Category Archive: Music History
Today In Music History: The Clash Enter The Studio
Posted at 6:51 AM on February 10, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1975 - Record producer Phil Spector was injured in a car accident. Not much was known about what happened, except that it occurred somewhere between Los Angeles and Phoenix and that Spector was injured..
1986 - John Lennon's Live In New York City album was finally released.
1993 - Michael Jackson revealed during a live TV interview with Oprah Winfrey that he had a disorder that destroys the pigmentation of his skin. He also insisted he's had very little plastic surgery, contrary to what the public has thought.
1997 - Liam Gallagher of Oasis called off his wedding to actress Patsy Kensit because of what he called ``obsessive and intrusive'' media attention. They quietly got married the following April. They have since divorced.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, The Clash began recording sessions in London for their first album. The band's first single, "White Riot", was released quickly the next month and the album itself came out in April. In February 1993, the New Musical Express magazine ranked the album number 13 in its list of the Greatest Albums of All Time. NME also ranked The Clash number 3 in its list of the Greatest Albums of the '70s, and wrote in the review that "the speed-freaked brain of punk set to the tinniest, most frantic guitars ever trapped on vinyl. Lives were changed beyond recognition by it".
Today In Music History: Carole King Is 70
Posted at 6:10 AM on February 9, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Today in:
1964 - The Beatles made their first live U.S. television appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The band perform five songs, including "I Want To Hold Your Hand.," before an estimated television audience of 73 million people (over one-third of the entire U.S. population - the largest television audience ever.
1972 - Wings played its first show -- unannounced and uninvited - for students during lunchtime at Nottingham University in England. The price of admission was 33 cents.
1981 - Bill Haley, of The Comets fame, died of a heart attack at his home in Harlingen, Texas. He sold an estimated 60 million records in his lifetime, most notably for "Rock Around The Clock."
Birthday Highlight:
Singer/songwriter Carole King is 70 today. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards (examples: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" first recorded by The Shirelles, "The Locomotion" sung by Little Eva, and even songs for The Monkees). As a solo performer, King had an album, Tapestry, at the top the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks in 1971, and it remained on the charts for more than six years. Billboard Magazine named her the most successful female songwriter of the second half of the 20th century, because she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100. From Tapestry, we played King's solo hit "I Feel The Earth Move."
Today In Music History: The First Supergroup?
Posted at 6:06 AM on February 8, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Birthdays:
Singer Vince Neil of Motley Crue is 51.
Today in:
1960 - The House of Representatives' Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight began its investigation into disc jockey payola. Deejays from Boston and Cleveland were called to testify.
1964 - Max Firetag, who had published "Louie, Louie" as recorded by The Kingsmen for Wand Records, refuted Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh's assertion that the song was "pornographic." Firetag offered $1,000 to anyone who could detect anything objectionable in the song's lyrics. No one stepped up.
1971 - The Bob Dylan film "Eat The Document" was shown at the New York Academy of Music. Dylan had wanted the documentary to appear on TV, but it didn't until ten years later.
2006 - Sly and the Family Stone reunited for a performance at the Grammys. Stone had not performed live in 19 years. However, Sly's microphone didn't work.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, ex-Cream guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, and ex-Traffic keyboardist and singer Steve Winwood revealed that they were putting together a new band and auditioning for a bassist. They settled on ex-Family bassist/violinist Rick Grech, and Blind Faith, arguably the first rock supergroup, was born. Off of Blind Faith's one and only release, we played "Can't Find My Way Home."
Today In Music History: Why Not "Peaches"?
Posted at 6:18 AM on February 7, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Birthdays:
Bassist Tom Blankenship of My Morning Jacket is 34.
Today in:
1964 - Thousands of screaming fans greeted The Beatles as they arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for their first U.S. tour.
1965 - George Harrison had his tonsils removed at a London hospital.
1976 - Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover" was the #1 single in the land, while the best-selling album was Bob Dylan's Desire.
1980 - Pink Floyd performed "The Wall" for the first time in the U.S. The band only did the show in Los Angeles and New York.
2005 - Paul McCartney performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the first act to play that gig following Janet Jackson exposing her breast at the previous year's Super Bowl halftime show.
History Highlight:
Today in 1989, a Georgia state representative introduced a bill that would make Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" the state's official rock song. It seems an odd suggestion, given the racial and sexual backstory to the song (check out the fulle Wikipedia entry to read up on that); needless to say, the bill didn't pass.
Today In Music History: Happy 50th Birthday Axl Rose!
Posted at 6:03 AM on February 6, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1958 - George Harrison became a member of an obscure Liverpool group known as The Quarrymen. They would change their name and go on to some fame.
1970 - "Instant Karma" by John Lennon was released as a single.
1987 - Joan Jett made her acting debut, co-starring with Michael J. Fox, in the motion picture Light Of Day.
1990 - Billy Idol shattered a leg and broke an arm when his motorcycle hit a car in Los Angeles. Police said Idol ran a stop sign and wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
1998 - Singer-guitarist Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys died of complications from lung cancer in Los Angeles. He was 51.
2003 - ABC aired the British documentary, "Living With Michael Jackson." Jackson's comments about allowing kids spend the night in his bedroom prompted authorities to look into his relationships with children. Jackson was arrested the following November on child molestation charges.
Birthday Highlight:
Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses is 50 today. Born William Bruce Rose, Jr. and raised as William Bruce Bailey in Lafayette, Indiana, Rose grew up in a highly religious household where he attended church sometimes up to eight times a week. Despite becoming a juvenile delinquent in his teens (he was arrested over 20 times on charges such as public intoxication and battery, and served as long as three months in jail at one point), Rose was nonetheless musically active throughout his life, performing in church, singing in chorus and taking piano lessons. The rest, of course, is rock n' roll history. Voted one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone and NME, Rose continues performing today as the one remaining original member of Guns n' Roses. From Appetite For Destruction, we played "Rocket Queen."
Today In Music History: Hendrix Records "Purple Haze"
Posted at 6:01 AM on February 3, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks is 65.
Guitarist Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth is 56.
Today in:
1959 - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash in Iowa. Holly was 22, Valens was 17 and the Big Bopper was 28.
1968 - Paul McCartney recorded "Lady Madonna" at the Abbey Road studios. The record is credited to The Beatles, but McCartney played with unknown session musicians.
1969 - The Beatles, over objections from Paul McCartney, hired manager Allen Klein to straighten out the band's financial affairs. The band's mismanagement and money problems eventually led to its breakup.
2003 - Authorities arrested producer Phil Spector at his mansion in suburban Los Angeles. The body of actress Lana Clarkson had been found in the foyer.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Jimi Hendrix recorded "Purple Haze" in London. It was released in March in the U.K. as a follow-up to his first British single "Hey Joe" - but since "Hey Joe" was never released as a single in the U.S., "Purple Haze" was Hendrix's radio debut to American audiences. The song has been described as one of the quintessential tunes of '60s psychedelia (and drug counter-culture in particular), although Hendrix himself denied that the lyrics referred to drug use - instead insisting it was merely a love song.
Today In Music History: Graham Nash is 70
Posted at 6:08 AM on February 2, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1959 - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper made what ended up being their last public appearances at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. They died in a plane crash the next day.
1973 - The NBC Friday-night rock show "Midnight Special" made its debut.
1974 - Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer sustained minor cuts when a rigged piano exploded prematurely during a concert in San Francisco.
1979 - Former Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose at age 21. The death was ruled accidental.
2011 - The White Stripes announced their breakup.
Birthday Highlight:
Graham Nash is 70 today today. First coming to prominence as a leader of the The Hollies, one of the most successful of the British Invasion groups of the 60s, Nash later formed folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Young), with whom he enjoyed huge international success with such hits as "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Our House" and "Teach Your Children Well". Nash is a two-time inductee into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame (inducted with both groups). We played a Hollies classic this morning with Graham Nash on lead vocals, "Carousel."
Today In Music History: The Beatles Score Their First #1
Posted at 6:07 AM on February 1, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Exene Cervenka of X is 56.
Drummer Patrick Wilson of Weezer is 43.
Today in:
1950 - RCA introduced the 45 RPM record.
1964 - The governor of Indiana declared the song "Louie, Louie" by The Kingsmen to be pornographic, even though the average listener wasn't able to decipher the lyrics. The governor asked a state broadcasters' association to ban the record.
1965 - James Brown recorded "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1978 - Bob Dylan's film Renaldo And Clara, a rather bizarre and lengthy documentary of the Rolling Thunder Revue tour, premiered in Los Angeles.
1988 - The Cars announced their breakup.
2004 - Justin Timberlake ripped Janet Jackson's top during the Super Bowl halftime show and exposed her breast. The phrase "wardrobe malfunction" was born.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, The Beatles began a seven-week run at #1 with "I Want To Hold Your Hand." It was the first #1 single by a British group since the unlikely instrumental hit "Telstar" by The Tornadoes two years earlier, and obviously, would be the first of a whole lotta number 1's for the Fab Four.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Lloyd Cole
Posted at 6:05 AM on January 31, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) is 61.
John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) is 56.
Justin Timberlake is 31.
Today in:
1979 - With Bo Diddley as their opening act, The Clash began their first U.S. tour.
1981 - Blondie had their third #1 single with "The Tide Is High."
1993 - Michael Jackson and 3,500 children performed during halftime at the Super Bowl. He sang a variety of his hits, including "Heal The World."
2005 - Jury selection began in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. He was later acquitted.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-guitarist Lloyd Cole is 51 today. Cole's career began in the 80s as the leader of the acclaimed Scottish band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (the band was based in Glasgow although Cole himself is English), and he had considerable success as part of the wave of musicians that came to prominence on early MTV. He's subsequently led a critically acclaimed (albiet commercially much lower-profile) solo career. From Lloyd Cole and The Commotions' 1987 album Mainstream, we played the single "My Bag."
Today In Music History: Elvis Steals Carl's Thunder
Posted at 6:10 AM on January 30, 2012
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 70.
Phil Collins is 61.
Today in:
1969 - The Beatles made their last ever public appearance as a group, performing atop the roof of Apple Studios at 3 Saville Row, London. The performance, filmed for the documentary Let It Be, was eventually halted when police arrived after neighbors complained about the racket. That's right: neighbors complained that The Beatles were playing live right outside their windows, for what would be the last time.
1971 - "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison went to the top of the U.K., and eventually, U.S., singles chart, making him the first Beatle to have a #1 single as a solo artist.
1973 - Kiss performed their first show, in New York.
1990 - Bob Dylan was named Commander in France's Order of Arts and Letters by the country's culture ministry.
1990 - The Stone Roses, unhappy with plans to re-release their single "Sally Cinnamon," trashed the offices of Revolver FM, their London-based record company, and then hurled paint on cars parked outside. They were later arrested and charged.
History Highlight:
Today in 1956, Elvis Presley recorded a version of Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes," in New York. The song, considered one of the first "rockabilly" tunes, had been a successful hit for Perkins, but Presley's version easily eclipsed it and ended up being one of the first tunes to help Presley on his way to super-stardom.
Today in Music History: Very Superstitious
Posted at 7:30 AM on January 27, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 67
Margo Timmons (Cowboy Junkies) is 51
Mike Patton (Faith No More) is 44
Today in Music:
In 1756, Mozart, classical composer of what many consider to be some of the most beautiful melodies of all time, was born in Salzburg, Austria. Considered instrumental in changing opera into the form we know today, he created over 600 musical works despite living only to age 35.
In 1964, Members of The Rolling Stones appeared as judges on the British rate-a-record TV show Juke Box Jury, exhibiting such impolite behavior on the set that the lads caused a considerable uproar in the British press.
In 1971, David Bowie arrived in the U.S. for the first time, but was not allowed to play anywhere due to work permit restrictions. However, he did turn manage to turn some heads when he wore a dress to a promotional event.
History Feature:
In 1973, Stevie Wonder had his first #1 hit in a decade with "Superstition" from the Talking Book album.
This Day in Music History: The Devil's Dance
Posted at 7:25 AM on January 26, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lucinda Williams is 59
Eddie Van Halen is 57
Today in Music:
In 1977, Peter Green, the original lead guitarist for Fleetwood Mac, was committed to a mental hospital in England after firing a pistol at a delivery boy who was attempting to bring Green a royalties check accrued from Fleetwood Mac record sales. Green had left the band in May 1970 to pursue a life of religious seclusion.
In 1978, Some employees at EMI's record processing plant in England refused to press copies of The Buzzcocks' "Oh, (expletive removed)," the flip side of their single "What Do I Get?" The record, of course, eventually was pressed and "What Do I Get?" became a #1 hit in the U.K.
In 1984, In another wacky misadventure, Michael Jackson suffered scalp and neck burns when his hair was set ablaze in an accidental explosion on the set of a Pepsi commercial. The commercial debuted on MTV on February 27, 1984. The scene was cut out of the commercial.
In 2004, Ryan Adams cancels the remainder of his European tour and flies back to the United States after breaking his wrist during a show in Liverpool.
History Highlight:
In 1962, Bishop Burke of the Buffalo, New York, Catholic Diocese prohibited the dance of the devil, "The Twist." It couldn't be danced, sung about or listened to at any Catholic school, parish or youth event. Later in the year, "The Twist" was also banned from community center dances in Tampa, Florida, as well.
This Day in Music History: Etta James
Posted at 7:30 AM on January 25, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Filed under: Music History
Today in Music:
In 1971, Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane had a daughter who they named God. Reconsidering the ramifications, they later renamed her China.
In 1979, The Cars were named Best New Band Of The Year in Rolling Stone magazine's annual readers' poll.
In 1980, Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo jail where he cooled his heals for ten days after getting busted for trying to get nearly a half pound of weed past customs at the Tokyo airport.
Birthday Highlight:
Etta James (American icon, '50s/'60s soul/blues/jazz singer) was born on this day in 1938. She recently died on January 20, 2012, after suffering from a number of ailments.
Today in Music History: I Fought the Law
Posted at 7:40 AM on January 24, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Warren Zevon was born in Chicago on this day in 1947. He died of lung cancer on September 7, 2003, in Los Angeles.
Jools Holland (Squeeze, TV Host) is 58.
Neil Diamond is 71.
Today in Music:
In 1974, The top song in the land was "You're Sixteen" performed by Ringo Starr. The tune featured a barely noticeable solo from his pal and old band mate Paul McCartney.
In 1980, In Los Angeles, a billboard is put up advertising Pink Floyd's The Wall. Every day a brick is added to the billboard until the entire space is covered.
In 1993, Keith Richards plays Las Vegas for the first time with his solo group the X-Pensive Winos.
History Highlight:
In 1979, The Clash released their first single in the U.S on Epic Records. Their version of Sonny Curtis' "I Fought The Law" was an instant college radio hit.
Today in Music History: Love Buzz
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 23, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Robin Zander is 59 (Cheap Trick)
The late Danny Federici was born on this day in 1950 (Organ player and accordionist with The E Street Band)
On This Day:
In 1973, Neil Young interrupted a New York concert to read a message handed to him regarding the Vietnam war: "Peace has come." The audience went into an ecstatic frenzy of hugging and kissing before Neil launched into a blistering version of "Southern Man."
In 1989, After an incident which involved a police chase through two states, James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison in Georgia.
In 1990, David Bowie announced that his forthcoming Sound & Vision tour would be the last to take him around the world, and that the set list would be determined by the listeners of radio stations in the cities he would be visiting.
In 1997, Richard Berry, the guy who wrote the song that launched a million garage bands, "Louie, Louie," died in Los Angeles.
History Highlight:
In 1988, A band from Seattle called Nirvana records a ten song demo tape with Jack Endino producing. The head honcho at Sub Pop Records hears the demo and offers to put out a Nirvana single, which will be band's debut release, "Love Buzz".
Today in Music History: Rock n' Roll!
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Leadbelly was born on this day in 1888 (Influential '20s-'40s acoustic folk/blues legend and American icon). He died on December 6, 1949, in New York.
This Day in Music:
In 1958, St. Louis radio station KWK completed a "record breaking week," with station management banning all rock n' roll music from the airwaves. The deejays gave every rock record in the station library a "farewell spin" before smashing it into smithereens. The station manager at KWK, Robert Convey, called the action "a simple weeding out of undesirable music." Ultimately, his plan would be far from successful. Sorry, Bob.
Now, onto the man who coined the term "rock n' roll."
In 1965, DJ Alan Freed died in Palm Springs, California. Having coined the term "rock 'n' roll," the self-styled "Moondog" profited from the genre's growth with his definitive package tours and payola received from labels. A government investigation into the payola practice, however, ended up ruining his career.
In 1968, Bob Dylan tries to build bridges with the folk community he left behind by "going electric". He and the Band perform at a Carnegie Hall tribute to Woody Guthrie, sharing a bill with Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Odetta and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.
1973, Rock 'n' roll wildman Jerry Lee Lewis performs at the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. The Opry officials ask him to play only country music and refrain from using any obscenities. But guess what? The Killer played "Great Balls of Fire" and "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On" before exclaiming, "I am the rock 'n' rollin', country and western, rhythm and blues singin' (expletive removed)!
History Highlight:
Paul Stanley of Kiss is 62 today. Since there were a lot of mentions of rock n' roll in our Music History segment today, we played the one song that will make you want to "Rock and Roll All Nite."
Today in Music History: The 'Mats on SNL
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 18, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Filed under: Music History
Today in Music History:
In 1972, Pink Floyd began recording their magnum opus, Dark Side Of The Moon. It would go on to spend an unbelievable 742 weeks (more than 14 years) on the album chart.
In 1978, At the conclusion of The Sex Pistols' U.S. tour, Johnny Rotten sneered at his San Francisco audience, "How does it feel to be swindled?" The following morning he announced that the group was over, blaming manager Malcolm McLaren's exploitative tactics. Later that afternoon, Sid Vicious was rushed to a hospital following an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol.
In 1997, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher is let off with a caution after London police discovered drugs on him the previous November. On leaving the police station, Liam pretends to snort cocaine from his wrist.
History Feature:
Today in Music History: The Last Time
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 17, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Steve Earle is 57
Mick Taylor is 64 (best known for his six-year stint with The Rolling Stones)
This Day in Music History:
In 1979, After what Dolly Parton described as "a week-long slumber party," Dolly, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris announced that they would record an album together. The result was the album "Trio," which wasn't released until eight years later.
In 1981, Prince entered the soul chart for the fourth time with "Dirty Mind." Evidently, he impressed critics more than record buyers as the single peaked at only #65. Later in '81, the album Controversy and the single bearing that title made a much bigger impact on the general public.
Today in The Rolling Stones History:
In 1965, Rolling Stones drummer and jazz fan Charlie Watts published his book, Ode To A High Flying Bird, a tribute to jazz immortal Charlie Parker. On this same day, The Stones recorded "The Last Time" and "Play With Fire."
Today in Music History: Outlandos d'Amour
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 13, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1968, The University of Florida audio lab announced that tests indicated that the decibels generated at a typical rock & roll concert were damaging to one's hearing. Say what?
1979 - The Y.M.C.A., unimpressed and certainly not amused by the flamboyantly gay Village People's song "Y.M.C.A.," sued the group. The action was later dropped.
2003 - Musician Pete Townshend was arrested on suspicion of
possessing child pornography in London. Townshend was later cleared
of the charges.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1978, work began on the debut album, Outlandos d'Amour, by Sting (Gordon Sumner), Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland, known as The Police. Upon release, the record was a bit of a flop, but gained momentum with the hits "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing You."
Music History: Adam Ant Fail
Posted at 7:16 AM on January 12, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Today in Music History:
1968 - The Supremes appeared in an episode of the popular NBC-TV show Tarzan. The ladies played a group of nuns.
1974 - "The Joker," by the Steve Miller Band, was the #1 single in the land.
2000 - Sharon Osbourne, who had been managing Smashing Pumpkins, broke off with the Chicago rock quartet. In a statement, Osbourne said, "It was with great pride and enthusiasm that I took on management of the Pumpkins back in October, but unfortunately I must resign today due to medical reasons. Billy Corgan was making me sick!"
In 2003, Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees died at a Miami hospital. He was 53. He had suffered a heart attack three days before prior to undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.
History Lowlight:
Today in 2002, '80s star Adam Ant was arrested after an alleged incident in a London pub where he was charged with assault and possession of a firearm, and also faced charges of criminal damage and actual bodily harm after the alleged incident. Yes, this is the story where he threw a car alternator threw the pub window. It's become one of our favorite stories to tell on The Current Morning Show. A little "Antmusic" is in order this morning.
Music History: Adam Ant Fail
Posted at 7:16 AM on January 12, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Today in Music History:
1968 - The Supremes appeared in an episode of the popular NBC-TV show Tarzan. The ladies played a group of nuns.
1974 - "The Joker," by the Steve Miller Band, was the #1 single in the land.
2000 - Sharon Osbourne, who had been managing Smashing Pumpkins, broke off with the Chicago rock quartet. In a statement, Osbourne said, "It was with great pride and enthusiasm that I took on management of the Pumpkins back in October, but unfortunately I must resign today due to medical reasons. Billy Corgan was making me sick!"
In 2003, Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees died at a Miami hospital. He was 53. He had suffered a heart attack three days before prior to undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.
History Lowlight:
Today in 2002, '80s star Adam Ant was arrested after an alleged incident in a London pub where he was charged with assault and possession of a firearm, and also faced charges of criminal damage and actual bodily harm after the alleged incident. Yes, this is the story where he threw a car alternator threw the pub window. It's become one of our favorite stories to tell on The Current Morning Show. A little "Antmusic" is in order this morning.
Today in Music History: 1979
Posted at 7:27 AM on January 11, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music:
Clarence Clemons , longtime E Street Band Sax Player for Bruce Springsteen, known as "the big man," was born on this day in 1942. He passed away on June 18, 2011.
In 1957, Buddy Holly's famous recording of "Peggy Sue" was released.
In 1965, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground made their debut at a Summit, N.J. high school dance.
In 1969, Jim Morrison and a pal were en route via jet from L.A. to Phoenix to catch The Rolling Stones in concert. During the trip, Morrison "interfered with the flight of an intercontinental aircraft," became highly intoxicated and obnoxious, pestering a flight attendant. He was jailed for the offenses, facing a possible $10,000 fine and 10-year prison sentence. The charges were eventually dropped.
In 1970, The Bob Dylan book Tarantula was published. It received positive press.
History Feature:
In 1995, The Smashing Pumpkins held down the top album spot on the charts with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Let's go back to 1995 and listen to "1979."
Today in Music History: Moonwalker
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 10, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rod Stewart is 67
Singer Donand Fagen of Steely Dan is 64.
Singer Pat Benatar is 59.
Singer-guitarist Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets is 53.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley began his first recording session for RCA Records. "Heartbreak Hotel" was among the songs he recorded.
1976, Bluesman Howlin' Wolf died in a Chicago-area hospital.
1997, James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, finally got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2000 - Melissa Etheridge and her partner, Julie Cypher, revealed David Crosby was the father of their two children by artificial insemination.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1989 - Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker" video was released. Jackson played a superhero in the video, which included a lengthy fantasy segment set to the song "Smooth Criminal."
Today in Music History: Happy Birthday Jimmy Page
Posted at 7:35 AM on January 9, 2012
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Joan Baez is 71
David Johansen (New York Dolls) is 62
Guitarist Eric Erlandson (Hole) is 49.
This Day in Music:
In 1971, The American Jaycees named Elvis Presley one of the "10 outstanding young men of America." Elvis made a short speech at the reception of the award. It was recorded and heard on the soundtrack of the This Is Elvis documentary.
In 1973, The Rolling Stones' plan to tour Asia came to a halt when Mick Jagger was denied a Japanese visa as a result of a 1969 drug bust. Jagger responded to the press, "I don't take drugs. I don't approve of drugs and I don't approve of people taking drugs, unless they're very careful."
In 1990, Madonna began auditioning dancers for her 1990 world tour. She had taken out a newspaper ad that said "wimps and wanna-bes need not apply."
Birthday Highlight:
Jimmy Page is 68. One of the holy trinity of British guitarists who passed through the ranks of The Yardbirds [the other two were Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck; went on to form the monumentally popular and influential Led Zeppelin. To celebrate, we played "Custard Pie."
Today in Music History: Shine on Syd
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 6, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music:
In 1968, Gibson Guitars patented their famed "Flying V" electric guitar design, a favorite of many rockers and the trademark axe of bluesman Albert King.
Also in 1968, American Bandstand impresario Dick Clark premieres his new TV show Happening '68. Appropriately, the show is cancelled in 1969.
In 1975, About 1,000 Led Zeppelin fans rioted inside the lobby of the Boston Garden while waiting overnight to purchase tickets for an upcoming appearance by the band. Thirty-thousand dollars worth of damage was inflicted and the mayor immediately canceled the concert.
In 1977, Only three months after signing The Sex Pistols to a recording contract, EMI terminated the deal, rumor had it, as a result of the group's "disgraceful, aggressive behavior." The record company more or less paid them approximately $80,000 just to go away.
Birthday Highlight:
Syd Barrett, original singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of pioneering psychedelic pop/rock band, Pink Floyd, was born on this day in 1946 in England. Barrett officially left the band in spring of 1968 after his mental state had diminished. He made a couple solo records, and then left the music world to live a quiet life alone. He died on July 7th, 2006 at 60. "See Emily Play" is a Syd Barrett composition from the early Pink Floyd era.
Today in Music History: Blondie's Chris Stein is 62
Posted at 7:20 AM on January 5, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
On this day in 1923, producer Sam Phillips was born. With his Sun Records label, he brought attention to the talents of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, B.B. King, and Howlin' Wolf.
In 1963, Leonard Chess, co-founder of the legendary Chess record label, proclaimed, "As it stands today, there's virtually no difference between rock & roll, pop and rhythm & blues. The music has completely overlapped."
In 1975, The Wiz, an overhauled, black/soul version of The Wizard of Oz, opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway.
In 1978, The Sex Pistols made their U.S. debut at the Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta.
1998, Sonny Bono died when he slammed into a tree while skiing at a resort near the
Nevada-California border. He was 62.
Birthday Highlight:
Chris Stein of Blondie is 62. (guitarist, songwriter and mastermind behind Blondie, although Debbie Harry got most of the attention). Stein wrote "Sunday Girl" from the album Parallel Lines.
Today in Music History: I Me Mine
Posted at 7:15 AM on January 3, 2012
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Stephen Stills is 67
John Paul Jones is 66
This Day in Music History:
In 1967, Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys received his summons for induction into the U.S. Army, but refused to be sworn in, claiming he was a conscientious objector.
In 1968, 30,000 copies of John & Yoko's Two Virgins album portraying the glory of their full frontal nudity on the cover were seized at New Jersey's Newark airport on the grounds of obscenity.
In 1973, Some 2,000 fashion experts named Mick Jagger and Bianca two of the dozen best dressed people in the world.
In 1981, David Bowie took his final bow as The Elephant Man on Broadway.
In 1992, Jim Kerr, head man of Simple Minds, took actress Patsy Kensit as his bride. Kerr had previously been married briefly to Chrissie Hynde.
In 2002, In a poll conducted by Your Home magazine, Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis were voted the "Neighbors From Hell," the celebrities one would least like to have living nearby.
History Highlight:
In 1970, The Beatles played together for the last time, recording what would be their final song, George Harrison's "I Me Mine." The song title was borrowed a decade later for Harrison's autobiography.
Today in Music History: Monkee Business
Posted at 7:20 AM on December 30, 2011
by Jill Riley
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bo Diddley is 83
Patti Smith is 65 (New York punk godmother, poet, singer)
Jeff Lynne is 64 (Electric Light Orchestra, Traveling Wilburys)
Del Shannon was born on this day in 1934. (Best known for his 1961 hit "Runaway." He committed suicide on February 8, 1990, in Santa Clarita, California.)
This Day in Music:
In 1967, "Hello, Goodbye" off Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles was the #1 single in the country.
In 1978, Emerson, Lake & Palmer broke up.
In 1989, Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic married Shelli Dilley near Seattle.
In 1999, George Harrison was stabbed repeatedly during an attempted early morning robbery at his home near London. The 56-year-old musician and his wife Olivia struggled with the intruder and were able to hold him until the authorities got there. The couple recovered from their injuries at a nearby hospital.
History/Birthday Highlight:
Michael Nesmith is 69. (The most talented member of The Monkees and an '80s video pioneer who produced the original pilot for what was to become MTV.)
Davy Jones is 66. (The "cute one" of The Monkees; maraca and tambourine player extraordinaire.)
This Day in Music History: Marianne Faithfull is 65
Posted at 7:30 AM on December 29, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Today in Music History:
In 1963, The Weavers, America's late-'40s/early-'50s preeminent folk music group, gave their farewell concert at Chicago's Orchestra Hall.
1974, The #1 hit single was "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by Elton John. The Lennon/McCartney song first appeared on The Beatles' 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
1975, Paul Kantner and Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship filed for divorce.
1982, Jamaica issued a Bob Marley commemorative postage stamp.
History/Birthday Highlight:
Marianne Faithfull is 65 today. Known as a singer/songwriter, a rock n' roll muse and former girlfriend of Mick Jagger. It's likely her personal life and drug struggles will be remembered more than her music career. She scored a big hit in 1964 when she recorded the Mick Jagger/Keith Richards penned song "As Tears Go By."
Today in Music History: Big Star Tribute
Posted at 7:40 AM on December 28, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
On This Day in Music History:
In 1968, The three day Miami Pop festival took place, the first major rock festival held on the East Coast of the US, with Chuck Berry, The McCoys, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, The Turtles, The Box Tops, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Pacific Gas and Electric, Procol Harum, Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly and The Grateful Dead.
1981- Warner/Elektra/Asylum followed the lead of RCA Records and raised their list price for 45rpm singles to $1.99.
1983- Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys drowned in a marina in L.A.'s Marina del Rey.
1992- Paul Simon and his wife Edie Brickell had a baby boy, Adrian Edward Simon.
2002- Shamed rock star Gary Glitter was deported from Cambodia after spending two nights in jail over suspected sex offences.
History Feature:
Alex Chilton was born on this day in 1950 in Memphis. The lead singer of the late-'60s band The Box Tops, and leader of influential and acclaimed '70s band Big Star, would have been 61 years old today. Chilton's influence, while never registering strongly in mainstream pop music culture, was incalculable among generations of indie musicians who saw him as practically a godfather and spiritual leader (see The Replacements tune "Alex Chilton"). Chilton died on March 17th, 2010 of a heart attack, just three days prior to a scheduled Big Star reunion at SXSW.
Also on this day in 1978, Chris Bell's funeral was held. He played guitar with Big Star and was killed after his car crashed into a telephone pole the day before. He was 27.
To honor both Chilton and Bell, we played "When My Baby's Beside Me" from 1972's "#1 Record."
Today in Music History: Morrissey Loves The New York Dolls
Posted at 7:25 AM on December 27, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Today in Music History:
In 1960, The Beatles appeared at Litherland Town Hall Ballroom in Liverpool. Added to the bill at the last minute, The Beatles were not advertised to appear, so banners had been pasted onto advertising posters, saying "Direct From Hamburg, The Beatles!" Since The Beatles were playing in an area they'd only played in once before, most of the audience assumes they were a German group.
1963, The Animals played their first radio broadcast, the BBC show Saturday Club.
1964, The Supremes made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1975, The Faces split became official. Rod Stewart had severed all connections with the group to work as a solo artist, Ron Wood was on permanent loan to the Stones, Ronnie Lane went on to form Slim Chance and drummer Kenny Jones joined The Who.
1983, The Police played the first of four sold-out nights at Wembley Arena in London, England, on their Synchronicity world tour.
1989, U2's Rattle And Hum was the #3 album in the country.
1999, Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were arrested after a gun was found in their car as they left a Manhattan nightclub. Police were investigating a shooting in the club.
History Highlight:
1975, Future Smiths singer Steve Morrissey had a letter published in this week's music magazine the NME, complaining about the lack of media coverage for the New York Dolls. During the70s, Morrissey was president of the UK branch of the New York Dolls fan club. He's been a fan of The New York Dolls his whole life. This history highlight is for you Morrissey... "Stranded in the Jungle" by the New York Dolls.
Today In Music History: George Gets His Holiday On
Posted at 6:03 AM on December 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Eddie Vedder is 47.
Today in:
1964 - Performing "Little Saint Nick," "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Johnny B. Goode" and "Monster Mash," The Beach Boys made their first appearance on Shindig!.
1969 - One of the great pop/rock composing teams, Bernie Taupin and Elton John, collaborated for the first time.
1972 - Imagine, a film by John Lennon, made its debut on American television.
History Highlight:
Today in 1974, as his band mate John Lennon had done three years earlier, George Harrison released a holiday single, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong," which would celebrate the ringing in of the New Year. It was a modest hit when it was released (peaking at #36 in the United States, #38 in the United Kingdom). The other musicians include Gary Wright on piano, Mick Jones, Alvin Lee and Ron Wood (or "Ron Would If You Let Him" on the album inner sleeve credits) on guitars, Klaus Voorman on bass, and Ringo Starr and Jim Keltner on drums.
Today In Music History: Honoring Joe Strummer
Posted at 7:27 AM on December 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick is 65.
Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees is 62.
Today in:
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono met for an hour with Canada's prime minister. Earlier that day, they had met with Canada's minister of health to discuss drug abuse.
1978 - Kenney Jones became the drummer for The Who, replacing Keith Moon, who died four months earlier.
1988 - Morrissey performed for the first time as a solo act in England.
1990 - Pearl Jam performed for the first time together, under the name Mookie Blaylock, as the opening act for Alice In Chains in Seattle.
Today's Tribute:
Today in 2002, Joe Strummer of The Clash died of sudden cardiac arrest at his home in southwest England. He was 50. It was a tragedy in multiple ways; Strummer was one of the most significant rock artists of the preceeding several decades, leading The Clash as perhaps the defining punk band of the age. But he was also in the midst of a successful comeback, after a low-profile period following The Clash's unceremonious end with their final album. Strummer's album Streetcore with his band The Mescaleros had been an amazing showcasing of songwriting strength, and for that reason was additionally heartbreaking that it would be Joe's last, completed and released after Strummer's death. From Streetcore, we played "Burnin' Streets."
Today In Music History: Beach Boys, Elvis, and a Colt .45
Posted at 6:06 AM on December 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Murph of Dinosaur Jr. is 47.
Today in:
1964 - The book "Ode to a High-Flying Bird" by Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts was published. It was a tribute to jazz great Charlie (Bird) Parker.
1968 - Janis Joplin made her first appearance after leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company. She performed in Memphis at the second annual "Yuletide Thing" event sponsored by Stax-Volt Records.
1968 - Crosby, Stills and Nash performed together for the first time.
1970 - In his quest to become an honorary undercover agent for the DEA and serve his country in the war on drugs, Elvis showed up at the White House to offer his services to President Richard Nixon. Reportedly under the influence of heavy prescription barbiturates, the King gave Nixon a chrome-plated Colt .45 pistol. In exchange, Nixon gave Presley a Narcotics Bureau badge. The photo is a classic.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys received a well-deserved Gold record for their innovative work on the goose bump-producing hit single "Good Vibrations."
Today In Music History: Saluting Alan Parsons
Posted at 6:09 AM on December 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Peter Criss (Kiss) is 66.
Singer Billy Bragg is 54.
Singer-bassist Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE) is 54.
Today in:
1958 - George Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon performed as The Quarrymen at the wedding reception of Harrison's brother, Harry.
1969 - One of the great Rolling Stones albums, Let It Bleed, highlighted by "Midnight Rambler," "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want," hit #1 on the album charts.
1975 - Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" hit the airwaves.
Birthday Highlight:
Producer Alan Parsons is 63 today. Getting his start at the age of 18 as a staff engineer for Abbey Road studios, his first album credit was as an engineer on The Beatles' Abbey Road. From there he went on to produce Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, making significant contributions to the sound of the album. Parsons formed The Alan Parsons Project in 1975 as a studio project featuring a rotating roster of musicians, and had a few succesful albums in the 70s and early 80s including I Robot and Eye In The Sky. While some of Parsons' music might sound a bit cheesy and muzak-y to our ears today, you could argue that his super-clean, synthesizer-laden sound might be more of an influence than we realize on such modern artsts as Air and M83. We played the instrumental title track to I Robot.
Today In Music History: Carl Perkings Records "Blue Suede Shoes"
Posted at 6:06 AM on December 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper Lady Sovereign is 26.
Today in:
1969 - Mick Jagger was fined approximately $400 at Marlborough Magistrates Court for possession of weed.
1970 - Mike Curb, head of MGM Records and future lieutenant governor of California, was commended by President Nixon for purging his label roster of artists who supposedly promoted drug use, such as the Velvet Underground and Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention (although technically, Zappa and the Mothers had already fulfilled the terms of their contract with MGM - and also, Zappa was well known for professing to not use drugs).
History Highlight:
Today in 1955, Carl Perkins recorded his song "Blue Suede Shoes" at Sun Records in Memphis. It went on to be a much bigger hit for Elvis, but it was Carl's song. The story, according to Wikipedia:
Johnny Cash planted the seed for the song in the fall of 1955, while Perkins, Cash, Elvis Presley, and other Louisiana Hayride acts toured throughout the South. Cash told Perkins of a black airman whom he had met when serving in the military in Germany. He had referred to his military regulation air shoes as "blue suede shoes." Cash suggested that Carl write a song about the shoes. Carl replied, "I don't know anything about shoes. How can I write a song about shoes?" When Perkins played a dance on December 4, 1955, he noticed a couple dancing near the stage. Between songs, Carl heard a stern, forceful voice say, "Uh-uh, don't step on my suedes!" Carl looked down and noted that the boy was wearing blue suede shoes, and one had a scuff mark. Good gracious, a pretty little thing like that and all he can think about is his blue suede shoes, thought Carl.
Today In Music History: Honoring Stuart Adamson
Posted at 6:03 AM on December 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - The Beatles released a terrific two-hit single with "Day Tripper" on one side and "We Can Work It Out" on the other.
1966 - "Hey Joe," the first single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was released in Britain. The song was not released as a single in the U.S.
1974 - Mott the Hoople split up.
1975 - The Bay City Rollers got their first U.S. gold record for the song "Saturday Night."
Today's Tribute:
Sad anniversary today: ten years ago, Stuart Adamson, lead vocalist of Scottish band Big Country, was found dead in a Honolulu hotel room after disappearing from his Nashville home a month earlier. He had been battling alcoholism for many years. Big Country was never a huge success but maintained a devoted following for their socically-conscious, celtic-infused rock, and their 80s hit "In A Big Country" was an early MTV staple with it's bagpipe-sounding guitars, and for about 15 minutes in the early 80s, it looked as though the band was going to be huge. We honored Stuart Adamson today by playing Big Country's first charting UK single, "Fields Of Fire."
Today In Music History: Grace Slick Stirs Up Trouble
Posted at 6:05 AM on December 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five is 69.
Bassist Paul Simonon of The Clash is 56.
Today in:
1967, The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour went Gold.
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band made its concert debut in London.
1977 - Members of the Sex Pistols were denied visas to enter the U.S., two days before they were to appear on Saturday Night Live. Their replacement was Elvis Costello and the Attractions.
1988 - James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison for leading police on a chase through two states.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, performing with the Jefferson Airplane on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Grace Slick appeared in blackface and raised a black leather glove in the black power salute at the conclusion of "Crown Of Creation." It was one of the incidents that led to corporate axing the show the following season.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Morris Day
Posted at 6:01 AM on December 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ted Nugent is 63.
Tom Verlaine of Television is 62.
John Munson of The New Standards, Semisonic and of Twilight Hours is 49.
Today in:
1974, - Former Beatle George Harrison visited the White House at the invitation of Jack Ford, the president's son. Harrison was the first rock musician to be invited to the White House.
1976 - Just three days after its release, Paul McCartney & Wings' live triple-album Wings Over America went gold.
Birthday Highlight:
Morris Day 53 today. Coming to prominence in the 80s with his group The Time, Day entered a self-imposed retirement in the 90s but fan support and enthusiasm spurred him to come out of retirement in the 2000s. We enjoyed one of our favorite tunes from The Time this morning,"777-9311."
Today In Music History: All Stones News, All The Time
Posted at 6:03 AM on December 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones successfully appealed his nine-month jail sentence for a drug conviction. He was placed on probation instead.
1968 - The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus was filmed in London, featuring the Stones, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and The Who. It remained unreleased for 28 years.
2003 - Mick Jagger was knighted by Prince Charles.
History Highlight:
Today in 1974, the Rolling Stones announced guitarist Mick Taylor had left the band. That same day, the band began work on the Black and Blue album. While the critics were less than kind - Lester Bangs in Creem declared it "the first meaningless Stones album," the album did yeild a Top 10 single, "Fool To Cry."
Today In Music History: The Who's Odds & Sods
Posted at 6:59 AM on December 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Brian Bell of Weezer is 43.
Jakob Dylan is 42.
Today in:
1967 - Police in New Haven, Connecticut, arrested Doors singer Jim Morrison for breach of peace and resisting arrest. Morrison had been sprayed with mace at a concert
and police hauled him off stage.
1972 - The all-star orchestral stage version of The Who's Tommy had a one-night stand at London's Rainbow Theatre and was, by all accounts, a less-than-awesome show. Most of the performers, including narrator Pete Townshend, appeared to be overly drunk and/or stoned. Of all the participating artists, including Peter Sellers and Richie Havens, only Roger Daltrey and Steve Winwood avoided disgracing themselves. Nonetheless, the presentation had been recorded and was released, making it to #5 on the album chart.
1978 - Actors John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd recorded a version of "Soul Man" and released it under the name The Blues Brothers.
1984 - The Jacksons' "Victory Tour" ended in Los Angeles. It was the last time Michael Jackson toured with his brothers.
1988 - A U.S. poll revealed that the #1 preferred background music for love-making by adults was by Neil Diamond. Beethoven came in second, while Luther Vandross made the #3 slot.
History Highlight:
Today in 1974, The Who received a Gold record for their collection of rarities and outtakes called Odds & Sods. The album was assembled by bassist John Entwistle in 1973 during the time Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and Keith Moon were all preparing for their roles in the movie version of Tommy. The single released from the collection was previously unreleased song, "Long Live Rock."
Today In Music History: The Beach Boys Discover Surfing
Posted at 6:10 AM on December 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-keyboardist Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers is 64.
Sinead O'Connor is 45.
Singer Ingrid Michaelson is 32.
Today in:
1969 - A supreme court in Toronto found guitarist Jimi Hendrix not guilty of possession of heroin and hashish. Hendrix had testified he had previously used drugs but had given them up.
1976 - The Eagles released their Hotel California album.
1980 - John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by an apparently deranged fan. He and wife Yoko Ono were returning home from a recording session. He was 40.
1984 - Motley Crue singer Vince Neil crashed a sports car on a California highway, killing his passenger, Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle Dingley.
2003 - Ozzy Osbourne was seriously injured while riding a quad bike around his English estate. He hit an object and the bike landed on top of him.
History Highlight:
Today in 1961, The Beach Boys' first single, "Surfin'," was released. The Beach Boys were trying to think of something original and creative that they could write a song about. Brian Wilson remembers that "One day, my brother Dennis came home from the beach and said, 'Hey, surfing's getting really big. You guys ought to write a song about it." The single peaked at number 75.
Jim McGuinn Talks with Yoko Ono
Posted at 7:30 AM on December 8, 2011
by The Current
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Listen
This weekend in Edina, the Galleria hosts Yoko Ono Presents: Imagine Peace, the Artwork of John Lennon. It's a travelling show of John Lennon's artwork and includes drawings, songs, lyrics, and photos between 1964-1980. The exhibit will be up from Friday through Sunday in the Big Bowl Courtyard. Included are limited-edition pieces, many of which will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting Smile Network International, which funds surgical missions and provides necessary supplies needed to repair birth defects worldwide.
As we head into this day remembering the passing of such an iconic artist, Jim McGuinn talked with Yoko about the exhibit, tonight's annual tribute with Curtiss A in coordinate with The Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 release at First Avenue, and John's inspirations throughout the years.
Related Stories:
Remembering The BeatlesThe Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 Information
The Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 CD of the Week
Today In Music History: Brian Wilson's Unraveling Begins
Posted at 6:14 AM on December 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tom Waits is 62.
Bassist Tim Butler of Psychedelic Furs is 53.
Today in:
1962 - Bassist Bill Wyman auditioned for the Rolling Stones. He played his first gig with the band the following week.
1964 - Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys had a nervous breakdown on a flight between Houston and Los Angeles. It eventually led to his decision to drop from touring with the Beach Boys.
1967 - The Beatles opened their Apple Boutique in London to the public. John Lennon and George Harrison had held a private opening party two days before.
1967 - Otis Redding recorded "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay."
Today In Music History: Honoring Roy Orbison
Posted at 6:03 AM on December 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Rick Buckler of The Jam is 56.
Guitarist Peter Buck of R.E.M. is 55.
Drummer David Lovering of The Pixies is 50.
Today in:
1969 - What was intended as a free "thank you" concert for 300,000 turned into a notorious disaster when The Rolling Stones headed up the bill at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, California. The Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Santana and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were also on hand. The hastily organized event rapidly turned into a debacle: four people died, including one who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel, part of the "security force." The murder was captured on film and was a shattering moment in the documentary Gimme Shelter when it premiered a year later on this day.
2009 - Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo suffered three cracked ribs and internal damage when the band's bus slid on ice and fell eight feet into a ravine.
History Highlight:
Today in 1988, just when his career was enjoying a tremendous upsurge thanks to the popularity of The Traveling Wilburys and a comeback record produced by Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison died of cardiac arrest. He was 52. We honored Roy with one of his classic hits this morning, "Only The Lonely."
Today In Music History: The Stones Return To Form
Posted at 6:09 AM on December 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Little Richard is 79.
Today in:
1968 - Graham Nash, saying he hadn't been given enough to do in the group and that they wouldn't record his songs, split The Hollies and announced the formation of Crosby, Stills & Nash several days later.
1975 - Fleetwood Mac's self-titled album was certified gold in the U.S. It was the first one with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and contained the mega-hit "Rhiannon."
1987 - Based on complaints of blasphemy, The Jesus & Mary Chain was banned from a televised music show in the U.S.; CBS requested that they bill themselves as JAMC, but the band refused.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, The Rolling Stones' Beggar's Banquet was released after being delayed by five months due to controversy over the photo of the graffiti-strewn public toilet interior on the original cover. It was their "return to form" following their foray into psychedelia, Their Satanic Majesties Request and was also a big commercial success, reaching #3 in the UK and #5 in the US (on the way to eventual platinum status), containing songs "Sympathy For the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man."
This Day in Music History: Curb the Clap
Posted at 7:20 AM on December 2, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1973, mail-in ticket requests for a Bob Dylan U.S. tour went on sale. At one San Francisco post office, there was a five block-long traffic jam.
Also, in 1973, The Who spent the night in jail in Montreal after
causing $6,000 worth of damage to a hotel room. The incident
inspired John Entwistle to write "Cell Block Number Seven."
In 1983, MTV first aired Michael Jackson's 14-minute "Thriller" video.
In 1986, Jerry Lee Lewis checked into the Betty Ford Clinic to overcome an addition to painkillers.
In 2000, Smashing Pumpkins played their last concert with the
original lineup, at a club in Chicago. It was the same club where
they had played their first show 13 years earlier.
History Highlight:
In 1970, Eric Burden launched his "Curb The Clap" bumpersticker campaign designed to battle what he called the "number one sickness in the record business today, V.D". We played an Animals classic, "Don't let me be Misunderstood."
Today In Music History: The Sex Pistols Make A Scene On TV
Posted at 6:07 AM on December 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1957 - Buddy Holly and Sam Cooke made their national TV debuts on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
1960 - Paul McCartney and Pete Best were deported from West Germany on suspicion of arson after their hotel room mysteriously caught fire.
1982 - Michael Jackson's Thriller album was released. It went on to become the biggest-selling album of all time.
1987 - A Kentucky school teacher lost her appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court after having been fired for screening Pink Floyd's The Wall for her class. The court decided, due to bad language and sexual content, that the film was unsuitable for minors.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, The Sex Pistols, who had just released their first single, "Anarchy In The U.K.,'" appeared as a last minute replacement for the Queen of England on a popular Brit TV morning "chat" show. Interviewer Bill Grundy taunted them about their "nasty reputation," compelling bassist Glen Matlock to utter a few vulgarities. In the ensuing uproar, the Pistols were banned from nearly every venue that had booked them for their first tour. Seems like a great morning to play some Sex Pistols, so we played "Anarchy In The UK."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday William Albert Broad
Posted at 6:00 AM on November 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
TV personality and producer Dick Clark is 82.
Guitarist Shuggie Otis is 58.
Guitarist John Ashton of Psychedelic Furs is 54.
Today in:
1965 - The state of Colorado declared "Rolling Stones Day," in honor of the Stones concert in Denver. They were given the key to the city.
1969 - Sponsor AT&T reneged on backing Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special when they learned that footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral and the Viet Nam was going to be shown.
1977, David Bowie sang a duet of "Little Drummer Boy" with Bing Crosby on his Christmas special.
1980 - Elvis Costello and Squeeze played a benefit show for the family of the late Welsh boxer Johnny Owen. He had died from injuries sustained in the ring at an American match.
1999 - Officials from the Boy Scouts of America were not amused when Elton John appeared on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall performing "It's A Sin" as six male dancers dressed up as Cub Scouts pranced around him, peeling off their uniforms
Birthday Highlight:
Billy Idol is 56 today, born William Michael Albert Broad in Middlesex, England. We figured a little Billy Idol probably couldn't hurt this morning ... we played "Dancing With Myself."
Today In Music History: The Boss' Live Album Is A Huge Hit
Posted at 6:02 AM on November 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1976 - Jerry Lee Lewis shot his bass player, Norman "Butch" Owens, twice in the chest while trying to hit a soda bottle off the top of Lewis' head. Lewis was charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits.
1979 - The four original members of Kiss performed together for what they thought was the last time. They reunited in 1996.
1980 - John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album hit the streets. It was the first music from John in five years.
1992 - The first TV special by U2, U2's Zoo TV Outside Broadcast aired on Fox-TV.
2001 - George Harrison died in Los Angeles after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 58.
History Highlight:
Today in 1986, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Live 1975-85 began a seven-week run at the top of the charts. It was released as a box set with either five vinyl records, three cassettes, or three CDs, and was one of the most highly anticipated releases in music history; one New York store reportedly sold the album right off the back of the delivery truck. Live 1975-85 is the second-best-selling live album in U.S. history, trailing only Garth Brooks' Double Live. The main single released from the set was Springsteen's cover of the Edwin Starr hit, "War," recorded September 30th, 1985 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Today In Music History: Lennon Has A Hit But Loses A Bet
Posted at 6:08 AM on November 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bandleader Paul Shaffer (The Late Show With David Letterman) is 62.
Keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend is 28.
Today in:
1964 - "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las hit number one on the Billboard pop chart.
1990 - Officials in Los Angeles decided there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute singer Axl Rose for assault in connection with a dispute with his neighbor. The neighbor claimed Rose hit her over the head with an empty wine bottle.
1997 - Chumbawamba singer Danbert Nobacon was arrested in Florence, Italy, for wearing a skirt. Unfortunately, police recognized the band name "Chumbawamba" and realeased him.
1997 - The last episode of Beavis and Butt-head aired on MTV.
History Highlight:
Today in 1974, John Lennon performed in concert for the first time in several years. He sang three songs with Elton John at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was payback for a bet in which John had made Lennon promise they'd perform together if "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" hit number one, which it did. It was Lennon's last major concert performance. We played the tune this morning, featuring Elton on harmony vocals and piano.
Today In Music History: Saluting R.L. Burnside
Posted at 6:16 AM on November 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The BBC banned the Rolling Stones from its airwaves after the band arrived late for two radio shows.
1976 - Just 10 hours after a previous arrest for drunk driving, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested again outside the gates of Graceland. He had shown up for the second time that night, shouting and waving a pistol, demanding to see The King.
1979 - Keith Richards' girlfriend Anita Pallenberg was acquitted of shooting a man found dead in her home.
2008 - Guns N' Roses released their long-awaited album, Chinese Democracy.
Birthday Highlight:
This is the birthday anniversary of R.L. Burnside. Born in 1926, the Delta bluesman's career was revived in mid-'90s after being "re-discovered" by Jon Spencer. He played music for much of his life, but his collaborations with Spencer garnered him crossover appeal and introduced his music to a new fanbase within the underground garage rock scene. We played Burnside's tune "Let My Baby Ride."
Today In Music History: Shaft!
Posted at 7:18 AM on November 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads is 61.
Today in:
1955 - RCA Records signed Elvis Presley after buying his contract from Sun Records. Elvis got a $5,000 bonus for signing.
1967 - Arlo Guthrie's 22-minute song "Alice's Restaurant" was released.
1981 - Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood jammed with blues legend Muddy Waters (whose "Rollin' Stone" was where the Stones found their name) and Buddy Guy at Chicago's Checker Board Lounge.
1997 - Singer Michael Hutchence of INXS hanged himself with a belt in a hotel in Sydney, Australia. He was 37.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, "Theme from 'Shaft'" by Isaac Hayes was the #1 song. You think we're going to let that pass without playing it?
Today In Music History: Jimi Has A Posthumous Hit
Posted at 5:56 AM on November 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bjork is 46.
Bassist Alex James of Blur is 43.
Today in:
1960 - George Harrison was deported from Germany after The Beatles had moved to Hamburg to play clubs there. Authorities were tipped off that he was not yet 18 and was therefore not allowed to be in a nightclub after midnight.
1974 - The Kiss Army fan club officially formed in Terre Haute, Indiana.
1990 - Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall were married after being together for 12 years. They have since divorced.
1995 - Singer Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day was arrested for dropping his pants at a concert in Milwaukee. He was fined $141.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, two months after his untimely demise, Jimi Hendrix was #1 on the U.K. charts with "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)."
Today In Music History: Nirvana Unplugs
Posted at 5:58 AM on November 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Graham Parker is 61.
Guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica is 49.
Today in:
1970 - Jerry Lee Lewis and his cousin Myra Gale Brown were divorced in Memphis. She had described their recent years together as "a nightmare."
1972 - Danny Whitten, a singer/songwriter with Neil Young's Crazy Horse, died of a heroin overdose in L.A. Bruce Berry, a roadie for Crazy Horse also overdosed around the same time, and the pair of incidents inspired Young's dark-themed, tequila-soaked album Tonight's The Night. Danny wrote "I Don't Want To Talk About It," later a hit for Rod Stewart.
1987 - U2 opened for itself as a country-rock group called the Dalton Brothers during a Los Angeles concert.
1994 - The Rolling Stones broadcast a 20-minute segment of their show in Dallas, Texas, live over the Internet. They were the first major band to do that.
1997 - Police arrested singer Gary Glitter and questioned him about child pornography allegedly found on his computer. He later pleaded guilty to 54 charges of making indecent computer images of children.
History Highlight:
Today in 1993, Nirvana made their famous appearance on MTV's Unplugged. As opposed to traditional practice on the show, Nirvana played a setlist composed of mainly lesser-known material and cover versions of songs by The Vaselines, David Bowie, Meat Puppets (during which they were joined by two members of the group onstage) and Leadbelly. MTV Unplugged in New York was the first Nirvana album released in the wake of Kurt Cobain's April 1994 suicide. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. We played their cover of Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World."
Today In Music History: The Faces Release A Monster Hit
Posted at 6:03 AM on November 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1963 - The headmaster of a Surrey, England, grammar school banned any and all Beatle haircuts stating, "This ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically. It makes them look like morons."
1966 - Jeff Buckley was born. He would have been 45 today.
1967 - Pink Floyd released their third single, "Apples And Oranges." It went nowhere fast.
1987 - Bono pulled a fan onstage in L.A. to join in on U2 's version of "People Get Ready." The fan was obviously well-prepared, as he handed Bono a demo tape of his band.
1990 - David Crosby cheated death once again. Wearing no helmet, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, ultimately breaking his leg, ankle and shoulder.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, Rod Stewart and The Faces released their fourth LP, under the novel title of A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse. The album spawned "Stay With Me," which landed in the Top 10, making it their biggest hit single.
What's the Best Year in Rock Music?
Posted at 3:24 PM on November 16, 2011
by The Current
(5 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Thanksgiving as an adult can be hectic. There is food to make, turkeys to fry, family to referee, and endless piles of dishes to clean. Retreat into years past with The Current this Thanksgiving and jump back into a simpler time when you could hole up in your room and blast The Kinks.
We want to send you back in time over the holiday weekend by dedicating each hour to a seminal year in rock history. As part of this coverage of the best years in rock history, you tell us which year you think was the most influential in rock. Will you be pining for your flannel and Doc Martens as you pass the green bean casserole and we pay homage to 1994? Or was it 1966, the year Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys came out? How about 1991 when Nevermind came out and the riot grrrl movement coalesced? What about '76 when the Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Clash defined the punk sound? Or maybe it's simply 1954 - the year Fender released The Stratocaster? What's been the best year in your opinion?
We'll feature some of your responses on our website during our "Thanksgiving Time Machine Weekend" and this material will help inform what the station programs throughout the holiday weekend. So pull out a few old LPs, CDs, or MP3s. Give them a spin. Then share your best musical year with us through the Public Insight Network or leave your comments below!
Today In Music History: St. Pepper, The Cinematic Disaster
Posted at 6:02 AM on November 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Mani of Stone Roses is 49.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley's film debut, Love Me Tender, opened in New York.
1960 - Patsy Cline recorded the song "I Fall To Pieces" in Nashville. She also recorded the songs "Shoes" and "Lovin' In Vain" during that same session.
1973 - 1980 Floor Show, David Bowie's first television special, was broadcast as part of NBC's Midnight Special series. The performance had been taped a month earlier at London's Marquee Club, one of the first clubs where Bowie had ever performed, and one of the few that would book his band despite their "freakiness."
2008 - The final episode of Total Request Live aired on MTV.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, the movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band opened. The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton and Billy Preston made their acting debuts in the film, also starring the likes of George Burns as Mr. Kite and Steve Martin as Maxwell Edison, and featuring Aerosmith as the Future Villain Band (?) and cameos by Donovan, Leif Garrett, Heart, Frankie Valli, Wolfman Jack and tons of others. The film is widely regarded as one of the most pitiful disasters in the history of the movies; The Bee Gees' career was severely impaired and Peter Frampton's was essentially destroyed. Despite this, a few pretty decent covers of Beatles songs came out of the film - most notably, Aerosmith's version of "Come Together" and Earth Wind and Fire's cover of "Got To Get You Into My Life."
Today In Music History: Janis Is Arrested For Potty Mouth
Posted at 6:04 AM on November 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1969 - The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, where The Beatles performed in their early days, closed its doors for good.
1980 - David Bowie opened on Broadway in the title role of "The Elephant Man."
1990 - Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian admitted that Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan didn't sing a note on their "Girl You Know It's True" album.
1996 - Michael Jackson married dermatologist aide Debbie Rowe in Sydney, Australia. She was six months pregnant with his child. They later divorced.
2000, - A British court, taking his mental impairment under consideration, declared Michael Abram - the Liverpool man who stabbed George Harrison after breaking into his home - not guilty by insanity, but institutionalized him for a long, long time
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, in Tampa, a Janis Joplin audience was ordered by police through a bullhorn to sit down. Janis responded, "Don't f*#k with these people! Hey, Mister, what're you so uptight about? Did you buy a $5 ticket?" When cops backstage told her to insist that her fans take their seats, Janis said, "I'm not telling them sh#t." She was arrested on charges of using "vulgar and indecent language." The matter was later dismissed. We played "Piece Of My Heart" this morning.
Today In Music History: The Supremes Rack Up The Hits
Posted at 6:11 AM on November 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Pianist Yanni is 57.
Rapper Reverend Run of Run-DMC is 47.
Today in:
1960 - Elvis Presley's "It's Now Or Never" became the fastest-selling single in British history, selling 780,000 copies in its first week.
1981 - The Police enjoyed their fourth #1 single with "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic."
