This Day In Music

On This Day – December 1 – Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones, Vanilla Ice, Talking Heads & more

1957, Buddy Holly and the Crickets appeared on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’, performing ‘That’ll Be The Day’ and ‘Peggy Sue’. Sam Cooke was also a guest on the same show performing ‘You Send Me’.

1958, The Teddy Bears were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘To Know Him is to Love Him.’ The title of the Phil Spector song came from words on his father’s tombstone.

1964, The Who played the first of 22 consecutive Tuesday night gigs at The Marquee Club in London, the band were paid £50 for each gig.

1966, Tom Jones was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of ‘Green Green Grass Of Home.’ It stayed at No.1 for seven weeks giving Decca records its first million selling single by a British artist. Also a No.11 hit in the US.

1976, The Sex Pistols appeared on ITV’s live early evening ‘Today’ show (in place of Queen who had pulled out following a trip to the dentists by Freddie Mercury). Taunted by interviewer Bill Grundy who asked the band to say something outrageous, guitarist Steve Jones says: ‘You dirty bastard…you dirty fucker…what a fucking rotter!’

1980, Talking Heads supported by U2 appeared at the Hammersmith Palais, London, England.

1982, Michael Jackson‘s ‘Thriller’ album was released. It spent 190 weeks on the UK album chart became the biggest selling pop album of all time, with sales over 50 million copies.

1987, a Kentucky teacher lost her appeal in the US Supreme Court over her sacking after showing Pink Floyd‘s film ‘The Wall’ to her class. The court decided that the film was not suitable for minors with its bad language… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 30 – Milli Vanilli, Ice Cube, Ramones, Babyshambles, Pink Floyd & more

1969, The Monkees made what would be their last live appearance for 15 years when they played at The Oakland Coliseum, California.

1969, The Rolling Stones played the final night on a 17 date North American tour at the International Raceway Festival, West Palm Beach, Florida. Also appearing, The Moody Blues, Ten Years After, King Crimson, Janis Joplin, The Band, Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly.

1971, Sly And The Family Stone were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Family Affair.’

1985, Wham! Were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I’m Your Man’, the duo’s third UK No.1, a No.3 hit in the US.

1991, Milli Vanilli singer Rob Pilatus attempted suicide while staying at The Mondrain Hotel, Los Angeles by taking an overdose of sleeping pills and slashing his wrists.

1994, Tupac Shakur was shot five times during a robbery outside a New York City recording studio.

1996, Ice Cube obtained a restraining order to keep an obsessed fan away from him and his family. Cynthia Renee Collins was told to stop harassing the 26 year-old rapper, and stay at least 100 feet away from him.

1997, Chumbawamba’s Danbert Nobacon was arrested by Italian police for wearing a skirt and was detained in police cells overnight.

1999, Don ‘Sugarcane’ Harris was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment at the age of 61. The American guitarist and violinist was part of the 50’s duo Don & Dewey. He also worked with Little Richard, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker and Johnny Otis.

1999, Elton John was blasted by the Boy Scout Association after he appeared on stage at London’s Albert Hall performing ‘It’s A… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 28 – Elvis Presley, Deep Purple, Steppenwolf, Metallica, Dave Edmunds & more

1960, Elvis Presley started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, his third US No.1 of 1960. The single included a spoken passage loosely based on Shakespeare.

1964, The Shangri-Las went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the ‘teen death song’, ‘Leader Of The Pack.

1968, on their first North American tour, Deep Purple played the first of four nights at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, California.’

1970, Dave Edmunds was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the 1955 Smiley Lewis hit ‘I Hear You Knocking.

1974, John Lennon made his last ever concert appearance when he joined Elton John on stage at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. Lennon performed three songs; ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.’

1975, The Sex Pistols appeared at Queen Elizabeth College, Kensington, London.

1987, taken from the film ‘Dirty Dancing’, the Jennifer Warnes’ duet with Bill Medley ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, went to No.1 on the US singles chart.

