This day in Rock'n'Roll history
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1909, 90 years ago
Leo Fender, founder of Fender Guitars, is born.
> 1928, 71 years ago
Balladeer and sausage maker Jimmy Dean (Seth Ward) is born in Plainview, Texas.
> 1928, 71 years ago
Eddie Fisher is born in Philadelphia. He marries Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth
Taylor and Connie Stevens. His biggest singles are the million-selling No. 1
songs "Oh! My Pa-Pa" and "I'm Walking Behind You." He appears in the films "All
About Eve," "Bundle of Joy" and "Butterfield 8."
> 1947, 52 years ago
Ian Anderson, flutist and singer for Jethro Tull, is born as is Ronettes lead
singer Ronnie Spector.
> 1955, 44 years ago
Two weeks after its R&B top ten debut, Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" enters the
pop charts at #23.
> 1959, 40 years ago
The male members of the Platters, Tony Williams, David Lynch, Alex Hodge and
Paul Rabi are arrested in a room at the Sheraton Gibston Hotel in Cincinnatti.
Dectectives were tipped off by a hotel employee and found the four black men in
various stages of undress with four nineteen year old women-three of whom were
white. The men are charged with aiding and abetting prositution, lewdness and
assignation. Everybody will be acquitted in December, but the episode, in which
many think is fueled by racism, takes its toll of the Platters' career.
> 1961, 38 years ago
INXS drummer John Farriss is born.
> 1966, 33 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Summer in the City," The Lovin' Spoonful. The song is
based on a poem by Mark Sebastian, whose brother John is in the group.
> 1968, 31 years ago
The Who's "Magic Bus" is released.
> 1970, 29 years ago
Jim Morrison's trial for allegedly exposing himself onstage in Miami begins.
> 1972, 27 years ago
Paul & Linda McCartney are arrested for drug possesion after a concert in
Gothenburg Sweden. Paul is fined $1,000 and Linda $200.
> 1974, 25 years ago
After doing two albums for Elektra/Asylum Records, Bob Dylan returns to his
longtime label, Columbia.
> 1975, 24 years ago
CBS-TV summer variety show "Manhattan Transfer" premieres.
> 1976, 23 years ago
Elton John gets Madison Square Garden rockin' and rollin' on the opening night
of a seven show stand. The stay breaks the house record set the previous summer
by the Rolling Stones. The concert marks the end of a two month U.S. tour for
John and represents the absolute peak of his staggering popularity.
> 1982, 17 years ago
Southside Johnny Lyon, leader of the Asbury Jukes, marries Jill Glasner in
Asbury Park, New Jersey. The Jukes and Bruce Springsteen perform at the
wedding.
> 1985, 14 years ago
Michael Jackson pays $47.5 million for the ATV music catalog, which includes
251 Lennon/McCartney songs.
> 1986, 13 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Papa Don't Preach," Madonna.
> 1987, 12 years ago
Metallica's "Garage Days Re-Revisited" EP was released.
> 1993, 6 years ago
Edward Roberts dies of cancer at age 57 in Akron, Ohio. He was a member of the
1960s singing group Ruby & the Romantics, whose hits included "Our Day Will
Come," "Hey There Lonely Boy" and "My Summer Love."
> 1995, 4 years ago
Jimmy Buffett leads a birthday celebration for President Clinton's birthday at
the White House.
> 1997, 2 years ago
The Buffalo Club, Thompson Brothers, Kim Richey, and James Bonamy lead a group
of artists who perform at a Democratic Party hosted by Vice President Al Gore.
The party is thrown to thank local supporters.
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Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1949, 50 years ago
Eric Carmen is born in Cleveland. He is the lead singer of the Rasberries from
1970-74. His biggest solo hit is the million-selling "All By Myself," which
stays at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 for three weeks in 1976.
> 1954, 45 years ago
Joe Jackson is born in Burton-on-Trent, England. His biggest hit is "Steppin'
Out," a No. 6 song in 1982.
> 1956, 43 years ago
Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" is released.
> 1957, 42 years ago
Just nine days after being on "The Big Beat", Jerry Lee Lewis returns. He again
closes with "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". By the end of the month it will top
both the Country & Western and R&B charts.
> 1962, 37 years ago
Booker T. and the MG's instrumental song, "Green Onions", is released on Stax
Records. It will make it up to number three on the pop charts.
