A calendar of rock history including birthdays, deaths, milestones, chart toppers, concerts, record releases, and other important events in music history.
Our sources include: Wikipedia, This Day in Music, This Day in Rock, Led Zeppelin.com, Classic Rock Concerts, The Concert Database, Live Music Archive, The Allman Brothers Band, Janis Joplin.net, The Who This Month, Setlist.fm, All The Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release by Jean-Michel Guesdon & Phillipe Margotin (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers,) Echoes – The Complete History of Pink Floyd by Glen Povey (Mind Head Publishing)
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1964, Manfred Mann started a two week run at number one on the US singles chart with “Do Wah Diddy Diddy.” It was also a chart topper in the UK. The song was first released by the US group The Exciters.
1967, A 10-date package tour of the UK played the last night at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester featuring Traffic, The Young Rascals, Vanilla Fudge, Art and Keith West.
1969, Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane was … (read more…)
1966, Grace Slick performs as a member of Jefferson Airplane for the first time at San Francisco’s Fillmore West after Signe Anderson bows out of the group’s lineup. Slick, who was with fellow San Francisco band Great Society, introduces the band to two new songs, her composition “White Rabbit,” and “Somebody to Love,” written by her then brother-in-law Darby Slick.
1967, Folk singer Joan Baez was arrested, along with 123 … (read more…)
1966, Pink Floyd (who were paid £15 for the gig), The Move, Denny Laine, and Soft Machine all appeared at the launch for International Times at London’s Roundhouse.
1966, The Four Tops started a two week run at number one on the US singles chart with “Reach Out And I’ll Be There.” The spot was previously held by “Cherish” from The Association.
1967, Cream played at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan. … (read more…)
Spencer Davis Group
1965, The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Checkmates, The Habit, The End and Charlie Dickins all appeared at The Odeon, Birmingham during a UK tour.
1966, Pink Floyd and Soft Machine appeared at the London Free School All Saints Hall, Notting Hill, London.
1966, The Who performed at Queens Hall … (read more…)
1965, The Who go into IBC Studio A in London for a midnight session to record their next single. The final release version of “My Generation” is laid down as well as “The Kids Are Alright.” The next day Glyn Johns makes mono mixes of the two songs plus the UK B-side to “My Generation,” “Shout and Shimmy,” that had been recorded in April. He also prepares the 2:42 edited version of “The Kids Are Alright” that will ultimately be released in the US. … (read more…)
1965, The Beatles recorded “Run For Your Life” in its entirety, in five takes for their upcoming album Rubber Soul at Abbey Road Studio’s London. John Lennon later admits to lifting two lines from Elvis Presley’s 1955 hit “Baby Let’s Play House.” The group also works on another new Lennon song “This Bird Has Flown,” later known as “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown.”) The track included George Harrison’s double-tracked sitar part, … (read more…)
1962, The Beatles made their first appearance on the UK singles chart with “Love Me Do,” which peaked at number four.
1964, The Who performed at Wolsey Hall, Cheshunt, England.
1967, The Doors appeared at Danbury High School, Danbury, Connecticut. Before the group came on stage, an announcer told the audience not to leave their seats during the performance or they would be escorted out of the venue. There was also a beauty … (read more…)
1964, During a UK tour The Beatles appeared at De Montfort Hall in Leicester. Ringo Starr drove himself to the venue after taking delivery of a brand new Facel Vega, apparently reaching speeds of 140 MPH on the M6 motorway.
1965, The Who arrive at Stockholm airport in Sweden to begin their two-day tour. Unfortunately, their equipment has been flown to Gothenburg for their second stop so the band is forced to borrow instruments from their opening … (read more…)
1965, The Beatles started a four week run at number one on the US singles chart with the Paul McCartney ballad “Yesterday,” giving the group their tenth chart topper. It was never released as a single in the UK until 1976.
1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at The Olympia Theatre in Paris.
1969, Yes appeared at Grugahalle, Essen, … (read more…)
1964, Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded their next single “She’s a Woman” in seven takes, plus overdubs, recording the song from start to finish in five hours.
1964, Roy Orbison was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with “Oh Pretty Woman,” his third UK No.1. The title was inspired by Orbison’s wife Claudette interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. Orbison asked if she was okay for cash, and his co-writer … (read more…)
1966, The Rolling Stones made their last appearance on UK TV Pop show Ready Steady Go!
1966, Johnny Kidd was killed in a car crash while on UK tour in Radcliffe, Manchester. He was 27. Kidd had the 1960 UK number one single “Shakin’ All Over.” The Guess Who covered it in 1965, and the following year it became a number one hit in Canada, and a number twenty-two hit in the US.
1966, Smiley Lewis, New … (read more…)
1964, The Beatles spent the afternoon recording “Eight Days A Week” at Abbey Road studios in London. Late evening was spent at The Ad Lib Club, London, partying with The Ronettes and Mick Jagger.
1965, The Who play at the Palais de Danse in Cowdenbeath, Scotland.
1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a session for the UK BBC radio show Top Gear. Stevie Wonder who was also appearing on the show, jammed with … (read more…)
