1965, Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, Sonny Boy Williamson died in his sleep. Van Morrison, Aerosmith, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds, and Moody Blues all covered his songs. According to the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods, touring the UK in the 60’s, Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying […]
Today in Rock History – May 24
1966, Captain Beefheart appeared at the Whisky a Go Go. West Hollywood, California. Supported by Buffalo Springfield and The Doors. 1967, Jimi Hendrix played at Gröna Lund in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1968, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band appeared at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan. 1968, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull are arrested on charges of […]
Today in Rock History – May 23
1964, Marvin Gaye appears on American Bandstand singing “You’re a Wonderful One.” 1967, Pink Floyd performed at Town Hall in High Wycombe, England. 1967, Jimi Hendrix appeared at Klub Bongo in Malmö, Sweden. 1968, Johnny Lee Hooker, supported by The Hallucinations performed at Boston Tea Party in Boston, Massachusetts. 1968, Pink Floyd played two late […]
Today in Rock History – May 20
1965, The Who performed at Town Hall in Kidderminster, West Midlands, England. 1966, Bob Dylan and The Band played at the ABC Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. Some members of the audience were unhappy with Dylan “going electric,” and attempted to overpower the band by playing their own harmonicas. 1966, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Scarlet Town” by Bob Dylan
I’ve spent a little time with the new Dylan album and while many of the songs still need to get under my skin both lyrically and musically, I’m here to say that It would be hard to justify the 5-Star accolades that are being heaped upon the record especially when there are three songs, encompassing […]
Today in Rock History – May 9
1966, The Doors played at the Whisky A Go-Go, West Hollywood, California auditioning for the position of the venue’s house band. 1967, Sandie Shaw was at number one on the UK singles chart with “Puppet On A String.” This week’s two highest new entries were Jimi Hendrix with “The Wind Cries Mary,” and The Kinks […]
Today in Rock History – May 8
1965, Shooting of the promotional film for Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” took place at the side of the Savoy Hotel in London. Actors in the background were Allen Ginsberg and Bob Neuwirth. The cards that Dylan held up to the camera were painted by Alan Price and Joan Baez. 1966, Pink Floyd appeared at […]
Today in Rock History – May 7
1966, The Mamas and the Papas started a three week run at number one on the singles chart with “Monday Monday.” The group was reported, as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips. The Mamas and the Papas won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or […]
Today in Rock History – May 1
1965, Herman’s Hermits started a three week run at number one on the US singles chart with “Mrs Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter.” 1966, The Beatles played a 15-minute live set on stage for the last time in the UK when they appeared at the NME Poll Winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool. The […]
Today in Rock History – April 29
April 29 1967, The 14-hour Technicolour Dream benefit party for The International Times was held at Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill in London. Seeing the event mentioned on TV, John Lennon called his driver and went to the show. Coincidentally, Yoko Ono was one of the performers. More than thirty acts appeared included The Move, The […]
