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Simon & Garfunkel reunited for the 25th Anniversary of the R&R HOF Concert in 2009. They gave a mesmerizing performance of Bridge Over Troubled Waters that blew me away. Wow Garfunkel! Still amazing after all these years. The entire set was just beautiful..
http://youtu.be/mXPEjY3gcC4
1967 Pink Floyd record their first single, "Arnold Layne," at Sound Techniques Studio in London. It reaches #20 on the British singles chart.
1971 1971, Five months after her death, Janis Joplin started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Pearl.'
1993 After 14 weeks at No.1 on the US singles chart, 'I Will Always Love You', gave Whitney Houston the longest ever US chart topper, taking over from Boyz II Men's hit 'End Of The Road', and became the second biggest selling single in the US.
2004 A worker in a supermarket in Aspen, Colorado alerted the police-after seeing a man shopping with his face covered by a mask. Police arrived on the scene and identified the man as Michael Jackson who was in town on holiday with his children.
1942 Brian Jones was born.
1969 The Band makes its live debut at the Winterland in San Francisco.
1970 In an interview with the New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. The following year Green confronted his accountant with a gun after he sent him an unwanted royalty check. The guitarist went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum and was committed to a mental hospital in 1973. He re- launched his career in the 90's.
1970 Simon and Garfunkel started a six week run at the top of the US singles chart with 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', also No.1 in the UK in March the same year.
1977 Ray Charles was attacked by a member of his audience who tried to strangle him with a rope.
1984 Michael Jackson won a record seven Grammy awards including: Album of the year for 'Thriller'; Record of the year and Best rock vocal performance for 'Beat It'; Best pop vocal performance, Best R&B performance and Best R&B song for 'Billie Jean', and Best Recording For Children for E.T The Extra Terrestrial.
1994 Eric Clapton played his 100th performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, in aid of the 'Children In Crisis', charity.
Poor Peter Green. He is plagued by mental problems to this day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Koala
1968 The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper' won album of the year, best cover and best-engineered and recorded album at this years Grammy Awards.
1977 Two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were knocked unconscious after a scuffle broke out- between the band and members of the metropolitan police boxing team, who were holding a dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
1980 The glasses that Buddy Holly had been wearing when he died were discovered in a police file in Mason, Iowa after being there for over 21 years.
1988 Robert Plant released his fourth solo album, Now And Zen. The album peaked at No. 10 on the UK chart. The tracks Heaven Knows and Tall Cool One featured guitarist Jimmy Page.
1944 Roger Daltrey, vocals, The Who, is born.
1944 Mike D'Abo, singer, Manfred Mann, is born.
1958 Nik Kershaw is born.
1958 Buddy Holly played the first of 25 dates on his only UK tour at the Trocadero, Elephant & Castle, London. Also on the bill was Gary Miller, The Tanner Sisters, Des O'Conner, The Montanas, Ronnie Keene & His Orchestra.
1966 Gene Clark of The Byrds announced he was leaving the group due to his fear of flying.
1968 Elton John's first single 'I've Been Loving You To Long' was released on the Phillips label, it didn't chart.
1974 Queen began their first headlining UK tour at The Winter Garden's Blackpool.
1975 The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Best Of My Love', the first of five US No.1's for the band. The highest chart position in the UK for the group was No.8 with the 1977 single 'Hotel California.'
1994 Nirvana played their final ever concert when they appeared at The Terminal Einz in Munich, Germany. The 3,000 capacity venue was a small Airport Hanger. The power went off during the show so they played an impromptu acoustic set including a version of The Cars 'My Best Friend's Girl.'
Wow. I remember that. It was my favorite song at the time and I remember being excited that it hit #1 on the week of my birthday. I was 11.Quote:
Originally Posted by Koala
1943 Lou Reed is born.
1961 The Everly Brothers had their third UK No.1 single with 'Walk Right Back' a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets.
1964 The Beatles began filming what would become their first feature film 'A Hard Days Night' at Marylebone train station in London.