1987 - The long-divorced Sonny and Cher were cajoled by David Letterman into singing "I Got You Babe" one more time on his late night show.
1990 - Pete Townshend confessed his bisexuality in an interview with Newsweek. "I know how it feels to be a woman," said Pete, "because I am a woman. And I won't be classified as just a man."
1991 - The Fox network debuted Michael Jackson's "Black Or White" video. Callers to network affiliates complained about the video's sexual nature and violent content. Jackson later said he didn't mean to offend anyone.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, The Supremes' third consecutive single to reach #1 came out, "Come See About Me."
Today In Music History: Velvet Underground Debuts
Posted at 6:17 AM on November 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Marshall Crenshaw is 58.
Singer-guitarist Andy Partridge of XTC is 58.
Today in:
1969 - Doors lead singer Jim Morrison was arrested for public drunkenness and for interfering with the flight of an aircraft. Morrison allegedly had annoyed a flight attendant on a trip from Los Angeles to Phoenix. The charges eventually were dropped.
1970 - Bob Dylan's book "Tarantula," a collection of narratives and poems, was published.
1997 - Metallica played a free concert in the parking lot of the CoreStates complex in Philadelphia. The band had gone to court and won the right to do so after CoreStates officials bowed to pressure from city council members and neighbors who opposed the show.
History Highlight:
Today in 1965, The Velvet Underground made their concert debut at a high school dance in Summit, New Jersey. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited by many critics as one of the most important and influential groups of the 1960s. As Brian Eno put it, "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band." From their debut album The Velvet Underground And Nico, we played "I'm Waiting For The Man."
This Day in Music History: The Boss' Box Set
Posted at 7:20 AM on November 10, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 64.
Today in Music History:
1967,The Moody Blues released their magnum opus, "Nights In White Satin." (To this day, many still think it's "Knights," with a "k").
1976, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers began their first major tour, opening for Kiss.
1978, The second album by The Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope, was released in the U.K. Shortly thereafter, the album would become their first U.S. release.
1992 - A judge found Axl Rose guilty of assault and property damage in connection with a riot at a 1991 Guns N' Roses concert near St. Louis. Rose's sentence was suspended and he was put on probation. Rose also was ordered to pay $10,000 each to five
charities.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1986, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band's first massive box set, Live 1975-1985, appeared in record stores. Jill has a favorite cut from the record (she brought in the box set on vinyl). "Fire" was recorded December 16, 1978 at the Winterland. It was never released by Springsteen before and the most recognized version was recorded by The Pointer Sisters.
Today In Music History: Um, What's a "Zoso"?
Posted at 6:04 AM on November 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1968 - A London court granted Cynthia Lennon a divorce from John Lennon.
1975 - Elton John became godfather to John and Yoko's son, Sean.
1995 - Flavor Flav was arrested on gun and drug charges while driving a cab in New York City. He had been released from prison two months earlier.
1995 - Michael Jackson sold the rights to scores of Beatles songs, for which he had outbid Paul McCartney several years earlier, to Sony for $95 million.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, Led Zeppelin released an untitled album that became known as Led Zeppelin 4. The band was heavily pressured by Atlantic Records to give the album a title, but Jimmy Page has stated how the band was feeling defiant after the comparatively poor critical reception to Led Zeppelin III and decided to go with the cryptic packaging, which ended up being one of the most iconic album covers of all time, featuring a photo of an old man carrying a bundle of sticks on his back and four mysterious symbols representing the individual members of the band. We played "Misty Mountain Hop."
Today In Music History: Can You Say "Over Reaction"?
Posted at 6:11 AM on November 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is 68.
Today in:
1968 - The Doors were banned in Phoenix after Jim Morrison told the audience to stand up. Police were wary of Morrison's intentions because he had recently mooned an audience.
1969 - The Rolling Stones opened their first U.S. concert tour in three years. By this time they were notorious bad boys after tales of drug busts, censorship battles and wild life on the road, so the tour had became a full-blown media circus.
1974 - Ted Nugent won the National Squirrel Shooting Archery Contest by hitting a squirrel at 150 yards with a bow and arrow.
1977 - The soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever" was released.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1970, in a move to supposedly purge his record label of musicians who "exploit and promote hard drugs through music," MGM Records President Mike Curb dropped "drug advocates" such as Connie Francis and family act The Cowsills. For some reason, Eric Burdon remained on the roster. Nevertheless, we thought we'd play something by one of those wanton drug-using counter-culture musicians this morning, so we played Connie Francis singing "Who's Sorry Now."
Today In Music History: Your Friday Boston Fix
Posted at 5:59 AM on November 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Chris Difford of Sqeeze is 54.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles performed for the Queen Mother in London. This is when John Lennon commented that people in the cheap seats could clap and the rest could rattle their jewelry.
1976 - A Bruce Springsteen concert in New York was interrupted by a bomb threat. Springsteen joked that the threat could have come from his former manager, with whom he was involved in a legal battle.
1977, "The Last Waltz," the film of The Band's final concert, premiered in New York.
1984 - Prince launched his Purple Rain tour in Detroit.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, the band Boston played the city of Boston for the first time, in a sold-out show. If you're a regular listener to The Current's Morning Show, you probably know we firmly believe Boston has been unfairly slighted by music snobs over the years. Sure, Boston is big, it's shiny and slick, but those hooks! That guitar playing! Brad Delps's 4-octave voice! Not allowing yourself to enjoy Boston is like not allowing yourself to enjoy a big sloppy burger, fries and milkshake just because it's "not good for you." We say indulge your appetite and allow yourself some Boston. Because it's awesome. We played "Feelin' Satisfied."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Adam Ant
Posted at 6:38 AM on November 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1957 - Two future number one pop songs were released: "Great Balls Of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis and "At The Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
1977 - Elton John announced at a London performance that he was retiring from concerts. However, he started performing again in 1979.
1985 - With hit songs like "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and "Smuggler's Blues" by Glenn Frey, the Miami Vice TV soundtrack was the #1 album in the land. Dark times.
Birthday Highlight:
Adam Ant is 57 today, born Stuart Leslie Goddard in 1954. Ant gained popularity as the lead singer of the New Wave group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s. For a short while during the early 80s, Adam and The Ants were mega-stars as part of the burgeoning "New Romantic" movement, spurred by a set of videos on the fledgeling MTV. (Still, our favorite Adam Ant story is when he was arrested for throwing a car alternator through a window of a pub in Camden and then threatening patrons with an imitation pistol ... we just love that one). We played one of Adam and The Ants' big hits this morning: "Stand And Deliver."
Today In Music History: The Beach Boys Stay True
Posted at 6:02 AM on November 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 67.
Guitarist Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie is 36.
Today in:
1963 - During a live taping of the British program "Ready, Steady, Go!", singer Dion walked off stage, complaining that the go-go dancers surrounding him onstage were too distracting.
1974 - For the first time in eight years, George Harrison went on tour, starting in Vancouver. It would prove to be difficult for him as his voice was in bad shape following extensive rehearsals and recording sessions for his album Dark Horse.
1979 - Mick Jagger and his wife Bianca filed for divorce.
1979 - The motion picture version of The Who's Quadrophenia, which featured Sting, opened to less-than-rave reviews.
1986, Billy Bragg was incarcerated for slicing through wire fences in a protest at a U.S. Air Base in Norfolk, VA.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, the single "Be True to Your School" by The Beach Boys was released. The band recorded two studio versions of this song; the original recording, which appeared on the album Little Deuce Coupe, was in a higher key and at a slower tempo than the second version which was released as a single. The single version features the 1960s girl group The Honeys chanting various "cheerleader yells" before the first chorus, and after the second and third. The song also features the University of Wisconsin's fight song "On Wisconsin." However, it's most likely a tribute to Hawthorne High School, whose school fight song uses the same melody as "On Wisconsin."
Today In Music History: Elvis Returns With A Hit
Posted at 6:12 AM on November 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers is 49.
Singer Mags Furuholmen of A-ha is 49.
Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard is 48.
Today in:
1955 - The Famous Flames, featuring James Brown, recorded "Please, Please, Please" at a radio station in Macon, Georgia.
1963 - The Rolling Stones single "I Wanna Be Your Man" was released in Britain.
1968 - Apple Records released Wonderwall Music by George Harrison, the first Beatle solo album.
1988 - Sub Pop Records released Nirvana's first release, Love Buzz/Big Cheese.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, Elvis Presley had his first number-one single in seven years with "Suspicious Minds." American songwriter Mark James had failed at charting with his own recording of his tune, so he handed the song to Elvis Presley via Elvis' producer Chips Moman who turned it into one of Elvis' most notable hits. "Suspicious Minds" was widely regarded as the single that returned Presley's career success, following '68 Comeback Special. It was his seventeenth and last number-one single in the United States. Rolling Stone later ranked it #91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Today In Music History: Happy 50th Larry Mullen Jr.
Posted at 6:08 AM on October 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Johnny Marr (The Smiths) is 48.
Ad- Rock (Adam Horovitz) of the Beastie Boys is 45.
Bassist, songwriter and producer Adam Schelsinger of Fountains of Wayne is 44.
Today in:
1967 - Iggy Pop And The Stooges debuted live at a Halloween party in Ann Arbor.
1970 - Singer Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas married actor Dennis Hopper. They divorced after eight days.
1986 - Roger Waters filed suit in London to dissolve Pink Floyd and retain the rights to the name. The other members of the band were granted temporary rights to the name and later full rights.
1988 - Singer Debbie Gibson held a seance at her Halloween party to contact Liberace and Sid Vicious. Uh, what?
1990 - Billy Idol had 600 dead fish dumped in the dressing room of opening act Faith No More. They returned the favor, walking across the stage nude during Idol's set that night.
1997 - More than 200 counterfeit tickets were confiscated when Jane's Addiction reunited for a show in New York. Hundreds of fans were turned away, and refunds were given to legitimate ticket-holders.
Birthday Highlight:
Drummer Larry Mullen Jr.of U2 is 50 today. Mullen founded the band in Dublin in 1976 at the age of 15 - describing it as "The Larry Mullen Band for about 15 minutes, until Bono walked in blew any chance I had of being in charge." Mullen possesses an extremely sharp sense of rhythm; once when he insisted to producer Brian Eno that the electronic "click track" being used to sync the instrument parts during the production of a song was off, Eno discovered the track was, in fact, off by six milliseconds. Mullen's style has been described as "martial" (military-like), which may be due to his extensive experience as a boy in community marching bands. We played an example of Mullen's very "foreground" drumming style this morning: "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
Today In Music History: The Sex Pistols Hit The Shelves
Posted at 7:38 AM on October 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Stephen Morris of New Order is 54.
Singer-guitarist William Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain is 53.
Fiddler Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown) is 43.
Singer Ben Harper is 42.
Today in:
1961 - A customer at a Liverpool record store enquired about a record that he had heard and liked, "My Bonnie," by a local group. The record store clerk, a man by the name of Brian Epstein, became curious, sought out the mystery band and became their manager. The group was The Beatles.
1977 - Steve Perry joined Journey for their first public concert together, in San Francisco.
1992 - Sinead O'Connor was quoted by a British music magazine as saying she was giving up pop music to study opera.
1997 - A road-weary Bill Berry, drummer for R.E.M. announced that he was departing the band after 17 years.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, the Sex Pistols released their album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols in the U.S. It was released in the U.K. four days later. Yes, that's the same day that Steve Perry joined Journey, as mentioned before. There's your demonstration of the very schizophrenic state of rock, circa 1977. We played "Holidays In The Sun" from Never Mind The Bollocks.
Today In Music History: Ben E. King Records Some Big Singles
Posted at 6:01 AM on October 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Simon LeBon of Duran Duran is 53.
Singer Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver) is 44.
Today in:
1964 - The single "Come See About Me" by The Supremes was released.
1975 - Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Newsweek and Time. The magazines were embarrassed, but the coverage further stoked the boss's career.
History Highlight:
Today in 1960, Ben E. King, one-time lead vocalist for The Drifters, recorded his first songs as a soloist, two of which turned out to be timeless classics and bestsellers: "Stand By Me" and our choice today, "Spanish Harlem."
Today In Music History: The Stones Refuse Shampoo, Drive Teenage Girls Crazy
Posted at 6:03 AM on October 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers and 50.
Today in:
1968 - The original release of the Jimi Hendrix Experience double album Electric Ladyland caused a bit of a stir. The cover featured Jimi surrounded by naked women. It is now a collector's item.
1973 - John Lennon sued the U.S. government claiming that wiretaps and surveillance had been used against him and his lawyer and, as a result, his appeal applications in his fight against deportation were prejudiced by U.S. officials.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, The Rolling Stones made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." During their opening number, the screaming of girls in the audience was so intense that the band was unable to be heard. Although the band performed two more songs and the evening produced fantastic ratings for CBS, Sullivan himself was infuriated by the crowd's behavior (saying "It took me 17 years to build this show and I'm not going to have it destroyed in a matter of weeks") as well as the appearance of the band, saying in a letter to the Stones' manager Andrew Loog-Oldham, "We were deluged with mail protesting the untidy appearance - clothes and hair of your Rolling Stones. Before even discussing the possibility of a contract, I would like to learn from you whether your young men have reformed in the matter of dress and shampoo." The next time the band appeared on the show, they sported clean hair and sport jackets. We played one of the tunes from that infamous first performance, "Time Is On My Side". It sure was.
Rolling Stones - Time Is On My Side - Ed Sullivan … - MyVideo
Today In Music History: Syd's Lips Won't Move
Posted at 6:09 AM on October 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman is 75.
Today in:
1962 - James Brown's Live At The Apollo album was recorded. It sold more than a million copies.
1980 - Paul McCartney received a special disc from officials with the "Guinness Book of World Records" for being the best-selling songwriter and recording artist of all time. Between 1962 and 1978 he had written or co-written 43 songs that sold a million units or more.
1989 - New inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were Hank Ballard, Bobby Darin, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Holland-Dozier-Holland, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Who.
1995 - Smashing Pumpkins released their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Pink Floyd were forced to cancel their U.S. tour by their management after singer Syd Barrett either wouldn't or couldn't move his lips in sync as the band pretended to play their first single "Arnold Layne" on The Pat Boone Show.
Today In Music History: Louie Louie, We Gotta Go On TV
Posted at 6:02 AM on October 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays;
Tom Petty is 61.
Snoop Dogg is 40.
Today in:
1961 - Bob Dylan, accompanied only by his own guitar and harmonica, recorded his first album in a single day. His fee was just $400. On his income tax form, Dylan signed his name as "Blind Boy Grunt."
1976 - Led Zeppelin's concert film The Song Remains The Same premiered in London.
1977 - Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in the crash of a privately-chartered plane in Mississippi. The crash took the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines.
1992 - Madonna's album Erotica was released, one day before her book "Sex" hit the bookshelves.
History Highlight:
Today in 1965, the pride of the Northwest, The Kingsmen played "Louie Louie" on the TV show Shindig!.
Today In Music History: The Brothers Johnson Get A Hit With Shuggie
Posted at 6:09 AM on October 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967- Smokey Robinson and The Miracles released "I Second That Emotion."
1973 - David Bowie released Pin Ups, an album of his favorite covers. Twiggy posed with him on the cover.
1990 - The jury in the 2 Live Crew obscenity trial in Florida asked the judge for permission to laugh out loud. Some of the jurors said it actually was causing them pain to hold in their laughter.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, The Brothers Johnson were certified Gold with their single, the Shuggie Otis tune, "Strawberry Letter 23." What had been Otis' only charting single was turned into a slickly-produced Billboard #5 smash for the brothers, whose version is the better-known one to many listeners.
Today In Music History: Chuck Berry 85
Posted at 6:07 AM on October 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1952 - Hank Williams married his second wife, Billie Jean Jones, in Minden, Louisiana. The next day, they repeated their vows twice at two shows for concert-goers in New Orleans.
1967 - The satiric film How I Won the War premiered in London. It starred John Lennon as Private Gripweed.
1968 - John Lennon was arrested in Ringo Starr's London apartment for pot possession. The arrest became the basis for a battle by U.S. immigration officials who wanted to deport Lennon.
1968 - Led Zeppelin (briefly known as The New Yardbirds) played their first British engagement at the Marquee Theatre. For the record, Zep had made their world debut in Scandinavia earlier in the month.
1974 - Al Green's supposed girlfriend, Mary Woodson, shot herself to death at Green's home north of Memphis. That was after she had thrown a pot of boiling grits on Green as he was getting out of the bathtub.
1988 - Bruce Springsteen broke up the E Street Band, telling them he wanted to pursue his own projects. They have since reunited.
Birthday Highlight:
Chuck Berry is 85 today, born October 18th 1926 in St. Louis MO. One of the primary pioneers of rock n' roll music, Berry took the elements of rhythm and blues and refined and developed them into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive - with lyrics focusing on teen life and featuring guitar solos and showmanship that would be a major influence on subsequent rock music. His songs such as "Maybellene", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B. Goode" are considered classics, He still performs today. We honored Chuck on his 85th with "No Particular Place To Go."
Today In Music History: Long, Beautiful Hair
Posted at 6:00 AM on October 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Eminem is 39.
Singer Wyclef Jean of The Fugees is 39.
Today in:
1957 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, premiered in Memphis.
1962 - The Beatles made their first TV appearance in Britain, on the TV show People & Places. They sang "Love Me Do."
1979 - Fleetwood Mac's double album Tusk was released. It took two years to record and cost more than $1 million to produce. The album was only moderately successful when it came to sales.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, the musical Hair, dubbed "The American Tribal Love Rock Musical," made its premiere off-Broadway. From Wikipedia: "A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement. The musical's profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality, its irreverence for the American flag, and its nude scene caused much comment and controversy. The musical broke new ground in musical theatre by defining the genre of "rock musical", using a racially integrated cast, and inviting the audience onstage for a 'Be-In' finale." We played the musical's title song, as performed by The Cowsills.
Today In Music History: Paul Simon Is 70
Posted at 6:03 AM on October 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - The Who recorded "My Generation" in London.
1975 - Neil Young underwent surgery in Los Angeles to have a growth removed from his vocal cords.
1980 - AC/DC's Back In Black album went platinum.
1985 - Guitarist Ricky Wilson of The B-52's died of complications from AIDS. He was 32.
Birthday Highlight:
Paul Simon is 70 today. Best known for his enourmous success in the 1960s as part of the duo Simon and Garfunkel along with Art Garfunkel, Simon wrote most of the duo's classic, enduring songs like "The Sounds Of Silence," "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Simon's solo career, however, has been a strong and critically acclaimed one ever since as well, with classics from "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" and "Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard" to his groundbreaking album Graceland. He is also a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (first as a solo artist in 2001 and in 1990 as half of Simon & Garfunkel), as well as being the recipient of the first annual Library of Congress George Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007. A hugely significant American artist, we wished Paul Simon a happy 70th today with a track from his latest album, So Beautiful Or So What: "The After Life."
Today In Music History: A Little Richard Twofer
Posted at 6:14 AM on October 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens is 56.
Fiddler Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks is 42.
Today in:
1957 - Little Richard announced that he was giving up rock and roll for religion. He later was ordained as a minister, but eventually went back to playing rock and roll.
1962 - Little Richard played a gig in Liverpool, with a then-unknown local band called The Beatles opening for him. One wonders if he reconsidered going back to preaching on that day.
1975 - Rod Stewart and The Faces played their last show together at a concert on Long Island, New York.
1978 - Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols was arrested in New York in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.
1996 - The film documentary "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" was released. It had been filmed in December 1968 but was shelved for nearly 28 years because the Stones reportedly were afraid that The Who upstaged them in the film.
Since it was a Little RIchard twofer today in the news, we thought some Little Richard was in order. We played "Long Tall Sally."
Today In Music History: The Sex Pistols Record Their First Hit
Posted at 6:03 AM on October 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Daryl Hall is 65.
1960 - Aretha Franklin made her onstage debut at the Village Vanguard in New York.
1975 - With comedian George Carlin as guest host, Saturday Night Live debuted on NBC with musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston. The following week the show featured a reunion of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
1997 - Elton John had his eighth number one single in the US with a retooling of his earlier "Candle in the Wind." The original had been inspired by Marilyn Monroe; the revision was in memory of Princess Diana.
1999 - Michael Jackson's second wife, Deborah Rowe, filed for divorce after three years of marriage.
History Highlight:
Today in 1976, The Sex Pistols recorded their first single, "Anarchy in the U.K." It would be a smash, despite being banned by the BBC. Nothing like a little Johnny Rotten to wake you up in the morning.
Today In Music History: Happy 65th John Prine!
Posted at 6:05 AM on October 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Midge Ure of Ultravox is 58.
David Lee Roth is 57.
Today in:
1962 - The BBC banned Bobby (Boris) Pickett's song "Monster Mash" because it deemed the record offensive. To whom, monsters?
1970 - FCC Commissioner Johnson responded to Vice President Agnew's assertion that rock music drove youngsters to drugs, suggesting that Agnew would be well-advised to listen to it himself in order to better understand what was happening in his country.
1978 - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith were injured during a concert in Philadelphia when someone in the audience threw a cherry bomb onstage.
1979 - The city of Los Angeles declared Fleetwood Mac Day as the group received its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Birthday Highlight:
John Prine is 65 today. Prine began his career performing at open mic nights in Chicago, and was soon discovered by Kris Kristofferson (Kristofferson remarked that Prine wrote songs so good that "we'll have to break his thumbs"). Prine has enjoyed a successful career as a critically-acclaimed performer of poignant, sometimes funny songs about the human condition, and still performs today despite a close call with cancer in 1998. We played his classic tune, "Spanish Pipedream."
Today In Music History: Tone Loc Gets Arrested
Posted at 6:00 AM on October 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
John Mellencamp is 60.
Thom Yorke is 43.
Singer Damian Kulash of OK Go is 36.
Today in:
1967 - Mama Cass Elliot of The Mamas and The Papas spent the night incarcerated in London following a dispute over a hotel bill.
1975 - John Lennon won his battle against U.S. immigration authorities when a federal appeals court overturned an order to deport him. Officials had wanted to kick Lennon out of the country because of a drug arrest in Britain.
1978 - The Rolling Stones played "Beast Of Burden," and "Respectable" on Saturday Night Live.
2009 - Monkees vocalist Davy Jones ruled out ever reuniting with his former band mates after launching a scathing attack on each of his old pals in The National Enquirer. "It's not a case of dollars and cents. It's a case of satisfying yourself. I don't have anything to prove. The Monkees proved it for me."
History Highlight (Lowlight?):
Today in 1995, rapper Tone Loc was arrested for allegedly taking $80 from a pizza parlor in Los Angeles, arguing with the owner over a pizza, and demanding his money back. He pleaded no contest to the charges. We know you want to hear "Funky Cold Medina," so that's our featured song for the day.
Today In Music History: Tommy Stinson Is 45!
Posted at 5:56 AM on October 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Local, Music History
Birthdays:
David Hidalgo of Los Lobos is 57.
Matthew Sweet is 47.
Today in:
1969 - A George Harrison song became the A-side of a Beatles single for the first time, when The Beatles released "Something" backed with "Come Together."
1978 - Mick Jagger apologized to the Rev. Jesse Jackson for offensive lyrics in the Rolling Stones song "Some Girls," but he refused to change the words.
1980 - Former Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) was arrested after a barroom brawl in Dublin. He was ultimately acquitted of the charge.
1998 - Bruce Springsteen made an appearance in Britain's High Court in order to prevent the unauthorized release of a compact disc called "Before The Fame," which was recordings he had made prior to 1972. Bruce was involved in a similar case in the US. The recordings had been sold to record labels by his former manager. Springsteen won the case and the material was never released.
Birthday Highlight:
Tommy Stinson is 45 today. Thomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson began playing bass at the age of 11, and before long was playing in his older brother Bob's band Dogbreath along with drummer Chris Mars. As local music fans are well aware, the rest is history. After frontman Paul Westerberg came on board and the band eventually emerged as The Replacements, the band's manager Peter Jesperson became Tommy's legal guardian as the boys ventured out on tour to eventually become one of the greatest bands in the history of indie rock. Tommy's resume' today includes his own bands Bash n' Pop and Perfect, two solo albums, and of course, a long-running gig as the bassist for Guns n' Roses. From Tommy's brand new album One Man Mutiny, we played "Meant To Be."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Bob Geldof
Posted at 6:02 AM on October 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC is 64.
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists is 37.
Today in:
1962 - The Beatles' single "Love Me Do" backed with "P.S. I Love You" was released in Britain. It wasn't a hit in the U.S. until 1964.
1976 - The second album by the hit blue-eyed soul team of Hall & Oates, Abandoned Luncheonette, containing the hit single "She's Gone," was released and certified Gold three weeks later.
1988 - Smashing Pumpkins played their first show together, at a club in Chicago. They earned $50.
1999 - Paul McCartney released his first album since the death of his wife Linda the previous year. Run Devil Run consisted of obscure rock oldies, plus some McCartney originals.
Birthday Highlight:
Bob Geldof is 57 today. Geldof came to fame originally as lead singer of the Irish band The Boomtown Rats in the late 70s and early 80s, with hits like "I Don't Like Mondays." It's his activism that earned him his greatest acclaim and noteriety, however: Geldof co-wrote the hit charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" drawing attention to the plight of famine-plagued Ethiopia, and later orginized the historic Live Aid concerts to the same end in 1985. Geldof earned an Order of the British Empire honorary knighthood as a result. We played an early Boomtown Rats song this morning, "She's So Modern."
Today In Music History: Honoring Benjamin Orr
Posted at 6:01 AM on October 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Chubby Checker is 70.
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac is 62.
Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue is 49.
G. Love is 39.
Today in:
1945 - A 10-year-old Elvis Presley made his first public appearance on a talent show at the Mississippi-Alabama Dairy Show, singing "Old Shep." He won second place and $5.
1964 - The Animals' first self-titled album featuring "The House of The Rising Sun" entered the album charts.
1987 - Document by R.E.M. entered the charts.
Today's Tribute:
Today in 2000, singer-bassist Benjamin Orr of The Cars died of pancreatic cancer in Atlanta. He was 53. Orr had sung on many of the band's most memorable songs, including "Drive," "Let's Go," "Moving In Stereo" and "Just What I Needed." From The Cars' debut album, we played Ben Orr singing "Bye Bye Love."
Today In Music History: Neil Young Rocks SNL
Posted at 6:04 AM on September 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1961 - A young, unknown Bob Dylan played harmonica on three songs on friend Caroline Hester's first album for Columbia. Producer John Hammond was so impressed that he signed Dylan to a contract and arranged for his first solo recording session the following month.
1965 - Donovan made his American TV debut on "Shindig!"
1967 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney appeared on "The David Frost Show" to talk about the virtues of transcendental meditation as taught by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1971 - Yes began their first tour with a new keyboard player named Rick Wakeman.
1988 - John Lennon got a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
History Highlight:
Today in 1989, Neil Young played "Rockin' In the Free World" on Saturday Night Live, and it was awesome. Young had just released his album Freedom - somewhat of a return to the commercial mainstream for him - and his SNL performance on that night is regarded as one of the most memorable in the show's history.
Today In Music History: The Killer Is Almost A Killer
Posted at 6:13 AM on September 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jerry Lee Lewis is 76.
Singer-bassist Les Claypool of Primus is 48.
Today in:
1976 - While attempting to shoot a soda bottle with his .357 magnum, Jerry Lee Lewis hit his bass player, Norman Owens, twice in the chest. Lewis was charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits. Owens recovered.
1977 - James Brown's band walked out on him in Hallendale, FL, complaining that he underpaid them.
1989 - While on a motorcycle trip from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon, Bruce Springsteen stopped in at a small saloon in Prescott, Arizona, and wound up jamming with the house band. The Boss and The Mile High Band burned through "Don't Be Cruel," "I'm On Fire," "Route 66" and a couple of others. Turns out that one of the barmaids, Brenda Techanec, was talking about her problems paying her hospital bills. Springsteen overheard her and a week later she had a check for $100,000 in her hands.
It only seems appropriate that we play some Jerry Lee Lewis today, on the occasion of his birthday and his brush with, uh, being an actual killer; we chose "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."
Today In Music History: Dylan Gets Freewheelin'
Posted at 6:30 AM on September 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Ben E. King is 73.
Today in:
1963 - Famed New York deejay Murray The K received a copy of the Beatles' "She Loves You." He heard some potential and played it on the radio, thus becoming the first to spin John, Paul, George and Ringo in the US, or so the legend goes.
1968 - "Hey Jude" by the Beatles topped the singles charts and parked there for nine weeks. It was the longest single ever to make the Hot 100, clocking in at seven minutes and 11 seconds, until Richard Harris topped it with "MacArthur Park" (by 9 seconds) in 1972.
1968 - Janis Joplin's manager announced Joplin would leave Big Brother and the Holding Company in November after fulfilling current obligations. Joplin said she and the band "weren't growing together anymore."
1991 - Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis died of pneumonia, respiratory failure and a stroke. He was 65.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, Bob Dylan's The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan entered the charts. It was his second album but the first to contain mostly originals, like "Blowin' In The Wind."
Today In Music History: Stray Cats Get A Record Deal In England
Posted at 6:17 AM on September 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1964 - The Beach Boys made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
1979 - Elton John collapsed onstage at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles right after launching into the tune "Better Off Dead." The show continued after a 10-minute break, then went on for almost three hours.
1979 - Blondie released Eat To The Beat, which contained the hit "Dreaming."
1986 - The Beatles song "Twist and Shout" re-entered the pop charts after it was featured in the movies Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Back to School. It eventually rose to number 23.
1986 - The pioneering rap/rock version of "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. hit the Top 5.
History Highlight:
Today in 1980, the Stray Cats were signed to Arista Records in Britain. The band had developed a significant following in New York over the preceding couple of years (where it was rumored that members of the Rolling Stones, The Who, and Led Zeppelin where attending their shows), but it was in England where their career was taking off at an even faster pace. Their self-titled debut album contained the tune that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll, "Rock This Town."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Bryan Ferry
Posted at 6:15 AM on September 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos is 57.
Singer Tracy Thorn of Everything But The Girl is 49.
Today in:
1969 - The Beatles' last studio album, Abbey Road, was released in the U.K.
1973 - Holland's Focus picked up a Gold record for their unlikely rock guitar/yodeling hit, "Hocus Pocus."
1990 - Dave Grohl joined Nirvana.
2003 - Singer Robert Palmer died of a heart attack in Paris. He was 54.
2007 - Phil Spector's murder case ended in mistrial. He was accused of killing actress Lana Clarkson in his home in 2003. He was convicted in his second trial.
History Highlight:
Bryan Ferry is 66 today. The lead singer of Roxy Music who has also enjoyed a successful solo career for many years has always been one of the biggest icons of suave style in rock. We played Roxy Music's "Dance Away".
This Day in Music History: A Great Day to Be Born
Posted at 7:30 AM on September 23, 2011
by Jill Riley
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bruce Springsteen is 62.
Ray Charles was born on this day in 1930. He died June 11, 2004 in Los Angeles.
Ani Difranco is 41 (Gutsy, pioneering indie rocker/folkie, to the point of owning her own highly successful label, Righteous Babe Records.)
John Coltrane was born in 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. Died in 1967.
(One of the most important, innovative and controversial figures of jazz; tenor and soprano sax; played on some Miles Davis' most famous recordings; progressed from fairly straight ahead hard bop to the most avant-garde sounds imaginable)
Ben E. King is 73. (One-time lead vocalist with the hit '50s band The Drifters, sang on many of their most famous records; embarked on a hit solo career in the '60s with "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand By Me.")
Jerry Corbetta is 64. (Singer and keyboardist for hit '70s rock band Sugarloaf; "Green-Eyed Lady")
This Day in Music:
In 1957, Buddy Holly and the Crickets took it to #1 on the US singles chart with "That'll Be The Day." The title of the song was inspired by a catchphrase that John Wayne uttered repeatedly in the famous John Ford film, The Searchers.
In 1967, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention made their UK concert debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In 1969, One of the great hoaxes of the decade was instigated by an article in the University Of Illinois newspaper, The Northern Star. Headlined "Clues Hint At Beatles Death," it asserted that Paul McCartney had been killed a car wreck in 1966 and replaced by a look-alike. They backed up their assertions with some of the strangeness of the Sgt. Pepper album cover, and John Lennon's mumbling during the fade-out of "Strawberry Fields," interpreted by some as "I buried Paul." Lennon himself later claimed that he'd actually said "I'm very bored." Or was it "Ice berried spam?" "Here's another clue for you all...The Walrus was Paul."
In 1972, Mott The Hoople's All The Young Dudes, produced by David Bowie, was released.
In 1980, David Bowie took over the role of The Elephant Man on Broadway, replacing Phillip Anglim.
In 1995, Boogie-woogie pianist Lawrence "Booker T." Laury died in Memphis at age 81.
Today in Music History: Joan Jett
Posted at 7:30 AM on September 22, 2011
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthday:
Nick Cave is 54
This Day in Music:
In 1956, Billboard ran an article about the new music that was sweeping the nation which stated in part, "with new experiences to their credit, such as calling riot squads and with scars such as damaged seats, some arena and stadium officials have turned their thumbs down to Rock and Roll." It was only the beginning.
In 1965, A short tour of Scandinavia beginning in Copenhagen almost saw the derailment of the Who. Roger Daltrey became annoyed at Keith Moon's antics and punched him out. Roger was very close to be ousted from the group.
In 1965, San Francisco band The Great Society, featuring Grace Slick, made their stage debut at the Coffee Gallery in North Beach. Slick would later join the Jefferson Airplane.
In 1966, The Rolling Stones, accompanied by Ike and Tina and the Yardbirds, kicked off what would be their last British tour for four years. On this very same day, "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby?" was released in the UK.
In 1972, David Bowie's and the Spiders from Mars kicked off the first US Bowie tour at Cleveland's Music Hall.
In 1980, John Lennon set the wheels in motion for his comeback by signing with Geffen Records. Lennon would be the first signing by the new upstart label.
History Highlight:
Joan Jett is 51, born Joan Larkin on this day in 1960 in Philadelphia. Jett was the founding singer/guitarist of early '80s all-girl glitter pop-inspired hit group, The Runaways, then went on to have a huge solo career. She recorded a number of cover songs in her career and this morning we celebrated Joan's birthday with her version of "Crimson and Clover."
Today in Music History: Hendrix Covers Dylan
Posted at 7:30 AM on September 21, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Liam Gallagher is 39 (Oasis, Beady Eye)
Leonard Cohen is 77
This Day in Music:
In 1980, While jogging in New York City's Central Park, Bob Marley collapsed. Following extensive tests, it was determined that he was inflicted with cancer, which he ultimately died from.
In 1985, Thanks in part to the popular animated video and a big MTV push, "Money For Nothing" became Dire Straits' first #1 record.
In 1994, the Smashing Pumpkins were making a rapid ascent on the album charts with their Siamese Dream.
History Highlight:
In 1968, Jimi Hendrix's charged-up interpretation of Bob Dylan's acoustic "All Along The Watchtower" was released. Dylan reportedly dug it.
Today in Music History: Jim Croce
Posted at 7:24 AM on September 20, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Today in Music History:
In 1964, The Beatles completed their first official U.S. tour by performing a benefit concert. The band also made another appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1970, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found guilty of indecent exposure and use of profanity in connection with a concert in Miami in 1969. He was found innocent of lewdness and public drunkenness. The guilty verdicts were appealed, but Morrison died before the case was resolved.
In 1973, Neil Young & Crazy Horse played the opening night of the then brand new Roxy Club on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles.
In 1975, the Bay City Rollers were the first musical guests on Howard Cosell's short-lived Saturday night variety show.
Also in 1975, Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" album was released.
History Feature:
In 1973, singer Jim Croce and five others were killed when their plane crashed after takeoff. Croce was on his way to a concert in Texas. He was 30. We honored him this morning with "Time in a Bottle."
This Day in Music History: The Grievous Angel
Posted at 7:36 AM on September 19, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Daniel Lanois is 60. (Producer of distinction for Peter Gabriel, U2, Emmylou Harris, Dylan and the Neville Brothers, among others; also a talented singer/songwriter in his own right; his mentor was Brian Eno).
Mama Cass Elliot was born on this day in 1941. (born Ellen Naomi Cohen) Member of the '60s pop/rock group, The Mamas And The Papas. She died in 1974, of heart failure at Harry Nilsson's flat in London.
Brian Epstein was born on this day in 1934. (Manager of the Beatles, guiding them to unprecedented fame and fortune) He died in 1967.
This Day in Music History:
In 1958, New enlistee, Elvis Presley departed a Brooklyn naval base to sail to Germany, where he would join his Army unit.
In 1960, One-time chicken plucker, Chubby Checker hit # 1 on the singles chart with "The Twist."
In 1966, John Sebastian and The Lovin' Spoonful's well-timed "Summer in the City," their first # 1 hit, earned them a Gold record.
In 1968, The great Easy Rider bugs-in-your-teeth Harley-riding anthem, "Born to Be Wild" by John Kay and Steppenwolf was a giant hit, scoring the band a Gold record on this day.
In 1976, Calling it a "symbol of hope" for a world "so hopelessly divided," Promoter Sid Bernstein expressed his desire to reunite the Beatles for a concert. He also mentioned that the revenues from such an event would probably reach approximately $230 million. It was not to be.
In 1981, Simon and Garfunkel reunited before nearly half a million fans in Central Park. The 22-song set wound up to be a best-selling album and an HBO special.
In 1987, Willie Nelson assembled the Farm Aid benefit concert held at the University Of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. In addition to Willie, performers included John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Joe Walsh.
History Feature:
In 1973, Gram Parsons, at only 26, died of an overdose. A member of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, he has attained legendary status in the Americana world over the years. As a bizarre side note, his coffin was stolen by two of his friends at Los Angeles International Airport and brought back to site of his death in the desert in Joshua Tree, California, and then set ablaze.
This Day in Music History: Marc Bolan
Posted at 7:17 AM on September 16, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1964, The TV show Shindig! debuted on the ABC network featuring both British and American rock/pop performers, replete with go-go dancers. NBC responded with a clone called Hullabaloo a few months later.
In 1966, A member of Parliament requested that Britain's House Of Commons officially "deplore" the statement of a magistrate who'd described The Rolling Stones as "complete idiots...who wear filthy clothes."
In 1967, Are You Experienced?, the first Jimi Hendrix record, entered the album charts.
In 1970, Led Zeppelin displaced The Beatles as the UK's most popular band. The Fab Four had been tops since 1963. The poll was conducted by Melody Maker magazine.
In 1988, Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" became the first modern a capella record to hit #1.
In 1996, New Adventures In Hi-Fi by R.E.M. debuted on the album charts in the Top 5.
In 2002, Music City was still reveling in the success of the third annual Americana Music Association convention, held days earlier in downtown Nashville. The evening's loudest applause was for unannounced special guest Johnny Cash. Cash received the inaugural Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award, and later performed with his wife, June Carter Cash and members of their extended family. The performance would be among his last.
History Feature:
On this day in 1977, Pioneer Brit pop legend Marc Bolan of T. Rex died in an automobile crash in England.
Today in Music History: A Jazz Great is Born
Posted at 7:30 AM on September 15, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1962, The Beatles are "a nothing group," the conclusion of Brit journalist Peter Jones after having interviewed them for the London Daily Mirror.
In 1964, The aforementioned "nothing group" was ordered off the Cleveland Public Auditorium stage by authorities for 15 minutes in order to calm down the hysterical crowd.
In 1970, That 'nattering nabob of negativism,' Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, declared that the youth of America were being "brainwashed into a drug culture by rock music, movies, books and underground newspapers."
In 1973, One of the top rock tunes blasting out of the dashboard AM radio on this day was Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting."
In 1979, Bob Dylan released his "Christian" album, Slow Train Coming; it was produced by Mark Knopfler.
In 1980, David Bowie opened on Broadway as The Elephant Man.
In 1997, A French court awarded the equivalent of $15,000 to a French citizen after he lost his hearing when he stood too close to loudspeakers at a U2 concert four years earlier. I wonder if this guy has ever been to a Motorhead concert?
Birthday Highlight:
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (Important jazz figure, alto saxophonist who worked with Miles Davis; had one of the few instrumental jazz hit singles in the '60s with "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy") Born in 1928 in Tampa, Florida. Died in 1975 in Gary, Indiana.
Today in Music History: Nothing Compares to Prince
Posted at 7:37 AM on September 14, 2011
by Jill Riley
(5 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
This day in music:
In 1968, Pete Townshend of The Who announced his plans to write
a rock opera called "Tommy" about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy."
In 1969, Genesis played their first paid gig in Surrey, England.
In 1981, The Pink Floyd film The Wall began production.
In 1984, the first MTV Video Music Awards were held in New York.
Herbie Hancock was the big winner, winning five awards for his
"Rockit" video. However, Madonna stole the show with her
performance of "Like A Virgin" in which she rolled around on the
stage in a wedding dress.
In 1991, David Bowie and his band Tin Machine released their second album, II, and kicked off their first and only tour.
History Highlight:
In 1993, Prince released The Hits/The B-Sides box set. Included was "Nothing Compares to You," a song made famous by Sinead O'Connor, penned by Prince.
Today in Music History: Smells Like a Food Fight
Posted at 7:38 AM on September 13, 2011
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Fiona Apple is 34.
Bill Monroe, known as The Father of Bluegrass, was born on this day on 1911.
Music History:
On this day in 1960, The Federal Communications act was amended to outlaw payments of cash or gifts in exchange for airplay of records.
In 1965, It was another first for The Beatles as the band won a Grammy for Best Group and one for Best Album for A Hard Day's Night. Meanwhile, their single, "Yesterday" (b/w "Act Naturally") was released in the US.
In 1969, The Plastic Ono Band, featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, with a special appearance by Eric Clapton, played the Toronto Rock & Roll Revival. Most of the Plastic Ono Band's set later was released on the Live Peace In Toronto album.
1996, Tupac Shakur died after being shot six days earlier when he was driving through Las Vegas.
History Highlight:
True story or tall tale passed down through the ages? On this day in 1991, Geffen Records threw a party to launch Nirvana's single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' The band ended up being thrown out of their own party after starting a food fight.
This Day in Music History: The Man in Black
Posted at 7:42 AM on September 12, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Country singer George Jones is 80
Drummer Neil Peart of Rush is 59
Bassist Norwood Fisher of Fishbone is 46
Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) is 45
This Day in Music History:
In 1966, "The Monkees" made its debut on NBC.
In 1970, "Josie and the Pussycats" debuted on CBS.
In 1977, South African black student leader Steven Biko died while in police custody, causing an international uproar. Peter Gabriel wrote a song about him.
In 1987, Michael Jackson began a tour in Tokyo in support of the album "Bad."
In 1988, Pogues singer Shane MacGowan checked into a Dublin hospital with a severe case of nervous exhaustion.
In 1996, Oasis abruptly canceled its U.S. tour two-thirds of the way into it. The band said it was due to "internal differences."
2008, Kanye West was arrested on suspicion of vandalism after a row with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport. The incident happened before he cleared security screening at the airport before boarding a flight to Hawaii. A camera valued at $10,000 was broken in the incident, according to an airport spokesman.
History Feature:
On this day in 2003, Johnny Cash died at the age of 71. One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, he was known as "The Man in Black." He traditionally started his concerts by saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash."
Today In Music History: 40 Years Of "Imagine"
Posted at 6:03 AM on September 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 59.
Today in:
1956 - On his first of three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS, Elvis created a sensation performing "Love Me Tender," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Ready Teddy." This was despite the fact that he was allowed to be seen only from the waist up due to the fear that The King's gyrating hips would cause mass hysteria.
1967 - The Sam & Dave classic "Soul Man" was released. It was later successfully revived by the Blues Brothers.
1978 - U2 opened for The Stranglers at the Top Hat near Dublin. The Stranglers took up two dressing rooms while Bono and the boys had to change clothes behind their amps.
1998 - Johnny Rotten was the defendant accused of head-butting a drummer over a contract dispute. The proceedings would later be aired on an episode of Judge Judy.
2008 - Noel Gallagher of Oasis was injured when a man ran on stage at a concert in Toronto and shoved Gallagher into a speaker.
History Highlight:
Forty years ago today, in 1971, the album Imagine by John Lennon was released. His second solo effort, Imagine was more commercial and accessible than his debut, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The title track, a plea for world peace, became Lennon's signature song, but other tracks have endured as favorites as well, including "Jeolous Guy" and "Gimme Some Truth," and the album's closer, "Oh Yoko!"
Today In Music History: Honoring Patsy Cline
Posted at 6:00 AM on September 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Aimee Mann is 51.
Neko Case is 41.
Drummer Richard Hughes of Keane is 36.
Today in:
1947 - Benjamin Orr of The Cars was born.
1976 - Peter Frampton, along with his girlfriend and manager, spent the night at The White House at the invitation of Steven Ford, President Ford's son. They spent most of the time watching TV with the President.
1976 - The debut album by Heart, Dreamboat Annie, was certified Gold. It contained the hits "Magic Man" and "Crazy On You."
1982 - Peter Gabriel released his fouth solo album - yet another one simply called Peter Gabriel. Geffen Records balked and gave the American release a title: Security. The album contained Gabriel's biggest hit to date, "Shock The Monkey."
History Highlight:
Patsy Cline was born on this day in 1932 in Gore, Virginia. An American musical icon and hugely influential artist who inspired singers from K.D. Lang, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris to Lucinda Williams, Linda Ronstadt and countless other artists, Cline died at the age of 30 at the peak of her popularity in a plane crash. Demonstrating her beloved stature, over 25,000 people attended her funeral. Honoring Patsy Cline today, we played her signature tune, "Crazy."
Today In Music History: Chrissie Hynde Is 60
Posted at 6:09 AM on September 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1936 - Buddy Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas.
1978 - Who drummer Keith Moon died in London of an overdose of a drug he was prescribed to combat alcoholism.
1985 - Somehow, David Bowie and Mick Jagger hit #1 in Britain with their horrible cover of Martha Reeves and The Vandellas' 1964 hit "Dancing In The Street." Bowie and Jagger's version had been recorded for Live Aid.
1985 - Ringo Starr became the first Beatle to be a grandfather when son Zak and his wife Sarah had a daughter named Tatia.
2002 - Warren Zevon died in his sleep at his home near Los Angeles, a year after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He was 56. His final album, The Wind, had been released just two weeks earlier.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer, guitarist and songwriter Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders is 60 today. Raised in Ohio, Hynde moved to London in the '70s where she played in different groups before forming The Pretenders in 1978. Hynde has been the band's leader and sole consistent member through the years, weathering the initial shock of the death of two original members early on followed by multiple lineup changes since. Hynde is also an active supporter of PETA and animal rights, and owns a vegan restaurant in her native Akron, Ohio. We honored Chrissie Hynde with one of The Pretenders' greatest hits this morning, "Talk Of The Town."
Today In Music History: Clapton Records With The Beatles
Posted at 5:58 AM on September 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-bassist Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 68.
Singer Macy Gray is 44.
Today in:
1969 - James Brown pleaded exhaustion and declared his intention to retire from live performing. He was a little stressed at the time, battling a paternity suit filed by a one-time president of his fan club.
1989 - Paula Abdul and Madonna dominated the sixth annual MTV Awards. After the show, MTV apologized to viewers because of a performance by Andrew Dice Clay, who made remarks about overweight women and sex.
1997 - Elton John recorded "Candle in the Wind 1997" just hours after performing it at Princess Diana's funeral. It became the best-selling single of all time.
2001 - Earth Wind and Fire announced that their 30th anniversary would be sponsored by Viagra.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, Eric Clapton stepped in to record the famous guitar solo on the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The band had recorded the song several times, including a version with a backward guitar solo (as Harrison had done for "I'm Only Sleeping" on Revolver), but Harrison wasn't happy with any of the takes. When he first invited Clapton to play on the song, Clapton was reluctant - he said, "Nobody ever plays on the Beatles' records" - but Harrison convinced him. Harrison also noted that Clapton's presence in the studio had another effect on the band: "It made them all try a bit harder," he said. "They were all on their best behavior."
Today In Music History: Stars Play For Amnesty International
Posted at 6:10 AM on September 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in "for better or for worse" history:
1978 - George Harrison married Olivia Trinidad Arias, a secretary at his Dark Horse Records company.
1989 - Singer Ric Ocasek of The Cars married model Paulina Porizkova.
1989 - Ozzy Osbourne was arrested for allegedly trying to kill his wife, Sharon, after a drinking binge. The case was dropped after he went into rehab and the couple reconciled.
In other music history:
1995 - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland. The event featured a concert with Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Berry, and several others.
2005 - Kanye West went off the script during an NBC telethon to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He said, among other things, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
History Highlight:
Today in 1988, the "Amnesty International Human Rights Now!" tour opened in London. It featured Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting, Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel, and African star Youssou N'Dour, and it hit 15 countries. Youssou N'Dour, by the way, is that guy who sings at the end of Gabriel's "In Your Eyes," so there's our excuse to play that tune.
Today In Music History: John, I'm Only Dancing
Posted at 6:19 AM on September 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Grant Lee Phillips is 48.
Today in:
1977 - Blondie signed their first major record contract with Chrysalis Records.
1977 - Generation X, Billy Idol's former band, released their debut single, "Your Generation." In a review for a Brit newspaper, Elton John slagged it as "really dreadful garbage" and said, "The Ramones do this sort of thing so much better."
1983 - Guitarist Mick Jones was dismissed from the Clash by Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon for "drifting apart from the original concept of the band." The Clash soon broke up afterwards and Jones went on to form Big Audio Dynamite.
1989 - A judge in Dublin, Ireland, decided not to convict U2 bassist Adam Clayton of marijuana possession, even though he admitted to the crime. Clayton agreed to contribute money to a women's center in Dublin.
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, David Bowie's "John, I'm Only Dancing" was successfully released in the U.K. but reportedly held back in the U.S. until 1976 due to its supposed gay content (interpreted as being the statement of a gay man assuring his lover to not worry, he's "only dancing" with a female). Music writer Nicholas Pegg has asserted that the song's narrator "could just as easily be a straight man reassuring the girl's lover". Alternatively, it has been suggested that Bowie wrote the song in response to a derogatory comment made by John Lennon about Bowie's cross-dressing.
Today In Music History: "Be My Baby" Debuts
Posted at 6:31 AM on August 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Van Morrison is 66.
Singer Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze is 54.
Drummer Gina Schock of The Go-Go's is 54.
Today in:
1969 - Bob Dylan made his first paid appearance since having nearly died in a motorcycle accident three years earlier. He played a one-hour set backed by The Band at Britain's Isle Of Wight Festival.
1974 - John Lennon contended in federal court that the Nixon administration was trying to have him deported because of his participation in anti-war demonstrations at the 1972 Republican convention.
1976 - George Harrison was found guilty and fined for borrowing from The Chiffons' song, "He's So Fine," in portions of his "My Sweet Lord."
1979 - INXS played its first gig in Sydney, Australia.
1987 - The album Bad by Michael Jackson was released in North America.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, "Be My Baby," by The Ronettes debuted on the singles chart. Written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich and produced by Spector, "Be My Baby" is often cited as the ultimate embodiment of Spector's Wall of Sound.
Today In Music History: The Last Great Stones Album?
Posted at 6:02 AM on August 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1973 - Rolling Stone reported that The Doors had broken up after the death of Jim Morrison and that keyboardist Ray Manzarek was putting together a new band.
1989 - Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin was arrested for making a public disturbance on a USAir flight. He allegedly urinated on the floor, verbally abused a flight attendant and smoked in a non-smoking section.
1995 - Sleeps With Angels by Neil Young & Crazy Horse was a Top 10 album on this day. The record was Neil's reaction to the suicide death of Kurt Cobain.
History Highlight:
Today in 1981, Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones was released. It proved to be a big critical and commercial success for the Stones; it's their album to reach the top position of the US charts, ending a string of number ones dating back to 1971's Sticky Fingers. Tattoo You is an album primarily composed of outtakes from previous recording sessions, some dating back a decade, with new vocals and overdubs placed on top; "Start Me Up" and "Hang Fire" came from the Emotional Rescue sessions, and the albums other big single, "Waiting On A Friend" actually dated from the Goats Head Soup sessions from 1972, featuring Mick Taylor on guitar rather than Ronnie Wood.
Today In Music History: "Oh, Pretty Woman" Hits The Airwaves
Posted at 6:00 AM on August 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1958 - George Harrison joined John Lennon's band The Quarrymen, which also included bassist Paul McCartney and Ken Brown on drums.
1966 - The Beatles ended their U.S. tour by performing what would be their last public concert, before 25,000 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
2002 - Eminem drew boos at the MTV Video Music Awards after he called Moby a girl and threatened to hit a guy with glasses, which Moby was wearing. That same night, Michael Jackson accepted a special award as a birthday present that he mistook for the Artist of the Millennium award.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison was released. The song was a worldwide success for Orbison, and in 1999, the song was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and was named one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #222 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
Today In Music History: Sexy Sadie, What Have You Done?
Posted at 6:14 AM on August 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Shirley Manson of Garbage is 45.
Today in:
1968 - The Beatles released "Hey Jude" as a single.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix played what proved to be his last concert, at the Isle of Wight Pop Festival off the English coast. Three weeks later, Hendrix died in London.
1980 - Bassist Tom Petersson left Cheap Trick to form his own band. Bad career move! He rejoined Cheap Trick in 1988.
1983 - The movie Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence starring David Bowie, opened in the U.S.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, The Beatles joined their new guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at a press conference, during which Paul McCartney told the media that the band had quit drugs. "It was an experience we went through," he says. "We don't need it anymore. We're finding different ways to get there." Their relationship with the Maharishi soon fell apart, however; Lennon and Harrison departed two weeks later after hearing a rumour that the Maharishi had made sexual advances towards actress Mia Farrow and a few other women. As he was departing, Lennon wrote the song "Maharishi" (with the lines: "what have you done? You made a fool of everyone") as he was leaving. George Harrison argued that the title was disrespectful and possibly libelous, and thus the title and lyrics were changed from "Maharishi" to "Sexy Sadie."
Today In Music History: Boston, Baby, Boston!
Posted at 6:01 AM on August 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gene Simmons of Kiss is 62.
Elvis Costello is 57.
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is 44.
Today in:
1970 - Elton John made his U.S. debut at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. The performance kicked off a brief tour and led to a recording contract with MCA.
1986 - Paul Simon's "Graceland" album was released.
1994 - Jimmy Page and Robert Plant taped a show in London for MTV's Unplugged series. It was later released as Unledded.
History Highlight:
Today in 1976, Boston released their self-titled album. Boston peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified as selling 17-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album is the second best-selling debut album of all-time in the United States, after Guns N' Roses' "Appetite for Destruction." All eight of the songs on the album still receive regular airplay on classic rock radio to this day, across the country. The critics though? They've never been fans; in the band's '70s heyday, Boston was mercilessly dismissed as being the epitome of slick, soulless corporate rock. While it's true that Boston's sound was characterized by a particularly elaborate production style and lyrics that had very little of substance to say, we here at the Morning Show have never felt the degree of critical scorn the band has earned over the ages was deserved. In fact, we hear an amazing power-pop melodicism in Boston's music that we love, and we'll defend Boston's place in the rock history pantheon to our dying days. From Boston Boston, we played "Something About You."
Today In Music History: Stevie Tops The Charts
Posted at 6:02 AM on August 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - The members of The Beatles met the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time in London. During a private meeting, the Maharishi accepted them as disciples.
1968 - Who drummer Keith Moon drove a Lincoln into the swimming pool of a hotel in Flint, Michigan, to cap off his birthday.
1979 - The Cars played before half a million people in New York's Central Park.
1990 - A judge in Reno, Nevada, ruled that Judas Priest was not responsible for a suicide pact formed by two fans. But, he said the band's Stained Class album did contain hidden messages.
1990 - Sinead O'Connor banned the "Star-Spangled Banner" from her show in New Jersey. Some radio stations, in turn, refused to play O'Connor's music.
History Highlight:
Today in 1960, Stevie Wonder was the first musician to reach number one on the pop and R-and-B charts with "Fingertips, Part 2" and number one on the album chart with The 12-Year-Old Genius.
Today In Music History: "Honky Tonk Women" Reaches #1
Posted at 6:11 AM on August 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Julian Casablancas of The Strokes is 33.
Today in:
1962 - John Lennon and Cynthia Powell got married in Liverpool, England. She filed for divorce in 1968.
1969 - Johnny Cash began a four-week run at the top of the album chart with the live album Johnny Cash At San Quentin.
1970 - Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground performed together for the last time at Max's Kansas City in New York.
1970 - Emerson, Lake and Palmer made their concert debut in Portsmouth, England.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, The Rolling Stones hit #1 in the U.S. with the Texas barroom-sounding rock classic, "Honky Tonk Women." The band initially recorded the track called "Country Honk", in early February 1969, which was included on Let It Bleed. The song was transformed into the familiar electric, riff-based hit single "Honky Tonk Women" sometime in the spring of 1969; Keith Richards credits newly added guitarist Mick Taylor for influencing the track, saying "the song was originally written as a real Hank Williams/Jimmie Rodgers/1930s country song. And it got turned around to this other thing by Mick Taylor, who got into a completely different feel, throwing it off the wall another way." Taylor, for his part, modestly denies influencing the arrangment. The song opens with a familiar cowbell part, played by band's producer Jimmy Miller.
Today In Music History: Dancing In The Streets
Posted at 6:01 AM on August 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears is 50.
Tori Amos is 48.
Keyboardist Bo Koster of My Morning Jacket is 37.
Today in:
1956 - Filming began on Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley's first movie.
1968 - John Lennon's wife Cynthia filed for divorce, one day shy of their sixth anniversary. By this time, John was seeing Yoko Ono, whom he married in 1969.
1979 - Led Zeppelin released In Through The Out Door. The record cover was one of the most expensive and elaborate covers ever produced (if you put water on the inside sleeve artwork, it turns different colors).
1992 - Sting wed Trudy Styler, his longtime girlfriend and mother of his children.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, the original "Dancing In The Street" by Martha & The Vandellas was released. Written by William "Mickey" Stevenson and Marvin Gaye, it is considered one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's most well known single.
Today In Music History: John Deacon of Queen is 60
Posted at 6:02 AM on August 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Ginger Baker (Cream, Blind Faith) is 72.
Former MTV reporter Tabitha Soren is 44.
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles opened their first U.S. tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Other acts on the bill included the Righteous Brothers and Jackie DeShannon.
1967 - "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles hit number one on the pop charts. That same day, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen had another child, a boy named Jason.
Birthday Highlight:
Bassist John Deacon of Queen is 60 today. Deacon was the youngest member of the band, being only 19 years old when he was recruited by the other members. Today, he is retired from the music industry. Deacon wrote a number of Queen's hit singles, including "Another One Bites The Dust" and "I Want to Break Free." We played a classic Queen tune that Deacon penned, "You're My Best Friend."
Today In Music History: The Police Get Their Lineup
Posted at 6:09 AM on August 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Francis Bean, daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, is 19.
Today in:
1956 - "Hound Dog" by Elvis entered the R&B chart at #11.
1962 - Ringo Starr played his first gig with The Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He replaced Pete Best.
1977 - Elvis Presley was buried at a Memphis cemetery, with about 75,000 people gathered outside. His body was moved to the grounds of Graceland after burglars tried to break into the original mausoleum. To this day, Elvis is still dead.
1991 - Keyboardist Billy Preston was arrested after a 16-year-old boy reported being sexually attacked. Preston was released on bail.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, after the firing of original guitarist Henry Padovani, The Police settled into the trio lineup they would hold throughout the remainder of their career. Padovani had been the original sole guitarist, but when Andy Summers joined the band, it became apparent that his technical abilities so significantly outstripped Padovani's that soon afterward the original guitarist was sacked. We played the band's first single this morning, the one released before Summer's joined - "Fall Out."
Today In Music History: The Monkees' First Hit
Posted at 6:09 AM on August 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Madonna is 53.
Today in:
1974 - The Ramones played their first gig in New York.
