1963, The first Beatles single “Please Please Me” was released in the US on the Vee Jay label. 1964, The Beatles’ Pan Am flight was greeted by over 5,000 as it arrived at New York’s JFK airport. This was the Fab Four’s first US visit. 1967, Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees […]
Today in Rock History – January 28
1965, The Moody Blues were at number one on the UK singles chart with “Go Now!” 1965, The Who made their first appearance on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! To project the desired image, the hand-picked audience consisted only of teens dressed in the current “Mod” fashion. 1966, The Cavern Club in Liverpool closes, […]
Today in Rock History – January 26
1965, “Downtown” by Petula Clark was at number one on the US singles chart. A young Jimmy Page had played as a session guitarist on the track, giving him his first US number one hit, as well as a number two hit in the UK. 1965, during a Rolling Stones tour of Australia and New […]
Today in Rock History – January 23
1964, The Searchers were at number one on the singles chart with the Sonny Bono song “Needles And Pins.” 1965, The Who play the Corn Exchange at Chelmsford and then an all-night rave at the Club Noreik in Tottenham. Opening for The Who at the all-night rave is The Muleskinners featuring future Small Faces’ keyboardist, […]
Today in Rock History – January 17
1964, The Rolling Stones released their first EP, which included, “You Better Move On,” “Poison Ivy,” “Bye Bye Johnny,” and “Money.” It peaked at number 15 on the UK chart. 1966, NBC-TV bought The Monkees series, placing it on their 1966 autumn schedule. 1967, The Daily Mail ran the story about a local council survey […]
Today in Rock History – January 13
1965, The first day of recording sessions for Bob Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home album were held at Studio A, Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. Dylan recorded “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” 1966, George Harrison and his girlfriend Patti Boyd met up with Mick Jagger and Chrissie […]
Today in Rock History – January 10
1964, The first US Beatles album, Introducing The Beatles, was released on Vee-Jay records. The album cover showed John, Paul and George with their now famous “mop top” haircuts, but Ringo had yet to convert. Vee-Jay would be forced to stop selling the disc by the end of the year because of legal complications, but […]
Today in Rock History – January 6
1957, Elvis Presley makes his last appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the variety program that helped launch him nationwide. He performs for over 20 minutes, singing “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Peace in the Valley,” “Too Much” and “When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again.” 1958, Gibson guitars […]
Today in Rock History – January 3
1969, Appearing live on The Lulu Show on UK TV, Jimi Hendrix was booked to perform two songs, “Voodoo Child,” which is performed in its entirety. Then, he stopped midway through the performance his new single “Hey Joe,” announcing, “We’d like to stop playing this rubbish and dedicate this song to The Cream.” The Experience […]
Today in Rock History – December 23
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 […]