1983 A new digital audio system, a five-inch compact disc containing up to 1 hour of music was launched by Sony, Philips and Polygram.
1985 Phil Collins started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with his third solo LP 'No Jacket Required'.
1985 The Smiths were at No.1 on the UK indie charts with 'How Soon Is Now.' Soho had a No.8 UK hit with 'Hippy Chick.' a song based on a guitar sample from the song.
1999 Dusty Springfield dies of breast cancer on the day she was scheduled to receive the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from the queen of England and two weeks before her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2009 Liverpool University launched a Masters degree on The Beatles, popular music and society. Liverpool Hope University claimed the course which looked at the studio sound and compositions of The Beatles was the first of its kind in the UK and "probably the world".
1955 Elvis Presley made his TV debut when he appeared on the weekend show 'Louisiana Hayride' on KWKH TV, broadcast from Shreveport Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1963 Country singer Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash at Dyersburg, Virginia, along with The Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins. They were traveling to Nashville to appear at a benefit concert for DJ 'Cactus' Jack Call, who'd died in a car crash. Cline was the first country singer to cross over as a pop artist. Two days later Country singer, Jack Anglin was killed in a car crash on his way to Cline's funeral.
1971 Led Zeppelin started a 12-date 'Thank You' tour for British fans, appearing at the clubs from their early days and charging the same admission prices as in 1968. The first show was at The Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland where they played songs from their upcoming fourth album, including the first public performances of 'Black Dog', 'Stairway To Heaven', 'Going To California' and 'Rock And Roll'.
1977 Barbra Streisand started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Love Theme From A Star Is Born’, her second US No.1. It made No.3 in the UK. The Eagles were at No.2 with ‘New Kid In Town’ and The Steve Miller Band was at No.3 with ‘Fly Like An Eagle’.
1982 Actor and singer John Belushi died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin. Belushi was one of the original cast members on US TV's Saturday Night Live, played Joliet 'Jake' Blues in The Blues Brothers and also appeared in the film Animal House. His tombstone reads "I may be gone, but rock n roll lives on."
1983 Michael Jackson started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Billie Jean', his fourth solo US No.1, also No.1 in the UK. And on this day Jacksons album 'Thriller' went to No.1 for the first time on the UK album chart, it went on to become the biggest selling album of all time with sales over 50 million.
2007 Records by the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon were chosen for preservation by the US Library of Congress. The Stones' Satisfaction and Paul Simon's Graceland album entered the National Recordings Registry, which preserves historic works for future generations. Other recordings chosen this year included Carl Perkins' Blue Suede Shoes, Be My Baby by The Ronettes, A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke and the eponymous album The Velvet Underground and Nico.
1962 The Beatles recorded their first radio appearance, at the Playhouse Theatre, Hulme, Manchester, for the BBC radio program Teenager's Turn - Here We Go'. After a rehearsal, the Beatles put on suits for the first time and, along with the other artists appearing on the program, record the show in front of a teenage audience.
1965 During a Rolling Stones gig at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, England a female fan fell from the circle while the group were playing. The crowd below broke her fall and the girl escaped serious injury just breaking a few teeth.
1970 Simon and Garfunkels album 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' started a ten week run at No.1 on the US chart. The duo had split-up by the time of release.
1976 Elton John was immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in London. The first rock star to be so since The Beatles.
2004 The Smiths song 'I Know It's Over' topped a poll of tunes, which people turn to when they are miserable in 'The Songs That Saved Your Life' poll by BBC radio station 6 Music. REM's 'Everybody Hurts' and Radiohead's 'Fake Plastic Trees' also made the Top 10.
