Today in Rock n' Roll History

[MikeA]

I had completely forgotten that term "Teeny Bopper". It was not used in a good way in the music circles I was in. Was it the same as "Bubblegum"?

[WalshFan88]

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.

Great guy, genius inventor. If it weren't for him music wouldn't have been the same. His "Telecaster" design (although it has had different names) was really the first solidbody guitar design that people used. He and Ted McCarty (from Gibson) were amazing people that invented guitars that changed music. Les Paul too.

He also invented the amps that gave birth to Rock and Roll Music!

I LOVE the Telecaster, but I'm kinda iffy about Stratocasters. Nothing wrong with a good Strat, but a Tele is more my style. I love Fender guitars, even though my favorite is a Gibson Les Paul.

[MikeA]

Kinda funny how the "history" of guitars has treated the two mainstays of solid body equipment.

People generally think that Les Paul was the first. Actually, Rickenbacker made the first ones but didn't market them successfully. McCarty was the force behind Gibson and in particular the Les Paul but it was more a reaction to what Leo Fender did with that Telecaster (No Caster?) that drove the LP into the market. Fender was the first to successfully market the solid body. Then McCarty (President of Gibson at the time in 1950) "recruited" Les Paul more as a "signature" than as the innovator. The only thing Les Paul did on that first Les Paul Gibson made was suggest a change in the tail piece <LOL>.

It was McCarty from Gibson who really took Paul Reed Smith under his wing and helped him launch the fabulous PRS.

Kind of funny too in a way about the history of Epiphone and Gibson. They were major competitors in the acoustic market. Then Epiphone got in trouble and Gibson bought them....for $20,000! I think that purchase took place in 1957 but am not sure.

I wish that Fender would do with Tacoma what Gibson did with Epiphone! Too good a guitar to let die out.

Gibson really diversified. They are far more than "just" a maker of Les Paul Guitars. They own Balwin Pianos, and several other Guitar names that we all are familiar with. Ever heard of Kramer? How about Steinberger?

Gibson almost died in the late 60's and 70's though when the company was sold to Norlin. They really slid downhill in quality until they were "rebought" by employees in 1986 and returned to making really first class instruments.

[WalshFan88]

Kinda funny how the "history" of guitars has treated the two mainstays of solid body equipment.

People generally think that Les Paul was the first. Actually, Rickenbacker made the first ones but didn't market them successfully. McCarty was the force behind Gibson and in particular the Les Paul but it was more a reaction to what Leo Fender did with that Telecaster (No Caster?) that drove the LP into the market. Fender was the first to successfully market the solid body. Then McCarty (President of Gibson at the time in 1950) "recruited" Les Paul more as a "signature" than as the innovator. The only thing Les Paul did on that first Les Paul Gibson made was suggest a change in the tail piece <LOL>.

It was McCarty from Gibson who really took Paul Reed Smith under his wing and helped him launch the fabulous PRS.

Kind of funny too in a way about the history of Epiphone and Gibson. They were major competitors in the acoustic market. Then Epiphone got in trouble and Gibson bought them....for $20,000! I think that purchase took place in 1957 but am not sure.

I wish that Fender would do with Tacoma what Gibson did with Epiphone! Too good a guitar to let die out.

Gibson really diversified. They are far more than "just" a maker of Les Paul Guitars. They own Balwin Pianos, and several other Guitar names that we all are familiar with. Ever heard of Kramer? How about Steinberger?

Gibson almost died in the late 60's and 70's though when the company was sold to Norlin. They really slid downhill in quality until they were "rebought" by employees in 1986 and returned to making really first class instruments.

I agree Mike. The Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Telecaster are my favorite instruments of all time, the first marketed solidbodies!

Fender and Gibson BOTH about went under in the late 60s/early 70s. Fender was bought by CBS, and Gibson by Norlin. I'm not big on 70s model Fenders and Gibsons but that's just me.

[Brooke]

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. [/QUOTE]

As I was reading this, I Still Haven't Found was playing on the radio!

[Koala]

1974 On the Border (Eagles) is released!!!

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.

1986Heart went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'These Dreams', it made No.8 in the UK in 1988.

1991 Mike & the Mechanics release third album 'Word of Mouth'.
　

[TimothyBFan]

1974 On the Border (Eagles) is released!!!

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.

1986Heart went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'These Dreams', it made No.8 in the UK in 1988.

1991 Mike & the Mechanics release third album 'Word of Mouth'.
　

WOW---Some great groups making the headlines for today in RNR history!!!

[MikeA]

Yep, must be Spring now. Groups getting out after being in the studio all winter and hawking their wares. It was a good day in Rock n Roll History.

[Koala]

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 Bangla Desh featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton premiered in New York.

1973 John Lennon was ordered to leave the US within 60 days by the immigration authorities; he began a long fight to win his 'Green Card' which he was given on 27th July 1976.

1974 Cher went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dark Lady', the singers third solo No.1, it made No.36 in the UK.

1983 The Smiths played at The Rock Garden, London, England, the group's first ever London show.

1985 Former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Centerfield.'

1990 Fleetwood Mac kicked off their Behind The Mask world tour with 14 dates in Australian starting at the Boondall Entertainment Centre in Brisbane.

1991 R.E.M. scored their first UK No.1 album with their seventh LP 'Out Of Time' featuring the singles 'Losing My Religion' and 'Shiny Happy People.'

[MikeA]

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.

That's an interesting tidbit. The part about Elvis Costello I mean. The Beatles refused just about everything "The Establishment" did whether it was about them or not. Talk about the Consummate Rebels.