bmusic - Newsletter No. 75

In 1962, the Rolling Stones played their first concert at the Marquee club in London. The lineup for that date was lead vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones, Dick Taylor on bass and Mick Avory, later of the Kinks, on drums. Avory and Taylor were replaced by Tony Chapman on drums and Bill Wyman on bass. Chapman didn't work out, and drummer Charlie Watts completed the Stones' lineup in January 1963.

In 1967, The Monkees open a national tour with little-known Jimi Hendrix as the opening act.

In 1968, the Yardbirds, the legendary British blues-rock band, broke up. Out of the Yardbirds came three major rock guitar players - Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. When the group broke up, Page formed the New Yardbirds, which soon became Led Zeppelin.

In 1968, guitarist Eric Clapton announced the breakup of Cream, the power rock trio he had formed with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. Cream played a farewell concert in London in November, and Clapton and Baker then formed the short-lived Blind Faith.

In 1969, the rock supergroup Blind Faith, fronted by Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, made its US debut at Madison Square Garden. The band made only this tour and one album before splitting up.

In 1969, singer Marianne Faithfull was found in a coma following an overdose of barbituates whilst in Australia, where Faithfull and boyfriend Mick Jagger were filming "Ned Kelly," Australian authorities ruled it a suicide attempt. Faithfull was dropped from the cast and entered hospital for treatment of heroin addiction.

In 1970, Janis Joplin debuted with her new group, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, before 4,000 people in Louisville, Kentucky. Less than three months later, she was dead of a heroin overdose.

In 1971, Guitarist Bjorn Ulvaeus and vocalist Agnetha Faltskog of the Swedish megagroup Abba marry in Verum, Sweden.

In 1972, Paul McCartney began his first tour since the Beatles' last concert in 1966. He and his new band, Wings, opened a European tour in Chateauvillon, France.

In 1975, after being married for only ten days, Cher petitioned for divorce from Greg Allman.

In 1976, David Byron was fired as lead singer of the hard rock band Uriah Heep after a series of internal squabbles. The group disbanded two years later but got together again in 1982.

In 1980, Led Zeppelin played what proved to be its last concert in West Berlin. Guitarist Jimmy Page cancelled a series of dates scheduled for France.

In 1986, rock singer Boy George was charged in London with possession of heroin. Following raids earlier in the week, four people, including the singer's brother, Kevin O'Dowd, were charged with conspiring to supply Boy George with the drug. Boy George, who said he was under treatment for heroin addiction, was later fined $500.

In 1986, Grateful Dead lead guitarist Jerry Garcia lapsed into a diabetic coma in Greenbrae, California. He recovered, and was released from hospital three weeks later - on his 44th birthday.

In 1990, about 50 Two Live Crew fans smashed up a club in Dallas, Texas after the rap group failed to appear as scheduled. Police in riot gear dispersed the crowd.

In 1990, the world's three most famous tenors - Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras - performed their first concert together. The performance, in Rome on the eve of the World Cup soccer final, earned millions of dollars for charity. An album of the event, "Carerras-Domingo-Pavorotti in Concert," was a surprise hit on the pop charts, eventually becoming the best-selling classical album of all-time.

In 1991, Parents of a young woman killed at an AC/DC concert in Salt Lake City and a teenager who was injured file a lawsuit contending the band kept playing while fans were being trampled to death.

In 1992, US federal agents arrested Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose at Kennedy International Airport in New York on misdemeanor charges filed after violence broke out at a St. Louis concert a year earlier. Rose was accused of diving into the crowd, causing a disturbance which resulted in several hundred thousand dollars damage to the Riverport Amphitheatre.

In 1995, the Grateful Dead played what proved to be their last concert at Soldier Field in Chicago. The show began with their only Top-10 hit, "Touch of Grey," and ended with an encore of "Black Muddy River" and "Box of Rain." The band broke up after leader Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack exactly one month later.

In 1995, REM bassist Mike Mills underwent abdominal surgery in Germany. The band was forced to cancel several shows for the second time in a year. The earlier cancellations came after drummer Bill Berry suffered a brain aneurysm.

In 1995, guitarist Les Paul collapsed with chest pains and shortness of breath at his home in Mahwah, New Jersey, as he prepared to go to Nashville for a celebration of his 80th birthday.

