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Today in Rock History – June 14

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courtesy: thewhothismonth.com
courtesy: thewhothismonth.com

1966, The Who record preliminary versions of two new Pete Townshend compositions “Disguises,” and a song from Pete’s first rock opera Quads, “I’m A Boy.” “Disguises” is rush mixed to be used the next day on the last episode of BBC-TV’s A Whole Scene Going. Pete wears a handlebar mustache and John plays a tuba named “Gladys.”

1967, The Doors appeared at Steve Paul’s Scene, New York City. Jimi Hendrix was in the audience.

1968, Pink Floyd played at the Midsummer Ball, University College London, Bloomsbury, England.

1969, Mick Taylor’s first photo shoot with the Rolling Stones takes place in London’s Hyde Park. He replaced Brian Jones.

1970, Derek and the Dominoes played their first gig when they appeared at London’s Lyceum.

1970, Blood, Sweat & Tears become the first Western rock band to tour behind the Iron Curtain.

1972, Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York.

1972, Cops resort to the use of tear gas in Tucson, Arizona, after a Rolling Stones concert gets out of hand.

1973, David Bowie appeared at City Hall, Salisbury, England.

1974 Number one chart toppers pop hit, “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero,” by Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods.

1974,  Ray Stevens was at number one on the UK singles chart with “The Streak” a song about the latest craze of streaking, running naked in a public place.

1974, The Allman Brothers Band played at Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri.

1975, America went to number one on the US singles chart with “Sister Golden Hair,” the group’s second chart topper.

1976, The Grateful Dead played the first of two nights at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

1977, Eric Clapton appeared at Le Pavillon, Paris.

1977, Led Zeppelin played the last of six sold out nights at Madison Square Garden, in New York City during their 11th and final North American tour.

1978, The Rolling Stones performed at the Capitol Theater, Passaic, New Jersey.

1979, Little Feat announce that they are breaking up. Lowell George has a fatal heart attack two weeks later.

1980, Billy Joel started a six-week run at No.1 on the album chart with Glass Houses, his second No.1 album.

1980, Peter Gabriel scored his first number one album with his third solo release. It was self titled like his first two, Peter Gabriel.

1981, Bob Dylan performed at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland.

1983, ZZ Top played at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado.

1984, Yes appeared at Isstadion, Malmo, Sweden.

1986, Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald started a three week run at number one on the US singles chart with “On My Own.” The pair recorded their vocal parts separately and had never met until after the song went to number one.

1987, 30 hired hands moved 800 rented NHS beds onto Saunton Sands in North Devon for Storm Thorgerson to shoot what would be the cover of the forthcoming Pink Floyd album, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. Rain interrupted the shoot and the team were forced to repeat the exercise two weeks later.

1989, Pete De Freitas, drummer with Echo And The Bunnymen, was killed at the age of 27, when his motorbike collided with a car.

1994, Composer Henry Mancini died aged 70. He wrote the music to “Moon River,” which was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Audrey Hepburn, was also the theme song for the Andy Williams television show. Had the 1969 US No.1 single “Love Theme from Romeo And Juliet.” Recorded over 90 albums, contributed music to over 100 movies, including “Theme From The Pink Panther.”

1995, Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher died after a chest infection set in following a liver transplant. Had been a member of Taste before going solo, sold over 30m albums worldwide. Voted Melody Maker’s Top Musician of the Year in 1972, auditioned for The Rolling Stones following the departure of Mick Taylor. Gallagher made his final performance on 10 January 1995 in the Netherlands.

2002, Mick Jagger became a Sir when he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Born on June 14:  Rod Argent, The Zombies, Argent (1945); Alan White, Plastic Ono Band, Yes (1949); Boy George (1961)

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Today in Rock History – June 4

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Procol Harum

1967, Procol Harum, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Denny Laine all appeared at The Saville Theatre London, England.

1967, The Monkees wins an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, beating out Andy Griffith, Bewitched, Get Smart, and Hogan’s Heroes.

1968, Having been arrested the month before on charges of marijuana possession, Rolling Stone Brian Jones elects for trial by jury. The rest of the Rolling Stones are in the studio working on tracks for Beggars Banquet and being filmed by Jean-Luc Godard for the movie One Plus One. However, the studio catches fire while the film crew shoots the band on the roof.

1969, Seven years after his first hit, Tommy Roe was at number one on the UK singles chart with “Dizzy,” his only chart topping hit.

1969, Hundreds of people in Glenrowan, Australia signed a petition protesting against the casting of Mick Jagger in the role of the Australian folk hero, Ned Kelly.

1970, Elvis Presley began five days of recording at RCA’s studio B in Nashville, starting each day at 6pm and working until dawn.

1971, Elton John appeared at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri.

1971, Alice Cooper performed at the Eastown Theater in Detroit, Michigan.

1971, Pink Floyd appeared at Philips Veranstal Tungshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany.

1972, Jethro Tull played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

1973, Murry Wilson, father of Beach Boys Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, dies of a heart attack. His alleged physical abuse left songwriting genius Brian deaf in one ear. Murray also managed the group when it was first starting out.

