bmusic - Newsletter No. 216

In 1963, the Rolling Stones began their first recording session in London with producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Their first single, a cover of Chuck Berry's song "Come On," was released a month later.

In 1986, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married actress Heather Locklear. The couple eventually divorced with Locklear marrying Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora some years later. Tommy married another actress, Pamela-Lee Anderson, again that marriage ending in divorce. Locklear and Sambora, however, still remain happily married.

In 1994, bad-boy rapper Tupac Shakur began serving a 15-day prison sentence for attacking the director on the set of one of his video clips.

In 1955, Elvis Presley's performance in Jacksonville, Florida caused a riot, the first reported incident of trouble at an Elvis show.

In 1956, the Sun Record Company in Memphis ran an ad in the music trade papers announcing the first record by what was termed "one of the truly great talent finds." The artist was Johnny Cash, and the record was "I Walk the Line."

In 1963, Bob Dylan walked off the "Ed Sullivan Show" when CBS censors wouldn't let him perform the "Talking John Birch Society Blues."

In 1965, the Rolling Stones began a two-day recording session at Chess Studios in Chicago, laying down the basic tracks for "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

In 1966, the Beach Boys album "Pet Sounds" was released. Although it only barely made the top 10, the album has since become regarded as a classic and the Beach Boys' best.

In 1967, the psychedelic sound and light show of Pink Floyd graced the stage of the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The concert, called "Games For May," was the first to feature quadraphonic sound.

In 1968, Jimi Hendrix was arrested at the US-Canadian border for possession of heroin and hashish. Hendrix, on his way to a concert in Toronto, claimed the drugs were planted. He was later cleared of the charges.

In 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young announced their breakup before a performance in Chicago. The band - minus Neil Young - would regroup several times during the next dozen years. And all four would get together again in 1988 for the hit single and album "American Dream."

In 1974, more than 50 people were injured when fans who couldn't get tickets rioted outside a Jackson Five concert in Washington, DC.

In 1981, former Sex Pistol John Lydon, who used to be known as Johnny Rotten, and his band Public Image Limited were booed and pelted by debris during a performance at a New York club. A dozen people were hurt before the band's 50-minute performance ended. A Public Image show set for the following night was cancelled.

In 1981, Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats" opened in London. The composer had to mortgage his house to help finance the half-million pound production which has since grossed billions in productions across the globe.

In 1982, guitarist Fast Eddie Clark departed Motorhead in the middle of the British heavy metal band's US tour. Brian Robertson, formerly of Thin Lizzy, was his replacement.

In 1984, guitarist Nils Lofgren joined Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, replacing Steve Van Zandt.

In 1985, rock star Bruce Springsteen married actress Julianne Phillips at ten minutes past midnight in a secret ceremony in Oregon. Their marriage fell apart in 1988.

In 1986, Belinda Carlisle, who had just left the Go Gos, made her Los Angeles debut as a solo artist. In the audience were Prince and the Bangles. Andy Taylor of Duran Duran joined Carlisle on stage, as he would at other concerts throughout the summer.

In 1986, country singer Johnny Paycheck was found guilty of shooting and wounding a man after an argument in a bar in Hillsboro, Ohio. Paycheck, best known for his 1978 hit "Take This Job and Shove It," was sentenced to up to 9.5 years in prison.

In 1987, Frank Sinatra cancelled a planned tour of Sweden and Denmark after Sweden decided to tax him because he performed in South Africa. Norway had earlier banned Sinatra for the same reason.

In 1987, Prince (or the Artist Formerly Known As, or is it Prince again now?) and his band made an unannounced after-hours appearance at a private club in West Berlin. They performed for an hour at the Quasimodo club following the first of two sold-out shows in a West Berlin concert hall.

In 1987, singer Billy Idol stormed off stage in San Francisco after twice being hit in the face by tennis shoes thrown by fans.

In 1991, Chris De Burgh, M.C. Hammer and Tom Jones were among the stars performing at an international pop concert at Wembley Stadium in London to raise money for Kurdish refugees from Iraq. Other performers were seen by satellite hookup from around the world. Rod Stewart performed from Switzerland, Paul Simon from Manchester, England and Gloria Estefan and New Kids on the Block from Rotterdam, Holland. In the London audience were British Prime Minister John Major and Diana, Princess of Wales. The concert was broadcast to more than 30 countries.

In 1994, 2 Live Crew rapper Luther Campbell was charged in Miami with aggravated assault for allegedly aiming a gun at his wife and threatening to kill her.

In 1995, R.E.M. resumed its world tour in San Francisco, two months after it was suspended when drummer Bill Berry underwent brain surgery. He fell ill during a show in Lausanne, Switzerland, but made a complete recovery.

