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 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 22
1964, The Beatles arrived back from their first US trip at Heathrow Airport and were greeted by thousands of fans. Also on this day The Beatles scored their second chart topping album with The Beatles Second Album. It displaced Meet The Beatles! from the top of the charts. 1965, The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride ” surpassed Herman’s […]
Today in Rock History – May 21
1965, The Who’s second single, “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere” backed with “Daddy Rolling Stone” is released in the UK on Brunswick. Derek Johnson in New Musical Express calls is “a wild racer, with just about every conceivable gimmick…it commands attention and should do well.” 1967, Jimi Hendrix signed with Reprise Records on the US Warner Brothers […]
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 […]
Today in Rock History – May 16
1966, The Beach Boys released the album ‘Pet Sounds.’ The album is now regarded as the masterpiece of composer-producer Brian Wilson, and is often hailed as one of the best and most influential albums in popular music. 1966, Dylan’s iconic Blonde On Blonde album was released, reaching No.9 in the US charts and No.3 in […]
Today in Rock History – May 13
1967, The Monkees second album More Of The Monkees, went to No.1 on the charts. In 1967 only four albums reached No.1; The Sound Of Music which spent 17 weeks at No.1, The Beatles Sgt Pepper”s, 25 weeks at No.1 and The Monkees” first and second albums spent 9 weeks at No.1. 1967, The Who played at the […]
Today in Rock History – May 12
1965, The Rolling Stones recorded “(I Can’t Get No), Satisfaction” at RCA Hollywood studios. Keith Richards had come up with the guitar riff in the middle of the night a week earlier. It gave the band their first number one single in the US. 1967, Pink Floyd play London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, one of their […]
Today in Rock History – May 11
1967, Pink Floyd begin two days of recording with producer Joe Boyd, working on the tracks “Interstellar Overdrive,” “Arnold Layne,” “Let’s Roll Another One” and “Nick’s Boogie.” 1967, The Bee Gees made their Top Of The Pops debut performing “New York Mining Disaster” on the UK TV show. 1968, Jimi Hendrix moves into a London […]
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 […]
