bmusic - Newsletter No. 264

In 1955, Bill Haley & the Comets turned down their first invitation to tour outside of the U.S. because of a fear of flying. The Australian offer of US$2,000 for 15 dates wasn't enough to get them on a plane.

In 1956, Elvis Presley shared the spoils of his success with his mother by buying her a pink Cadillac.

In 1956, Elvis Presley performed 'Love Me Tender', 'Hound Dog', 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Ready Teddy' on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was the first of three performances Presley would ultimately make on the show and this first show is that which is infamous for the shots of Presley only from the waist up. This was to avoid his gyrating hips upsetting audiences at home.

In 1958, George Harrison joined John Lennon and Paul McCartney in Liverpool group The Quarrymen.

In 1959, in the wake of the stabbing deaths of two teenagers by a 17 year old and other similar incidents of violence in New York City, WCBS radio banned all versions of "Mack the Knife." The Bobby Darin tune was climbing the charts at the time.

In 1960, the US House of Representatives officially made the practice of payola - in which record companies paid disc jockeys to play certain records - illegal. The congressional investigation into payola caused the downfall of pioneer disc jockey Alan Freed, who did more than any other DJ to bring rock 'n' roll to a mass audience. Freed was fined US$300 and given a suspended sentence in 1962 after pleading guilty to two counts of commercial bribery. He was blackballed by the radio industry, and died a broken man on January 20th, 1965 at the age of 42.

In 1961, Bob Dylan made his debut at New York's Gaslight Cafe.

In 1962, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr began recording together for the first time at EMI's St. John Studio. They recorded 6 songs including "Love Me Do" and "P.S., I Love You". George Martin had the boys redo "Love Me Do" 16 times.

In 1962, Bobby 'Boris' Pickett's 'Monster Mash' entered the US charts. Within five weeks the song made it to Number 1 on the US Hot 100 chart. Monster Mash was a tongue-in-cheek take off of late night monster movies. Pickett recorded the song with sound effects: the creaky door opening is a nail being pulled from a piece of wood, the boiling cauldron is Pickett blowing bubbles into a cup of water with a straw and the chains are him moving chains up and down. He also did all the voices.

In 1964, US magazine Billboard reported that guitar sales in the US and UK had hit a peak due to the British Invasion genre of rock. Guitar sales hadn't been as high since Elvis Presley popularised the instrument again in 1957.

In 1965, The Who had their equipment van stolen outside the Battersea Dog's Home in England while they were inside the Home purchasing a guard dog.

In 1965, the Rolling Stones hit #1 in England with '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'.

In 1967, guitarist Boz Scaggs joined San Francisco based Steve Miller Band. Scaggs stayed with the group through two albums ("Children of the Future" and "Sailor") before heading out on a solo career in 1969.

In 1967, Sam & Dave's soul classic, 'Soul Man' was released.

In 1968, Herbert Khaury, better known as Tiny Tim, sued Bouquet Records for US$1 million in damages when the record label released early recordings of Khaury without his permission.

In 1968, Eric Clapton recorded his guitar solo on The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

In 1968, arriving in London for a tour of the U.K., Sly and the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham was picked up by police for possession of cannabis. The BBC cancelled the group's television appearance and a London hotel refused to honor the band's reservations.

In 1968, The Rolling Stones latest single, "Street Fighting Man" was banned in Chicago and other American cities when authorities feared it might "incite riots and other forms of public disorder."

In 1968, Fleetwood Mac added 18 year old guitarist Danny Kirwin to its line-up. Kirwin joined Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer.

In 1970, Genesis advertised in "Melody Maker" magazine for a new drummer. The ad was answered by Phil Collins, who eventually joined the group.

In 1970, at the Palermo Pop '70 Festival in Italy, Arthur Brown from "Crazy World of.." was arrested and put in solitary confinement for four days after he set fire to his helmet and stripped naked during his stage performance. The audience threw all sorts of things at him. While in solitary, he was given a note signed by over 200 locals telling him to get out of Italy and stay out.

In 1971, the Grateful Dead tracked down and had arrested the group's ex-manager, Lenny Hart. He was charged with having embezzled US$70,000 from the group, leaving the Dead penniless.

In 1971, Elvis Presley became only the sixth artist to be presented with the US National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences award which is bestowed to members of the recording industry who "during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic or scientific significance to the field of phonograph records." Presley was preceded in receiving the award by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Irving Berlin.

