1943 John Denver is born.

1955 Based on sales from stores, radio and jukebox plays Billboard named 'Unchained Melody' by Les Baxter the number 1 US song of 1955.

1961 The Beach Boys made their live debut using their new name when they appeared at Long Beach Civic Auditorium, California.

1966 The Monkees started a 7-week run at No.1 on the US singles charts with the Neil Diamond song 'I'm A Believer'. Also No.1 in the UK in 1967.

1970 Paul McCartney files suit to dissolve the Beatles partnership.

1973 Australian band AC/DC made their live debut when they appeared at Chequers Bar in Sydney.

1982 The last ABBA concert is held, in Stockholm.

1985 Ricky Nelson was killed along with six others, when his charted light aircraft crashed in Texas. It's rumoured that freebasing cocaine caused an onboard explosion. Nelson had played himself on his parent's US TV The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet.' (1958 US No.1 'Poor Little Fool', 1961 UK No.2 single 'Hello Mary Lou' plus over 30 US Top 40 hit singles).

1994 Rod Stewart performs on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for an audience of 4.2 million people. He make into the Guinness Book of World Records for staging the largest outdoor concert in history.

1996 Paul McCartney became a Sir after he was listed in the Queens New Year's Honours List.


2002 Eric Clapton surprises the guests at his daughter's christening by marrying her mother at the service