1977 - Elvis Presley was found dead at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. Doctors first said he died of congestive heart failure, but an investigation revealed drugs may have been a factor.
1983 - Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher got married. They divorced in 1985.
1986 - MTV began airing the video for "Walk This Way" by Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, The Monkees released their first single, "Last Train to Clarksville." Written by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, the song has been compared to The Beatles' "Paperback Writer" in general feel and "jangly-ness," and helped to establish the "Pre-Fab Four's" TV-image as a Beatles-like band. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 on November 5, 1966.
Today In Music History: Happy 50th Matt Johnson of The The
Posted at 6:08 AM on August 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - The Beatles performed before a capacity crowd at New York's Shea Stadium, which, at the time, set a record for the largest audience to gather for a concert.
1969 - The Woodstock Music and Arts Fair opened in upstate New York. During "Three Days Of Peace And Music," dozens of acts performed before the crowd that had gathered on Max Yasgur's farm, including The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and many others.
1980 - George Harrison published a semi-autobiographical book, I, Me, Mine.
2000 - David Bowie and his wife, Iman, celebrated the birth of their first child, a girl named Alexandria Zahra Jones.
Birthday Highlight:
Matt Johnson, founder and leader of The The, is 50 today. Johnson is the only permanent member of band, and from 1983-1988 (and again from 2002-present) he was the only official member (the band's lineup at times grew to a large, full-fledged roster, including Johnny Marr as guitarist from '88-'94). From the 1992 album Dusk, featuring Marr, we played "Slow Emotion Replay."
Today In Music History: Flash! He's A Miracle!
Posted at 5:55 AM on August 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits is 62.
Today in:
1960 - The Silver Beetles recruited drummer Pete Best. The band later became The Beatles, and Best was dropped in favor of Ringo Starr.
1966 - John Lennon apologized at a news conference for his remark that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus. That same day, The Beatles started their last North American tour, in Chicago.
1994 - Woodstock '94 was held in Saugerties, N.Y. About 350,000 people saw the show, which included mudfights during Green Day's and Nine Inch Nails' sets and the Red Hot Chili Peppers dressed as human light bulbs.
History Highlight:
Actor Sam J. Jones is 57 today. While there's nothing musical about Jones himself, he did play the title role in the super-campy 1980 film version of Flash Gordon, and any reason to play Queen's awesome theme from that movie is a good reason, especially on a Friday.
Today In Music History: Green Onions Is Released
Posted at 6:03 AM on August 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Joe Jackson is 57.
Today in:
1968 - The Beatles released "Hey Jude" backed with "Revolution," the first single from their Apple Records label.
1982 - The premiere album by the Pretenders, which featured "Brass In Pocket" and "Kid," went Platinum two and a half years after its release.
1985 - Singer Simon LeBon of Duran Duran was rescued from his yacht, which had capsized during a race off the British coast. His rescuer later received a medal of bravery.
1986 - Six early albums by The Monkees re-entered Billboard's top albums chart after almost 20 years.
1999 - Bassist Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue was arrested for allegedly inciting violence at a show in Las Vegas. Police say he told the crowd to flip cop cars.
History Highlight:
Today in 1962, the Booker T. and the MG's classic instrumental "Green Onions" was released by Stax Records. When is it ever a bad time to listen to Green Onions?
Today In Music History: Wipeout!
Posted at 6:13 AM on August 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ronnie Bennett Greenfield (formerly Ronnie Spector) is 68.
Today in:
1970 - A trial began for singer Jim Morrison of The Doors, who was accused of exposing himself to an audience in Miami.
1972 - Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested for drug possession in Gothenburg, Sweden, and fined $1,200. Paul McCartney said the arrest would "make good publicity" for the concert that night.
1976 - Elton John began a seven-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden. The sold-out shows helped John break a house attendance record that had been held by the Rolling Stones.
1985 - Michael Jackson purchased ATV's music catalog for $47.5 million, picking up more than 250 Beatles tunes in the process. Jackson outbid Paul McCartney, who had advised The Gloved One to invest in a music catalog in the first place.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, The ultimate in surf guitar instrumentals, The Surfaris' "Wipeout," peaked at #2 on the charts. "Wipeout" wasn't supposed to be the hit; it was originally the b-side of the song "Surfer Joe," but DJs found the song to be the better of the two.
Today In Music History: Honoring Benjamin Orr
Posted at 6:20 AM on August 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper Kurtis Blow is 52.
Today in:
1962 - Robert Zimmerman legally became Bob Dylan.
1967 - Jerry Lee Lewis worked the crowd into such a frenzy at the Sunberry Blues & Jazz Festival in Britain that he was asked to leave the stage.
1991 - Rick James pleaded innocent to charges he imprisoned, tortured and sexually assaulted a woman in his California home.
1995 - Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack while undergoing drug rehabilitation. He was 53.
1996 - The Ramones officially broke up.
2003 - Roger Daltrey of The Who made his LA stage debut playing Dr. Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
Birthday Highlight:
Benjamin Orr, bass player and singer for The Cars, was born on this day in 1955 in Cleveland Ohio. He would have been 56 today. Orr shared lead vocals in the band with Ric Ocasek during The Cars' '70s and '80s heyday, on such hits as "Let's Go," "Just What I Needed," "Drive," "Moving In Stereo" and many others. Orr died in 2000 of pancreatic cancer. We played "It's All I Can Do."
Today In Music History: Janis Joplin Honors Bessie Smith
Posted at 6:10 AM on August 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist The Edge (born David Evans) of U2 is 50.
Today in:
1986 - David Crosby was paroled from a Texas prison. He had been serving time for drug and weapons charges.
1992 - Metallica singer James Hetfield was injured by a stage explosion at a concert in Montreal. At that same show, Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose lost his voice and cut short their set. Fans rioted when the concert ended early.
2004 - A bus driver for the Dave Matthews Band dumped human waste from the bus into the Chicago River - and right onto a tour boat carrying more than 100 passengers. The band later settled with the state of Illinois, and the driver plead guilty to reckless conduct and pollution charges.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, singer Bessie Smith finally received a marker for her grave in Philadelphia, 33 years after her death. Janis Joplin cited Smith as one of her influences and actually bought the marker for Smith's grave herself. Sometimes referred to as "The Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s, and along with Louis Armstrong, she's often cited as a major influence on subsequent jazz vocalists. We played one of her trademark songs, "Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl."
Today In Music History: Syd Is Too Freaky For America
Posted at 5:58 AM on August 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Pat Smear of Foo Fighters is 52.
Rapper Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys is 47.
Today in:
1957 - "American Bandstand" with host Dick Clark debuted on ABC. The first act to appear was The Chordettes, who later had a big hit with the song "Lollipop."
1966 - The Beatles released their Revolver album in Britain. It was released in the U.S. four days later.
1983 - David Crosby met Texas justice. He was sentenced to five years in a Texas jail for cocaine and firearms charges.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Pink Floyd's first album, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, was released in the U.K. The album featured Syd Barrett and the trippy U.K. hit single, "See Emily Play," which tanked here in the states.
Today In Music History: The Stones In Drag
Posted at 6:03 AM on August 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Actor Billy Bob Thornton, who seems to believe he is also a musician, is 56.
Today in:
1963 - "Surfer Girl" by The Beach Boys was released.
1969 - The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson was indicted for failure to report for civilian duty for two years in place of ordered military duty. He wound up teaching music lessons to handicapped patients at LA County hospital instead.
1971 - Ringo picked up a Gold record for "It Don't Come Easy," an unlikely but catchy hit which he wrote and George Harrison produced.
1980 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono began work on the album Double Fantasy. It ended up being Lennon's last studio effort. He was shot to death later that year.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, The Rolling Stones recorded their longest title yet - "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standin' In The Shadows." The cover sleeve for the song, released on September 23th, generated some controversy; it featured the lads in drag, strolling down Park Avenue. It is famous for its horns arrangement (the first Stones song to feature brass) and is one of the earliest songs to use feedback from the guitars.
Today In Music History: Wake Up, Little Susie
Posted at 6:09 AM on August 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Lee Rocker of Stray Cats is 50.
Singer-guitarist James Hetfield of Metallica is 48.
Today in:
1966 - John Lennon announced, "We're bigger than Jesus now." Although he may have been correct, the comment resulted in a temporary ban on all Beatles music by nearly all U.S. radio stations.
1971 - Paul McCartney announced the formation of Wings, which featured his wife Linda on keyboards. Other members included former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine.
1979 - The Knack topped both the album and the singles charts, with their album Get the Knack and the single "My Sharona."
2002 - Bob Dylan played the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island for the first time in 37 years. In 1965, the crowd was outraged when he played electric guitar at the festival.
History Highlight:
Today in 1956, during their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Everly Brothers sang "Wake Up Little Suzie" for the first time. Innocuous enough sounding now, maybe, but the single created quite a stir at the time because it many listeners heard it as depicting the aftermath of teenage sex, and it was banned by some radio stations.
Today In Music History: Satchmo Gets An Airport
Posted at 6:02 AM on August 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1961 - The Beatles began an engagement as the regular headliners at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. The band performed more than 300 times in the course of two years.
1969 - Bob Dylan showed up unexpectedly to his tenth year high school reunion in Hibbing. He and his wife left early after a drunk tried to pick a fight with him.
1974 - A funeral was held in Hollywood for Mama Cass Elliot. Her body was cremated and her ashes were buried in Maryland.
1991 - Rick James and his girlfriend, Tanya Hijazi, were arrested in Los Angeles and charged with sexually assaulting and torturing a woman.
History Highlight:
Today in 2001, the New Orleans International Airport became Louis Armstrong Airport, named for the great jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader. We played a little Satchmo with Ella Fitzgerald, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off."
Today In Music History: Well, It Was Exciting At The Time
Posted at 6:01 AM on August 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Michael Penn is 53.
Chuck D of Public Enemy is 51.
Guitarist Suzi Gardner of L7 is 51.
Today in:
1960 - Chubby Checker released the single "The Twist."
1971 - The Concerts for Bangladesh were held at New York's Madison Square Garden. It was the first large-scale benefit concert and a precursor to shows like Live Aid. The concerts featured George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Badfinger, Ringo Starr
and Billy Preston.
1977 - The book Elvis - What Happened was released to bookstores nationwide. It was an expose' by two former bodyguards who presented Elvis as an overweight recluse. Elvis died two weeks later.
1986 - U2 began recording sessions in Dublin, Ireland, that became their album The Joshua Tree.
History Highlight:
Today in 1981, MTV made its debut on cable stations across the U.S. The first video played was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.
Today In Music History: Goodbye Mama Cass
Posted at 6:01 AM on July 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer/bassist Geddy Lee of Rush is 58.
Musician/Producer Danger Mouse is 34.
Today in:
1965 - The Beatles' second film, Help, had its royal premiere at London's Pavillion Theatre. Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance.
1966 - Bob Dylan was involved in a motorcycle accident near Woodstock, N.Y. He suffered critical injuries and took months to recover. Because of the secrecy surrounding the incident, the rumors ran rampant that Dylan was in a coma, was a vegetable or dead, would never perform again, was dodging the draft or had lost his mind from drug use.
1968 - Gram Parsons refused to set foot in South Africa, a country that then had an apartheid policy, resulting in the Byrds embarking on their South African tour without him.
Today's Tribute:
Today in 1974, Mama Cass Elliott was found dead in London. Although it was rumored that the former Mamas and Papas lead singer had choked on a ham sandwich, the coroner ruled she had suffered a heart attack. She was 30. Honoring Mama Cass, we played her solo single, "Dream A Little Dream Of Me."
Today In Music History: You Say You Want Commercial Appropriation
Posted at 6:07 AM on July 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Marc Perlman of The Jayhawks is 50.
Today in:
1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis made his TV debut on The Steve Allen Show.
1958 - Billboard magazine warned that driving along listening to rock & roll music could "cost the motorist money" by compelling him to press the gas pedal in rhythm, thereby wasting fuel.
1970 - The Australian western film Ned Kelly opened on this day; it marked Mick Jagger's acting debut.
1973 - More than 600,000 turned out to see the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band and others in concert at Watkin's Glen, New York, in one of the largest festivals of all time.
History Highlight:
Today in 1987, surviving members of The Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use of the song "Revolution" in shoe commercials. (Yoko Ono had been in favor of the song's use in the spot, saying that it "exposed John (Lennon's) music to a younger generation"). George Harrison summed up the anger of the other three Beatles, however, saying that if this sort of thing was allowed to happen, "every Beatles song ever recorded is going to be advertising women's underwear and sausages."
Today In Music History: A-Wimoweh, A-Wimoweh ...
Posted at 6:06 AM on July 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Juliana Hatfield is 44.
Singer Pete Yorn is 37.
Today in:
1955 - "Maybellene," the first hit single by Chuck Berry, entered the R&B charts.
1976 - John Lennon was granted permanent U.S. residency following a lengthy battle with immigration officials.
1976 - Tina Turner filed for divorce from Ike Turner.
1979 - A firebomb was thrown through a window of an Indian art store in Scottsdale, Arizona, owned by Alice Cooper. Cooper said maybe a "disco-music freak" was to blame, because he had been making some "anti-disco remarks."
1984 - The movie Purple Rain opened in the U.S. and Canada.
1985 - A concertgoer jumped onstage at a Cure concert in Los Angeles and stabbed himself with a hunting knife. Fans did not know it was not part of the show.
History Highlight:
Today in 1961, The Tokens recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" at a studio in New York. Also known as "Wimoweh" (and originally as "Mbube" as recorded by South African artist Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds 1939), it was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers, Jimmy Dorsey, Yma Sumac, Miriam Makeba, and The Kingston Trio. The Tokens' version became the big hit.
Today In Music History: Music Videos Get Noticed
Posted at 6:58 AM on July 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Mick Jagger is 68.
Drummer Roger Taylor of Queen is 62.
Drummer Dan Konopka of OK Go is 37.
Today in:
1977 - Robert Plant's six-year old son died of a respiratory ailment. Led Zeppelin was on tour in the U.S. at the time, and the remaining seven dates were canceled.
1977 - In an attempt to attract the attention of CBS Record execs inside, Elvis Costello busked outside the London Hilton. He was promptly arrested and fined £5. To their credit, CBS invited him back for an audition.
1996 - Donnie Osmond apologized to TV host Rosie O'Donnell for making a comment about her weight during an earlier appearance on her show. She made him sing "Puppy Love" to her in a dog suit.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, Rolling Stone proclaimed in an article that the "newest selling tool for rock" was the "promotional video." They cited Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as well as "Boys Keep Swinging" by David Bowie.
Today In Music History: Payola Crackers
Posted at 5:57 AM on July 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth is 53.
Today in:
1965 - Bob Dylan was booed off the stage at the Newport Folk Festival when he began playing an electric guitar.
1967 - The Beatles took out an advertisement in the London Times urging the British government to legalize marijuana.
1969 - Neil Young made his first concert appearance with Crosby, Stills and Nash. They played at the Fillmore East in New York.
1980 - Kiss introduced its new drummer, Eric Carr, at a concert at the New York Palladium. Carr replaced Peter Criss, who began a solo career.
1999 - Fires began burning out of control during the Red Hot Chili Peppers' set at Woodstock '99. Fans began looting the vendors and pelting police with bottles and fruit.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, to promote the new British band The Animals, the band's record company sent U.S. disc jockeys ... boxes of animal crackers, wrapped in promotional material touting "The House Of The Rising Sun." Bear- and elephant-shaped payola?
Today in Music History: Aggressive Driving Music
Posted at 7:30 AM on July 22, 2011
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
George Clinton (Parliament-Funkadelic) is 70.
Rufus Wainwright is 38 (Canadian / American, singer-songwriter, son of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle and the brother of Martha Wainwright).
This Day in Music History:
1971, John and Yoko spent the second day filming the 'Imagine' promotional film at their home in Tittenhurst Park Ascot, England. Today's footage included the morning walk on the grounds though the mist and John Lennon singing 'Imagine' in the white room on his white piano.
In 1977, Elvis Costello's first album, "My Aim Is True," was released in the UK. It was released in the US in October of that year.
1989, The soundtrack album 'Batman' by Prince started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.
1996, Donovan was forced to postpone a comeback tour of the US because of a 30-year-old marijuana conviction in the UK. American authorities delayed granting him a waiver to enter the country.
1999, Simple Minds closed their official fan club due to dwindling membership.
History Highlight:
In 2005, Research by a car insurance company showed that listening to the wrong sort of music when driving can lead to aggression and distraction. Dr. Nicola Dibben a music psychologist said "singing while driving stimulates the mind." Songs recommended included Pulp's 'Disco 2000' and 'Hey Ya' by Outcast, but the doctor said songs like The Prodigy's "Firestarter" should be avoided.
This Day in Music History: Carole King
Posted at 7:36 AM on July 21, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam) is 64.
Kim Fowley is 69 (singer, producer, worked with bands such as The Beach Boys, The Runaways, Frank Zappa, Slade).
This Day in Music History:
In 1956, Elvis Presley was termed "the most controversial entertainer since Liberace" by Billboard. Say What? On the same day, Elvis was booked for three appearances on Ed Sullivan's widely watched Sunday night variety program--this after Sullivan declared that Elvis and his gyrating hips would never be welcomed back.
In 1987, Guns N' Roses released their debut album, "Appetite for Destruction."
In 1990, Roger Waters, Cyndi Lauper, Sinead O'Connor, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams and others gave a benefit concert of songs from Pink Floyd's album "The Wall" in East
Berlin, Germany. At the end of the concert, a mock wall made of plastic foam fell. Proceeds from ticket sales went to an international fund for disaster relief.
Also in 1990, the BBC's Radio One apologized to listeners after Madonna repeatedly cursed during a live concert broadcast.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1971, Carole King received a gold album for "Tapestry."
Today in Music History: Paul Gets Dumped... on TV
Posted at 6:45 AM on July 20, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Carlos Santana is 64.
Paul Cook (The Sex Pistols) is 55.
Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave) is 47.
Stone Gossard (Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam) is 45.
This Day in Music:
In 1965, What wound up being Bob Dylan's biggest hit, "Like A Rolling Stone," was released by Columbia Records.
In 1968, L.A. band Iron Butterfly's ode to psychedelic excess, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," was a big hit on the handful of progressive FM radio stations that existed across the country.
1995, Public Enemy member Flavor Flav broke both his arms when he was involved in a motorcycle accident in Milan.
1999: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy, Marky & C.J. Ramone made their final public appearance together at Virgin Megastore in New York City to sign copies of their anthology CD release Hey! Ho! Let's Go! The Ramones Anthology.
In 2001, An Ani DiFranco appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman performance was scrubbed because she decided to perform an explicit song about racism called "Subdivision", which begins with the line, "White people are so scared of black people." The Letterman producers had requested that she perform a more "upbeat" song.
History Feature:
1968, Jane Asher announced on the national British TV show, Dee Time, that her engagement to Paul McCartney was off. Paul reportedly was watching at a friend's home and was surprised by the news. She was said to have inspired many of McCartney's songs, such as 'All My Loving', 'And I Love Her', and 'We Can Work It Out'. Jane went on to have a career in films and television as well as becoming a successful author and business woman.
Today in Music History: Brian May
Posted at 7:45 AM on July 19, 2011
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music:
In 1954, After its phenomenal reception on Memphis radio, Sun Records released Elvis Presley's debut single, "That's All Right Mama" backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky.
In 1981, It was Roy Orbison Day in Odessa, Texas. Orbison was given the keys to the city, and performed for the crowd, the first time in Odessa in 15 years.
In 1989, After stacks of money are found inside James Brown's cell, the troubled Soul Brother No. 1 was moved from a minimum-security jail to a medium-security one.
In 1991, Steven Adler ex drummer with Guns N' Roses, filed a suit in Los Angeles county court alleging that he was fraudulently removed from the group and that the band introduced him to hard drugs.
In 1995, Dr. George "Feel Good" Nichopoulous, Elvis's one-time personal physician, had his medical license revoked.
Birthday Highlight:
Queen guitar king Brian May is 64. We celebrated by playing a great example of May's guitar skills from the Sheer Heart Attack album, "Stone Cold Crazy."
Today in Music History: Nico
Posted at 7:30 AM on July 18, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthday:
Screamin' Jay Hawkins was born on this day in 1929.
On This Day in Music History:
In 1966, Bobby Fuller of the Bobby Fuller Four was found dead in
his car in Los Angeles. The cause of death was not determined.
In 1974, The US Justice Department ordered John Lennon out of the country by September 10th. The Immigration and Naturalization Service denied him an extension of his non-immigrant visa because of his guilty plea in England to a 1968 marijuana possession charge. The US Court of Appeal would overturn the deportation order in 1975 and Lennon was granted permanent resident status the following year.
In 1991, the first Lollapalooza festival launched in Phoenix,
Arizona. It featured Jane's Addiction, Living Colour, Siouxsie and
the Banshees, Henry Rollins and Nine Inch Nails.
A couple years later in 1993, Rage Against The Machine appeared on the stage at
Lollapalooza in Philadelphia wearing nothing but duct tape over
their mouths. They stood there in silence for 25 minutes to protest
the Parents' Music Resource Center.
In 2001, Kiss, added another product to their ever-growing merchandising universe: the "Kiss Kasket." The coffin featured the faces of the four founding members of the band, the Kiss logo and the words "Kiss Forever." Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell was buried in one after he was shot and killed on-stage in Dec 2004.
History Feature:
On this day in 1988, Nico (Christa Päffgen) died after suffering a minor heart attack while riding a bicycle on holiday with her son in Spain. The German born singer-songwriter and keyboard player made music with the Velvet Underground, and also worked as a fashion model and actress. It's the voice of Nico you hear on "Femme Fatale."
Today In Music History: Neil Young Banned From MTV
Posted at 6:07 AM on July 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Linda Ronstadt is 65.
Drummer Marky Ramone of The Ramones is 55.
Today in:
1968 - Creedence Clearwater Revival released their self-titled debut album.
1970 - Two years to the day after they released their debut album, Creedence Clearwater Revival released Cosmo's Factory, their fifth album.
1973 - Induced by exhaustion and a falling-out with his wife, Ray Davies announced during a concert in London that he was departing The Kinks. After a week of rest, he changed his mind.
History Highlight:
Today in 1988, MTV banned the video for Neil Young's "This Note's For You" because it ridiculed MTV sponsors.
Neil young - This Note's For You by ivaxavi
The video parodied corporate rock, the pretensions of advertising and Michael Jackson in particular (played by a Jackson look-alike, who's hair catches fire at one point). Eventually, MTV reconsidered their decision and put it back into heavy rotation, finally giving it the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video of the Year for 1989. It was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Concept Video" of 1989 but lost to "Weird Al" Yankovic's Michael Jackson video spoof of "Bad", "Fat".
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Tanya Donelly
Posted at 6:20 AM on July 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-comedian Kyle Gass (the other guy in Tenacious D) is 51.
Today in:
1967 - The Who began its first American tour by opening for Herman's Hermits.
1967 - At a surprise appearance with The Band at the Mississippi Rock Festival, Bob Dylan materialized out of the shadows and played three songs.
1973 - The Everly Brothers broke up after Phil got angry over Don's performance, smashed his own guitar and walked off stage. They reunited eleven years later.
1982 - The movie version of Pink Floyd's The Wall premiered in London.
1989 - A total of 432 guitarists broke the world record for "the most guitarists playing together for the longest" after performing the classic "Louie, Louie" for a total of 30 minutes at The Peach Festival in South Carolina.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-guitarist Tanya Donelly is 45 today. Donelly co-founded Throwing Muses in 1981 with her stepsister Kristin Hersh, and later went on to work in The Breeders in the 1990s. Donelly is best known for her Grammy nominated work in the mid-1990s as lead vocalist and songwriter for Belly, when she scored a national radio and MTV hit with "Feed the Tree".
Today In Music History: Live Aid
Posted at 6:07 AM on July 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn of The Byrds is 69.
Drummer Will Champion of Coldplay is 33.
Today in:
1968 - Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" was released.
1974 - Eric Clapton's version of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" came out.
History Highlight:
Today in 1985, the Live Aid concerts to help starving people in Africa were held in London, Philadelphia and other cities. Live Aid was organized by singer Bob Geldof and featured dozens of top entertainers. It's estimated more than 1.5 billion people either watched Live Aid on television or listened to a radio broadcast. For the 80's generation, it was a thrilling event - a spectacle bringing together many of the biggest bands of the 80's with veteran musicians such as Paul McCartney, The Who, and an (almost) reunited Led Zeppelin (featuring guest drummers including Phil Collins). It was also notable for being the occasion for what has since been voted by more than 60 artists, journalists and music industry executives as the greatest live performance in the history of rock music: the set by Queen. Freddie Mercury at times led the entire Wembly Stadium crowd of 72,000 in thundering sing-alongs, in a 20 minute set including "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Are the Champions." Another great visual moment: the crowd clapping in unison to "Radio Ga Ga."
Today In Music History: Christ, We're Offended
Posted at 5:56 AM on July 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 68.
Guitarist Dan Murphy of Soul Asylum is 49.
Today in:
1962 - The Rolling Stones played their first gig. The historic site was London's Marquee Club.
1969 - Blind Faith made its U.S. debut at New York's Madison Square Garden.
1975 - K.C. and the Sunshine Band made their pop chart debut with "Get Down Tonight."
1979 - It was the rockers vs. the disco ducks at a "disco demolition" party between White Sox games at a double-header in Chicago's old Comiskey Park. With early shock-jock Steve Dahl blowing up disco albums in the outfield, it rapidly got out of hand; the ballpark had to be evacuated by police and the White Sox wound up forfeiting the second game.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, "The Ballad of John and Yoko" by The Beatles was banned by many radio US stations because they found the lines "Christ, you know it ain't easy" and "They're gonna crucify me" to be offensive. Still, the song went to #8 in the US and was the final Beatles song to hit #1 in the UK.
Today In Music History: The Supremes Break Out
Posted at 6:08 AM on July 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Peter Murphy of Bauhaus is 54.
Suzanne Vega is 52.
Today in:
1970 - The Woodstock soundtrack hit number one on the U.S. album chart, the first triple album to do so.
1974 - Both Workingman's Dead and American Beauty by the Grateful Dead were awarded Gold records.
1979 - Neil Young's concert film Rust Never Sleeps premiered in Los Angeles. The album of the same name was released simultaneously.
1992 - Jerry Garcia introduced his own line of original, psychedelic-tinged neckties.
1995 - R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills fell ill and had to undergo intestinal surgery. The band was touring in Germany at the time.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, The soon-to-be queens of Motown, The Supremes released their first hit, "Where Did Our Love Go." Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, the song was first offered to The Marvelettes, who rejected it, thinking it "too childish." One of the most famous aspects of the song are the percussive footstomps: the sound effect was performed by an Italian-American teenager named Mike Valvano, who stomped down upon two wooden boards suspended by strings, to create the aural illusion of a group of foot-stompers.
Today in Music History: Shut it Down Prince!
Posted at 7:25 AM on July 8, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Beck is 41
Neil Mavers (drummer for The La's) is 40
Jamie Cook (guitarist, Arctic Monkeys) is 26
This Day in Music:
In 1969, Mick Jagger's singer/girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull, reportedly nearly overdosed on barbiturates on the set of the Australian movie, Ned Kelly. She was set to co-star with Jagger in the flick, but was dropped from the production. Two days later, she entered a hospital for heroin addiction.
In 1970, Don and Phil Everly, otherwise known as The Everly Brothers, began a short-lived stint hosting a variety show on ABC-TV.
In 1971, Rock concerts were temporarily banned at London's Royal Albert Hall following a riot that erupted during a Mott The Hoople appearance.
In 1974, Bob Dylan & The Band's reunion live disc, Before The Flood, netted a Gold record.
In 1985, All eyes were on Playboy and Penthouse as they simultaneously published nude photos of America's favorite "Material Girl," Madonna.
In 1994, Grunge ruled as Stone Temple Pilots' Purple, Soundgarden's Superunknown and Candlebox's Candlebox all held down Top 20 album chart positions.
History Highlight:
In 2007, In the wee hours of the morning, Prince was forced to shutdown his late night show by police halfway through his set at First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. The club was allowed to stay open until 3am, but Prince took to the stage at 2:45am. Prince had already played two concerts (at Macy's and Target Center) in Minneapolis before his late-night club appearance. Fans are still waiting for him to reschedule that First Avenue show...
Today In Music History: In This World In Which We're Livin'
Posted at 6:25 AM on July 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ringo Starr is 71.
Singer David Hodo (the construction worker) of The Village People is 64.
Today in:
1968 - Three years after Eric Clapton's departure and eight months after Jeff Beck left the band, The Yardbirds disbanded. Guitarist Jimmy Page put together a new lineup to fulfill some contractually obligated concerts and began referring to the group as The New Yardbirds. Drummer Keith Moon of The Who, dubious about the band's prospects, jokingly suggested that they change their name to "Lead Zeppelin" (as in "They'll go over like a lead balloon"). The New Yardbirds - Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones - soon did change their name to Led Zeppelin. They did not tank.
1975 - Keith Richards was charged with possession of a weapon and reckless driving in Arkansas. Hundreds of teenage girls gathered outside the jail where he was being detained and raised a ruckus. It's hard to remember a day when teenage girls would have been into Keith Richards, isn't it?
1995 - Rod Stewart's jet made a forced landing after a mid-air collision with a bird. Aviation authorities called the incident "undramatic," but Stewart was visible shaken and said, "I nearly crashed."
2002 - Michael Jackson made a bizarre appearance at a rally in New York to denounce the recording industry as racist and Sony chairman Tommy Mottola as devilish.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, Paul McCartney and Wings' theme song to the James Bond flick Live And Let Die was released. Reuniting McCartney with Beatles producer George Martin (who also arranged the orchestral break), it was one of Wings' most successful singles.
Today In Music History: Queen's Debut Single
Posted at 6:02 AM on July 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, had its royal premiere at London's Pavillion Theatre. The movie opened in the U.S. the next month.
1965 - Marty Balin and Paul Kantner formed a folk-rock group that eventually became Jefferson Airplane.
2001 - A Peter Gabriel spokesman announced that the musician had begun working with apes. "Peter has long believed that we have underestimated the intelligence of the primates and he has begun working with the Atlantic Language Research Center." According to Gabriel, "The apes understand about 4,000 English words and recognize 400 pictograms." They, apparently, also have a keen sense of rhythm and melody.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, Queen released its first single, "Keep Yourself Alive," the opening song on their debut self-titled album. It was largely ignored upon its release and failed to chart on either side of the Atlantic, but went on to become a favorite of Queen's live shows through the '70s. In 2008, Rolling Stone rated the song thirty-first on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time".
Today In Music History: Lotsa Stones Stuff And One Big Elvis Item
Posted at 6:12 AM on July 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Robbie Robertson is 68.
Huey Lewis is 61.
Today in:
1969 - The Rolling Stones gave a free concert for 250,000 fans in London's Hyde Park to introduce new guitarist Mick Taylor, but because former guitarist Brian Jones had died two days earlier, the concert turned into more of a tribute to Jones. Mick Jagger read poetry in his memory.
1975 - Police pulled over a rented Chevy in Fordyce, Arkansas, after the car was swerving on the highway. Inside were Keith Richards and Ron Wood and a couple of friends. The driver was charged with reckless driving and carrying a concealed weapon; he posted bail and the foursome swiftly exited town in a chartered plane.
1978 - The EMI Record pressing plant in Britain stopped printing the cover for the Rolling Stones' Some Girls album after some celebrities shown in the cover's mock wigs advertisement (such as Lucille Ball) complained.
History Highlight:
Today in 1954, Elvis Presley began his first recording session for Sun Records. The result was his first single "That's All Right" backed by "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
Today In Music History: It Wasn't Exactly Purple Rain
Posted at 6:09 AM on July 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Deborah Harry of Blondie is 66.
Fred Schneider of The B-52's is 60.
Singer Victor Willis of the Village People is 60.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley appeared on Steve Allen's variety show singing "Hound Dog" to a bassett hound. He also was forbidden to dance. The King was more than a little embarrassed and angry, and the next day teenagers responded with protests against NBC, carrying signs that read, "We want the real Elvis!"
1963 - The Beatles recorded "She Loves You" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London. The song became the band's second number-one hit in both the US and UK.
1970 - The syndicated radio show American Top 40, hosted by Casey Kasem, debuted in several American cities.
2002 - The Who played their first show without bassist John Entwistle, who had died the week earlier.
History Highlight:
Today in 1986, Prince premiered his movie Under the Cherry Moon in the small town of Sheridan, Wyoming. The town was chosen because local resident Lisa Barber won an MTV contest to win a date escorting Prince to the premiere. The film was not well received; in fact, it was a multiple winner at the 7th Golden Raspberry Awards, winning five awards, including Worst Picture (tied with Howard the Duck). Critic Roger Ebert stuck up for the film, but critic Gene Siskel said, "It looks as though Prince is trying to combine a Fred Astaire movie with a perfume commercial." There was little disagreement though on the main single to come from the movie soundtrack: "Kiss," which became one of Prince's biggest hits.
Today In Music History: Kiss As Superheroes
Posted at 6:03 AM on June 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1975 - Cher and Gregg Allman were married. The marriage lasted ten days. Seems like a good occasion to haul out this image again.
1976 - Police raided Neil Diamond's house. They didn't find enough marijuana for an arrest, but Diamond did give them copies of his new album, Beautiful Noise.
1978 - Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols released his version of "My Way."
1981 - Jerry Lee Lewis was hospitalized in Memphis because of a stomach ulcer. After two operations, doctors gave him less than a 50-50 chance of recovering. Within a few months, he was back on his feet.
1994 - Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam testified before a congressional hearing concerning rising concert ticket prices.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, Marvel Comics released a comic book based on the members of Kiss. The band members contributed some of their blood to the ink used in the books. The band's album Love Gun had just been released two weeks earlier, so it seems like a good excuse to play "Christine Sixteen" this morning.
Today In Music History: Honoring Little Eva
Posted at 6:17 AM on June 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Colin Hay of Men At Work is 58.
Today in:
1955 - "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets hit number one on the singles chart.
1963 - Del Shannon's rendition of "From Me To You," the first Lennon/McCartney song to chart in America, made but a slight dent in the Top 100.
1984 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band launched the Born in the USA tour in St. Paul.
1985 - Mick Jagger and David Bowie recorded that horrible version of "Dancing In The Street" in London.
2000 - Sting and his band members were defeated in simultaneous chess matches against World Chess champion Garry Kasparov in New York's Times Square.
Birthday Anniversary:
Little Eva (Eva Narcissus Boyd) was born on this day in 1943. Eva was Carole King's and Gerry Goffin's babysitter who inspired them to write the #1 hit "Locomotion"; she became the unlikely singer for the song after she sang on the demo and producer Don Kirshner thought the demo was perfect as it was. Eva died of cervical cancer April 10, 2003.
Today In Music History: Fame, Fame, Fame ...
Posted at 6:08 AM on June 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1969 - Crosby, Stills and Nash released their first album. The trio decided to tour but still needed an additional guitarist. Neil Young's name came up, the phone call was made, and soon CSNY was born.
1986 - Wham! played their farewell concert, for 72,000 fans at London's Wembley Stadium, paving the way for the blockbuster solo career of Andrew Ridgeley.
1992 - The first National Music Day was celebrated in England. The day was the brainchild of Mick Jagger, and included hundreds of events nationwide.
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, David Bowie's "Fame" was released. The song came about after Bowie met John Lennon in New York and the two organized a studio jam-session with members of Bowie's band. The main song riff was developed by Bowie's guitarist Carlos Alomar, but Bowie also gave songwriting credit to Lennon, for his impromtu singing of the word "fame" over the riff during the improvisations. Lennon can also be heard singing the word repeatedly toward the end of the song, at fast, normal, and slow speeds. The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September of 1975.
Today In Music History: CSNY's "Ohio"
Posted at 6:08 AM on June 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(5 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1968 - Following a slew of B-movies that nearly ruined his credibility forever, Elvis demonstrated that he still had it on his famous "Elvis" TV special, which was taped on this day for NBC. The show's success was seen as the beginning of his comeback.
1969 - The Denver Pop Festival began at Mile High Stadium. A ruckus erupted in the 50,000 crowd and police descended with clubs and tear gas. The festival's last day on June 29 marked the final performance by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
1989 - The Who performed the rock opera Tommy in its entirety for the first time in 17 years. The performance in New York was part of the band's reunion tour, and it raised money for a children's charity and for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, "Ohio," CSNY's hard-hitting indictment of the Kent State murders, was released. Neil Young wrote the song after seeing the photos of the massacre in Life magazine; the band went into the studio the same night to record it, and Atlantic records rushed the song into production (despite the fact that the band already had a hit song high on the charts, "Teach Your Children Well"). During the same session they recorded the single's equally direct B-side, Stephen Stills's ode to the war's dead, "Find the Cost of Freedom." The song was banned from some AM radio stations because of the challenge to the Nixon Administration in the lyrics; today, the song is considered a classic rock staple.
Today In Music History: Procol Harum's Biggest Hit
Posted at 6:03 AM on June 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Jeff Beck is 67.
Singer Colin Blunstone of The Zombies is 66.
Drummer Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is 64.
Singer Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark is 52.
Bassist and vocalist Curt Smith of Tears for Fears is 50.
Today in:
1965 - John Lennon's second book of writings, poems, and odd drawings, "A Spaniard in the Works," was published.
1967 - Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" were released.
1990 - Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block fell nine feet through a stage trapdoor during a concert in Saratoga, New York. He had to have nine stitches, but otherwise suffered only cuts and bruises.
1995 - Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam left the stage after seven songs during a San Francisco concert because of stomach flu. Neil Young finished the show but was booed by fans who had come to see Pearl Jam.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Procol Harum's memorable, moody first single, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale," loosely based on a theme by Bach, was released. It would eventually peak at #5 on the US charts.
Today In Music History: What's The Frequency, Dan Rather?
Posted at 6:09 AM on June 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth is 49.
KT Tunstall is 36.
Today in:
1975 - Alice Cooper broke six ribs after falling off the stage during a concert in Vancouver.
1989 - New Kids on the Block were nearly thrown out of a hotel in Anaheim, California. They were caught throwing balloons filled with Kool-Aid at guests.
Today in:
Today in 1995, Dan Rather appeared onstage with R.E.M. for a photo session at Madison Square Garden as the band rehearsed "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" The song was a reference to the bizarre incident several years earlier where the veteran CBS news anchor was mugged when he couldn't come up with an answer to that question from his assailants.
Today In Music History: Kris Kristofferson is 75
Posted at 5:59 AM on June 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan of The Turtles is 64.
Todd Rundgren is 63.
Today in:
1968 - The Jeff Beck group made its debut. Singer Rod Stewart was so shy he hid behind speakers for the first few songs.
1969 - The first (and last) album by super group Blind Faith (Clapton, Winwood and Ginger Baker) was released. The original cover caused a stir by featuring a topless pubescent girl clutching a silver model jet.
1981 - Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to killing John Lennon outside Lennon's New York apartment building. He remains locked up.
Birthday Highlight:
Kris Kristofferson is 75 today, born in 1936 in Brownsville, Texas. Singer, songwriter, actor, social activist, Army Captain and helicopter pilot, Kristofferson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Pomona College in Claremont, CA, before attending Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship, where he earned a Master's degree in English lit. In 1965, in hopes of hawking his songs, he took a job as a night janitor at Columbia Records in Nashville when Dylan was recording Blonde On Blonde. He wrote "Me & Bobby McGee" (a hit for Janis Joplin), "Help Me Make It Through The Night," and our choice this morning, "Sunday Morning Coming Down."
Today In Music History: One Of The Several "Fifth Beatles"
Posted at 6:22 AM on June 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ray Davies of The Kinks is 67.
Guitarist Nils Lofgren (The E Street Band) is 60.
Singer Brandon Flowers of The Killers is 30.
Today in:
1948 - Columbia Records began mass production of 33 1/3 long-playing records. A tremendous innovation, considering that prior to this, discs had spun at 78 revolutions per minute and were limited to about three and a half minutes per side.
1955 - Johnny Cash released his first single, "Hey, Porter."
1966 - The Rolling Stones sued 14 New York hotels that had banned them. They claimed the move hurt their careers.
1970 - Pete Townshend was detained at the Memphis Airport because he used the British slang term "bomb" to describe the success of The Who rock opera Tommy. The FBI thought it was a bomb threat.
2001 - Bluesman John Lee Hooker died of natural causes at his home outside San Francisco. He was 83.
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, Billy Preston's single "Outa-Space" earned him his first Gold record. Preston had played keyboards with the Beatles, among other bands.
Today In Music History: Major Tom Suits Up
Posted at 6:00 AM on June 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Brian Wilson is 69.
Lionel Richie is 62.
Cyndi Lauper is 58.
Bassist John Taylor of Duran Duran is 51.
Today in:
1966 - It was reported that both George Harrison and Brian Jones had taken up the Indian instrument, the sitar. Brian and the Stones would be the first to use it, on "Paint It Black."
1969 - Approximately 150,000 rock fans showed up in the suburban Los Angeles city of Northridge, California, to witness the Newport '69 Festival featuring Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joe Cocker, Jethro Tull, Steppenwolf and numerous others. Jimi Hendrix's fee was reported to be $125,000, at that time a record-breaking sum for a single appearance by a rock performer.
1970 - Neil Young picked up a Gold record for "Cinnamon Girl."
1996 - The first Furthur Festival kicked off in Atlanta. It was the first time the members of the Grateful Dead toured together since the death of singer Jerry Garcia.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, David Bowie went into Trident Studios in London to re-record "Space Oddity" (an early version of the song had appeared in Bowie's promotional film Love You Till Tuesday). The song's title is a pun on the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, released the previous year, and it tells the tale of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut (Bowie would return to the character of Major Tom twice, in his songs "Ashes To Ashes" and "Hallo Spaceboy"). "Space Oddity" became so well known that Bowie's second album, originally released as David Bowie in the UK (like his first album), was renamed after the song for its 1972 reissue by RCA Records, and has since become known by this name.
Today In Music History: Moby Grape's First Mistake
Posted at 6:00 AM on June 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gregg Rolie (original singer with Santana and Journey) is 63.
Today in:
1965 - The Kinks arrived in New York for their first American tour.
1978 - Jefferson Starship failed to perform at a festival in Germany because singer Grace Slick was unable to go onstage. Angry fans started a riot and caused over a million dollars in damage.
2005 - Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller died of throat cancer in Minneapolis. He was 41.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, in an unprecedented feat of stunt promotion, Columbia Records released five singles simultaneously by the San Francisco band Moby Grape. The release came on the heels of the rave reviews received by the band's debut self-titled album, but with the five-song dump, the band was immediately percieved by the public and press as overexposed and over-hyped. It was one of the early huge mistakes made in the band's career, which would be plagued by bad marketing decisions, bad luck, and squandered potential from there foreward, eventually doing them in. We played the only single from the five-song release to chart, "Omaha."
Today In Music History: Honoring James Honeyman-Scott
Posted at 6:08 AM on June 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - The Monterey Pop Festival began in Monterey, California. Within three days 50,000 people saw the first major appearances of Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Janis Joplin. Additional performers included The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Buffalo Springfield.
1970 - Sponsors for Woodstock announced they lost more than $1.2 million dollars on the concert.
1975 - John Lennon sued the U.S. government. He charged that officials tried to deny his immigration through selective prosecution.
1995 - Pearl Jam began a tour without using Ticketmaster. The band accused Ticketmaster of monopolizing the concert ticket industry and decided to use a mail-order ticket service instead.
Today's Tribute:
Today in 1982, guitarist James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders died of of a drug overdose. Honeyman-Scott has been described as one of the most talented and original guitarists of the early '80s New Wave movement, with his unmistakable jangly sound (Johnny Marr of The Smiths has credited him with being one of his main inspirations). Honeyman-Scott contributed immensely to the Pretenders' sound with his emphasis on texture over flash; a great example being our choice this morning, "Message Of Love."
Today In Music History: Honoring Nilsson
Posted at 6:04 AM on June 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ice Cube is 42.
Today in:
1963 - "Sukiyaki" became a hit on the American pop chart. It was the first Japanese song ever to go to number one in the U.S.
1966 - The Beatles released Yesterday and Today with its controversial "butcher" sleeve: a photo of The Beatles surrounded by bloody baby doll parts. The cover was changed to a more conventional photo, and the butcher version became a collector's item.
1996 - Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald died at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 78.
1989 - The Fine Young Cannibals' The Raw & The Cooked was the #1 album in the land.
Birthday Highlight:
Harry Nilsson, quirky and creative songwriter and singer, would have been 70 today. Born in 1941 in Brooklyn, Nilsson died of heart failure in 1994 after a long period of only sporadic activity. Nilsson's '60s/'70s-era music was known for it's highly original sense of whimsy, ranging from tender to kooky to straight ahead rock n' roll. How do you pick one song to sum up the career of Harry Nilsson? You don't, but we chose one of his well-known ballads this morning, "I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City."
Today In Music History: Dylan Records A Masterpiece
Posted at 6:08 AM on June 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Rod Argent of The Zombies and Argent is 66.
Boy George is 50.
Today in:
1961 - Country singer Patsy Cline suffered serious head and hip injuries in a car crash in Madison, Tennessee. (A plane crash would claim her life less than two years later).
1965 - Along with a string quartet, Paul McCartney recorded what would turn out to be the most covered song of all time, "Yesterday."
1970 - Derek and the Dominoes made their live debut in Britain.
1972 - Up to 300 people tried to crash the gate at a Rolling Stones concert in Tucson, Arizona. Police were called in with tear gas to disperse the crowd.
1995 - More than 20 people in Columbus, Ohio, called authorities to complain about a Ted Nugent concert that they said was too loud. The concert was within legal noise limits, and Nugent refused a request to turn down the volume anyway.
History Highlight:
Today in 1965, Bob Dylan made his first "electric" recording at Columbia's Studio A in New York. The song was "Like A Rolling Stone." Dylan's confrontational lyrics and sarcastic tone, coupled with Al Kooper's iconic organ part (which he improvised on the spot) and the rest of the electric arrangement gelled into a masterpiece of a song that is largely responsible for transforming Dylan into the iconic figure he became. "Like A Rolling Stone" is considered to be one most influential recordings in the history of popular music.
Today In Music History: The Killer Gets A Star
Posted at 6:04 AM on June 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer is 41.
Today in:
1964 - The Rolling Stones played on the TV variety show Hollywood Palace, which was hosted by Dean Martin. Later in the show after a performance by a trampoline artist, Martin cracked, "That's the father of The Rolling Stones; he's been trying to kill himself ever since." In 1964, apparently this was funny to some people.
1969 - The Beatles had their last #1 single, "The Long And Winding Road."
1970 - Christine McVie released a solo album, then announced her retirement from music. She was back within a year, joining her husband, John McVie, in Fleetwood Mac.
1980 - Pat Benatar opened a home game for the Philadelphia Phillies by playing a brief set on a makeshift stage and dancing with the Phillies' mascot, a large green duck.
2005 - A jury in Los Angeles acquitted Michael Jackson of all ten counts of child molestation.
History Highlight:
Today in 1989, Jerry Lee Lewis got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
We honored the killer this morning with "Real Wild Child."
Today In Music History: The Deal Sisters Are 50
Posted at 6:10 AM on June 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin of Smashing Pumpkins is 47.
Guitarist Joey Santiago of The Pixies is 46.
Mike Doughty is 41.
Today in;
1966 - A Beatles record featuring a new audio effect was released. "Rain" used a tape played in reverse. John Lennon said the reverse-tape effect wasn't planned; the tape was just put on the wrong way.
1967 - Bob Dylan and The Band began recording sessions that remained unreleased for a long time but eventually surfaced as an album titled The Basement Tapes.
1992 - A Texas law enforcement agency called for a national boycott of "Cop Killer" by Ice-T. Sales of the song skyrocketed.
Birthday Highlight:
Identical twin sisters Kim and Kelley Deal turn 50 today. Kim is known primarily as the bassist for The Pixies, and Kelley as lead guitarist for The Breeders, a band also led by Kim. The two were born 11 minutes apart in 1961 in Dayton, Ohio, and you should see their 50th birthday cake.
(Here's the explanation on that, by the way).
Some Breeders definitely seem in order today: we played "Cannonball."
Today In Music History: Les Paul Is Born
Posted at 6:15 AM on June 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Musician Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers is 41.
Today in:
1958 - "The Killer" tried to clean it up. Jerry Lee Lewis, with the help of his producer Sam Phillips, placed a full page ad in Billboard magazine in an attempt to justify his second divorce and third marriage to his 14-year-old cousin Myra.
1967 - The Monkees played the Hollywood Bowl with Jimi Hendrix opening.
1970 - Bob Dylan was awarded an honorary doctorate in music from Princeton University.
1972 - Columbia Records signed Bruce Springsteen.
1994 - LIsa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC set fire to the mansion belonging to her boyfriend, Atlanta Falcons receiver Andre Rison.
2000 - Eminem was charged with brandishing a gun at a member of the Insane Clown Posse. The charges came just days after he was arrested for allegedly using a gun to hit a man kissing his wife.
History Highlight:
Guitarist, inventor, and musical pioneer Les Paul was born on this day in 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. "The Wizard Of Waukesha," as he is sometimes called, was a virtuoso musician and multi-track recording innovator, in addition to the instrumental half of the very succusful duo including his wife, singer Mary Ford. It's Paul's invention of the solid-body electric guitar, however, that remains his lasting legacy - it's been described as "the innovation that made rock n' roll possible". We played Les and Mary's cover of "Your Cheatin' Heart," featuring some pretty tasty Les Paul playing.
Today In Music History: Rivers Gets His Dipoloma
Posted at 6:06 AM on June 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Nancy Sinatra is 71.
Keyboardist Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran is 49.
Kanye West is 34.
Today in:
1989 - Noted vegan Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders confessed to a Green Peace Rainbow Warriors conference in London that she had once fire-bombed a McDonald's. The next day, a copy-cat followed suit. The fast-food chain threatened legal action, demanding that Hynde not repeat her statement, and she agreed.
1991 - Bruce Springsteen married his longtime girlfriend Patti Scialfa in a private ceremony at their Beverly Hills mansion. Scialfa had been a backup singer in Springsteen's E Street Band. It was her first marriage; he had been married once before, to model Julianne Phillips.
History Highlight:
Today in 2005, singer Rivers Cuomo of Weezer graduated with honors from Harvard with a degree in English. Cuomo wrote a great many of the songs on Weezer's album Pinkerton about his experiences as an undergrad at Harvard, including the tune "El Scorcho," which grew out of his shyness and inability to say hello to a girl he had a crush on.
Today In Music History: Cleveland Officially Begins Rocking
Posted at 6:22 AM on June 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Tom Jones is 71.
Prince is 53.
Singer-guitarist Gordon Gano of Violent Femmes is 48.
Today in:
1969 - The two-record rock opera Tommy hit the U.S. album chart. It would become the first Who album to make it into the U.S. top ten.
1993 - On his 35th birthday, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol.
1996 - Wal-Mart discontinued sales of the Goo Goo Dolls album A Boy Named Goo because of complaints that the little boy on the cover appeared to be abused. The band said what appeared to be blood on the boy's face was really blackberry juice.
2009 - Singer Bret Michaels of Poison fractured his nose and cut his lip when a piece of scenery hit him in the face at the Tony Awards.
History Highlight:
Today in 1993 ground was broken for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, seven years after the city won the right to build it. Pete Townshend and Chuck Berry were among those on hand for the ceremony.
Today In Music History: Roy's First Big Hit
Posted at 6:09 AM on June 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Record producer Jimmy Jam is 52.
Today in:
1962 - The Beatles auditioned for producer George Martin at EMI Records in London. He signed them to a contract the following month.
1968 - The Rolling Stones recorded "Sympathy for the Devil." In the wake of the assassination of Robert Kennedy, Mick Jagger added the line, "Who killed the Kennedys?"
1972 - The landmark David Bowie album, Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, was released.
1977 - Stevie Wonder delivered an unannounced lecture to a class at UCLA studying the record industry.
1990 - A federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, declared that 2 Live Crew's As Nasty As They Wanna Be was obscene. Two days later, a record store owner was charged for selling the hit rap album.
History Highlight:
Today in 1960, one of the great rock songs was released: Roy Orbison's first major hit, "Only The Lonely." It was described as an "operatic rock ballad," a sound totally unheard at that time.
Today In Music History: Marvin and Tami
Posted at 6:00 AM on June 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is 72.
Suzi Quatro is 61.
Today in:
1964 - The Rolling Stones made their U.S. TV debut on "Hollywood Palace" hosted by Dean Martin.
1970 - Ray Davies of The Kinks traveled from New York to London to change one word in the recording of "Lola." He changed "Coca-Cola" to "cherry cola" because the BBC banned commercial references in songs.
1972 - The Rolling Stones began their "Exile on Main Street" tour, with Stevie Wonder as the opening act.
1987 - "I Want Your Sex" by George Michael was banned by the BBC.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell made their debut as a duo on the R&B chart with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" ... and a thousand movie trailers to romantic comedies were provided with yet another great soundtrack song. We played the tune this morning.
This Day is Music History: Bo Diddley
Posted at 7:42 AM on June 2, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Charlie Watts (drums, The Rolling Stones) is 70.
Fabrizio Moreti (drummer, The Strokes) is 31.
This Day in Music History:
1967, David Bowie released his debut album, 'David Bowie', which failed to make the UK charts.
1976, Wings set a new world record when they performed in front of 67,100 fans in Seattle, the largest attendance for an indoor crowd.
1989, Rolling Stone Bill Wyman secretly married 19-year-old Mandy Smith. Wyman's 28-year-old son was best man. All other four Stones attended. The marriage lasted 17 months.
2005, Franz Ferdinand's frontman, Alex Kapranos was detained by Russian police after being suspected of being a spy. Kapranos was attempting to board a plane in Moscow when the altercation took place. Travelling under his actual surname, Huntley, Alex was accused of being an MI6 agent who was previously suspected of stealing information on Russian weaponry. Unlucky for Alex that the surname Huntley was also used by actual former MI6 agent Richard Tomlinson who did steal secrets in the early 90s. The singer was freed after he pointed out that the Huntley they were so concerned about was 42, 13 years older than him.
History Feature:
On this day in 2008, Bo Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida at the age of 79. He was famous for the "Bo Diddley beat" and highly influential to artists like Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones and The Clash. We played "Bo Diddley" this morning to honor the rock n' roll "Originator."
This Day in Music History: Happy Birthday Ron Wood
Posted at 7:47 AM on June 1, 2011
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
1959, The first edition of Juke Box Jury aired on the BBC. The show's host, David Jacobs, lead a revolving panel of guests in critiquing the week's top record releases. Although the songs were never played in their entirety, the four judges gave a verdict on whether each would be a "hit" or a "miss".
In 1964, The Rolling Stones arrived in New York City to launch their first U.S. tour. The debut gig was at a Boston high school auditorium.
In 1967, The Beatles' amazing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a milestone in rock concept albums, was released.
1971, The two-room shack in Tupelo, Mississippi, where Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 was opened to the public as a tourist attraction.
1977, Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first of four nights at the Rainbow Theatre in London. There were six nights booked at the Rainbow, but the last two shows were cancelled due to a serious toe injury Marley received, (in a friendly football game with French journalists just before the tour's start in Paris). Subsequently the tour's second leg in the United States was postponed and then cancelled.
In 1991, David Ruffin, lead vocalist on some of The Temptations biggest hits ("My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg") died of a cocaine overdose.
2005, White Stripes singer Jack White married his girlfriend, British model Karen Elson in a canoe on the Amazon in Brazil.
History Highlight:
Ron Wood is 64 (Bass player/guitarist and backing vocals for the [early] Jeff Beck Group, Rod Stewart and the Faces and The Rolling Stones, where he replaced Mick Taylor in 1975; also an accomplished painter.
It was on this day in 1975, The Rolling Stones began their first excursion with new guitarist Ron Wood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The band serenaded "Woody" with a rousing "Happy Birthday" at the end of the show.
To celebrate Ronnie's birthday today, we played a song that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards collaborated on with Wood, and recorded at Ronnie Wood's house, "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like it)."
Today in Music History: Happy Birthday Bonzo!
Posted at 7:04 AM on May 31, 2011
by Jim McGuinn
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays today: Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary is 73 and still puffing the magic. Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company is 67.
Corey Hart is 49, he may or may not still wear sunglasses at night and has somehow sold 13 million records in his career.
Darryl McDaniel (DMC) is 47.
Johnny Paycheck would have been 73 but he shoved his final job in 2003.
1958: Dick Dale invents surf music performing "Let's Go Trippin'" at the Rendevouz Ballroom, Newport Beach.
1961 Chuck Berry opens Berry Park, an outdoor amusement park in Wentzville (near St. Louis)
1969 John and Yoko record Give Peace a Chance at Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal
1977 The biggest and most expensive rock tour in history begins as Emerson, Lake and Palmer embark on a worldwide tour, following the release of Works Vol. 1. 125 people begin the tour, including a 70-piece orchestra.
1980 The #1 song in America is "Funky Town" from Minneapolis' own Lips Incorporated
For the history highlight we salute on of the greatest drummers in rock history - John Bonham. Born on this day in 1948, in 1968 Bonham joined The New Yardbirds, who would soon change their name to Led Zeppelin, though this pairing almost never happened - Robert Plant sent eight telegrams to Bonham's pub, which were followed by 40 from manager Peter Grant. At the same time Bonham was also receiving lucrative offers from established artists Joe Cocker and Chris Farlowe. Eventually, Bonham accepted Grant's offer. He later recalled, "I decided I liked their music better." The rest was rock history - at least until his death in 1980 - choked on his own vomit after a day of heavy drinking (40 shots of vodka!) while Zeppelin was rehearsing for what would have been their first tour in 3 years. Bonzo was only 32.
Over 30 years after his death, Bonham continues to garner awards and praise, including a Rolling Stone readers' pick in 2011 placing him in first place of the magazine's "best drummers of all time." We'll highlight some thunderous work on the Zeppelin classic, "Black Dog."
Today In Music History: They Made You A Morrrrrron!
Posted at 5:55 AM on May 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees is 54.
Singer-guitarist Neil Finn of Crowded House and Split Enz is 53.
Andre 3000 of Outkast is 36.
Today in:
1957 - The Crickets' first record "That'll Be the Day," with lead singer Buddy Holly, was released by Brunswick records. It was the group's first and only chart-topper.
1962 - Bob Dylan released The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which contained songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall."
1977 - Elvis Costello (aka Declan McManus) played his first live engagement in the U.K.
1978 - The Rolling Stones released the rock radio and club dance/disco hit, "Miss You." It was the first single from their yet-to-be-released classic, Some Girls.
1980 - David Lee Roth fractured his nose and suffered a concussion when he leaped off Alex Van Halen's drum riser and hit the stage lights. They were recording an Italian TV special in Rome at the time.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, the Sex Pistols' second single, "God Save the Queen," was released to coincide with Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebration in June. The record, which begins "God save the Queen, she ain't no human being," made the British Top Ten despite being banned from airplay for containing "treasonous sentiments."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Levon Helm
Posted at 6:16 AM on May 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Stevie Nicks is 63.
Lenny Kravitz is 47.
Today in:
1958 - Jerry Lee Lewis played the third and last show of what was supposed to have been a 37-date British tour. News of his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin prompted demands that he be deported. That night he was booed off the stage.
1962 - The Isley Brothers released "Twist and Shout." Less than nine months later, The Beatles covered it for their first album, eclipsing the original version.
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their second "Bed-In for Peace" in Montreal.
1976 - Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, happily crocked, were accused of loudly pestering first class passengers on a transatlantic flight. Actors Dudley Moore and Telly "Kojak" Savalas were a couple of the passengers on board who attested to the boys' bad behavior.
1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. Presley filed for divorce in January 1996.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-drummer Levon Helm of The Band is 71. Helm is still going strong, touring with his Levon Helm Band and playing regular "Midnight Ramble" shows throughout the year at his own Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. We saluted the coolest singing drummer in history this morning with a classic track from The Band, "The Weight."