In 1971, John Lennon's 'Imagine' LP was released.

In 1973, Bob Dylan's soundtrack to the film, "Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid" entered the US LP charts. The album includes "Knockin' On Heaven's Door."

In 1973, the Rolling Stones' released "Angie".

In 1974, the original New York Dolls split up. Two members later toured under the same name.

In 1974, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Band and Joni Mitchell played a sold-out show at London's 80,000-plus seat Wembley Stadium.

In 1975, Kiss' double album, "Kiss Alive" was released.

In 1976, Wild Cherry's self-titled album, which included "Play that Funky Music," was certified gold in the US.

In 1976, Judge Richard Owen of the New York State Supreme Court ruled that George Harrison "subconsciously plagiarized" "He's So Fine" by the Chiffon's (released in 1963) in his own hit "My Sweet Lord". Harrison was ordered to pay US$587,000 to ABKCO Music, a company owned, ironically, by Harrison's former business manager (when he was one of the Beatles), Allen Klein.

In 1976, Ode Records president Lou Adler and employee Neil Silver were kidnapped at Adler’s house in Malibu. The pair were released after paying out US$25,000 in hundred dollar bills. A week later, a California couple was charged with the crime.

In 1976, 110,000 fans descended on Old Bridge, New Jersey for an eleven hour concert by the Grateful Dead, the New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Marshall Tucker Band.

In 1976, George Harrison was found guilty of "subconscious plagiarism" of the Chiffons hit "He's So Fine" in his "My Sweet Lord."

In 1977, 3 people were arrested in Memphis after trying to steal Elvis' body. As a result of that incident, the King's body was moved to Graceland.

In 1977, Billy Idol's former band, Generation X, released their debut single, "Your Generation." Elton John reviewed the single for a British newspaper and wrote "really dreadful garbage. The Ramones do this sort of thing so much better."

In 1977, guitarist Jimmy McCulloch quit Paul McCartney & Wings to join a reformed lineup for the Small Faces.

In 1977, Bernie Taupin, better known as Elton John's lyricist, made his television acting debut on US network, ABC's 'The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew meet Dracula'. Taupin played the leader of a band called Circus.

In 1978, George Harrison married Olivia Trinidad Arias, a secretary at his Dark Horse record company.

In 1978, U2 played one of the biggest shows of their career to that point, a supporting slot for The Stranglers at the Top Hat Ballroom outside of Dublin. The Stranglers took up two dressing rooms, leaving U2 to dress behind their amps.

In 1978, the Grateful Dead performed three shows at the Great Pyramids in Egypt.

In 1979, INXS made their live debut in Sydney.

In 1979, U2 released their first record, an EP entitled, "U2-3" in their native Ireland.

In 1979, Patti Smith played the biggest concert of her career in Florence, Italy to 85,000 people. She announced to the crowd that it would be her final show so that she could retire at age 32 to begin her life with husband Fred "Sonic" Smith. Patti Smith did not return to performing until a decade later.

In 1983, guitarist Mick Jones was fired from the Clash by his bandmates who accused Jones of "drifting apart from the original concept of the band." Jones went on to form Big Audio Dynamite, and the Clash soon broke up.

In 1986, Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" won the MTV award for Best Video.

In 1986, Gregg Allman was arrested for drunk driving in Florida. He had just gotten his license back after a five-year suspension.

In 1987, the American liquor company that produces Brass Monkey cocktail mix reported a 200% sales increase of the mix after the Beastie Boys released their hit, "Brass Monkey."

In 1987, Mick Jagger's "Let's Work" single was released by Columbia.

In 1988, Amnesty International's "Human Rights Now" tour, starring Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Tracy Chapman, began in London's Wembley stadium.

In 1988, Elton John sold some of his costumes and concert memorabilia at an auction in London for $6.2 million.

In 1988, Guns N' Roses' 'Sweet Child O' Mine' hit #1 on the US charts for the first time.

In 1989, a judge in Dublin, Ireland ruled not to convict U2 bassist Adam Clayton of marijuana possession, even though Clayton admitted to the crime. The bassist agreed to contribute money to a women's center in Dublin.

In 1989, Cars lead singer Ric Ocasek married Russian spunk model/actress Paulina Porizkova.

In 1989, Guns 'n' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin was arrested for creating a disturbance on an airline flight.