1974, David Bowie kicked off his 73-date Diamond Dogs tour at the Montreal, Forum in Canada.

1974, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

1975, The Rolling Stones became the first rock band to receive royalties for sales of their records in Russia.

1976, Elton John appeared at The Capitol Theatre, Leeds, England.

1976, Live recordings were made at the new wave venue GBGB’s of performances from Blondie, Mink DeVille, Talking Heads, Laughing Dogs and Tuff Darts. The tracks featured on the album Live At CBGB’S New York.

1976, Yes performed at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee.

1976, The Sex Pistols appeared at The Lesser Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England. The now legendary night is regarded as a catalyst to the punk rock movement. In the audience was, Morrissey, Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook (soon to form Joy Division) and Mark E Smith, (The Fall). Tickets cost £1 ($1.50.)

1977, Police cancel a planned Led Zeppelin performance in Tampa Bay, Fla., after fans rioted the night before, when the band’s set was interrupted by a vicious thunderstorm.

1977, Eric Clapton played at National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland.

1977, The Grateful Dead performed at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

1977, The Jam’s debut single “In The City” made it to number 40 on the UK singles chart. They went on to score 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four chart topping hits.

1978, Bob Dylan performed at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

1978, David Bowie’s European tour plays at the  Scandanavium in Gothenberg, Sweden.

1979, Rush and Dire Straits performed at the Pinkpop Festival in Geleen, The Netherlands.

1980, Roxy Music appeared at Foret National, Brussels, Belgium.

1981, Bruce Springsteen played at Wembley Arena in London.

1983, The Police started a four week run at number one in the UK with “Every Breath You Take,” the group’s fifth and final chart topping single. It was taken from the band’s album Synchronicity. Sting won Song of the Year and The Police won Best Pop Performance for the song at the 1984 Grammy Awards.

1984, Bruce Springsteen released the album, Born In The USA, which became the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States, and Springsteen’s most successful album ever. The album produced a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles, tying him with Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814.

1985, Elton John sued publisher Dick James Music, seeking the rights to his early songs and recordings, plus damages estimated at more than £30 million ($51 million). The singer lost a six-month court battle to recover the copyright to 169 songs however, the court ordered Dick James to hand over millions in unpaid royalties.

1986, The first of a six date Conspiracy of Hope tour was held at Cow Palace, San Francisco, California. The benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International were held to increase awareness of Amnesty on the 25th anniversary of its work for human rights. The shows were headlined by U2 and Sting, and also featured Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Joan Baez, and The Neville Brothers.

1990, American punk rock singer Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church died after being hit by a taxi in Paris, France. Bators had been out drinking when he was hit by a taxi while crossing the road. He was taken to a hospital, but left before seeing a doctor. He died in his sleep as the result of a concussion.

1994, Wet Wet Wet started a fifteen-week run at number one on the UK singles chart with “Love Is All Around,” from the film Four Weddings & A Funeral. The song was written by Reg Presley of The Troggs, and was a former top ten hit for his band in 1967

1997, Jeff Buckley’s body was discovered floating in the Mississippi River. Buckley had disappeared when swimming on May 29th in Wolf River Harbor, while wearing boots, all of his clothing, and singing the chorus of “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin. A roadie in Buckley’s band, had remained on shore. After moving a radio and guitar out of reach of the wake from a passing tugboat, he looked up to see that Buckley had vanished.

2012, Herb Reed, bass singer and founder member with American doo-wop group The Platters died aged 83. The Platters scored four number one singles in the late 50’s: “The Great Pretender,” “My Prayer,” “Twilight Time,” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” Reed is credited with coming up with the group’s name, inspired by disc jockeys who referred to their records as “platters.”

Born on June 4: Freddie Fender (1937);  Michelle Phillips (1944); Gordon Waller, Peter & Gordon (1945); and Jimmy McCulloch, Thunderclap Newman, Wings (1952)

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Today in Rock History – March 12

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1965, The Beatles wrap up their location shooting of Help! in the Bahamas. Ringo Starr recalled, “A hell of a lot of pot was being smoked while we were making the film. It was great. That helped make it a lot of fun.”

1966,  The first album by Love is released in the US.

1966, Sgt Barry Sadler started a five-week run at No.1 on the album chart with “The Ballad Of The Green Berets.”

1966, The Who at Birdcage Club in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at the Gyro Club in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, England.

1968, Pink Floyd were at EMI Studios in London recording the single “It Would Be So Nice.”

1968, The Rolling Stones started recording their next single “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” with new producer Jimmy Miller at Olympic studios in London.

1969, Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office. They then held a reception lunch at The Ritz Hotel, Paul then went to Abbey Road studios in the evening to work. George Harrison and his wife Patti were arrested on the same day and charged with possession of 120 joints of marijuana.

1970, Led Zeppelin played at Rheinhalle in Dusseldorf, Germany.

1971, Mick Jagger marries Bianca Perez Morena de Macias.

1971, John Lennon releases his solo single “Power to the People,” having recorded it a mere four days before.

1971, The Allman Brothers Band perform for two night the Fillmore East in New York. The resulting live album helped the band achieve breakthrough success.

1971, A London High Court judge rules in favor of Paul McCartney’s action to dissolve the Beatles’ partnership.