> 1964, 35 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Everybody Loves Somebody," Dean Martin. The song
becomes the theme song to NBC's "The Dean Martin Show" the following year.
> 1966, 33 years ago
The Beatles arrive at Chicago's O'Hare Airport to start their last tour of the
United States. John Lennon's controversial remark about the band being more
popular than Jesus Christ is taking its toll. Stock in the band's record
company, Capitol, is dropping and the city fathers of Memphis request the
cancelation of an upcoming Beatles concert in the city.
> 1968, 31 years ago
The first Beatles single on their own Apple Records is released. "Hey Jude" b/w
"Revolution".
> 1972, 27 years ago
Elvis and Pricilla file for divorce. They had married in May of 1967.
> 1973, 26 years ago
After seeing KISS play at a New York hotel, producer Bill Aucion offers to
become their manager and promises a record deal.
> 1973, 26 years ago
The Edgar Winter Group's "Free Ride" is released.
> 1974, 25 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "The Night Chicago Died," Paper Lace. The song is
written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.
> 1975, 24 years ago
Aerosmith's "Toys In The Attic" LP goes gold.
> 1981, 18 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Endless Love," Diana Ross & Lionel Richie. The song
holds onto the top spot for nine weeks, making it the most successful duo, most
successful Motown single and most successful soundtrack single of all time.
> 1982, 17 years ago
Amada Grace Sudano is born to Donna Summer and her husband, Bruce Sudano.
> 1982, 17 years ago
The debut of Anglo-American pop-rock band, the Pretenders is certified platinum
about three years after it's released. The L.P. contained two hits, "Brass in
Pocket" and "Kid".
> 1985, 14 years ago
Duran Duran's lead singer Simon LeBon's boat capsizes off the English coast
during a race. He's rescued by the Royal Navy after he spends 40 minutes
trapped in an underwater air pocket.
> 1986, 13 years ago
After almost 20 years, six Monkees albums that we re-released, re-enter
Billboard's LP chart.
> 1996, 3 years ago
Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, dies of lung cancer in Tarzana. He was
62.
> 1996, 3 years ago
Rafael Jeronym Kubelick, a former director and conductor of the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, dies in Lucerne, Switzerland at the age of 82.
> 1997, 2 years ago
Four Elvis Confidants known as "The Memphis Mafia" commemorate the 20th
anniversary of the King's passing with a webcast interview. In the chat, hosted
live at http://www.natsatinc.com, Lamar Fike, Marty Lacker, Marty Red and Sonny
West discuss Presley's humble beginnings, the women in his life, his fame and
his drug problems.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1877, 122 years ago
Thomas Edison invents the phonograph.
> 1949, 50 years ago
Mark Knopfler, guitarist and vocalist for Dire Straits, is born.
> 1960, 39 years ago
The Silver Beetles recruit drummer Pete Best. We all know what happened after
that.
> 1966, 33 years ago
The Beatles start their final U.S. tour at Chicago's International
Amphitheatre. Earlier in the day, John Lennon held a press conference and
apologized for his remark about the band being more popular than Jesus Christ.
> 1967, 32 years ago
Fleetwood Mac, a British blues-rock band, makes its stage debut at the London
National Jazz & Blues Festival.
> 1970, 29 years ago
Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie and others appear at a Woody Guthrie
memorial concert held at the Hollywood Bowl.
> 1972, 27 years ago
The Festival of Hope is the first rock festival to raise funds for an
established charity. Acts include Jefferson Airplane, Stephan Stills, James
Brown and others. Only half of the expected 400,000 show up the second day and
while they raked in $300,000, the festival incurred expenses of $400,000.
> 1978, 21 years ago
Pete Meaden, the Who's publicist and manager in their High Number days, commits
suicide in London by ingesting an overdose of barbituates. Meaden helped the
group refine their mod image. He was 35.
> 1991, 8 years ago
Metallica's eponymous album saw the light of day. Some shops opened the doors
at 00:01 in the morning to be the first to sell the so-called "black album".
> 1993, 6 years ago
The Red Hot Chili Peppers replace guitarist Arik Marshall with Jesse Tobias,
who in turn was replaced by Dave Navarro three months later.
> 1994, 5 years ago
"Woodstock '94" was held in Saugerties, New York. About 350,000 attended the
show, which included mudfights and performances by Green Day, Nine Inch Nails,
Aerosmith and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
> 1997, 2 years ago
MTV debuts the Fleetwood Mac reunion concert. The special was taken from two
performances at a Warner Brothers soundstage a few months earlier.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1951, 48 years ago
Dan Fogelberg is born in Peoria, Ill. His biggest hit is "Longer," a No. 2 song
in 1980. His first eight albums are certified gold (500,000 copies sold) or
platinum (1 million copies sold).
