl, and I love it! Definitely a must have for Poco fans.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1969 Fleetwood Mac, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Albert Collins all appeared at the Fillmore West, San Francisco, California.
1970 John Lennon's London Art Gallery exhibit of erotic lithographs, 'Bag One' was closed by Scotland Yard.
1973 Bruce Springsteen appeared at Villanova University, Philadelphia to an audience of 25 people.
1977 One half of TV cop show "Starsky & Hutch" (he was blonde Hutch), David Soul went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us'. Also a No.1 in the US.
1985 David Bowie's schizophrenic half-brother Terry Burnes killed himself after laying down on the railway lines at Coulsdon South station, London. He was killed instantly by a passing train. He was 47.
1992 Eric Clapton recorded his unplugged session for MTV. The set which included his current hit single ‘Tears in Heaven’ and a reworked acoustic version of ‘Layla’, earned six Grammy Awards for the album including Record of the Year.
2005 Elvis Presley's single ‘One Night’ made chart history by becoming the 1,000th UK No.1. Elvis, who led last week's chart with ‘Jailhouse Rock’, had now scored more number one UK hits than any other artist with 20 No.1’s, beating The Beatles' 17 chart toppers.
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1963 The Beatles played at the Cavern Club at lunchtime and in the evening played at the Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead. At the Majestic, every ticket had been sold in advance, leaving 500 disappointed fans waiting outside.
1964 The Rolling Stones released their first EP, which included, ‘You Better Move On’, ‘Poison Ivy’, ‘Bye Bye Johnny’ and ‘Money’. It peaked at No.15 on the UK chart.
1967 Genesis is formed by Charterhouse School mates Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Ant Phillips and Tony Banks.
1967 The Daily Mail ran the story about a local council survey finding 4,000 holes in the road in Lancashire inspiring John Lennon's contribution to The Beatles song 'A Day In The Life'.
1969 Led Zeppelin I, the band's debut album, was released in the US, coinciding with the band's first headlining US concert tour. It was to peak at No. 10 in the US chart, and at No. 6 in the UK. The RIAA in the US has now certified it as having sold over 10 million copies in the US alone.
1981 Mötley Crüe formed when bass guitarist Nikki Sixx left the band London and began rehearsing with drummer Tommy Lee and vocalist, guitarist Greg Leon, (who later left). Sixx and Lee then added guitarist Bob "Mick Mars" Deal. Vince Neil accepted an offer to join (after turning them down) in April of this year.
2003 A long-lost recording featuring John Lennon and Mick Jagger was set to spark a biding war at a London auction. The acetate record was recorded in 1974 with Jagger singing the blues song 'Too Many Cooks' and Lennon playing guitar. The track had never been release because the two artists were both signed to different record companies.
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1964 The Beatles made their US chart debut when 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' entered the chart at No.45 just ten days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history. It went on to spend seven weeks at the No.1 position.
1965 The Rolling Stones recorded 'The Last Time' and 'Play With Fire' at the RCA studio in Hollywood, California. Phil Spector played acoustic guitar on 'Play With Fire.'
1975 Barry Manilow scored his first US No.1 single when 'Mandy', (originally titled 'Brandy' when it was recorded in 1972 by Scott English), went to the top of the charts.
1975 Status Quo were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Down Down', the group's only UK No.1 from 52 hits between 1968 and 1996.
1989 At just 38 years old, Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, other inductees include The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Otis Redding and Dion DiMucci.
1991 During an AC/DC North American tour three fans were killed during a crush in a crowd at a gig in Salt Lake City.
2011 The largest collection of Beatles memorabilia went on display in a new museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rodolfo Vazquez, a 53-year-old accountant, turned his mammoth Beatles collection into a museum with more than 8,500 objects - setting the new world record for the largest collection of Beatles memorabilia. Some of the items included a box of condoms bearing the names of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, a brick from the Cavern Club, a hunk of the stage from the Star Club in Hamburg, and certified copies of the band members' birth certificates. Among his favorite items were 64 boxes of chewing gum in the form of Beatles records.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1943 Janis Joplin was born.
1949 Robert Palmer was born.
1967 The Monkees were at No.1 on the UK singles with 'I'm A Believer', the group's only UK No.1.
1971 Tracks from The Beatles White Album (including 'Helter Skelter), were played in the courtroom at the Sharon Tate murder trial to find out if any songs could have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to commit murder. Actress Sharon Tate who was married to film director Roman Polanski, was eight and a half months pregnant when she was murdered in her home, along with four others, by followers of Charles Manson.