1947 Randy Meisner was born.
1965 Bob Dylan’s single 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' was released in the US. The lead track from his Bringing It All Back Home album, gave Dylan his first top 40 hit on the Billboard chart when it peaked #39. Subterranean Homesick Blues is also noted for its innovative film clip, in what became one of the first 'modern' promotional film clips, the forerunner of what later became known as the music video. The clip was shot in an alley behind the Savoy Hotel in London, the cue cards which Dylan holds were written by Donovan, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Neuwirth and Dylan himself. While staring at the camera, he flips the cards as the song plays. There are intentional misspellings and puns throughout the clip.
1966 Lulu became the first British female singer to appear behind the Iron curtain, when she toured Poland with The Hollies.
1968 Cream played the first of two nights at at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California. The concert was recorded with some tracks ending up on their 'Wheels Of Fire' double album.
2003 Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler was injured when the Honda motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision with a Fiat Punto car. The 53-year-old singer and guitarist suffered a broken collar bone and six broken ribs in the accident which happened in London's smart Belgravia district in mid-morning traffic.
2008 China was set to impose stricter rules on foreign pop stars after Bjork caused controversy by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at a Shanghai concert after a powerful performance of her song Declare Independence. Talk of Tibetan independence was considered taboo in China, which had ruled the territory since 1951. A spokesperson from the culture ministry said Bjork would be banned from performing in China if there was a repeat performance.
2009 A blue plaque in honour of The Who drummer Keith Moon was unveiled on the site of the Marquee Club in Soho, London, where in 1964 the band played the first of 29 gigs there. Fans on scooters turned up to pay tribute to Moon, who was 32 when he died of an accidental overdose in 1978. The blue plaque, which means the site is of historic importance, was awarded by the Heritage Foundation.
1948 James Taylor is born
1963The Beatles played at the Granada Cinema in Bedford. Also on the bill, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. John Lennon, suffering from a heavy cold, was unable to perform, so The Beatles set was rearranged so that George and Paul could sing the parts that John usually sang.
1966 The Mamas and the Papas' debut single, "California Dreamin'," reaches #4. Over time, it becomes the Mamas and the Papas' signature song.
1969 Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office. They then held a reception lunch at The Ritz Hotel, Paul then went to Abbey Road studios in the evening to work.
1974 John Lennon made the headlines after an incident at the Troubadour Club, LA. Out on a drinking binge with Harry Nilsson, Lennon hurled insults at the performing Smothers Brothers and punched their manager before being forcibly removed.
1983 U2 scored their first UK No.1 album with 'War', which went on to spend a total of 147 weeks on the chart. The album featured the singles 'New Years Day' and 'Two Hearts Beat As One'.
1983 Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler had her only UK No.1 single with a song written by Meat Loaf's producer, Jim Steinman, 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'. Also No.1 in the US, (the only Welsh artist to score a US No.1), Canada and Australia, the single sold over 5 million copies.
2001 Judy Garland's 'Over The Rainbow' was voted the Song Of The Century in a poll published in America. Musicians, critics and fans compiled the list by the RIA. The highest placed UK act was The Rolling Stones 'Satisfaction' in 16th place. The Beatles had 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' at No. 28.
2006 Former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his third solo album 'On An Island.'
2009 Hundreds of fans queued at the O2 arena in London as Michael Jackson tickets went on sale to the public. The 50-year-old pop veteran had confirmed he would be playing a 50-date residency at the venue, beginning on 8 July 2009. Some 360,000 pre-sale tickets had already sold. Organisers said the This Is It tour had become the fastest-selling in history, with 33 seats sold each minute. Prices ranged from £170 to £10,000, but tickets bought directly from the singer's website cost up to £75. Jackson had said this would be the last time he would perform in the UK.
1965 Eric Clapton quit The Yardbirds due to musical differences with the other band members. Clapton wanted to continue in a blues type vein, while the rest of the band preferred the more commercial style of their first hit, 'For Your Love'.
1973 'Dark Side of the Moon,' by Pink Floyd, is released. It will reach #1 on April 28, log a record-breaking 741 weeks on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, and sell more than 15 million copies in the US alone.
