Today in Rock History – May 4th

steppenwolf

1968, Steppenwolf make their first appearance on American Bandstand. 1968, Mary Hopkin won her heat on the ITV talent show ‘Opportunity Knocks’. She later signed with The Beatles owned Apple Records, Paul McCartney produced her UK No.1 single ‘Those Were The Days’, which also made No. 2 in the US. Hopkin later married record producer [...]

Today in Rock History – May 3rd

hendrix_el

1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded ‘Voodoo Chile.’ It was featured on the ‘Electric Ladyland’ double album and became an UK No.1 single on 21st November 1970 two months after the guitarist’s death. 1969, Canadian police bust Jimi Hendrix for narcotics possession at Toronto International Airport. He’s later released after posting $10,000 bail. 1971, Grand [...]

Today in Rock History – December 23rd

brian-wilson-1964

1964, During a US tour Beach Boy Brian Wilson had a nervous breakdown during a flight from Los Angeles to Houston. Wilson left the band to concentrate on writing and producing. Glen Campbell replaced Wilson for the bands live shows. 1964, Radio London, one of England’s first offshore “pirate” radio stations, begins broadcasting. Ella Fitzgerald’s [...]

Today in Rock History – September 29th

john-lennon-walrus

1967, Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am the Walrus’ which included the sound of a radio being tuned through numerous stations, coming to rest on a BBC production of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear”. John (playing organ) and Paul (playing bass), then completed ‘Your Mother Should [...]

Today in Rock History – July 4th

Atlanta-Pop-Festival-1969

1969, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Winter, Delaney and Bonnie, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chuck Berry, Spirit, Chicago and Paul Butterfield all appeared at the two-day Atlanta Pop Festival, Byron, Georgia. 1969, The Doors appeared at the Willingdon Juvenile Detention Home For Girls in Vancouver, Canada. 1969. Grand [...]

Today in Rock History – June 13th

bee-gees-1967

1967, The Bee Gees appeared live on the UK TV show ‘As You Like It’. The group were promoting their debut single ‘New York Mining Disaster 1941.’ 1969, The Rolling Stones held a photo call in Hyde Park to introduce new guitarist Mick Taylor. The 20 year-old former John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers member made his live [...]

Today in Rock History – June 5th

jimi-hendrix-experience

1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on the Dusty Springfield TV show filmed on ATV, in London, England. 1968, Senator and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy is shot and killed by Sirhan Sirhan in Los Angeles. The next day, the Rolling Stones amend their new song “Sympathy for the Devil” to reference the event. David Crosby [...]