1978 Johnny Rotten was fired from The Sex Pistols for 'not being weird enough anymore.'
1980 Pink Floyd's 'The Wall', started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart. The group's third US No.1, it went on to sell over 8 million copies.
1993 Fleetwood Mac re-formed to perform at Bill Clinton's inauguration. The band's "Don't Stop" was used as the theme for his campaign.
1994 The Band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the ninth annual induction dinner. Eric Clapton is their presenter.
1994 Elton John is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the ninth annual induction dinner. Axl Rose, of Guns and Roses, is his presenter.
1994 Paul McCartney inducts John Lennon into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "I love him to this day and I always did love him," says Paul McCartney.
1998 American Rockabilly singer, songwriter Carl Perkins died aged 65 from throat cancer. He wrote the classic rock & roll song 'Blue Suede Shoes', the first record by a Sun label to sell a million copies.
2001 It was reported that Paul McCartney was set to become the world?s first pop star billionaire. McCartney was said to be worth ?725 million ($1,233) and was expected to become a billionaire after huge sales from The Beatles compilation hits album.
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1966 The Spencer Davis Group were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Keep On Running'.
1968 One hit wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses)', it made No.3 in the UK. The song was inspired by The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky'.
1969 Bruce Springsteen had two of his poems published in the Ocean County College Literary Yearbook Seascapes. Springsteen was in his second semester at the Toms River, New Jersey College.
1972 On the first date of a UK tour, Pink Floyd premiered their new album Dark Side Of The Moon at The Dome, Brighton, England.
1975 The US Top 5 singles: No.5, Stevie Wonder, 'Boogie On Reggae Woman', No.4, Ohio Players, 'Fire', No.3, Barry Manilow, 'Mandy', No.2, Neil Sedaka, 'Laughter In The Rain', No.1, The Carpenters, 'Please Mr Postman'.
1985 Foreigner had their only UK No.1 single with 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. London-born Mick Jones wrote the song and sang lead vocals with the British-American rock band.
1988 The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.
1990 Michael Bolton started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You', the singers first No.1 and the first No.1 single of the 90's in the US.
2002 George Harrison had the posthumous UK No.1 single with the re-release of the 1971 former No.1 'My Sweet Lord'. Harrison's single replaced Aaliyah's 'More Than A Woman', the only time in chart history that one deceased artist had taken over from another at No.1.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Koala
1966 The Spencer Davis Group were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Keep On Running'.
1968 One hit wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses)', it made No.3 in the UK. The song was inspired by The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky'.
1969 Bruce Springsteen had two of his poems published in the Ocean County College Literary Yearbook Seascapes. Springsteen was in his second semester at the Toms River, New Jersey College.
1972 On the first date of a UK tour, Pink Floyd premiered their new album Dark Side Of The Moon at The Dome, Brighton, England.
1975 The US Top 5 singles: No.5, Stevie Wonder, 'Boogie On Reggae Woman', No.4, Ohio Players, 'Fire', No.3, Barry Manilow, 'Mandy', No.2, Neil Sedaka, 'Laughter In The Rain', No.1, The Carpenters, 'Please Mr Postman'.
1985 Foreigner had their only UK No.1 single with 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. London-born Mick Jones wrote the song and sang lead vocals with the British-American rock band.
1988 The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.
1990 Michael Bolton started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You', the singers first No.1 and the first No.1 single of the 90's in the US.
2002 George Harrison had the posthumous UK No.1 single with the re-release of the 1971 former No.1 'My Sweet Lord'. Harrison's single replaced Aaliyah's 'More Than A Woman', the only time in chart history that one deceased artist had taken over from another at No.1.
Lou Gramm was the lead singer of Foreigner.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Freypower
Lou Gramm was the lead singer of Foreigner.
opps, you are right, Mick Jones plays guitar.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1963 The Beatles made their third appearance on the Radio Luxembourg program The Friday Spectacular. The Beatles were interviewed by the host and played two tracks, 'Please Please Me' and 'Ask Me Why.
1968 Jimi Hendrix recorded his version of the Bob Dylan song 'All Along the Watchtower' at Olympic Studios in London. Rolling Stone Brian Jones and Dave Mason from Traffic both played on the session. The track was released in the US as a single in 1968, peaking at #20.