1976 Genesis hits #3 in the UK with 'A Trick of the Tail'.
1976 'Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975,' a best-of drawn from the Eagles' first four albums, enters the album chart. One-third of a century later it will be pronounced the best-selling album in history.
1987 Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1993 Eric Clapton started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Unplugged.'
1999 Cher started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Believe', making Cher the oldest woman to top the Hot 100 at the age of 53.
2006 The Kinks came out the top earners for music used in TV adverts in the US, earning them £6m a year. The sixties group were enjoying a resurgence with their music being used to sell washing powder, computers and medicines. Led Zeppelin came in second place with £4m and The Rolling Stones third with £2.3m.
1968 The posthumously released Otis Redding single 'Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay', started a five week run at No.1 on the US chart, (a No.3 hit the UK). Otis was killed in a plane crash on 10th December 1967 three days after recording the song.
1971 Winners at this years Grammy Awards included, Simon and Garfunkel who won Record of the year, Song of the year and Album of the year for 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', The Carpenters won Best new act and Best vocal performance.
1989 MTV announces it is giving away Jon Bon Jovi's childhood home in Sayreville, New Jersey, on the network's "MTV's Giving Away Bon Jovi's house" contest. The network receives 3 million phone calls and blows out phone lines in Newark, NJ and Chicago.
1991 Seven members of Country singer Reba McEntire's band and her road manager were among 10 people who were killed when their private jet crashed in California just north of the Mexican border. McEntire, who had given a private concert in San Diego for IBM employees the night before, was not on the plane.
1996 The Ramones performed what they claimed would be their last ever date in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2010 Abba were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Genesis and The Hollies. Abba's Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad accepted their trophies, in New York.
2010 A rare Led Zeppelin recording from the group's 1971 gig at St Matthew's Baths Hall in Ipswich, England was unearthed at a car boot sale. The bootleg copy of the audio from the group's gig on November 16th 1971 was picked up for just "two or three pounds" by music fan Vic Kemp. "I was going through a stand of CDs at the car boot at Portman Road and the guy who was selling them said, 'You might be
Excuse me while I rant for a minute! http://bestsmileys.com/angry2/6.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by Koala
Sure Abba makes it into the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame but ROCK N ROLL groups like Rush or The Cars, etc..... still have yet to make it!! What a joke!!! http://bestsmileys.com/signs9/6.gif
I don't get it either. I never did get the appeal of ABBA. I couldn't stand this band. I think they were just such commercial fluff! That is the best thing I can say about them.Quote:
Originally Posted by TimothyBFan
Speaking of Simon & Garfunkel. Here they are performing BOTW at the R&R HOF 25th Anniversary concert, They are still AMAZING! Their entire set for this concert just held the audience spellbound. If you have the time, please watch the 4 songs on the sidebar...incredible:thumbsup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=mXPEjY3gcC4
It doesn't make any sense. Who decides these things?Quote:
Originally Posted by TimothyBFan
I don't want to argue but Abba wrote some wonderful pop songs & are as worthy of being in the HOF as any other band. My objection is that there is still no sign of Dire Straits getting into it.
As to who decides, Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone appears to wield a great deal of influence.
But it's a ROCK N ROLL Hall of Fame. Not a Pop Music one.
Oh, he does. Here's a quote from Peter Tork:Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
"Jann Wenner is single-handedly keeping us out of the Hall of Fame," the mop-topped bass player for the '60s group told Page Six. He said Wenner, who co-founded and is a vice-chairman of the Cleveland-based museum, "doesn't care what the rules are and just operates how he sees fit. It is an abuse of power. I don't know whether The Monkees belong in the Hall of Fame, but it's pretty clear that we're not in there because of a personal whim."The article goes on about Wenner's influence and alleged abuse of it with regard to the Hall of Fame. Read more at the New York Post.
There are 2 sides to every story, and then there's the truth. I think a lot of people hold a grudge against Jann Wenner for one reason or another. I had seen on a YouTube video a link to vote for the inductees nominated for the R&R HOF. I did go & voted and saw the voting results up to that point. It was for this years nominees.