> 1955, 44 years ago
Due to the number of pop hits which are remakes, especially R&B hits, Savoy
Records announces that those wanting to record "cover" versions of songs must
obtain permission from the copyright office.
> 1960, 39 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "It's Now or Never," Elvis Presley. The song sells
more than 20 million copes worldwide, making it Presley's biggest-selling
single.
> 1965, 34 years ago
The Beatles "Help!" single is released.
> 1965, 34 years ago
The Beatles arrive in New York to start their third U.S. tour.
> 1965, 34 years ago
The Jefferson Airplane makes it stage debut at the Matrix Club in San
Francisco. Before the year's out, they'll become the first San Francisco rock
group to sign a major recording contract.
> 1966, 33 years ago
The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" is released.
> 1967, 32 years ago
The Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Joan Baez to perform
at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. because of her opposition to the
Vietnam War.
> 1971, 28 years ago
Legendary saxophonist King Curtis is stabbed to death outside his New York
home. He appeared on many hits in the 50's and 60's, including the Coasters
hit, "Yakety Yak". He was 37.
> 1975, 24 years ago
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band start a five night, two show an evening
run at New York's showcase club at the Bottom Line. The performances, just
before the release of "Born to Run", are instrumental in spreading the gospel
of rock's purported future and hype of the Boss. Columbia Records supposedly
papers the place each night with influential industry people.
> 1976, 23 years ago
The Clash give a private show at a rehearsal hall in the Calk Farm suburb of
London, revealing themselves to both the invited press and to the world at
large.
> 1977, 22 years ago
Bachman-Turner Overdrive disband.
> 1979, 20 years ago
Cheap Trick has the biggest hit of their career, "I Want You to Want Me". The
tune was originally on their second L.P., "In Color", which came out in 1977.
However the song took off when it was included on the "Live at Budokan" album.
The record goes gold on this date.
> 1979, 20 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Good Times," Chic. The song was written by band
members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who between them have write No. 1
songs for Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Duran Duran and Madonna.
> 1980, 19 years ago
Todd Rundgren's home in Woodstock, New York is invaded by four masked men.
Rundgren, his girlfriend and three houseguests are bound and gagged while the
masked men strip the house of valuables. Reportedly, one of the thieves hummed
Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" during the heist.
> 1982, 17 years ago
R&B soul singer Joe Tex dies of a heart attack in Navasota, Texas. His biggest
chart hit was "I Gotcha", which made it up to Number Two in 1972. He was 44.
> 1990, 9 years ago
Rhythm and blues singer Curtis Mayfield is paralyzed from the waist down after
being struck by a light rack before an outdoor concert in Brooklyn, N.Y.
> 1995, 4 years ago
Four days after Jerry Garcia's death, the largest of the many Deadhead
memorials draws 20,000 fans to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
> 1995, 4 years ago
R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe has surgery for a hernia, the day after the
group finishes a European tour.
> 1996, 3 years ago
Composer David Tudor dies at the age of 70.
> 1996, 3 years ago
The band 311 puts on a free "choose or loose" concert in California. The show
is to heighten youth interest in the political world. The free show is held
just outside the Republican National Convention in San Diego.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1940, 59 years ago
Dash Crofts of Seals & Crofts is born in Cisco, Texas. The group has three top
10 hits, all of which reach No. 6: "Summer Breeze" in 1972, "Diamond Girl" in
1973 and "Get Closer" in 1976.
> 1941, 58 years ago
David Crosby is born David Van Courtland in Los Angeles. He is a member of the
Byrds, then teams up with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills
& Nash in 1968. The group wins the Best New Artist Grammy in 1969. CSN's two
top 10 songs are "Just a Song Before I Go" and "Wasted on the Way."
> 1956, 43 years ago
A Washington D.C. DJ, Bob Rickman, creates the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Elvis Presley. Much of the national coverage of the singer has been
critical, as evidenced by the many headlines which refer to him as a hillbilly.
> 1958, 41 years ago
Elvis Presley's mother, Gladys, dies of a heart attack due to liver
complications. She was 42.
> 1965, 34 years ago
The McCoys' "Hang On Sloopy" is released.
