Rock History August 20
1965, The Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham and his partner Tony Calder launched Immediate records. Their first release was The McCoy’s “Hang On Sloopy.” Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Nico all attended the launch party. The label became the home of The Small Faces, The Nice, Amen Corner and Chris Farlowe and a young producer, guitarist Jimmy Page.
1966, The Beatles, touring America for the last time, were forced to cancel and reschedule their performance in Cincinnati’s open-air stadium, Crosley Field. Heavy rain (and no cover provided) made electrocution a virtual certainty if The Beatles had attempted to perform.
1968, The University of Tennessee reported that a guinea pig subjected to days of rock music played at 120 decibels had suffered acute hearing damage.
1969, After finishing “I Want You, (She’s So Heavy,”) The Beatles worked on the running order for the Abbey Road album. A preliminary master tape was compiled, the medley was originally slated for side one of the album, and the placement of “Octopus’s Garden” and “Oh! Darling” were reversed from the final version. The album was to end with the slashed guitar chord that finishes “I Want You (She’s So Heavy”). This was the last time all four Beatles were together in Abbey Road studios.
1969, Led Zeppelin appeared at The Aerodrome in Schenectady, New York.
1970, Deep Purple performed at the Terrace Ballroom in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1971, On the second night of a North American tour, Led Zeppelin appeared at the Seattle Centre Coliseum, Seattle, Washington.
1971, Ten Years After and Procol Harum appear at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
1972, The Grateful Dead play at the Civic Auditorium in San Jose, California.
1972, Mahavishnu Orchestra appeared at the Montreux Pavillion, Montreux, Switzerland.
1972, David Bowie performed at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1973, Bruce Springsteen played the first of a seven night run at Oliver’s in Boston, Massachusetts playing two 60-minute sets each night.
1974, REO Speedwagon, Elvin Bishop and the Allman Brothers Band play at Bosse Park in Evansville, Illinois.
1976, Yes performed at the Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio.
Rock History August 20
1977, The Emotions started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “Best Of My Love.” It made it to number four in the UK.
1977, Rush plays at the Music Hall, Houston, Texas.
1979, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Stanley Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1980, During a North American tour, Queen appeared at the Civic Centre, Hartford, Connecticut.
1980, John Lennon began recording his final album, Double Fantasy. It would be released on November 17th by the newly-formed Geffen Records and would win the 1982 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
1981, Blue Oyster Cult played at Queensway Hall, Dunstable, England.
1982, King Crimson and Roxy Music appeared at Belenenes, Lisbon, Portugal.
1983, Madness, Joan Jett, The Police and R.E.M. all appeared at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.
1986, Rick Allen drummer with Def Leppard made his first live appearance with the band after losing an arm in a car accident, when they appeared at the Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, England.
1988, Steve Winwood went to No.1 on the US album chart with his fifth solo album Roll With It. The title cut also topped the US singles charts.
1988, Iron Maiden, Kiss, David Lee Roth, Megadeth, Guns N’ Roses and Helloween all appeared at the Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, England. Two rock fans died while slam dancing as Guns N’ Roses played.
1990, Aerosmith appeared at the Marquee Club London. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page joined the band on stage for a blues jam.
1991, Nirvana and Sonic Youth kicked off a joint European tour at Sir Henry’s Pub, Cork, Ireland.
2006, The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at Twickenham Stadium on their A Bigger Bang world tour. Feeder and The Charlatans also appeared.
2007, The funeral of Manchester music mogul and broadcaster, Tony Wilson was held at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Manchester. Peter Hook and Stephen Morris, two members of first Factory signing Joy Division, as well as a later band, New Order, attended along with Happy Mondays front man, Shaun Ryder.
Born on August 20: Jim Reeves, US country singer (1924); Dave Brock, Hawkwind (1941), Isaac Hayes (1942); James Pankow, Trombone, Chicago (1947); Robert Plant (1948); and Phil Lynott Irish singer, songwriter, bass player, Thin Lizzy (1949)
More from Today in Rock History
Aerosmith, Blue Oyster Cult, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, David Lee Roth, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Joy Division, King Crimson, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Megadeth, New Order, Procol Harum, Queen, R.E.M., REO Speedwagon, Roxy Music, Rush, Steve Winwood, Ten Years After, The Allman Brothers Band, The Beatles, The Emotions, The Grateful Dead, The McCoys, The Police, Yes