Do I think a band like the Monkees belong in the R&R HOF??...I'm not so sure, but there other bands that should be in. There are petitions going around to have certain bands nominated. I believe this is the case for the Small Faces/Faces which will finally be inducted this year.
I'm with FP about ABBA. I definitely think they are worthy of being in the R&R HOF. Whether someone is a fan or not, pop rock is a sub-genre of rock and roll and ABBA was a pretty influential and successful band. But, I also think you can make some strong arguments for the other bands mentioned here as well, including the Monkees.
By this argument you would have no black music; no soul or R&B. You would only have Jimi Hendrix. The term 'Rock'n'Roll' covers all popular music since the mid 1950s.Quote:
Originally Posted by EagleLady
For what it's worth I was not a fan of the Monkees; but they were (and still are) greatly loved & I believe they deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.
1967 The Beatles scored their 13th US No.1 single with 'Penny Lane.'
1972 "Heart of Gold," by Neil Young -- and featuring Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor on harmony vocals -- tops the singles charts.
1978 The Bee Gees had the Top 3 on the US singles charts, 'Night Fever' at No.1, '(Love is) Thicker Than Water', by brother Andy at No.2, co-written by Barry Gibb and 'Emotion' by Samantha Song written and produced by The Bee Gees at No.3.
1995 'Greatest Hits', an 18-track anthology that includes newly recorded tracks by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, enters the album chart at #1. A video documentary of the studio reunion is released in 1998 as 'Blood Brothers'.
2002 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the seventeenth annual induction dinner. Jakob Dylan is their presenter.
1958 Big Records released 'Our Song' by a teenage duo from Queens, New York, Tom and Jerry. The duo will become famous in the '60s under their real names, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
1964 UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson presented The Beatles with their awards for show business personalities of the year for 1963 at London's Dorchester Hotel.
1971 T Rex were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hot Love.' The group's first of four UK No.1's spent six weeks at the top of the charts.
1978 Billy Joel made his UK live debut at London's Dury Lane Theatre.
1982 Ozzy Osbourne's rhythm guitarist and former Quiet Riot member Randy Rhoads was killed when the plane he was riding in crashed. After driving much of the night, the band had stopped near a small airstrip. The tour bus driver, Andrew Aycock, talked the band's keyboardist, Don Airey, into taking a test flight in a '55 Beechcraft Bonanza, the joyride ended, and the plane landed safely. Then Aycock took Rhoads and Rachel Youngblood on another flight and attempts were made to "buzz" the tour bus. The left wing clipped the bus, which sent the plane spiraling into a nearby house and bursting into flames. All three bodies were burned beyond recognition, and were identified by dental records.
1989 The Living Years (Mike & the Mechanics) was a hit.
2006 Shakira was set to become the first pop star to release a single only in the form of a mobile download. The singers forthcoming release 'Hips Don't Lie' would not be issued in the US as a CD or as a download via the internet but would be available to phone users connected to Verizon.
Don't get me wrong about Abba---not saying they're not worthy of the RNR HOF BUT there are a LOT of ROCK bands that have yet to make it. Personally, I think it should be called the Music HOF because, let's face it, there's all genres in it. My argument has always been that there are bands that should be or should of been included LONG before they actually go in. When I'm seeing rap groups and pop groups being put into the ROCK N ROLL HOF before ROCK groups, that's where I have a complaint.
BTW--- regarding petitions being passed around for certain groups.... I'm rather fond of this one and would appreciate all of your names being added to it!!! :thumbsup:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Cars2009/petition.html
I signed! I always loved the Cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by TimothyBFan
Thank you Zelda!! They are my 2nd favorite group ever!!! Love my Cars and my beloved late Benjamin Orr!!!
I just signed it, too! I know how much you love them, Willie.
1968 Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Richie Furay and Jim Mesina, were arrested in Los Angeles for 'being at a place where it was suspected marijuana was being used.' Clapton was later found innocent, the others paid small fines.