Today In Music History: Jumpin' Jack Jumps Out
Posted at 6:00 AM on May 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Klaus Meine of Scorpions is 63.
Paul Weller of The Jam is 53.
Lauryn Hill is 36.
Today in:
1926 - Jazz trumpeter and innovator Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois. Davis died in 1991.
1965 - Kinks guitarist Dave Davies knocked himself unconscious onstage when he slammed into drummer Mick Avery's cymbal during a London concert. The Kinks had to cancel the rest of the British tour.
1978 - The Who played a second secret show in London to be filmed for the documentary movie of the band's history, The Kids Are Alright. It turned out to be Keith Moon's final project with the band before his untimely death.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, The Rolling Stones returned to basic rock & roll with the release of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." This followed their attempt at psychedelia, Their Satanic Majesties Request, which Mick Jagger would later call it his least-favorite Stones album. Keith Richards has said that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics to the song while staying at Richards' country house, where they were awakened one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack - that's jumpin' Jack" - and the rest of the lyrics evolved from there. Jagger has also stated that the song arose "out of all the acid of Satanic Majesties... It's about having a hard time and getting out. Just a metaphor for getting out of all the acid things."
Today In Music History: Today Is Dylan's Big Day
Posted at 6:02 AM on May 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rosanne Cash is 56.
Today in:
1978 - The debut album by Van Halen went gold in the U.S.
1990 - Axl Rose and Erin Everly, Don Everly's daughter, filed for divorce. They had been married for 27 days.
1991 - Gene Clark, 46, died in Sherman Oaks, California, of natural causes instigated by a bleeding ulcer. He was a vocalist, songwriter and one of the founders of The Byrds.
1999 - "What's Really Happening," a song David Bowie had composed in collaboration with Alex Grant, the winner out of 80,000 contenders in a lyric/songwriting contest, was broadcast over the Internet.
Birthday Highlight:
Bob Dylan is 70 today. We celebrated this past Sunday with 70 songs for 70 years here on The Current, but we'll be playing our share of Dylan today as well as we join the rest of the world in honoring this incalculably influential native son. Later this morning, our 9:30 Coffee Break topic will be examples of other artists covering Dylan's work; for our birthday tribute this morning, we played a more recent tune we don't think has been covered - yet - "Someday Baby" from Modern Times.
Today In Music History: Don't Worry Baby
Posted at 6:06 AM on May 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Phil Selway of Radiohead is 44.
Today in:
1966 - Another great Beatles single came out, "Paperback Writer" b/w "Rain." The latter was an early psychedelic effort, primarily the work of Lennon, featuring tracks played backwards.
1975 - Concertgoers at a Beach Boys concert literally rocked the balcony for the second night in a row. The second level at the Oakland Coliseum was noticeably shaking in film footage. And the day before, at the Anaheim Stadium, the mezzanine was seen vibrating as much as 18 inches.
1979 - Tom Petty filed for bankruptcy in an effort to get out of his contract with MCA Records. He later signed with a new MCA affiliate that issued his successful comeback album, Damn the Torpedoes.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys was released. Thanks to the flip side, "Don't Worry, Baby," it went on to be their first #1 record. We played that lovely b-side this morning.
Today In Music History: Cher Is 65
Posted at 5:59 AM on May 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Joe Cocker is 67.
Guitarist Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's is 53.
Singer Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 is 50.
Today in:
1954 - A single that proved to be a turning point in popular music, "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets, was released. At the time it had little impact, but exploded the following year when it was used in the soundtrack for the juvenile delinquent drama, The Blackboard Jungle.
1966 - Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who started a concert in Windsor, England, without bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. When they finally showed up, Townshend hit Moon over the head with his guitar. Moon quit the band, but was back a week later.
1967 - Jimi Hendrix signed a contract to record for famous rock-hater Frank Sinatra's Reprise label.
1971 - Peter Cetera of the band Chicago was beaten by several men at a baseball game, apparently because they didn't like the length of his hair.
1998 - Frank Sinatra's funeral was held in Beverly Hills. Among those paying their respects were Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Birthday Highlight:
Cher is 65 today. Born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, Cher began her career as a backup singer and later came to prominence as one half of the duo Sonny & Cher with her husband at the time Sonny Bono. She is a #1 hit American recording artist, Emmy-award winning television personality, Oscar-winning actress, director, record producer and philanthropist, and is sometimes referred to as the "Godess Of Pop." We played her classic hit from 1971, "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves."
Today In Music History: Honoring Joey Ramone
Posted at 6:02 AM on May 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Pete Townshend is 66.
Drummer Phil Rudd of AC/DC is 57.
Today in:
1958 - Ritchie Valens recorded "Come On, Let's Go," at his first recording session, in Los Angeles.
1973 - "Kodachrome," a big hit for Paul Simon, was released.
1976 - Keith Richards smashed his Bentley into a highway divider in Newton Pagnell, England, a town 50 about miles north of London. Police discovered a few substances in his vehicle and he was charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana.
1979 - Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr jammed with Eric Clapton, Denny Laine and Mick Jagger at a belated wedding reception for Clapton and the former Mrs. Harrison, Patti Boyd. Clapton married Boyd, the inspiration for his impassioned Layla album, the previous March.
Birthday Highlight:
Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Hyman), lead vocalist for the pioneering New York punk band The Ramones, was born on this day in 1951 in Forest Hills, New York. He died on April 15th, 2001, from lymphoma. Honoring Joey, we played The Ramones' "Do You Remember Rock n' Roll Radio?"
Today In Music History: Buddy Hits The Silver Screen
Posted at 7:01 AM on May 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1963 - The Grenada Theatre in Slough, England, was the inadvertent launching pad for The Beatles' first headlining tour. Initially, Roy Orbison was the headliner, but the crowd reaction to The Beatles quickly got them moved into the top slot.
1963 - The Kingsmen recorded their classic "Louie, Louie" in Portland, Oregon, on a budget of $50.
1980 - Singer Ian Curtis of the new wave band Joy Division was found dead, apparently having hanged himself. He was 23.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, The Buddy Holly Story, featuring Gary Busey in the title role, premiered in Dallas, Texas. It was well-received, both critically and at the box office. In Buddy's honor, we played "Rave On."
Today In Music History: A Drummer's Drummer
Posted at 6:11 AM on May 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is 46.
Today in:
1966 - Bob Dylan recorded his so-called "Royal Albert Hall" concert, actually recorded in Manchester, England. The album was one of the most famous bootlegs ever. It was released officially in 1998.
1975 - Elton John was awarded a platinum record for sales of a million copies of his album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. It was the first album to sell a million copies on its first day of release.
1980 - Drummer Peter Criss quit Kiss to pursue a solo career.
2008 - Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy married Ashlee Simpson at her parents' house in Los Angeles. Simpson lip-synched her wedding vows. Badda-bing!
History Highlight:
Drummer Bill Bruford of Yes and King Crimson is 62 today. A drummer's drummer, Bruford has regularly appeared at or near the top of "best drummer" lists in music polls for over four decades. Although he's focused on his own jazz projects for most of the last twenty years, it's his work in the heyday of prog rock for which he's still admired most today. From King Crimson's landmark 1981 album Discipline, we played "Frame By Frame."
Today In Music History: Prince Becomes Prince Again
Posted at 5:58 AM on May 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) is 46.
Janet Jackson is 45.
Today in:
1960 - Berry Gordy formed Motown Records.
1966 - The Beach Boys released their groundbreaking album, "Pet Sounds."
1969 - Pete Townshend of The Who spent a night in jail in New York after being charged with assault. The Who was performing when a fire broke out next door. A plainclothes policeman jumped on stage to warn the crowd, but Townshend, not knowing it was a policeman, booted him off stage.
1998 - Keith Richards suffered a fall when reaching for a book of nude art in his Connecticut home. He commented that he'd planned on using the book as inspiration to create a celebrity art piece. He broke several ribs in the mishap, causing the Rolling Stones to postpone numerous gigs in the "Bridges to Babylon" tour.
2010 - Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer. He was 67.
History Highlight:
Today in 2000, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince changed his name back to Prince. Because his publishing contract with Warner-Chappell music expired December 31, 1999, Prince maintained that his birth name had been emancipated from "long-term restrictive documents," and he could stop using The Symbol. From the first major label album Prince released after returning to using his name, Musicology, we played the title track.
Today In Music History: Rock N' Roll Mayhem
Posted at 6:16 AM on May 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Stevie Wonder is 61.
Today in rock n' roll mayhem:
1971 - Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane smashed her car into a wall, forcing the cancellation of a recording session.
1974 - More than 50 people were injured outside of a Jackson Five concert in Washington when fans started smashing bottles.
1997 - Members of Midnight Oil purposely blocked traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to protest the city's air quality. They sat in arm chairs and sofas in the middle of a normally busy street for an hour.
History Highlight:
Today in 1955, a riot broke out at an Elvis Presley concert in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the first time trouble was reported at one of his concerts. Witnesses say the crowd went crazy when Presley said, "Girls, I'll see you backstage." Since we're trying to drum up a little, er, positive hysteria of our own here today with a flurry of membership contributions to bring this drive to an end, we thought we'd summon the spirit of Elvis ... we played "That's All Right."
Today In Music History: Dylan Uncensored
Posted at 7:17 AM on May 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Steve Winwood is 63.
Guitarist Billy Duffy of The Cult is 50.
Today in:
1971 - Mick Jagger married Bianca Perez Morena de Macias in St. Tropez, France. Guests included other members of the Rolling Stones, plus Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Stephen Stills. They are now divorced.
1981 - The Who's first album without Keith Moon, "Face Dances," went gold, but was considered a disappointment, even to the band itself.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, Bob Dylan refused to appear on the "Ed Sullivan Show" because CBS would not allow him to sing "Talking John Birch Society Blues." So we played it today.
Today In Music History: Honoring Bob Marley
Posted at 6:20 AM on May 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Eric Burdon (The Animals, War) is 70.
Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn is 52 (noooo!).
Today in:
1970 - The three-record "Woodstock" soundtrack was released. It went gold within two weeks.
1972 - John Lennon said on "The Dick Cavett Show" that he thought he had been followed and had had his phone tapped the past few months.
1990 - Thirty-one years after his death in the same plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1991 - Pearl Jam first started recording their debut album, Ten.
History Feature:
Today in 1981, At Miami's Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, reggae superstar Bob Marley died of brain cancer. Regarded as a hero, a near deity in Jamaica and abroad, Marley was given a state funeral and buried near his birthplace in St. Ann's Parish, Jamaica. He was only 36. We played his classic, "Three Little Birds" this morning.
Today In Music History: Donovan is 65
Posted at 6:12 AM on May 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bono (born Paul Hewson) is 51.
Today in:
1963 - The Rolling Stones began their first recording session in London for Decca Records. The band recorded the Chuck Berry song "Come On" and Willie Dixon's "I Want To Be Loved."
1969 - The Turtles played at the White House at the invitation of Tricia Nixon. Stories later circulated that the band was snorting cocaine on Abraham Lincoln's desk.
1974 - Eric Clapton recorded Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff." Clapton initially didn't think it held up to Marley's version, but Bob would hail Clapton's first-ever #1 hit as being the song that made reggae hip with the rock & roll crowd.
1977 - Adam and the Ants played their first public concert at a restaurant in London's Institute of Contemporary Arts. Singer Adam Ant had told the booker they were a country band but showed up wearing leather and chains. The booker paid them
their $15 fee after one song and asked them to leave. (Fifteen dollars was their "fee"?)
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-songwriter and sixties icon Donovan is 65 today. Born Donovan Philips Leitch in 1946 in Glasgow Scotland, Donovan emerged from the British folk scene in the early '60s. Early on he was teased in the press for being a "Dylan mimic," but he eventually carved out his own territory with an eclectic style that blended folk, pop, psychedelia, and even world music elements. We played one of his hits that summed up his distinctive "flower power" sound, "There Is A Mountain."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Dave Gahan
Posted at 6:13 AM on May 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Nokie Edwards of The Ventures is 76.
Bassist Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick is 61.
Today in:
1965 - Bob Dylan played the first of two sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Both shows had sold out in less than four hours. Donovan and The Beatles were in the audience for opening night.
1970 - Lynyrd Skynyrd performed "Free Bird" for the first time in public, at the grand opening of the Jacksonville Art Museum in Jacksonville, Florida. From that day forward, all concerts everywhere were ruined by That Guy Who Yells Freebird.
1988 - A number of Minnesota department stores refused to stock the new Prince album, Lovesexy, due to the cover: a nude shot of the artist.
1990 - Sinéad O'Connor refused to appear on Saturday Night Live with comic Andrew Dice Clay as that week's host.
1994 - Willie Nelson was arrested on a misdemeanor drug charge after police in Hewitt, Texas, found the butt of a joint in the ashtray of his Mercedes-Benz.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer David Gahan of Depeche Mode is 49 today. In honor of Dave's "almost 50" birthday, we played Depeche Mode's "Policy Of Truth."
Today In Music History: Rollin' On The River
Posted at 6:16 AM on May 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants is 51.
Guitarist Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters is 40.
Today in:
1965 - Keith Richards came up with the riff that formed the foundation of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." He was staying at a motel in Clearwater, Florida, at the time.
1977 - Led Zeppelin broke their own world record for largest audience at a single-act concert when they attracted over 76,000 fans to the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.
1994 - Pearl Jam filed a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department against Ticketmaster. The band charged that the company had a monopoly on the concert ticket-selling business.
1997 - Neil Young boycotted his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Buffalo Springfield. Young objected to rampant commercialism and the $1,200-a-plate dinner.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, Ike and Tina Turner received their only gold single, for their version of "Proud Mary." The song, wirtten by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was re-worked considerably by Ike and Tina, and the result became their signature song.
Today In Music History: Saluting Tammy Wynette
Posted at 6:15 AM on May 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
- MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 66.
- Drummer Bill Ward of Black Sabbath is 63.
- Singer Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is 52.
- Adele is 23.
Today in:
1967 - An anthem of an era was released: "San Francisco," by Scott McKenzie. "Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!"
1984 - Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds got married. They have since divorced.
1986 - Cleveland was named as the future site for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It opened nine years later.
1996 - Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot and his girlfriend were arrested for allegedly beating each other up. That same week, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was charged with beating up his wife at the Los Angeles airport.
Birthday Anniversary:
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Tammy Wynette, Born Virginia Wynette Pugh in 1942 in Itawamba County, Mississippi. Wynette went on to become one of the biggest stars of country music in the '60s and '70s; her giant hits include "D-i-v-o-r-c-e," and "Stand By Your Man."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Dick Dale
Posted at 6:49 AM on May 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Mike Dirnt of Green Day is 39.
Today in:
1964 - 45-year Jazz/pop veteran Louis Armstrong knocked the British Invasion bands off the charts with "Hello Dolly," which was #1 on this day.
1970 - Neil Young wrote "Ohio" after four Kent State University students were killed by U.S. National Guardsmen.
Birthday Highlight:
Surf guitarist Dick Dale is 74 today. Known as "The King Of Surf Guitar," Dale developed his distinctive sound by listening to his uncle, a Leabonese musician and oud player who performed belly dance music. Much of his early music shows a Middle Eastern influence; Dale is often credited as one of the first electric guitarists to employ non-Western scales in his playing. Dale himself was a surfer and wanted his music to reflect the sounds he heard in his mind while surfing. We played his classic, "Miserlou."
Today In Music History: Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk?
Posted at 6:29 AM on May 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Folk singer Pete Seeger is 92.
Today in:
1968 - Not to be outdone by The Beatles, The Beach Boys began an 18-date tour with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as the opening act. The plan backfired as half the dates had to be canceled due to lack of interest.
1969 - Jimi Hendrix was arrested at Toronto International Airport for possession of narcotics. He was released on $10,000 bail.
1976 - Paul McCartney performed his first U.S. concert in ten years when he opened his "Wings Over America" tour.
1988 - Madonna debuted on Broadway in "Speed the Plow." She received mixed reviews.
2000 - Metallica sent over 60,000 pages of information to Napster's headquarters, detailing more than 1.4 million copyright violations of the band's songs and recordings by 335,435 of the site's distinct users.
Birthday Anniversary:
James Brown, the "Godfather Of Soul," was born on this date in 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina. Also often referred to as "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business," at various times he has also been referred to, according to Wikipedia, as "Soul Brother Number One, Sex Machine, Mr. Dynamite, The King of Funk, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please Please Himself, and The King of Soul." We played "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag."
Today In Music History: The Box Tops Score Again
Posted at 6:03 AM on May 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lesley Gore ("It's My Party") is 65.
Lily Allen is 26.
Today in:
1957 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "Jailhouse Rock," the title song to his next movie. In the film, Elvis choreographed the dance sequence that accompanied the song.
1967 - Capitol Records announced that The Beach Boys had abandoned their Smile album project. Brian Wilson had wanted to gain supremacy in what he perceived was a competion with The Beatles, but with the release of Sgt. Pepper, Wilson became discouraged and convinced that Smile would be seen as second-rate.
1979 - Quadrophenia, the film based on The Who's album of the same name, opened in London. On the same day, The Who played its first concert with new drummer Kenney Jones, who replaced the late Keith Moon.
2010 - The stage at the Grand Ole Opry was submerged after record rains and flooding hit Nashville.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, The Box Tops' "Cry Like A Baby" became the group's second single to go Gold, the first being "The Letter." The band was the original vehicle for singer and songwriter Alex Chilton, who would later go on to transcend teeny-bopper status and helm one of the biggest cult bands in history, Big Star.
Today In Music History: Aretha Gets Her Theme Song
Posted at 6:16 AM on April 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays;
Singer Tommy James is 64.
Today in:
1962 - Jerry Lee Lewis returned to performing in Britain - and was a success. News that he married his 13-year-old cousin caused a scandal four years before, and he was hounded out of the country.
1970 - George Harrison announced plans to begin recording his first solo project following the breakup of The Beatles. At the time, he said the band eventually would reunite.
1976 - Security guards removed Bruce Springsteen from the grounds of Graceland. Springsteen was in Memphis on tour at the time and wanted to visit Elvis. Protesting that he was the guy on the cover of both Time and Newsweek that week seemed to make little impression on the guards.
1990 - 13 people were hospitalized after thousands of fans tried to get into a sold-out New Kids On the Block concert in Brighton, England.
1993 - Smashing Pumpkins released their Siamese Dreamalbum.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Aretha Franklin released her classic version of Otis Redding's "Respect." It's considered the definite version by most.
Today In Music History: I Want YOU ... To Want ME!
Posted at 6:10 AM on April 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-bassist Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth is 58.
Today in:
1963 - Andrew Loog Oldham, a 19-year-old music business publicist, caught a gig by The Rolling Stones at London's Crawdaddy club. He was so impressed that on the following day, he signed them to their first managerial contract. They made their first recordings two weeks later.
1973 - Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd was #1 on the charts. It would wind up spending more time on the Billboard album charts than any other record in U.S. history.
1989 - Jon Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, at the Graceland wedding chapel in Las Vegas. They have four children and are still married.
1999 - The Verve announced their breakup.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, Cheap Trick performed a concert in Tokyo's Budokan Hall that was recorded for a live album called Cheap Trick at Budokan. The album was originally intended for release only in Japan but ended up becoming a huge success in the United States and Canada, peaking at number four on the Billboard 200. At Budokan is still the group's best selling album, with over three million copies sold, and the single "I Want You to Want Me" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Today In Music History: God Bless You Please, Mrs. Robinson
Posted at 6:07 AM on April 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Announcer Casey Kasem is 79.
Singer Kate Pierson of The B-52's is 63.
Guitarist Ace Frehley of KISS is 60.
Today in:
1964 - A collection poems and drawings by John Lennon titled In His Own Write was published.
1976 - David Bowie was detained at a border between Russia and Poland when it was discovered he was carrying a collection of Nazi paraphernalia.
1981 - Ringo married model, actress and one-time James Bond girl, Barbara Bach.
1990 - Axl Rose married Erin Everly, Don Everly's daughter. The marriage lasted 27 days.
1993 - Prince proclaimed that he was retiring from the recording studio to devote his creative energies to film and other endeavors.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, Simon and Garfunkel released the single "Mrs. Robinson", written for the soundtrack to the film The Graduate (the single version was slightly different than the movie version).
Today In Music History: Happy 50th Chris Mars!
Posted at 6:06 AM on April 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1977 - The New York disco Studio 54 opened. It fast became the "in" place to be among the glitterati.
1978 - Ringo Starr's TV special, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince And The Pauper, aired. Ringo portrayed both characters, with former band mate George Harrison narrating. The show tanked.
1982 - Rod Stewart was mugged in Los Angeles in broad daylight and handed over his $50,000 Porsche. He was not hurt.
1994 - Grace Slick pled guilty to aiming a shotgun at police months earlier at her Marin County, California home. The following June, Slick was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and four mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week for three months.
1997 - U2's ABC-TV special, U2: A Year In Pop, had the dubious distinction of being the lowest-rated primetime show in the history of major network television.
Birthday Highlight:
Drummer Chris Mars of The Replacements is 50 today. These days, Chris has mostly abandoned musical performance and concentrates on his acclaimed work as a painter, but between the dissolution of The Replacements and his full-time turn to painting, he played drums with Golden Smog and relased three solo albums including his 1992 debut, Horseshoes & Hand Grendades, containing the favorite, "Popular Creeps."
Today In Music History: The Ramones Go To School
Posted at 6:01 AM on April 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revival is 66.
Singer Andy Bell of Erasure is 47.
Bassist Eric Avery of Jane's Addiction is 46.
Today in:
1968 - The Beatles refused to play for the Queen of England at a British Olympic Appeal Fund show. "Our decision would be the same no matter what the cause," Ringo elaborated, "we don't do benefits."
1981 - The band Wings broke up after guitarist Denny Laine quit the group.
1990 - The Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix had utilized to play the "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock was auctioned off in London for a record of nearly $300,000.
2002 - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC was killed in a car crash in Honduras. She was 30.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, the film Rock and Roll High School featuring The Ramones premiered. The story about a group of students whose efforts to meet the Ramones are continually thwarted by rock & roll-hating principal (who conducts experiments on laboratory rats to prove the adverse effect of rock music on innocent teenagers), is described by Allmovie.com as "a prime example of a 1970s movie phenomenon: a cult film that was deliberately designed to be a cult film." The finale culminates in the students blowing up the school (but not before making the members of the Ramones honorary students). We played The Ramones' song "Rock n' Roll High School."
Today In Music History: Wild Thing!
Posted at 6:12 AM on April 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The President of the National Federation of Hairdressers offered free haircuts to the next shaggy rock group to make it to #1 on the pop chart. He called The Rolling Stones the worst, saying "one of them looks as if he's got a feather duster on his head."
1969 - John Lennon changed his middle name from Winston to Ono.
1969 - The Who performed the rock opera Tommy in its entirety for the first time in Dolton, England. That show was unannounced. They premiered it officially in London a few weeks later.
1978 - The Blues Brothers - John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd - made their network debut on Saturday Night Live. On the same show, Steve Martin performed his novelty hit "King Tut."
1993 - On the 24th anniversary of The Who's first ever unabridged performance of Tommy, the rock opera opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, "Wild Thing" as recorded by The Troggs was released in the U.S. simultaneously on the Atco and Fontana labels. Originally written by songwriter Chip Taylor (James Wesley Voight, the brother of actor Jon Voight) and first recorded by The Wild Ones in 1965, The Troggs version became the best known one - although it would later be covered by Jimi Hendrix and others.
Today In Music History: Sinead Hits Number One
Posted at 6:02 AM on April 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Iggy Pop is 64.
Robert Smith of The Cure is 52.
Michael Franti is 45.
Glen Hansard is 41.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles met The Rolling Stones at England's Crawdaddy Club.
1982 - The Clash had to cancel a tour when Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks. He was eventually found living on the streets in Paris.
2001 - R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was arrested for allegedly getting drunk and going on a rampage on a flight from Seattle to London. He was later found innocent of the charges.
History Highlight:
Today in 1990, Sinéad O'Connor began a four-week run at #1 in the U.S. with her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U." The combination of Sinéad's performance and an intense video - featuring a close shot of her face, at one point breaking into real tears - rocketed Sinéad to incredible fame. Two years later, she would destroy her career by ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live.
Today In Music History: Not Exactly A High Point For The Stones
Posted at 6:16 AM on April 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist-keyboardist Marty Crandall of The Shins is 36.
Today in:
1959 - "Puppy Love," the first record by Dolly Parton, was released on Gold Band Records. One review observed, "She sounds about 12 years old." Actually, she was 13.
1970 - According to The New York Times, The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" has been adopted by Christian youth groups as a religious symbol.
1992 - The Concert For Life, a tribute to AIDS victim and Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury, was held in London. Metallica opened the show and was followed by artists George Michael and Elton John. Annie Lennox and David Bowie teamed up on the song "Under Pressure."
History Highlight:
Today in 1976, The Rolling Stones' Black And Blue album came out and was greeted by a lukewarm response from critics and feminists, who objected to the ad campaign for the disc which featured a photo of a bound and gagged, black and blue model. Nonetheless, the album made the #1 spot and went Platinum in two months. The record's big single was a Top 40 success at the time but is rarely played today: the ballad "Fool To Cry."
Today In Music History: Somethin' Icky
Posted at 6:06 AM on April 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Mark "Flo" Volman of The Turtles is 64.
Today in:
1965 - The film The T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show, starring The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Beach Boys, James Brown and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles opened in London. For British release, it was renamed Teenage Command Performance.
1968 - George Harrison, John Lennon and their wives left the religious retreat run by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi before their studies were completed. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had left earlier. Later, all four renounced their association with the Maharishi.
1988 - Sonny Bono was inaugurated as mayor of Palm Springs, California.
2002 - Singer Layne Staley of Alice In Chains was found dead in his apartment in Seattle. He was 34.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, "Somethin' Stupid," by Frank Sinatra and his daughter Nancy, was certified Gold. The song written by C. Carson Parks was originally recorded in 1966 by Parks and his wife Gail Foote, as "Carson and Gaile". The Sinatras' recording is the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one song in America, and because of the song's intimate nature, this single is sometimes unofficially referred to as "The Incest Song".
Today In Music History: Lennon's Final Single For Five Years
Posted at 6:12 AM on April 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Les Pattinson of Echo and the Bunnymen is 53.
Today in:
1973 - 19-year-old Declan "Costello" McManus played his first solo gig in Twickenham, England. He would change his first name to Elvis by the time his 1977 debut, My Aim Is True, was released.
1985 - Wham's Make It Big album became the first western pop album released in China.
1988 - The trial began in Jamaica for the 1987 murder of reggae star Peter Tosh. Tosh and six others had been gunned down execution style in his home. His friend Dennis Lobban was convicted and sentenced to death for the shootings.
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, John Lennon released his cover of "Stand By Me." It was the only successful single from Lennon's album Rock n' Roll, a collection of covers of rock classics that would be his final album for five years. The recording sessions had been cursed by arguments, alcohol-fuled disarray (including a bottle of whiskey getting spilled into the recording console), and producer Phil Spector entering the recording studio at one point dresed as a surgeon and firing a gun into the ceiling, damaging Lennon's hearing.
Today In Music History: The Who Score A Hit
Posted at 6:12 AM on April 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Ed O'Brien of Radiohead is 43.
Today in:
1966 - The Rolling Stones album Aftermath was released in Britain. It was the first Stones album to contain all original material, and it featured songs like "Under My Thumb" and "Mother's Little Helper."
1996 - Jerry Garcia's ashes were strewn near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
2001 - Singer Joey Ramone of The Ramones died in New York after battling lymphoma. He was 49.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Decca released The Who's "Happy Jack" in the U.S., the band's first single to crack the Top 40 here.
Today In Music History: Radiohead Begin To Find Their Voice
Posted at 6:08 AM on April 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Loretta Lynn is 76.
Today in:
1962 - Bob Dylan recorded seven songs, including "Blowin' In The Wind," at Columbia Records studios in New York.
1965 - The Beatles changed the name of their second movie from Eight Arms To Hold You to Help!
1971 - The Illinois Crime Commission came out with a list of drug-oriented tunes. The songs of infamy included "White Rabbit" by the Jefferson Airplane, "Let's Go Get Stoned" by Ray Charles "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles and "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.
1972 - David Bowie released "Starman" b/w "Suffragette City," the advance single from his acclaimed conceptual album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. Ziggy would remain on the album chart for more than a year, finally putting Bowie over the top in the States.
1980 - Gary Numan released The Touring Principle, a 45-minute concert video. It was the first commercially available home rock videocassette.
History Highlight:
Today in 1995, Radiohead released The Bends, featuring "High & Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees." Thanks in part to an opening slot for R.E.M. on their Monster tour, The Bends acheived Gold status in the U.S. by early '96. Eventually, The Bends achieved triple platinum sales certifications in the UK and Canada and platinum sales in the US and Europe. Much more critically acclaimed than their debut Pablo Honey, The Bends was a turning point for the band in finding a much more distinct and individual sound; we played the title track this morning.
Today In Music History: The Stones Get A Label, And A Logo
Posted at 6:12 AM on April 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Al Green is 65.
Keyboardist Jimmy Destri (Blondie) is 57.
Today in:
1965 - At the Grammys, The Beatles captured the best new artist award and won the
best group performance award for "A Hard Day's Night."
2000 - Metallica sued the online song-swapping service Napster for copyright infringement.
2009 - Producer Phil Spector was found guilty of second degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. It was his second trial. His first ended in mistrial.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, The Rolling Stones released "Brown Sugar," the first record on their own label, Rolling Stone Records. The labed introduced the famous "lips and tongue" logo.
Today In Music History: Elton Is The Pinball Wizard
Posted at 6:05 AM on April 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen is 53.
Bassist Guy Berryman of Coldplay is 33.
Today in:
1954 - Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around The Clock" for Decca Records. It's considered the first rock and roll song to top the charts.
1979 - Mickey Thomas became the lead singer of Jefferson Starship.
1968 - Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention played at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences dinner in New York City. Zappa glared down at the audience and pronounced the event to be "a load of pompous hokum. All year long you people have manufactured this crap, now for one night you're gonna have to listen to it!" 1968 - Life magazine published a piece on The Doors called "Wicked Go The Doors." The magazine said, "Jim Morrison is 24 years old, out of UCLA and he appears in public and on his records to be moody, temperamental, enchanted in the mind and extremely stoned on something."
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, the movie version of The Who's Tommy premiered, based on their 1969 "rock opera" album. The film was directed by British director Ken Russell and starred Ann-Margaret, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, and Roger Daltrey himself in the title role. Pete Townshend was nominated for an Oscar for his work in scoring and adapting the music for the film. In one of the most memorable images from the movie, Elton John played the Pinball Wizard and sang the new version of the song, which became a Top-40 hit.
Today In Music History: James Brown Has His First Chart Hit
Posted at 6:08 AM on April 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Chris Difford of Squeeze is 56.
Today in:
1956 - While winging his way to Nashville, Elvis's plane developed engine trouble and was forced to make an emergency landing, forever instilling a fear of flying in the King.
1958 - Jerry Lee Lewis' second wife, Jane Mitcham, filed for divorce. Lewis had already secretly married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown.
1967 - After visiting The Beach Boys' Smile recording sessions the previous day, Paul McCartney was inspired to produce The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film.
History Highlight:
Today in 1956, The Godfather of Soul and "The hardest working man in show business," James Brown, had his first chart entry on the R&B chart with "Please, Please, Please."
Today In Music History: McCartney Gets Censored
Posted at 6:03 AM on April 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Izzy Stradlin of Guns N' Roses is 49.
Singer-guitarist Donita Sparks of L7 is 48.
Julian Lennon is 48.
Singer-guitarist Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend is 27.
Today in:
1973 - Neil Young's autobiographical film Journey Through The Past premiered at the U.S. Film Festival in Dallas.
1994 - Singer Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was found dead in his Seattle home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 27.
1998 - Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood and 10 other passengers were rescued from a boat off the coast of Brazil after the engine caught fire.
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, Paul McCartney's controversial single, "Give Ireland Back To The Irish," was released. Written in the wake of the Bloody Sunday Massacre in Northern Ireland and banned by the BBC, it would nevertheless make it to #16 in the UK and #21 in the U.S.
Today In Music History: Lady Day's Day
Posted at 6:03 AM on April 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1962 - Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met future Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones at a London blues club.
1969 - John and Yoko recorded "Give Peace A Chance" in their Toronto hotel room during one of their bed-ins for peace.
1973 - Elton John released his hit single "Daniel."
1997 - Liam Gallagher married actress Patsy Kensit in a secret civil ceremony in London.
1998 - George Michael was arrested for committing a "lewd act" in a park restroom in Beverly Hills, California.
1998 - Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue pleaded no contest to felony spousal abuse. He was accused of kicking his wife, actress Pamela Anderson Lee, while she held their son. Lee was sentenced to six months in jail.
History Highlight:
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Billie Holiday - "Lady Day" as she came to be known - considered one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. She was born April 7th 1915 in Baltimore, and died in 1959 of the affects of heroin addiction after years of drug and alcohol abuse. A difficult life informed her art, however, giving us amazing recordings through the years of such classics as "Stormy Weather," "God Bless The Child," "Strange Fruit" and many others. We played "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm."
Today In Music History: Once I Had a Love
Posted at 6:00 AM on April 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Frank Black is 46.
Today in:
1965 - The Beach Boys recorded "California Girls."
1968 - Pink Floyd reluctantly announced that founder Syd Barrett had officially departed the group. He had been suffering from psychiatric disorders.
1968 - Apple Corps Ltd., The Beatles' new record company, management and publishing enterprise, opened up for business.
1998 - Country superstar Tammy Wynette died.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" went Platinum, two months after it had gone to #1. It was the group's first big hit and remains one of their best-known songs today.
Today In Music History: First Paid Gigs
Posted at 6:04 AM on April 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Mike McCready (lead guitar, Pearl Jam) is 45.
Today in:
1970 - A New York Times article came to the defense of rock music, calling it "the most popular of creative arts today."
1980 - R.E.M. played their first paid gig, at a party given by a friend of the band.
1985 - At exactly the same moment, 5,000 radio stations around the world played the benefit single "We Are The World" simultaneously. A total of nine listeners were killed in the incident.
1994 - Nirvana singer-guitarist Kurt Cobain fatally shot himself above his garage in Seattle. His body was not found for three days.
2002 - R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was acquitted in his air-rage trial. Buck was accused of going on a drunken rampage aboard a British Airways flight from Seattle to London.
History Highlight:
Fifty years ago today, in 1961, Bob Dylan played his first paid gig in New York - at the Loeb Music Center. During that time, Dylan was mostly playing his own arrangements of traditional folk songs as opposed to his own compositions. To get a little taste of Bob playing live during that era, we played track from Live at The Gaslight in 1962, "The Cuckoo."
Today In Music History: The Clash Are Just Too Scary For America
Posted at 7:16 AM on April 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles held the top five positions on Billboard's Hot 100. "Can't Buy Me Love" was number one, followed by "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me." An article in Billboard read in part, "Just about everyone is tired of The Beatles. Disc jockeys are tired of playing the hit group, the writers of trade and consumer publications are tired of writing about them and the manufacturers of products other than Beatles records are tired of hearing about them. Everyone's tired of The Beatles, except the listening and buying public."
1968 - Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated on the balcony of a Memphis hotel, resulting in riots erupting in 30 American cities, leaving 39 dead. James Brown went on national television to plea for calm and restraint.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, British CBS released the self-titled debut album by The Clash, a blistering collection featuring such punk anthems as "White Riot," "Police And Thieves" and "London's Burning." CBS's American counterpart Columbia refused to release it until 1979, and even then many of the songs they deemed the more inflammatory ones were removed. Meanwhile, Americans bought 100,000 imported copies of The Clash, making it one of the biggest-selling import records of all time. We played "London's Burning."
Today In Music History: Wild Thing, I Think I Love You
Posted at 5:59 AM on April 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 63.
Gil Scott-Heron is 62.
Today in:
1966 - David Bowie's first single, "Do Anything You Say," backed with "Good Morning Girl," was released in Britain.
1969 - The Beach Boys announced a lawsuit against Capitol Records. The band was asking for more than $2 million in royalties and producer's fees. The Beach Boys also announced the formation of a new record label, called Brother Records.
1970 - As an April Fool's joke, John Lennon and Yoko Ono issued a statement to the press that they were having dual sex change operations.
1984 - Singer Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father during an argument. Marvin Gay Senior received probation after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
1985 - David Lee Roth left Van Halen, shortly after releasing his solo version of the Beach Boys "California Girls."
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, The Troggs recorded "Wild Thing" at Regent Sound Studio in London. The song went on to be a No.1 US and No.2 UK hit in June the following year. The track was recorded in one complete take.
Today In Music History: Johnny B. Goode!
Posted at 6:08 AM on March 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert is 76.
Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC is 56.
Bassist Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers is 40.
Today in:
1949 - RCA Victor introduced the 45rpm single record, which had been in development since 1940. The 7-inch disc was designed to compete with the Long Playing record introduced by Columbia a year earlier. Both formats offered better fidelity and longer playing time than the 78rpm record that was currently in use. Advertisements for new record players boasted that with 45rpm records, the listener could hear up to ten records with speedy, silent, hardly noticeable changes.
1967 - Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire in front of an audience for the first time, during a concert in London.
1964 - Filming for A Hard Days Night, The Beatles played a "live television performance" in front of a studio of screaming fans. One of those fans was Phil Collins.
1995 - Jimmy Page escaped being knifed when a fan rushed the stage at a Page and Plant gig at Auburn Hills, Michigan. After his arrest, the perp told police that he wanted to kill Jimmy Page because of the Satanic music he was playing.
History Highlight:
Today in 1958, Chuck Berry released the single "Johnny B. Goode." It entered the US charts six weeks later and peaked at No.8. The song's original lyrics referred to Johnny as a "colored boy", but Berry later acknowledged that he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play. Today, "Johnny B. Goode" is considered one of the most well-known songs in music history, and Rolling Stone magazine placed it at #1 in their list of "100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time."
Today In Music History: The Model "Woe-Is-Me" Song
Posted at 6:08 AM on March 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Eric Clapton is 66.
Today in:
1967 - During an appearance by Jimi Hendrix on the British television show Top Of The Pops, a technician put on the backing track of Alan Price's "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear", to which Hendrix responded "I don't know the words to this one man."
1976 - The Sex Pistols played their first show, at London's 100 Club.
1978 - Paul Simonon and Topper Headon were arrested in London after shooting down pigeons with air guns from the roof of Chalk Farm Studios. Four police cars and a helicopter were required to make the arrest. Their fines totalled $1,360.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, 16 year-old Lesley Gore recorded her breakthrough hit, "It's My Party." The song produced by Quincy Jones went to #1 on the Billboard charts.
Today In Music History: Neil Young's Esploding Head Is Treated
Posted at 6:07 AM on March 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays;
Singer Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and Porno For Pyros is 52.
Today in:
1966 - Mick Jagger was injured during a gig in France after a fan threw a chair at the stage during a Rolling Stones show. Jagger required eight stitches.
1979 - Eric Clapton married Patti Boyd, the ex-wife of his friend, George Harrison. They separated in 1986.
1980 - Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, spent its 303rd week on the US album chart, beating the record set by Carole King's album Tapestry. It remained on the charts for 741 weeks (from 1973 to 1988), longer than any other album in history, with an estimated 45 million copies sold.
2007 - Bono accepted an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin. The U2 singer was not entitled to be called "Sir" because he is not a British citizen. His new title is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or KBE.
History Feature:
Today in 2005, Neil Young was treated for a brain aneurysm at a hospital in New York. Doctors expected the 59 year old to make a full recovery. The aneurysm was discovered when Young's vision became blurred after the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the previous month. Young alludes to that aneurysm in the course of "Hitchhiker," a song looking back at his life, from his most recent CD, Le Noise.
Today In Music History: The Animals Are Hungry
Posted at 6:13 AM on March 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is 25.
Today in:
1964 - Madame Tussaud's in London announced that The Beatles would become the first pop stars to be cast in wax.
1981 - Blondie started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Rapture", the group's fourth US No.1, a No.5 hit in the UK.
1982 - David Crosby was arrested after crashing his car on the San Diego Highway. Police also found cocaine and a pistol in his car. When the police asked Crosby why he carried the gun, his reply was, "John Lennon."
1992 - Over $100,000 worth of damage was caused at The Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, California, when Ozzy Osbourne invited the first two rows of the audience on stage. Several others took up the offer and the band was forced to exit the stage.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, Working on session for the new Beatles album Sgt. Pepper at Abbey Road studios in London, John Lennon recorded his lead vocal for "Good Morning Good Morning", and Paul McCartney added a lead guitar solo to the track. Lennon had decided he wanted to end the song with animal sound effects, and asked that they be sequenced in such a way that each successive animal was capable of eating the preceding one.
Today In Music History: Less Than Zero, Aptly Titled For Americans
Posted at 6:13 AM on March 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Aretha Franklin is 69.
Elton John is 64.
Today in:
1956 - At the conclusion of Alan Freed's three-day Rock & Roll Show at the Stage Theater in Hartford, Connecticut, police arrested 11 teenagers and revoked the theater's license to operate. Hartford Institute of Living psychiatrist Dr. Francis J. Braceland testified at the theater's subsequent license hearings that rock & roll was "a communicable disease with music appealing to adolescent insecurity and driving teenagers to do outlandish things. It's cannibalistic and tribalistic."
1968 - The 58th and final episode of The Monkees TV show was telecast.
1985 - Prince won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for Purple Rain.
1995 - Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam was rescued after a riptide carried him 250 feet offshore in New Zealand.
2002 - Bono appeared at the "air rage" trial of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, and spoke on his behalf. "I came to court," Bono stated, "because Peter is actually famously known for being a peaceable person. I once had to twist his arm to get him to a boxing match."
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, Elvis Costello's debut single, "Less Than Zero," was released. It hardly made a dent in the U.S. charts. On the same day, Bob Seger got his big break as his seventh album, Night Moves, broke though huge, achieving Platinum status. Seems like a great opportunity to play "Less Than Zero."
Today In Music History: A Real Rock n' Roll Animal
Posted at 6:08 AM on March 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Nick Lowe is 62.
Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers is 47.
Today in:
1958 - Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army in Memphis, Tennessee. He was discharged in 1960.
1965 - Bassist Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones was knocked unconscious by an electrical shock from a microphone stand on stage in Denmark.
1991 - The Black Crowes were dropped as the opening act on ZZ Top's tour for repeatedly criticizing Miller Beer, who was sponsoring the tour.
1992 - A Chicago judge settled the Milli Vanilli class-action suit by authorizing cash rebates of up to $3 to anyone who could prove that they had purchased the group's music before November 27, 1990, the date it was revealed that they were imposters.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, Lou Reed was bitten on his rear end by a concert-goer who leaped on stage in Buffalo, New York, and shouted "Leather!" This display of affection happened as Reed got ready to play the classic Velvet Underground tine "Waitin' For The Man." Reed commented afterward that, in his words, "America seems to breed real animals."
Today In Music History: Let's Go Surfin' Now
Posted at 5:59 AM on March 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Ric Ocasek of The Cars is 62.
Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz is 43.
Today in:
1964 - John Lennon's first book, In His Own Write, a collection of poems, musings and sketches, was published.
1969 - A crowd of 30, 000, including Jackie Gleason, Kate Smith, The Lettermen and Anita Bryant, turned out for the "Rally For Decency" in Miami. It was proclaimed that "longhairs and weird dressers" would not be allowed to attend the rally. Four days later, President Richard Nixon sent a letter of commendation to the organizers of the event.
1973 - U.S. immigration authorities ordered John Lennon to leave the country within 60 days. He was deemed an "undesirable alien" due to an earlier marijuana possession conviction. In an ironic twist, on the same day Yoko Ono was finally granted permission to remain in the US permanently. Lennon began his long battle to get his Green Card, which he finally won in July of 1976.
1978 - The Police got a deal with A&M Records.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, the Beach Boys released the single "Surfin' USA." In a continuation of yesterday's campaign to overcome this crappy weather with emotionally antithetical music (however quixotic our efforts may be), we gave the tune a spin.
Today In Music History: Sorry, Carl
Posted at 6:09 AM on March 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
William Shatner is 80. He's a recording artist, right?
Today in:
1963 - EMI-Parlophone released The Beatles' debut album, Please Please Me in the U.K. In just three weeks, it would be #1 on the British charts.
1969 - Two days after they were married in a private ceremony in Gibraltar, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their first "bed-in for peace" in the presidential suite of the Amsterdam Hilton.
1976 - Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter told potential voters at the National Association of Record Merchandisers' Scholarship Foundation Dinner that Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin and other bands had inspired him during his late nights as the Governor of Georgia. To prove he would never lie to them, he quoted lines from the Beatles' "Yesterday" and Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind."
1989 - The World's Oldest Teenager, Dick Clark, announced that he would relinquish hosting American Bandstand, bringing a 33-year run to an end.
Today's Moment In History:
Today in 1956, Carl Perkins was injured in a car accident near Wilmington, Delaware. He was on his way to New York to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, but was forced to spend several months in the hospital. By the time he recovered, Elvis Presley had covered Perkins' hit, "Blue Suede Shoes," and Perkins' career was never the same. We played Perkins' version today in honor of what might have been.
Today In Music History: Honoring Leo Fender
Posted at 5:51 AM on March 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1961 - The Beatles made their first appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. The band would play more than 300 dates there.
1973 - After a riot following an appearance by David Cassidy on the BBC's Top Of The Pops, they banned all so-called "teeny-bopper acts" from the show.
1980 - The Jam entered the U.K. singles chart at #1 with "Going Underground." It was the first single to do so since Gary Glitter's "I Love You Love Me Love" in 1973.
1984 - "Strawberry Fields," an area of New York's Central Park dedicated to the memory of John Lennon, opened. Yoko had instigated and paid for the project.
1989 - Madonna's Like A Prayer album was released.
Today's Tribute:
Twenty years ago today, the man who played a large part in the development of the electric guitar, Leo Fender, died in Fullerton, California, from Parkinson's Disease. Fender invented the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, two of the most popular electric guitar designs ever. The "Tele" ("telly") has been the standard axe of such greats as Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, Chrissie Hynde, Andy Summers, Prince and Joe Strummer; the "Strat" has been the go-to axe of players from Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix to David Gilmour, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and The Edge. How to honor a man who made such massive contributions to rock with his guitar creations? With Jonathan Richman's song "Fender Stratocaster," of course.
Today In Music History: Andy Partridge Loses It
Posted at 5:59 AM on March 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones were arrested for urinating on the wall of a gas station. The owner wouldn't let the long-haired boys use the restroom.
1970 - Country Joe McDonald was convicted of obscenity and fined $500 for leading a crowd in his infamous "Fish Cheer" ("gimme an F!") at a concert in Massachusetts.
1972 - Neil Young began a three-week run at #1 on the singles chart with "Heart Of Gold" from his Harvest album. It was his only solo record to bust the Top 20.
1994 - Police confiscated ammunition and four guns from singer Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. His wife, Courtney Love, had called authorities because she was afraid Cobain was contemplating suicide.
1996 - The Sex Pistols announced they were reuniting for a 20th anniversary tour.
1997 - Taylor Hawkins replaced William Goldsmith as drummer for the Foo Fighters. Goldsmith left over creative differences. Drummers leave bands over "creative differences"?
History Highlight:
Today in 1982, XTC singer Andy Partridge walked off stage during a concert in Paris after only 30 seconds. He had long suffered from stage fright, and on that night, his wife flushed his entire supply of valium (which he'd taken to combat crippling anxiety) down the toilet. The group only played one more show ever, in San Diego. From then on, XTC would only record and release albums, and didn't appear before an audience again for 8 years, when they were guests on Late Night With David Letterman. From the album they were touring in support of during Partridge's freak out, English Settlement, we played "Senses Working Overtime."
Today In Music History: A Sad Anniversary
Posted at 5:56 AM on March 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 70.
Singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful is 67.
Singer Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins is 44.
Today in:
1968 - The Bee Gees made their U.S. TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. They performed two of their pre-disco ballads, "To Love Somebody" and "Words."
1995 - Madonna hosted the "world's biggest pajama party" with 1,500 guests gathering in their pajamas, accompanied by teddy bears. This event was conducted in the name of promotion for her new "Bedtime Stories" video.
2004 - Courtney Love was arrested for allegedly throwing a microphone stand at a member of the audience at a show in New York. Earlier that day, she had appeared on David Letterman's show and flashed him six times.
A Sad Anniversary:
One year ago today, Alex Chilton , singer for The Box Tops and Big Star and a man considered by many to be one of the godfathers of indie rock, died in New Orleans after suffering heart problems. He was 59. Chilton's death occured just three days before he had been scheduled to play a concert with Big Star at South by Southwest in Austin on March 20; the show instead took place as a tribute to Chilton, with guests Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets, Chris Stamey of The dB's, M. Ward, Mike Mills of REM, John Doe, Sondre Lerche, Chuck Prophet, Evan Dando and original member Andy Hummel joining the other members of Big Star.
Today In Music History: Simon and Garfunkel Win Big
Posted at 6:07 AM on March 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart is 57.
Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is 52.
Today in:
1963 - Peter Paul & Mary's "Puff The Magic Dragon" was released. The children's song was interpreted by some as a pro-marijuana song and later actually banned by some U.S. radio stations.
1972 - John Lennon filed an appeal with the U.S. Immigration Office. He had been served with deportation orders stemming from a conviction of possession of cannabis four years earlier.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, in the first live televised broadcast of the Grammys, Simon and Garfunkel were the first winners of the so-called "Triple Crown": "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was named song and record of the year, and the album by the same name won album of the year.
Today In Music History: Sly Stone Is 68
Posted at 6:10 AM on March 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Mike Love of the Beach Boys is 70.
Bret Michaels of Poison is 48.
will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas is 36.
Today in:
1967 - Frank Sinatra won the record of the year Grammy for "Strangers in the Night" and album of the year for "Sinatra -- A Man and His Music." John Lennon and Paul McCartney pulled an upset by winning for song of the year for "Michelle."
1972 - KHJ Los Angeles deejay Robert W. Morgan spun Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love" over and over for 90 continuous minutes, leading LAPD to mistakenly raid the station studios after receiving numerous calls from listeners. The perplexed officers left without making any arrests.
1986 - The Electric Light Orchestra performed live for the first time in four years. George Harrison joined the band on stage in Birmingham, England.
Birthday Highlight:
Sly Stone is 68 today, born Sylvester Stewart in 1944 in Denton, Texas. A brilliant but eccentric singer, songwriter and bandleader, Stone founded Sly and The Family Stone in San Francisco in the late '60s as an innovative melding of funk, soul, rock and psychedelia (and one of the first racially integrated high-profile pop groups). Beginning in the early '70s, Stone's behavior began to become more erratic, and he came to be known just as much for his drug addictions and no-show behavior as his past innovations. We played a Sly Stone classic this morning, "Dance To The Music."
Today In Music History: Honoring The Coal Miner's Daughter
Posted at 6:01 AM on March 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Composer-conductor Quincy Jones is 78.
Drummer Michael Bland of Soul Asylum is 42.
Today in:
1964 - Billboard reported that The Beatles had cornered an amazing 60% of the singles record market.
1972 - Carole King won the album of the year Grammy for Tapestry, record of the year for "It's Too Late" and song of the year for "You've Got A Friend."
1973 - Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" was the #1 single in the country.
1981 - Eric Clapton was hospitalized in St. Paul, Minnesota, for an attack of bleeding ulcers. He had to cancel a 60-date U.S. tour.
1990 - Red Hot Chili Peppers members Flea and Chad Smith were arrested for sexually harassing a woman in Daytona Beach, Florida. Each was later fined $1,000.
Birthday Highlight:
Loretta Lynn is 78 today, born in this day in 1934 in Butchers Hollow, Kentucky. The famed "Coal Miner's Daughter" came to be known as "The First Lady Of Country Music" during her career, despite writing songs that pushed the boundaries of acceptable topics in what was a very conservative musical genre, including birth control ("The Pill"), overburdened motherhood ("One's on the Way"), being a war widow ("Dear Uncle Sam"), and sexism ("Rated 'X' "). Country music radio stations often refused to play her songs. She was exposed to a new generation of fans in 2004 with her Grammy-winning collaboration with Jack White, Van Lear Rose. We played one of Loretta's classics this morning, "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)."
Today In Music History: When The Moon Is In The Seventh House ...
Posted at 6:09 AM on March 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1971 - Neil Young's Harvest album, featuring the hit single, "Heart of Gold," went to #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.
1971 - Following in the footsteps of The Monkees and The Archies, The Partridge Family, another fictional or pre-fabricated-for-TV rock band, received a Gold record for "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted."
1978 - The first single by Kate Bush, "Wuthering Heights," inspired by the Emily Bronte novel, began a four-week run at #1 in the U.K.
1997 - Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, becoming Sir Paul.
History Highlight:
1970 - At the Grammys, the self-titled album by Blood, Sweat and Tears was named Album of the Year. Crosby, Stills and Nash won the Best New Artist Grammy, and "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" by The Fifth Dimension was named Record of the Year.
Today In Music History: Tom Scholz Is 64
Posted at 7:30 AM on March 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gary Louris of The Jayhawks is 56.
Bassist Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam is 48.
Today in:
1972 - The self-titled debut album by the band America went Gold. The Neil Young sound-alike single "A Horse With No Name" went Gold two weeks later. When Neil's father heard it on the radio, he thought it was his son's latest hit.
1973, - Pink Floyd released Dark Side Of The Moon, a career-defining masterpiece that would go on to sell 15 million copies and enjoy a record-breaking 14-year run on the album charts.
1992 - Prince received a lifetime achievement award at the Soul Train Awards. Winners of other awards included Natalie Cole and Color Me Badd. Say it with me: Color Me Badd.
2003 - The Police reunited for their first show together in 18 years, at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Birthday Highlight:
Tom Scholz, founder, lead guitarist, songwriter and producer for Boston is 64 today. Scholz essentially recorded most of Boston's debut album in his basement, playing all the instruments himself and relying only on the services of lead singer Brad Delp for assistance. Boston is the second best-selling album in U.S. history (behind Guns 'n' Roses' Appetite For Destruction) and, as a ubiquitous staple of FM radio since its debut, is arguably a collection of songs that have worn out their welcome with many music fans (not to mention a record that has long been criticized by some for supposedly representing the worst of commercial music soullessness). This bias has long dismayed both Jill and myself, who feel that Boston (and it's follow up, Don't Look Back) contain some of the best power pop in history.
Today In Music History: Not Gold, Not Platinum, But Diamond
Posted at 7:24 AM on March 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1969 - The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour was canceled by CBS-TV after a long battle with CBS censors over the brothers' repeated refusal to edit the show of its controversial political and social content. Artists who had made controversial performances and/or comments on the show had included Jefferson Airplane, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, and Pete Seeger.
1975 - Elvis Presley went into RCA's Hollywood studios for what would be his final recording session.
History Highlight:
Did you know there is a award for record sales higher than double platinum? Today in 1987, U2 released The Joshua Tree, which would go on to win a Grammy for Album Of The Year and go diamond (achieve sales of 10 million copies).
Today In Music History: Gaz Coombes is 35
Posted at 6:04 AM on March 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Micky Dolenz of The Monkees is 66.
Singer Gary Numan is 53.
Guitarist Andy Ross of OK Go is 32.
Today in:
1962 - The Beatles appeared on television for the first time, performing Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby" on the BBC program Teenager's Turn.
1965 - David Bowie made his TV debut, appearing with The Mannish Boys on a British TV program called Gadzooks! It's All Happenin'. They played their new single, "I Pity The Fool."
1973 - Paul McCartney was fined $240 for growing marijuana outside his farm in Scotland. McCartney claimed fans gave him the seeds and he didn't know what would grow from them. Was he expecting a beanstalk?
1993 - Beavis and Butt-Head premiered on MTV as a series. Previously, the characters were shown on MTV's Liquid Television program.
Birthday Highlight:
Gareth "Gaz" Coombes, singer and guitarist with, Supergrass is 35 today. Coombes began his career touring with the band The Jennifers when he was just 15, and formed Supergrass in 1993. Coombes led Supergrass through six studio albums from 1995 thru 2008. From I Should Coco, we played "Caught By the Fuzz."
Today In Music History: That Rap Music Is Just A Passing Fad
Posted at 5:59 AM on March 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Peter Wolf of The J. Geils Band is 65.
Today in:
1956 - "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins entered the R&B chart, the first time a country artist had done that.
1964 - For the first time in its history, the British Top 10 consisted entirely of songs performed by U.K. artists. The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" were vying for the top spot on the singles chart.
1969 - "Pinball Wizard" by The Who, which was the first single from the album Tommy, was released in Britain.
1975 - David Bowie's Young Americans was released. He later described it as "plastic soul."
1976 - Elton John had the honor of being the first rock star since The Beatles to be replicated in wax and put on display at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London.
2001 - Pearl Jam set a record for the most simultaneous chart debuts from a single band in a single week on the Billboard album chart. They had seven of their American bootleg albums debut on the chart. The previous record holder: Pearl Jam, when five of their European bootlegs hit the album chart their first week out.
History Highlight:
Today in 1987, Licensed to Ill by The Beastie Boys became the first rap album to hit number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. It is Columbia Records' fastest selling debut record to date, and has sold over 9 million copies. In 2003, the album was ranked number 217 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. We played "Brass Monkey."
Today In Music History: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Clash
Posted at 6:08 AM on March 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Evan Dando of The Lemonheads is 44.
Today in:
1966 - John Lennon made his infamous remarks that led to an uproar - even the banning and burning of records by The Beatles for a brief period. In an interview with London's Evening Standard, Lennon commented, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue that. I'm right and will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus right now."
1967 - The Rolling Stones had the #1 single in the land with "Ruby Tuesday," which was originally the B-side of "Let's Spend The Night Together" - but in the wake of many radio stations banning that song, Decca Records made the flip-flop.
1978 - The I.R.S. arrived at the home of Jerry Lee Lewis in a dawn sneak attack (!), confiscating about $200,000 worth of vehicles to help pay off past tax debts.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, CBS released the first album by The Clash in the United Kingdom. It would not appear in the U.S. for another two years, and then in altered form. The original would become one of the best-selling import albums of all time. The Clash is considered by many to be one of the definitive albums in punk rock; New Musical Express described it as "the speed-freaked brain of punk set to the tinniest, most frantic guitars ever trapped on vinyl," proclaiming, "Lives were changed beyond recognition by it". We played "I'm So Bored With The U.S.A."
Today In Music History: Buffalo Springfield Comes Together
Posted at 6:01 AM on March 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Robyn Hitchcock is 58.
Tone-Loc is 45.
Today in:
1957 - Cardinal Samuel Strich, the head of the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago (the largest in the world), banned rock & roll from Catholic schools and various associated events in his district. He complained about the "tribal rhythms" and "encouragement to behave in a hedonistic manner" inherent in the music. Chicago record retailers reported no apparent drop in sales of the devil's music.
1972 - Harry Nilsson snagged a Gold record for Nilsson Schmilsson, the best-selling album of his career; it featured "Without You," "Jump Into The Fire" and "Coconut."
1994 - Kurt Cobain lapsed into a coma in Italy after consuming a large amount of tranquilizers and champagne.
1995 - R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry underwent brain surgery for a ruptured aneurysm in Switzerland.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1966, In Los Angeles, Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay formed a new group which they called Buffalo Springfield. A year or so later, the group's self-titled debut was released; it contained "For What It's Worth," the band's biggest hit.
Today In Music History: Honoring Dusty Springfield
Posted at 6:10 AM on March 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lou Reed is 69.
Jon Bon Jovi is 49.
Singer Chris Martin of Coldplay is 34.
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles began work in London on the film A Hard Day's Night.
1988 - Paul Simon won record of the year for Graceland, the first time a winning record did not hit the top 40. U2's The Joshua Tree won album of the year. Little Richard got a standing ovation for announcing himself as winner for best new artist, and complaining the Grammys never gave him anything.
2006 - Singer Gary Glitter was convicted of obscene acts with two young Vietnamese girls. He was sentenced to prison.