1972, King Crimson appeared at Summit Studios, Denver, Colorado.

1973, The Eagles appeared at Oxford Polytechnic during a UK tour, JD Souther was the support act.

1974, David Essex supported by Brinsley Schwarz appeared at The Kings Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, England, tickets cost 40p.

1974, John Lennon made the headlines after an incident at the Troubadour Club, LA. Out on a drinking binge with Harry Nilsson, Lennon hurled insults at the performing Smothers Brothers and punched their manager before being forcibly removed.

1975, Led Zeppelin played at the Long Beach Civic Arena, Long Beach, California.

1976, David Bowie performed at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia.

1977, The Sex Pistols were involved in a fight at London’s Speakeasy Club with Bob Harris, presenter of BBC 2’s The Old Grey Whistle Test resulting in one of the shows engineers needing 14 stitches in his head. Two days later Harris’s solicitors contact Derek Green at A&M the bands record label. Harris’s management also managed Peter Frampton, one of the label’s top acts at A&M. Green discussed the matter with the company’s two founders, Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert and the decision is made to cancel the Pistols contract and halt production of the bands first single, “God Save The Queen.”

1978, Bob Dylan appears at Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia.

1979,  Roxy Music headlines at Musensaal, Mannheim, Germany.

1980, Peter Gabriel played at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.

1981, The Grateful Dead appeared at the Boston Garden.

1983, U2 scored their first UK No.1 album with War, which went on to spend a total of 147 weeks on the chart. The album featured the singles “New Years Day” and “Two Hearts Beat As One,” and the popular “Sunday, Bloody Sunday.”

2006, Former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his third solo album On An Island.

2012, Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack died at his home in Dubois, Wyoming at the age of 65. He had been battling cancer for some time and succumbed to complications of the disease with his family at his side. Hossack was a member of the Doobie Brothers between 1971 and 1973, playing on several of the band’s best-known hits, including ‘Listen to the Music’ and ‘China Grove’.

Born on March 12: Leonard Chess, Chess Records (1917); James Taylor (1948); Bill Payne, Little Feat; Mike Gibbins, Badfinger (1949); Jack Green, The Pretty Things (1951); Steve Harris, Iron Maiden (1956); Marlon Jackson, Jackson 5 (1957); and Ben Kenny, bassist, Incubus (1977)

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Today in Rock History – November 8

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1965, The Beatles worked on a new George Harrison song “Think For Yourself” at Abbey Road for their forthcoming Rubber Soul album. After rehearsing the song, they recorded the basic instrumental track in one take.

1966, The Who go into CBS Studios in London and record at least two takes of the backing track for their next single “Happy Jack.” John and Keith then go to Regent Sound and record John’s new composition, “I’ve Been Away,” during a half-hour session while Roger and Pete are off at a pub.

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appears at Manchester University in Manchester, England.

1968, Cynthia Lennon is granted a divorce from husband John in London. John Lennon is not in court, having rushed to Yoko Ono’s bedside at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital. Ono suffers a miscarriage shortly afterward. Peace advertisements purchased by John and Yoko are aired on neutral Israel Radio.

1968, The Doors perform at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio.

1968, The Who, Joe Cocker and The Grease Band, The Mindbenders and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown all appeared at The Walthamstow Granada Theatre, England.

1968, Pink Floyd played at the Wood Green Jazz club at the Fishmonger’s Arms in North London.  The building is now a row of flats.

1969, “Something,” the first Beatles A-side composed by George Harrison entered the UK singles chart, it peaked at number four in the UK and went on to be a number one on the US charts.

1969, The Rolling Stones perform at the Forum in Inglewod, California, where they smash the concert gross record previously held by the Beatles.

1970, Jim Morrison makes recordings of his spoken-word material. After his death, the Doors set the poems to music as An American Prayer.

1970, The Grateful Dead appeared at the Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY.

1971, At London’s Empire Ballroom, Paul McCartney throws a party to launch his new group, Wings.

1971, Led Zeppelin released their fourth album. With no title printed on the album, and generally referred to as Four Symbols, The Fourth Album, ZOSO, or Led Zeppelin IV, it has gone on to sell over 37 million copies worldwide. The 19th century rustic oil painting on the front of the album was purchased by Robert Plant from an antique shop in Reading, Berkshire, England. The 20th century urban tower block on the back of the full gatefold LP cover is Butterfield Court in Eves Hill, Dudley, England.

1972, Roxy Music appear at Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England.

1973, Genesis performs at Massey Hall in Toronto, in support of Selling England by the Pound.

1974, Roxy Music plays at Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden.

1975, David Bowie made his US TV debut performing “Fame,” on the Cher CBS-TV show.

1975, Elton John was named Godfather to John and Yoko Lennon’s son Sean.

1977, Yes appears at The Apollo, Glasgow, Scotland.

1978, Eric Clapton plays at the Palais des Sports, Lyon, France.

1979, Bob Dylan appeared at the Fox Warfield Theatre, San Fransisco.

1980, KISS kicked off their 11-date Unmasked tour of Australia and New Zealand playing two nights at Perth Entertainment Centre.