1978 The soundtrack album 'Saturday Night Fever' started a 24 week run at No.1 on the US album charts, it went on to sell over 30 million copies world wide, making it the best selling soundtrack album of all time.
1982 B.B. King donated his entire record collection of over 20,000 discs to Mississippi University's centre for the Study of Southern Culture.
1984 Yes started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart 'a No.28 hit in the UK.
1987 Bruce Springsteen inducted Roy Orbison into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.
1987 The Coasters, became the first vocal group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1989 Six weeks after his death Roy Orbison started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Legendary Roy Orbison' collection.
1989 MTV world premieres Metallica's first video, "One."
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Jan 21, 1966, George Harrison married Patti Boyd in England.
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1959 Alone with an acoustic guitar and tape recorder in his New York City apartment Buddy Holly made his last recordings, including ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’, ‘Crying, Waiting, Hoping’, ‘That's What They Say’, ‘What To Do’, ‘Learning The Game’ and ‘That Makes It Tough’. The recordings would be overdubbed posthumously and were later released by Coral Records.
1963 The Beatles appeared on three UK radio programs. First The Beatles recorded a session for the show Pop Inn at the BBC Paris studio, they then went to the Playhouse Theatre also in London, to tape a radio appearance on Saturday Club, recording five songs. Then the Beatles went back to the BBC Paris studio to record an appearance on The Talent Spot recording 'Please Please Me', 'Ask Me Why' and 'Some Other Guy' before a live audience.
1970 Steel Mill, (featuring Bruce Springsteen) opened for The Elvin Bishop Band at The Matrix in San Francisco, California. Steel Mill were paid only $5 for the gig, The Elvin Bishop Band received $90 as headliner.
1980 This week's US Top 5 singles: No.5, Rupert Holmes, 'Escape, (The Pina Colada Song)', No.4, Smokey Robinson, 'Crusin', No.3, Kenny Rogers, 'Coward Of The County', No.2, Captain and Tennille, 'Do That To Me One More Time', and No.1, Michael Jackson, 'Rock With You.'
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1956 Rock 'n' Roll fans in Cleveland aged under 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.
1965 'Downtown' made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a No.1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn in 1952. A No.2 hit in the UK.
1971 George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when 'My Sweet Lord' went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his 'All Things Must Pass' album stayed at No.1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.
1977 Patti Smith broke her vertebra when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida.
1978 Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago accidentally shot himself dead while cleaning (with what he believed) was an unloaded gun. Kath's last words were "Don't worry it's not loaded" as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly.
1993 Genesis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Live-The Way We Walk Volume II'.
2005 One of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised £1.25 million ($2 million) for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.
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1953 Eddie Fisher was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Outside Is Heaven'. American singer and entertainer divorced his first wife, Debbie Reynolds to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, too much unwelcome publicity at the time. Eddie is father of actress Carrie Fisher.
1958 The Quarry Men performed at the Cavern Club, in Liverpool, (this was the bands only performance at the club). It was three years later when they appeared again at the Cavern but under their new name as The Beatles.
1969 Jethro Tull play America for the first time. They open up for Led Zeppelin in New York City.
1976 Bob Dylan started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Desire' his third US No.1.
1980 A billboard was erected on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, California to promote Pink Floyds new album 'The Wall'. Every day workmen added another brick to the wall until it was finished.
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1938 Etta James was born.
1974 Led Zeppelin appeared at the Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana to over 17,000 fans. The set list included: 'Rock And Roll', 'Over The Hills And Far Away', 'The Song Remains The Same', 'The Rain Song', 'Kashmir', 'The Wanton Song', 'No Quarter', 'Trampled Under Foot', 'Moby Dick', 'How Many More Times', 'Stairway To Heaven,' 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Black Dog'. Tickets cost $8.50.
1983 The Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer age 34. He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley.
1986 Norwegian group A-Ha were at No.1 in the UK with 'The Sun Always Shines On TV.' Becoming the first ever-Norwegian act to score a UK No.1.
2007 Roger Waters kicked off the Australian leg of his 119-date The Dark Side Of The Moon Live world tour at Acer Arena, Sydney.
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1961 Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'. The singers sixth UK No.1. The single included a spoken passage loosely based on Shakespeare.
1968 Pink Floyd played their first gig without Syd Barrett at Southampton University. They were supported by Tyrannosaurus Rex, (later to be renamed T Rex) featuring Marc Bolan and percussionist Steve Peregrine Took.
1970 John Lennon wrote, recorded and mixed his new single 'Instant Karma' all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios and arriving in stores only ten days later.