In 1995, singer Scott Weiland of the grunge rock group Stone Temple Pilots was arrested in Pasadena, California, for possessing cocaine and heroin. Police pulled over Weiland's car after he made a quick midnight stop at a motel. He was ordered to spend four to six months in a drug treatment centre, forcing cancellation of the group's tour in the summer of 1996. The charges were dropped after Weiland completed his treatment. Unfortunately this was destined to be one of many such arrests Scott Weiland would face in the years to follow, the latest in early 2002.

In 2005, it was announced the legendary Melbourne live music venue, the Duke Of Windsor Hotel, would be closing down in September of 20005 to make way for the "cafe set".

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Births In 1946, singer Donovan was born Donovan Philip Leitch.

In 1949, Billy Joel was born in Long Island, New York.

In 1949, Traffic singer/guitarist Dave Mason.

In 1960, U2 vocalist Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, was born. U2 was formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1976, and by 1987 was acknowledged as the top rock band in the world.

In 1888, American songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia.
He wrote nearly 1,000 songs, and had his first hit in 1911 with "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Many of his best songs came from such Broadway musicals as "Call Me Madam" and "Annie Get Your Gun." Berlin also composed film scores, and many of his stage musicals were adapted for the screen.
Among the best known of his songs are "White Christmas," "God Bless America" and "There's No Business Like Show Business".

In 1919, pianist Liberace, whose full name was Wladziu Valentino Liberace, was born in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His overly sentimental pop tunes and frilly, condensed versions of the classics built him into one of the hottest show business personalities in the 1950's. Liberace died on February 4th, 1987 from conditions related to AIDS.

In 1928, pop composer Burt Bacharach.

In 1941, '50s rock 'n' roll singer Ritchie Valens was born in Pacoima, California. He was signed by Del-Fi Records in 1958, and had three big hits that year with "Come On, Let's Go," "Donna" and "La Bamba." Valens was killed in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper in February 1959.

In 1941, rock singer Eric Burdon, who first came to fame with the Animals during the 1960's British invasion, was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.

In 1942, British rock vocalist Ian Dury.

In 1942, blues singer Taj Mahal.

In 1943, Jack Bruce, one of the most influential bass guitarists in rock, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Bruce's bass playing and vocals with the group Cream in the 1960's were a great influence on the heavy metal groups that followed. He began developing his style with the British rhythm-and-blues pioneers Graham Bond and Alexis Korner.
Bruce later played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann before forming Cream with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in 1966.
Bruce later played in a variety of styles with several groups such as West, Bruce and Laing, Jack Bruce and Friends, and BLT.

In 1943, Les Chadwick, bass player with the '60s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers, was born in Liverpool, England.

In 1944, Graham Goble of the Little River Band.

In 1945, Ian McLagan, keyboard player with the Faces, was born in Hownslown, England. McLagan joined the group, originally called the Small Faces, when Jimmy Winston left after the band's first hit in 1965. When lead vocalist Steve Marriot departed in 1969, the group reorganized and became known simply as the Faces. The new members were Ron Wood and Rod Stewart. The group fell apart in 1976, and Ian McLagan began touring with the Rolling Stones. He also recorded a couple of solo albums.

In 1945, (Magic) Dick Salwitz, harmonica player with the J. Geils Band.

In 1946, Danny Klein, bassist with the J. Geils Band.

In 1948, rock guitarist and keyboard player Steve Winwood was born in Birmingham, England.
He was only 16 when he burst on the British pop music scene as the lead vocalist and organist with the Spencer Davis Group. They had hits with "I'm a Man" and "Gimme Some Lovin'."

In 1948, new wave producer Brian Eno was born in Woodbridge, England. A founding member of Roxy Music in 1971, he played synthesizer and electronically altered the other instruments in the group, before leaving in a dispute with songwriter Bryan Ferry. Eno went on to work as a solo artist and a producer-collaborator with Talking Heads, David Bowie and Devo, among others.

In 1950, rock singer Billy Squier.

In 1950, Stevie Wonder, whose real name is Steveland Morris Hardaway, was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
He sang and played the harmonica so well that Ronnie White of the Miracles brought him to Motown records, where Berry Gordy signed him on the spot. Wonder's third single, "Fingertips-Part Two," shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1963.

In 1950, Peter Gabriel, the original lead vocalist of the art-rock group Genesis, was born in London. Genesis relied on complex story songs and elaborate costumes when Gabriel fronted the group, and never developed beyond cult status. He left in 1974 for a solo career, and was replaced by Phil Collins. Genesis became much more popular. "And Then There Were Three" became their first gold album in 1978. Gabriel also found success as a solo artist, hitting number one in 1986 with "Sledgehammer."

In 1951, singer Fergie Frederiksen of Toto.

In 1952, David Byrne, lead vocalist for the new wave band Talking Heads, was born in Dunbartin, Scotland. Byrne formed the Talking Heads as a trio in 1975 in New York with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. Jerry Harrison completed the band in 1977.