1980, Frank Zappa performs at the Ocean State Theater, Providence, Rhode Island.

1982, Peter Gabriel played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

1985, the Grateful Dead played  at Community War Memorial Auditorium in Rochester, New York.

1986, Berlin started a four-week run at number one on the UK singles chart with “Take Your Breath Away.” The song which was featured in the film Top Gun, was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

1998, Robbie Williams scored his second UK number one album with I’ve Been Expecting You. The album which featured his UK number one hit “Millennium,” which went on to become the UK’s best selling album for that year with sales over 2.5 million.

2008, AC/DC started a two-week run at number one on the US album chart with Black Ice, the band’s fifteenth studio album and the second-best selling album of 2008. Black Ice went to the top spot in 29 countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US.

Born on November 8: Gerald Alston, vocals, The Manhattans (1942); Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney & Bonnie (1944); Rodney Slater, sax, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (1944); Roy Wood (1946); Minnie Riperton (1947) and Bonnie Raitt (1949); Alan Berger, Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes (1949); Porl Thompson, The Cure (1957)

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Song Of the Day – “On The Air” & “Moribund The Burgermeister” by Peter Gabriel (Live from Rockpalast, 1978)

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PeterGabrielRockpalast2By the time of the broadcast from this 1978 Rockpalast show, Peter Gabriel was three years past his Genesis days and was out on the road promoting his second solo record, Peter Gabriel (which also goes by the names Peter Gabriel II and Scratch because of its album jacket image).

I’ve already written several pieces on Peter Gabriel’s second album and its unique relationship with two other Robert Fripp productions, Sacred Songs by Daryl Hall and Fripp’s own Exposure , but a nice pro-shot concert from this era is a real find worth sharing.

The video was shot on September 15th 1978 and was shown on the long-running German music TV show, Rockpalast. It’s Gabriel in full theatrics, gyrating and rolling around on stage in costume, with dramatic lighting and an even more dramatic haircut.

His first-rate band includes Peter Gabriel on piano and vocals, Tony Levin on bass, Jerry Marotta on drums, Sid McGuiness on guitar, Larry “Synergy” Fast on keyboards and Timmy Capello on keyboards and saxophone.

The set list features all you could’ve wanted from a Gabriel show from this period, including White Shadow and Perspective from the second album and Solisbury Hill, Here Comes The Flood, Humdrum and Waiting For The Big One from the first. Toss in and early version of “I Don’t Remember,” that wouldn’t see a proper release for two more years and, of course, a token Genesis classic, “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” and you’ve got a feast for the eyes and ears for any Gabriel fan.

Thanks to my musical comrade in arms, Bob Wintermute, for sharing this with me.

Today in Rock History – October 2

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The McCoys - Hang on Sloopy1965, The McCoys were at number one on the US singles chart with “Hang On Sloopy.” It was number five in the UK when released on Andrew Oldham’s new Immediate label. The song was first released by The Vibrations and called “My Girl Sloopy.”

1967, All six members of The Grateful Dead were busted by California narcotics agents for possession of marijuana at the groups’ 710 Ashbury Street House in San Francisco, California.

1970, Pink Floyd played the first of two dates at the Moore Theater in Seattle, WA. Also, their new album Atom Heart Mother album was released in the UK.

1970, Chicago played at the Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia.

1971, Rod Stewart started a five week run at No.1 on the singles chart with “Maggie May / Reason To Believe”, his first solo No.1.  Stewart’s album Every Picture Tells A Story also started a four-week run on this day at No.1 on the albums chart.

1971, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles.

1971, John Lennon’s Imagine LP entered the album chart, where it eventually reached No.3.

1972, Led Zeppelin opened a six-date tour of Japan at the Budokan Hall in Tokyo.  The set list: Rock and Roll, Over the Hills and Far Away, Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I’ve Been Loving You, Dancing Days, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, The Song Remains the Same, Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love (medley including: Let That Boy Boogie, My Baby Left Me, Lemon Song, I Can’t Quit You Baby), Heartbreaker, Immigrant Song, Communication Breakdown.

1973, The Rolling Stones performed at Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany.

1974, Eric Clapton appeared at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario.

1975, ZZ Top played at the Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, Massachusetts.

1976, Frampton Comes Alive begins its next to last week at number one on the USA album charts.

1977,  The Grateful Dead played the second of two nights at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon.

1977, The body of Elvis Presley and his mother Gladys were moved from the cemetery where they were buried to Graceland after an unsuccessful attempt was made to body snatch the coffin.

1978, AC/DC appeared at the Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio.

1979, Van Halen performed at the Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona.

1980, Yes played at the San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California.

1982, Dire Straits started a four-week run at No.1 on the album charts with Love Over Gold.

1982, Jethro Tull performed at The Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts.

1982, John Cougar started a four week run at No.1 on the singles chart with “Jack and Diane,” his first No.1.

1982, Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett joined their former band mates in Genesis for a one-time benefit performance at The Milton Keynes Bowl in Buckinghamshire, England to help raise money for Gabriel’s WOMAD project (World of Music, Arts and Dance.)

1983, Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Jim Steinman written and produced track ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’. It made her the only Welsh artist to score a US No.1.

