bmusic - Newsletter No. 206

In 1961, Frank Sinatra unveiled his own recording label, Reprise. Although Sinatra didn't have a very high regard for that "rock & roll music", the label went on to release recordings by The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix and many more classic acts.

In 1968, George and Patti Harrison and John and Cynthia Lennon flew to India for two months of transcendental meditation study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Ringo and Maureen Starr, Paul McCartney, Jane Asher, Mia Farrow and Donovan joined the fun three days later. Within a fortnight the whole lot had returned to England, blaming the spicy food for their premature departure from India.

In 1968, U.S. city Atlanta, Georgia declared February 16th Aretha Franklin Day.

In 1968, Guitarist Dave Gilmour joined Pink Floyd replacing founder Syd Barrett. Barrett checked into a psychiatric hospital before going into seclusion. He continues to lead a life of seclusion to this day.

In 1969, singer Lulu and Bee Gee Maurice Gibb were wed at St. James' Church, Gerrard's Cross, Buchs, England.

In 1969, Florida woman Vickie Jones was arrested for impersonating Aretha Franklin during a concert. Her act was so convincing that nobody at the venue at which she was performing, supposedly as Franklin, asked for a refund.

In 1970, Black Sabbath's self-titled first LP was released.

In 1971, Alan David Pasaro, the Hell's Angel who was tried and later acquitted for the stabbing death of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Speedway in 1969, sued the Rolling Stones, charging an invasion of privacy because the Maysles brothers' film of the event, "Gimme Shelter," showed the stabbing.

In 1972, Led Zeppelin was forced to cancel a concert in Singapore when officials wouldn't let the band off of the plane because of their long hair.

In 1972, Pink Floyd began a 4-night stand at London's Rainbow Theater during which they premiered "The Dark Side of the Moon" a full year before it was released as an album.

In 1974, Elton John released "Bennie and the Jets."

In 1974, KISS released their debut self-titled album. The album barely cracked the Hot 100. It would take the band three more attempts to establish itself.

In 1975, John Lennon released "Rock n' Roll," his final album before a self-imposed five year exile from the music business.

In 1976, one-time Tower of Power lead singer Rich Stevens was arrested and charged in the murders the previous night of three men in San Jose, California. Police believed the reason was drugs. Stevens and another were found guilty on two counts of murder that November.

In 1977, Warner Bros. released Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours." The album was recorded in Los Angeles when the two couples (John and Christine McVie & Linsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) were breaking up.

In 1977, bassist Sid Vicious joined the Sex Pistols, replacing Glen Matlock.

In 1980, Bill Wyman announced he would leave the Rolling Stones in 1983. He was persuaded not to and stayed another nine years, eventually leaving in 1992.

In 1982, Pat Benatar and her guitarist, Neil Geraldo, were married on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

In 1985, Mick Jagger released his first solo album, "She's The Boss" featuring appearances by Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend and Vernon Reid (who went on to become a member of the band Living Color).

In 1988, a 12-year old Hollywood, Florida, Motley Crue fan set his legs on fire while trying to imitate a stunt in the group's "Live Wire" video. The boy suffered burns over ten percent of his body.

In 1990, Ike Turner was sentenced to 4 years in prison on cocaine charges.

In 1992, Vince Neil quit as lead singer of Motley Crue, after 11 years with the group.

In 1995, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married Pamela Anderson on a beach in Cancun.

In 1996, London police arrested singer Jarvis Cocker of the group Pulp for allegedly attacking three children performing on stage with Michael Jackson at the Brit Awards. Cocker admitted he walked on stage but denied he touched any children.

In 1997, a New York judge dismissed a US$7 million lawsuit a fan filed against Motley Crue for hearing loss suffered at one of their concerts. The judge said the fan knew the concert would be loud going into it.

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Births In 1933, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono was born.

In 1935, the late Sonny Bono.

In 1942, Peter Tork, bassist with the Monkees.

In 1942, singer Gene Pitney.

In 1944, Mick Avory, drummer for The Kinks.

In 1947, Dennis DeYoung of Styx.

In 1948, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

In 1950, Boudleaux Bryant who wrote many hit songs, including "Love Hurts" by Nazareth, was born.

In 1950, former Genesis frontman, now solo act Peter Gabriel.

In 1951, Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor.

In 1953, Robbie Bachman, drummer with Bachman Turner Overdrive.

In 1972, Green Day singer/guitarist Billie-Joe Armstrong.

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Deaths In 1965, Nat "King" Cole died of complications following surgery for lung cancer. He was 48 years old.

In 1980, Bon Scott, born Ronald Belford Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, died in London at the age of 33. The band had been on tour in London when Scott choked on his own vomit after an all-night drinking binge. His death came just months after the band scored its first big American success with the album, "Highway To Hell."

In 1982, Jazz great Thelonious Monk died after a long illness. He was 64 years old.

In 1984, Ethel Merman died of natural causes at the age of 75.

In 1995, Bob Stinson, a founding member of The Replacements, died in Minneapolis of complications from drug and alcohol abuse.

In 1996, Walter Brownie McGhee died at the age of 80 from stomach cancer. McGhee did "Living With The Blues" and "Baseball Boogie" and worked extensively with Sonny Terry.

In 1998, songwriter Bob Merill suicided. He wrote many hits including "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?" and Barbra Streisand's "People".

In 2000, Live manager Peter Freedman died of acute bronchial pneumonia complicated by staph infection at the age of 39.

In 2001, Theophilus Beckford, credited as the originator of ska by many, was stabbed during an altercation in Jamaica.

In 2001, John Fahey, known as the Godfather of New Age guitar, died after undergoing open heart surgery. Fahey established the Takoma Records label and had worked with Leo Kottke, Jo Ann Kelly, Skip James and Sonic Youth. He wrote the book, "How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life".

In 2002, Daniel Pearl, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal was officially reported as dead after being kidnapped by terrorists in Pakistan. It's believed Pearl's captors murdered him between January 29th and January 31st, 2002.
Pearl played fiddle, bass and keyboards for The Ottoman Empire and Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band.

In 2003, Jack Maher, publisher of the famed jazz magazine Downbeat for more than 30 years, dies of natural causes at the age of 78.

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