1969 John Lennon married Yoko Ono at the British Consulate Office in Gibraltar. They spent their honeymoon in Amsterdam campaigning for an international "Bed-In" for peace. They planned another "Bed-in" in the United States, but were denied entry. The couple then went to Montr’al, and during a "Bed-in" at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel recorded ‘Give Peace a Chance’. Lennon also detailed this period in The Beatles' ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’, recorded by Lennon and McCartney on April 14, 1969.
1971 At their own expense The Rolling Stones placed full page advertisements in all the UK's music papers disclaiming any connection with the release of the Decca album 'Stone Age' saying 'in our opinion the content is below the standard we try to keep.'
1971 Janis Joplin started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Kris Kristofferson's 'Me And Bobby McGee'. Joplin died the year before on 4th October aged 27.
1991 Eric Clapton's four year old son, Conor, fell to his death from the 53rd story of a New York City apartment after a housekeeper who was cleaning the room left a window open. The boy was in the custody of his mother, Italian actress, Lori Del Santo and the pair were visiting a friend's apartment. Clapton was staying in a nearby hotel after taking his son to the circus the previous evening. The tragedy inspired his song ‘Tears in Heaven’.
Thanks, Lou. How'd you know? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Troubadour
I signed as well! Love the Cars!
1987 U2 scored their third UK No.1 album with 'The Joshua Tree', featuring the singles 'Where The Streets Have No Name', & 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'. The album became the fastest selling in UK history and the first album to sell over a million CDs, spending a total of 156 weeks on the UK chart. Also a US No.1.
1991 Leo Fender, the inventor of The Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars died from Parkinson's disease. He started mass producing solid body electric guitars in the late 40s and when he sold his guitar company in 1965, sales were in excess of $40 million a year.
http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/graphics/spacer.gif1994 Neil Youn?s Grammy-nominated "Philadelphia," from the AIDS-themed movie of the same name, loses to Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia' (also on the soundtrack), for Best Song from a Motion Picture.
2004 Ozzy Osbourne was named the nation's favourite ambassador to welcome aliens to planet earth. The 55-year-old singer came top of a poll as the face people want to represent them to alien life. The poll of internet users was carried out following the discovery of signs of water on Mars. Ozzy won 26 per cent of the vote, Simon Cowell, came last on the list, with just three per cent of the vote, A spokesman for Yahoo! News said: "As the world waits desperately for signs of alien life, we decided to ask our users who they thought was best suited for this most auspicious of roles. Ozzy is a great choice but I'm not sure what the Martians would make of his individual approach to the English language."
Thanks Lizzy!!! Glad to hear you like them. There's a thread here just for them. They are my other obsession!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by lizzyplays
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koala
:hilarious: That's hysterical!!! Can't think of anyone in rock n roll better suited!!!
1956 While driving to New York for appearances on 'The Perry Como Show', and 'The Ed Sullivan Show', the car that Carl Perkins was traveling in was involved in an accident putting Perkins in hospital for several months. The singer received four broken ribs and a broken shoulder, his brother Jay was killed in the accident.
1975 Led Zeppelin started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Physical Graffiti', the group's fourth US No.1 album.
1980 Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall', started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart. Also No.1 in the UK.
1984 Queen filmed the video for ‘I Want To Break Free’ at Limehouse Studio in London, England. Directed by David Mallet, it was a parody of the northern British soap opera Coronation Street with the band members dressed in drag. Guitarist Brian May later said the video ruined the band in America, and was initially banned by MTV in the US.
1964 John Lennon's book of verse and rhyme 'In His Own Write' was published in the UK. Some of the content was first published in Lennon's 'Beachcomber' column in Mersey Beat.
1967 At a ceremony held at the Playhouse Theatre in London, The Beatles were awarded three Ivor Novello awards for 1966: Best-selling British single ‘Yellow Submarine’, most-performed song ‘Michelle’, and next-most-performed song ‘Yesterday’. None of the Beatles attended and the winning songs were played by Joe Loss and his Orchestra. The lead vocal for ‘Michelle’ was sung by Ross MacManus, whose son would go on to become the professional musician Elvis Costello.