1995, Oasis released their second album (What’s The Story), Morning Glory, which entered the UK chart at No.1. The album has gone on to sell over 18 million copies worldwide, and it won the award for the best British Album of the last 30 Years at the 2010 Brit Awards.

1998, America’s singing cowboy Gene Autry died aged 91. During his career he scored 25 successive Top 10 Country hits. In 1995 it was estimated he was worth $320 million.

2001, Actor Kevin Spacey hosted Come Together: A Night for John Lennon’s Words and Music at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Performers included Alanis Morissette, Moby, Stone Temple Pilots, and The Dave Mathews Band. The evening was closed with those present singing “Give Peace A Chance.”

2009, Mumford & Sons released their debut album Sigh No More in the UK. It peaked at No. 2 in February of 2011, in its 72nd week on the chart following its Album of the Year win at the 2011 BRIT Awards. In early 2011, the album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the US. In the United States, it was the 3rd most digitally-downloaded album of 2011, selling 761,000 copies.

2012, British session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan (born James George Tomkins) died at the age of 71. Sullivan started his career in 1959 as a member of Marty Wilde’s band and when Wilde bought Sullivan a Gibson Les Paul guitar, it was allegedly the first in Britain. Sullivan taught future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to play guitar, as well as helping Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe on his road to success. He was featured on 55 No.1 hits, and worked with George Harrison, Frank Zappa, Thunderclap Newman, Love Affair, Long John Baldry, Marmalade, and The Tremeloes. During Jimmy Page’s session career, he was known as “Little Jim,” to differentiate him from Big Jim.

Born on this day: Ron Meagher, The Beau Brummels (1941); Don McLean (1945); Richard Hell, The Voidoids (1949);  Mike Rutherford, Genesis (1950); Sting (1951); Phil Oakey vocals, Human League (1955)

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Song Of The Day – “Under Heavy Manners” by Robert Fripp with David Byrne

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robertfrippdavidbyrneAfter the demise of King Crimson in 1974, Robert Fripp spent several years laying low before entering a period of high activity from 1977-1980, resulting in some of his most interesting collaborations. Starting in 1977, Fripp joined Brian Eno in Germany to add guitar parts to David Bowie’s “Heroes.”  This was followed by Fripp’s production of albums for Daryl Hall (Sacred Songs), Peter Gabriel (his second album with the “Scratch” cover) and the eponymously titled album by The Roches, plus sessions with an amalgam of like-minded artists including Peter Hammill (of Van Der Graaf Generator), Brian Eno, Blondie (on Parallel Lines), Jerry Marrota, Phil Collins and Tony Levin. Some of these sessions resulted in tracks that made up Fripp’s first solo record, Exposure released in 1979. After the release of Exposure, Fripp also participated in sessions with Talking Heads (Remain In Light), David Bowie (Scary Monsters) and Peter Gabriel (his third album known as Melt).

God Save The Queen/Under Heavy Manners was the follow-up to Exposure, which was supposed to be the third in a trilogy of records he produced, with Sacred Songs by Daryl Hall as the first and Peter Gabriel’s second album as the second. However, RCA records refused to release the Daryl Hall record in 1977 deeming it too uncommercial (and kept it on the shelf for a full three years), so a re-think was needed.

At this point, Fripp was enmeshed in “Frippertronics” which is a tape loop technique he and Brian Eno developed putting two reel-to-reel tape decks side by side, with the tape on the recording deck capturing a sound and then as the tape passes through the playback head of the second deck, it is played back with a delay before being threaded onto the take-up reel of the second deck.

Fripp had used the technique on the albums No Pussyfooting and Evening Star with Brian Eno, on David Bowie’s Heroes, as well as on Exposure and the Hall and Gabriel records. The God Save The Queen album side (designated as “Side One”) featured pure Frippertronic recordings of just loops, while the Under Heavy Manners side (designated as “Side A”) featured what Fripp termed “Discotronics,” which augmented the pure “Frippertronics” with a dance beat.

During the recording  of Manners, Fripp was also working with Talking Heads on their album Remain In Light, so for the only track with vocals, Fripp invited David Byrne (billed as Absalm el Habib) to sing. All of the guitar tracks on the album were recorded live in 1979 while Fripp toured behind Exposure, with the bass played by Busta Jones who was also involved in the Talking Heads sessions, and drum tracks by Paul Duskin, added later in the studio.

Today in Rock History – September 11

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1967, Filming began for The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. There was no script, nor a very clear idea of exactly what was to be accomplished, not even a clear direction about where the bus was supposed to go. The “Magical Mystery Tour” bus set off for the West Country in England stopping for the night in Teignmouth, Devon were hundreds of fans greeted The Beatles at their hotel.

1967, Pink Floyd performed the first of three nights at the Starclub in Copenhagen, Denmark. Also on the bill were The Beefeaters, Peter Belli & B. Brothers, Steppeulvene, The Clan, Hitmakers, and others.

1967, During a 10-date tour of Sweden, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played two shows at the Grona Lund in Stockholm.

1968, Bassist from Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham was busted for cannabis possession as the band arrived in London to start a UK tour.

