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 […]
Today in Rock History – January 24
1965, The film Ferry Cross the Mersey premieres at the Liverpool Odeon. It was the first to be shot on location in Liverpool after the city’s emergence into the music mainstream For authenticity, many scenes were shot in clubs near the home of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ frontman Gerry Marsden. Marsden wrote nine new songs […]
Today in Rock History – January 20
1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at Haverstock Hill Country Club in London. 1967, The Monkees TV show was shown for the first time in the UK. 1968, Fleetwood Mac, The Move, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Fairport Convention all appeared at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm in London. 1968, The Who play at Festival Hall […]
Today in Rock History – January 15
1965, The Who released their first single “I Can’t Explain,” with Jimmy Page on guitar and The Ivy League on backing vocals. It went on to reach number eight on the singles chart. 1966, The Who play at The Two Puddings Club in Stratford and the In Crowd Club in Hackney, London, England. 1967, The […]
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 – January 11
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded “Purple Haze.” Jimi also signed to the new record label Track Records on this day. 1968: Jimi Hendrix moves into a London townhouse formerly owned by the Messiah’s composer George Frederick Handel. The guitarist tells the Daily Mirror that he will “not let the tradition down.” 1969: The Rolling […]
Today in Rock History – January 1
1966, Simon and Garfunkel started a two week run at number one on the singles chart with “The Sounds Of Silence.” 1967, The Doors made their first live television appearance lip-synching their first single “Break on Through” on Shebang, on KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles. The single peaked number 126 on the chart mainly […]
Today in Rock History – December 27
1967, The Doors appeared on The Jonathon Winters Show on CBS TV from Los Angeles. 1967, Bob Dylan releases his long-awaited follow-up to the Blonde on Blonde album, John Wesley Harding. Rolling Stone declares, “Without a doubt this is another major musical step for Bob Dylan. The predominance of country blues, white and black, from […]
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 […]
