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 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 15
1966, Pink Floyd played at The Marquee Club, Wardour Street, London. They were billed as the Pink Floyd Sound, as part of their “Spontaneous Underground” period. 1967, Paul McCartney is hanging out with Keith Moon and Eric Burdon at Georgie Fame concert at the Bag O’Nails club in London. The young American photographer of The […]
Today in Rock History – April 25
1964, The Beatles have an incredible 14 singles on the American chart. 1965, During a North American tour, The Rolling Stones played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to over 16,000 fans. 1965, The Who performed at Trade Union Hall in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. 1967, Just days after the completion of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts […]
Today in Rock History – April 22
1965, The Beatles were at number one on the UK singles chart with “Ticket To Ride.” Taken from the film Help! it was the group’s seventh UK chart topper. 1966, “Wild Thing” by The Troggs (who were originally called The Troglodytes) was released in the US on both the Atco and Fontana labels. The song […]
Today in Rock History – April 11
1964, The Beatles set a new chart record when they had 14 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs ranged from “Can’t Buy Me Love” at number one to “Love Me Do” at number 81. 1965, Performing at the New Musical Express poll winners concert, at London’s Wembley Empire Pool, England, The Beatles, The […]
Today in Rock History – April 2
1964, The Beach Boys recorded their next single “I Get Around,” which became their first US number one in the summer of ’64. 1965, The Who made their first radio appearance on the UK BBC’s Joe Loss Pop Show. 1966, a charity concert at The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California, took place featuring, Jan and Dean, […]
Today in Rock History – March 23
1966, The Who perform at the Tower Ballroom in Great Yarmouth, England. The band’s road manager, Neville Chesters, joins The Who onstage to sing “You Were On My Mind.” 1967, Pink Floyd performed at Clifton Hall at the Rotherham College of Technical Dance, South Yorkshire, England. 1967, At a ceremony held at the Playhouse Theatre […]
Today in Rock History – March 16
1964, The Beatles set a new record for advance sales in the US with 2,100,000 copies of their latest single”Can’t Buy Me Love.” 1964, DJ Alan Freed is charged with tax evasion, the latest plague on the payola-plagued pioneer’s career 1965, The Rolling Stones were at number one on the singles chart with “The Last […]