1970, The Rolling Stones played at the Forum Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

1970, The Amboy Dukes appeared at Uptown Palladium 12 Theatre‎ in Birmingham, Michigan.

1971, Donny Osmond started a three week run at number one on the singles chart with “Go Away Little Girl.” The singer’s only solo chart topper. The song had also been a chart topper for Steve Lawrence in 1963.

1971, Who’s Next by The Who hits its peak on the Billboard charts at the number four position.

1971, The animated Jackson Five series premiered on ABC-TV.

1972, Hawkwind performed at Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany.

1973, The Rolling Stones appeared at Kings Hall (Belle Vue), Manchester, England.

1974, The Grateful Dead played at Alexandra Palace, London.

1975, The Allman Brothers Band performed at the Capital Centre, Landover.

1976, KC and the Sunshine Band went to the top of the singles charts with (“Shake Shake Shake), Shake Your Body,” the group’s third number one.

1977, David Bowie recorded a guest appearance on Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas TV show duetting with Crosby on “Peace On Earth – Little Drummer Boy.” The track became a UK No.3 hit five years later in 1982.

1978, Aerosmith played at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California.

1979, Van Halen appeared at Furitsu Taiiku Kan, Osaka, Japan.

1981, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band performed at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois.

1982, Chicago started a two week run at number one on the singles chart with “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” the group’s second chart topper.

1982, John “Cougar” Mellencamp became the only male artist to have two singles in the Top Ten as well as the number one album. “Jack and Diane” was at number four, while “Hurts So Good” held the eighth spot. His album American Fool was at number one for the first of nine weeks.

1987, Founding member of The Wailers, Peter Tosh was shot dead at his home in Kingston Jamaica by armed robbers.

1987, Peter Gabriel cleaned up at the MTV Awards, winning best video, best male video, best concept video, best special effects, and five other awards for the track “Sledgehammer.”

1988, Michael Jackson appeared at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England on his Bad world tour. Over 3,000 fans were treated by the St. John Ambulance service for passing out, hysteria, and being crushed among the crowd of 125,000 fans, the largest concert of the 123-date world tour.

1988, Metallica kicked off their 222-date Damaged Justice world tour at the MTK Football Stadium in Budapest, Hungary.

1996, Noel Gallagher walked out on the rest of Oasis half way through an American tour after a fight with his brother Liam in a hotel in Charlotte North Carolina. Noel flew back to London the following day.

2001, Walking to work in New York, as an comic book illustrator, Gerard Way witnessed the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The day’s events inspired him to start a band, which became My Chemical Romance, with Way becoming their lead singer.

2003, Tommy Chong, one-half of the comedy team of Cheech and Chong, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. The 65 year-old Chong pled guilty to the charges in May. He remained free until April, 2004, when he went to jail.

2004, American lyricist Fred Ebb died of a heart attack at his home in New York City. Co-wrote, “New York, New York” and “Chicago,” and worked with Liza Minnelli.

2014, American songwriter, singer, manager, and record producer Bob Crewe died aged 83. Crewe wrote a string of Top 10 singles for the Four Seasons, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Rag Doll.” He also had hit recordings with Lesley Gore, Michael Jackson, Bobby Darin, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow and others.

Born on September 11: Bernie Dwyer, Freddie and the Dreamers (1940); Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead (1943) Tommy Shaw, Styx (1953); Mick Talbot, keyboards, Style Council (1958); Moby, (Richard Hall), producer, vocalist (1965);  Harry Connick, Jr. (1967); Richard Ashcroft, guitar, vocals, The Verve (1971); and Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris (1977)

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Today in Rock History – August 16

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robert-johnson1938, American blues musician Robert Johnson died, likely poisoned by a jealous husband, at the age of 27 at a country crossroads near Greenwood, Mississippi. His recordings from 1936 -1937 have influenced generations of musicians including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.

1962, Twelve -year old “Little” Stevie Wonder released his first single, “I Call It Pretty Music, (But The Old People Call It The Blues.)” The single featured Marvin Gaye on drums.

1962, Brian Epstein told Pete Best that the other Beatles wanted him out of the group, and that he was being replaced. Epstein then asked Best to perform with The Beatles that night at the Riverpark Ballroom in Chester, Cheshire. Pete Best does not show up, drummer Johnny Hutchinson of The Big Three filled in the temporary vacancy.

1964, The Who played at the Opera House in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

1965, David Jones’ official stage name became David Bowie.

1966, During a US tour, The Beatles appeared at the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia playing their set during a huge electric storm.

1966, The Byrds played the first of two nights at the Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, California.

1967, Pink Floyd were in Studio 3 at EMI Studios on Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London recording material for Saucerful of Secrets.

1968, Jimi Hendrix appeared at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

1968, The Jackson Five made their formal debut with Diana Ross and The Supremes at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.

1968, Working at Abbey Road studios, The Beatles recorded 14 takes of the new George Harrison song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” taking the song from its early acoustic version into an electric version.

1968, Bruce Springsteen’s new band Earth made their live debut at the Off Broad Street Coffee House in Red Bank, New Jersey, admission was 75 cents (£0.47). The lineup of the group consisted of Springsteen on guitars and vocals, John Graham, bass, Michael Burke, drums and Flash Craig on the organ. The group lasted only six months.