Today's Tribute:
Today in 1999, Dusty Springfield died of cancer at the age of 59. The day she died she had been scheduled to go to Buckingham Palace to receive her award of Officer, Order of the British Empire. Before her death, officials of Queen Elizabeth II had given permission for the medal to be collected by her manager, and it was presented to Springfield in the hospital in the company of a small party of friends and relatives. Her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, had been scheduled for 10 days after the day she died. At that ceremony, Elton John helped induct her into the Hall of Fame, stating: "I think she is the greatest white singer that there ever has been." Besides her huge hit, "Son Of A Preacher Man," she had a number of other notable singles, including our choice today, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me."
Today In Music History: Johnny And June
Posted at 6:10 AM on March 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Roger Daltrey of The Who is 67.
Today in:
1969 - Doors lead singer Jim Morrison was charged with several offenses after allegedly exposing himself on stage during a concert in Miami. He was found guilty of exposure and profanity charges in 1970. His sentence was on appeal when he died in 1971. Florida's Clemency Board pardoned Morrison in December 2010.
1991 - The Oliver Stone movie The Doors opened in the US, with Val Kilmer portraying singer Jim Morrison.
1995 - Drummer Bill Berry of R.E.M. left the stage during a concert in Switzerland after having a brain aneurysm.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, Johnny Cash and June Carter were married in Franklin, Kentucky. Seems like a fine excuse to play one of their best known duets: "Jackson."
Today In Music History: Her City Was Gone
Posted at 6:06 AM on February 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Cindy Wilson of The B-52's is 54.
Today in:
1977 - While performing live onstage, Ray Charles was attacked by a deranged audience member who attempted to strangle him with a rope.
1984 - At the Grammy Awards, Michael Jackson won eight awards, including Album Of The Year for Thriller and Record Of The Year for "Beat It," which featured Eddie Van Halen on guitar. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police nabbed the Song Of The Year award, while Boy George's Culture Club had the honor of being named Best New Artist.
1996 - Among the Grammy Award winners were Alanis Morissette, who won four times, including Album Of The Year for Jagged Little Pill, and Hootie & The Blowfish, who received the Best New Artist award.
2005 - Opening arguments began in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. He was later acquitted.
History Highlight:
Today in 2000, The Pretenders played a concert in Chrissie Hynde's hometown of Akron, Ohio, for the first time, some 22 years after the band was first formed.
We played Chissie's ode to her long left-behind home town, "My City Was Gone."
Today In Music History: The Quiet Beatle
Posted at 6:21 AM on February 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1957 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets recorded "That'll Be The Day," their first and only number one hit.
1963 - Vee Jay Records released the first Beatles record in the U.S., "Please Please Me" backed with "Ask Me Why." At the time, the single went unnoticed by the record-buying public.
1998 - Bob Dylan won his first Best Album Grammy for Time Out of Mind, his 42nd album. His performance was interrupted by a dancing man with "Soy Bomb" written on his chest. At that same ceremony, singer Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech was interrupted by rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, who upstaged her with a rant about his clothes.
Birthday Highlight:
George Harrison was born on this day in 1943. He would have been 68 today (he died in 2001 of throat cancer). Dubbed "the quiet Beatle," Harrison was the group member primarily responsible for introducing the others to Eastern mysticism, Hindu philosophy, and Indian music, which made it's way into Beatles songs such from "Norwegian Wood" (with Harrison playing sitar) to "Within You Without You." We played one of Harrison's biggest solo singles: "My Sweet Lord."
Today In Music History: Ready Freddy!
Posted at 6:07 AM on February 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Howard Jones is 56.
Today in:
1978 - At the 20th annual Grammy Awards, The Eagles won Record of the Year for "Hotel California." Rumours by Fleetwood Mac won the Album of the Year award.
1983 - Toto won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Toto IV, which included "Africa" and "Rosanna."
History Highlight:
Today in 1980, Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," a bit of an Elvis parody, landed at #1 on the singles chart, a position it would cling to for four weeks.
Today In Music History: The Police Go Blonde
Posted at 5:57 AM on February 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1956, Elvis enjoyed his first Top 10 single, "Heartbreak Hotel."
1979 - In an article titled "Advertising Creeps Into Rock," Rolling Stone revealed that Journey had joined forces with Budweiser for promotional and advertising purposes. Scandalous! Of course, this practice became common in the ensuing years.
1990 - A jury in Los Angeles rejected a claim that Stevie Wonder's hit "I Just Called To Say I Love You" was stolen from another songwriter.
2001 - Steely Dan won their first Grammys ever, including album of the year for Two Against Nature. They beat out Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP, which had generated controversy over its lyrics. And you thought the whole "Esperanza Spalding beating out Justin Beiber" thing made people angry.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, The Police starred in a TV commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum. The ad was made a few months before the band's smash single "Roxanne" was released in the UK. All three band members dyed their hair blonde for the ad - and they decided the keep the look. This morning we played the Police's first single - one that only got to #47 on the British charts and didn't even chart in the US - "Fall Out."
Today In Music History: Syd Checks Out
Posted at 6:08 AM on February 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Yoko Ono is 78.
Dennis DeYoung of Styx is 64.
Today in:
1972 - Neil Young got a gold record for his album, "Harvest," which included the number one single, "Heart of Gold."
1995 - Bob Stinson, a founding member of The Replacements, died in Minneapolis of complications from drug and alcohol abuse. He was 35.
History Highlight:
1968 - Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, left the band and checked into a psychiatric hospital before going into complete seclusion for the rest of his life. He was replaced by guitarist David Gilmour. We played some classic Floyd featuring Syd this morning: "See Emily Play."
Today In Music History: Lennon Goes Classic
Posted at 6:00 AM on February 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is 39.
Today in:
1972 - Pink Floyd premiered "Dark Side of the Moon" in concert at London's Rainbow Theater. The album was released the next year.
1988 - In Hollywood, Florida, a 12-year-old fan of Motley Crue set his legs on fire while trying to imitate a stunt in the group's "Live Wire" video. He suffered burns over ten percent of his body. Motley Crue said the band's stunts should not be tried at home.
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, John Lennon released the Phil Spector-produced Rock 'n' Roll album, a collection of some of his favorite rock and R&B oldies, including "Stand By Me." It was his final record before his self-imposed five-year exile from making records. We played another track from Rock 'n' Roll, "Slippin' and Slidin'."
Today In Music History: Dylan Gets A #1 Album
Posted at 6:15 AM on February 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ice-T is 53.
Guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran is 50.
Drummer Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters is 39.
Rapper Lupe Fiasco is 29.
Today in:
1974 - Elton John released "Bennie and the Jets."
1975 - Cher's musical variety series debuted on CBS. It ran until 1976.
1990 - Ike Turner was sentenced to four years in prison on cocaine charges. He began serving his sentence the next day. Four years earlier, Turner had said he had been addicted to cocaine for 15 years.
History Highlight:
Today in 1974, Bob Dylan had his first U.S. #1 album with Planet Waves. It began a four-week run at the top on this day. The album featured "On A Night Like This" and "Forever Young."
Today In Music History: Sid Vicious Debuts
Posted at 6:13 AM on February 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Mikey Craig of Culture Club is 51.
Today in:
1964 - For the first time one act had five songs on Billboard's Hot 100 list. It was The Beatles, with "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "I Saw Her Standing There," "She Loves You,"
"Please, Please Me" and "My Bonnie."
1968 - George and Patti Harrison and John and Cynthia Lennon arrived in India to study meditation techniques with the Maharishi. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr joined them a few days later. Ringo was the first to leave, expressing his difficulty with Indian food.
1969 - Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" zoomed to #1 on the singles chart.
1971 - Pink Floyd released their Dark Side of the Moon album.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, Sid Vicious replaced Glen Matlock on bass with the Sex Pistols. He could barely play his instrument, if at all. So we played some Glen Matlock on bass, with "Holidays In The Sun."
Today In Music History: The B-52's Make Their Debut
Posted at 6:10 AM on February 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - Aretha Franklin recorded "Respect" at New York's Atlantic Studios.
1972 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono began a week as co-hosts of the Mike Douglas television talk show.
1973 - David Bowie collapsed from exhaustion at the end of an elaborate Valentine's Day show at Radio City Music Hall.
1986 - Frank Zappa played a bad guy named "Mr. Frankie" on Miami Vice.
1992 - Weezer had their first practice as a band, in Los Angeles. They played their first show a few weeks later.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, The B-52's played their first concert at a party in Athens, Georgia. We saluted the band by playing "Your Own Private Idaho" this morning.
Today In Music History: Come And Get It!
Posted at 7:00 AM on February 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles made their live concert debut in the US at the Washington Coliseum. Over 350 police surrounded the stage to keep the 8,000 plus screaming fans in control. One police officer who found the noise so loud, stuck a bullet in each ear as ear plugs. The Beatles had to stop three times and turn Ringo's drum kit around and re-position their microphones so that they faced a different part of the audience.
1969 - The Monkees set a new record when their second album, More Of The Monkees jumped from No.122 to the top of the US chart. The album then stayed in pole position for eighteen weeks.
1986 - Boy George guest-starred on an episode of The A-Team as a singer mistakenly booked into a country dance hall.
1992 - Motley Crue fired their singer Vince Neil when he turned up for rehearsals, claiming that he had lost his passion for the band and was now more involved with racing cars.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, the Ringo Starr-Peter Sellers film The Magic Christian premiered in New York. The film's soundtrack album included the Badfinger song "Come and Get It," which was written by Paul McCartney.
Today In Music History: Honoring Brian Connolly
Posted at 6:51 AM on February 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - The Beatles recorded the orchestral build-up for the middle and end of "A Day in the Life". At the Beatles' request, the orchestra members arrived in full evening dress along with novelty items. One violinist wore a red clown's nose, while another a fake gorilla's paw on his bow hand. Others were wearing funny hats and other assorted novelties. The recording was filmed for a possible Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band television special which was ultimately abandoned. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mike Nesmith from The Monkees and Donovan also attended the session.
1974 - Phil Spector was injured in a car crash. He needed extensive plastic surgery that dramatically altered his looks. Details of how the accident happened were kept secret.
1977 - The Clash started recording their debut album at CBS studios in London, England.
1979 - Rod Stewart started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy."
1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood were at No.1 on the UK singles chart for the third week with "Relax."
Today's Tribute:
On this day in 1997, Brian Connolly, singer with the 1970's Glam rock group Sweet, died of kidney and liver failure aged 47. Connolly replaced Ian Gillan (later of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) in Wainwright's Gentlemen, who became Sweetshop and then shortened to Sweet. Over their career, they had hits including "Fox On The Run," "Blockbuster," "Little Willy" and "Love Is Like Oxygen," and we played one of their biggest singles this morning, "Ballroom Blitz."
Today In Music History: It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's a Supergroup
Posted at 6:06 AM on February 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1960 - The House of Representatives' Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight began its investigation into disc jockey payola. Deejays from Boston and Cleveland were called to testify.
1971 - The Bob Dylan film Eat The Document was shown at the New York Academy of Music. Dylan had wanted the documentary to appear on TV, but it didn't until 10 years later.
1980 - David Bowie and his wife Angie were divorced in London after nearly 10 years of marriage. Bowie got custody of their nine-year old son, Zowie. The Rolling Stones song "Angie" was allegedly inspired by her.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, ex-Cream guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, and ex-Traffic keyboardist and singer Steve Winwood revealed that they were putting together a new band and auditioning for a bassist. They settled on ex-Family bassist/violinist Rick Grech, and Blind Faith, the first rock supergroup, was born. They produced only one album (featuring one of the most scandalous album covers in rock history - a very underage-looking girl, topless, holding a very phallic silver spaceship model), but the record is considered a rock classic. We played "Can't Find My Way Home."
Today In Music History: Tutti Frutti Gets High Honors
Posted at 6:02 AM on February 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - Thousands of screaming fans greeted The Beatles as they arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for their first U.S. tour.
1965 - George Harrison had his tonsils removed at a London hospital.
1976 - Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover" was the #1 single in the land, while the best-selling album was Bob Dylan's Desire.
1980, Pink Floyd performed "The Wall" for the first time in the U.S. The band only did the show in Los Angeles and New York.
2005 - Paul McCartney performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in Jacksonville, Fla. He was the first act to play that gig following Janet Jackson exposing her breast during the previous year's Super Bowl halftime show.
History Highlight:
Today in 1989, a Georgia state representative introduced a bill that would make Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" the state's official rock song (that's rock song - the official state song is still "Georgia On My Mind").
Today In Music History: Honoring Ritchie Valens
Posted at 6:01 AM on February 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Graham Nash (The Hollies, Crosby Stills Nash and Young) is 69.
Today in:
1973 - The NBC rock show Midnight Special made its debut.
1979 - Former Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose at age 21. The death was ruled accidental.
1980 - In remembrance of the first anniversary of the death of Sid Vicious, some 1,000 punks marched from London's Chelsea section to Hyde Park. Vicious' mother, Ann Beverly, who was supposed to have led the procession, was unable to do so as the result of a drug overdose.
1993 - Willie Nelson and the Internal Revenue Service reached a settlement on his estimated $17 million tax debt.
History Feature:
Today in 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper made what ended up being their last public appearances at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. They died in a plane crash the next day. We played some Richie Valens this morning: he's known best for his hit "La Bamba," but we played one of his other major hits: "Donna."
Today In Music History: Lloyd Cole is 50
Posted at 5:59 AM on January 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Harry Wayne Casey ("KC") of KC and the Sunshine Band is 60.
Phil Manzanara (lead guitar, Roxy Music) is 60.
John Lydon of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited is 55.
Justin Timberlake is 30.
Today in:
1979 - The Clash began their first U.S. tour - with Bo Diddley as their opening act.
1981 - Blondie had their third #1 single with "The Tide Is High."
1993 - Michael Jackson and 3,500 children performed during halftime at the Super Bowl. He sang a variety of his hits, including "Heal The World."
2005 - Jury selection began in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. He was later acquitted.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-guitarist Lloyd Cole is 50 today. Known for his role as lead singer of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989, and for his subsequent solo work, Cole is sometimes thought to be Scottish because The Commotions were formed and based in Glasgow, but Cole was actually born in Derbyshire, England. The Commotions' 1984 debut, Rattlesnakes, was their best selling album, containing UK hits including "Perfect Skin" and our choice today, "Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?"
Today In Music History: Sorry, Tammy
Posted at 6:07 AM on January 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1956 - Elvis made his national TV debut on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show (hosted by big band musicians Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey) on CBS. Among the tunes the King performed were "Shake, Rattle & Roll" and "I Got A Woman." One of the Dorseys was heard to snicker, "He can't last." (Big band, of course, is still the most popular form of music the world over to this day).
1985 - The African famine relief benefit song "We Are The World" was recorded in Los Angeles after the American Music Awards ceremony.
1999 - The Beastie Boys and Rage Against The Machine headlined a benefit concert for convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal (moo-MEE'-ah AH'-boo jah-MAHL'). New Jersey police officers called for a boycott of both the concert and the bands.
History Highlight:
Today in 1992, first lady Hillary Clinton apologized to country singer Tammy Wynette, who was angry over comments Mrs. Clinton made on 60 Minutes. The Clintons were recovering from the scandal caused by accusations that Bill Clinton had had an affair with Arkansas lounge singer Gennifer Flowers (my, those were innocent times), and, in an effort to demonstrate her strength, Mrs. Clinton had said "I'm not sitting here like some little woman standing by her man like Tammy Wynette." Oops - millions of folks saw that as a slight against traditional values, country music, and a very popular artist. Regardless of whether or not you think the songs's message is outdated, "Stand By Your Man" a pretty significant classic.
Today In Music History: Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies is 50
Posted at 5:58 AM on January 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Gillian Gilbert of New Order is 50.
Rapper Tricky is 43.
Today in:
1958 - Little Richard gave up rock & roll so he could serve God, entering Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a school run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. As he explained it, while flying over the Philippines on tour, the wing of his plane caught fire and his prayers that the flames go out were answered. He figured he owed God a favor.
1971 - David Bowie arrived in the U.S. for the first time, but was not allowed to play anywhere due to work permit restrictions. However, he did turn some heads when he wore a dress to a promotional event.
1973 - Stevie Wonder had his first #1 hit in a decade with "Superstition."
1993 - Warner Brothers Records announced that it was releasing rapper Ice-T from his contract due to what it called "creative differences." The previous summer, the record company was in the middle of the controversy over Ice-T's song "Cop Killer."
History Highlight:
Singer Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies is 50 today. One of three siblings in the band (along with brothers Michael on guitar and Peter on drums), Timmins lead Cowboy Junkies to critical and commercial acclaim with their second album, 1988's The Trinity Sessions, recorded at Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity in one day with one stereo microphone. The record's single, a haunting cover of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane," remains one of the band's best known songs.
Today In Music History: We All Shine On
Posted at 6:14 AM on January 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lucinda Williams is 58.
Eddie Van Halen is 56.
Today in:
1956 - Buddy Holly made his first recordings for Decca Records. Two years later on this date, Holly and the Crickets appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1962 - Bishop Burke of the Buffalo, New York, Catholic Diocese prohibited the dance of the devil, "The Twist." It couldn't be danced, sung, or listened to at any Catholic school, parish or youth event. Later in the year, "The Twist" was also banned from community center dances in Tampa, Florida, as well.
1977 - Guitarist Peter Green, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, was committed to a mental hospital in England. He had fired a gun at a delivery boy who was bringing a royalty check to him.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, John Lennon and Phil Spector collaborated on recording "Instant Karma." The song ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios the same day it was written, and arriving in stores only ten days later. Lennon remarked to the press, he "wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we're putting it out for dinner." It was released in the early part of February and wound up being one of Lennon's most successful singles.
Today In Music History: The Cars Get Rolling
Posted at 6:27 AM on January 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Blues singer Etta James is 73.
Today in:
1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single ever to enter the U.K. pop chart at number one.
1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival released "Proud Mary."
1971 - Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane had a baby girl. Slick claimed she wanted to name the child god (with a little "g"), but the couple decided on China.
1980 - Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo jail after being held for more than a week. He had been arrested when marijuana was found in his luggage.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, The Cars were named Best New Band Of The Year in Rolling Stone magazine's annual readers' poll. The award came on the heels of the band's self-titled debut album, which contained such monster hits as "Good Times Roll," "Just What I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girl," and our choice this morning, "Bye Bye Love."
Today In Music History: College Radio Discovers The Clash
Posted at 5:59 AM on January 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Neil Diamond is 70.
Today in:
1969 - Jethro Tull played their first U.S. concert, in New York City. They were the opening act for Led Zeppelin.
1992 - The producer of the New Kids On The Block album Hangin' Tough claimed that the group members sang only about 20 percent of the lyrics. He sued for millions of dollars for creative contributions and royalties. The allegations were denied by the New Kids, and the suit eventually was dropped.
1998 - Oasis had a #1 hit single in Britain with "All Around The World." At 9:38, the song enjoyed the distinction of having the longest running time ever for a #1 record.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, The Clash released their first single in the U.S on Epic Records. Their version of Sonny Curtis' "I Fought The Law" was an instant College radio hit.
Today In Music History: Don't Want To Leave Her Now
Posted at 6:17 AM on January 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Cat Power (Chan Marshall) is 39.
Today in:
1938 - Colorful LA rock DJ Wolfman Jack was born.
1965 - The Byrds recorded their successful version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" in Los Angeles.
1990 - Squeeze was the debut band on MTV's successful Unplugged program.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, George Harrison married his longtime girlfriend, model Patti Boyd. The two met on the set of The Beatles' first movie, A Hard Day's Night. She left Harrison in the mid-'70s for the couple's neighbor Eric Clapton, who would write the song "Layla" about her and marry her in May 1979 (amazingly, Harrison and Clapton remained good friends despite this). But we're eternally lucky that Boyd paired with Harrison first, because if she hadn't, we would never have had one of the most gorgeous songs in the entire Beatles' catalog: "Something," Harrison's ode to Boyd, which was the first song penned by Harrison that the Beatles released as an a-side.
Today In Music History: The Star Child Is *Almost* 60
Posted at 6:15 AM on January 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles' debut U.S. album, Meet The Beatles, was released.
1973 - Jerry Lee Lewis made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Opry officials allowed him to perform as long as he didn't use profanities and played only country music. By the end of the set, Lewis broke both agreements.
1982, - Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a live bat during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa. He claimed he thought it was a toy thrown to him by an audience member.
1988 - Beach Boy Mike Love hurled insults at Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger while the Beach Boys were being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1998 - Singer Alice Nutter of Chumbawamba said on Politically Incorrect that the band advocated fans stealing copies of their album. Virgin Megastores reacted by pulling their albums from the shelves and putting them behind the counters.
Birthday Highlight:
Paul Stanley of Kiss is 59 today (on the cusp of 60, baby!). Born Stanley Eisen on this day in 1952 in Manhattan, Stanley is one of the two major songwriters and singers (and original members) in Kiss, along with Gene Simmons. Did you know that for a short time in 1973, Stanley didn't wear his trademark Star Child makeup, but instead, wore a kind of bandit-mask design? Do you think he looked like a racoon? No surprise he went back to the star. Anyway ... "Detroit Rock City" this morning.
Today In Music History: That'll Buy A Lot Of Fritos
Posted at 6:09 AM on January 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Dolly Parton is 65.
Today in:
1943 - Janis Joplin was born.
1949 - Blue-eyed soul singer Robert Palmer was born.
1974 - A nine-mile traffic jam kept fans from attending performances by Bob Dylan and The Band in Miami. Many ticketholders didn't get in until the show was half over, prompting a few demonstrations.
1976 - Promoter Bill Sargent offered The Beatles at least $30 million to reunite for a concert in the U.S. Sargent estimated that the reunion show could gross up to $300 million. They refused.
1977 - Aretha Franklin sang "God Bless America" at a special inaugural concert for President-elect Jimmy Carter, who took the oath of office the next day.
1980 - Michael Jackson got his first gold record, for Off the Wall.
1993 - Fleetwood Mac reunited for the Inaugural Gala for President-elect Bill Clinton.
History Highlight:
Today in 1993, Tom Waits was allowed to keep the $2.5 million that a judge awarded him after he sued Frito-Lay for using a sound-alike in a commercial. The Supreme Court refused to change the amount of the award. We played the real Tom Waits this morning, with "Downtown Train."
Today In Music History: Honoring David Ruffin
Posted at 7:28 AM on January 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1972 - Pink Floyd began recording their magnum opus, Dark Side Of The Moon. It would go on to spend 742 weeks (more than 14 years) on the album chart.
1978 - At the conclusion of The Sex Pistols' U.S. tour, Johnny Rotten yelled at his San Francisco audience, "How does it feel to be swindled?" The following morning he announced that the group was over, blaming manager Malcolm McLaren's exploitative tactics.
1985 - USA Today conducted a poll of its readers as to where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should be located. To the surprise of many, Cleveland was the winner.
Today's Salute:
David Ruffin, lead vocalist with The Temptations, was born on this day in 1941. Ruffin was in The Temptations for many of their biggest hits like "My Girl," "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "Get Ready," and "I Wish It Would Rain." He died of a heroin overdose in 1991. We honor the memory of David Ruffin today with the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg."
Today In Music History: Charlie Takes The Stage
Posted at 5:55 AM on January 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-producer T-Bone Burnett is 63.
LL Cool J is 43.
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana is 42.
Singer-guitarist Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon is 29.
Today in:
1966 - British musician David Jones legally changed his last name to Bowie to avoid confusion with The Monkees' Davy Jones. On this same day, Parlophone Records released the single "Can't Help Thinking About Me" b/w "And I Say To Myself" by David Bowie And The Lower Third.
1967 - The first so-called "Human Be-In" was held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Among the performers were the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane.
1970 - Diana Ross performed for the last time with The Supremes, at a show in Las Vegas.
1973 - Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii, transmitted via satellite, drew the largest worldwide television audience in the history of the medium. Later released as a double album, it became one of Elvis's best selling releases of the '70s.
1978 - The Sex Pistols played their last concert before breaking up at a hall in San Francisco. They reunited in 1996 for a world tour.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, Drummer Charlie Watts made his first onstage appearance with The Rolling Stones at the Flamingo Jazz Club in Soho, London. Honoring Charlie, we played a song with one of his most famous intros: "Honkey Tonk Women."
Today In Music History: Thre Pete Townshend-Related Items and Some Other Stuff
Posted at 5:50 AM on January 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Graham "Suggs" McPherson, lead vocalist for Madness, is 50.
Today in:
1964 - "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles was released in the U.S. All hell would break loose shortly thereafter (see "Beatle-mania").
1968 - The University of Florida audio lab announced that tests indicated that the decibels generated at a typical rock & roll concert were damaging to one's hearing. This news came way too late to warn Pete Townshend.
1973 - Eric Clapton made a comeback from drug addiction when he performed at the Rainbow Theatre in London. His backing band included Pete Townshend, Ron Wood and Steve Winwood.
1978 - Work began on the first album by The Police, Outlandos d'Amour.
2003 - Pete Townshend was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography in London. Townshend was later cleared of the charges. However, we're still sitting here talking about it, so a lot of good that did.
Three Pete Townshend mentions mean that we automatically play one of his songs (well, Steve just invented this rule), so today we played "Rough Boys" from his album Empty Glass.
Today In Music History: Adam Gets Antsy
Posted at 12:45 PM on January 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine is 41.
Rapper Raekwon of Wu Tang Clan is 41.
Today in:
1968 - The Supremes appeared in an episode of the popular NBC-TV show Tarzan. The ladies played a group of nuns.
1974 - "The Joker," by the Steve Miller Band, was the #1 single in the land.
2000 - Sharon Osbourne, who had been managing Smashing Pumpkins, broke off with the Chicago rock quartet. In a statement, Osbourne said, "It was with great pride and enthusiasm that I took on management of the Pumpkins back in October, but unfortunately I must resign today due to medical reasons. Billy Corgan was making me sick!"
History Highlight?
Today in 2002, '80s star Adam Ant was arrested after an alleged incident in a London pub where he was charged with assault and possession of a firearm, and also faced charges of criminal damage and actual bodily harm after the alleged fracas. Yes, this is the incident where he threw a car alternator threw the pub window. A little "Antmusic" is in order this morning.
Today In Music History: VU Make Their Debut
Posted at 6:09 AM on January 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays;
Saxophonist Clarence Clemons (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 69.
Dave Alvin (The Blasters, X) is 56.
Tom Rowlands (The Chemical Brothers) is 40.
Today in:
1957 - Buddy Holly's famous recording of "Peggy Sue" was released.
1963 - The Whisky A-Go-Go club opened on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Doors are among the bands that got their start there.
1973 - Thirty radio stations across the country broadcast what was sold as a Mott The Hoople live concert. In actuality, it consisted of studio tracks with pre-recorded applause dubbed in.
1984 - Michael Jackson was nominated for a dozen Grammy Awards for Thriller. He went on to win eight.
1992 - Paul Simon became the first international star to perform in South Africa following the end of the United Nations' cultural boycott. Simon opened a concert tour in Johannesburg.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1965, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground made their debut at a Summit, N.J. high school dance (this was before they came under the management of Andy Warhol). The band received a total of $75 for the gig. From their debut album (released three years later), The Velvet Underground and Nico, we played "Femme Fatale."
Today In Music History: Honoring Howlin' Wolf
Posted at 6:02 AM on January 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rod Stewart is 66.
Singer Donand Fagen of Steely Dan is 63.
Singer Pat Benatar is 58.
Singer-guitarist Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets is 52.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley began his first recording session for RCA Records. "Heartbreak Hotel" was among the songs he recorded.
1989 - Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker" video was released. Jackson played a superhero in the video, which included a lengthy fantasy segment set to the song "Smooth Criminal."
2000 - Melissa Etheridge and her partner, Julie Cypher, revealed David Crosby was the father of their two children by artificial insemination.
Tribute of the Day:
Today in 1976, bluesman Howlin' Wolf died of cancer in a Chicago-area hospital. Commonly ranked among the leading performers in the history of electric blues, Wolf was was a major influence on musicians like Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones. This morning we played Howlin' Wolf's performance of Willie Dixon's "Back Door Man."
Today In Music History: Plugged In And Zonked?
Posted at 6:07 AM on January 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Paul Revere of Paul Revere and the Raiders is 73.
Singer Kenny Loggins is 63.
Bassist Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's is 52.
Today in:
1954 - Muddy Waters recorded "Hoochie Coochie Man" in Chicago.
1970 - Neighbors of New York land owner Max Yasgur sued him for $35,000 for property damage caused by people who attended the Woodstock festival. An estimated 450,000 people attended the three-day event.
1994 - Nirvana played their last U.S. show, at the Seattle Arena.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, in an issue revolving around relations between blacks and whites, Look magazine ran an article called "Jimi Hendrix Socks It To The White House". It read in part, "Jimi is not so much the Experience as a menace to public health. Plugged in and zonked, he only has to step across the stage to turn-on their [women's] high-pitched passion." He was pictured lounging by a swimming pool surrounded by bikini-clad white women. So we played some menacing Hendrix music this morning: "Foxy Lady."
Today In Music History: This Is the Story of Johnny Rotten
Posted at 6:04 AM on January 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Malcolm Young of AC/DC is 58.
Singer Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys is 25.
Today in:
1964 - The Rolling Stones began their first British tour as a headliner. The Ronettes were the opening act.
1968 - Gibson Guitars patented their famed "Flying V" electric guitar design.
1993 - Bassist Bill Wyman confirmed he was quitting the Rolling Stones.
1997 - Two bronze busts of monks worth some $100,000 were chopped off their pillars and stolen from George Harrison's estate in Oxfordshire.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, only three months after signing The Sex Pistols to a recording contract, EMI terminated the deal - rumor had it, as a result of the group's "disgraceful, aggressive behavior." The record company reportedly paid them approximately $80,000 just to go away. A fine opportunity to play "God Save the Queen" this morning.
Today In Music History: Honoring Mr. Phillips
Posted at 6:01 AM on January 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Chris Stein of Blondie is 61.
Today in:
1965 - The Supremes recorded "Stop! In the Name Of Love."
1978 - The Sex Pistols began its first U.S. tour. Less than two weeks after the first show in Atlanta, the tour was over and the band had broken up.
1979 - The Blues Brothers' (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) Briefcase Full Of Blues went to #1 and achieved platinum status.
1998 - Singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono died when he slammed into a tree while skiing at a resort near the Nevada-California border. He was 62.
2004 - Britney Spears' marriage to childhood friend Jason
Alexander was annulled. They had been married 55 hours.
History Highlight:
Sam Phillips, producer and founder of Sun Records, was born on this day in 1923. Phillips was instrumental in launching the careers of Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, and as the architecht of Sun Records' sound (a fusion of country & western with rhythm & blues), he helped launch rock & roll as well. Phillips died in Memphis on July 30, 2003. We honored Sam Phillips with Carl Perkins' version of "Blue Suede Shoes."
Today In Music History: Hank Senior Is Honored
Posted at 6:11 AM on January 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer/guitarist Bernard Sumner of New Order is 55.
Michael Stipe of R.E.M. is 51.
Beth Gibbons of Portishead is 46.
Today in:
1954 - Elvis Presley met Sam Phillips of Sun Records at the Memphis Recording Service. Phillips got Elvis' address and phone number to contact him later about a formal recording session.
2004 - Singer Ray Davies of The Kinks was shot in the leg as he chased after a purse snatcher in New Orleans.
History Highlight:
Toay in 1953, thousands of people attended the funeral of country star Hank Williams in Montgomery, Alabama. He had died of a heart attack a few days earlier. Born Hiram King Williams in 1923, he's revered to this day as one of the greatest country singers of all time. We honored "Hank Senior" today with his classic, "Your Cheatin' Heart."
Today In Music History: Neighbors From Hell
Posted at 6:03 AM on January 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Producer George Martin (best known for producing The Beatles) is 85.
Singer Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills Nash (and Young) is 66.
Bassist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Them Crooked Vultures is 65.
Today in:
1967 - Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys refused to be sworn in after receiving a U.S. Army draft notice. Wilson said he was a conscientious objector.
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Two Virgins" record sleeve, which showed them posing nude, was declared pornographic in New Jersey. Police seized 30,000 copies of the album at Newark airport.
1970 - Members of The Beatles recorded their last song together, "I Me Mine." George Harrison later used that title for his autobiography.
1970 -Singer Davy Jones announced he was leaving The Monkees, a year after Peter Tork quit the group.
History Highlight:
On this day in 2002, in a poll conducted by Your Home magazine, Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis were voted the "Neighbors From Hell," the celebrities one would least like to have living nearby. "Cigarettes and Alcohol" from Definitely Maybe seems appropriate.
Today In Music History: Davy Jones is 65!
Posted at 6:12 AM on December 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Mike Nesmith of The Monkees is 68.
Singer Patti Smith is 64.
Musician and producer Jeff Lynne is 63.
Today in:
1981 - XTC played their first American concert, in Philadelphia.
1991 - Bruce Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa gave birth to a daughter, Jessica Rae, the couple's second child.
1999 - An intruder broke into George Harrison's home outside London and stabbed Harrison and his wife. Michael Abram was later found innocent by reason of insanity.
2002 - Singer Diana Ross was arrested for drunk driving in Tucson, Arizona.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer Davy Jones of The Monkees is 65 today. A former apprentice racehorse jockey and actor (he played The Artful Dodger in London and New York performances of Oliver), Davy was the so-called "cute one" in the Monkees. He sang lead vocals on such hits as "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)," "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You," and his most famous tune, "Daydream Believer."
Today In Music History: Love Is All Around
Posted at 5:57 AM on December 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Marianne Faithfull is 64.
Guitarist-singer Jim Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain is 49.
Today in:
1974 - The #1 hit single was "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" - the cover version by Elton John.
2006 - Burlesque artist Dita Von Teese filed for divorce from singer Marilyn Manson, citing irreconcilable differences. They had been married barely a year.
Birthday Highlight:
Actress Mary Tyler Moore is 74 today, and her face is somewhat younger by an unknown number of years. It's a fine time to play one of the great TV show themes of all time today, played by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
Today In Music History: Alex Chilton Would Have Been 60
Posted at 6:06 AM on December 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-keyboardist Edgar Winter ("Frankenstein") is 64.
Singer John Legend is 32.
Today in:
1983 - Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson drowned while swimming in the harbor at Marina Del Rey, California. He was 39.
1992 - Paul Simon and his wife Edie Brickell had a baby boy, Adrian Edward Simon.
History Highlight:
Alex Chilton was born on this day in 1950 in Memphis. The lead singer of the late-'60s band The Box Tops, and leader of influential and acclaimed '70s band Big Star, would have been 60 years old today. Chilton's influence, while never registering strongly in mainstream pop music culture, was incalculable among generations of indie musicians who saw him as practically a godfather and spiritual leader (see The Replacements tune "Alex Chilton"). Chilton died on March 17th of a heart attack, just three days prior to a scheduled Big Star reunion at SXSW. We played Big Star's "Thank You Friends."
Today In Music History: The Supremes On Sullivan
Posted at 6:08 AM on December 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Mick Jones of ... Foreigner (yes, that other Mick Jones) is 66.
Today in:
1992 - Singer and pianist Harry Connick, Jr., was arrested at New York's Kennedy Airport after guards found a pistol in his carry-on luggage.
1999 - Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Jennifer Lopez were arrested following a shooting at a New York dance club during which three people were shot and wounded. Charges against Lopez were dropped. Combs was acquitted of gun and bribery charges.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, The Supremes made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, where they would make a total of 17 appearances during their career (the group was also one of Sullivan's personal favorite musical guests). We played "Baby Love."
This Day in Music History: Ding Dong, Ding Dong
Posted at 7:00 AM on December 23, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Eddie Vedder is 46
Harry Shearer , the actor who portrayed bassist Derek Smalls in This is Spinal Tap, is 67.
Chet Baker was born on this day in 1929. He died on May 3, 1988 in Amsterdam.
This Day in Music:
In 1964, Performing "Little Saint Nick," "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Johnny B. Goode" and "Monster Mash," The Beach Boys made their first appearance on Shindig!.
Also, in 1964, Radio London, one of England's first offshore "pirate" radio stations, begins broadcasting.
In 1966, Pink Floyd played the opening night of the Night Tripper, a night club in London that would become the focal point of the psychedelic underground there. The establishment later changed its name to the UFO Club.
Also in 1966, The Who performed on the last episode of Ready Steady Go!.
In 1972, Imagine, a film by John Lennon, made its debut on American television.
History Highlight:
In 1974, As band mate John Lennon had done three years earlier, George Harrison released a holiday single, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong," which would celebrate the ringing in of the New Year.
This Day in Music History: We Honor Saint Joe
Posted at 7:26 AM on December 22, 2010
by Jill Riley
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthday:
Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) is 62.
This Day in Music:
In 1968, Leonard Bernstein, famed composer and conductor for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, proclaimed his enthusiasm for the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, a group that combined elements of both rock and classical.
In 1969, John and Yoko convened for one hour with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in Ottawa. Earlier that day, they had discussed urban drug issues with the Canadian Minister of Health.
In 1981, An auction of rock & roll memorabilia was conducted at Sotheby's in London. Many of the items were sold for much more than anticipated, including an enameled Abbey Road street sign that went for $600 and an autographed program from The Beatles' Royal Command Performance that fetched $2,000. On the other hand, there wasn't much demand for a jacket once worn by Tom Jones; it only brought in $12.
In 1985, The Minutemen's 1727-year-old guitarist D. Boon died in a car accident in Arizona. Mike Watt and George Hurley dissolved the Minutemen and went on to form fIREHOSE.
In 2003, The White Stripes' Jack White was charge with assault after an alleged brawl with the Von Bondies' leader Jason Stollsteimer.
History Feature:
Today in 2002, singer-guitarist Joe Strummer of The Clash died of sudden cardiac arrest at his home in southwest England. He was 50. Must fans around the world mourned the loss of one of the true forefathers of punk rock, and lamented all the music lost that Strummer might have continued to make. In honor of Joe, we played The Clash tune "Clampdown."
Today In Music History: Is That A Pistol In Your Pocket, Or ...
Posted at 6:08 AM on December 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(4 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1968 - Janis Joplin made her first appearance after leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company. She performed in Memphis at the second annual "Yuletide Thing" event sponsored by Stax-Volt Records.
1968 - Crosby, Stills and Nash performed together for the first time.
1970 - In his quest to become an honorary undercover agent for the DEA and do his bit for the never-ending war on drugs, Elvis was invited to the White House to offer his services to President Richard Nixon. Reportedly under the influence of heavy prescription barbiturates, the King gave Nixon a chrome-plated Colt .45 pistol (that's right - Elvis walked into the White House with a concealed weapon, albeit one that wasn't loaded ... my how times have changed). In exchange, Nixon gave Presley a Narcotics Bureau badge. And of course, there's this photo.
History Highlight:
Today in 1967, The Rolling Stones' not entirely successful foray into psychedelia, Their Satanic Majesties Request, was released. To this day, it is among Mick's least favorite albums. (The band returned to the basics for the next album, the bluesy Beggars Banquet). It does have a couple of enduring tunes on it though, and we listened this morning to the most often played one: "She's A Rainbow."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Billy Bragg
Posted at 6:05 AM on December 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Peter Criss of KISS is 65.
Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE) is 53.
Today in:
1967 - Singer Ian Anderson and bassist Glenn Cornick formed
Jethro Tull. They named themselves after an 18th Century inventor of various farm implements.
1967 - Singer Jimmy Rodgers was beaten during a roadside attack in Los Angeles. He had to have three brain operations and had a steel plate put into his skull.
1969 - One of the great Rolling Stones albums, Let It Bleed, highlighted by "Midnight Rambler," "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want," hit #1 on the album charts.
Birthday Highlight:
Billy Bragg is 53 today. The English alternative rock musician and left wing activist is known for blending elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics dealing with political or romantic themes. This morning we played "Greetings To the New Brunette," one of his lighter-toned songs.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Mike Mills
Posted at 6:03 AM on December 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1970 - The Beach Boys played a command performance for Princess Margaret in London.
1977 - At the last minute, Elvis Costello And The Attractions were scheduled to appear on Saturday Night Live in place of the Sex Pistols, who are unable to gain a visa to enter the country. SNL Producer Lorne Michaels asked Costello to not play "Radio, Radio" (because of the song's roasting of '70s corporate rock radio). Costello launched into a few seconds of "Less Than Zero," then abruptly broke into a full version of "Radio, Radio." Michaels was not amused and banned Costello from SNL for years.
1982 - The Who played the last show of its farewell tour at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. By the end of the decade, they had reunited for another tour.
1986 - Paul and Linda McCartney were not injured after their limo caught fire as they were headed to a TV taping in Newcastle, England.
1999 - Keith Richards decided to keep a guitar from an autograph seeker at his birthday party at the Russian Tea Room in New York. The owner of the guitar shrugged it off with, "It's Keith, man."
Birthday Highlight:
Bassist Mike Mills of R.E.M. is 52. In addition to his bass playing, Mills is known for his distinctive background vocals in the band, often singing counterpoint to Michael Stipe's lead vocal. This morning we played one of the few R.E.M. tunes he sings lead on: "Near Wild Heaven."
Today In Music History: Honoring Big Country's Stuart Adamson
Posted at 5:54 AM on December 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Benny Anderson of ABBA is 64.
Singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is 61.
Today in:
1966 - "Hey Joe," the first single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was released in Britain. The song was not released as a single in the U.S.
1970 - Five singles and five albums by Creedence Clearwater Revival were certified gold. The songs were "Travelin' Band," "Up Around the Bend," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Down on the Corner" and "Bad Moon Rising."
1975 - The Bay City Rollers got their first U.S. gold record for the song "Saturday Night."
Today's Tribute:
It was on this day in 2001 that, Stuart Adamson, lead vocalist of the Scottish band Big County, was found dead in a Honolulu hotel room after disappearing from his Nashville home a month earlier. He had been battling alcoholism for many years. It was a tragic end for the leader of a band that showed such great promise with their debut album, The Crossing, released in 1983. Big Country was noted for a unique guitar sound that closely mimicked the sound of bagpipes.
Today In Music History: Slick Move, Grace
Posted at 6:00 AM on December 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five is 68.
Bassist Paul Simonon of The Clash is 55.
Today in:
1967 - The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour went Gold.
1977 - Members of the Sex Pistols were denied visas to enter the U.S., two days before they were to appear on NBC's Saturday Night Live. Their replacement was Elvis Costello and the Attractions.
1979 - "Another Brick In The Wall" by Pink Floyd made it to #1 in the U.K. It would later repeat the feat here in the U.S.
1988 - James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison for leading police on a chase through two states.
History Highlight:
1968 - Performing with the Jefferson Airplane on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Grace Slick appeared in blackface and raised a black leather glove in the black power salute at the conclusion of "Crown Of Creation." It was one of the controversial incidents that led to corporate axing the show the following season.
Today In Music History: The Big Musician
Posted at 6:06 AM on December 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Cliff Williams of AC/DC is 61.
Singer/whistle player Peter "Spider" Stacy of The Pogues is 52.
Today in:
1967 - Dick Clark announced that he was making a film about hippies, The Love Children, which would star Jack Nicholson and Dean Stockwell and feature the music of The Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Seeds.
1968 - Iron Butterfly's epic dirge, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" went Gold.
1972 - Alexander's department store in New York stayed open late so singer Alice Cooper could do his Christmas shopping. That's right: people used to shop in department stores.
1977 - The movie Saturday Night Fever opened in New York.
1980 - Fans around the world paid tribute to John Lennon, six days after he was shot to death in New York City. Hundreds of silent vigils were held at 2 p.m. Eastern time for 10 minutes at Yoko Ono's request.
1984 - Madonna had her first number-one hit when "Like a Virgin" hit the top of the Billboard singles chart.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-guitarist Mike Scott of The Waterboys is 52. He's not to be confused with Michael Scott, the mornonic office manager portrayed by Steve Carrell on The Office. MIke Scott formed with Waterboys in 1983 in Scotland, and while the band underwent a number of changes in sound (and lineup changes) over the years, it remained Scott's project to the core. We played a song characterising the band's early sound, from it's so-called "big music" era: "The Whole Of the Moon."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Morris Day
Posted at 6:09 AM on December 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ted Nugent is 62.
Tom Verlaine (Television) is 61.
Today in:
1966 - Jimi Hendrix made his TV debut on Britain's Ready Steady Go!, with Marc Bolan (T. Rex) appearing on the same show.
1974 - George Harrison visited the White House at the invitation of Jack Ford, President Ford's son.
1985 - Phil Collins made his U.S. television acting debut portraying a drug dealer on Miami Vice.
Birthday Highlight:
Morris Day of The Time is 54 today. Happy Birthday Morris! We put on our leopard-print blazers this morning and danced around to "777-9311" by The Time.
On This Day in Music History: Hats Off to Otis Redding
Posted at 7:00 AM on December 10, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthday:
J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) is 45.
This Day in Music:
In 1971, An audience member pushed Zappa off the stage at London's Rainbow Theatre. Frank Zappa suffered serious fractures, head trauma and injuries to his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx. He recovered, but was in a wheelchair for nine months.
In 1984, The all-star group assembled by Bob Geldof, Band-Aid released "Do They Know It's Christmas?". The proceeds went to Ethiopian famine relief. Geldof would later receive knighthood back home in Britain for his efforts.
In 1999, Rock & roll deejay Alan Freed was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the first to widely use the term rock & roll, a phrase which would eventually make it into the dictionary.
Also in 1999, Rick Danko, bass player for The Band, died in his sleep in Woodstock, New York, one day after celebrating his 56th birthday.
History Feature:
In 1967, Otis Redding and several members of his band died when their plane crashed into a lake near near Madison, Wisconsin. His biggest hit, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," was released just three days earlier. Otis Redding was 26.
This Day in Music History: Happy Birthday Immi
Posted at 7:40 AM on December 9, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Brian Bell (Weezer) is 41.
Jakob Dylan is 40.
Rick Danko (The Band) was born on this day in 1943. He died on December 10, 1999.
Geoff Barrow (Portishead) is 39.
Tre' Cool (Green Day) is 38.
This Day in Music History:
In 1967, Jim Morrison was arrested onstage with The Doors in New Haven, Connecticut. Backstage, before the engagement, Morrison told a cop to go take a flying leap. The officer responded by macing the Lizard King. Later, while singing "Back Door Man," Morrison delivered a scathing monologue about the incident, which compelled the police to turn on the house lights, drag Morrison off stage and charge him with breach of peace and resisting arrest.
In 1972, The all-star orchestral stage version of The Who's Tommy had a one-night stand at London's Rainbow Theatre and was, by all accounts, a less-than-sterling performance. According to most on the scene, the performers, including narrator Pete Townshend, appeared to be overly drunk and/or stoned. Of all the participating artists, including Peter Sellers and Richie Havens, only Roger Daltrey and Steve Winwood, in their respective roles as Tommy and Tommy's father, had a decent performance.
In 1974, George Harrison released his first solo album on his own newly formed label, Dark Horse. The disc, named after the label, made it to #4.
In 1988, A U.S. poll revealed that the #1 preferred background music for love-making by adults was by Neil Diamond. Beethoven came in second, while Luther Vandross made the #3 slot.
In 1992, Bill Wyman, bass player with The Rolling Stones from their inception, resigned from the band. After 30 years, he had his fill of touring.
History Highlight:
Imogen Heap is 33 today. She's known for her work with Frou Frou and as a solo artist.
We gave her a birthday nod this morning with "Say Goodnight and Go" from her record Speak For Yourself.
This Day in Music History: Instant Karma!
Posted at 7:43 AM on December 8, 2010
by Jill Riley
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jim Morrison (The Doors) was born on this day in 1943. The Lizard King died in Paris in 1971, from a drug and alcohol-related heart attack.
Sinead O' Connor is 44
Gregg Allman is 63
This Day in Music:
In 1969, At his trial for possession of hashish and heroin in Toronto, Jimi Hendrix testified that he had smoked pot four times, hash on five occasions, taken LSD seven times and had sniffed cocaine twice. He contended that he had "outgrown" drugs. A jury found him not guilty after eight hours of deliberation.
In 1972, Frank Zappa offered to give private instruction in craps, roulette, keno and blackjack in an ad placed in Variety magazine, that is, Frank Zappa, Sr., the dad of the head Mother.
In 1975, Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue came to a close with the A Night Of The Hurricane benefit show at Madison Square Garden, an effort to raise funds for legal fees to help free boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter from prison. Many felt that Carter had been set up as a scapegoat, as documented in Dylan's song, "Hurricane."
History Feature:
In 1980, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were returning to their New York apartment building after a recording session when Lennon was abruptly shot by Mark David Chapman. The inspiration for millions around the world was pronounced dead 30 minutes later. A year after the senseless and tragic event, Yoko wrote, "I think of John's death as a war casualty; it is the war between the sane and insane." This morning we honored John Lennon with "Instant Karma!"
This Day in Music History: Let It Be... Paul's Way
Posted at 6:02 AM on December 7, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tom Waits is 61
Tim Butler (bass, Psychedelic Furs) is 52
Damien Rice is 37
HARRY CHAPIN was born on this day in 1942. He was killed in July of 1981, when a tractor-trailer crashed into the car he was driving.
This Day In Music:
1963, The Singing Nun started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dominique', it reached No.7 on the UK chart. The song sold over 1.5 million copies in the US, winning a Grammy Award for the year's best Gospel song.
In 1964, Brian Wilson, the creative mastermind behind the Beach Boys, suffered a nervous breakdown during a flight from Houston to Los Angeles. The pressure of music stardom was too much; the event led to him to stop touring with the band.
1967, The Beatles Apple boutique opened its doors. The store closed seven months later when all the goods were given away free to passers by.
In 1973, Fleetwood Mac's manager, Clifford Davis, claiming that he owned the band's name, assembled a counterfeit Fleetwood Mac for a tour. The fortunes of the band, on pretty shaky ground at the time, would take a big turn for the better a year or so later on.
History Highlight:
In 2003, The Beatles' rereleased Let It Be (Let it Be Naked) was a Top 20 album. The album was a stripped-down version of the original, sans Phil Spector's slick production. We played "Across the Universe," the way Paul McCartney always wanted it done.
This Day in Music History: Gimme Shelter
Posted at 7:39 AM on December 6, 2010
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthday:
Peter Buck is 54
This Day in Music History:
On this day In 1949, Ex-convict turned folk pioneer, Leadbelly (born Huddie Ledbetter), died of Lou Gehrig's disease. His songs included "Goodnight Irene" and "Rock Island Line."
In 1968, James Taylor's debut album was released on Apple in Britain. Both Paul McCartney and George Harrison played on a number of the tracks, which included "Something In The Way She Moves" and "Carolina In My Mind."
In 1968, President Richard Nixon's aides sent out 66,000 letters signed by Nixon to potential administrative office holders. Elvis was among those who received one. He would have made a great DEA chief.
In 1978, The ever-charming and tactful Sid Vicious, out on bail from Riker's Island after being charged with the murder of his girlfriend, smashed a glass in the face of Patti Smith's brother Todd during an altercation at a club.
In 1988, Just when his career was enjoying a tremendous upsurge thanks to the popularity of The Traveling Wilburys and other endeavors, Roy Orbison died of cardiac arrest.
History Feature:
In 1969, What was intended as a free "thank you" concert for 300,000 turned into a notorious disaster when The Rolling Stones headed up the bill at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, California. The Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Santana and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were also on hand. The hastily organized event rapidly turned into a debacle. Four people died, including one who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel, part of the "security force." The murder was captured on film and was a shattering moment in the documentary when it premiered a year later to the day. Bad vibes.
Today In Music History: Bob Marley Is Shot
Posted at 6:46 AM on December 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Andy Williams is 83.
Mickey Thomas (Starship) is 61.
Ozzy Osbourne is 62.
Today in:
1966 - The Monkees performed their first live concert in Honolulu.
1968 - Elvis Presley's now famous comeback special was broadcast on NBC.
1971 - The Montreaux Casino in Switzerland caught on fire during a concert by Frank Zappa and the Mothers. The incident was forever captured by Deep Purple in their tune, "Smoke on the Water," a major 1973 hit.
1976 - Pink Floyd released a 40-foot helium-filled pig at Battersea Power Station in England so they could photograph it for their "Animals" album cover. The pig broke loose, and authorities had to alert pilots to watch for a flying pig.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1976, seven gunmen broke into Bob Marley's house in Jamaica. Marley, his wife, their manager and a house guest were shot and wounded. The gunmen were never caught, but Marley and the band performed two nights later. A triumphant song this morning in honor of Bob Marley, "Get Up Stand Up."
Today In Music History: Such A Long Way To Go ...
Posted at 5:57 AM on December 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters is 42.
Britney Spears is 29.
Today in:
1973 - Mail-in ticket requests for a Bob Dylan U.S. tour went on sale. At one San Francisco post office, there was a five block-long traffic jam.
1973 - The Who and their co-partiers spent the night in jail in Montreal after causing $6,000 worth of damage to a hotel room. The incident inspired John Entwistle to write "Cell Block Number Seven."
1983 - MTV first aired Michael Jackson's 14-minute "Thriller" video.
1986 - In front of a crowd of 10,000 at a Birmingham, England concert, the Eurythmic's Annie Lennox ripped off her bra in the midst of performing "Missionary Man."
2000 - Smashing Pumpkins played their last concert with the original lineup, at a club in Chicago. It was the same club where they had played their first show 13 years earlier.
Birthday Highlight:
Keyboardist, singer and session player Michael McDonald is 58 today. McDonald got his start playing with Steely Dan among other bands, but enjoyed his greatest visibility as a member of the Doobie Brothers with songs like "Takin' It To the Streets" and "What A Fool Believes," and as a solo artist with singles like "I Keep Forgetting" (and let us not forget his background vocals for the Christopher Cross classic, "Ride Like the Wind"). Recently, the band Grizzly Bear invited McDonald to dub his own vocals into a version of their indie hit, "While You Wait For the Others," and the results were, uh, odd.
Today In Music History: Ian Yearns To Get Hit
Posted at 6:13 AM on December 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer John Densmore of The Doors is 66.
Today in:
1957 - Both Buddy Holly and Sam Cooke made their national TV debuts on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1960 - Paul McCartney and Pete Best were deported from West Germany on suspicion of arson after their hotel room mysteriously caught fire.
1979 - The Sex Pistols, who had just released their first single, "Anarchy In The U.K.,'" appeared as a last minute replacement for the Queen of England on a popular Brit TV morning chat show. The interviewer taunted them about their "nasty reputation," compelling bassist Glen Matlock to utter a few vulgarities. In the ensuing uproar, the Pistols were banned from nearly every venue that had booked them for their first tour.
1982 - Michael Jackson's Thriller album was released. It went on to become the biggest-selling album of all time.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, Ian Dury scored his biggest hit with "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick." Not a huge hit in the U.S., it made it to #1 in the U.K. and sold 2 million copies worldwide. We thought we'd give it a little American airtime this morning.
Today In Music History: Bowie And Bing
Posted at 6:03 AM on November 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist and singer Shuggie Otis is 57.
Billy Idol is 55.
Today in:
1969 - Sponsor AT&T reneged on backing Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special when they learned that footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral and the Viet Nam war was going to be shown.
1996 - Entertainer Tiny Tim died after performing his signature song, "Tiptoe Thru' The Tulips," at a benefit concert in Minneapolis. Reports put his age at either 64 or 66.
1999 - Officials from the Boy Scouts of America were not amused when Elton John appeared on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall performing "It's A Sin" as six male dancers dressed up as Cub Scouts pranced around him, peeling off their uniforms.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1977, David Bowie sang a duet of "Little Drummer Boy" with Bing Crosby on Crosby's Christmas special. The pair exchanged dialogue about what they do for Christmas before singing song with a new counterpoint with original lyrics, "Peace On Earth," written for the special. Bowie's appearance has been described as "surreal" - at the time, he was seen as the furthest thing from the American mainstream, while Crosby was practically it's embodiment.
Music History: George Meets His Sweet Lord
Posted at 7:00 AM on November 29, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1959, Bobby Darin won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist of the Year and for Record of the Year for "Mack The Knife."
In 1969, While listening to "The William Tell Overture," Jerry Lee Lewis attempted to shoot a soda bottle off of the top of his bass player Butch Owen's head. Instead, he hit the musician twice in the chest. Owens survived the incident.
In 1979, the four original members of Kiss performed together for what they thought was the last time. They reunited in 1996.
In 1980, John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album hit the streets. It was the first music from John in five years.
History Feature:
In 2001, Singer, songwriter, guitarist and solo star but best known for his role as a member of the most influential rock band ever, George Harrison lost his long battle with cancer. He died peacefully at a friend's home. He was 58. To honor George, we played "My Sweet Lord."
This Day in Music History: Another One Bites the Dust
Posted at 7:16 AM on November 24, 2010
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Donald "Duck" Dunn is 69
(Veteran Stax Records bass player who was a pioneer of "the Memphis sound"; best known for his long stint with Booker T. & The MG's but he has also backed up legends like Otis Redding, Albert King, Wilson Pickett, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, the Blues Brothers, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler and many others.)
Pete Best is 69
(Drummer with The Beatles between 1960-62; replaced by some guy named Richard Starkey who did okay by all accounts.)
This Day In Music:
In 1966, The Beatles were in the studio beginning work on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. They laid down the initial tracks for "Strawberry Fields Forever," but ultimately left it off the album in favor of making it the flip side of "Penny Lane."
In 1972, In Concert, the ABC-TV late-night rock show, debuted. The first episode starred Alice Cooper, Chuck Berry, Blood Sweat & Tears, Poco and The Allman Brothers Band.
In 1999, At an auction of rock memorabilia in London, Buddy Holly's first driver's license went for almost $8,000, while a copy of The Beatles' White Album numbered 00000001 sold for nearly $20 grand.
In 2001, After unprecedented cooperation between the major labels and tv and cable networks, a key benefit CD album was just days away from arriving in stores. The Concert for New York City featured Paul McCartney, The Who, David Bowie, Mick with Keith, Elton John and Billy Joel.
History Feature:
In 1991, Freddie Mercury, lead singer, main writer and frontman for Queen, died of complications from AIDS. Best known for the elaborate "Bohemian Rhapsody," Freddie and the band enjoyed many other hits including "We Will Rock You," "We Are The Champions," "Another One Bites The Dust," "Somebody To Love" and "Under Pressure" [with Bowie].
Today In Music History: Rock n' Roll Police Blotter
Posted at 5:59 AM on November 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today In:
1959 - RCA Records denied that Elvis would change his style after being discharged from the Army. He did, however, record more ballads and make even more sucky movies.
1964 - The BBC banned the Rolling Stones from its airwaves after the band arrived late for two radio shows.
1974 - Singer-musician Gary Wright left the band Spooky Tooth for a solo career. He went on to have success with "Dream Weaver."
1979 - Keith Richards' girlfriend Anita Pallenberg was acquitted of shooting a man found dead in her home.
1979 - Mick Jagger's former girlfriend Marianne Faithful was busted at Oslo Airport in Norway for marijuana possession.
2008 - Guns N' Roses released their long-awaited album, Chinese Democracy.
History Highlight:
Today in 1976, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested outside of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis. Authorities said he was brandishing a pistol and was demanding to see Presley (just 10 hours after a previous arrest for drunk driving). Lewis was charged with public intoxication and possession of a weapon. "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)" seems like an appropriate song from The Killer today.
Today In Music History: Shut-Cho Mouth!
Posted at 6:30 AM on November 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist-actor Little Steven Van Zant (The E Street Band, "The Sopranos") is 60.
Bassist Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club is 60.
Today in:
1955 - RCA Records signed Elvis Presley after buying his contract from Sun Records. Elvis got a $5,000 bonus for signing.
1965 - Bob Dylan married Sarah Lowndes in New York. They would remain married over a decade.
1997 - Singer Michael Hutchence of INXS hung himself with a belt in a hotel in Sydney, Australia. He was 37.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1971, "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes was the #1 song.