1973 Sweet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blockbuster'. The glam rockers only UK No.1 of 15 Top 40 hits.
1974 Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Johnny Burnette 1960 hit 'Your Sixteen', a No.3 hit in the UK.
1991 Queen had their second UK No.1 with 'Innuendo'. It was the third longest No.1 song of all time behind The Beatles 'Hey Jude' and Simple Minds 'Belfast Child'. The flamenco guitar solo on the track was performed by Yes guitarist Steve Howe.
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1956 Elvis Presley's single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis' first Gold record.
1961 Frank Sinatra played a benefit show at Carnegie Hall in New York City for Martin Luther King.
1962 The Beatles appeared at Aintree Institute in Aintree, Liverpool. The group had played here many times before but this was their last performance at the venue. Brian Epstein became infuriated when the promoter paid The Beatles' fee (£15 pounds) with handfuls of loose change. Epstein took this as an insult to the group, and made sure that The Beatles never played for that promoter (Brian Kelly) again.
1968 The Bee Gees made their live debut in the US when they played at the Anaheim Centre, California.
1971 David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time; he couldn't play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event.
1972 American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music" she recorded over 30 albums.
1973 'Superstition' gave Stevie Wonder had his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1.
1984 Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube performing 'Holiday'. The show was broadcast live from the Hacienda Club in Manchester.
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1965 The Who made their first appearance on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! To project the desired image, the hand-picked audience consisted only of teens dressed in the current Mod fashion.
1977 Pink Floyd's tenth studio album 'Animals' entered the UK charts at #2. The sleeve concept was that of Roger Waters, who lived at the time near Clapham Common, and regularly drove past Battersea Power Station. A view of the imposing but disused former power station building was chosen for the cover image, complete with massive inflatable pig suspended between two of the towers.
1978 The Fleetwood Mac album 'Rumours' went to No.1 on the UK album chart, also a No.1 in the US. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies world- wide and spent over 440 weeks on the UK chart.
1984 Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Relax!' BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read expressed on air his distaste for both the record's suggestive sleeve and its lyrics, he announced his refusal to play the record, not knowing that the BBC had decided that the song was not to be played on the BBC anyway. Produced by Trevor Horn the song remained on the chart for 48 weeks.
1985 The recording took place for 'We Are The World' the US equivalent of Band Aid. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie the all star cast included Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry and Bob Geldof.
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1963 17 year-old Neil Young performed his first professional date at a country club in Winnipeg.
1964 The Beatles started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', the first US No.1 by a UK act since The Tornadoes 'Telstar' in 1962 and the first of three consecutive No.1's from the group.
1967 Pink Floyd spent the day recording parts for the Syd Barrett songs 'Arnold Layne' and 'Candy And A Current Bun' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London. Floyd also turned professional on this day after signing a deal with EMI Records.
1992 George Michael and Elton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', also a No.1 in the UK. All proceeds from the single went to Aids charities.
1999 Four hundred people were injured at an Australian concert by Marilyn Manson when he stormed off stage after being bombarded with missiles and abuse at the show in Perth. One of Manson's guitar technicians needed treatment for cuts to his head.
2005 Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'It's Now Or Never', the singers 21st No.1, first released in 1960.
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1959 22 year old Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa, the pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed. Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus. All three were traveling to Fargo, North Dakota, for the next show on their Winter Dance Party Tour which Holly had set - covering 24 cities in three weeks, to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets, last year.
1968 The Beatles started work on their new single 'Lady Madonna' at Abbey Road studios in London. Recording three piano and drum takes with overdub bass, fuzz guitars, drums, and vocals.
1970 Led Zeppelin II was in the Top 20 on both the UK & US album charts after peaking at No.1. The album went on to spend 138 weeks on the UK chart. The album is now recognised by writers and music critics as one of the greatest and most influential rock albums ever recorded.
1973 Elton John started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Crocodile Rock'. Elton's first of five US No.1 singles.
1990 For the first time ever, the UK Top 3 singles featured non-British and non-American acts. Ireland's Sinead O'Connor, Australia's Kylie Minogue and Belgium's Technotronic. Sinead O'Connor had her first No.1 single with Nothing Compares To U', a song written by Prince.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1958 George Harrison joined Liverpool group The Quarrymen. The group who were named after Lennon's school featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Len Garry, Eric Griffiths and John Lowe.