In 1953, rock singer and songwriter Tom Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba.

In 1953, multi-instrumentalist and composer Mike Oldfield was born in Reading, England. His 1973 LP, "Tubular Bells," went to number three on the Billboard chart, staying there more than a year and selling over a million copies. In 1974, the album won a Grammy Award as Best Pop Instrumental LP after excerpts were used in the soundtrack of the film "The Exorcist."

In 1955, country singer Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn.

In 1955, Mark Herndon, drummer with the country band Alabama.

In 1959, Billy Duffy, guitarist with the British hard-rock band, The Cult.

In 1961, Irish singer Enya. (Don't ask me what her last name is!)

In 1962, Ian Astbury, ex-vocalist with the British hard-rock band the Cult.

In 1969, Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block.

In 1970, Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block.

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Deaths In 1968, George D. Hay, the originator of the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts over station WSM in Nashville, died in Virginia Beach, Virginia at age 72. The program, originally called the "Barn Dance," was first broadcast on November 28th, 1925.

In 1972, Stone the Crow lead guitarist Les Harvey was electrocuted on stage at a show in Swansea, Wales. The 25 year old was thrown into the air after touching a poorly connected microphone and died in a hospital a few hours later.

In 1972, blues and folk singer, the Reverend Gary Davis, died of a heart attack in Hammonton, New Jersey at the age of 76.

In 1974, Graham Bond, a pioneer British rhythm-and-blues musician, died after jumping in front of a London underground train. With drummer Ginger Baker and guitarist Jack Bruce, he formed the Graham Bond Organization in 1963. Baker and Bruce were later members of the super-group Cream. Fusion guitarist John McLaughlin is another famous alumni of the Graham Bond Organization.

In 1981, reggae musician Bob Marley died in Miami of brain and lung cancer. He was 36. Seven months earlier, he had collapsed on stage during a concert in the US. Marley and his band, the Wailers, were practically national heroes in their native Jamaica, and they helped spread reggae music around the world. Marley was wounded in an assassination attempt in 1976. "Legend," a greatest hits compilation issued in 1984, was estimated to have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide by the late 1990's and was still selling about 50,000 copies a month in the US.

In 1982, Neil Bogart, former head of Casablanca Records, died of cancer at age 39. A prime music industry mover during the disco era of the 1970's, Bogart guided the careers of Donna Summers and Kiss among others. He later formed Boardwalk Enterprises which helped give former Runaway Joan Jett solo success.

In 1987, Chicago bluesman Paul Butterfield, who brought the blues to a generation of rock fans in the 1960's, was found dead in his Los Angeles home. He was 44. An autopsy showed he died of an overdose of several drugs, including heroin.

In 1989, country singer Keith Whitley died of alcohol abuse at age 33. He was found dead in bed at his Nashville- area home. The coroner said he had a blood-alcohol content five times the legal limit. At the time of his death, Whitley had just had three straight number-one singles - "Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing At All" and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain."

In 1992, screen legend Marlene Dietrich died in Paris at age 90. Her interpretation of the melancholy song "Lili Marlene" is one of the most remembered songs of the Second World War. Dietrich not only sang for the US Army but recorded songs containing coded messages for American spy teams.

In 1992, Sylvia Syms, whom Frank Sinatra called "the world's greatest saloon singer," collapsed and died while performing a Sinatra tribute in New York. She was 73. Syms's 1956 recording of "I Could Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair Lady" was a Top-20 hit.

In 1995, Doug Phillips, lead singer of the 1960s California rock group the Dartells, died at age 50. The Dartells reached Number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 with "Hot Pastrami," which was a reworked version of "(Do the) Mashed Potatoes," a 1960 recording by Nat Kendrick and the Swans. (Note for trivia buffs: Nat Kendrick and the Swans was a pseudonym for James Brown's backing band, known at the time as the JB's. Brown played piano on the record.)

In 1997, r'n'b bandleader Ernie Fields died at the age of 91. His rocked-up version of Glenn Miller's 1939 chart-topper "In the Mood" was a Top-10 hit in 1959.

In 2001 actress and singer Jennifer Stahl was shot and killed during a robbery. Stahl released the CD "Pro-Bitchin'" under the moniker Ganja Woman. She also ran a small recording studio. Her acting credits include the movies "Dirty Dancing" and "Neocropolis".

In 2002, master luthier John Zeidler passed away after a battle with leukemia. Zeidler made exquisitely crafted instruments, primarily guitars, banjos, dulcimers, and mandolins as well as hand-building tube amplifiers.

In 2003, jazz drummer Nigel Hammond, who had worked with PJ Proby and Billy Fury, drowned while rescuing his wife and their dog from the same fate.

In 2003, guitarist Martin Jenner, after a career working with Cliff Richard and The Everly Brothers among others, died of cancer in Western Australia.

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