In 1990, Elton John checked into a rehab center in Chicago for treatment of bulimia, drinking and drugs.

In 1992, at MTV's 9th annual Video Music Awards, Elton John sang "The One" and then later joined Guns N' Roses on "November Rain."

In 1993, ex-Janes Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In 1993, lawyers for a 13 year-old boy filed suit in Los Angeles against Michael Jackson, claiming the entertainer seduced and sexually abused the youth. Jackson denied the allegations, and his security consultant claimed they were part of an extortion plot. The case was settled out of court.

In 1993, Pearl Jam performed "Animal," a song from their upcoming "Vs." album, at the MTV Video Music Awards. Following that they were joined onstage by Neil Young for a blistering version of "Rockin' In The Free World."

In 1995, Cyndi Lauper won an Emmy award for her guest appearance on the TV sitcom 'Mad About You'.

In 1996, for the first time, a new single by a major recording artist was released exclusively on the Internet. David Bowie's "Telling Lies" was released on Bowie's web site, where it was available for 24 hours.

In 1996, late INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence plead guilty to hitting a photographer and was fined $600. The photographer was snapping Michael and Paula Yates leaving a hotel.

In 1996, Rapper Tupac Shakur and Marion "Suge" Knight were shot while riding in Knight's Mercedes in Las Vegas following a Mike Tyson fight. Shakur died from his wounds 6 days later.

In 1998, in preparation for the opening of his internet service the next day, David Bowie held a number of webcast performances featuring Ani DiFranco, the Specials, Jesus and Mary Chain, the Jayhawks and Spacehog.

In 2002, U.S. web site Napster, which 18 months earlier had been providing its free software to millions of new users a week, posted the words "Ded Kitty" over its infamous cat logo. Earlier in the day the words appeared a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware, blocked the sale of Napster to its chief investor, German company Bertelsmann AG, citing a lack of evidence that the agreement was brokered in good faith. Judge Peter J. Walsh ruled there was a conflict of interest in the purchase, particularly "divided loyalties" from Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers, a former Bertelsmann executive. Napster later filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy application after 42 of Napster's 44 employees were laid off immediately after the ruling. Napster founder, Shawn Fanning, was among those laid off.

In 2002, a spokesperson for Warren Zevon announced the singer/songwriter had been diagnosed with the advanced, untreatable lung cancer, mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer usually linked to asbestos exposure. The 55-year-old "Werewolves of London" singer learned of the diagnosis in August, 2002 and was told he had perhaps as little as two months left to live. He lived a little over a year, surviving long enough to see the birth of his twin boys grandchildren in June, 2003 and to complete the recording of his album, "The Wind", in his home studio.

In 2002, Rod Stewart's son Sean, 22, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation after pleading no contest to attacking a man outside a Malibu restaurant. Sean Stewart was arrested on December 5th after he was seen kicking the man in the face and stomach, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said in a statement. Superman Actor Dean Cain and his brother broke up the fight. They followed Stewart after he fled in a car and reported the attack to police.

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Births In 1911, Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music, was born in Rosine, Kentucky.

In 1925, singer and songwriter Mel Torme was born.

In 1935, John Phillips, guitarist and vocals for the Mama's & Papa's.

In 1936, rock 'n' roll legend Buddy Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas.

In 1941, soul legend Otis Redding.

In 1942, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys.

In 1944, Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters.

In 1945, Irish solo legen Van Morrison.

In 1945, former Grateful Dead keyboardist, Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan, was born.

In 1946, Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury.

In 1946, Iron Butterfly's Doug Ingle.

In 1946, Danny Hutton, vocalist for Three Dog Night.

In 1950, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry.

In 1950, Paul Kossoff, guitarist with the British blues-rock band Free, was born in London.

In 1951, Pretenders' drummer Martin Chambers.

In 1951, Pretenders legend Chrissie Hynde.

In 1952, one half of the Eurythmics, Dave Stewart.

In 1957, Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock.

In 1960, Cracker frontman Dave Lowry.

In 1966, Robin Goodridge, drummer for British rockers Bush.

In 1967, Steve Perkins, drummer with the Perry Farrell-led rock bands Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros.

In 1969, Me'shell Ndegeocello was born.

In 1972, Zeke Young was born to parents Neil Young and actress Carrie Snodgrass on Young's ranch near San Francisco.