1972 The film of The Concert For Bangladesh featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton premiered in New York. The event was the first benefit concert of this magnitude in world history. The concert raised $243,418.51 for Bangladesh relief, which was administered by UNICEF. Sales of the album and DVD continue to benefit the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.
1977 Elvis Presley appeared at the Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. This was the first date of 49 date US tour over three months and Presley's last ever tour. (His last ever show was on 26th June 1977 at the Indianapolis Indiana Market Square Arena).
1985 Former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Centerfield.'
1991 R.E.M. scored their first UK No.1 album with their seventh LP 'Out Of Time' featuring the singles 'Losing My Religion' (which became R.E.M.'s highest-charting hit in the US, reaching No.4), and 'Shiny Happy People.' The video for 'Losing My Religion' won two Grammy Awards and six MTV Awards.
1945 Billboard published the first US LP chart. Nat King Cole was at No.1 with 'A Collection Of Favourites.'
1966 Simon and Garfunkel made their UK singles chart debut with 'Homeward Bound.' Simon is said to have written the song at Farnworth railway station, Widnes, England, while stranded overnight waiting for a train. A plaque is displayed in the station to commemorate this, although memorabilia hunters have stolen it many times. The song describes his longing to return home, both to his then girlfriend, Kathy Chitty in Brentwood, Essex, England, and to return to the United States. The song was also a No.5 hit in the US.
1973 During a Lou Reed show in Buffalo, New York, a fan jumped on stage and bit Lou on the bottom. The man was thrown out of the theatre and Reed completed the show.
1985 'Easy Lover' by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. Bailey was a former vocalist with Earth Wind & Fire. Phil Collins produced, drummed and sang on the track.
1992 A Chicago court settled the Milli Vanilli class action suit by approving cash rebates of up to $3 (‘1.76) to anyone proving they bought the group’s music before November 27 1990, the date the lip synching scandal broke. Milli Vanilli won the 1989 best new artist Grammy after hits like 'Blame it on the Rain' and 'Girl, You Know It's True,' selling 30 million singles and 14 million albums. But in late 1990, the performers were stripped of the award after it was revealed that neither actually sang on the Milli Vanilli album.
1942 Aretha Franklin was born.
1947 Reginald Kenneth Dwight, a.k.a. Elton John, is born.
1964 The Beatles made their debut on UK TV show 'Top Of The Pops' singing 'Can't Buy Me Love' and ‘You Can’t Do That.’ The show had been recorded on March 19th.
1967 The Who and Cream made their U.S. concert debut at RKO 58th Street Theatre, New York City as part of a rock & roll extravaganza promoted by DJ Murray the K.
1967 Pink Floyd played three gigs in 24 hours. The appeared at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England, then the New Yorker Discotheque in Swindon and then played at the Shoreline Club in Bognor Regis (in the early hours 26 March).
1969 John and Yoko started their week long 'bed-in' in the presidential suite at The Amsterdam Hilton hotel. The couple invited the world's press into their hotel room every day, to talk about promoting world peace.
1972 America hits #1 with "Horse With No Name".
1989 Mike And The Mechanics went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Living Years', a No. 2 hit in the UK.
1950 Tony Banks, keyboards, Genesis, is born.
1969 The Rascals release the ambitious 'Freedom Suite', comprising a disc of short songs and one of lengthy instrumentals. It joins the Who's 'Tommy', Cream's 'Wheels of Fire' and the Beatles' White Album as one of a relative few double albums from the Sixties.
1984 Metallica made their UK live debut at the Marquee, London.
1987 U2 performed from the roof of a store in downtown LA to make the video for 'Where The Streets Have No Name', attracting thousands of spectators and bringing traffic to a standstill. The police eventually stop the shoot.