1968, Pink Floyd play the first of two nights at Sound Factory in Sacramento, California. Also on the bill are Initial Shock and AB Skhy Blues Band.

1969, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young supported by Joni Mitchell appeared at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

1969, The Grateful Dead perform the following set at Woodstock: Saint Stephen-> Mama Tried, Dark Star-> High Time, Turn On Your Love Light. There were electrical problems, as well as rain, and possibly the band performing while having taken a lot of acid.  The Dead were not pleased with the performance, and have not allowed it to be published.  Nor was it in the concert film.

1969, During a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park with Joe Cocker as support. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment were unable to attend.

1969, Bruce Springsteen’s band Child played the first of two shows over two days at the Student Prince, Ashbury Park. Springsteen was also unable to attend Woodstock due to these gigs.

1969, Hippie leader Abbie Hoffman was knocked offstage by Pete Townshend while attempting to make a political statement during the Who’s set at Woodstock. Later, Townshend said he didn’t know it was Hoffman at the time.

1969, Blind Faith appear at the Earl Warren Fairgrounds, Santa Barbara, California.

1970, The final day of the three day UK Yorkshire Folk, Blues & Jazz Festival at Krumlin, Yorkshire took place featuring The Kinks, Mungo Jerry, Yes, Ginger Bakers Air Force and Edgar Winter.

1971, The Who and Wishbone Ash perform at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois.

1971, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1972, Hawkwind plays at Town Hall, Torquay, England.

1974, The Ramones make their CBGB debut on this date. They would go on to play seventy more shows that year as a regular attraction at the famous club in New York.

1975,  Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving Genesis. Gabriel had informed the band back in late November 1974 of his decision, but agreed to stay through the conclusion of the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour. The group auditioned more than 400 singers during the next 18 months before deciding that Phil Collins, who had been the drummer for Genesis since 1970, could front the band.

1975, Eric Clapton performed at the Sports Arena, San Diego, California.

1976, AC/DC appeared at the Marquee Club, London.

1976, Yes plays at the Mecca Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1977, Elvis Presley was found dead lying on the floor in his bathroom by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. He had been seated on the toilet reading “The Scientific Search For Jesus.” He died of heart failure at the age of 42.  He starred in 31 films. Elvis holds the record for the most entries on the US Hot 100 chart with 154. Elvis became the first rock ‘n’ roll artist to be honored by the US Postal Service with a stamp.

1977, Manchester punk band The Buzzcocks signed to EMI’s United Artists label.

1979, The biggest single of the summer in the US, The Knack’s “My Sharona” was awarded a Gold record for selling one million copies. The Knack’s Doug Fieger wrote the song for his girlfriend, Sharona Alperin, whose picture appeared on the single’s cover.

1980, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

1981, Foreigner played at Zeppelinfeld, Nuremberg, Germany.

1982, Blue Oyster Cult performed at the Blossom Music Center, Akron, Ohio.

1983, After dating for six years, Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher. The marriage would last less than two years, but the two continued to date off and on after they split. The title track to Simon’s Heart and Bones album references their romance.

1986, Madonna started a two week run at number one on the US singles chart with “Papa Don’t Preach.” It was the singer’s fourth US chart topper and was also number one in the UK. Also on this day Madonna went to the top of the US album chart with True Blue.

1988, Kiss played at the Marquee Club in London, England on their current 129-date Crazy Nights world tour.

1997, Blur, Prodigy, Beck, Kula Shaker, Dodgy, Foo Fighters, Placebo, James, Ash, Dodgy and Gene all appeared at the two day V97 UK festival in Chelmsford and Leeds, weekend tickets, £50 ($80.)

2000, Alan Caddy guitarist with The Tornadoes died. He had the 1962 UK and US number one single “Telstar” which became the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. Caddy also played on sessions and worked on arrangements for Spencer Davis Group, Kiki Dee, Pretty Things and Dusty Springfield.

2005, P Diddy appeared on the US TV Today Show and announced that he was altering his stage name again, dropping the “P” and referring to himself simply as “Diddy.” The name change to Diddy upset Richard “Diddy” Dearlove, a London based DJ who took out court proceedings against P Diddy over the use of the name. He won when an out of court settlement of £110,000 was agreed and as a result, Combs is no longer be able to use the name Diddy in the UK.

Born on August 16: Kevin Ayers, Soft Machine (1945); Gary Loizzo, American guitarist, singer, The American Breed (1945); Gordon Fleet, The Easybeats, (1946); Barry Hay, Golden Earring (1948); Bill Spooner, American guitarist, songwriter, The Tubes (1949); – James “JT” Taylor, American R&B singer-songwriter, Kool & the Gang (1953); Tim Farriss, guitar, INXS (1957); Madonna Ciccone, aka Madonna (1958); American  bassist,  Melvins, Mudhoney (1964); Emily Robison, American singer-songwriter, banjo player, Dixie Chicks, Court Yard Hounds (1972); Bob Hardy, Scottish bassist, Franz Ferdinand (1980)

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Today in Rock History – July 26

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1968, The Jackson Five signed a one-year contract with Motown Records.