Today In Music History: Stop! In The Name of Racial Harmony
Posted at 6:00 AM on November 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Matt Sorum of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N' Roses) is 50.
Today in:
1964 - The Beefeaters changed their name to The Byrds.
1990 - Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy because other singers had lent their voices to the Girl You Know It's True album.
1994 - Like a cat, David Crosby's nine lives continued; he had a successful liver transplant operation on this day.
2002 - Michael Jackson dangled his baby son over a fourth-floor balcony at a hotel in Berlin for fans waiting outside.
2005 - Gary Glitter was arrested while trying to board a flight from Vietnam to Thailand. He was later convicted of child molestation.
History Highlight:
Today in 1968, Diana Ross interrupted a set by The Supremes at the Royal Command Variety Performance in London to make a plea for racial harmony. The audience applauded for two minutes.
November 18: Nirvana Unplugs
Posted at 6:26 AM on November 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in 1993, Nirvana made their famous appearance on MTV's Unplugged. Unlike most Unplugged programs before them in which bands simply played acoustic versions of their greatest hits, Nirvana chose to play more than one cover, including the blues tune "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," The Vaselines' "Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam," and Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World."
Today In Music History: Hallelujah For A Life Given
Posted at 5:59 AM on November 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gordon Lightfoot is 72.
Today in:
1963 - The headmaster of a Surrey, England, grammar school banned any and all Beatle haircuts stating, "This ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically. It makes them look like morons."
1987 - Bono pulled a fan onstage in L.A. to join in on U2 's version of "People Get Ready." The fan was obviously well-prepared, as he handed Bono a demo tape of his band.
1990 - David Crosby broke his left leg, ankle and shoulder in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. Police said he was speeding and was not wearing a helmet.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, Jeff Buckley was born in Orange County, CA. He would have been 44 today - Buckley drowned in the Mississsippi River while swimming in Memphis in 1997. While a number of releases have come out since his death, each one seeming to scour the limited amount of his recorded material even more cleanly, his single fully complete studio album, 1994's Grace, is today considered a significant record in rock. Furtheremore, Buckley's rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," featured on the record, is considered by many to be the definitive version.
Today In Music History: Somebody Actually Thought This Was a Good Ideaa
Posted at 6:01 AM on November 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Mani (Stone Roses) is 48.
Jazz singer Diana Krall (AKA Mrs. Elvis Costello) is 46.
Today in:
1960 - Patsy Cline recorded the song "I Fall To Pieces" in Nashville.
1968 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience album Electric Ladyland was #1 in the U.S.
1973 - David Bowie's first TV special, "1980 Floor Show" aired on NBC.
1974 - With the assistance of his pal Elton John backing up on piano and vocals, John Lennon enjoyed his first #1 hit with "Whatever Gets You Through The Night."
1978 - To accompany their performance of "Fat Bottomed Girls" during their Madison Square Garden Show, Freddie Mercury and Queen employed numerous semi-nude women bicycling around the stage.
2008 - The final episode of Total Request Live aired on MTV.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1978, the movie version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band opened. The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton and Billy Preston made their acting debuts - a fateful event, as Frampton's career was destroyed by the his appearance and the Bee Gee's career suffered a fate nearly as brutal. The film attempted to take Beatles songs and connect them together to form a story, extracting characters along the way such as Mean Mr. Mustard and Mr. Kite. As much as the movie was a complete crap sandwich, it did produce a handful of pretty decent covers, including Aerosmith's version of "Come Together" and Earth Wind and Fire's funky "Got To Get You Into My Life."
Today In Music History: Neil Young Is 65
Posted at 6:03 AM on November 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Organist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG's is 66.
Guitarist Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult is 63.
Today in:
1970 - Singer Jim Morrison performed with The Doors for the last time during a concert in New Orleans. Morrison died in July 1971.
1984 - Madonna released her Like A Virgin album.
1987 - Sly Stone showed up over an hour late to his "comeback" concert in Los Angeles. When he got there, he was arrested for nonpayment of child support.
1988 - U2 began a #1 run on the U.S. album charts with Rattle And Hum.
1999 - One-time Brit "glam rock" star Gary Glitter was sentenced to four months in a U.K. jail after pleading guilty to charges of child pornography.
Birthday Highlight:
Neil Young is 65 today. What's left to be said about this chameleon-like, groundbreaking, king of integrity and independence, role model for generations of artists? It's daunting even trying to come up with a song that "represents" Young's career. "Cinnamon Girl"? "Southern Man"? "Hey Hey My My"? "Ohio"? We settled on a track from Live At Massey Hall, 1971, "Old Man."
Today In Music History: Peggy Sue's Debut
Posted at 6:08 AM on November 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
Birthdays:
Singer-keyboardist Paul Cowsill of The Cowsills is 58.
Singer Marshall Crenshaw is 57.
Singer-guitarist Andy Partridge of XTC is 57.
Dave Alvin (The Blasters, X) is 55.
Today in:
1965 - The Velvet Underground made their concert debut at a high school dance in Summit, New Jersey.
1969 - Doors lead singer Jim Morrison was arrested for public drunkenness and for interfering with the flight of an aircraft. Morrison allegedly had annoyed a flight attendant on a trip from Los Angeles to Phoenix. The charges eventually were dropped.
1973 - Thirty radio stations across the country broadcast what was purported to be a Mott The Hoople live concert. In actuality, it consisted of studio tracks with pre-recorded applause dubbed in.
History Highlight:
Today in 1957, Buddy Holly's famous recording of "Peggy Sue" was released. The song was originally called "Cindy Lou", and was named for Buddy's niece, the daughter of his sister Pat Holley Kaiter. The title was later changed to "Peggy Sue" in reference to Crickets drummer Jerry Allison's girlfriend (and future wife), Peggy Sue Gerron. "Peggy Sue" is ranked #194 on the Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Today In Music History: Give 'Em Enough Rope
Posted at 6:00 AM on November 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 63.
Today in:
1969 - Led Zeppelin 2 was certified gold.
1967 - The Moody Blues released their magnum opus, "Nights In White Satin." (To this day, many still think it's "Knights," with a "k").
1976 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers began their first major tour ... opening for KISS.
1986 - Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band's first massive box set, Live 1975-1985, appeared in record stores.
History Highlight:
Today in 1978, The second album by The Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope, was released in the U.K. Shortly thereafter, the album would become their first U.S. release. We played the album's lead-off track, "Safe European Home."
Today In Music History: What The Hell Is He Saying?
Posted at 6:41 AM on November 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in Beatles History:
1961 - Former record store clerk, Brian Epstein, heard and met for the first time in person The Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He eventually persuaded them to make him their manager, and would remain so until his death in 1967.
1966 - This is the date Paul McCartney was supposedly killed in a car crash, according to the "Paul is Dead" hoax that circulated in 1969.
1966 - John met Yoko for the first time at an exhibition of her avant-garde art at the Indica Gallery in London's West End. She had no idea who he was.
1967 - The first issue of Rolling Stone magazine was published in San Francisco. It actually included a free roach-clip. John Lennon, in his get-up as Private Gripweed for the film How I Won The War, was the initial cover-boy.
Elsewhere:
1967 - Roger McGuinn expelled David Crosby from The Byrds.
1975 - In a somewhat surreal gig, David Bowie sang a duet with Cher on her TV show. The bizarre medley included "Young Americans," "Song Sung Blue," "One," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Day Tripper."
History Highlight:
Today in 1962, the legendary and definitive version of "Louie, Louie" by Portland, Oregon's The Kingsmen, was released.
Today In Music History: A Family Affair
Posted at 6:02 AM on November 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 56.
Today in:
1968 - A London court granted Cynthia Lennon a divorce from John Lennon.
1969 - The first and only Beatles single featuring a George Harrison song on the "A" side, "Something," was released in the U.K., where it eventually peaked at #4. The single shot to #1 in the U.S.
1971 - Led Zeppelin released an untitled album that became known as "Led Zeppelin 4."
1975 - Elton John became godfather to John and Yoko's son, Sean.
1995 - Rapper Flavor Flav was arrested on gun and drug charges while driving a cab in New York City. He had been released from prison two months earlier.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, Sly and The Family Stone enjoyed big hits with the title track of the There's A Riot Goin' On album and another single from the disc, "Family Affair." Despite the success of the album, Sly Stone's career was unraveling as he bailed out of many concerts in the early '70s largely due to substance abuse.
Today In Music History: Gram Parsons Is Born
Posted at 6:01 AM on November 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Art Garfunkel is 69.
Singer Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits is 63.
Bryan Adams is 51; Ryan Adams is 36. That's right.
Singer Angelo Moore of Fishbone is 45.
Guitarist-keyboardist Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead is 39.
Today in:
1965 - Pete Townshend and The Who's anthemic "My Generation" was released. It would eventually become the band's biggest British hit, making it to #2. The song made less of an impact here in the States where it would top out at #74 on the singles chart.
1966 - The Monkees had their first U.S. #1, "Last Train To Clarksville." At a press conference later, they revealed that none of them had actually played on the record.
1983 - Topper Headon of The Clash was arrested in London for walking his dog while intoxicated.
1995 - Garbage, with Shirley Manson, played their first live gig, at the 7th Street Entry.
Birthday Highlight:
Gram Parsons, American singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and early "alternative country" icon, was born on this day in 1946. Parsons mixed folk, rock and blues to create what he called "Cosmic American Music." Besides recording as a solo artist, he also worked in several notable bands, including the The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers. His career, though short, is described by Allmusic as "enormously influential" for both country and rock. We played his famed duet with Emmylou Harris, "Love Hurts."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Chris Difford
Posted at 5:53 AM on November 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper-producer Diddy (Sean Combs) is 41.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles performed for the Queen Mother in London. This is when John Lennon commented that people in the cheap seats could clap and the rest could rattle their jewelry.
1976 - A Bruce Springsteen concert in New York was interrupted by a bomb threat. Springsteen joked that the threat could have come from his former manager, with whom he was involved in a legal battle.
1978 - The band Boston played the city of Boston for the first time, in a sold-out show.
1984 - Prince launched his Purple Rain tour in Detroit.
1989 - Roxette hit number one with "Listen To Your Heart." It was the first number-one song to be available only on cassette.
Birthdays Highlight:
Singer-guitarist Chris Difford of Squeeze is 56. Difford's songs for Squeeze (co-written with songwriting partner Glenn Tillbrook) included "Up The Junction," "Pulling Mussels (From a Shell)," "Tempted," and "Black Coffee In Bed." We played "Another Nail For My Heart."
Today In Music History: Simple Minds Have A Bad Day
Posted at 5:59 AM on November 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Adam Ant is 56.
Today in:
1957 - Two future number one pop songs were released: "Great Balls Of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis and "At The Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
1977 - Elton John announced at a London performance that he was retiring from concerts. However, he started performing again in 1979.
1985 - With hit songs like "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and "Smuggler's Blues" by Glenn Frey, the Miami Vice TV soundtrack was the #1 album in the land.
History Highlight:
Today in 2000, after selling millions of albums worldwide in the '80s, EMI Records announced that they were dropping Simple Minds off their roster. Remember them? "Don't You Forget About Me"? Actually, Simple Minds had had a long and successful career in the UK leading up to that single, producing a number of records that were critically acclaimed as well. We featured a tune from their 1982 album New Gold Dream, "Promised You A Miracle."
Today In Music History: Billy Bragg Gets the Cuffs
Posted at 5:58 AM on November 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 66.
Singer k.d. lang is 49.
Guitarist Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie is 35.
Today in:
1963 - The single "Be True to Your School" by the Beach Boys was released.
1974 - George Harrison went on his first tour in eight years (and first solo tour ever).
He was on the road in support of his "Dark Horse" album.
1979 - Mick and Bianca Jagger divorced.
1979 - The movie version of the Who's "Quadrophenia," featuring Sting, opened.
1990 - Prince's fourth feature film, Graffiti Bridge, opened. It co-starred Tevin Campbell and Mavis Staples.
History Highlight:
Today in 1986, Billy Bragg was incarcerated for slicing through wire fences in a protest at a U.S. Air Base in Norfolk, VA. Never one to hide his politics, a little Billy Bragg doesn't seem out of place on election day. We played "Help Save the Youth Of America."
Today In Music History: Caught in a Trap And I Can't Walk Out Because I Love You Too Much Baby
Posted at 6:09 AM on November 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays;
Singer Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers is 48.
Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard is 47.
Today in:
1955 - The Famous Flames, featuring James Brown, recorded "Please, Please, Please" at a radio station in Macon, Georgia.
1968 - Apple Records released "Wonderwall Music" by George Harrison, the first Beatle solo album.
1971 - A funeral for guitarist Duane Allman was held in Macon, Georgia. Allman had been killed in a motorcycle crash. At the funeral, the Allman Brothers Band performed several songs.
1988 - Sub Pop Records released Nirvana's first release, "Love Buzz/Big Cheese."
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, Elvis Presley had his first number-one single in seven years with "Suspicious Minds."
Today in Music History: Townshend's Theme
Posted at 6:48 AM on October 29, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day In Music History:
In 1955, Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" was released and favorably reviewed by Billboard as a "cleverly styled novelty with nonsense words, rapid fire delivery."
In 1971, In the first of a series of tragedies that befell The Allman Brothers Band, the group's leader and great guitarist, Duane Allman, was killed in a motorcycle accident just outside their hometown of Macon, Georgia. He was only 24.
In 1975, Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review kicked off in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the Memorial Auditorium. The name of the ensemble was inspired by Dylan's hearing thunder rolling across the sky one evening.
In 1999, For the first time in two years, the surviving members of The Who--Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle--reconvened for a concert at the MGM Grand in Vegas. The occasion was to launch a new internet video company, Pixelon. The concert, which also featured the Dixie Chicks, Tony Bennett and Kiss, was webcast.
History Highlight:
In 1973, One of the epic works by The Who, Quadrophenia, lit up retail, and was certified Gold on this day. The album featured the single "Love, Reign O'er Me".
This Day in Music History: Americans Learn the Word "Bollocks"
Posted at 10:27 AM on October 27, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
BEN HARPER is 41
CHARLIE DANIELS is 74
WILLIAM REID is 52 (Singer/guitarist/co-founder, along with his bother Jim, of '80s/'90s U.K. sonic band The Jesus & Mary Chain)
This Day In Music 10/28:
In 1961, A customer at a Liverpool record store enquired about a record that he had heard and liked, "My Bonnie," by a local group. The record store clerk, a man by the name of Brian Epstein, became curious, sought out the mystery band and became their manager. The group was The Beatles.
In 1972, The United States Council for World Affairs announced that it would adopt "Join Together" by The Who as their official anthem.
1974, David Bowie played the first of seven sold-out nights on his Diamond Dogs Tour at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
In 1982, The Jam announced that they were quitting. Paul Weller and Mick Talbot would soon form The Style Council.
In 1997, A road-weary Bill Berry, drummer for R.E.M. announced that he was departing the band after 17 years.
2001, Afroman (Joseph Foreman), started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Because I Got High.' The song about how cannabis use was degrading his quality of life, rose from obscurity to popularity after it was circulated around the Internet.
History Highlight:
In 1977, The notorious first album by The Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bullocks Here's The Sex Pistols was released in America. We played "Submission," which was nearly left off the record all together when it was released in the UK.
Today In Music History: Ben E. King Records His Classics
Posted at 6:03 AM on October 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist K.K. Downing of Judas Priest is 59.
Singer Simon LeBon of Duran Duran is 52.
Today in:
1975 - Bruce Springsteen made the cover of both Time and Newsweek. The magazines were embarrassed, but the coverage further stoked the boss's career.
1995 - Singer Gloria Estefan performed for Pope John Paul the Second as part of the celebration of his 50th anniversary in the priesthood. She was the first pop star to receive a call from the Pope to perform.
History Higlight:
Fifty years ago today, in 1960, Ben E. King, in his first solo sessions after leaving The Drifters, recorded "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand By Me" for Atlantic Records. They turned out to be timeless classics and bestsellers. We played "Spanish Harlem."
Today In Music History: Why Can't We Give Love One More Chance?
Posted at 6:28 AM on October 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1958 - 7,000 fans rioted at the first rock concert held in Germany. Bill Haley And The Comets incited the pandemonium.
1965 - The Beatles were made Members of the British Empire by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
1975 - Elton John took the stage at Dodger Stadium in a sequined Dodger uniform to wrap up another massively successful U.S. tour. He was the first rocker to play the stadium since The Beatles in '66.
1978 - The Police made their U.S. debut at Boston's Rat Club.
1980 - Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Starship suffered a brain hemorrhage at a recording session. Following a 15-day stay at an L.A. hospital, he emerged in good health.
1993 - Roman Catholic churches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, opened their doors for the night and urged residents to tie black ribbons on trees to protest Madonna's first concert there.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1981, David Bowie met with Queen in Montreaux, Switzerland, to record "Under Pressure" in an all-night session. Bowie had come to the session to add backing vocals to a different Queen song, but, unhappy with the results, ended up asking that they not be used. He stuck around however to play with some song ideas with the band, and "Under Pressure" was the result. It would go on to become one of the biggest hits for both Queen and Bowie. And who wrote that famous bass line? Queen bassist John Deacon credits Bowie, while Bowie credits Deacon.
Today In Music History: The Stones Cause A Ruckus
Posted at 6:02 AM on October 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jon Anderson (lead vocalist, Yes) is 64.
Today in:
1968 - The original release of the Jimi Hendrix Experience double album Electric Ladyland caused a bit of a stir. The cover featured Jimi surrounded by naked women. It is now a collecters item.
1973 - John Lennon sued the U.S. government for allegedly using surveillance against him in connection with his deportation case.
1993 - Tears For Fears played the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Radiohead opened.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, The Rolling Stones made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing Chuck Berry's "Around and Around." The females in the audience caused almost complete pandemonium; so many people complained about it that Sullivan said he'd never invite them back, but they did in fact return the following year. Today we played the song that practically no one was able to hear over the screaming.
Today In Music History: U2 Get the Bo Diddley Beat
Posted at 6:33 AM on October 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Cris Kirkwood of Meat Puppets is 50.
Today in:
1964 - The Who, then known as The High Numbers, auditioned at EMI. The record company failed to discern any commercial potential and declined to sign the group.
1966 - The Beach Boys' song "Good Vibrations" was released. At that time, it was the most expensive single ever recorded, costing $40,000 dollars to make.
1976 - Drummer Keith Moon of The Who played in what ended up being his final concert, in Toronto. Moon died less than two years later.
1998 - For the first time since the '60s, Bob Dylan performed in his hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. The gig sold out in five hours.
History Highlight:
Today in 1988, U2's Rattle And Hum rose to the top of the U.S. and U.K. charts. "Desire," the first release from the double-album set, became the group's first #1 single in the U.K.
Today In Music History: Louie Louie On the TV TV
Posted at 6:02 AM on October 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's is 69.
Guitarist Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's is 57.
Singer Julian Cope is 53.
Singer-bassist Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age) is 39.
Today in:
1961 - Bob Dylan recorded his first album for Columbia Records. The self-titled album was recorded in one day and cost $400.
1972 - After 17 years of recording rock classics, Chuck Berry finally got a No. 1 hit with "My Ding-A-Ling."
1992 - Madonna's erotic book Sex went on sale around the world. Americans paid up to $50 to see pictures reflecting her fantasies concerning sadism, masochism and bondage.
1997 - "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John broke the record for the best-selling single of all time, just 37 days after its release. "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby had been the previous record-holder.
History Highlight:
Today in 1965, the pride of the Northwest, The Kingsmen played "Louie Louie" on the TV show Shindig!.
Today In Music History: The Queen of Rockabilly
Posted at 6:20 AM on October 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tom Petty is 60.
Snoop Dogg is 38.
Today in:
1976 - Led Zeppelin's concert film The Song Remains The Same premiered in London.
1977 - Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in the crash of a privately-chartered plane in Mississippi. The crash took the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines.
1979 - Bob Dylan introduced his born-again Gospel-rock to the country as he
performed "Gotta Serve Somebody" on SNL.
1992 - Madonna's album Erotica was released, one day before her book Sex hit the bookshelves.
Birthday Highlight:
Wanda Jackson is 73 today. A singer and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist, Jackson is known to many as the "First Lady (or Queen) of Rockabilly." Recently, she's recorded tunes produced and released by Jack White. We played one of her classics, "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad."
Today In Music History: Bowie's Pin Ups
Posted at 5:53 AM on October 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - Smokey Robinson and The Miracles released "I Second That Emotion," their biggest hit since 1960's "Shop Around".
1990 - The jury in the 2 Live Crew obscenity trial in Florida asked the judge for permission to laugh out loud. Some of the jurors said it actually was causing them pain to hold in their laughter.
1994 - R.E.M's Monster was the number one album in the country.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, David Bowie released Pin Ups, an album of his favorite covers. Twiggy posed with him on the cover. Bowie's selections included Pink Floyd's "See Emily Play," The Kinks' "Where Have All the Good Times Gone," as well as songs by The Yardbirds, The Easybeats, and Them. We played one of the two covers by The Who on the album: "I Can't Explain."
Today In Music History: S n' G on SNL
Posted at 6:33 AM on October 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Chuck Berry is 84.
Today in:
1952 - Hank Williams married his second wife, Billie Jean Jones, in Minden, Louisiana. The next day, they repeated their vows twice at two shows for concert-goers in New Orleans.
1966 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience made its debut in Paris.
1967 - The satiric film How I Won the War premiered in London. It starred John Lennon as Private Gripweed.
1974 - Al Green's supposed girlfriend, Mary Woodson, shot herself to death at Green's home north of Memphis. That was after she had thrown a pot of boiling grits on Green as he was getting out of the bathtub.
1988 - Bruce Springsteen broke up the E Street Band, telling them he wanted to pursue his own projects. They have since reunited.
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, Simon And Garfunkel reunited on the second-ever episode of Saturday Night Live to positive reviews and good ratings. The long-standing tension between the two was lurking between the surface as the two sang "The Boxer" - they barely stared at each other, but during the revised line, "after changes / we are more or less the same," Simon cracked a wry grin, while Garfunkel scratched his neck and stared at the lighting rig.
Today In Music History: Tina Dumps Ike
Posted at 6:44 AM on October 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - Jimi Hendrix signed his first recording contract.
1966 - Pink Floyd and Soft Machine performed at The Roundhouse in London. Party favors included mystery sugarcubes.
1976 - EMI Records signed the Sex Pistols for a considerable sum. They dropped them the following year.
1973 - Keith Richards was found guilty of trafficking marijuana in Nice, France. He was given a one-year suspended sentence, fined 5,000 francs and barred from the country for two years.
2002 - Ryan Adams jumped into the audience at a show in Nashville to find a fan who had yelled out a request for "Summer of '69," a Bryan Adams song. (Ha ha). Adams gave the fan $30 as a refund and refused to continue the show until the man left.
History Highlight:
Today in 1976, Ike and Tina Turner split up as a musical act and otherwise. It was certainly a good thing for Tina personally, as Ike had been a violent and abusive husband for years. Still, the music they'd made together was unquestionably awesome. One songs that they absolutely made their own when they covered it: "Proud Mary."
Today In Music History: Fogerty's Luck Proves Better Than Harrison's
Posted at 6:20 AM on October 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays
Thomas Dolby is 52.
Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is 36.
Today in:
1955 - Bill Haley and his Comets, at the height of their fame ("Rock Around the Clock" was a staple on the airwaves) played a concert in Lubbock, Texas. The opening act was an unknown singer named Buddy Holly.
1972 - Michael Jackson had his first solo hit, with "Ben."
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, John Fogerty was sued for allegedly plagiarizing Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly" for Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Travelin' Band." The suit was eventually dropped.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Tom Verlaine
Posted at 6:10 AM on October 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Paul Simon is 69.
Sammy Hagar is 63.
Today in:
1965 - The Who recorded "My Generation" in London.
1974 - George Harrison met President Gerald Ford at the White House. Harrison was invited there after the Ford's son Jack met Harrison backstage at a Salt Lake City concert.
1975 - Neil Young underwent surgery in Los Angeles to have a growth removed from his vocal cords.
1980 - AC/DC's Back In Black album went platinum.
Birthday Highlight:
Guitarist and singer Tom Verlaine is 61 today. Born Thomas Miller, Verlaine is the lead guitarist and songwriter for highly acclaimed, uncategorizable New York '70s band Television. Over the years, Verlaine's complex and technically proficient playing, poetic lyrics, and quirky voice have won critical praise and a devoted cult following. We played Television's "See No Evil" from Marquee Moon.
Today In Music History: Little Richard Quits Rock, Then Returns
Posted at 6:11 AM on October 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1969 - The "Paul Is Dead" rumor reached its peak when an underground Detroit FM deejay, prompted by a mysterious phone call, played the Beatles' "Revolution #9" backwards on the air. Those listening heard what they thought sounded like, "turn me on, dead man."
1978 - Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols was arrested in New York in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.
1997 - Singer John Denver was killed when his experimental plane crashed into Monterey Bay in California. He was 53.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1957, Little Richard announced that he was giving up rock and roll for religion. He later was ordained as a minister, but eventually went back to playing rock and roll. Five years later, on this same date in 1962, Little Richard played a gig in Liverpool, with a then-unknown local band called The Beatles opening for him. Richard would later argue that the lads stole his trademark falsetto "oooh," heard in such songs as "She Loves You," and it's hard to argue with him. We played one of those "oooh" songs, "Long Tall Sally."
This Day in Music History: Anarchy!
Posted at 7:00 AM on October 11, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day In Music History:
In 1960, Aretha Franklin made her onstage debut at the Village Vanguard in New York.
In 1965, The Beatles released their version of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" as a single.
In 1969, The great blues man, Muddy Waters, was nearly killed in a car crash near Chicago. Three of his companions in the vehicle were not so lucky.
Also in 1969, The No. 1 album in America was Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Green River."
In 1975, With comedian George Carlin as guest host, Saturday Night Live debuted on NBC with musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston. The following week the program featured a reunion of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
In 1980, The Police were enjoying runaway success with their Zenyatta Mondatta album.
In 1988, Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara Bach entered an alcohol abuse treatment center in Tucson.
In 1999, Michael Jackson's second wife, Deborah Rowe, filed for divorce after three years of marriage.
In 2003, The Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O performs with the band in Sydney in a wheelchair. The singer suffered a concussion after falling offstage during an earlier Australian concert.
In 2004, Original Buffalo Springfield bass player Bruce Palmer died after a heart attack. He was 58.
History Highlight:
In 1976, The Sex Pistols recorded their first single, "Anarchy in the U.K." It would be a smash, despite being banned by the BBC.
This Day in Music History: Honoring a Ramone
Posted at 7:00 AM on October 8, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis recorded his lewd and lustful classic, "Great Balls Of Fire."
In 1966, The U.S. issued an official proclamation that the psychedelic drug L.S.D. was dangerous and officially illegal.
In 1968, The Mamas and The Papas' Cass Elliot's first attempt as a solo act at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas proved to be a disaster. She had tonsillitis, her band was woefully under-rehearsed, and she wound up canceling her two week engagement right after opening night.
In 1971, John Lennon taped his famous song "Imagine."
In 1980, Bob Marley played his last concert ever in Pittsburgh, during which he collapsed. Rumors were rampant that the great Reggae artist was dying of cancer or a brain tumor, which his people strenuously denied. Unfortunately, it was true, and Robert Nesta Marley died on May 11th, 1981. He was only 36.
In 1988, Following an unprecedented 741 weeks on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd finally fell off.
In 1992, The U.S. Postal service announced that it would issue a commemorative stamp booklet featuring rock legends Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Ritchie Valens, plus Rhythm & Blues giants Clyde McPhatter, Otis Redding and Dinah Washington.
Birthday Highlight:
Johnny Ramone, born John Cummings, was born on this day in 1948 in Long Island, N.Y. He lost his battle with prostate cancer at the age of 55 back in 2004. A founding member and guitarist of The Ramones, he would play with The Ramones until 2003. Even though he was a punk rocker, he was known to be quite conservative when it came to politics. Remembered for his fast, high energy, rhythm guitar playing, you didn't hear much soloing from Johnny. To honor him, we played The Ramones "Rockaway Beach."
Today In Music History: Phil Spector Produced That?
Posted at 5:56 AM on October 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
John Mellencamp is 59.
Thom Yorke of Radiohead is 42.
Singer Damian Kulash of OK Go is 35.
Today in:
1975 - John Lennon won his battle against U.S. immigration authorities when a federal appeals court overturned an order to deport him. Officials had wanted to kick Lennon out of the country because of a drug arrest in Britain.
1978 - The Rolling Stones played "Beast Of Burden," and "Respectable" on Saturday Night Live.
1995 - Rapper Tone Loc was arrested for allegedly taking $80 from a pizza parlor in Los Angeles, arguing with the owner over a pizza, and demanding his money back. He pleaded no contest to the charges.
History Highlight:
Today in 2002, Starsailor entered a London studio with producer Phil Spector. One of the tunes that came out of the sessions, "Silence Is Easy," became a big hit for the band. It's definitely one of those songs that you'd never, ever think was a Phil Spector production.
Today In Music History: Tommy Turns 44
Posted at 6:00 AM on October 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon is 59.
Matthew Sweet is 46.
Today in:
1969 - A George Harrison song became the A-side of a Beatles single for the first time, when "Something" was released, backed with "Come Together."
1978 - The Reverend Jesse Jackson condemned The Rolling Stones song "Some Girls" as racist. Mick Jagger later apologized, but refused to change the lyric.
1980 - Former Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) was arrested after a barroom brawl in Dublin. He was ultimately acquitted of the charge.
Birthday Highlight:
Tommy Stinson is 44 today. Happy birthday Tommy! Boy, so much time has passed since Tommy's tonsils were immortalized in song by The Replacements. Today, he travels the world with Guns N' Roses, and is currently raising money for his pet project, the Timkatec Schools in Haiti, in an auction underway on his website. We played "What's Your Motivation?" from his solo album, Village Gorrilla Head.
Today In Music History: Saluting Eddie Kendricks
Posted at 6:13 AM on October 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Steve Miller is 67.
Brian Johnson of AC/DC is 63.
Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats is 56.
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists is 36.
Today in:
1962 - The Beatles' first single, on the Parlophone label, "Love Me Do" b/w "P.S. I Love You" was released in the U.K. It wasn't a hit in the U.S. untiil 1964.
1988 - Smashing Pumpkins played their first show together, at a club in Chicago. They earned $50.
1999 - Paul McCartney released his first album since the death of his wife Linda the previous year. Run Devil Run consisted of obscure rock oldies, plus some McCartney originals.
Today's Salute:
Today in 1992, Eddie Kendricks, former Temptations singer and solo star, died of lung cancer at 52. Known for his falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded The Temptations and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "Get Ready", and "Just My Imagination". We played "The Way You Do The Things You Do."
Today In Music History: Farewell Janis
Posted at 6:01 AM on October 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Martin Chanmers (drums, The Pretenders) is 58.
Today in:
1961 - Bob Dylan made his concert hall debut in New York. About 50 people attended, mostly his friends, and he earned $20.
1962 - The Beatles recorded "Love Me Do," their first recording session at Abbey Road Studios.
1969 - The classic late '60s movie Easy Rider opened, starring Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Songs on the film's popular soundtrack included "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "Wasn't Born To Follow" and "The Ballad Of Easy Rider" by The Byrds, and "Don't Bogart That Joint" by the Fraternity Of Man.
1982 - Survivor was #1 with their single "Eye Of The Tiger."
1992 - Singer Sinead O'Connor ripped up a picture of the pope during an after-midnight appearance on Saturday Night Live. NBC's switchboard in New York was flooded with calls, most of them criticizing O'Connor's actions.
History Feature:
Today in 1970 - 40 years ago - singer Janis Joplin was found dead of a heroin overdose at a hotel in Hollywood. She was 27. She had just finished recording the album Pearl, as well as a birthday greeting for John Lennon ("Happy Trails", composed by Dale Evans) on October 1, 1970. Lennon, whose birthday was October 9, later told television host Dick Cavett that her taped greeting arrived at his home after her death. While the cause of her death is most likely a combination of heroin and alcohol, it is possible that Joplin had accidentally been given heroin which was much more potent than normal, as several of her dealer's other customers also overdosed that week.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Tim O'Reagan
Posted at 5:58 AM on October 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Actress-singer Julie Andrews is 75.
Drummer Tim O'Reagan of The Jayhawks is 52.
Today in:
1970 - Curtis Mayfield left The Impressions to go solo.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in his hometown of Seattle. Among the mourners were Miles Davis, Eric Burdon, Johnny Winter and members of Derek And The Dominoes, including Eric Clapton.
1975 - An intruder shot and killed Al Jackson, drummer for Booker T. and the MGs, at his home in Memphis. The group was planning a reunion at the time of Jackson's death.
1981 - The Pretenders had to cancel the last portion of a US tour after drummer Martin Chambers punched out a window, severely injuring his hand.
Today In Music History: Blind Girl I Miss You
Posted at 5:59 AM on September 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Trey Anastasio of Phish is 46.
Today in:
1965 - Donovan made his American TV debut on Shindig!
1967 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney appeared on "The David Frost Show" to talk about the virtues of transcendental meditation as taught by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1988 - John Lennon got a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
1989 - Neil Young played "Rockin' In the Free World" on Saturday Night Live.
1993 - B-52's singer Kate Pierson staged a sit-in in protest of animal fur clothing and ads at the New York offices of Vogue magazine. She was promptly hauled away by the NYPD.
1994 - Michael Stipe of R.E.M. signed a motion picture development deal with New Line Cinema. Nothing has developed to date.
History Highlight:
Actor Eric Stoltz is 49 today. Ready for an awesome segue? Since one of Eric's big roles in his career was Rocky Dennis, the lead character opposite Cher in Mask, we thought we'd play "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song To the Blind Girl" by Jens Lekman.
Today In Music History: The Killer Almost Killed Me
Posted at 7:25 AM on September 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1979 - Nick Lowe had a Top 15 hit with "Cruel To Be Kind."
1989 - While on a motorcycle trip from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon, Bruce Springsteen stopped in at a small saloon in Prescott, Arizona, and wound up jamming with the house band. The Boss and The Mile High Band burned through "Don't Be Cruel," "I'm On Fire," "Route 66" and a couple of others. Turns out that one of the barmaids, Brenda Techanec, was talking about her problems paying her hospital bills. Springsteen overheard her and a week later she had a check for $100,000 in her hands. This is known as the "Bruce Springsteen plan" of coverage.
Birthday Highlight:
Jerry Lee Lewis, "The Killer", one of the early originators of rock n' roll known for his outrageous (for the time) energy, feet-on-the-keyboard piano gimmicks, and, well, incest (infamously marrying his 13-year-old cousin), is 75 today. It's also the anniversary, in 1976, of this incident: while attempting to shoot a soda bottle with his .357 magnum, Lewis hit his bass player, Norman Owens, twice in the chest (twice?). Lewis was charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits. Owens recovered. Anyway, we played a classic from the Killer, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."
Today In Music History: Bob Gets Freewheelin'
Posted at 6:18 AM on September 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Ben E. King is 72.
Today in:
1968 - Janis Joplin's manager announced Joplin would leave Big Brother and the Holding Company in November after fulfilling current obligations. Joplin said she and the band "weren't growing together anymore."
1968 - "Hey Jude" by the Beatles topped the singles charts and parked there for nine weeks. It was the longest single ever to make the Hot 100 - clocking in at seven minutes and 11 seconds (until Richard Harris topped it with "MacArthur Park" by 9 seconds in 1972).
1988 - John Denver offered the Soviet Union $10 million to put him on the Soyuz spacecraft. Didn't happen.
1991 - Influential jazz trumpeter Miles Davis died of pneumonia, respiratory failure and a stroke. He was 65.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, Bob Dylan's The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan entered the charts. It was his second album and the first to contain mostly originals, like "Blowin' In The Wind."
Today In Music History: Eat To The Beat
Posted at 6:42 AM on September 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Meat Loaf (Marvin Lee Aday) is 63.
Lil' Wayne is 28.
Today in:
1964 - The Beach Boys made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
1973 - Carlos Santana, a follower of Sri Chinmoy, changed his name to Devadip, which means "The Lamp Of The Light Supreme."
1979 - Elton John collapsed onstage at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles right after launching into the tune "Better Off Dead." The show continued after a 10-minute break, then went on for almost three hours.
1980 - The Stray Cats were signed to Arista Records in Britain.
1986 - Bassist Cliff Burton of Metallica was killed when the band's tour bus skidded off an icy road in Sweden. He was 24.
1986 - The Beatles song "Twist and Shout" re-entered the pop charts after it was featured in the movies Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Back to School. It eventually rose to No. 23.
History Highlight:
Today in 1979, Blondie released Eat To The Beat, which contained the hit "Dreaming."
Today In Music History: So Where Exactly Did You Bury Paul?
Posted at 6:02 AM on September 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bruce Springsteen is 61.
Ani DiFranco is 40.
Today in:
1957 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets took it to #1 on the US singles chart with "That'll Be The Day." The title of the song was inspired by a catchphrase that John Wayne uttered repeatedly in the famous John Ford film, The Searchers.
1967 - "People Are Strange" by The Doors was released. Meanwhile, The Box Tops began a four-week run at # 1 with "The Letter."
1972 - Mott The Hoople's All The Young Dudes, produced by David Bowie, was released.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, one of the great rumors-slash-hoaxes of the decade was instigated by an article in the University Of Illinois newspaper, The Northern Star. Headlined "Clues Hint At Beatles Death," it asserted that Paul McCartney had been killed a car wreck in 1966 and replaced by a look-alike. They backed up their assertions with some of the strangeness of the Sgt. Pepper album cover, and John Lennon's mumbling during the fade-out of "Strawberry Fields," interpreted by some as "I buried Paul." Lennon himself later claimed that he'd actually said "I'm very bored." Or was it "Ice berried spam?"
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Joan Jett
Posted at 6:02 AM on September 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Nick Cave is 53.
Today in:
1965 - Roger Daltry of The Who nearly got thrown out of the band for punching out drummer Keith Moon on the opening date of their Scandinavian tour in Copenhagen.
1965 - San Francisco band The Great Society, featuring Grace Slick, made their stage debut at the Coffee Gallery in North Beach. Slick would later join the Jefferson Airplane.
1980 - John Lennon set the wheels in motion for his comeback by signing with Geffen Records. Lennon would be the first signing by the new upstart label.
1985 - The first Farm Aid was held in Champaign, Illinois, featuring John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Neil Young.
1999 - Singer Diana Ross was arrested and subjected to a full body search while trying to board a plane in London's Heathrow Airport. A security guard had accused her of assault, but no charges were filed.
Birthday Highlight:
Joan Jett is 52 today, born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22nd 1958 in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. It's hard to pass up any opportunity to play some Joan, so we played something recent: "A.C.D.C." from her album Sinner.
Today In Music History: Hendrix Makes It His Own
Posted at 6:49 AM on September 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Leonard Cohen is 76.
Liam Gallagher of Oasis is 38.
Today in:
1979 - The New York Post reported that The Beatles would reunite for a concert to benefit boat people. It never happened.
1980 - While jogging in New York City's Central Park, Bob Marley collapsed. Following extensive tests, it was determined that he was inflicted with cancer, which he ultimately died from.
1985 - Thanks in part to the popular animated video and a big MTV push, "Money For Nothing" became Dire Straits' first #1 hit.
1986 - The National Enquirer ran a photo of Michael Jackson lying in an oxygen chamber with the headline, "Michael Jackson's Bizarre Plan to Live to 150." Jackson later said he was simply lying in a chamber he had purchased for burn victims.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1968, Jimi Hendrix's electrified interpretation of Bob Dylan's acoustic "All Along The Watchtower" was released. Dylan reportedly liked it. Many feel that Hendrix's cover is the definitive version.
Today In Music History: Can't Find My Way Home
Posted at 6:10 AM on September 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson of Nelson are 43.
Today in:
1970 - Jim Morrison of The Doors was found guilty of indecent exposure and use of profanity in connection with a concert in Miami in 1969. He was found innocent of lewdness and public drunkenness. The guilty verdicts were appealed, but Morrison died before the case was resolved.
1971 - Peter Frampton left Humble Pie to embark on a solo career. All together now: wow-wow-wow-wow ...
1975 - The Bay City Rollers were the first musical guests on Howard Cosell's short-lived Saturday night variety show.
1975 - The "Born To Run" single by Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band was released.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood's new band, Blind Faith, one of the earliest "super groups," hit #1 on the album chart with their first and only album. The album's cover provoked controversy because it featured a topless pubescent girl holding a silver model spaceship that many perceived as phallic. The U.S. release featured an alternate cover with a photograph of the band on the front. Unfortunately, the band lasted exactly one year, but it's one album is considered a classic, and it's single, "Can't Find My Way Home," an enduring favorite.
Today In Music History: White Punk On Dope
Posted at 12:00 AM on September 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - The Doors performed on Ed Sullivan's Sunday night variety program. Sullivan asked Jim Morrison to omit or alter the lyric, "Girl, we couldn't get much higher" in "Light My Fire." Morrison ignored him. They were not invited back.
1967 - In an infamous incident that took place during the taping of a live performance by The Who for CBS's The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Keith Moon set off a resounding explosion in his drum kit at the conclusion of a song, unaware that the crew had already planted a big noise-maker. This double-whammy was so powerful that it blew Moon straight off the drum riser (and sent a cymbal slicing into his leg), and so loud that it aided in permanently damaging Pete Townsend's hearing.
1996 - London police intercepted and destroyed a booby-trapped book that an obsessed fan had sent to Bjork. The fan shot himself to death hours after mailing the package. The package never reached Bjork's home.
Birthday Highlight:
Fee Waybill, lead singer of the band The Tubes, is 60 today. The Tubes were a bizarro San Francisco band who's career began with outrageous, elaborate costumed stage shows satirizing consumerism, pornography and politics. Waybill's onstage alter-ego during this time was the glammed-out, platform boot wearing "Quay Lewd;" the band's signature tune during this era was the anthem "White Punks On Dope." Eventually, The Tubes had more mainstream hits with songs like "Talk To Ya Later" and "She's A Beauty." This morning we played a song off their commercially-oriented album The Completion Backward Principle that still retains some of that early twisted humor: "Sushi Girl."
Today In Music History: Led Zeppelin Reigns
Posted at 6:06 AM on September 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Blues singer B.B. King is 85.
Drummer Kenney Jones (Small Faces, Faces, The Who) is 62.
Today in:
1966 - A member of Parliament requested that Britain's House Of Commons officially "deplore" the statement of a magistrate who'd described The Rolling Stones as "complete idiots...who wear filthy clothes."
1972 - Featuring the soon-to-be #1 single "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," All Directions by The Temptations entered the album charts.
1977 - Marc Bolan, leader of the band T. Rex, died in a car crash near London. His girlfriend was at the wheel.
1979 - "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang was released. It's considered to be the first major rap record.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, a poll in Britain's preeminent music magazine Melody Maker magazine found that Led Zeppelin was the most popular band in the UK. It was the first time in eight years that The Beatles had not topped the list. The seventies were clearly officially underway. From Led Zep's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III, we played the Jimmy Page-penned tune, "Tangerine."
Today In Music History: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Posted at 6:01 AM on September 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1962 - "The Beatles are a nothing group" - that was the conclusion of Brit journalist Peter Jones after having interviewed them for the London Daily Mirror.
1964 - The aforementioned "nothing group" was ordered off the Cleveland Public Auditorium stage by authorities for 15 minutes in order to calm down the hysterical crowd.
1969 - Ed Sullivan released "The Sulli-Gulli," his first and only rock record. He was hoping it would create a new dance.
1970 - Richard Nixon's Vice President, Spiro T. Agnew, declared that the youth of America were being "brainwashed into a drug culture by rock music, movies, books and underground newspapers."
1979 - ABBA began its first North American tour, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1980 - David Bowie opened on Broadway in the title role of Bernard Pomerance's play The Elephant Man. The production had already played in Denver and Chicago. His reviews were quite good.
Birthday Highlight:
Julian "Cannonball" Adderly, alto saxophonist and significant jazz figure who worked with Miles Davis, was born on this day in 1928 in Tampa, Florida. He died in 1975. Adderly had one of the few instrumental jazz hit singles in the '60s with "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy."
Today In Music History: Big Coin For Paper Scraps
Posted at 6:15 AM on September 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper Nas is 37.
Amy Winehouse is 27.
Today in:
1968 - Pete Townshend of The Who announced his plans to write a rock opera called Tommy about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy."
1984 - The first MTV Video Music Awards were held in New York. Herbie Hancock was the big winner, winning five awards for his "Rockit" video. However, Madonna stole the show with her performance of "Like A Virgin" in which she rolled around on the
stage in a wedding dress.
1996 - The first Ozzfest tour began in Columbia, Maryland.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1995, Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics for "Getting Better" sold for $249,000 at a Sotheby's auction.
Today In Music History: Bill Monroe Is Born
Posted at 6:11 AM on September 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Dave Mustaine of Megadeth is 49.
Drummer and son-of-a-Beatle Zak Starkey is 45.
Fiona Apple is 33.
Today in:
1969 - The Plastic Ono Band, featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, with a special appearance by Eric Clapton, played the Toronto Rock & Roll Revival. Most of the Plastic Ono Band's set later was released on the Live Peace In Toronto album.
1989 - Sting made his onstage acting debut in a Washington, D.C., production of The Three Penny Opera. The critics were not kind.
1993 - Late Night with Conan O'Brien made its premiere on NBC. David Letterman had moved his show to CBS.
2009 - Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Swift looked stunned when West said Beyonce' had made one of the best videos ever. West later apologized and disappeared from the public eye for several months.
History Highlight:
Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass" and American icon, was born on this day in 1911 is Rosine, Kentucky. Hits included "Kentucky Waltz," "Footprints In The Snow," "Wicked Path Of Sin" and others. Died on September 9, 1996, in Springfield, Tennessee. We played his biggest hit, "Blue Moon Of Kentucky."
Today In Music History: Chuck Berry Arrives
Posted at 1:01 PM on September 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Joe Perry of Aerosmith is 60.
David Lowry (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven) is 50.
Guitarist Matthew Followill of Kings of Leon is 26.
Today in:
1966 - Revolver by The Beatles hit #1 on the album chart, a position it would hold for six weeks.
1996 - Wal-Mart was not pleased with Sheryl Crow, banning her second album from their national shelves due to the line in the song, "Love Is A Good Thing" about children killing other children with "a gun they bought at Wal-Mart discount stores."
2002 - The Russian space agency informed NASA it was not taking Lance Bass of 'N Sync on a mission to the international space station. Bass had failed to come up with the needed $20 million.
History Highlight:
Today in 1955, "Maybelline" by Chuck Berry duckwalked its way to the top of the singles chart. It was Berry's first single release and his first hit. "Maybellene" is considered one of the pioneering rock and roll singles: Rolling Stone magazine wrote, "Rock & roll guitar starts here." Berry was the first African American solo artist to reach the top ten on the Billboard list with a rock and roll single.
Today In Music History: Really, We Were Bigger Than U2
Posted at 11:25 AM on September 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 58.
Today in:
1926 - The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was created by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA).
1956 - On his first of three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS, Elvis created a sensation performing "Love Me Tender," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Ready Teddy." This was despite the fact that he was allowed to be seen only from the waist up due to the fear that The King's gyrating hips would cause mass hysteria.
1972 - Close To The Edge by Yes was a top five album. Cosmic.
1998 - Johnny Rotten was the defendant accused of head-butting a drummer over a contract dispute. The proceedings would later be aired on an episode of Judge Judy.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1978, U2 opened for The Stranglers at the Top Hat near Dublin. The Stranglers took up two dressing rooms while Bono and the boys had to change clothes behind their amps. Seems like a fine opportunity to honor the band in that equation who didn't quite end up scaling the heights as their opening act on that date: The Stranglers, an English band who achieved critical and commercial success and retains cult status today, but, obviously, didn't exactly end up playing arenas. We played their 1977 single "Something Better Change."
Today In Music History: The Big 5-0 For Aimee (Really?)
Posted at 6:01 AM on September 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Neko Case is 40.
Today in:
1932 - Patsy Cline was born in Gore, Virginia.
1962 - "Monster Mash," by Bobby "Boris" Pickett (providing all the voices and creating the spooky sound effects), entered the singles chart. It went on to reach #1 shortly before Halloween that year and it became a seasonal favorite thereafter.
1972 - Neil Young and then wife, actress Carrie Snodgrass, become the parents of a son, Zeke, born at Young's ranch south of San Francisco.
1976 - Peter Frampton, along with his girlfriend and manager, spent the night at The White House at the invitation of Steven Ford, President Ford's son. They spent most of the time watching TV with the President.
1988 - Elton John auctioned off a number of his costumes and memorabilia for $6.2 million. It helped with some of the cash flow problems he was having at the time.
Birthday Highlight:
Aimee Mann is 50 today, born in 1960 in Bon Air, Virginia. Mann attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes. In 1983, she co-founded the band 'Til Tuesday, which had a huge MTV hit with "Voices Carry" in 1985. It's Mann's solo career that's garnered the most critical praise, however, beginning with her songs for the soundtrack to the movie Magnolia in 1999. If you can't believe she's 50, you're not alone. Maybe it's all that boxing. From her album Whatever, we played "I Should've Known."
Today In Music History: A Jackson Reunion
Posted at 6:11 AM on September 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders is 59.
Today in:
1936 - Buddy Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas.
1978 - Who drummer Keith Moon died in London of an overdose of a drug he was prescribed to combat alcoholism.
1985 - David Bowie and Mick Jagger were #1 in Britain with the cover of the Martha Reeves and The Vandellas 1964 hit "Dancing In The Street," recorded for Live Aid.
1985 - Ringo Starr became the first Beatle to be a grandfather when son Zak and Sarah had a daughter Tatia.
1996 - Rapper Tupac Shakur and record company executive Suge Knight were shot while driving in Las Vegas. Shakur died six days later.
History Highlight:
Today in 2001, Michael Jackson was reunited onstage with the Jackson 5 at the group's 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden. It ended Jackson's 11-year American hiatus from performing. This occasion calls for some classic Jackson 5, wouldn't you say? We played "Never Can Say Goodbye."
Today In Music History: Sunshine Superman
Posted at 6:03 AM on September 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Al Jardine (Beach Boys) is 68.
Guitarist Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols is 55.
Today in:
1968 - After departing recording sessions in a huff, Ringo Starr rejoined The Beatles after a two week absence. Upon Ringo's return to the studio, he found his drum kit covered with flowers to welcome him back.
1982 - The three-day "US" Festival opened in San Bernardino, California. More than 400,000 people turned out to see bands like The Cars, The Police, Fleetwood Mac, The B-52's and Talking Heads. The show was expected to bring in ten million dollars, but lost money because of artists like David Bowie and Van Halen demanded huge fees.
1991 - Ike Turner was released from prison having served 18 months of a four-year prison term, (Ike had been arrested ten other times). In an interview with Variety he claimed to have spent over $11 million on cocaine.
1995 - Skater Tonya Harding made her singing debut with her band, the Golden Blades, in Portland, Oregon. The crowd booed her during her 15-minute set.
2005 - Blues musician Fats Domino was rescued from New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit the city. The 77-year-old singer had been reported missing since the storm in New Orleans which had flooding the city leaving thousands feared dead.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, Donovan went to No.1 on the US singles chart with "Sunshine Superman", a No.2 hit in the UK. The track featured then Yardbird and future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
Today In Music History: The Ambiguously Gay Rock Star
Posted at 5:57 AM on September 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees is 64.
Singer-guitarist Grant Lee Phillips is 47.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley bought his mother, Gladys, a pink Cadillac.
1977 - Generation X, Billy Idol's former band, released their debut single, "Your Generation." In a review for a Brit newspaper, Elton John slagged it as "really dreadful garbage" and said, "The Ramones do this sort of thing so much better."
1989 - A judge in Dublin, Ireland, decided not to convict U2 bassist Adam Clayton of marijuana possession, even though he admitted to the crime. Clayton agreed to contribute money to a women's center in Dublin.
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, David Bowie's "John, I'm Only Dancing" was successfully released in the U.K. but held back in the U.S. until 1976 due to its supposed gay content. While the song is often read as the narrator reassuring his male lover that while "she turns me on," not to worry - because he's "only dancing" with her - an alternate reading of course could be that the narrator is reassuring the woman's lover. Nevertheless, Bowie had been bisexually "out" since an interview in Melody Maker earlier in the year - a statement he would later retract and label as "a product of the time" rather than reflecting his own feelings, and call it "the biggest mistake I ever made." Still, the flirtatiously ambiguous nature of "John, I'm Only Dancing" is part of what has made it such a classic.
Today In Music History: Van The Man is 65
Posted at 5:59 AM on August 31, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze is 53.
Drummer Gina Schock of The Go-Go's is 53.
Singer Deborah Gibson is 40.
Today in:
1963 - "Be My Baby," by The Ronettes debuted on the singles chart.
1969 - Bob Dylan made his first paid appearance since having nearly died in a motorcycle accident three years earlier. He played a one-hour set backed by The Band at Britain's Isle Of Wight Festival.
1976 - George Harrison was found guilty and fined for borrowing from The Chiffons' song, "He's So Fine," in portions of his "My Sweet Lord."
1987 - The album Bad by Michael Jackson was released in North America.
1994, R. Kelly married Aaliyah in Rosemont, Illinois. He was 25, but she was 15 - a year under the state legal age for marriage. The marriage was later annulled.
Birthday Highlight:
Van Morrison is 65 today; born George Ivan Morrison in 1945 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose output embraces rock, soul, R&B, Celtic music and jazz, Morrison's lyrical themes regularly explored matters of religious transcendence. Van Morrison is a member of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriter's Hall of Fame. From his 1968 masterpiece Astral Weeks, we played "The Way Young Lovers Do."
Today In Music History: John Phillips is Born
Posted at 5:58 AM on August 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1972 - Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack joined John Lennon and Yoko Ono to sing "Give Peace A Chance" at their One To One concert to benefit mentally handicapped children at Madison Square Garden.
1973 - Rolling Stone reported that The Doors had broken up after the death of Jim Morrison and that keyboardist Ray Manzarek was putting together a new band.
1989 - Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin was arrested for making a public disturbance on a US Air flight. He allegedly urinated on the floor, verbally abused a stewardess and smoked in a non-smoking section.
1995 - Sleeps With Angels by Neil Young & Crazy Horse was a Top 10 album on this day. The record was Neil's reaction to the suicide death of Kurt Cobain.
Birthday Anniversary:
Today is the anniversary of the birth of John Phillips - singer/songwriter and leader of hit '60s band The Mamas & The Papas (born in 1935 in Paris Island, South Carolina; died in March of 2001 of heart failure). Phillips is credited with crafting the group's signature four-part harmony sound, heard in such huge hits as "California Dreamin'" and our choice today, "Monday Monday."
Today In Music History: Bob's Still Electric
Posted at 7:38 AM on August 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Glen Matlock (original bass player for the Sex Pistols, replaced by Sid Vicious) is 54.
Alex Lifeson (Rush - born Alex Zivojinovich) is 57.
Today in;
1965 - Elvis played host to The Beatles, the "successors to the throne," in one of rock's great awkward four-hour meetings at Elvis Presley's Bel Air mansion. Elvis apparently greeted the Beatles while playing his guitar to the music on TV.
1967 - The Beatles were notified by their guru, the Maharishi, that their manager Brian Epstein had overdosed on sleeping pills and died. The Maharishi assured the lads that all was well, "save for the pain of the physical world."
1990 - The great Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and several members of Eric Clapton's entourage perished in a helicopter accident in Alpline Valley, Wisconsin.
History Highlight:
Today in 1965, Bob Dylan's second "electrified" album, Highway 61 Revisited, was released by Columbia. "Like A Rolling Stone" and "Ballad Of A Thin Man" were among the tracks. We featured the track "From A Buick 6."
Today In Music History: Tell Me What It's Good For
Posted at 6:10 AM on August 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Shirley Manson of Garbage is 44.
Today in:
1967 - The Beatles joined their new guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at a press conference, during which Paul McCartney told the media that the band had quit drugs. "It was an experience we went through," he says. "We don't need it anymore. We're finding different ways to get there."
1968 - The Beatles released "Hey Jude" as a single.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix played what proved to be his last concert, at the Isle of Wight Pop Festival off the English coast. Three weeks later, Hendrix died in London.
1987 - Sonny Bono announced he was running for mayor of Palm Springs, California.
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, The #1 record in the land was "War" by Edwin Starr. Originally a song by The Temptations, Starr's intense vocals, coupled with a powerful anti-Vietnam War sentiment in the U.S., propelled the song to the top of the charts. It became such a hit for Starr that he included it on two successive albums.
Today In Music History: Happy 55th Elvis!
Posted at 12:36 PM on August 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gene Simons (Chaim Witz) is 61.
Jeff Tweedy is 43.
Today in:
1970 - Elton John performed in the US for the first time at LA's Troubadour club.
1973 - The single "Ramblin' Man," by The Allman Brothers Band, was released, as the album Brothers & Sisters entered the charts.
1986 - Paul Simon released his epic Graceland album.
1994 - Jimmy Page and Robert Plant taped a show in London for MTV's Unplugged series. It was later released as Unledded.
Birthday Highlight:
Elvis Costello is 55 today, born on this date in 1955 in Liverpool, England. After quitting his job as a computer operator at Elizabeth Arden cosmetics, he changed his birth name of Declan Patrick McManus to Elvis Costello as he adopted music as his full-time career. Elvis hit the scene in a big way in the late '70s with his nerdier-than-Buddy-Holly look, his sophisticated songwriting and highly intelligent lyrics, and in the intervening decades, he has constantly expanded his adventurousness and musical accomplishments, from country to jazz to classical. Today, we played "Watching the Detectives" from Elvis' debut record, My Aim Is True.
Today In Music History: Little Stevie Rules
Posted at 11:34 AM on August 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1967 - The Beatles conferred with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time. The band members were seriously impressed, although John Lennon quipped that the experience was like "going somewhere without your trousers."
1968 - While on a two-day bender celebrating his birthday, Keith Moon drove a brand-new Lincoln Continental into the hotel pool at a Flint, Michigan, Holiday Inn.
1990 - Sinéad O'Connor whipped up controversy, again, by refusing to perform at New Jersey's Garden State Arts Plaza if the national anthem was played before she stepped onstage. Several area radio stations subsequently banned her music.
2001 - Prince's father, jazz artist John Nelson, died at 85. He wrote several songs for his son, including "Computer Blue," "The Ladder," "Under the Cherry Moon" and "Scandalous."
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, "Little" Stevie Wonder enjoyed the distinction of being the first artist ever to top the pop singles chart, the pop album charts and the R&B singles chart simultaneously. The single was "Fingertips, Part Two" from the album The Twelve Year Old Genius.
Today In Music History: Honky Tonk Cowbell
Posted at 6:08 AM on August 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-actor Rick Springfield is 61.
Singer Julian Casablancas of The Strokes is 32.
Today in:
1962 - John Lennon and Cynthia Powell got married in Liverpool, England. She filed for divorce in 1968.
1969 - The man in black, Johnny Cash, began a four-week run at the top of the album chart with the live album, Johnny Cash At San Quentin.
1970 - Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground performed together for the last time at Max's Kansas City in New York.
1970 - Emerson, Lake and Palmer made their concert debut in Portsmouth, England.
History Highlight:
Today in 1969, The Rolling Stones had the #1 song in the U.S. with the Texas barroom-sounding rock classic, "Honky Tonk Women." The band initially recorded the track as "Country Honk", which was included on Let It Bleed, in London in early February 1969. The tune was transformed into the familiar electric-guitar tune, however, sometime in the spring of 1969; Keith Richards credits then new guitarist Mick Taylor for influencing the track, saying, "... the song was originally written as a real Hank Williams/Jimmie Rodgers/1930s country song. And it got turned around to this other thing by Mick, who got into a completely different feel, throwing it off the wall another way." The songs is also well known for its cowbell in the intro - which was played not by Charlie Watts, but producer Jimmy Miller.
Today In Music History: Honorning Phil Lynott
Posted at 12:34 PM on August 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin is 62.