1960 27-year-old Jesse Belvin, who scored a 1956 hit with 'Goodnight, My Love', was killed in a car accident in Hope, Arkansas. His wife and the car's driver also died of their injuries. The three were trying to make a fast get-a-way from the first ever mixed race audience concert in the town of Little Rock, after threats had been made against Belvin's life.
1971 Led Zeppelin announced a small UK club tour which would see the group playing Universities and small venues with ticket prices at 12 shillings (60p). Zeppelin manager Peter Grant said 'We decided to do the clubs and forget about the bread and the big concert halls'.
1982 Kraftwerk were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Model / Computer Love', the first German act to score a UK No.1 single. The single spent 21 weeks on the UK chart.
1998 American singer and guitarist Carl Wilson from The Beach Boys died aged 51 after a long battle with lung cancer, (Wilson was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in early 1997). He sang lead vocal on 'God Only Knows', 'Good Vibrations,' and 'I Can Hear Music.' Wilson sang backing vocals on Elton John's 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.'
1998 Austrian singer Falco (Johann Holzel) was killed in a road accident after his car collided with a bus. He scored the 1986 UK & US No.1 single 'Rock Me Amadeus' making him the first-ever Austrian act to score a UK and US No.1 hit single.
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1959 Buddy Holly was buried in Lubbock, Texas. His tombstone reads "Holley", the correct spelling of his given surname and includes pictures of a guitar.
1963 The first Beatles single 'Please Please Me' was released in the US on the Vee Jay label.
1967 Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees returned to the UK after living in Australia for nine years.
1969 John and Yoko were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents, (2/6). John was named as Rolling Stones Man Of The Year.
1969 The Who recorded 'Pinball Wizard' at Morgan Studio's, London, England.
1970 Led Zeppelin scored their first UK No.1 album with 'Led Zeppelin II'. Released in November 1969, and featuring the US No. 4 single 'Whole Lotta Love', it went on to stay on the UK chart for 136 weeks. Also reaching No. 1 in the US, the RIAA in the US has now certified it as having sold over 12 million copies in the US alone.
1981 John Lennon was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Woman', an ode to his wife Yoko Ono. It was Lennon's third No.1 in seven weeks after his death on December 8, 1980.
2004 Queen's single 'We Will Rock You' topped a poll of music fans to find the greatest rock anthem of all time. The 1977 song beat the band's classic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' into second place in a survey of 1,000 people carried out for the UCI cinema chain. The poll was carried out to mark the release of new Jack Black comedy 'School of Rock.'
2005 Michael Jackson's Thriller was named the top pop video in a poll of Channel 4 viewers in the UK. The 1983 video, which depicts the singer as a werewolf and a zombie, beat videos by Madonna and Robbie Williams. Animated videos for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer and A-Ha's Take On Me were in second and third place respectively. 4th was Queen with Bohemian Rhapsody, 5th, Madonna Like a Prayer, 6th, Robbie Williams, Rock DJ, 7th, Michael Jackson, Billie Jean, 8th, The Verve, Bittersweet Symphony, 9th, Madonna Vogue and 10th Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit.
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1975 Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Blood On The Tracks' his second US No.1 album.
1981 R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included 'Gardening At Night', 'Radio Free Europe' and '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.'
1983 Winners at the second annual Brit Awards held in London included Paul McCartney who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Kim Wilde won Best British Female Solo Artist, Dire Straits won British Group, British Breakthrough Act went to Yazoo, International Act was Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Best Selling Single Dexy's Midnight Runners "Come On Eileen" and the Life Achievement Award went to Pete Townshend.
1998 Winners at this years Brit Awards included Finley Quaye who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Female Solo Artist went to Shola Ama, The Verve won British Group and Best British Album for 'Urban Hymns', British Dance Act went to The Prodigy, British Breakthrough Act was Stereophonics, Best Selling British Album Act was The Spice Girls, International Male, Jon Bon Jovi, International Female, Bjork, International Group, U2 and Outstanding Contribution went to Fleetwood Mac. During the show Chumbawamba singer Danbert Nobacon threw a plastic bucket full of cold water over UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
2005 Kylie Minogue was voted the world's sexiest woman in her 30's by UK magazine Good Housekeeping. Sade was voted No.4 in the over 40's with Madonna coming in at No.7 and Jerry Hall at No.8. And Sharon Osbourne was voted into 3rd place in the over 50's section.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1964 The Beatles make their first appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.