1987, REM had their first entry in the Top 10 on the US singles chart with ‘The One I Love.’

1991, Nirvana recorded a performance for BBC TV music show Top Of The Pops in London. When asked to lip-sync ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ to a pre-recorded tape Kurt Cobain protests by singing in a low-pitched funny voice with the rest of the band not even trying to mime in-time to the track.

1992, Whitney Houston started a record-breaking fourteen-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Will… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 27 – Hank Snow, Bon Jovi, 50 Cent, The Shadows & more

1964, Mick Jagger was fined £16 for driving offences by a court in Tettenhall, Staffs. His solicitor told the court: “The Duke of Marlborough had longer hair than my client and he won some famous battles. His hair was powdered, I think because of fleas. My client has no fleas.”

1966, The New Vaudeville Band were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Winchester Cathedral.’

1970, George Harrison released All Things Must Pass. The triple album included a number of songs that were left over from Beatle sessions, the set would go on to be certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA, making it the best selling album by a solo Beatle.

1973, Hank Snow’s guitarist Jimmy Widener was shot dead, his body was dumped in an alley.

1982, Lionel Richie was No.1 in the US with ‘Truly’. Richie achieved a No.1 each year from 78-86 as a writer, ‘Three Times A Lady’, ‘Still’, ‘Lady (Kenny Rodgers), ‘Endless Love’, (Diana Ross), ‘All Night Long’, ‘Hello’ ‘Say ‘You Say Me and as co-writer of ‘We Are The World’.

1986, Bon Jovi were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You Give Love A Bad Name.’

1994, Rod Stewart and the Faces appeared at The Odeon, Lewisham, London, England. Paul and Linda McCartney both joined the band on stage for a few numbers.

1997, a disturbed rock fan brought the funeral of Michael Hutchence to a standstill when he tried to launch himself from a 20 ft high balcony with a cord around his neck. He was removed by police and taken away to a psychiatric unit.

2005, multimillionaire defence contractor David H. Brooks booked New York’s Rainbow Rooms and his… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 26 – Johnny Cash, Cream, New York Dolls, Garth Brooks, Boyz II Men & more

1958, Johnny Cash, made his debut on the US country chart when ’Cry! Cry! Cry!’ made it to number 14. His next seven singles would all make the country top 10, with ‘I Walk the Line’ and ‘There You Go’ both hitting number 1.

1968, Cream played their farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Also on the bill were Yes and Taste.

1969, Pink Floyd and Mouseproof appeared at The Civic Hall, Dunstable, England, tickets 14 shillings, ($1.68).

1973, John Rostill former bassist with The Shadows died after being electrocuted at his home recording studio. A local newspaper ran the headline, ‘Pop musician dies, guitar apparent cause’. After the break up of The Shadows Rostill worked with Tom Jones and wrote songs covered by Elvis Presley and Olivia Newton-John.

1973, The New York Dolls made their live UK debut at Biba’s Rainbow Room, London.

1976, The Sex Pistols released the single ‘Anarchy In The UK’. It peaked at No.38 on the UK charts.

1977, Blondie played the first night of a 28 date (and their first tour of Australia) at the Concert Hall, Perth with support from The Ferrets.

1989, The Rolling Stones played a concert at Death Valley Stadium in Clenson, South Carolina to help raise money for the victims of Hurricane Hugo.

1991, US Country singer Garth Brooks asked fans to bring 10 cans of food to a grocery store in exchange for a lottery envelope, some of which contained tickets to see Garth at a forthcoming show. Over 10,000 cans were donated to charity.

1994, Boyz II Men started their 14th and final week at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I’ll Make Love To You’ giving them the longest run in chart history along with ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston.

2000, Manchester club the Hacienda was auctioned off raising £18,000 for charity. Madonna made her UK TV debut at the club when C4 music show The Tube was broadcast live from the venue. Oasis, Happy Mondays, U2, New Order, Stone Roses, The Smiths and James all played at the club.