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Deaths In 1967, folk singer Woody Guthrie died of Huntington's Chorea in New York City. He was 52.

In 1971, a security guard was stabbed to death at a Who concert in Forest Hills, New York.

In 1976, Jimmy Reed, the "Big Boss Man" of the blues, who was a major influence on Pete Townshend, the Rolling Stones and others died in San Francisco. He was 50.

In 1977, conductor Leopold Stokowski died in England at the age of 95. Stokowski was conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra for 24 years, ending in 1936, and in 1940 served as musical supervisor for Walt Disney's classic film 'Fantasia'. Stokowski also had much to do with improving the techniques for recording classical music.

In 1978, The Who drummer, Keith Moon, died in London at the age of 31 after overdosing on Hemenephirin, a prescription drug which was supposed to have helped him with alcohol. He was replaced by ex-Faces drummer Kenney Jones.

In 1981, the drummer for country singer Freddy Fender was killed and another band member injured when the group's bus collided with a transport truck near New Orleans.

In 1987, reggae star Peter Tosh was shot and killed in his home in Kingston, Jamaica. Police said Tosh was shot in the head after he refused to give money to intruders.

In 1989, Latin bandleader Perez Prado, who helped spread the mambo craze throughout the world in the early 1950's, died in Mexico City of a stroke. He was 72.

In 1990, former Creedence Clearwater Revival member and brother to John, Tom Fogerty, died at age 48.

In 1996, bluegrass legend Bill Monroe died in Springfield, Tennessee at the age of 84.

In 1998, Thunderbirds saxophonist Henry Bource died from leukemia. Bource was also a photographer and while filming underwater he had one of his legs bitten off by a shark. He indicated to keep the cameras rolling and the film footage was used in a documentary called "The Savage Shadow". He was back playing music with the band three weeks after he lost his leg

In 1999, Swamp Boogie Queen, Katie Webster (Kathryn Jewel Thorne) died of heart failure. A pianist born in 1939, Webster recorded with Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, Clifton Chenier and Guitar Junior and had worked with Bonnie Raitt and Robert Cray. She was a member of Otis Redding's band and The Uptighters.

In 1999, Australian saxophonist and TV personality Booby Limb died of cancer at age 74 in Adelaide, South Australia.

In 2000, Santana's long-time bass player David Brown in San Fransisco at age 50.

In 2001, after a long battle with cancer Australian rocker Ted Mulry of the Ted Mulry Gang passed away. Mulry died one day short of his 52nd birthday.

In 2001, saxophonist Jay Migliori died of colon cancer at age 70. He was a member of the '571st Air Force Band' and 'Supersax'. Supersax recorded "Scrapple From The Apple" and "Hot House". Migliori worked with Miles Davis, The Four Seasons, Stan Kenton, Terry Gibbs, Louie Bellson, The Ronettes, The Monkees, Si Zentner, The Righteous Brothers, Maynard Ferguson, The Beach Boys, Woody Herman, Ray Charles and Frank Zappa. It's believed he played on about 4,000 recordings.

In 2001, co-founder and singer for Atari Teenage Riot, Crack (Karl Bohm) died of a suspected drug overdose in Berlin.

In 2001, filmmaker and producer Carolyn Beug was a passenger on the American Airlines flight that was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11th. She won a MTV Video of the Year award for Van Halen's, 'Right Here, Right Now'. She was a senior VP of entertainment and educational productions for Walt Disney Consumer Products, overseeing the operations for Walt Disney Records, Disney Music Publishing and Disney Ice Shows.

In 2001, Johnny Heff (John F. Heffernan), a firefighter who died in the line of duty on the morning of the World Trade Center attack. Heff was a singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Bully’s Band. He had also worked with Marky Ramone.

In 2001, Christopher Pickford was a firefighter who died in the line of duty on the morning of the World Trade Center attack. Songwriter and guitarist. He was a member of Ten Degree Lean and Vitamin D and the Riboflavins.

In 2001, James Debueneure was a passenger on American Airlines flight 77 that was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. He was a doo-wop singer for The Appeciations who recorded 'There’s A Place In My Heart' and 'It’s Better To Cry'.

In 2001, Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Farmer was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald who was killed when a hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center. Farmer was a Jazz singer and composer who'd worked with Duke Ellington, Phyllis Pastore and her husband Fred Nesbit.