1967 The film for the latest Beatles single 'Penny Lane' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever' was shown on BBC-TV's Top Of The Pops. It was the first Beatles single not to make No.1 in the UK since 1963, held off the top by Engelbert Humperdinck's 'Release Me.'
1981 American singer Bill Haley was found dead, fully clothed on his bed at his home in Harlington, Texas from a heart attack, Haley had sold over 60 million records during his career. Scored the 1955 UK & US No.1 single 'Rock Around The Clock', and became known as the first Rock 'n' Roll star. Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation and later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye.
1982 George Harrison presented UNICEF with a cheque for $9 million (£5.3 million), ten years after the fundraising concert for Bangladesh.
1987 Winners at this years Brit awards held in London included Peter Gabriel who won British Male Solo Artist, Kate Bush won British Female Solo Artist, Best British Group went to Five Star, British Album was Dire Straits 'Brothers In Arms', British Breakthrough Act was The Housemartins, International Solo Artist went to Paul Simon, The Bangles won Best International Group, Best British Video went to Peter Gabriel for 'Sledgehammer' and Best British Single was The Pet Shop Boys for 'West End Girls'.
2002 Billboard published the Top 5 selling albums in the world from 2001: Britney Spears 'Britney', $7m (£4.1m); Shaggy's 'Hotshot', $7.2m £4.24m); Destiny's Child's 'Survivor', $7.8m (£4.6m); Linkin Park's 'Hybrid', $8.5m (£5m) and Dido's 'No Angel', $8.6m (£5.06m) sales.
2009 Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant took home five prizes for his collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss at this years Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles. The duo won album of the year for Raising Sand and record of the year for ‘Please Read The Letter.’ Coldplay, (who won song of the year for ‘Viva La Vida’) Adele, Duffy, Radiohead and Peter Gabriel were among other UK acts to be honoured. John Mayer won Best solo rock vocal performance for ‘Gravity’, Kings of Leon won Best rock performance by a group with ‘Sex on Fire’, Best rock song went to Bruce Springsteen for ‘Girls In Their Summer Clothes’ and Lil' Wayne won Best rap solo performance and Best rap album for Tha Carter III.
2009 Ringo Starr became the 2,401st person to be added to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the attraction. The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1958 Frank Sinatra started a five week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Come Fly With Me.'
1973 Elton John had his first UK No.1 album when 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player' started a six-week run at the top of the charts.
1976 "Dream On," from Aerosmith's debut album, is re-released as a single and reaches #6
1977 The Clash started recording their debut album at CBS studios in London, England.
1979 Rod Stewart started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy', his third US No.1. (and a No.1 hit in the UK). Also today Rod started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Blondes Have More Fun.'
2008 Amy Winehouse won five prizes at this year's Grammy Awards, including song of the year and record of the year, both for her single 'Rehab', and best new artist. The UK singer was not at the Los Angeles ceremony to collect them due to visa problems. Instead, she made an acceptance speech by satellite, paying tribute to her husband, "my Blake incarcerated", who was in custody awaiting trial on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and grievous bodily harm. Kanye West scooped four Grammy Awards, while Bruce Springsteen won three. The White Stripes, Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood and Mary J Blige all picked up two awards.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1962 Sheryl Crow is born.
1963 In less than ten hours, The Beatles record ten new songs for their first album plus four other tracks which would be the next two singles. John Lennon's vocal on The Isley Brothers 'Twist & Shout' was recorded in one take to complete the album.
1964 The Beatles made their live concert debut in the US at the Washington Coliseum. Over 350 police surrounded the stage to keep the 8,000 plus screaming fans in control. One police officer who found the noise so loud stuck a bullet in each ear as ear plugs. The Beatles had to stop three times and turn Ringo's drum kit around and re-position their microphones so that they faced a different part of the audience. The set list: ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘From Me to You’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘This Boy’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘Please Please Me’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, ‘Twist and Shout’, and ‘Long Tall Sally’.
1972 During their Dark Side Of The Moon tour, Pink Floyd appeared at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England. The show was abandoned after 25 minutes due to a power cut.
1972 David Bowie performed as "Ziggy Stardust" for the first time.
1979 The TV movie "Elvis," with Kurt Russell, aired on ABC.
1983 The Rolling Stones concert film "Let's Spend the Night Together" opened in New York.
1984 Genesis hits #6 in the US with "That's All!"
1986 Boy George guest-stared on an episode of "The A -Team"
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1950 Peter Gabriel is born.