2003, rapper Soulja Slim was shot to death in front of his home in New Orleans aged 25. The rapper was featured on Juvenile’s 2004 US No.1 single ‘Slow Motion.’

2008, the parents of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist and lyricist Richey Edwards were granted a court order for him to be declared presumed dead, after he disappeared nearly 14 years ago. Despite alleged sightings all over the world many believed Edwards, whose car was found near the Severn Bridge, took his own life at the age of 27.

Born on this day
1939, Tina Turner, singer
1945, John McVie, Fleetwood Mac
1946, Burt Reiter, bass, Focus
1981, Natash Bedingfield, singer

 

On This Day – November 25 – Nick Drake, Sting, Glen Campbell, Meat Loaf & more

1961, The Everly Brothers started active service for the 8th Battalion Marine Corps Reserves, working as artillerymen.

1969, John Lennon returned his MBE to The Queen on the grounds of the UK’s involvement in the Nigeria Biafra war, America in Vietnam, and against his latest single ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts.

1974, UK singer, songwriter Nick Drake died in his sleep aged 26 of an overdose of tryptasol an anti-depressant drug. Drake signed to Island Records when he was twenty years old, recorded the classic 1972 album Pink Moon. In 2000, Volkswagen featured the title track from Pink Moon in a television advertisement, and within a month Drake had sold more records than he had in the previous thirty years.

1976, The Band made their final performance; ‘The Last Waltz’ the show also featured Joni Mitchell, Dr John, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton and others. Martin Scorsese filmed the event.

1984, the cream of the British pop world gathered at S.A.R.M. Studios, London to record the historic ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ The single, which was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, featured Paul Young, Bono, Boy George, Sting and George Michael. It went on to sell over three million copies in the UK, becoming the bestselling record ever, and raised over £8 million ($13.6 million) worldwide.

1995, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke blacked out halfway through a show in Munich, Germany, suffering from exhaustion.

2000, a burglar broke into Alice Cooper‘s home and made off with over $6000 worth of clothes, shoes and cameras belonging to the singers daughter. The good’s were all lifted from Cooper’s house in Paradise Valley, along with four of… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 24 – Chicago, The Undertones, Buddy Holly, Johnnie Ray & more

1959, US singer Johnnie Ray was released on bail after spending the night in jail charged with accosting and soliciting.

1966, The Beatles get together for the first time since their return from the summer tour of the United States, ready to record a new album. The first song selected for recording is John Lennon’s ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’

1968, Diana Ross and The Supremes were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Love Child.’

1973, Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Photograph’. His first of two US chart toppers as a solo artist.

1976, Chicago started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘If You Leave Me Now’, the American group’s only UK No.1. It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance.

1978, David Bowie played the first of two sold-out nights at the RAS Show Grounds, Sydney during his 8-date Low / Heroes tour of Australia and New Zealand.

1983, Irish group The Undertones split up. Lead singer Feargal Sharkey went on to have a No.1 UK single as a solo artist with ‘A Good Heart’ and later worked in A&R for various record labels.

1991, Eric Carr (Paul Charles Caravello) drummer with Kiss died aged 41, of complications from cancer in a New York hospital. Carr replaced Peter Criss in 1980 and remained a band member until he became ill in 1991. For his Kiss stage persona, Carr was known as “The Fox.”

1991, Freddie Mercury died of complications from aids at his home in London’s Holland park aged 45, just one day after he publicly admitted he was HIV positive.… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 23 – Billy Swan, Queen, Roy Acuff, Otis Redding & more

1956, sheet metal worker Louis Balint was arrested after punching Elvis Presley at a Hotel in Toledo. Balint claimed that his wife’s love for Elvis had caused his marriage to break up. He was fined $19.60 but ended up being jailed because he was unable to pay the fine.

