1966, John Lennon’s statement that The Beatles were ‘more popular than Jesus Christ’ was published in The London Evening Standard. “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular then Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary.” Christian group’s in the US were outraged resulting in some states burning Beatles records. Lennon later apologized.
1967, The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the singles chart with ‘Ruby Tuesday’, the group’s fourth No.1 single. ‘Lets Spend The Night Together’ was the original A side but after radio stations banned the song ‘Tuesday’ became the A side.
1967, Stevie Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood announce that they will leave the Spencer Davis Group after a show on April 2. Stevie Winwood goes on to form Traffic.
1970, In Tampa, Fla., Janis Joplin is fined $200 for using obscene language during a November 1969 concert there. Joplin is currently in Rio de Janeiro, where she hopes to “get off drugs and dry out.”
1971, The Rolling Stones kicked off a 9-date UK tour at Newcastle City Hall, supported by The Groundhogs. Also on this day The Stones announced that they were to become the UK’s first rock and roll tax exiles, residing in France.
1973, Pink Floyd played the first night on a 19 date North American tour at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
1977, CBS released The Clash’s self- titled first album in the UK. CBS in the U.S. refused to release it until 1979. Americans bought over 100,000 imported copies of the record making it one of the biggest- selling import records of all time.
1977, The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the El Mocambo a small club in Toronto, Canada.
Born on this day: Bobby Womack, and Mary Wilson, The Supremes (1944); Chris Squire, Yes (1948);amnd Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top (1950)
Get more history at Yeah Baby Tunes