1970 On this day, Friday the 13th, Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled studio album on Vertigo records in the UK. Peaking at #8 on the charts, the album has been recognised as the first main album to be credited with the development of the heavy metal genre.
1973 Robbie Williams is born.
1976 Genesis released their first album since the departure of Peter Gabriel, 'A Trick Of The Tail' featuring eight new tracks with drummer Phill Collins taking on the role of lead vocalist.
2004 Led Zeppelin were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Grammys. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham all attended. Robert Plant did not, since he was working on a new album and tour.
2005 Readers of UK newspaper The Sun voted George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ as the greatest British pop single of the past 25 years. Oasis came second with ‘Wonderwall’ and Kate Bush third with ‘Wuthering Heights’. The rest of the Top 10: No.4, Robbie Williams, ‘Angels’, No.5, The Jam, ‘Going Underground’, in equal 6th, The Sex Pistols, ‘God Save The Queen’ and Joy Division, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, 7th was Queen, ‘We Are The Champions’, 9th, The Stone Roses, ‘Fool’s Gold’ and 10th The Undertones ‘Teenage Kicks’.
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1961 The Beatles perform at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool, and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool where they play a special Valentine's Day show. Paul McCartney sang Elvis Presley's "Wooden Heart", wearing wooden heart pinned to his coat, covered with satin and embroidered with the names "John", "Paul", "George", and "Pete". The heart was raffled off, and the winner also won a kiss from Paul.
1973 David Bowie collapsed on stage during a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
1977 The B-52's made their first live performance appearing in a Greenhouse at a Valentines day party in Athens.
1987 Bon Jovi started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Livin' On A Prayer', the group's second US No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK.
1992 The film 'Waynes World', which featured appearances from Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper premiered in the US. The use of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in the film propelled the song to No.2 on the US singles charts nearly 20 years after its first release.
1998 Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' set a new recorded for the most radio plays in the US with 116 million plays in one week.
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1964 The Beatles scored their first US No.1 album with 'Meet The Beatles!' The album stayed at No.1 for eleven weeks.
1965 American singer and pianist Nat King Cole died of lung cancer. First hit was the 1943 'Straighten Up and Fly Right', had the 1955 US No.2 single 'A Blossom Fell' and 1957 UK No.2 single 'When I Fall In Love' plus over 20 other US & UK Top 40 singles. Father of singer Natalie Cole. In 1956 he became the first black American to host a television variety show.
1968 John and Cynthia Lennon, along with George and Patti Harrison, fly to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul and Ringo joined them a few days later, but Starr would become bored and leave on March 1st comparing the experience to be like a 'Butlins holiday camp.' Much of the Beatles' 'White Album' was written during their stay.
1969 The hotly anticipated, self-titled debut album by Led Zeppelin enters the album charts, ultimately reaching #10.
1979 The big winners tonight at the Grammy Awards are the Bee Gees, who take home awards for Best Pop Group and Best Arrangement for Voices on "Stayin' Alive." Record and Song of the Year awards go to Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are."
1989 MTV premieres Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video.
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1972 Led Zeppelin made their Australian live debut when they kicked off a six-date tour at the Subiaco Oval, Perth. Police battled with over 500 fans who rammed locked gates trying to get into the concert. Over 4,000 fans stood outside the venue without tickets and local residents jammed police phone lines to complain about the noise.
1974 Bob Dylan started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Planet Waves, his first US No.1. The album was originally set to be titled Ceremonies Of The Horsemen, a reference to the song 'Love Minus Zero / No Limit', from the 1965 album 'Bringing It All Back Home'. When Dylan decided to change the title at the last minute, the release was delayed for two weeks.
1974 During a tour of America the members of Emerson, Lake & Palmer were arrested in Salt Lake City after swimming naked in the hotel pool. They were each fined $75 (£44).
1985 Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Born In The USA', his first UK No.1 album. The singers seventh studio album, was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen's most successful album ever). The album produced a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles.
1991 The Simpsons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Do The Bartman'. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Bryan Lorenand, The Simpsons became the first cartoon characters to make No.1 since the Archies hit 'Sugar Sugar' in 1969. Jackson was a massive fan of The Simpsons and had called the producers one night offering to write Bart a number one single and do a guest spot on the show.
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1969 Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash recorded 'Girl From The North Country' together in Nashville at CBS Studios. The track appeared on Dylan's 'Nashville Skyline' album.
1971 James Taylor made his TV debut on The Johnny Cash Show. Other guests included Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt and Tony Joe White.