In 2001, Jeffrey P. Hardy was working as an executive chef for Cantor Fitzgerald in one of the World Trade Center towers. He was a bassist and worked with his brother Jack Hardy and many other Greenwich Village musicians.

In 2002, King of Vibes Lionel Hampton died of heart failure at the age of 91. Hampton played vibraphone, drums and piano. He was a member of The Chicago Defender Newsboys' Band, The Curtis Mosby's Blue Blowers and led his own band. In Hampton's career he worked with Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Illinois Jacquet, Dinah Washington, Earl Bostic, Charles Mingus, Quincy Jones, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz and many others.

In 2002, actress, writer and former wife of Aerosmith frontman Steve Tyler Cyrinda Foxe-Tyler (real name Kathleen Hetzekian) died of brain cancer. She wrote "Dream On", a book about her life with Steve Tyler. She was also the inspiration for David Bowie's "Jean Genie". Foxe-Tyler appeared in Andy Warhol's movie, "Bad". She was married to musician and artist Keith Waa and had been married to singer David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter).

In 2003, singer/songwriter Warren Zevon after Zevon succumbing to mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer usually linked to asbestos exposure, a condition he was diagnosed with just over a year to the day before he died.
Housebound because of his illness, Zevon finished his final album, "The Wind", at his home. He lived long enough to see the birth of his twin boys grandchildren in June, 2003.

In 2003, legendary singer/songwriter/guitarist Johnny Cash passed away from complications brought about by diabetes. He had been ill for several weeks and had to cancel the scheduled performance of his new single "Hurt" (a Trent Reznor penned tune about drug addiction) at the 2004 MTV awards.
Below is a quote from a "regular Joe" made just after news of Johnny Cash's death trickled into the newsgroups around the place. This is a wonderfully written summary of one man's idea of Johnny Cash credited to a bloke simply named Billy:

Together with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash was one of the four seminal hillbillies who came into Memphis out of the woods and weeds, laid their hands on American music, and changed it forever.

In my own musical experience, I could list a handful of essential signposts: the first time I ever heard Frank Zappa ("Freak Out" in 1966 -- I was too young to get it, and I remember that it was extremely weird, but it didn't drive me off completely); the first Hammond organ that I ever heard in a rock band (The Young Rascals); the bomb that went off in my head when I heard Louis Armstrong blowing "When The Saints Go Marching In", and a few others of similarly heavy import. However, I was riveted and amazed every time my father played and sang Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues". At the time, it was the most dynamic thing that I could even imagine going on with one guitar and one voice. And it's still way, way up there.

Forty years later, when I was a grown man and could speak to the subject with authority, I told my Dad, "Do you realize how hip you really were back then? I don't know if you know this, but you were playing the music of one of the proto-rockers."
That train-chuggin' beat was powerful far beyond its chart, wrapped as it was in blues-up-to-here and a plain-vanilla country twang, and it was emblematic of something utterly unique in our history.

It was barely two weeks ago that I first laid eyes on the video for Johnny's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt". I was shocked and saddened by the very clear impression that it left on me as an artist's statement. Johnny was no stranger to pain in his life, but there was also something essentially graceful in his soul that I would have hoped to prevail to a greater degree than that, that near the end. He didn't owe anyone anything, but I wish he'd been able to leave us with a little more of a smile. It's a cinch that he will never be forgotten, though, and not just every hillbilly can claim that.

Good work, Johnny. So long.

Billy

In 2004, pioneer maker of rock 'n' roll guitar strings used by legions of artists from the Rolling Stones to Merle Travis, Ernie Ball passed away aged 74. From his small music shop in the San Fernando Valley, Ball built a business with annual sales of $US40 million ($A58 million) and a worldwide reputation. Along the way, he reinvented the way manufacturers and retailers thought of guitar accessories, branching out into many other accessories including pedals and straps. He purchased the Music Man guitar company in 1985 and, with his unique designs and the help of the Eddie Van Halen Signature models, made the company one of the world's guitar making leaders.

In 2005, R.L. Burnside, a legend of Raw Mississippi country blues, passed away aged 78. R.L. only began his recording career in his 40s after spending his early years playing clubs and juke joints around the American South. His output once he started recording, however, was prolific, with 9 albums in the decade of the 90s alone. He was a progressive bluesman until the end, some of his latest collaborations being with Kid Rock and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

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