Today in Rock n' Roll History

[Koala]

1964 The Rolling Stones first album was released in the UK, it went to No.1 two weeks later and stayed on the chart for 40 weeks, with 11 weeks at No.1.

1977 One half of TV cop show "Starsky & Hutch" (he was blonde Hutch), David Soul went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us', his only US hit. Also No.1 in the UK.

1990 At London’s Wembley Stadium, artists including Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Simple Minds, and Tracy Chapman take part in a musical celebration of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

1993 Paul McCartney headlined a concert at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate 'Earth Day' along with Ringo Starr, Don Henley and Steve Miller. McCartney had last performed there as a member of the Beatles in 1965.

1998 'Rumours', by Fleetwood Mac, is certified by the RIAA for sales of 18 million copies.

[Koala]

1970 Paul McCartney releases his first solo album, "McCartney.

1973 Pink Floyd's album 'The Dark Side of the Moon' went gold in the US. The LP went on to stay in the US chart for more than ten years and become the longest charting rock record of all time.

1993 Ugly Kid Joe hits #7 with "Cat's In the Cradle".

1994 Pink Floyd started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Division Bell', their fourth No.1 album.

1998 Linda McCartney died after a long battle against cancer. Married Paul McCartney in 1969 when she was working as a photographer. As well as a being a member of Wings, she became an animal rights campaigner and launched her own brand of vegetarian food.

2009 Morrissey walked off stage during his set at the Coachella festival in California after declaring he could "smell burning flesh". The committed vegetarian took offence to the smell coming from nearby barbecues. Sir Paul McCartney, The Killers and The Cure also appeared at the event.

[Koala]

1964 The Beatles appeared on the UK TV comedy program The Morecambe and Wise Show, playing ‘This Boy’, ‘All My Loving’, and ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ and also participate in comedy sketches with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. The Beatles also held the UK and US No.1 position on this day with 'Can't Buy Me Love'.

1984 Michael Jackson underwent surgery in a Los Angeles hospital to repair damage done after his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.

1992 'Human Touch' and 'Lucky Town', two simultaneously released studio albums by Bruce Springsteen, debut at #2 and #3, respectively.

2000 'The Wall Live: 1980-81,' culled from Pink Floyd's London performances of their all-time favorite work, is released.

2006 a sale of clothes belonging to Sir Elton John raised more than $700,000 (£395,000) for the singer's Aids charity. Over 10,000 pieces were sold during a five-day sale in New York City at the specially-created shop, Elton's Closet, at New York's Rockefeller Centre.

[Koala]

1968 John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives left the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India two weeks before their study was complete. Ringo and Paul had already left.

1980 AC/DC announces that Brian Johnson will replace Bon Scott.

1980 R.E.M. played their first gig as R.E.M. at the 11:11 Koffee Club, Athens, Georgia to 150 people. The show ended at 2am when police closed it down due to the venue being unlicensed.

2000 Phil Collins won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error but because the two musicians had no other income they would not have to pay it back.

[Koala]

1967 Van der Graaf Generator releases their debut Album “ The Aerosol Grey Machine”

1968 Simon & Garfunkel hit #1 wich “Mrs. Robbinson”.

1968 The first-ever DeepPurple concert is held in Tastrup, Denmark.

1974 Mike Oldfield Hits #3 in tue Us wich “Tubular Bells”

1997 Michael Jackson attended an unveiling of a wax statue of himself at tue Grevin Museum of Wax in Paris.

[Koala]

1963 The Rolling Stones appeared at The Crawdaddy Club, Station Hotel, London. The band was paid £50 for the gig.

1970 Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spooky Tooth, Jackie Lomax, Elton John (making his solo concert debut) and Heavy Jelly all appeared at The Roundhouse, London, tickets cost 25 shillings.

1977 Peter Gabriel hits #68 with "Solsbury Hill".

1990 Fleetwood Mac scored their fourth UK No.1 album with Behind The Mask.

1990 Sinead O'Connor started a four week stay at No.1 in the US singles chart with her version of the Prince song 'Nothing Compares To You'. The track was also a No.1 hit in 18 other countries.

[TimothyBFan]

Good luck to Koala today as she is having her surgery finally!!


1969-John Lennon legally changed his middle name from Winston to Ono.

1974-Filming for the movie version of Tommy begins.

1981-Eric Clapton is hospitalized in Seatle after a car crash. He had been released 2 days earlier from a St Paul hospital.

2008- Paul Davis, I Go Crazy, dies of a heart attack.

2009-Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart receive lifetime achievement awards from the American Society of Composers and Publishers.

[Koala]

Thanks Willie!

1936 Roy Orbison was born.

1969 The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Get Back' the group's 16th UK No.1.

1975 During a North American tour Pink Floyd played the first of five sold out nights at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arenain Los Angeles, California.

1983 Spandau Ballet hits #1 in the UK with "True".

1988 Roy Orbison celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert, during which the audience sang happy birthday to him.

1994 "Streets of Philadelphia," Bruce Springsteen's contribution to the film AIDS-themed film 'Philadelphia', becomes his first Top Ten hit since "Tunnel of Love" in 1987.

[Koala]

1961 Bob Dylan appeared on Harry Belafonte's album 'The Midnight Special' playing harmonica on the track 'Calypso King'; Dylan was paid a $50 session fee for this his first ever recording.

1968 The Beatles new company Apple Records turned down the offer to sign new artist David Bowie.

1968 Louis Armstrong was at No.1 in the UK with the single 'What A Wonderful World / Cabaret.' At 69 years of age, it made Armstrong the oldest act ever to score a UK No.1.

1976 Led Zeppelin scored their sixth UK No.1 album with 'Presence', also No.1 in the US.

1976,"Wings At The Speed Of Sound' went to No.1 on the US album chart. Paul McCartney's fifth No.1 after The Beatles.

[Koala]

1977 Elvis Presley made the last recordings of his life during a concert at the Saginaw, Michigan Civic Centre. Three songs from the show appeared on the posthumously released Presley album, 'Moody Blue'.

1979 The Police made their debut on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' performing 'Roxanne'.

1982 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ebony And Ivory.' This was McCartney's 24th No.1 hit single as a songwriter. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan say "black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony folks!". It was later named as the tenth worst song of all time by Blender magazine and in 2007 was named the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music listeners.

1994 The Eagles played the first of two shows where they recorded their ‘Hell Freezes Over’ album. Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmit first got back together the previous December for the making of a Travis Tritt video of their song, ‘Take It Easy.’ The name of the album was taken from an earlier quote by Glen Frey, who responded to the question "When will the Eagles get back together?"