1959, 22 year old Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa, the pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed. Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus. All three were traveling to Fargo, North Dakota, for […]
Today in Rock History – January 30
1964, The Searchers were at number one on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song “Needles And Pins.” The group’s second UK chart topper had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon 1967, The Beatles shoot a promotional clip for “Strawberry Fields Forever” in Kent, England. 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience are filmed at […]
Today in Rock History – January 25
1963, Janis Joplin performs in San Francisco for the first time, singing at the North Beach coffeehouse. In lieu of money, Janis passes the hat for beers. She often sings a cappella at the Coffee Confusion and the Coffee Gallery, occasionally accompanied by Jorma Kaukonen (future guitarist with Jefferson Airplane). Joplin sings Bessie Smith and […]
Song Of The Day – “My Dark Hour” by Steve Miller Band
Here’s an instance where an artist cribs from his own back catalog and creates another hit. Miller revisited this riff from this 1969 song that originally appeared on his “Brave New World” album again in 1976 for “Fly Like An Eagle” and took it to new heights. The bass and backing vocal duties on this […]
Today in Rock History – January 14
1965, Bob Dylan starts recording Bringing It All Back Home. 1966, The Who play Municipal Hall in Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom. 1966, David Bowie release his first single, “Can’t Help Thinking About Me,” on Parlophone Records. 1967, Pink Floyd played at the Coming-Up Hop, held at The Great Hall, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading England. […]
Today in Rock History – December 25
1964, The Beatles Christmas Day Concert took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. The evening’s events opened with The Mike Cotton Sound’s performance of Georgie Fame’s current single “Yeh Yeh,” before singer Michael Haslam joined them to sing “Scarlet Ribbons.” Next, The Yardbirds took to the stage followed by a pantomime sketch featuring The […]
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 […]
Today in Rock History – December 22
1966, Pink Floyd played the first of of 11 gigs at The Marquee Club. They had appeared there earlier in the year, but only as a support act. 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Who, Keith West and Tomorrow, Eric Burdon & The Animals, 1984 (featuring future Queen guitarist Brian May) and Soft […]
Song Of The Day – “Lovely Rita” by The Beatles
I just heard The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band for the first time today! Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ve been listening to this record since it was new. I guess that’s one of the big positives of having older siblings, you got to hear cool records when they came out, way before […]
Song Of The Day – “Knocking ‘Round The Zoo” by James Taylor
It is indeed a fascinating story as to how a singer songwriter from America who was recovering from heroin addiction came to the attention of The Beatles in 1968, leading to the release of the first album by an American artist on their newly-christened Apple record label. James Taylor came from a wealthy family and […]