1962, The Beatles traveled to St. James’ Church Hall, London, for a ten-minute audition with BBC Television. The audition came about when Beatles fan, David Smith of Preston, Lancashire wrote to the BBC asking for The Beatles to be featured on BBC television. Assuming that Smith was The Beatles’ manager, the BBC wrote back to him, offering The Beatles an audition. Smith brought his letter to NEMS Enterprises, and Clive Epstein (Brian’s brother) arranged for audition to take place. Four days later, Brian Epstein received a polite “thumbs-down” letter from the BBC.

1967, The Who appeared at The New Barn, Lions Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie, Indiana.

1968, Pink Floyd appeared at the The Large Hall, Regent Street Polytechnic, London, England.

1974, One hit wonder Billy Swan started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Can Help.

1975, Queen started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ The promotional video that accompanied the song is generally acknowledged as being the first pop video and only cost £5,000 to produce. When the band wanted to release the single various record executives suggested to them that, at 5 minutes and 55 seconds, it was too long and would never be a hit.

1976, Ten hours after his last arrest, Jerry Lee Lewis was nicked again after brandishing a Derringer pistol outside Elvis… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 23 – Billy Swan, Queen, Roy Acuff, Otis Redding & more

1956, sheet metal worker Louis Balint was arrested after punching Elvis Presley at a Hotel in Toledo. Balint claimed that his wife’s love for Elvis had caused his marriage to break up. He was fined $19.60 but ended up being jailed because he was unable to pay the fine.

1962, The Beatles traveled to St. James’ Church Hall, London, for a ten-minute audition with BBC Television. The audition came about when Beatles fan, David Smith of Preston, Lancashire wrote to the BBC asking for The Beatles to be featured on BBC television. Assuming that Smith was The Beatles’ manager, the BBC wrote back to him, offering The Beatles an audition. Smith brought his letter to NEMS Enterprises, and Clive Epstein (Brian’s brother) arranged for audition to take place. Four days later, Brian Epstein received a polite “thumbs-down” letter from the BBC.

1967, The Who appeared at The New Barn, Lions Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie, Indiana.

1968, Pink Floyd appeared at the The Large Hall, Regent Street Polytechnic, London, England.

1974, One hit wonder Billy Swan started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Can Help.

1975, Queen started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ The promotional video that accompanied the song is generally acknowledged as being the first pop video and only cost £5,000 to produce. When the band wanted to release the single various record executives suggested to them that, at 5 minutes and 55 seconds, it was too long and would never be a hit.

1976, Ten hours after his last arrest, Jerry Lee Lewis was nicked again after brandishing a Derringer pistol outside Elvis… Continue reading >

On This Day – November 22 – Simon and Garfunkel, Iron Butterfly, The Human League, Alice Coper, INXS & more

1957, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel appeared as Tom and Jerry on ABC-TV’s American Bandstand

1965, Bob Dylan married Sara Lowndes in New York. Sara filed for divorce on March 1st 1977.

1968, The Beatles double White album was released in the UK. Featuring ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’, ‘Dear Prudence’, ‘Helter Skelter’, ‘Blackbird’ ‘Back In The USSR’ and George Harrisons ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’.

1969, Iron Butterfly supported by Steel Mill, (featuring Bruce Springsteen), Appeared at the Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. The gig was held in the school’s 3,500- seat Crenshaw Gymnasium.

1975, KC and the Sunshine Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘That’s The Way (I Like It)’, the group’s second US No.1 of the year.

1976, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested for drunk driving after driving his rolls Royce into a ditch.

1986, The Human League went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Human’, making them the 8th UK act to score a US No.1 single in 1986.

1987, Jesus and Mary Chain singer Jim Reid was arrested in Canada after being accused of assaulting members of the audience with his microphone stand, he was released on $2,000 bail.

1991, Alice Cooper came to the rescue of two fans; Patrick and Dee Ann Kelly, whose California home was about to be re-possessed. Patrick had painted Coopers face on the house to help sell the property. Mr Cooper signed autographs to help raise money for the couple.

1997, INXS singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in his hotel suite in Sydney. He was 37. Hutchence body was found at 11.50am naked behind the door to his… Continue reading >

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