> 1966, 33 years ago
London's Catholic Herald calls John Lennon's apology for his remark about the
Beatles being more popular than Jesus Christ, "arrogant". However the
publication admits, as Lennon asserted, it's probably true.
> 1967, 32 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "All You Need Is Love," The Beatles. The group's
manager, Brian Epstein, dies of an accidental drug overdose while the song is
No. 1.
> 1970, 29 years ago
Singer Stephen Stills is arrested on cocaine possession charges at a motel in
La Jolla, California. He was released on $2,500 bail.
> 1971, 28 years ago
Rod Stewart released "Maggie May".
> 1974, 25 years ago
Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby", is gold despite its denouncement by
feminists. The objection is the use of the word 'my' as in "my baby", not "our
baby". It is Number One by the end of the summer.
> 1976, 23 years ago
Nick Lowe's debut solo single, "So It Goes," is released.
> 1976, 23 years ago
The Steve Miller Band's "Rock 'N Me" is released.
> 1985, 14 years ago
Michael Jackson outbids Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono, at $47.5 million, to
obtain catalog rights to 250 songs written by John Lennon and McCartney.
> 1988, 11 years ago
Guitarist Roy Buchanan dies after hanging himself in a jail in Fairfax,
Virginia.
> 1989, 10 years ago
Bon Jovi's "New Jersey" LP becomes the first U.S. album to be released legally
in the Soviet Union. The Russian label Melodiya pays the group with a truckload
of firewood since rubles can't leave Russia.
> 1991, 8 years ago
Tony Orlando and wife Francine's first child is born. Jenny Rose is born in Los
Angeles.
> 1992, 7 years ago
The Platters' lead singer Tony Williams dies from diabetes and emphysema. He
was 64.
> 1992, 7 years ago
Wayne Newton files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The singer, a former
owner of the Alladin Hotel in Las Vegas, is one of the highest paid performers
on the Vegas strip.
> 1995, 4 years ago
The Grateful Dead meet and decide to cancel their fall tour in the wake of
Jerry Garcia's death.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1947, 52 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," Tex Williams.
> 1958, 41 years ago
Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago get married in a private ceremony at his
parents home in Lubbock, Texas. They had met only two months before.
> 1964, 35 years ago
Billboard reports MGM has signed the Dave Clark Five to a movie contract. They
will go on to star in "Having a Wild Weekend".
> 1965, 34 years ago
The Beatles set a record for having the most attendees at a concert. 56,000
pack Shea Stadium in New York, the largest single crowd to attend a rock & roll
concert.
> 1968, 31 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "People Got to Be Free," The Rascals. Band member
Felix Cavaliere wrote the song following the assassinations of Sen. Robert F.
Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
> 1969, 30 years ago
The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opens for three days on Max Yasgur's farm in
Bethel, New York. Over 400,000 attend, most without tickets, which prompts
officials to say the festival is open and free. Those up on stage include Jimi
Hendrix, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Joan
Baez, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Canned Heat, Crosby, Still Nash & Young and the
Jefferson Airplane among others. Things that helped make Woodstock a unique
event included, but were not limited to, rampant drug use, not enough food, and
sanitation, three deaths, two births and four miscarriages.
> 1977, 22 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Best of My Love," The Emotions. The song wins a
Grammy as Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.
> 1980, 19 years ago
Former Beatle George Harrison's book "I Me Mine" is published in London.
> 1981, 18 years ago
Stevie Wonder, Grover Washington Jr, Evelyn King and others pull in a crowd of
over 50,000 to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the Black Family Fair.
> 1996, 3 years ago
A woman's shelter on Long Island, New York refused to accept money from a
benefit concert featuring James Brown. Brown's wife had accused him of
assaulting her in the past.
> 1997, 2 years ago
Indie label Tony Nicole Tony Records files suit against Gene Simmons and Paul
Stanley of KISS for alleged intentional interference with KISS drummer Peter
Criss' contract with the label. The suit mantains that Simmons and Stanley
convinced Criss to break his contract with the label.
> 1997, 2 years ago
Rick Trevino and wife Karla become proud parents of Ricardo Luke Trevino, their
first child, born in Seton Hospital in Austin, Texas.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1957, 42 years ago
INXS guitarist Tim Farriss is born.