In 1996, Pantera singer Phil Anselmo took an overdose of heroin after a Dallas show and was rushed to a hospital after being unconscious for 20 minutes. He later faxed out a statement saying "I will not die too easily!"

In 1996, Chet Atkins, Steve Earle and the Goo Goo Dolls broke the world guitar marathon record of 1,320 guitars playing together in Nashville, Tenn., playing Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" for 79 minutes and 30 seconds.

In 1997, former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi filed suit in Los Angeles against the heavy-metal band and their label, Elektra Records. Corabi alleged breach of contract, fraud and slander. He replaced the band's original lead singer, Vince Neil, in 1992 but was dumped four years later when Neil returned.

In 2000, Metallica vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield aggravated a chronic back injury before a show at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. The band played its scheduled sets on the Summer Sanitarium tour in Atlanta, Sparta, Ky., and Irving, Texas, with bassist Jason Newstead handling vocal chores on several songs, and using members of several other bands on the bill to fill in on vocals and guitar. Among those who help out are Kid Rock and sidekick Joe C, Korn's Jonathan Davis, and System of a Down's Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian.

In 2000, the widow of Ronnie Van Zant announced that the remains of Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd had been moved by family members after their gravesites were vandalised.

In 2000, Diana Ross announced cancellation of the rest of a Supremes "reunion" tour which had been criticized for not including members who were in the Motown group during its heyday in the 1960s.

In 2001, George Harrison issued a statement that says he underwent radiation treatment more than a month earlier at a cancer clinic in Switzerland.

In 2001, The Backstreet Boys announced on MTV that A.J. McLean entered rehabilitation for depression and alcohol abuse.

In 2002, Travis drummer, Neil Primrose, fractured a vertebrae in a pool accident whilst on tour in France resulting in the cancellation of the bands European tour.

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Births In 1897, Blind Lemon Jefferson, the most popular country bluesman of the 1920's, was born in Couchman, Texas. He influenced generations of later blues artists from Lightnin' Hopkins to B.B. King. Jefferson's blues recordings made from 1925 to 1930 were among the best-selling race records - discs sold almost exclusively to blacks. Accounts of his death in 1930 are sketchy. He is reported to have suffered a heart attack and to have been left on the streets of Chicago to die of exposure.

In 1925, Bill Haley, rock 'n' roll's first teen idol, was born in Highland Park, Michigan. Haley was the most popular rock 'n' roll idol until Elvis Presley came along, but by 1958 his career was basically over. He continued to work as a nostalgia act, mainly in Britain and Europe. Haley died on February 9th, 1981 in his hometown of Harlingen, Texas.

In 1928, singer Mary Ford, who had a series of pop hits with her husband, guitarist Les Paul, in the 1950's, was born in Pasadena, California. Their successes included "Mockin' Bird Hill," "How High the Moon" and "Waiting For the Sunrise."

In 1932, jazz-rock keyboards player Josef Zawinul, formerly of Weather Report.

In 1939, Jet Harris, former bass guitarist with Britain's leading instrumental group, the Shadows.

In 1940, Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, whose real name is Richard Starkey, was born in Liverpool, England. His stage name came from his fondness for wearing rings. Starr met the rest of the Beatles in Hamburg, West Germany in 1961 while he was appearing there with Rory Storm's Hurricanes. When Pete Best was fired from the Beatles in 1962, Starr joined them.

In 1943, Christine McVie, vocalist and keyboards player with Fleetwood Mac, was born in Birmingham, England.

In 1944, Jai Johanny Johnson, one of two drummers with the Allman Brothers Band, was born in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

In 1944, Warren Entner, guitarist and vocalist with the '60s and '70s pop group the Grass Roots. He later managed such heavy metal bands as Quiet Riot and Faith No More.

In 1946, Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was born. Chas Chandler of the Animals took Hendrix, an American, to London in 1966 and arranged the formation of the Experience with Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding.

In 1947, singer Arlo Guthrie was born in Coney Island, New York, the eldest son of famed folk singer Woody Guthrie.

In 1948, Larry Reinhardt, guitarist with the '60s acid rock band Iron Butterfly.

In 1949, former vocalist for Black Sabbath and Rainbow, now fronting the revolving-door group named after him, Ronnie James Dio.