1972 Los Angeles radio station KDAY played two new Rolling Stones tracks non-stop for a day after obtaining stolen tapes from a producer's home.
1972 Pink Floyd premiere a new piece of music entitled "Eclipse" at London's Rainbow Theater. It will evolve into the album 'Dark Side of the Moon.'
1975 AC/DC released their debut album 'High Voltage'. The album featured a cover of 'Baby, Please Don't Go' a blues song first recorded by Big Joe Williams and 'She's Got Balls' which was written about singer Bon Scott's ex-wife Irene - the first AC/DC song for which he wrote lyrics.
2000 John Lennon's Steinway piano, on which he composed 'Imagine', went on display at the Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool, England. The piano was set to be auctioned on the Internet later in the year and was expected to fetch more than £1 million ($1.7 million).
2005 A 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar belonging to Jimi Hendrix sold for £100,000 at an auction in London. Other Hendrix items sold included a poem written two weeks after his appearance at the Monterey Festival which went for £10,000 and the first Jimi Hendrix Experience's single 'Hey Joe', signed by all the band sold for £2,000.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Koala
1969
1971 James Taylor made his TV debut on The Johnny Cash Show. Other guests included Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt and Tony Joe White.
What a show! I wish I could have seen that!
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1947 Dennis DeYoung, Styx, is born in Chicago.
1959 Ray Charles recorded 'What'd I Say', in New York City. The song had evolved in concert as a call-and-response between Charles and his female back-up singers. It became Charles' biggest hit to date, reaching No.1 on the R&B and No.6 on the pop charts.
1966 Beach Boy Brian Wilson recorded the future classic song 'Good Vibrations', which went on to become the band's third U.S. number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.
1968 Guitarist Dave Gilmour joins Pink Floyd, as the rest of the band prepare to oust their permanently addled leader, Syd Barrett.
1980 Bill Wyman announces that he's leaving the Rolling Stones. After an intervention by the rest of the band, the bassist is convinced to stay. He quits in 1992.
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1960 Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut when he played a show at a High School in Seattle.
1967 Kurt Cobain was born.
1971 Yes appeared at Kingston Poly, London, England. Support act was Queen. Tickets cost 50p ($0.85c).
1971 The soundtrack to 'Jesus Christ Superstar' went to No.1 on the US album chart. The album peaked at No.6 on the UK chart.
1976 All four members of Kiss had their footprints implanted on the pavement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
1980 Bon Scott, singer from AC/DC was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after a heavy night's drinking. Scott was found in the passenger seat of a friend's parked car. The official coroner's report stated that he had "drunk himself to death", after suffocating on his own vomit.
2003 100 people died after pyrotechnics ignited a club during a gig by Great White in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Great White singer Ty Longley was also killed in the accident. Two brothers who owned the club were charged, along with the former tour manager with involuntary manslaughter. Foam soundproofing material at the edge of the stage set alight and the blaze spread quickly in the one-storey wooden building as fans all tried to escape through the same exit. Great White began a tour in July 2003 to raise money for the survivors and families of victims.
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Re: Today in Rock n' Roll History
1961 The Beatles played three gigs in one day. The first was a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club, then at night they appeared at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool.
1970 Simon and Garfunkel went to No.1 on the UK chart with 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. The album went on to stay on the chart for over 300 weeks, returning to the top of the charts on eight separate occasions and spending a total of 41 weeks at No.1.
1976 The Four Seasons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'December '63 (Oh What A Night). The group's only UK No.1.
1977 Fleetwood Mac released 'Rumours'. The album went on to sell more than 15 million copies world-wide and spent 31 weeks at No.1 on the US chart.
1981 Phil Collins entered the UK album chart at No.1 with 'Face Value.'
1983 'Thriller' tops the album charts for the first of 37 weeks.
2001 Robbie Williams was attacked and thrown from the stage during a concert in Stuttgart, Germany after a man got onto the stage and pushed Williams into the security pit. The attacker was arrested and taken to a secure psychiatric clinic.
2002 Elton John accused the music industry of exploiting young singers and dumping talented artists for manufactured group's. He said 'There are too many average and mediocre acts; it damages real talent getting airplay. It's just fodder.'
2008 A US music aficionado sold his collection of more than three million vinyl albums, singles and compact discs to an eBay buyer from Ireland for just over $3 million. An eBay spokeswoman said the sale was one of the highest ever for the online auction site.