1966, The Byrds played the first of a 13 night run at The Village Gate, New York City.
1967, A 10-date package tour of the UK kicked off at London’s Finsbury Park, featuring Traffic, The Young Rascals, Vanilla Fudge, Art and Keith West.
1968, On the first night of a UK club tour Led Zeppelin (billed as The Yardbirds featuring Jimmy Page), appeared at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, supported by Terry Reid’s Fantasia, tickets cost 10/6. The Mayfair was a regular venue for up and coming acts. Pink Floyd, Mott the Hoople, Def Leppard and AC/DC had all appeared at the club, which was demolished in 2000.
1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four week run at number one on the US album chart with Green River, the group’s first US chart topper.
1969, The Beatles Abbey Road album went to number one on the UK album chart. The final studio recordings from the group featured two George Harrison songs “Something” and “Here Comes The Sun” plus “Come Together,” “Sun King” and “Golden Slumbers.” Fans reported found clues on the album cover, fanning the flames of the “Paul Is Dead” rumors. Paul is barefoot, and the car number plate LMW 281F supposedly referred to the fact that McCartney would be 28 years old if he was still alive. “LMW” was said to stand for “Linda McCartney Weeps.” And the four Beatles, represent; the priest (John, dressed in white), the Undertaker (Ringo in a black suit), the Corpse (Paul, in a suit but barefoot), and the Gravedigger (George, in jeans and a denim work shirt).
1970, Singer Janis Joplin was found dead at the Landmark Hotel Hollywood after an accidental heroin overdose.
1971, Pink Floyd played the first of four nights at the Roman Ampitheater, Pompeii, Italy for their Live in Pompeii album.
1971, Ten Years After perform at Town Hall in Birmingham, West Midlands, England.
1973, The J. Geils Band perform at Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan.
1974, KISS played at the Music Hall, Houston, Texas.
1975, Pink Floyd went to number one on the UK album chart with Wish You Were Here. The album featured a tribute to ex band member Syd Barrett, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
1976, AC/DC appear at Westfallenhalle, Dortmund, Germany.
1978, Country singer Tammy Wynette, was abducted, beaten and held in her car for two hours by a kidnapper wearing a ski mask. He held a gun on her and forced her to drive 90 miles from Nashville, Tennessee. She was later released and the kidnapper escaped.
1980, Queen started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “Another One Bites The Dust.”
1982, The Smiths made their live debut at the Ritz in Manchester England, supporting Blue Rondo A La Turk.
2005, Mike Gibbins drummer with Badfinger died in his sleep at his Florida home aged 56. Badfinger had the 1970 UK number four and US number seven single “Come And Get It,” written by Paul McCartney. He had also been a member of The Iveys during the ’60s.
2007, The Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time with their A Bigger Bang tour. The tour which ran from late 2005 to August 2007, earned the band £247m, ($437m) with The Stones playing to over 3.5 million people at 113 shows. The previous high was set by U2’s Vertigo tour, which took place in 2005 and 2006, earning £220m, ($389m.)
2014, Paul Revere, organist and leader of Paul Revere And The Raiders died following a battle with cancer. Between 1961 and 1971, the band placed 15 songs on Billboard’s Top 40, including the US Top ten hits “Kicks,” “Hungry,” and “Good Thing.”
Born on this day: Jim Fielder, Blood Sweat & Tears (1947) and Chris Lowe, keyboards, Pet Shop Boys (1959)