> 1958, 41 years ago
Madonna (Madonna Louise Ciccone) is born in Detroit. She is the top female pop
artist of the 1980s with seven No. 1 hits, the biggest of which is "Like a
Virgin," a million selling record that tops Billboard's Hot 100 for six weeks.
> 1962, 37 years ago
Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as the Beatles' drummer.
> 1965, 34 years ago
Lead singer Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five suffers two broken ribs when he's
pulled off the stage by fans at a Chicago concert.
> 1966, 33 years ago
The Monkees' first single, "Last Train to Clarksville," is released. It sells
more than 1 million copies and reaches No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
> 1974, 25 years ago
The Ramones play their first show at CBGB's in New York's Bowery district.
> 1975, 24 years ago
Peter Gabriel announces his departure from Genesis.
> 1975, 24 years ago
Vocalist and songwriter Peter Gabriel delivers a statement to the press
announcing he's leaving Genesis. He made the decision back in December but
stuck around until contracted tours were done. He had a desire to be with his
family and said, "As an artist, I need to absorb a wide variety of experiences.
It's difficult to respond to intuition and impulse within the long-term
planning the band needed".
> 1976, 23 years ago
Cliff Richards begins an SRO, 20 date tour of the Soviet union at Lenningrad's
Hall of the October. The crowd's enthusiasm of his performance horrifies
Russian officals who ask him if he wants barricades put up between himself and
the audience for later shows. He declines the offer.
> 1977, 22 years ago
The King is dead. Elvis Presley dies in his Memphis mansion, Graceland.
According to Presley's girlfriend, Ginger Alden, she awoke in the afternoon and
noticed he was not in bed. She found in lying on the floor of the bathroom.
Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and at 3:30 p.m. he was pronounced
dead. According to reports, the death resulted from coronary arrhythmia. Within
the next couple of days, the death becomes one of the biggest media events in
the past twenty years. It also sparks debates on whether or not the death was
staged and if he was still alive and well. Within a few hours after the
announcement, thousands of fans are enroute to Memphis to pay their respects.
Elvis Presley was 42.
> 1979, 20 years ago
Hardcore KISS fans are dismayed to hear "I Was Made for Lovin' You", a song
with a disco beat. Still, the song climbs up to #11 and goes gold on this date.
> 1979, 20 years ago
The biggest single of the summer is The Knack's "My Sharona", which goes gold.
The success of the group is the gimmick of Beatle-esque posturing which the
group treats as tounge-in-cheek. The Knack disbands less than two years later.
> 1983, 16 years ago
Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher marry in the singer's duplex overlooking
New York's Central Park. The couple had been together for five years but split
up less than a year after the marriage. They divorce in 1985.
> 1985, 14 years ago
Madonna and actor Sean Penn get married in Malibu, as helicopters with
photographers hovered overhead. They would divorce in 1989.
> 1997, 2 years ago
Grand Ole Opry member Jerry Clower and wife Homerline celebrate their 50th
anniversary at Percy Quinn State Park in McComb, Miss. The happy couple met as
teenagers and never dated another person from that day forward.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1949, 50 years ago
Sib Hashian, drummer for Boston, is born.
> 1950, 49 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Goodnight Irene," Gordon Jenkins Orchestra & the
Weavers.
> 1958, 41 years ago
Belinda Carlisle is born. She becomes the lead singer of the all-female group
the Go-Go's and has a solo No. 1 hit in 1987 with "Heaven Is a Place on Earth."
> 1960, 39 years ago
The Beatles begin what would become a three-month engagement at the Indra Club
in Hamburg, Germany. It's their first appearance away from England.
> 1964, 35 years ago
Former Lone Justice lead singer Maria McKee is born.
> 1964, 35 years ago
The Kinks "You Really Got Me" is released in the U.K. on Pye Records.
> 1966, 33 years ago
John Lennon makes another controversial statement in front of a microphone. In
Toronto, he expresses his admiration for American draft dodgers.
> 1968, 31 years ago
Deep Purple's "Hush" is released.
> 1968, 31 years ago
McGraw-Hill rushes Hunter Davies' authorized biography of the Beatles to
bookstores ahead of schedule to prevent loss of sales to Julian Fast's
unauthorized "The Beatles: The Real Story". Fast admits he has never met one of
the Fab Four.
> 1969, 30 years ago
Donny Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block is born. His younger brother is rapper
Marky Mark, who has a top 10 hit in 1991-92 with the million-selling single
"Wildside."