In 1954, Neil Tennant from UK synth-poppers Pet Shop Boys, was born in Newcastle, England.

In 1956, saxophonist Kenny G, whose full name is Kenny Gorelick.

In 1957, singer-songwriter Marc Almond, formerly of Soft Cell.

In 1958, Carlos Cavazo, guitarist with the heavy metal group Quiet Riot.

In 1958, banjo player Bela Fleck.

In 1959, drummer John Keeble of the British quintet Spandau Ballet.

In 1959, Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.

In 1961, Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode.

In 1961, Graham Jones of Haircut 100.

In 1964, rock singer and actress Courtney Love.

In 1970, modern rock singer-songwriter Beck (Hansen).

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Deaths In 1937, George Gershwin, one of the world's greatest composers of popular music, died in Beverly Hills, California of a brain tumor. He was only 38. Gershwin wrote his first hit, "Swanee," in 1918 for the Broadway show, "Sinbad," starring Al Jolson. Gershwin's other song hits included "The Man I Love," " 'S Wonderful," "Summertime" and "Love Is Here to Stay." The lyrics for many of his songs were provided by his brother Ira.

In 1941, pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, who claimed he invented jazz, died in Los Angeles at age 50.

In 1971, jazz great Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo") died in New York of a heart attack. He was 71. Armstrong had been unable to blow his trumpet for several years, and he had turned increasingly towards novelty vocals. He had his biggest lifetime success in 1964 when he turned the title song from the Broadway show "Hello Dolly" into a million-selling record.

In 1973, Clarence White, formerly of the Byrds, is killed when he is struck by a car in Lancaster, California.

In 1979, Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra for nearly 50 years, died at the age of 84. Fiedler managed to build a strong bridge between popular and classical music, often including arrangements of pop and rock tunes in his concerts. His recordings with the Boston Pops sold more than 50-million copies during his lifetime.

In 1980, Malcolm Owen, lead singer for the pioneering British band the Ruts, is found dead in his bath. His death is said to be due to drug addiction.

In 1981, Hubert Johnson, a member of the Motown group the Contours, committed suicide in Detroit. Johnson was a cousin of Jackie Wilson, who introduced the Contours to Motown head Berry Gordy Junior. The Contours took their feverish dance tune "Do You Love Me?" to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

In 1983, Chris Wood, sax and flute player with the 1960's and '70s rock band Traffic, died in London of liver failure after a long illness. He was 39. Traffic's most commercially-successful album was the 1970 release, "John Barleycorn Must Die."

In 1987, the man who was once called the world's greatest talent scout, John Hammond, died in New York at the age of 76. Hammond, who worked most of his life for Columbia Records, discovered such diverse talents as Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

In 1989, Melvin Jerome Blanc (Mel Blanc) - The man of a thousand voices. Died as a result of heart disease. He did,"Clink Clink Another Drink" with Spike Jones and sang,"I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat".He performed the cartoon voices for Tweety Bird, Foghorn Leghorn, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and numerous others. Also worked with Weird Al and Jack Benny.

In 1993, Mario Bauza, a pioneer in Afro-Cuban jazz, died in New York of cancer at age 82. Bauza helped launch the career of Ella Fitzgerald with the Chick Webb orchestra in the 1930's. But his major contribution to jazz was combining Cuban rhythms with jazz-oriented brass, a style that heavily influenced Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1993, Miz Zapatam, lead singer for Seattle band The Gits, was raped and strangled. Her killer(s) were never found.

In 1996, Jonathan Melvoin, a backup musician with the Smashing Pumpkins, died in a New York hotel of an overdose of drugs and alcohol. He was 34. Police say Melvoin had been injecting heroin with the group's drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin. Chamberlin was charged with heroin possession but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. He was fired from the Smashing Pumpkins five days after Melvoin's death.

In 2001, singer and guitarist for country band Smokin' Country, James Campbell, was killed when he was hit by a falling tree.

In 2001, Folk singer/songwriter Fred Neil was found dead at his home in Summerland Key, Florida, apparently of natural causes. He is 64. Neil was best known as the writer of "Everybody's Talkin'," which became the theme of the 1969 film "Midnight Cowboy."

In 2002, Robbin Crosby (Robbinson Lance Crosby) , former guitarist for US metal group RATT, died from a heart attack due to AIDS. He was 42 years old.

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