Today in:
1968 - Researchers at the University Of Tennessee audio lab determined that a guinea pig subjected to nearly 90 hours of rock music at 120 decibels over a three-month period was inflicted with severe hearing damage. One New York club owner responded, "Should a major increase in guinea pig attendance occur, we'll certainly bear their comfort in mind."
1969 - Saying he was "tired of playing for people who clap for all the wrong reasons," Frank Zappa broke up the Mothers Of Invention.
1973 - One of the great '70s tearjerkers, "Angie" by The Rolling Stones (written about David Bowie's ex-wife, Angie), was capturing AM and FM airwaves. It would appear on The Stones' soon-to-be-released Goats Head Soup.
Birthday Tribute:
Phil Lynott, frontman for gritty '70s Irish rockers Thin Lizzy, was born on this day in 1949. Thin Lizzy scored a number of enduring hits during their career, including "The Boys Are Back In Town" and "Jailbreak." Lynott died in 1986 from the effects of drug and alcohol addiction. He would have been 61 today. We honored Lynott with Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey In the Jar."
Today In Music History: Little Willie Who?
Posted at 6:14 AM on August 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1956 - "Hound Dog" by Elvis entered the R&B chart at #11.
1969 - In an accident during the filming of Ned Kelly, Mick Jagger was shot in the hand in Australia.
1977 - 150 mourners were inside the chapel, 175,000 outside, for the funeral of Elvis Presley in Memphis.
1977 - With the departure of guitarist Henry Padovani, the Police performed as a trio for the first time. That's right: The Police started out as a quartet.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1956, the original version of "Fever" by Little Willie John popped up on the charts at #24. Little Wille John was William Edward John, an R&B singer whose career spanned the 50's and early 60's and who scored some minor hits, but never one as major as Peggy Lee's cover of "Fever" from 1958. Since the original is so rarely heard, we played it today.
Today In Music History: Tweedy Fires Bennett
Posted at 7:45 AM on August 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Belinda Carlisle of The Go Go's is 52.
Today in:
1966 - John Lennon again stoked the flames of controversy. This time, in Toronto, he expressed his support and admiration for young American males crossing the border to dodge the draft.
1969 - The legendary Woodstock music festival ended in upstate New York.
1977 - Tens of thousands of fans made the pilgrimage to Memphis to pay tribute to The King, Elvis Presley, the day after his death.
History Highlight:
On this day in 2001, guitarist and keyboard player Jay Bennett left Wilco. Bennett was the second member of Wilco to split in six months, following drummer Ken Coomer's exit in March. Tensions had been mounting steadily between Bennett and Jeff Tweedy for some time (as glimpsed in the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart), and immediately following the completion of the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Tweedy dismissed Bennet from the band. Regardless, Bennett had played a key role in Wilco's development up to that time, and co-wrote a ton of the band's songs during his tenure. This morning, we played a great example of Tweedy and Bennett co-writing: "I'm Always In Love" from Summerteeth.
Today In Music History: The First Rap/Rock Song?
Posted at 5:47 AM on August 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Madonna is 52.
Emily Robison of The Dixie Chicks is 38.
Today in:
1974 - The Ramones played their first gig in New York.
1975 - Peter Gabriel announced he was leaving the Genesis.
1977 - Elvis Presley was found dead at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. Doctors first said he died of congestive heart failure, but an investigation revealed drugs may have been a factor.
1983 - Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher got married. They divorced in 1985.
History Highlight:
Today in 1986, MTV began airing the video for "Walk This Way" by Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith. The original version had been a huge hit for Aerosmith early on, but by the mid 80's their career had cooled a bit, and Run-DMC's version not only helped revitalize it but helped introduce rap to a new audience - and pointed out the "rap-like" qualities the original song had had all along.
Today In Music History: Saluting Joe Tex
Posted at 5:57 AM on August 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - Jefferson Airplane appeared on stage for the first time at the Matrix Club in San Francisco. Before long, they would become the first San Francisco band to be inked to a major label deal (with RCA).
1967 - The Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Joan Baez to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington because of her opposition to the Vietnam War. She instead performed at an outdoor theater near the Washington Monument.
1976 - The Clash made their first public appearance.
1990 - Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed after a tower fell on him before a concert in Brooklyn, New York.
1995, R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe had surgery for a hernia.
Today's Tribute:
On this day in 1982, soul singer Joe Tex died of a heart attack. If you're not familiar with Joe Tex you wouldn't expect him to be a soul singer from his name; but he had some funky tunes during his career, including "Who Gave Birth To the Funk" and "Hold What You've Got." His biggest hit - one of those "you know it when you hear it" songs, was "I Gotcha."
Today In Music History: The Original Fleetwood Mac Debuts
Posted at 5:48 AM on August 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits is 61.
Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 47.
Today in:
1960 - A Liverpool band called The Silver Beatles hired drummer Pete Best. He didn't stick around long. Oh, and they dumped the "Silver" bit.
1993 - The Red Hot Chili Peppers replaced guitarist Arik Marshall with Jesse Tobias, who was replaced by Dave Navarro three months later.
1994 - Woodstock '94 was held in Saugerties, New York. About 350,000 people saw the show, which included mudfights during Green Day's and Nine Inch Nails' sets and the Red Hot Chili Peppers dressed as human light bulbs.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1967, Fleetwood Mac made their stage debut at the London National Jazz & Blues Festival. This was a very different Fleetwood Mac than the one that reached international, multi-platinum status in the next decade after going through a series of lineup changes culminating in the addition of Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham. The original Fleetwood Mac, named for drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, was a blues band through and through - fronted by guitarist Peter Green, who had been a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. This morning, we played something from the band's 1971 compilation Black Magic Woman, "Merry Go Round."
Today In Music History: Joe Jackson, The One Who's Not Michael's Dad
Posted at 5:45 AM on August 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1962 - The Booker T. and the MG's classic instrumental "Green Onions" was released by Stax Records.
1966 - At a press conference, John Lennon tried to lessen the severe damage inflicted by his "more popular than Jesus" remark, as he backtracked and said the statement had been taken out of context and misconstrued.
1972 - Elvis and Priscilla Presley filed for divorce. They had married in May of 1967.
1985 - Singer Simon LeBon of Duran Duran was rescued from his yacht, which had capsized during a race off the British coast. His rescuer later received a medal of bravery.
1986 - Six early albums by The Monkees re-entered Billboard's top albums chart after almost 20 years.
1999 - Bassist Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue was arrested for allegedly inciting violence at a show in Las Vegas. Police say he told the crowd to flip cop cars.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer/songwriter Joe Jackson is 56 today. Jackson emerged from the '80s with his mix of punk, pop, jazz, big band and even classical; his biggest hit, "Is She Really Going Out With Him," is still a staple on radio in the US, but he also had hits with "Breaking Us In Two," "Fools In Love," "Steppin' Out," "Sunday Papers" and other songs. From his 1984 album Body & Soul, we played "You Can't Get What You Want."
Today In Music History: Wipeout!
Posted at 6:07 AM on August 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ronnie Bennett Greenfield (Ronnie Spector) of The Ronettes is 67.
Singer-flutist Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is 63.
Today in:
1969 - Keith Richards became a father when his girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg (who was band mate Brian Jones' girlfriend until Keith stole her away), gave birth to a son named Marlon.
1970 - A trial began for singer Jim Morrison of The Doors, who was accused of exposing himself to an audience in Miami.
1972 - Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested for drug possession in Gothenburg, Sweden, and fined $1,200. Paul McCartney said the arrest would "make good publicity" for the concert that night.
1985 - Michael Jackson purchased the ATV music catalog for $47.5 million, picking up more than 250 Beatles tunes in the process. Jackson outbid Paul McCartney, who had advised The Gloved One to invest his money in a music catalog in the first place.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, the ultimate in surf guitar instrumentals, The Surfaris' "Wipeout," peaked at #2 on the charts.
Today In Music History: Honoring Benjamin Orr
Posted at 6:07 AM on August 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(4 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper Kurtis Blow is 51.
Singer Whitney Houston is 47.
Today in:
1962 - Robert Zimmerman legally became Bob Dylan.
1967 - Concert officials at the Sunbury Jazz and Blues Festival in England asked Jerry Lee Lewis to leave the stage because they thought the crowd had gotten too wild during Lewis' performance.
1978 - Muddy Waters performed for President Jimmy Carter at a White House picnic.
1991 - Rick James pleaded innocent to charges he imprisoned, tortured and sexually assaulted a woman in his California home.
1995 - Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack while undergoing drug rehabilitation. He was 53.
2003 - Roger Daltrey of The Who made his LA stage debut playing Dr. Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
Birthday Highlight:
Benjamin Orr, bass player and singer for The Cars, was born on this day in 1955 in Cleveland. Orr sang several of The Cars' greatest hits, including "Bye, Bye Love", "Just What I Needed", "Moving in Stereo", "Let's Go", and "Drive". He died on October 3, 2000, in Atlanta of pancreatic cancer. We played Orr singing "It's All I Can Do" from Candy-O.
Today In Music History: The Ramones Take A Bow
Posted at 6:03 AM on August 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1973 - Stevie Wonder was seriously injured when the car he was riding in collided with a lumber truck in North Carolina. He spent four days in a coma.
1982 - The movie Pink Floyd -- The Wall had its U.S. premiere in New York.
1987 - The Beastie Boys sued the city of Jacksonville for including the phrase "mature audience" on their concert tickets and ads.
1988 - "Yo! MTV Raps" made its debut, hosted by Fab 5 Freddy.
History Highlight:
Today in 1996, The Ramones played their final concert at the Palace in Hollywood. Onstage with the boys were Lemmy, Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell. A recording of the concert was later released on video and CD as We're Outta Here! Honoring The Ramones this morning, we played "Do You Wanna Dance."
Today In Music History: Revolver Arrives
Posted at 6:03 AM on August 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer/guitarist Rick Derringer is 63.
Guitarist Pat Smear of Foo Fighters is 51.
Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys is 46.
Today in:
1967 - Pink Floyd's first album, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, was released in the U.K.
1983 - David Crosby met Texas justice: he was sentenced to five years in a Texas jail for cocaine and firearms charges (he ended up serving only 9 months).
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, The Beatles' Revolver was released in the UK. It yielded the hit singles "Eleanor Rigby," "Got To Get You Into My Life," and "Yellow Submarine." The album was released in the U.S. four days later. Ranked at number 3 in the Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, the album is considered by many one of the greatest in rock history, and one of the cornerstones of the psychedelic era. This morning we played one of the non-singles, "I Want To Tell You."
Today In Music History: The Mystery of Little Susie
Posted at 6:11 AM on August 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1971 - Ringo picked up a Gold record for "It Don't Come Easy," an unlikely but catchy hit which he wrote and George Harrison produced.
1974 - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band opened for Anne Murray in New York (almost as bizarre as Hendrix once opening for The Monkees).
1975 - Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and his family were seriously injured in a car accident while vacationing. The accident forced the band to postpone its U.S. tour.
1980 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono began work on the album Double Fantasy. It ended up being Lennon's last studio effort. He was shot to death later that year.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1957, the Everly Brothers introduced their upcoming single "Wake Up Little Susie" on the "Ed Sullivan Show." The song created a controversy, and some radio stations banned it. Why did the singer and Susie fall asleep? Were they afraid they'd be found out for doing something bad, or merely afraid people would think they'd done that thing they really didn't do, honest, they swear? Oh, the Fifties.
Today In Music History: Wings Takes Flight
Posted at 5:56 AM on August 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Tony Bennett is 84.
Bassist Lee Rocker (Stray Cats) is 49.
Singer-guitarist James Hetfield of Metallica is 47.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles appeared at the Cavern Club in Liverpool for the last time.
1979 - The Knack topped both the album and the singles charts, with their album "Get the Knack" and the single "My Sharona."
2002 - Bob Dylan played the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island for the first time in 37 years. In 1965, the crowd was outraged when he played electric guitar at the festival.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, Paul McCartney announced the formation of Wings, which featured his wife Linda on keyboards. Other members included former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. For the next ten years, Wings would prove to be the most succesful of of the the four Beatles' "post-Beatle" projects; all 23 Wings singles reached the US Top 40, and four hit #1 in the US. Of the nine albums credited to Wings during the group's life, all went top 10 in either the UK or the US, with five consecutive albums topping the US charts. From 1975's Venus and Mars, we played the title cut and "Rockshow."
Today In Music History: Sid and Chrissie?
Posted at 6:11 AM on August 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Mojo Nixon is 53.
Actress Apollonia is 51.
Today in:
1958 - Johnny Cash's contract with Sun Records expired. He switched labels to Columbia and stayed with them for 28 years.
1961 - The Beatles began an engagement as the regular headliners at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. The band performed more than 300 times in the course of two years.
1969 - Bob Dylan showed up unexpectedly to his 10th year high school reunion in Hibbing, Minn. He and his wife left early after a drunk tried to pick a fight with him.
1987 - Billy Joel played a concert in Leningrad. Audience members carried Joel out on their shoulders at the end, and about 200 chairs were destroyed by concert-goers who jumped up and down on them.
1991 - Rick James and his then-girlfriend Tanya Hijazi were arrested in Hollywood and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated mayhem, torture, false imprisonment and forcible sex acts. James was later released on $1 million bail.
And we missed this one yestererday:
On August 1st 1977, to keep from being deported from England, Chrissie Hynde offered Sid Vicious two quid to marry her. How's that again? Chrissie Hynde offered Sid Vicious two quid to marry her. Okay, let's start from the top. Chrissie had been living in England for several years in the 1970s attempting to get her career underway by playing in various bands, but she is very much American. During that time, she came into contact with Malcolm Maclaren, manager of The Sex Pistols and professional provocateur, and even worked in Maclaren's clothing boutique, SEX, for a period of time. One can assume the Sid Vicious connection follows from there. Still, can you imagine if this had gone through? The mind reels. Let's not imagine it ... and instead just enjoy some of that awesome stuff Chrissie and her eventual band, The Pretenders, gave us in the late 70s instead. We played "Stop Your Sobbing."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Kate
Posted at 6:13 AM on July 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Blues guitarist Buddy Guy is 74.
Singer-guitarist Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers is 20.
Today in:
1954 - Elvis Presley made his professional debut in Memphis. It was his first concert to be advertised.
1970 - The Beatles closed their Apple Boutique.
1987 - David Bowie's "Glass Spider" tour commenced in Philadelphia.
Birthday Highlight:
Kate Bush is 52 today, born July 30th1958 in Bexleyheath, Kent, England. "Discovered" by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, Bush has carved out her own melding of highly literate lyrics, unique vocalisms, and elaborately choreographed stage shows over the course of her multi-decadee career. Today we played something from her best selling album, 1985's Hounds of Love - a somewhat less-often heard track but a gorgeous example of Kate's mastery of atmosphere, "Cloudbusting."
Today In Music History: Dylan Takes A Spill
Posted at 6:11 AM on July 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Geddy Lee of Rush is 57.
Singer Patti Scialfa with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band is 57.
Musician and producer Danger Mouse is 33.
Today in:
1973 - Led Zeppelin's safe deposit box at The Drake Hotel in New York was robbed. The band lost $180,000 in concert receipts from two shows at Madison Square Garden.
1974 - Mama Cass Elliott was found dead in London. It was rumored that the former Mamas and Papas lead singer choked on a ham sandwich, but a coroner ruled she had suffered a heart attack. She was 30.
1980 - David Bowie made his theatrical stage debut portraying the title role in The Elephant Man in a production in Denver. The show moved to Broadway and was favorably reviewed by the critics.
History Feature:
On this day in 1966, Bob Dylan had a brush with death when he crashed his motorcycle near Woodstock, New York. Because of the secrecy surrounding the incident, the rumors ran rampant that Dylan was in a coma, was a vegetable or dead, would never perform again, was dodging the draft or had lost his mind from drug use. When he eventually did re-emerge, it was for recording only: he cut several tracks that in time came to be known as The Basement Tapes, and the following year released John Wesley Harding, a much more acoustic affair than he'd done in some time. The record's biggest hit: "All Along the Watchtower."
Today In Music History: But Yoko Said It Was OK
Posted at 6:04 AM on July 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Marc Perlman of The Jayhawks is 49.
Today in:
1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis made his television debut on "The Steve Allen Show."
1958 - Billboard magazine warned that driving along listening to rock & roll music could "cost the motorist money" by compelling him to waffle the gas pedal in rhythm, thereby wasting fuel.
1973 - One of the biggest rock festivals in history took place in Watkins Glen, N.Y. About 600,000 people gathered to see the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and The Band.
History Highlight:
Today in 1987, the surviving Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use of the song "Revolution" in shoe commercials. Nike had paid $250,000 for the rights to Capitol and a similar amount to ATV Music Publishing (the company owned by Michael Jackson, who owned the publishing rights to the Beatles' music). Many outraged fans felt John Lennon, the song's writer, would have objected to this commercialization of his song. George Harrison said of the Nike deal in November 1987 that "every Beatles song ever recorded is going to be advertising women's underwear and sausages. We've got to put a stop to it in order to set a precedent. Otherwise it's going to be a free-for-all. It's one thing when you're dead, but we're still around! They don't have any respect for the fact that we wrote and recorded those songs, and it was our lives." The suit was eventually settled out of court. So this morning, we enjoyed a completely non-commercial, product-endorsement-free airing of "Revolution."
Today In Music History: A Weem Oh Wey!
Posted at 6:00 AM on July 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Juliana Hatfield is 43.
Singer Pete Yorn is 36.
Today in:
1976 - John Lennon was granted permanent U.S. residency following a lengthy battle with immigration officials.
1979 - A firebomb was thrown through a window of an Indian art store in Scottsdale, Ariz., owned by Alice Cooper. Cooper said maybe a "disco-music freak" was to blame, because he had been making some "anti-disco remarks."
1984 - The movie Purple Rain, featuring Prince, opened in the U.S. and Canada.
1985 - Concertgoer Jon Moreland jumped onstage at a Cure concert in Los Angeles and stabbed himself with a hunting knife. Fans did not know it wasn't part of the show.
History Highlight:
Today in 1961, The Tokens recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" at a studio in New York. The original tune, "Mbube" (Zulu for "lion") was first recorded by its writer, Solomon Linda, and his group, the Evening Birds, in 1939, and it went on to become a hit throughout South Africa and sold about 100,000 copies during the 1940s. After coming to the attention of Pete Seeger, the tune entered the folk music lexicon, and eventually received it's widest Western recognition with this recording. A-weem-oh-wey!
Today In Music History: I Want My Exciting New Promotional Marketing Tools
Posted at 7:11 AM on July 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Mick Jagger is 67.
Singer Gary Cherone (Extreme, Van Halen) is 49.
Drummer Dan Konopka of OK Go is 36.
Today in:
1968 - London Records executives freaked out after viewing the proposed cover of The Rolling Stones' Beggar's Banquet album (a graffiti-scrawled, sleazy restroom wall) and postponed the release date until it was suitably altered. Mick Jagger was livid. Incidentally, this album marked the first time Mick had played guitar on a Stones album.
1977 - In an attempt to attract the attention of CBS Record execs inside, Elvis Costello busked outside the London Hilton. He was promptly arrested and fined 5 pounds. To their credit, CBS invited him back for an audition.
1991 - Actor Paul Reubens -- also known as Pee-Wee Herman -- was arrested inside a adult movie theater in Sarasota, Fla., for exposing himself.
1996 - Donnie Osmond apologized to TV host Rosie O'Donnell for making a comment about her weight during an earlier appearance on her show. She made him sing "Puppy Love" to her in a dog suit.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1979, Rolling Stone proclaimed in an article that the "newest selling tool for rock" was the "promotional video." They cited "Boys Keep Swinging" by David Bowie and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as examples. Of course, the following year, MTV would debut and few would doubt the significance of videos - at least until the mid '90s, when the excitement around videos would cool considerably. (We played Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" this morning).
This Day in Music History: Rock On Forever!
Posted at 7:46 AM on July 23, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Alison Krauss is 39.
David Essex ('70s Brit pop/rock star and one-hit wonder in America with "Rock On" in 1974) is 63
Martin Gore of Depeche Mode is 49
Slash is 45
This Day in Music History:
1969 - James Brown walked out of Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty's office when the mayor failed to show up on time to present the singer with a proclamation for "James Brown Day."
1970 - The powers that be concluded that the Powder Ridge Rock Festival in New Hartford, Connecticut, would prove to be too much of a public nuisance and cancelled the entire affair, despite the fact that 18,000 tickets had been sold. Headliners Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Chuck Berry were notified and did not show, but the fans did.
1983 - Synchronicity by The Police was #1 on the U.S. album charts.
1992 - Chicago got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1992 - The first Bruce Springsteen U.S. tour in four years kicked off at The Meadowlands in New Jersey. Bruce and his band performed 10 sold-out concerts at the 21,000-seat arena, with some of the musical marathons running into the wee hours.
1999 - Woodstock '99 began in Rome, New York. The three-day festival started off peacefully but ended in fires, lootings and accusations of rape.
Featured History:
1980 - Grateful Dead keyboard player Keith Godchaux died of injuries sustained in a car crash two days earlier. We remembered Keith this morning with The Grateful Dead's "Brown-Eyed Woman."
Today in Music History: Back To The Country
Posted at 7:52 AM on July 22, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls) is 47
Rufus Wainwright is 37
Don Henley (Eagles) is 63
George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic) is 69
This Day in Music History:
1965 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones were fined five pounds for urinating on the wall of a London gas station. They were charged with "insulting behavior."
1977 - Elvis Costello's first album, "My Aim Is True," was released in the UK. It was released in the US in October of that year.
1986 - "Sledgehammer" from So by Peter Gabriel was the #1 song in the country.
1996 - The parents of a teenage murder victim sued the band Slayer. The suit contended that the band's lyrics were "satanic" and inspired three teenage boys to rape, torture and stab the girl to death. The lawsuit was later dismissed.
2000 - A young white rapper from Detroit scored the #1 album in the land. It was Eminem and The Marshal Mathers LP.
2004 - Linda Ronstadt carried on with her tour after after an onstage salute to Fahrenheit 9/11 filmmaker Michael Moore a few nights earlier at the Aladdin Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas created so much controversy that hotel management barred her from her suite and had her escorted off the property after the show. The following night in San Diego at Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay, the veteran singer ignited a similar polarized response as the intimate outdoor venue on Shelter Island roared with a mixture of cheers and jeers before half of the crowd angrily streamed toward the exits while the other half gave her a standing ovation.
History Highlight:
1968 - The legendary album by The Byrds that featured Gram Parsons, Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, was released on this day. It was awesome!
Today in Music History: Don't Expect a Birthday Card From Salman Rushdie
Posted at 7:20 AM on July 21, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
This Day in Music History:
In 1956, Elvis Presley was termed "the most controversial entertainer since Liberace" by Billboard. Say What? On the same day, Elvis was booked for three appearances on Ed Sullivan's widely watched Sunday night variety program--this after Sullivan declared that Elvis and his gyrating hips would never be welcomed back.
In 1971, Carole King received a Gold record plaque for Tapestry, which featured "It's Too Late," "I Feel The Earth Move," "You've Got A Friend" and "So Far Away."
In 1975, Willie Nelson made his debut on the album charts with "Red Headed Stranger." It contained the hit "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain."
In 1980, Keith Godchaux, one in a series of talented but seemingly ill-fated Grateful Dead keyboardists, was seriously injured in a car crash in Marin County, California. He died two days later.
In 1987, Guns N' Roses released their debut album, "Appetite for Destruction."
In 1990, Pink Floyd's The Wall was presented live on the site of the former Berlin Wall, performed by Roger Waters and "friends," including The Band, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Bryan Adams, Paul Carrack, Sinéad O'Connor, The Scorpions and others.
Birthday Highlight:
Cat Stevens (born Steven Demetri Georgiou, now known as Yusuf Islam) is 63. He was a mellow British folk/pop star of the first half of the 1970s, then he confused his fans when he converted to the Muslim faith, changed his name and abandoned popular music. We celebrated today with a Cat Stevens classic, "Wild World."
Today in Music History: Paul Gets Dumped
Posted at 7:41 AM on July 20, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Stone Gossard (Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam) is 44
Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave) is 46
Keyboardist Mick McNeil of Simple Minds is 52
Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols is 54
Carlos Santana is 63
Kim Carnes is 65.
This Day in Music History:
In 1967, Jerry Lee Lewis returned to Great Britain, the scene of his rejection nine years earlier after it had been revealed that he had wed his 13 year old cousin. To his surprise, the concerts were received positively by the public and press. All was forgiven, if not forgotten.
In 1968, L.A. band Iron Butterfly's ode to psychedelic excess, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," was a big hit on the handful of progressive FM radio stations that existed across the country.
In 1969, Apollo 11 descended on the Moon. It was the first lunar landing ("one small step for man...") and would later result in a hit record written about the subject by David Bowie. The tune was "Space Oddity."
In 1974, Joey Ramone abandoned his drum kit to become lead vocalist for the Ramones.
In 1975, Guitarist Miami Steve Van Zandt played as a member of the E Street Band for the first time at a show in Providence, Rhode Island.
In 2001, An Ani DiFranco appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman performance was scrubbed because she decided to perform an explicit song about racism called "Subdivision", which begins with the line, "White people are so scared of black people." The Letterman producers had requested that she perform a more "upbeat" song.
History Highlight:
In 1968, Paul McCartney happened to be watching a national British TV program, Dee Time, when who should appear but his fiancée, Jane Asher, who announced to the world that their engagement was off. Poor Paul was shocked and chagrined. It was the first he'd heard.
Of all The Beatles songs from that era that we could play, we thought "Why Don't We Do It in the Road" would be the most appropriate.
According to Wikipedia, "McCartney wrote the song after seeing two monkeys copulating in the street while on retreat in Rishikesh, India, with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He marvelled in the simplicity of this natural scenario when compared to the emotional turmoil of human relationships." Perhaps he was referring to his relationship with Asher? Paul would be OK though, he found the love of his life Linda Eastman shortly after his relationship with Jane Asher was over.
On This Day in Music History: The King Makes the Hits
Posted at 7:28 AM on July 19, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Queen guitarist Brian May is 63.
Bernie Leadon, multi-instrumentalist in The Eagles through 1975, is 63. He was born in Minneapolis in 1947!
Keith Godchaux, keyboardist in The Grateful Dead from 1972-1979, would have been 62. He died in 1980.
Kevin Haskins, the drummer in Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, is 50.
Jason McGerr of Death Cab For Cutie is 36.
This Day in Music:
1966 - Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow got married. He was 51, she was 21.
1969 - The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women," featuring drummer Charlie Watts on cowbell on the intro, was released.
1972 - Following a scuffle with a newspaper photographer, five members of The Rolling Stones entourage, including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, were arrested in Warwick, Rhode Island, on charges of assault and obstructing police; all five pled guilty and were released. Consequently, the bad boys of rock were four hours late to their Boston show.
1975 - Country singer Lefty Frizzell died in Nashville.
1980 - David Bowie made his stage debut in the Denver production of "The Elephant Man."
1991 - Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steve Adler filed a lawsuit against the band. He claimed the other members had forced him to use heroin, then made him quit the band while he tried to kick his drug habit.
1995 - Dr. George "Feel Good" Nichopoulous, Elvis's one-time personal physician, had his medical license revoked.
History Highlight:
1954 - Elvis Presley's first single was released by Sun Records. It was "That's All Right (Mama)" backed by "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Both songs were hits in Memphis.
Today in Music History: We Lost One Of the Nicest Guys in the Biz
Posted at 7:53 AM on July 16, 2010
by Jill Riley
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Stewart Copeland, longtime drummer for The Police, is 58.
Norman Cook a.k.a. Fatboy Slim is 48.
Desmond Dekker is 67.
This Day in Music:
1966 - The Lovin' Spoonful were right on time with their release of "Summer In The City."
1966 - Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker announced they were forming a band called Cream. The power-blues band produced numerous hits over their 28-month career, including "Badge," "Crossroads," "Sunshine Of Your Love" and "White Room."
1969 - "I'm Free," from the forthcoming Who album, Tommy, was released.
1973 - The soundtrack to Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid, featuring Bob Dylan, included the hit "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." Dylan was also in the movie.
1976 - Loggins & Messina went their separate ways. Kenny Loggins flourished with pop hits, while Jim Messina slowly retreated from the record business.
1996 - Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries received a settlement from a London newspaper which wrote that she had appeared onstage sans panties.
Today's Feature:
1981 - While on his way to a benefit concert, Harry Chapin ("Taxi," "Cat's In The Cradle") died in a terrible accident with a big truck on the Long Island Expressway.
This Day in Music History: This Note's For You
Posted at 7:30 AM on July 15, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Linda Ronstadt is 64.
Trevor Horn is 61.
Joe Satriani is 54.
Marky Ramone (The Ramones) is 54.
Johnny Thunders would've been 52. Died April 23, 1991.
This Day in Music:
1968 - Creedence Clearwater Revival released their self-titled debut album.
1970 - Two years to the day after they released their debut album, Creedence Clearwater Revival released Cosmo's Factory--their fifth album.
1973 - Induced by exhaustion and a falling-out with his wife, Ray Davies announced that he was departing The Kinks. After a week of rest, he changed his mind.
1980 - On her 34th birthday, Linda Ronstadt made a successful dramatic debut in Gilbert & Sullivan's famous operetta, The Pirates Of Penzance at the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. The production later moved to Broadway, and was ultimately made into a motion picture.
1986 - After 28 years, Columbia Records rather unceremoniously dropped Johnny Cash from their roster.
1989 - An estimated 200,000 turned out for a free Pink Floyd concert in Venice, Italy. The band performed on a floating stage, while the multitudes of people damaged the city's bridges and crumbled marble from centuries-old buildings.
History Higlight:
In 1988, MTV banned the video for Neil Young's "This Note's For You" because it ridiculed MTV sponsors.
This Day in Music History: A Folk Legend is Born
Posted at 7:29 AM on July 14, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY:
In 1967, In another great concert mismatching of the rock ages, The Who opened for Herman's Hermits on their first US tour.
In 1973, Following onstage bickering at a gig at Knott's Berry Farm amusement park near LA, The Everly Brothers called it quits for the first time. Phil got angry over
Don's performance, smashed his own guitar and walked off stage. They reunited eleven years later.
In 1982, Pink Floyd's The Wall, the movie, premiered in London.
In 1988, Michael Jackson launched his first British tour at Wembley Stadium in London. He rode over the crowd in a cradle suspended from a crane.
In 1989, A total of 432 guitarists broke the world record for "the most guitarists playing together for the longest" after performing the classic "Louie, Louie" for a total of 30 minutes at The Peach Festival in South Carolina. Talk about a jam band!
In 2003, Buena Vista Social Club singer/guitarist Compay Segundo died of a severe kidney infection. The legendary Cuban musician was 95.
BIRTHDAY HIGHLIGHT:
WOODY GUTHRIE (born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie) was born on this day in 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma. A classic American troubadour and international icon, he was one of the most influential and important folk musicians of the 20th century. He lived through--and wrote and sang about--historic moments and events of the 20th Century, such as the Great Depression and the war, and the social and the political upheavals of those eras. Guthrie died on October 3, 1967, in Queens, New York.
This Day in Music: Bookends is #1... again
Posted at 6:57 AM on July 13, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
BIRTHDAYS:
ROGER McGUINN (born James Joseph McGuinn III) Singer, guitarist, leader and co-founder of the The Byrds is 68.
CHEECH MARIN (Half of the hit '70s stoner comedy duo Cheech & Chong) is 64.
Drummer Will Champion of Coldplay is 32.
THIS DAY IN MUSIC:
In 1968, Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild," one of the great bugs-in-your-teeth, Harley-riding rock classics, was released on this day.
In 1974, Eric Clapton's version of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" came out.
In 1977, The infamous New York City blackout brought out the improvisational spirit in NRBQ. Instead of calling off a scheduled gig, the band members taped flashlights to their mike stands and continued playing acoustically.
In 1985, The Live Aid concerts, produced by Bob Geldof, were held simultaneously in Philadelphia and London. Featuring numerous major acts, the broadcasts were watched or listened to by approximately 1.5 billion people throughout the world.
History Highlight:
In 1968, Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends was #1 for the third consecutive week. It contained several standards-to-be, including "America," "Mrs. Robinson" and "A Hazy Shade Of Winter." Since it's the "Jill and Jacquie girl power" morning, we played The Bangles cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter."
Today in Music History: A Disco Demolition
Posted at 7:28 AM on July 12, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bill Cosby is 73
Richard Simmons is 62
Guitarist Dan Murphy of Soul Asylum is 48
Singer and keyboard player Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 67
Today in:
1962 - The Rolling Stones played their first gig at a club in London. The line-up of the band included Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Keith Richards. Drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman joined later.
1969 - "The Ballad of John and Yoko" was banned by many radio stations because they found the line "Christ, you know it ain't easy" to be offensive.
1969 - Blind Faith made its U.S. debut at New York's Madison Square Garden.
1970 - Johnny Cash sent autographed records and photos to South Dakota judge S.K. Hicks, who claimed to be the inspiration for Johnny Cash's single "A Boy Named Sue."
1992 - Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose was arrested at New York's JFK International Airport on a warrant from St. Louis prosecutors. Rose was wanted on charges stemming from a riot during a 1991 Guns N' Roses concert. He was released on $100,000 bond.
1996 - Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin of Smashing Pumpkins was charged with heroin possession. Police say he was with Jonathan Melvoin (MEL'-voyn), a backup keyboard player for the band who died of a drug overdose in a hotel room in New York.
History highlight:
On this day in 1975, K.C. and the Sunshine Band made their pop chart debut with "Get Down Tonight." Four years later on the same day, a Chicago disc jockey held a "disco demolition" between a baseball doubleheader at Comiskey Park. The second game was called off because so much damage had been done to the field.
Today In Music History: Please Quit Your Day Job
Posted at 6:29 AM on July 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
TV personality-turned-musician John Tesh is 58.
Singer Jim Kerr of Simple Minds is 51.
Courtney Love is 46.
Today in:
1955 - Straight-laced Pat Boone's white bread version of Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame" became Pat's first #1 record, far exceeding the success of Fats' version. Boone reportedly wanted to change the title to "Isn't That A Shame."
1958 - Contacts, a Minneapolis-based Catholic magazine for youths, launched a campaign calling for "clean lyrics in pop songs." Among the targets was Elvis Presley's "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck," due to "its promotion of the act of going steady and having a pencil neck."
1971 - Jim Morrison of The Doors was buried in Paris, six days after he was found dead in a bathtub. Word of Morrison's death was finally given to the press after the burial, apparently to spare family members from being approached by reporters.
1972 - Paul McCartney began a European tour in France with his band Wings. It was his first tour since the last Beatles tour in 1966.
1975 - Cher filed court papers to dissolve her marriage to Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers. They had been married just nine days.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1977, Declan McManus, a computer operator at an Elizabeth Arden cosmetics factory in England, quit his day job. That same year, he released his first single as Elvis Costello, "Less Than Zero."
Today In Music History: Still A Loser After All These Years
Posted at 6:28 AM on July 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Toby Keith is 49.
Keyboardist Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode is 49.
Joan Osborne is 48.
Jamie Cook (Arctic Monkeys) is 25.
Today in:
1969 - Singer Marianne Faithfull was found in a coma following an overdose of barbiturates. Authorities in Australia ruled it a suicide attempt. Faithfull was in Australia with Mick Jagger filming the movie Ned Kelly.
1971 - Rock concerts were temporarily banned at London's Royal Albert Hall following a riot that erupted during a Mott The Hoople appearance.
1985 - All eyes were on Playboy and Penthouse as they simultaneously published nude photos of America's favorite "Material Girl," Madonna.
Birthday Highlight:
Music's most famous self-proclaimed loser, Beck turns 40 today. Born Bek (no "c") Campbell to David Campbell, an LA musician, and Bibbe Hansen, a visusal artist and former Andy Warhol protege', Beck first adopted his mother's surname before eventually dropping last names altogether for his own musical career. From Mellow Gold to Odelay, Mutations, Midnight Vultures and Guero, Beck has been one of the foremost pioneers of the '90s and 2000's sensibilites of ecclecticism, sampling, and genre-mixing. We played "Hell Yes" from Guero.
Today In Music History: Ringo at 70
Posted at 6:02 AM on July 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bandleader Doc Severinsen (The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson) is 83.
Singer David Hodo (the construction worker) of The Village People is 63.
Today in:
1954 - Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips of WHBQ became the first DJ to play an Elvis Presley record. He premiered "That's All Right," and he also interviewed Elvis.
1968 - The Yardbirds broke up. Guitarist Jimmy Page formed the New Yardbirds, which became Led Zeppelin.
1995 - Rod Stewart's jet made a forced landing after a mid-air collision with a bird. Aviation authorities called the incident "undramatic," but Stewart was visible shaken and said, "I nearly crashed."
2002 - Michael Jackson made a bizarre appearance at a rally in New York to denounce the recording industry as racist and Sony chairman Tommy Mottola as devilish.
Birthday Highlight:
Ringo Starr is the big 7-0 today. While he said in yesterday's New York Times that he's "not hiding from it," he also says "as far as I'm concerned, in my head, I'm 24." We took the time to play a few different Ringo tunes throughout the morning, both with The Beatles and solo - ranging from "Yellow Submarine" to his cover of Buck Owens' "Act Naturally," from the "No No Song" to "It Don't Come Easy." And don't forget: all Ringo asks for his birthday is that at 12 noon today, wherever you are, you raise a two-fingered peace sign in the air and say "peace and love."
Today In Music History: Queen's First Tune
Posted at 6:09 AM on July 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper 50 Cent is 34.
Singer Kate Nash is 23.
Today in:
1955 - "Baby Let's Play House" became Elvis Presley's first national chart single, reaching number ten on Billboard's country chart.
1964 - The Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, had its royal premiere at London's Pavillion Theatre. The movie opened in the U.S. the next month.
1975 - Rolling Stone Keith Richards was arrested by the highway patrol in Arkansas on charges of reckless driving and possessing an "offensive weapon," a seven-inch hunting knife.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, Queen released its first single, "Keep Yourself Alive." The song was largely ignored upon its release; it failed to chart on either side of the Atlantic. In hindsight, however, it's easy to see how it contained the promise of great things to come, and today, it's considered a fan favorite.
Today In Music History: Baby Was Definitely On Fire
Posted at 5:56 AM on July 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1977 - Bill Conti went to No.1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)".
1980 - Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead were arrested for suspicion of inciting a riot at the San Diego Sports Arena after they tried to interfere in a drug-related arrest.
1991 - Axl Rose caused a riot to break out during a Guns N' Roses gig after leaping into the crowd to remove a camera from a fan at the Riverpoint Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights. Over 50 people were injured and 15 fans were arrested.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, Brian Eno quit Roxy Music over personality clashes with singer Bryan Ferry. While the band would go on to have their biggest hits such as "Love Is the Drug" after Eno's departure (not to mention the fact that leaving the band only helped Eno's career itself), the band would never again be the visually striking glam-factory it was when Eno was on board - featuring Eno's sequinned skintight jumpsuits and gigantic feather boas. Celebrating that early Roxy era, we played "Virginia Plain."
Today In Music History: He Just Wants Your Extra Time ...
Posted at 6:38 AM on July 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Deborah Harry of Blondie is 65.
Singer Victor Willis of the Village People is 59.
Singer Fred Schneider of The B-52's is 59.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley appeared on Steve Allen's variety show singing "Hound Dog" to a bassett hound. He also was forbidden to dance.
1963 - The Beatles recorded "She Loves You" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London. The song became the band's second number-one hit in both the US and UK.
1970 - The syndicated radio show "American Top 40," hosted by Casey Kasem, debuted in several American cities.
1983 - Bon Jovi signed a deal with Mercury Records in New York.
History Highlight:
On thisday in 1986, Prince premiered his movie Under the Cherry Moon in the small town of Sheridan, Wyoming. The town was chosen because local resident Lisa Barber won an MTV contest to win a date escorting Prince to the premiere. The film didn't fare very well: his cinematic references to the films of Fellini and Abbot & Costello went over the heads of teenage audiences and the film was a disaster, although it has developed a cult following in more recent years. Roger Ebert stated "I understand what he was trying to do," although Gene Siskel said, "It looks as though Prince is trying to combine a Fred Astaire movie with a perfume commercial." Harsh words, but it's hard to deny the appleal of the movie's most succesful song, "Kiss."
Today In Music History: A Case of the Come and Go Blues
Posted at 6:47 AM on June 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1976 - Police raided singer Neil Diamond's house. They didn't find enough marijuana for an arrest, but Diamond did give them copies of his new album, Beautiful Noise.
1977 - Marvel Comics released a comic book based on the members of the rock band Kiss. The band members contributed some of their blood to the ink used in the books.
1978 - Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols released his version of "My Way."
History Highlight:
On this day in 1975, Cher and Gregg Allman were married. The marriage lasted ten days, but produced a rather infamous record, Allman and Woman. Good luck finding a copy, since it was just as much a flop as the marriage itself. So, guess we're just gonna have to honor Cher with "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" this morning.
Today In Music History: A Little Lady With a Big Hit
Posted at 5:56 AM on June 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Colin Hay of Men At Work is 57.
Today in:
1955 - "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets hit number one on the singles chart.
1969 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience played at Mile High Stadium in Denver in what was to be their final gig together.
1984 - St. Paul was the site for the kickoff of Bruce Springsteen's massive 15-month, four-continent, 150-show Born In The U.S.A. tour.
1985 - Mick Jagger and David Bowie recorded a version of "Dancing In The Street" in London.
Birthday Anniversary:
Little Eva (Eva Narcissus Boyd) was born on this day in 1943 in Bellhaven, North Carolina. Eva was Carole King's and Gerry Goffin's babysitter who inspired them to write the #1 hit "Locomotion"; she became the unlikely singer for the song after she sang on the demo, and producer Don Kirshner decided to release it as it was. Eva died of cervical cancer April 10, 2003.
Today In Music History: Fame, Fame, Fame ...
Posted at 6:02 AM on June 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Tim Nordwind of OK Go is 34.
Bassist Mark Stoermer of The Killers is 33.
Today in:
1969 - Crosby, Stills and Nash released their first album.
1986 - Wham! played their farewell concert, for 72,000 fans at London's Wembley Stadium.
1992 - The first National Music Day was celebrated in England. The day was the brainchild of Mick Jagger, and included hundreds of events nationwide.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1975, David Bowie's "Fame" was released. The song grew out of a jam session between Bowie and John Lennon during a brief stay Bowie had in New York; even though Lennon only came up with the song's title during the improvs, Bowie gave him co-writing credit. Lennon's vocals can also be heard during the closing section where the word "fame" is sung at fast, normal, and slow speeds. The tune became Bowie's biggest hit to date.
Today In Music History: Missing Michael
Posted at 6:02 AM on June 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Carly Simon is 65.
Tim Finn of Split Enz is 58.
George Michael is 47.
Today in:
1967 - The Beatles performed "All You Need Is Love" live on the "Our World" program, which was seen worldwide.
1984 - Prince released his Purple Rain album.
1988 - Debbie Gibson became the youngest artist to ever write, produce and perform a number-one hit, when "Foolish Beat" hit the top of the charts. She graduated from high school the next day.
1995 - Pearl Jam canceled their tour because of an ongoing battle with Ticketmaster. They objected that the business had a monopoly and charged fans too big a surcharge on concert tickets.
Today's feature:
One year ago today, Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. He was 50. We honred MJ this morning with "Billie Jean."
Today In Music History: Neil Young Steps In
Posted at 5:53 AM on June 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Jeff Beck is 66.
Singer Colin Blunstone of The Zombies is 65.
Drummer Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is 63.
Today in:
1965 - A Spaniard In The Works, John Lennon's second volume of rather odd drawings, poems and musings, was published.
1967 - Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" and Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" were released.
1972 - Helen Reddy released the song "I Am Woman."
1990 - Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block fell nine feet through a stage trapdoor during a concert in Saratoga, New York. He had to have nine stitches, but otherwise suffered only cuts and bruises.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1995, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder left the stage due to illness after only seven songs during an outdoor concert in San Francisco. To the delight of some, but mostly dismay to the younger fans, Neil Young stepped up to finish the show. Sure, it's disappointing not to see who you came to see, but still ... Anyway, maybe some of those folks have grown to appreciate Neil at least a little in the intervening 15 years. We played Neil Young's "Revolution Blues" this morning.
Today In Music History: A June Carter Cash Tribute
Posted at 6:00 AM on June 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson is 54.
Drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth is 48.
Singer KT Tunstall is 35.
Today in:
1975 - Alice Cooper broke six ribs after falling off the stage during a concert in Vancouver.
1989 - New Kids on the Block were nearly thrown out of a hotel in Anaheim, California. They were caught throwing balloons filled with Kool-Aid at guests.
1995 - News anchor Dan Rather appeared onstage with R.E.M. for a photo session at Madison Square Garden as the band rehearsed "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" The song was a reference to the bizarre incident several years earlier where Rather was mugged when he couldn't come up with an answer to that question from his assailants.
History Highlight:
Grammy-winning member of the pioneering '60s country/gospel royalty, the Carter Family, and later, beloved performing wife of Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash was born on this day in 1929. June Carter married Johnny, her third husband, in 1968 and helped him kick drugs as they recorded and toured together throughout the late '60s/early '70s behind more than a half-dozen Country hits including "Ring of Fire" (which she co-wrote),"If I Were a Carpenter," and our featured song, "Jackson," performed with Johnny.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Kris Kristofferson
Posted at 5:59 AM on June 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Todd Rundgren is 62.
Cyndi Lauper is 57.
Today in:
1968 - The Jeff Beck group made its debut. Singer Rod Stewart was so shy he hid behind speakers for the first few songs.
1969 - The first (and last) album by super group Blind Faith (Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker) was released. The original cover featuring a topless pubescent girl clutching a silver model jet caused a small scandal at the time.
Birthday Highlight:
The totally awesome Kris Kristofferson is 74 today. Fun facts about Kris: 1) He named one of his sons Johnny Cash. 2) His high school sweetheart (and first wife) was named Fran Beer. 3) He was a captain in the army, flew hellicopters, and was once offered a job to be a professor of English literature at West Point. 4) He worked at Columbia records sweeping floors, where he watched Bob Dylan record Blonde on Blonde behind the glass, but never approached him for fear of being fired. 5) However, while working as a commercial helicopter pilot, he once landed his helicopter in Johnny Cash's yard and gave him some tapes including "Sunday Morning Coming Down". 6) Jill Riley hung out with him on his tour bus at Bonnaroo last week. 7) His succesful tunes recorded by others include "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," and perhaps most notably for Janis Joplin, "Me and Bobby McGee." We played Kristofferson's version this morning.
Today In Music History: Billy's Gold Moment
Posted at 6:09 AM on June 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ray Davies of The Kinks is 66.
Drummer Joey Kramer of Aerosmith is 60.
Singer Brandon Flowers of The Killers is 29.
Today in:
1966 - The Rolling Stones sued 14 New York hotels that had banned them. They claimed the move hurt their careers.
1970 - Pete Townshend was detained at the Memphis Airport because he used the British slang term "bomb" to describe the success of The Who rock opera "Tommy." The FBI thought it was a bomb threat.
1994 - George Michael lost his lawsuit against Sony. He claimed that his 15-year contract with Sony was unfair because the company could refuse to release albums it thought wouldn't be commercially successful. (In hindsight, it seems obvious: don't go signing 15-year contracts with huge record companies, but this was 1994 after all).
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, Billy Preston's instrumental single "Outa-Space" earned him his first Gold record. Preston had played keyboards with the Beatles, among other bands.
Today in Music History: A Birthday and a Sucker In The Eye
Posted at 7:33 AM on June 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1977 - John Lydon of the Sex Pistols was slashed on his face and hands by young people armed with knives. They apparently objected to the band's song "God Save The Queen." The next day, guitarist Paul Cook was beaten up.
1980 - The Blues Brothers movie opened. Music stars making cameo appearances included James Brown, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.
1987 - A woman sued Motley Crue for $5,000, claiming she lost part of her hearing because the concert was too loud.
2004 - David Bowie was hit in the eye with a lollipop thrown onto the stage while he was performing in Oslo, Norway. He was not seriously hurt, but the incident did give us one awesome photo.
Photo: Retna
Birthday Highlight:
Paul McCartney is 68 today. Already aware of this ahead of time, Jamie from Eagan requested that we play "Junior's Farm" from Paul McCartney and Wings.
Today In Music History: A Karl Mueller Tribute
Posted at 6:00 AM on June 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - The Kinks arrived in New York for their first American tour.
1968 - The Ohio Express got their first gold single with "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy."
1980 - Led Zeppelin kicked off their first tour on the European continent since 1973. It would be their last.
1989 - Ringo Starr announced he would tour again for the first time in several years. His first All-Starr Band included Clarence Clemons, Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, and Nils Lofgren.
Tribute of the Day:
Today in 2005, Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller died of throat cancer in Minneapolis. He was 41. Mueller had been in the band since its founding in 1983; he also had his own distinct moment of fame posing for the cover photo of the band's EP Clam Dip and Other Delights in 1989 in a parody of Herb Alpert's Whipped Cream and Other Delights ... covered, in this case, presumably in clam dip in the form of a wedding dress. We played Soul Asylum's "Somebody to Shove."
Today In Music History: Monterey Pop
Posted at 7:01 AM on June 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - The Herman's Hermits single "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" went gold.
1970 - Sponsors for Woodstock announced they lost more than $1.2 million dollars on the concert.
1975 - John Lennon sued the U.S. government. He charged that officials tried to deny his immigration through selective prosecution.
1982 - Guitarist James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders died of a drug overdose. A day earlier, the band's bassist, Pete Farndon, had quit the band.
1995 - Pearl Jam began a tour without using Ticketmaster. The band accused Ticketmaster of monopolizing the concert ticket industry and decided to use a mail-order ticket service instead.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1967, the Monterey International Pop Festival opened in California. Monterey was the world's first heavily promoted and attended rock festival, attracting an estimated 90,000 people at the event's peak at midnight on Sunday. As such, it set the template for the modern outdoor rock festival as a gigantic event with a massive crowd standing in a field enjoing music through a towering PA system - a template often credited to the Woodstock Festival, which took place two years later in 1969.
Monterey was also notable as hosting the first major American appearances by Jimi Hendrix and The Who, as well as the first major public performances of Janis Joplin and Otis Redding. We featured another famous performance this morning: Jefferson Airplane doing "Somebody To Love."
Today In Music History: A Tribute To Ella
Posted at 6:20 AM on June 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper-actor Ice Cube is 41.
Today in:
1956 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney encountered each other for the first time at a festival in London.
1965 - Bob Dylan recorded the song "Like A Rolling Stone" at Columbia Records' studios in New York.
1966 - The original version of The Beatles' album Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow was released. It was a collection of singles and leftovers, featuring a cover photo of the boys grinning amidst an array of dismembered baby dolls. The "Butcher Cover," as it became known, caused quite a negative stir and it was quickly recalled by Capitol (and replaced by a more innocuous photo). A few copies managed to escape though, and have become fairly valuable collector's items.
1982 - Bassist Pete Farndon quit The Pretenders, one day before guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died.
Today's Tribute:
Today in 1996, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald died at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 78. Known as the "First Lady of Song," she was noted for her amazing intonation and viruosity at scat-singing - not to mention a voice that spanned three octaves. But it was her utterly unique, sweet, warm soul that made her the icon she was. In honor of Ella, chose a song that highlights both her lyrical phrasing and scatting: "My Baby Likes to Bebop."
Today In Music History: Rod Argent is 65
Posted at 6:03 AM on June 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Boy George is 49.
Today in:
1953 - Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee.
1965 - Paul McCartney recorded "Yesterday."
1970 - The Grateful Dead released "Workingman's Dead."
1971 - The first Hard Rock Cafe opened in London.
1995 - More than 20 people in Columbus, Ohio, called authorities to complain about a Ted Nugent concert that they said was too loud. The concert was within legal noise limits, and Nugent refused a request to turn down the volume anyway.
Birthday Highlight:
Rod Argent of The Zombies and Argent is 65. In addition to playing piano and keyboards in The Zombies, Argent was one of the group's two main songwriters, penning the hits "She's Not There", "Tell Her No", and "Time of the Season", amongst others. (Later, with his band Argent, he also wrote and sang the 70's hit "Hold Your Head Up"). From The Zombies, one of Argent's huge hits this morning, "She's Not There."
Today In Music History: Janis Joins The Company
Posted at 6:06 AM on June 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top is 61.
Today in:
1958 - Jerry Lee Lewis performed one of two scheduled shows at a New York club. He went home before the second show because the press had been openly hostile toward him, and the show had poor ticket sales.
1965 - The Rolling Stones released their first live album, Got Live If You Want It. The music could barely be heard over the din created by the audience.
1966 - European radio stations falsely reported that Roger Daltrey of The Who was dead. The truth was that Pete Townshend had minor injuries from a car accident a few days earlier and the stations reported bad information.
1969 - David Bowie released "Space Oddity" as a single, to coincide with the first lunar landing.
1976 - Wild Cherry released "Play That Funky Music."
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, Janis Joplin joined Big Brother & The Holding Company onstage for the first time at a show in San Francisco. We honored the band by playing a song from their famous Monterey Pop Festival appearance: "Down On Me."
Today In Music History: A Hard Day's Night
Posted at 5:56 AM on June 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Kim Deal of The Pixies and The Breeders is 49.
Mike Doughty is 40.
Today in:
1966 - A Beatles song featuring a new audio effect was released. "Rain" used a tape played in reverse. John Lennon said the reverse-tape effect wasn't planned; the tape was just put on the wrong way.
1967 - Bob Dylan and The Band began recording sessions that remained unreleased for a long time but eventually surfaced as an album titled "The Basement Tapes."
1972 - Joe Strummer and Topper Headon of The Clash were arrested for painting their band's name on a London wall.
1992 - A Texas law enforcement agency called for a national boycott of "Cop Killer" by Ice-T. Sales of the song skyrocketed.
History Highlight:
On this day 1964, The Beatles released A Hard Day's Night, both the album and the single. The album - and it's companion motion picture - have become seen as the classic image of the Beatles: the compact but densely melodic songs with complex harmonies, and the mop-top haircuts with matching suits. As for the song itself: it is without a doubt one of the most perfect songs in rock history, and its opening chord alone is considered one of the most iconic - and mysteriously, bafflingly constructed - chords in popular music.
Today In Music History: Who Is This Dude Lighting His Strat On Fire?
Posted at 6:02 AM on June 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Musician Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers is 40.
Today in:
1958 - "The Killer" tried to clean it up. Jerry Lee Lewis, with the help of his producer Sam Phillips, placed a full page ad in Billboard magazine in an attempt to justify his second divorce and third marriage to his 14-year-old cousin Myra.
1969 - Guitarist Brian Jones announced he was leaving the Rolling Stones because he didn't agree with the band's musical direction. He was replaced by Mick Taylor. Less than a month later, Jones was found dead at his home.
1970 - Bob Dylan was awarded an honorary doctorate in music from Princeton University.
1972 - Columbia Records signed Bruce Springsteen.
History Highlight:
On June 9th 1967, The Monkees played the Hollywood Bowl with Jimi Hendrix opening, precipitating decades of jokes and "what-were-those-promoters-thinking" questions. The Monkees had asked for Hendrix to open for them on their first US tour because they were fans, but their audiences often did not warm to him - and he quit the proposed tour after a few dates. Our Hendrix choice this morning: "Spanish Castle Magic."
Today In Music History: Prince Becomes The Artist
Posted at 6:18 AM on June 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(5 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tom Jones is 70.
Gordon Gano of Violent Femmes is 47.
Guitarist Dave Navarro is 43.
Today in:
1969 - The two-record rock opera "Tommy" hit the U.S. album chart. It would become the first Who album to make it into the U.S. top ten.
1969 -The band Blind Faith made its debut at a free concert in London's Hyde Park.
1993 -Ground was broken for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, seven years after the city won the right to build it. Pete Townshend and Chuck Berry were among those on hand for the ceremony.
2009 - Bret Michaels of Poison was knocked to the ground when a piece of scenery hit him in the face at the Tony Awards.
Today's Feature:
Prince is 52 today, born on this date in 1958 in Minneapolis. It's also the anniversary of Prince changing his name to the famous unpronouncable symbol he went by from 1993 until 2000. Happy Birthday to one of Minnesota's true favorite sons. From The Love Symbol Album, we played "7."
Today In Music History: That Fried Banana Sandwich Did Him In In More Ways Than One
Posted at 6:09 AM on June 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-actress Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas) is 66.
Today in:
1967 - "The Monkees" TV show won an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series.
1984 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band released their
Born in the USA album. The album wound up delivering seven Top 10 singles.
1993 - Police in Seattle arrested Kurt Cobain at his home after an argument with his wife Courtney over his collection of firearms.
1997 - Bassist Ronnie Lane of Small Faces died after a battle with multiple sclerosis at his home in Trinidad, Colorado. Lane was 51. That same day, the body of singer Jeff Buckley was found floating in a riverfront harbor in Memphis, Tennessee. Buckley was
30.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1992, the "young Elvis" stamp beat out the "Vegas Elvis" stamp in a contest conducted by the U.S. Postal Service. More than a million votes were tallied. We played some of the "young Elvis" this morning in honor: "That's All Right."
Today In Music History: Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Posted at 6:07 AM on June 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Ian Hunter is 71.
Singer Suzi Quatro is 60.
Today in:
1964 - During a photo session Ringo Starr was taken ill suffering from tonsillitis and pharyngitis, days before a world tour was about to start. After a last-minute phone call from George Martin, session drummer Jimmy Nichol rushed over to EMI Studios, where he and The Beatles ran through six songs from their tour repertoire in a quick rehearsal. Nichol replaced Ringo and became a Beatle for eleven days.
1970 - The Kinks Ray Davies was forced to make a 6,000 mile round trip from New York to London to record one word in a song. Davies had to change the word "Coca-Cola" to "Cherry Cola" on the bands forthcoming single 'Lola' due to an advertising ban at BBC Radio.
1987 - "I Want Your Sex" by George Michael was banned by the BBC.
History Highlight:
1967 - Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell made their debut as a duo on the R&B chart with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." A romantic love song that became the signature duet between Gaye and Terrell, their recording of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It's regarded today as one of the most important records ever released by Motown.
Today In Music History: Agent Kapranos
Posted at 6:02 AM on June 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones is 69.
Drummer Fabrizio Moretti of The Strokes is 30.
Today in:
1962 - Island Records released its first single, "Twist Baby" by Owen Gray. Island became home to such acts as Jethro Tull and Traffic. Later, reggae artists like Bob Marley and the Wailers were featured on the label.
1978 - Bruce Springsteen's album Darkness on the Edge of Town was released.
1989 - Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman married model Mandy Smith. He was 48, she was 19. They divorced in 1991.
History Highlight:
On this day in 2005, Franz Ferdinand's frontman, Alex Kapranos, was detained by Russian police after being suspected of being a spy. Kapranos was attempting to board a plane in Moscow when the altercation took place. Travelling under his actual surname, Huntley, Alex was accused of being an English MI6 agent who was previously suspected of stealing information on Russian weaponry. Unlucky for Alex that the surname Huntley was also used by actual former British spy Richard Tomlinson, who did steal secrets in the early 90s. The singer was freed after he pointed out that the Huntley they were so concerned about was 42, 13 years older than him. So, we played a little Franz Ferdinand this morning to mark the event: "Evil and a Heathen."
Today In Music History: Prince Hits the Top Again
Posted at 6:05 AM on June 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones is 63.
Alanis Morissette is 36.
Brandi Carlile is 29.
Today in:
1964 - The Rolling Stones arrived in New York to begin their first North American tour. The opening date was at a high school stadium in a Boston suburb.
1967 - The Beatles' landmark album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in Britain. Two days later, it was released in North America.
1975 - The Rolling Stones began their first tour with guitarist Ron Wood.
1990 - Mariah Carey made her national TV debut on the "Arsenio Hall Show."