> 1969, 30 years ago
Hippie leader Abbie Hoffman is knocked offstage by Pete Townshend while
attempting to make a political statement during the Who's set at Woodstock.
Later, Townshend claims he didn't know it was Hoffman at the time.
> 1969, 30 years ago
The Woodstock music festival ends.
> 1970, 29 years ago
Christine McVies joins Fleetwood Mac. It's the band founded by her husband
John, and she joins two months after she said she would retire from performing.
> 1973, 26 years ago
One of the original Temptations, Paul Williams is found dead by police. It is
ruled a suicide. He was 34.
> 1974, 25 years ago
Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough" is released.
> 1974, 25 years ago
Patrick Moraz replaces Rick Wakeman in Yes.
> 1975, 24 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Fallin' in Love," Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds.
> 1977, 22 years ago
Florists Transworld Delivery (FTD) reports that in one day the number of orders
for flowers to be delivered to Graceland has surpassed the number for any other
event in the company's history.
> 1977, 22 years ago
The day after Elvis Presley's death, President Jimmy Carter issues the
following statement, "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of
itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. More than twenty years ago, he burst
upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be
equaled. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and
black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular
culture. His following was immense and he was a symbol to people the world
over, of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of his country". Or as
James Brown once put it, "he taught white America to get down".
> 1985, 14 years ago
Metallica performed for the first time at the famous Monsters of Rock festival
at Donnington, England. Metallica was squeezed in-between two poser bands, Ratt
and Bon Jovi, on the bill. Metallica's leader, James Hetfield, decided to tell
the 70,000 kids what to expect: "If you came here to see spandex, eye makeup,
and the words 'Oh baby' in every fuckin' song, this ain't the fuckin' band".
> 1986, 13 years ago
A riot between rival gangs erupts at a Run DMC concert in Long Beach, Calif.,
seriously injuring 42 people.
> 1986, 13 years ago
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen plays his first concert with the band since
losing his left arm in a car accident.
> 1987, 12 years ago
No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Who's That Girl," Madonna. It is the title song of
Madonna's third film.
> 1990, 9 years ago
Singer Pearl Bailey dies at age 72. After singing with Cootie Williams' band,
Bailey hits on Broadway with "St. Louis Woman" in 1946. Her biggest musical hit
is "Takes Two to Tango," which reaches No. 7 on Billboard's pop chart in 1952.
> 1995, 4 years ago
Depeche Mode frontman David Gahan, 33, slashes his wrists in a suicide attempt.
> 1996, 3 years ago
Depeche Mode leader Dave Gahan attempts suicide by slashing his wrists at a
Sunset Strip hotel. He's hospitalized and recovers.
Rock'n'Roll robot
> 1940, 59 years ago
Ginger Baker, drummer for Blind Faith and Cream, is born.
> 1945, 54 years ago
Ian Gillan, vocalist for Deep Purple, celebrates a birthday.
> 1951, 48 years ago
John Deacon, bassist for Queen, is born.
> 1964, 35 years ago
The Beatles first U.S. tour opens at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Others to
cross the stage include Jack DeShannon and the Righteous Brothers.
> 1967, 32 years ago
The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" hits number on the pop charts. On the same
day, Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen have a baby boy named Jason.
> 1973, 26 years ago
Rita Collidge and Kris Kristofferson are hitched in Malibu. The groom's
minister-father presided and the best man was Bobby Neuwirth.
> 1976, 23 years ago
Kiss hits the #1 spot on the Billboard chart with "Beth".
> 1978, 21 years ago
Alicia Bridges enters the soul chart with "I Love the Nightlife". Though the
single will only reach as high as #31 in its seventeen weeks on the chart, the
song's title will become a disco-era catch-phrase.
> 1979, 20 years ago
Bassist Dorsey Burnette, a member of the rockabilly band the Rock 'n' Roll Trio
with his brother Johnny in the fifties, dies of a heart attack in Canoga Park.
He was 46.
> 1980, 19 years ago
A crowd of 1,400 riots in Toronto when Alice Cooper cances a show due to
illness.
> 1980, 19 years ago
Christopher Cross comes from nowhere and has one of the biggest hits of the
year off his debut album which goes platinum on this date. He has three top
fifteen hits, including the Number One, "Sailing". He will take home five
Grammys in February.
> 1997, 2 years ago
Fleetwood Mac's reunion album "The Dance" is released. The disc was taken from
two shows that were recorded live at a Warner Brothers soundstage a few months
earlier.