1968, Decca pulls the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet from its release schedule, citing problems with the sleeve. The design features a graffiti-covered toilet. It’s one of the first disagreements between the band and the label, with Mick Jagger angrily pointing out that Decca released Tom Jones’ A-tom-ic Jones with a nuclear explosion printed on its jacket sleeve.

1968, The Jeff Beck Group, Pink Floyd, and headliner Blue Cheer play the first of two night at the Shrine Exposition Hall in Los Angeles, California.

1968, Howlin’ Wolf plays the first of three nights at San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom, supported by Quicksilver Messenger Service.

1968, The Steve Miller Band appears at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan.

1969, Brian Jones was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents.

1969, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, Shag, Taste, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, MC5, and SRC appeared at the Midwest Rock Festival, held at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin.

1969, The Turtles performed at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1969, Led Zeppelin and Vanilla Fudge played at the PNE Agrodome, Vancouver, British Columbia. Tickets were $3 – $5 Canadian.

1970, Jimi Hendrix played in his home town of Seattle for the last time when he appeared at Sicks Stadium. Cactus and Cat Mother and the All Night Newboys were the support acts.

1972, Roxy Music played at St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, England.

1973, ZZ Top releases Tres Hombres, their breakthrough album. It featured the hit “La Grange,” plus “Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago.”

1974, Summerfest was held at Rich Stadium in Buffalo, New York, featuring Emerson, Lake And Palmer, The James Gang, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

1974, The first Beatles Convention is held in Boston.

1974, Graffiti artists were hired to spray paint sites in London to promote the UK release of The Rolling Stones new single “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

1974, The Allman Brothers appeared at Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts with The Eagles as the support band

1975, The Eagles started a five-week run at number one on the US album chart with One Of These Nights.

1975, Van McCoy and the Soul City went to number one on the singles chart with “The Hustle,” his only chart hit.

1977, Elvis Costello was arrested as he performed outside a CBS Records sales conference at The London Hilton Hotel and was fined £5 ($7.50.)

1977, Led Zeppelin cut short their 11th North American tour after Robert Plant’s five-year-old-son Karac died unexpectedly of a virus at their home in England.

1978, Kansas performed at Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, Michigan.

1979, Thin Lizzy appeared at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee.

1980, The Rolling Stones started a seven week run at number one on the US album chart with Emotional Rescue, the group’s eighth US chart topper. Emotional Rescue was the first Rolling Stones album recorded following Keith Richards’ exoneration from a Toronto drug charge that could have landed him in jail for years.

1981, Van Halen played at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine.

1983, Asia releases Alpha, their second studio album. This one paled in comparison to the brilliant 1982 debut. It went platinum, but to mixed reviews. It featured the singles “Don’t Cry” and (the prophetic) “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.” Egos in the ranks started to come into play. It’s been said Steve Howe and John Wetton were “oil and water” personality wise and Howe was locked out of writing for this one with Wetton / Downes “taking over.” Plus the record label, Geffen was grooming them for a more pop/commercial direction. Following the release, Wetton either quit  or was forced out and the scheduled tour was cancelled. Greg Lake filled in briefly, but Wetton returned and Howe quit. The band never regained their momentum.

1986, Peter Gabriel went to number one on the US singles chart with “Sledgehammer,” a top four hit in the UK. The song’s music video has won a number of awards, including a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and Best British Video at the 1987 Brit Awards. Gabriel was also nominated for three Grammy Awards.

1987, The Grateful Dead played at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California.

1990, Brent Mydland from The Grateful Dead was found dead on the floor of his home aged 38 from an apparent drug overdose.

1992,  Mary Wells, referred to as The First Lady of Motown and who had a 1964 US number one and UK number five single “My Guy” died, aged 49 of laryngeal cancer. Wells was forced to give up her career and with no health insurance, was forced to sell her home, Wells’ old Motown friends including Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, The Temptations, and Martha Reeves, along with Dionne Warwick, Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and Bonnie Raitt, personally pledged donations in support.

2000, The celebrity management company Cassandra left dozens of acts out of pocket when it was rocked by fraud charges, filing for bankruptcy at the Manhattan Bankruptcy Court. Clients included Alanis Morissette, Phish and Afghan Whigs.

2006, The guitar on which Sir Paul McCartney learned his first chords sold for £330,000 ($520,000) at an auction at London’s Abbey Road Studios. The Rex acoustic guitar helped McCartney persuade John Lennon to let him join his band, The Quarrymen, in 1957.

2013, singer-songwriter JJ Cale died of a heart attack at the age of 74. He became famous in 1970, when Eric Clapton covered his song “After Midnight.” In 1977 Clapton also brought Cale’s song “Cocaine” into the spotlight. The two worked together on an album, which won a Grammy award in 2008.

Born on July 26: Joe Jackson, patriarch of The Jacksons (1929);Dobie Gray (1942); Mick Jagger (1943);  Roger Taylor, Queen (1949); Andy Connell,  keyboards, Swing Out Sister (1961); Scott Francis Crago, session drummer (1963); Joan Wasser,  singer-songwriter, violinist The Dambuilders (1970)

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