1999 - Elton John played a benefit concert at the University of Wyoming in Laramie on behalf of organizations promoting tolerance. The concert was in memory of Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming student who had been beaten and left for dead the year before.
History Highlight:
On June 1st 1985, Prince & The Revolution started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Around The World In A Day. The album had initially received low-key promotion (Prince had asked Warner Bros. that the first single not be released until a month after the album hit stores, in order for the public to "experience the record in its entirety" first). Despite both this and the album not containing quite as much radio friendly material as 1999 or Purple Rain, it still had two U.S. top 10 hits, went double platinum and is considered an important step in Prince's musical evolution, incorporating new instruments and musical styles. We played "Pop Life."
Today In Music History: Happy 65th John Fogerty
Posted at 6:31 AM on May 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1966 - Ike & Tina Turner's sweeping, majestic version of "River Deep, Mountain High" was released and tanked. It so embittered producer Phil Spector that he went into seclusion for two years.
1976 - The Allman Brothers Band broke up after Gregg Allman testified against his personal road manager, who was charged with drug trafficking. The band reformed in 1978.
1977 - In Paris, Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland played together for the first time as members of a group led by Mike Howlett called Strontium 90.
1983 - The "Us Festival" opened in San Bernardino, California. It lost millions of dollars, largely because of huge fees paid to such performers as David Bowie and Van Halen.
Birthday Highlight:
John Fogerty is 65 today, born on May 28th 1945 in Berkely, California. Fogerty was the leader of one of America's biggest roots-rock bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival, a San Francisco Bay Area group that, as one writer put it, "sounded like they were straight out of the bayou." CCR's hits included songs like "Bad Moon Rising," "Have You Ever Seen The Rain," "Fortunate Son," and many others, including our choice this morning, "Green River."
Today In Music History: Not A Human Being? Gee, That's Harsh
Posted at 7:29 AM on May 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees is 53.
Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House is 52.
Andre 3000 of Outkast is 35.
Today In:
1957 - The Crickets' first record "That'll Be the Day," with lead singer Buddy Holly, was released by Brunswick records. It was the group's first and only chart-topper.
1962 - Bob Dylan released The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which contained songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall."
1980 - David Lee Roth fractured his nose and suffered a concussion when he leaped off Alex Van Halen's drum riser and hit the stage lights. They were recording an Italian TV special in Rome at the time.
History Highlight:
Today in 1977, the Sex Pistols' second single, "God Save the Queen," was released to coincide with Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebration in June. The record, which begins "God save the Queen, she ain't no human being," made the British Top Ten despite being banned from airplay.
Today In Music History: Robert and Jimmy Get Inappropriate
Posted at 6:09 AM on May 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-drummer Levon Helm of The Band is 70.
Singer Stevie Nicks is 62.
Country singer Hank Williams Junior is 61.
Singer Lenny Kravitz is 46.
Today in:
1958 - Jerry Lee Lewis played the third and last show of what was supposed to have been a 37-date British tour. News of his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin prompted demands that he be deported. That night he was booed off the stage.
1966 - The Beatles and The Stones were in attendance as Bob Dylan and The Hawks (The Band) rocked the Royal Albert Hall in London. The concert, often bootlegged before it was officially released many years later, is considered to be one of the all-time memorable live rock performances.
1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. Presley filed for divorce in January 1996.
History Highlight:
ON this day in 1976, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, apparently well lubricated, verbally accosted first class passengers on a transatlantic flight. Actors Telly Savalas and Dudley Moore were on board the flight and attested to the boys' bad behavior. So, we guess that calls for some down n' dirty musical seduction from the fellas this morning: we played Led Zeppelin's "I Can't Quit You Baby."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Paul Weller
Posted at 6:03 AM on May 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
- Songwriter Hal David ("Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", "Do You Know the Way to San Jose", "(They Long to Be) Close to You" is 89.
- Singer Klaus Meine of Scorpions is 62.
- Lauryn Hill is 35.
Today in:
1926 - Jazz trumpeter and innovator Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois. Davis died in 1991.
1965 - Kinks guitarist Dave Davies knocked himself unconscious onstage when he slammed into drummer Mick Avery's cymbal during a London concert. The Kinks had to cancel the rest of the British tour.
1996 - Singer Bradley Nowell of Sublime was found dead in his San Francisco motel room of a drug overdose. He was 28.
Birthday Highlight:
Paul Weller is 52 today. Leader of the innovative and influential late-'70s/mid-'80s Brit punk band The Jam and also the creative force behind the successful mid-late-'80s band that followed, The Style Council; Weller has also enjoy a career as an acclaimed solo artist. Born in 1958 in Surrey, England. We played a tune by The Jam this morning: "Absolute Beginners."
Today In Music History: Dylan is 69
Posted at 6:10 AM on May 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Rosanne Cash is 55.
Actor (and singer) John C. Reilly is 45.
Rapper Heavy D is 43.
Today in:
1974 - Bandleader and composer Duke Ellington died of lung cancer at the age of 75. Ellington, considered by many to be the greatest jazz musician ever, composed such standards as "Mood Indigo" and "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good."
1978 -The debut album by Van Halen went gold in the U.S.
2000 - Britney Spears' album "Oops!...I Did It Again" sold 1.3 million copies its first week out, giving her the most first-week sales for a female artist.
Birthday Highlight:
Bob Dylan is 69 today, born on this date in 1941 in Duluth, MN. Here is not the place to mount a synopsis of Dylan's life and career, but suffice to say Dylan's influence on popular music is vast and incalculable. When inducting him in 1988, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame declared Bob Dylan to be "the uncontested poet laureate of the rock and roll era and the pre-eminent singer/songwriter of modern times." He was inducted by Bruce Springsteen, who proclaimed "Elvis freed your body, Bob freed your mind".
This morning chose "Positively 4th Street" from Highway 61 Revisited.
Today In Music History: Dusty's Biggest Hit
Posted at 6:18 AM on May 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers is 69.
Singer Leo Sayer is 62.
Today in:
1963 - Stevie Wonder recorded "Fingertips, Part Two" live in Chicago during a "Motown Revue." It became his first No. 1 hit, at age 13.
1969 - John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's infamous 10-day "bed-in" for peace began at a Montreal hotel.
1979 - Elton John began a brief tour of the Soviet Union, the first time the Soviets allowed a Western rock star to tour.
1980 - Joe Strummer of The Clash was arrested in Hamburg, Germany, after hitting a fan over the head with his guitar. A fight had erupted during the concert. He later said that he seriously regretted the incident.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1966, Brit blue-eyed soul diva Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" debuted on the singles chart, where it would became her biggest hit ever, reaching #4.
Today In Music History: Rockin' Around the Clock
Posted at 6:00 AM on May 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Joe Cocker is 66.
Cher is 64.
Guitarist Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's is 52.
Singer Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 is 49.
Today in:
1966 - Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who started a concert in Windsor, England, without bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. When they finally showed up, Townshend hit Moon over the head with his guitar. Moon quit the band, but was back a week later.
1967 - Jimi Hendrix signed a contract to record for famous rock-hater Frank Sinatra's Reprise label.
1971 - Peter Cetera of the band Chicago was beaten by several men at a baseball game, apparently because they didn't like the length of his hair.
History Highlight:
Today in 1954, a single that proved to be a turning point in popular music, "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets, was released. At the time it had little impact, but exploded the following year when it was used in the soundtrack for the juvenile delinquent drama, The Blackboard Jungle.
Today In Music History: Pete Townshend is 65
Posted at 6:10 AM on May 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-bassist Dusty Hill of ZZ Top is 61.
Singer-actress-model Grace Jones is 58.
Drummer Phil Rudd of AC/DC is 56.
Today in:
1951 - Joey Ramone was born. He died in 2001 of lymphoma.
1976 - Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones crashed his Bentley north of London. Authorities found drugs in the car, and he later was fined.
1979 - Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr jammed with Eric Clapton, Denny Laine and Mick Jagger at a belated wedding reception for Clapton and the former Mrs. Harrison, Patti Boyd. Clapton married Boyd, the inspiration for his impassioned Layla album, the previous March.
Birthday Highlight:
Pete Townshend is 65 today, born in 1945 in Chiswick, London, England. Songwriter, guitarist, and sometimes vocalist with The Who, Townshend is credited with inventing the rock opera with 1969's Tommy and 1973's Quadrophenia. Townshend has also had some notable solo albums, particularly his 1980 outing Empty Glass. From that album, we played "Rough Boys."
Today In Music History: Mystery Lyrics On the Cheap
Posted at 6:08 AM on May 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes is 61.
Jack Johnson is 35.
Today in:
1963 - The Grenada Theatre in Slough, England, was the inadvertent launching pad for The Beatles' first headlining tour. Initially, Roy Orbison was the headliner, but the crowd reaction to The Beatles quickly got them moved into the top slot.
1980 - Singer Ian Curtis of Joy Division was found dead, apparently having hanged himself. He was 23.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, The Kingsmen recorded their classic "Louie, Louie" in Portland, Oregon, on a budget of $50. The song, written by Richard Berry in 1955, has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists. The Kingsmen's version, however, is not only the best-known version but was also the subject of an FBI investigation about the supposed but non-existent obscenity of the lyrics. The song is ranked #55 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Today In Music History: Petty Almost Goes Up In Flames
Posted at 6:02 AM on May 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is 45.
Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block is 40.
Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age is 37.
Today in:
1966 - Bob Dylan recorded his so-called "Royal Albert Hall" concert, actually recorded in Manchester, England. The album was one of the most famous bootlegs ever. It was released officially in 1998.
1969 - Chicago Transit Authority released its first album, a self-titled double album. The band was sued by the real Chicago Transit Authority and had to shorten its name to just Chicago.
1975 - Elton John was awarded a platinum record for sales of a million copies of his album, "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy." It was the first album to sell a million copies on its first day of release.
1980 - Drummer Peter Criss quit Kiss to pursue a solo career.
History Focus:
Today in 1987, A blaze ravaged Tom Petty's Los Angeles area home, causing $1,000,000 worth of damage. It was later determined to be the work of an arsonist. Firefighters were able to salvage the basement recording studio however, and the original tapes stored there. Some classic Petty this morning in honor of his long career: "Listen To Her Heart."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday David Byrne
Posted at 7:10 AM on May 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-bassist Jack Bruce of Cream is 67.
Guitarist C.C. DeVille of Poison is 48.
Singer Ian Astbury of The Cult is 48.
Singer Raphael Saadiq is 44.
Singer Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block is 41.
Today in:
1955 - Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley" with "I'm a Man" on the flip side appeared on the R&B chart. It climbed to #2, making it Bo's most successful record. The A side introduced to the world what would become known as the "Bo Diddley beat," a rhythmic pattern later utilized by Buddy Holly, the Stones, the Grateful Dead and many others.
1970 - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young announced their breakup. They have regrouped several times, both with and without Neil Young.
1988 - Atlantic Records celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala, star-filled concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. The televised celebration featured reunions of Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees, the Rascals, Genesis and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Wilson Pickett and Yes, among others.
1998 - Frank Sinatra died of a heart attack in Los Angeles. He was 82.
Birthday Highlight:
David Byrne is 58 today, born May 14th 1952 in Dumbarton, Scotland. Byrne initially met up with drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth at the Rhode Island School of Design in the early '70s; the three formed Talking Heads with Jerry Harrison of The Modern Lovers and released a series of groundbreaking records that are considered classics of avant-pop. Byrne's solo career has continued to this day with collaborations ranging from Brian Eno to Fatboy Slim, Thievery Corporation to Dirty Projectors and many, many others. From his 1994 self-titled solo album, we played "Angels."
Today In Music History: Stevie, The One and Only
Posted at 6:02 AM on May 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1955 - A riot broke out at an Elvis Presley concert in Jacksonville, Fla. It was the first time trouble was reported at one of his concerts. Witnesses say the crowd went crazy when Presley said, "Girls, I'll see you backstage."
1971 - Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane smashed her car into a wall, forcing the cancellation of a recording session.
1974 - More than 50 people were injured outside of a Jackson Five concert in Washington when fans started smashing bottles.
1997 - Members of Midnight Oil purposely blocked traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to protest the city's air quality. They sat in arm chairs and sofas in the middle of a normally busy street for an hour.
Birthday Highlight:
Stevie Wonder is 60 today, born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. Blind from birth, Wonder signed with Tamla Records at the age of eleven and perfmored as "Little Stevie Wonder" for the first years of his career as a child prodigy singer and multi-instrumentalist. He has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and won twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever won by a male solo artist. Above all, he's just frickin' awesome, regardless of "I Just Called to Say I Love You." What do you play to honor Stevie on his 60th? You could play "Higher Ground" or "Living For the City," "Isn't She Lovely" or "My Cherie Amour" ... but we chose one of his absolute coolest tunes, "Superstition." Here's to you Stevie!
Today In Music History: Stroke!
Posted at 6:23 AM on May 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Steve Winwood is 62.
Guitarist Billy Duffy of The Cult is 49.
Today in:
1963 - Bob Dylan refused to appear on the "Ed Sullivan Show" because CBS would not allow him to sing "Talking John Birch Society Blues."
1965 - The Rolling Stones recorded '(I Can't Get No), Satisfaction' at RCA Hollywood studios. Keith Richards had come up with the guitar riff in the middle of the night a week earlier. It gave the band their first number 1 single in the US.
1971 - Mick Jagger married Bianca Perez Morena de Macias in St. Tropez, France. Guests included other members of the Rolling Stones, plus Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Stephen Stills. They are now divorced.
1984 - Lionel Richie started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hello' his second US solo No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer Billy Squier is 60. He is probably best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No. Other hits include "In the Dark", "Rock Me Tonite", "Lonely Is the Night", "My Kinda Lover", "Everybody Wants You", "All Night Long" and "Emotions in Motion," but for Billy's 60th today, we've got to play "The Stroke."
Today In Music History: Saluting Bob Marley
Posted at 7:26 AM on May 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Eric Burdon (The Animals, War) is 69.
Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn is 51.
Today in:
1970 - The three-record "Woodstock" soundtrack was released. It went gold within two weeks.
1972 - John Lennon said on "The Dick Cavett Show" that he thought he had been followed and had had his phone tapped the past few months.
1991 - Pearl Jam first started recording their debut album, "Ten."
History Tribuite:
Today in 1981, musician Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital of a brain tumor at the age of 36. The previous fall, he had collapsed on stage. A sad day in music history to be sure. We celebrate Bob Marley's enourmous popularity and contributions to music this morning with one of his classics, "Buffalo Soldier."
Today In Music History: Bono is 50
Posted at 6:02 AM on May 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Donovan is 64.
Rapper Young MC is 43.
Today in:
1963 - The Rolling Stones began their first recording session in London for Decca Records. The band recorded the Chuck Berry song "Come On" and Willie Dixon's "I Want To Be Loved."
1967 - Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones was formally charged with illegal possession of "pep pills," while fellow Stone Keith Richards was charged with allowing pot to be smoked on his premises. As the case was going to court, police arrested another Stone, Brian Jones, at his London apartment and charged him with drug possession.
1969 - The Turtles played at the White House at the invitation of Tricia Nixon. Stories later circulated that the band was snorting cocaine on Abraham Lincoln's desk.
1983 - Metallica began recording their first album in Rochester, N.Y.
Birthday Highlight:
Bono of U2 is 50 today. Born Paul Hewson in Dublin in 1960, he originally adopted the stage name Bono Vox (or "good voice"), but eventually became known simply as Bono. To say Bono is an "activist" rock star with an ego to match his activism is probably an understatement - Bono has been poked fun at for his larger-than-life activism just as much as he has been given credit for it. Still, the band he leads has unquestionably been one of the most influential and certainly enduring forces in rock over the past 25 years. (With that success comes a lot of hits that are quite overplayed, of course ... so we played a great example of Bono's vocal talents from a song that's less often played: "Red Hill Mining Town" from The Joshua Tree.
Today In Music History: Give Me Love
Posted at 6:15 AM on May 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Bill Kreutzmann (KROYTZ'-man) of the Grateful Dead is 64.
Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys is 24.
Today in:
1972 - The Rolling Stones released their classic double-album Exile On Main Street, the second album on their own label. It featured the hit singles "Tumbling Dice" and "Happy"; Keith Richards was featured on lead vocals on the latter. The album would prove to be one of band's most influential.
1997 - Marilyn Manson won his lawsuit against the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority, who tried to prevent him from playing with Ozzfest at Giants Stadium.
History Highlight:
Today in 1973, George Harrison's record company released "Give Me Love," which would become his second #1 single. It was the first glimpse of Living In The Material World, Harrison's second #1 album and the follow-up to All Things Must Pass.
Today In Music History: Satisfaction
Posted at 5:58 AM on May 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bob Seger is 65.
John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants is 50.
Guitarist Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters is 39.
Today in:
1971 - Ike and Tina Turner received their only gold single, for their version of "Proud Mary."
1977 - Led Zeppelin broke their own world record for largest audience at a single-act concert when they attracted over 76,000 fans to the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.
1992 - Whitney Houston announced her engagement to Bobby Brown, during her first TV special, "This Is My Life."
1997 - Neil Young boycotted his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Buffalo Springfield. Young objected to rampant commercialism and the $1,200-a-plate dinner.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1965, in a Clearwater, Florida, hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards started writing what would become one of rock's biggest songs ever. The myth goes like this: Richards woke up in the middle of the night and discovered a tape of a guitar riff he'd come up with right before he fell asleep. Keith didn't recall playing it or recording it, but he simply could not get the riff out of his head, so he woke up Jagger to play it for him; Mick liked it, and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was born.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Ian McCulloch
Posted at 5:59 AM on May 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 65.
Singer Adele is 22.
Today in:
1942 - Tammy Wynette ("D-i-v-o-r-c-e," "Stand By Your Man") was born.
1967 - An anthem of an era was released: "San Francisco," by Scott McKenzie. "Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!"
1984 - Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds got married. They have since divorced.
1996 - Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot and his girlfriend were arrested for allegedly beating each other up. That same week, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was charged with beating up his wife at the Los Angeles airport.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is 51. Born in Liverpool in 1959, he began his career in the band Crucial Three along with Julian Cope, who went on to form Teardrop Explodes. McCulloch formed Echo and the Bunnymen in 1978 with guitarist Will Sergeant and a drum machine allegedly nicknamed "Echo." From Ian and Will's in-studio appearance back in 2005, we played "Stormy Weather."
Today In Music History: Music From Tragedy
Posted at 5:59 AM on May 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Surf guitarist Dick Dale is 73.
Bassist Mike Dirnt of Green Day is 38.
Singer Lance Bass of 'N Sync is 31.
Today in:
1959 - The first Grammy Awards were given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Henry Mancini won album of the year for "The Music from Peter Gunn." The Champs and the Kingston Trio were also winners.
1964 - 62-year-old Jazz veteran Louis Armstrong knocked the British Invasion bands off the charts with "Hello Dolly," which was #1 on this day.
1964 - The Moody Blues played their first gig in Birmingham, England.
History Feature:
Forty years ago today on May 4th 1970, four students protesting the Vietnam war were killed and 11 wounded by misguided hair-trigger National Guard troopers at Kent State University in Ohio. While the tragedy inspired a multitude of artistic responses, the best known popular culture response to the deaths at Kent State was the protest song "Ohio", written by Neil Young for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The song was written, recorded, and preliminary pressings were rushed to major radio stations, although the group already had a hit song, "Teach Your Children", on the charts at the time. Within two-and-a-half weeks of the Kent State shootings, "Ohio" was receiving national airplay.
Today In Music History: Get Up, Get On Up
Posted at 6:11 AM on May 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Folk singer Pete Seeger is 91.
Singer Frankie Valli is 76.
Today in:
1968 - Not to be outdone by The Beatles, The Beach Boys began an 18-date tour with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as the opening act. The plan backfired as half the dates had to be canceled due to lack of interest.
1969 - Jimi Hendrix was arrested at Toronto International Airport for possession of narcotics. He was released on $10,000 bail.
1976 - Paul McCartney performed his first U.S. concert in ten years when he opened his "Wings Over America" tour.
1986 - Dolly Parton opened Dollywood Amusement Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Birthday Highlight:
James Brown, Grammy-winning "Godfather Of Soul" and one of the most successful R&B performers ever, was born in 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina. His biggest hits included "Night Train," "Cold Sweat," "I Got You [I Feel Good]," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "Hot Pants," "Sex Machine," "Living In America," and our choice today, "Get Up Offa That Thing."
Today In Music History: A Muddy Waters Tribute
Posted at 5:57 AM on April 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bobby Vee is 67.
Willie Nelson is 77.
Today in:
1965 - The Kinks began their first headlining tour of the U.K. The Yardbirds were the opening act.
1980, The film McVicar, which starred Roger Daltrey, began its run in London. Daltrey scored a modest hit from the soundtrack with "Free Me."
1999 - Marilyn Manson canceled his concert near Denver in the wake of the shootings at Columbine High School.
History Tribute:
On this day in 1983, One of the greatest and most influential of all Chicago blues men, Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield), died of a heart attack at age 68. His recordings, many composed by Willie Dixon, were definitive blues classics, covered by rock greats like The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man," "I'm Ready," "Mannish Boy," "Got My Mojo Working," "You Shook Me" were just a few of the tunes he cut. We played a tune you might recognize as one that was used as the basis for "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin: "You Need Love."
Today In Music History: Find Out What It Means To Me
Posted at 5:58 AM on April 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer
Tommy James is 63.
Singer Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips is 42.
Today in:
1962 - Jerry Lee Lewis returned to performing in Britain -- and was a success. News that he married his 13-year-old cousin caused a scandal four years before, and he was hounded out of the country.
1976 - Following a gig in Memphis, Bruce Springsteen leapt over the fence at Graceland in an effort to see his idol Elvis Presley. Security detained him, but a persistent Springsteen tried to justify his actions and gain entrance by mentioning his simultaneous appearances on the covers of Time and Newsweek. Security was not impressed and the Boss was promptly escorted off the premises.
1988 - Eric Clapton and Patti Boyd filed for divorce; the ex-wife of George Harrison, she was the inspiration for "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight."
History Highlight:
On this day in 1967, Aretha Franklin's classic version of Otis Redding's "Respect" was released. It's one of those recordings that is considered the definitive version of a song, even though it's not the original.
Today In Music History: I Want YOU To Want ME
Posted at 6:06 AM on April 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-bassist Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth is 57.
Today in:
1963 - Andrew Loog Oldham, a 19-year-old music publicist, caught a gig by The Rolling Stones at London's Crawdaddy club. He was so impressed that on the following day, he signed the rough boys to their first managerial contract. They made their first recordings two weeks later.
1968 - After six months at an off-Broadway venue, the first rock musical to be performed on the Great White Way opened at the Biltmore Theatre in NYC. It was Hair, also known as the "First American Tribal Love Rock Musical." It went on to be presented 1,729 times and was made into a movie in 1979.
1989 - Jon Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, at the Graceland wedding chapel in Las Vegas.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1978, Cheap Trick performed a concert in Tokyo's Budokan Hall that was recorded for a live album called Cheap Trick at Budokan. The album was a document of the band's intense popularity in Japan at the time, a phenomenon which was likened to Beatlemania in the Japanese press. At Budokan was intended for Japanese audiences only, but it became such a popular import that it was given an American release. The result was Cheap Trick's breakthrough album, containing their biggest single: the live version of "I Want You To Want Me."
Today In Music History: This Really Is the Last Time
Posted at 5:57 AM on April 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Announcer Casey Kasem is 78.
Singer Kate Pierson of The B-52's is 62.
Guitarist Ace Frehley of Kiss is 59.
Today in:
1964 - John Lennon's book, "In His Own Write," was published in the U.S.
1981 - Ringo Starr married model, actress and one-time James Bond girl, Barbara Bach. Paul McCartney and George Harrison attended the ceremony.
From the "Things That Would Not Last" File:
1990 - David Bowie began the U.S. leg of his "Sound and Vision" world tour. He said the tour would mark the last time he performed his old hits, a promise he would end up breaking.
1990 - Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses married Erin Everly, Don Everly's daughter. The marriage lasted 27 days.
1993 - Prince proclaimed that he was retiring from the recording studio to devote his creative energies to film and other endeavors.
and ...
Today in 1999, Brit hit band The Verve announced that they were calling it quits. It was the second breakup the band would go through, but it still wasn't the last, as they reunited fror a third time in 2007 for their album Forth. Then, they broke up again in 2009. (We played "Rather Be" from Forth).
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Duane Eddy
Posted at 6:07 AM on April 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Roger Taylor of Duran Duran is 50.
Drummer Chris Mars of The Replacements is 49.
Today in:
1977 - The New York disco Studio 54 opened. It quickly became the "in" place to be among the glitterati.
1982 - Rod Stewart was mugged in Los Angeles in broad daylight and relinquished possession of his $50,000 Porsche. He was not injured.
1994 - Grace Slick pled guilty to aiming a shotgun at police months earlier at her Marin County, California home. The following June, Slick was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and four mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week for three months.
1997 - The ABC-TV special, U2: A Year In Pop, had the dubious distinction of being the lowest-rated primetime show in the history of major network television.
Birthday Highlight:
Guitarist-songwriter Duane Eddy is 72 today. Eddy's debut album, Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel, reached #5 and remained on the album charts for 82 weeks. In 1960, the UK's "New Musical Express" voted him World's Number One Musical Personality, ousting Elvis Presley. That same year, he appeared in and recorded the theme for the movie Because They're Young. The song became Eddy's biggest success, peaking at #4. In 1986, Eddy teamed with Art of Noise for a remake of his 1960 version of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn". The song was a Top Ten hit around the world, ranking #1 on Rolling Stone Magazine's dance chart for six weeks that summer. "Peter Gunn" won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental of 1986.
Today In Music History: Saluting Roy Orbison
Posted at 6:02 AM on April 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut, opening for comedian Shecky Greene. Presley's engagement was canceled after a week because of poor ticket sales, and he didn't return to Vegas for 13 years.
1970 - Norman Greenbaum's fuzz-tone, freaky hippie anthem, "Spirit In The Sky" went Gold, earning Greenbaum the dubious title of "one-hit-wonder." He continues to raise goats on a ranch in Northern California.
1975 - Peter Ham of Badfinger hanged himself. He was reported to be depressed about the band's financial problems. He was 27.
1991 - Guitarist Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls died of a drug overdose in New Orleans. He was 40.
History Higlight:
Roy Orbison was born on this day in 1936 in Vernon, Texas. An American rock & roll icon and hit singer/songwriter who became the master of the heartbroken ballad with his passionate, almost operatic tenor, Orbison was enjoying a tremendous comeback with an album produced by T Bone Burnette and the first album by The Traveling Wilburys (Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne) at the time of his untimely death in 1988. Orbison's hits included "Oh Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," "Crying," "Dream Baby," and our choice this morning, "In Dreams."
Today In Music History: Wild Thing, I Think I Love You
Posted at 6:06 AM on April 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Peter Frampton is 60.
Today in:
1964 - The President of the National Federation of Hairdressers offered free haircuts to the next shaggy rock group to make it to #1 on the pop chart. He called The Rolling Stones the worst, stating that "one of them looks as if he's got a feather duster on his head."
1969 - John Lennon changed his middle name from Winston to Ono.
1969 - The Who performed the rock opera Tommy in its entirety for the first time in Dolton, England. That show was unannounced. They premiered it officially in London a few weeks later.
1978 - The Blues Brothers -- John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd -- made their network debut on Saturday Night Live. On the same show, Steve Martin performed his novelty hit "King Tut."
History Highlight:
In 1966, "Wild Thing," by The Troggs was released in the U.S. simultaneously on the Atco and Fontana labels. The song went to the top in June and would later be covered by Jimi Hendrix and others - including the band X.
Today In Music History: The Big 4-0 for Glen Hansard!
Posted at 5:59 AM on April 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Iggy Pop is 63.
Robert Smith of The Cure is 51.
Michael Franti of Spearhead is 44.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles met The Rolling Stones at England's Crawdaddy Club.
1982 - The Clash had to cancel a tour when Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks. He was eventually found living on the streets in Paris.
1990 - Sinéad O'Connor began a four-week run at #1 in the U.S. with her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U."
2001 - R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was arrested for allegedly getting drunk and going on a rampage on a flight from Seattle to London. He was later found innocent of the charges.
Birthday Highlight:
Glen Hansard of The Frames and The Swell Season is 40 today, born in Dublin on this day in 1970. Hansard quit school at age 13 to begin busking on Dublin streets; he formed The Frames in 1990, and they've been staples of the Irish music scene ever since. He is also known for starring in the films Once and The Commitments and co-writing Once's Academy-Award-winning song, "Falling Slowly" along with Marketa Irglova. Hansard and Irglova's musical partnership, The Swell Season, has also yeilded two successful albums, and from the latest, Strict Joy, we played "Feeling the Pull."
Today In Music History: Deep Purple Debuts
Posted at 5:56 AM on April 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Actor and recording artist Crispin Glover is 46.
Bassist-keyboardist Marty Crandall of The Shins is 35.
Today in:
1959 - "Puppy Love," the first record by Dolly Parton, was released on Gold Band Records. One review observed, "She sounds about 12 years old." Actually, she was 13.
1960 - Elvis Presley returned to Hollywood following his Army duty. He began work on the film "G.I. Blues."
1968 - Deep Purple played its first live concert, in Denmark. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal, although some band members have tried not to categorise themselves as any one genre.
1992 - The Concert For Life, a tribute to AIDS victim and Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury, was held in London. Metallica opened the show and was followed by artists George Michael and Elton John. Annie Lennox and David Bowie teamed up on the song "Under Pressure."
Today In Music History: Because the Night
Posted at 6:09 AM on April 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1968 - George Harrison, John Lennon and their wives left the religious retreat run by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi before their studies were completed. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had left earlier. Later, all four renounced their association with the
Maharishi.
1988 - Sonny Bono was inaugurated as mayor of Palm Springs, Calif.
1999 - Although the Madison Square Garden marquee in New York read "Bob Dylan, Tonight At 8pm," Neil Young was actually slated to perform. Following one number during the show, prankster Neil quipped, "That was Bob playing guitar with me on the last song."
2002 - Singer Layne Staley of Alice In Chains was found dead in his apartment in Seattle. He was 34.
History Highlight:
1978 - Arista Records released the Patti Smith single, "Because The Night." Bruce Springsteen originally wrote the song, and was in the studio next door recording it when Smith and her band were working on the album Easter. Producer Jimmy Iovine (who was also working with Springteen) passed along a cassette copy of the tune to Smith, who changed the lyrics to a female perspective. The song became a hit, hitting #13 on the Billboard chart.
Today In Music History: Apparently, Everybody Was Stoned
Posted at 6:00 AM on April 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Gerry Rafferty is 63.
Midnight Oil singer-turned-politician Peter Garrett is 57.
Singer David Pirner of Soul Asylum is 46.
Today in :
1964 - The Rolling Stones' first album was released in the UK. Two weeks later, it had ascended to #1.
1969 - "The Israelites" by Desmond Dekker became the first single by a Jamaican artist to be a bona fide hit in the U.K. and later the U.S.
1972 - The Electric Light Orchestra played its first live show.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1966, Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" was released, best known to most casual radio listeners as "Everybody...must get stoned." The song was banned by many American radio stations and the BBC, due to paranoia about "drug songs". According to acounts of the recording session, Dylan refused to play the song "straight," meaning sober, and large amounts of alcohol were brought in for the band to consume. Dylan did not touch the alcohol but was high on marajuana, having passed joints around before the recording as well. So what does the title mean? Nobody really knows for sure.
Today In Music History: Honoring Joey Ramone
Posted at 6:01 AM on April 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Ed O'Brien of Radiohead is 42.
Today in:
1966 - The Rolling Stones album "Aftermath" was released in Britain. It was the first Stones album to contain all original material, and it featured songs like "Under My Thumb" and "Mother's Little Helper."
1967 - Decca released The Who's "Happy Jack" in the U.S., the band's first single to crack the Top 40 here.
1996 - The rest of Grateful Dead singer Jerry Garcia's ashes were scattered near the Golden Gate in San Francisco. A small portion had been scattered in the Ganges River in India eleven days earlier.
History Spotlight:
On August 15th 2001, singer Joey Ramone of The Ramones died in New York after battling lymphoma. He was 49. Joey had battled the disease for seven years. MTV News claimed: "With his trademark rose-colored shades, black leather jacket, shoulder-length hair, ripped jeans and alternately snarling and crooning, hic-coughing vocals, Joey was the iconic godfather of punk." We honored Joey today with The Ramones' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up."
Today In Music History: Just Say No To Ray
Posted at 6:02 AM on April 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Loretta Lynn is 76.
Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow) is 65.
Today in:
1962 - Bob Dylan recorded seven songs, including "Blowin' In The Wind," at Columbia Records studios in New York.
1975 - Following many rumors and much speculation that Jimmy Page, Chris Spedding, Jeff Beck or even Eric Clapton would replace Mick Taylor in The Rolling Stones, it was announced that Faces guitarist Ron Wood would fill the shoes.
1976 - Motown Records announced a $13 million contract renewal for Stevie Wonder. At the time, it was the largest contract ever negotiated.
1980 - Musician Gary Numan released "The Touring Principle," a 45-minute concert video. It was the first commercially available home rock videocassette.
1983 - Pete Farndon, formerly of The Pretenders, died of a drug overdose. He had been fired from the band the year before.
1995 - Radiohead released The Bends, featuring "High & Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees." Thanks to an opening slot for the band on the R.E.M. Monster tour, The Bends acheived Gold status in the U.S. by early '96.
History Highlight:
On April 14th 1971, The Illinois Crime Commission came out with a list of drug-oriented tunes. The songs of infamy included "White Rabbit" by the Jefferson Airplane, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum, and ... "Let's Go Get Stoned" by Ray Charles.
Today In Music History: The Stones Get Their Own Label
Posted at 6:03 AM on April 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane is 66.
Al Green is 64.
Drummer Max Weinberg of the E Street Band and Late Night With Conan O'Brien is 59.
Today in:
1966 - The Beatles recorded "Paperback Writer" at Abbey Road Studios in London.
1973 - The Who's Roger Daltrey put out his first solo album, Daltrey. The material consisted of compositions by Leo Sayer and David Courtney, and was produced by Adam Faith. Townshend was nowhere in sight. Daltrey barely broke into the Top 50.
2000 - Metallica sued the online song-swapping service Napster for copyright infringement.
2009 - Music producer Phil Spector was found guilty of second degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. It was his second trial. His first ended in mistrial.
History Highlight:
Today in 1971, The Rolling Stones released "Brown Sugar," the first record on their own label, Rolling Stones Records. The label featured the logo that would become associated with the band as a whole - the famous "tongue-and-lips" image.
Today In Music History: Elton Is ... Tall?
Posted at 6:07 AM on April 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Musician Herbie Hancock is 70.
Musician John Kay of Steppenwolf is 66.
Singer-actor David Cassidy is 60.
Guitarist Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen is 52.
Singer Art Alexakis of Everclear is 48.
Today in:
1954 - Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around The Clock" for Decca Records. It's considered the first rock and roll song to top the charts.
1968 - Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention played at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences dinner in New York City. Zappa glared down at the audience and pronounced the event to be "a load of pompous hokum. All year long you people have manufactured this crap, now for one night you're gonna have to listen to it!" 1968 - Life magazine published a piece on The Doors called "Wicked Go The Doors." The magazine said, "Jim Morrison is 24 years old, out of UCLA and he appears in public and on his records to be moody, temperamental, enchanted in the mind and extremely stoned on something."
1979 - Mickey Thomas replaced Marty Balin as the lead singer of Jefferson Starship.
History Highlight:
Today in 1975, The movie version of Tommy premiered. Based on The Who's 1969 rock opera album musical Tommy, it was directed by eccentric British director Ken Russell and featured a star-studded cast, including the band members themselves (with lead singer Roger Daltrey in the title role). The original songs were re-recorded for the film soundtrack, however, featuring the film's stars singing the tunes, and one particular highlight was Elton John in the role of the Pinball Wizard - wearing special stilt-legs to make him cartoonishly tall. Elton's version of "Pinball Wizard" became a hit on it's own, and it was also included on Elton's album Caribou.
Today In Music History: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Future
Posted at 6:11 AM on April 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes is 30.
Today in:
1973 - Paul McCartney released "My Love," a ballad which would become his biggest U.S. solo hit to date, staying at #1 for four weeks.
1989 - 52-year-old Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman announced that he would marry 19-year-old Mandy Smith. He also revealed that the two had been dating for six years. Do the math.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1974, at Charley's Place in Harvard Square, Massachusetts, Bruce Springsteen met Jon Landau, rock critic-turned-producer and manager. Soon thereafter Landau wrote the now infamous line, "I saw the rock and roll future and its name is Springsteen." Landau would become instrumental in Springsteen's ensuing monumental fame and fortune, and remains his manager to this day.
Today In Music History: The Punks Are Here
Posted at 7:05 AM on April 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(5 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Izzy Stradlin of Guns N' Roses is 48.
Julian Lennon, son of John Lennon, is 47.
Today in:
1964 - The Supremes record "Where Did Our Love Go" at Motown Studios in Detroit. The song would become the first of their five US number one singles.
1972 - Written after the "Bloody Sunday Massacre" in Northern Ireland, Paul McCartney and Wings released "Give Ireland Back To The Irish." The song was banned by the BBC. Still, it charted at No.16 in the UK and No.21 in the US.
1988 - R.E.M. left IRS Records and signed with Warner Brothers records.
1994 - Electrician Gary Smith, who was working at Kurt Cobain's house in Seattle, discovered Cobain's body lying on the floor in the greenhouse. Local radio station KXRX broke the news at 9:40am that the Nirvana singer and guitarist was dead. A shotgun was found next to Cobain's body, along with a suicide note. A high concentration of heroin and traces of Valium were also found in Cobain's body.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1977, The Damned played at the home of the New York punk scene: CBGBs. They were the first UK punk group to play any kind of live dates in the USA. Formed in London in 1976, The Damned later evolved into one of the forerunners of the gothic genre. However, they were the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single and album in the United States. From that album (Damned Damned Damned), we played that first single, "New Rose."
This Day in Music History: Lady Day's Birthday
Posted at 7:37 AM on April 7, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
RAVI SHANKAR is 90. (Sitar player and composer, best known for his influence on the Beatles; father of modern pop star Norah Jones)
John Oates of Hall and Oates is 61.
On this day in 1956, The CBS Radio Network began broadcasting the first regularly scheduled national rock & roll radio show, Rock & Roll Dance Party, with famed deejay Alan Freed hosting.
In 1962, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and early Rolling Stones pal Dick Taylor met Brian Jones for the first time at the Ealing Club, a London spot where Brit blues lovers liked to hang out.
In 1969, John and Yoko recorded "Give Peace A Chance" in their Toronto hotel room during one of their bed-ins for peace.
In 1975, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple. He went on to form Rainbow.
In 1990, Farm Aid IV was held at the Indiana Hoosierdome. Among the musicians contributing their services were Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, John Mellencamp and Jackson Browne. Elton John, also one of the featured performers, dedicated "Candle In The Wind" to young AIDS patient Ryan White during the show. White died later that night.
In 1998, singer George Michael was arrested for committing a lewd act in a park restroom in Beverly Hills, California.
History Highlight:
BILLIE HOLIDAY was born on this day in 1915 in Baltimore. She died July 17, 1959, in New York from the affects of heroin addiction, and heart and liver disease. Known as Lady Day, her vocal style was a major influence on jazz and pop singing. We paid tribute to the late Billie Holiday this morning with a song she co-write, "Don't Explain."
This Day in Music History: A Pixie Is Born
Posted at 7:27 AM on April 6, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
In 1968, Guitarist Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd.
Also in 1968, The Beatles' Apple Corps Limited opened in London.
In 1971, The Rolling Stones launched their own label, Rolling Stones Records.
In 1974, The film Ladies And Gentlemen The Rolling Stones opened at New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre. The premiere was transformed into an extravaganza with a 40-foot high Rolling Stones winged tongue that rose in the air, 2,000 white doves being released and a 65-foot long dragon on display. It was first movie to feature a quadraphonic soundtrack.
In 1998, country singer Tammy Wynette died at her home in Nashville. She was 55.
Also in 1998, singer Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Storrs, Connecticut. She was 48.
In 1999, Tipper Gore, the wife of Vice President and presidential candidate Al Gore, sat in on conga drums with former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart during a fund-raiser for her husband's presidential campaign in San Jose, California. They jammed on Dylan's "Queen Jane Approximately."
History Highlight:
Frank Black (or his stage name Black Francis), frontman of The
Pixies (also known for his solo work), is 45. He was born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV on April 6, 1965. Charles, Frank, Black Francis... we salute you this morning with The Pixies "Debaser."
Today in Music History: R.E.M.'s First Paid Gig
Posted at 6:04 AM on April 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Agnetha Faltskog of Abba is 60.
Guitarist Mike McCready of Pearl Jam is 44.
Today in:
1961 - Bob Dylan played his first paid gig in New York, at the Loeb Music Center.
1985 - "We Are The World" by USA for Africa was played simultaneously in a special Good Friday broadcast on more than 5,000 radio stations in the US.
1994 - Nirvana singer-guitarist Kurt Cobain fatally shot himself above his garage in Seattle. His body was not found for three days.
2002 - R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was acquitted in his air-rage trial. Buck was accused of going on a drunken rampage aboard a British Airways flight from Seattle to London.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1980, long before guitarist Peter Buck would be famous enough to be involved in a news-making air-rage incident, R.E.M. played their first paid gig at a party given by a friend of the band. We played an song that would come to represent their early sound: "Wolves, Lower" from their Chronic Town EP.
Today In Music History: Honoring Marvin Gaye
Posted at 6:03 AM on April 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Emmylou Harris is 63.
Drummer David Robinson of The Cars and The Modern Lovers is 57.
Today in:
1971 - Ringo Starr's first solo single, "It Don't Come Easy," was released. It became a Top Five hit.
1971 - Janis Joplin was at No.1 on the US album charts with Pearl.
1998 - Rob Pilatus, one half of pop duo Milli Vanilli was found dead in a Frankfurt Hotel room after taking a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. Milli Vanilli won the 1989 best new artist Grammy after hits like "Blame it on the Rain" and "Girl, You Know It's True," selling 30 million singles and 14 million albums. But in late 1990, the performers were stripped of the award after it was revealed that neither actually sang on the Milli Vanilli album.
2003 - Dozens of fans walked out of a Pearl Jam show in Denver after singer Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of President George W. Bush with a microphone stand.
History Highlight:
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Marvin Gaye, who would have been 71 today. Known as alternately as "The Prince of Motown" and "The Prince of Soul," Gaye had a tremendous influence on scores of R&B artists to follow him, including the likes of Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Gaye #6 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time, and ranked him #18 on 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Gaye died in 1984 from a gunshhot wound sustained in a altercation with his father. We honored Marvin Gaye today with a cut from arguably his most influential album, What's Going On: "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)."
Today In Music History: I Need To Know For Sure
Posted at 6:04 AM on April 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Rudolph Isley of the Isley Brothers is 71.
Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 62.
Musician, poet and author Gil Scott-Heron is 61.
Today in:
1966 - Pye Records released David Bowie's first solo single, 'Do Anything You Say'. Bowie had previously recorded as David Jones and The Lower Third.
1984 - Singer Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father during an argument. Marvin Gay Sr. received probation after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
1985 - David Lee Roth left Van Halen shortly after the release of his cover of the Beach Boys' "California Girls."
1992 - Billy Idol pleaded no contest to punching a woman in the face. He was fined and told to make public service announcements against alcohol and drug use.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1966, English band The Troggs recorded "Wild Thing" at Regent Sound Studio in London. The band were originally called The Troglodytes (troglodyte meaning "caveman"). The song went on to be a No.1 US and No.2 UK hit in June the following year. Its combination of a simple guitar riff and sexy lyrics helped it to quickly become a garage rock standard.
Today In Music History: Johnny B. Goode
Posted at 6:16 AM on March 31, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert is 75.
Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC is 55.
Bassist Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers is 39.
Today in:
1967 - Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire in front of an audience for the first time, during a concert in London.
1983 - MTV added Michael Jackson's video for "Beat It." It was the first video MTV played by a black artist.
1984 - Kenny Loggins started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Footloose", the theme from the film with the same name.
2001 - Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown were banned for life from Hollywood's Bel Air hotel after wrecking their room. Hotel workers said a TV was smashed, two doors were ripped of their hinges and the walls and carpets were stained by alcohol. It was reported that Whitney called in her lawyers to plead with the hotel management not to call the police. The suite was so badly damaged it had to be shut for five days for repairs.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1958, Chuck Berry released the single "Johnny B. Goode." Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about a poor country boy who plays a guitar "just like ringing a bell", and who might one day have his "name in lights". Berry has acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical.
"Johnny B. Goode" is among the most widely covered rock and roll songs in history. Berry's recording of the song was included on the Voyager "Golden Record," attached to the Voyager spacecraft as representing rock and roll, one of four American songs included among many cultural achievements of humanity.
Today In Music History: Calling In The Choppers
Posted at 6:03 AM on March 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Eric Clapton is 65.
Celine Dion is 42.
Norah Jones is 31.
Today in:
1963 - 16 year-old Lesley Gore recorded her breakthrough hit, "It's My Party." The song produced by Quincy Jones went on to be a US No.1.
1967 - During an appearance by Jimi Hendrix on Top Of The Pops, a technician put on the backing track of Alan Price's "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear", to which Hendrix responded "I don't know the words to this one man."
1976 - The Sex Pistols played their first show at London's 100 Club, attracting only 50 people.
History Highlight:
On this date in 1978, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon of The Clash were arrested in London after shooting down racing pigeons with air guns from the roof of Chalk Farm Studios. Four police cars and a helicopter were involved in making arrest. That's right: they called in the choppers for some pigeon-shooting. Their fines totalled £800 ($1,360). So what Clash song should we play in honor of this event? Are you kidding? What else could we play but "I Fought the Law"?
Today In Music History: Patty Donahue Knew What Boys Liked
Posted at 6:06 AM on March 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros is 51.
Singer-harmonica player John Popper of Blues Traveler is 43.
Today in:
1979 - Eric Clapton married Patti Boyd, the ex-wife of his friend, George Harrison. They separated in 1986.
1993 - The Supreme Court announced it would use a case involving 2 Live Crew to decide whether copyright holders can ban song parodies. The rappers later won their dispute with Acuff-Rose music over their takeoff of Roy Orbison's "Oh Pretty Woman."
2000 - 'N Sync's album "No Strings Attached" sold 2.4 million copies its first week out. It set an all-time record for first-week sales.
2005 - Neil Young was treated for a brain aneurysm at a hospital in New York. Doctors expected the 59 year old to make a full recovery. The aneurysm was discovered when Young's vision became blurred after the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the previous month.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1956, Patty Donahue, lead singer of The Waitresses, was born. The Waitresses released two albums: Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful and Bruiseology. In the 1990's Donahue worked as an A&R person for MCA records. A heavy smoker, Donahue died of lung cancer in December of 1996 at the age of 40 after battling it for almost a year. The Waitresses' best known songs include the new wave holiday single "Christmas Wrapping," the theme for the TV show Square Pegs, and the song that essentially became their signature tune, "I Know What Boys Like."
Today In Music History: All The Young Glams
Posted at 6:12 AM on March 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Diana Ross is 66.
Steven Tyler (Aerosmith - born Steven Victor Tallarico) is 62.
Guitarist James Iha (formerly of Smashing Pumpkins) is 42.
Today in:
1970 - Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary pleaded guilty to "taking immoral liberties" with a 14-year-old girl in Washington. He had just recently won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children with the album Peter Paul and Mommy.
1974 - David Essex's single "Rock On" turned gold. Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells," which was used in the movie "The Exorcist," also turned gold.
1980 - Pink Floyd's The Wall broke the record for the longest-charting pop album, previously held by Carole King's Tapestry.
1986 - Guns N' Roses was signed to Geffen Records.
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, Mott the Hoople decided to disband, after four albums. They would soon change their mind, however, when David Bowie presented them a song called "All the Young Dudes." Mott the Hoople recorded it, while Bowie produced it - and the song not only hit the Top 40 but became one of the definining songs of the '70s glam era.
Today In Music History: Georgia On Our Minds
Posted at 6:19 AM on March 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Aretha Franklin is 68.
Sir Elton John is 63.
Today in:
1956 - At the conclusion of Alan Freed's three-day Rock & Roll Show at the Stage Theater in Hartford, Connecticut, police arrested 11 teenagers and revoked the theater's license to operate. Hartford Institute of Living psychiatrist Dr. Francis J. Braceland testified at later license hearings that rock & roll was "a communicable disease with music appealing to adolescent insecurity and driving teenagers to do outlandish things. It's cannibalistic and tribalistic."
1968 - The 58th and final episode of The Monkees TV show was telecast.
1970 - The first studio album by all four, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Déjà Vu, went Gold. Among the songs on the album were "Teach Your Children," featuring Jerry Garcia on pedal steel, and Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock."
1977 - Elvis Costello's debut single, "Less Than Zero," was released. It hardly made a dent in the U.S. charts.
1985 - The Academy Award for best original song went to Prince for "Purple Rain."
1990 - Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue was arrested for allegedly mooning an audience at a concert in Augusta, Ga.
History Highlight:
50 years ago today in 1960, Ray Charles recorded "Georgia On My Mind" in New York. The song was originally written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stuart Gorrell (lyrics). Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or to a woman named "Georgia". It was Charles' version that finally made the song famous, and despite Willie Nelson's popular recording, Charles version is probably still the most revered. The tune itself became the state of Georgia's state song in 1979.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Nick Lowe
Posted at 6:01 AM on March 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
German singer Nena ("99 Lufballoons") is 50.
Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers is 46.
Today in:
1958 - Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army in Memphis, Tenn. He was discharged in 1960.
1973 - Lou Reed was bitten on his rear end by a concert-goer who leaped on stage in Buffalo, N.Y., and shouted "Leather!" Reed commented afterward that, in his words, "America seems to breed real animals."
1986 - Van Halen released their "5150" album, their first with Sammy Hagar on vocals.
1991 - The Black Crowes were dropped as the opening act on ZZ Top's tour for repeatedly criticizing Miller Beer, who was sponsoring the tour.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer, songwriter and producer Nick Lowe is 61 today. Lowe's music has run the gamut from punk to roots rock to Americana; he was a member of influential early '70s Brit folk/rock outfit Brinsley Schwarz; then launched the Stiff Records label in 1976 with Dave Edmunds. Lowe is perhaps best known for his years in Rockpile with Dave Edmunds in the '80s and for writing the Elvis Costello hit, "(What's So Funny 'Bout)Peace, Love And Understanding"; has also worked with Elvis Costello, the Damned, the Pretenders, Graham Parker and others. His hits included "So It Goes," "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass," "I Knew the Bride (When She Used To Rock And Roll)," "All Men Are Liars," and one that charted the highest in America, "Cruel to Be Kind."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Ric Ocasek
Posted at 6:03 AM on March 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Chaka Khan is 57.
Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz is 42.
Today in:
1963 - The Beach Boys released the single "Surfin' USA."
1964 - John Lennon's first book, In His Own Write, a collection of poems, musings and sketches, was published.
1969 - A crowd of 30,000, including Jackie Gleason, The Lettermen and singers Kate Smith and Anita Bryant, turned out for the "Rally For Decency in Miami." It was proclaimed that "longhairs and weird dressers" would not be allowed to attend the rally. Four days later, President Richard Nixon sent a letter of commendation to the organizers of the event.
1973 - U.S. immigration authorities ordered John Lennon to leave the country within 60 days. He was an "undesirable alien" due to an earlier marijuana possession conviction. In an ironic twist, on the same day Yoko Ono was finally granted permission to remain in the US permanently. Lennon began his long battle to get his Green Card, which he finally won in July of 1976.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Ric Ocasek is 61 today, born in Baltimore on this day in 1949. Ocasek served as the leader, chief singer and songwriter for The Cars; he's also produced records by a number of bands, including Bad Brains, Romeo Void, Iggy Pop, Black 47, Guided By Voices, Hole, Jonathon Richman, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, and Weezer.
Today In Music History: Carl Perkins Has Some Mighty Bad Luck
Posted at 6:10 AM on March 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1958 - An 8-year-old Hank Williams Jr. made his stage debut in Swainsboro, Ga.
1969 - Two days after they were married in a private ceremony in Gibraltar, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their first "bed-in for peace" in the presidential suite of the Amsterdam Hilton.
1976 - Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter told potential voters at the National Association of Record Merchandisers' Scholarship Foundation Dinner that Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin and other bands had inspired him during his late nights as the Governor of Georgia. To prove he would never lie to them, he quoted lines from the Beatles' "Yesterday" and Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind."
History Highlight:
On this day in 1956, Carl Perkins was injured in a car accident near Wilmington, Delaware. He was on his way to New York to perform on the "Ed Sullivan Show," but was forced to spend several months in the hospital. By the time he recovered, Elvis Presley had covered Perkins' hit, "Blue Suede Shoes," and Perkins' career was never the same. In tribute to Perkins this morning (and what might have been), we played his version of "Blue Suede Shoes."
Today In Music History: Let's Get Ready For Some Delinquency
Posted at 5:48 AM on March 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1957 - Elvis Presley purchased a mansion in Memphis and christened it Graceland.
1958 - Big Records released "Our Song," the first record by a teenage duo from Queens, New York, who called themselves Tom And Jerry. The pair would go on to much greater fame in the '60s under their real names, Simon & Garfunkel.
1974 - Jefferson Airplane began its first tour as Jefferson Starship.
1982 - Guitarist Randy Rhoads of Ozzy Osbourne's band was killed in a freak plane crash in Leesburg, Florida. He was 25. The plane was buzzing Osbourne's tour bus and crashed into a house.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1958, Cadence Records released the instrumental song "Rumble" by Link Wray, which later was credited with being the first heavy-metal song because of Wray's used of distorted guitar and what would later come to be known as "power chords." "Rumble" is the only instrumental song ever to be banned by American radio stations; programmers worried that the song's sound and title signalled an incitement to juvenile delinquency.
Today In Music History: Andy Loses It, Then Gets His True Mojo
Posted at 6:37 AM on March 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) is 44.
Queen Latifah is 40.
Today in:
1965 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones were arrested for urinating on the wall of a gas station. The owner wouldn't let them use the restroom.
1976 - The Man Who Fell To Earth, the surreal science fiction movie starring David Bowie and directed by Nicholas Roeg, premiered in London.
1982 - Singer Teddy Pendergrass was paralyzed from the waist down in a car crash in Philadelphia.
1991 - U2 were fined about $750 after being convicted of selling condoms illegally at the Virgin Megastore in Dublin.
1996 - The Sex Pistols announced they were reuniting for a 20th anniversary tour.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1982, XTC frontman Andy Partridge walked off stage during a concert in Paris after only 30 seconds. He had long suffered from stage fright, which, for years, his doctor had proscribed Valium. On this occasion, Partridge's wife flushed his entire supply down the toilet in an ill-considered attempt to get him off the drug, and his withdrawl was severe. Still, the event precipitated the end of XTC's live performance career - the group would become an exclusively studio-bound band from then on, and their music became more produced and sophisticated as a result. From one of their most extravagantly produced albums, Oranges and Lemons, we played "Garden of Earthly Delights."
Today In Music History: Wrong Booze, Right Song
Posted at 6:04 AM on March 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 69.
Singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful is 66.
Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins is 43.
Today in:
1968, The Bee Gees made their U.S. television debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The brothers sang "To Love Somebody" and "Words."
1995, Madonna hosted the "world's biggest pajama party" with 1,500 guests gathering in their pajamas, accompanied by teddy bears. This event was conducted in the name of promotion for her new "Bedtime Stories" video.
1995, Suzanne Vega married her record producer, Mitchell Froom in New York. Fun fact: Vega and Froom's daughter would be named Ruby Froom, and Soul Coughing would later title their first album after her (Ruby Vroom).
2004, Courtney Love was arrested for allegedly throwing a microphone stand at a member of the audience at a show in New York. Earlier that day, she had appeared on David Letterman's show and flashed him six times.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1958, "Tequila" by The Champs hit #1 on the Billboard charts. (It only reached #5 in the UK). No, it's not green beer. Who cares? You think the fact that it's St. Patricks' Day is going to keep us from playing this song? Get our yer lime ...
Today In Music History: Honoring Tammi Terrell
Posted at 6:01 AM on March 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist-singer Nancy Wilson of Heart is 56.
Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is 51.
Wolfgang Van Halen is 19.
Today in:
1971 - Simon and Garfunkel were the first winners of the so-called "Triple Crown" of the Grammys. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was named song and record of the year, and the album by the same name won album of the year. It was also the first year the
Grammys were televised live.
1972 - John Lennon filed an appeal with the U.S. Immigration Office. He had been served with deportation orders stemming from a conviction of possession of cannabis four years earlier.
1996 - The Ramones played their last concert, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2006 - Michael Jackson paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to employees at his Neverland Ranch in California, then shut down the ranch. He paid them back wages to avoid a lawsuit threatened by California officials.
Tribute of the Day:
On this day in 1970, singer Tammi Terrell died of a brain tumor in Philadelphia at age 24. The tumor was diagnosed three years earlier when she collapsed during a concert. Terrell was best known for her duets with Marvin Gaye, including "It Takes Two," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing".
Today In Music History: Happy B-Day Sly Stone
Posted at 5:56 AM on March 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead is 70.
Singer Mike Love of the Beach Boys is 69.
Singer Dee Snider of Twisted Sister is 55.
Today in:
1956 - Colonel Tom Parker became Elvis Presley's manager.
1972 - KHJ Los Angeles deejay Robert W. Morgan spun Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love" over and over for 90 continuous minutes, leading LAPD to mistakenly raid the station studios after receiving numerous calls from listeners. The perplexed officers left without making any arrests.
1986 - Starship, with Mickey Thomas on lead vocals, went to #1 with "Sara." Critics claimed that the slick '80s Starship bore scant resemblance to the earlier psychedelic, rebellious incarnation of the group.
2002 - Yoko Ono unveiled a seven-foot bronze statue of John Lennon, which overlooked the check-in area of Liverpool's John Lennon Airport. The newly renamed airport's logo featured a sketch of Lennon's face with the inscription, "Above Us Only Skies."
Birthday Highlight:
Singer-keyboardist Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone is 67. No word yet on whether or not his birthday party is on tonight, or if it's cancelled. (That's a joke, ya see ... Sly is notorious for cancelling his shows). We played "Family Affair."
Today In Music History: God Bless You Please
Posted at 5:59 AM on March 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane is 69.
Guitarist Graham Coxon of Blur is 41.
Today in:
1955 - In New York City, legendary jazz saxophonist, heroin junkie and genius Charlie "Bird" Parker, only 34, died of heart failure. Parker, along with Dizzy Gillespie and a few others, had more or less invented the then-radical form of bebop jazz.
1969 - Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman were married in a civil ceremony in London.
Beatles Behaving Badly:
1969 - While Paul PcMcCartney was getting married, George Harrison and his wife Patti were arrested in Surrey, south of London, on charges of cannabis possession after police discovered a sum total of 120 joints in their home.
1974 - John Lennon, during his famous "lost weekend," was involved in a fist fight with a photographer outside the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. Lennon and Harry Nilsson had been heckling comedian Tommy Smothers and were forcibly ejected from the club. This was the infamous occasion where Lennon wore a tampon scotch-taped to his head.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1969, The 11th annual Grammy Awards were handed out. Did The Beatles "Hey Jude" win record of the year? Actually no. It was beaten out by Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson," which had been written for the movie The Graduate.
Today In Music History: Heathcliff!
Posted at 6:05 AM on March 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Lisa Loeb is 42.
Today in:
1968 - Otis Redding was awarded a gold record for the single "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" three months after his death. A year later, the song won two Grammy Awards.
1971 - Neil Young's Harvest album, featuring the hit single, "Heart of Gold," went to #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.
1997 - Queen Elizabeth knighted Paul McCartney.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1978, the debut single by Kate Bush, "Wuthering Heights," inspired by the Emily Bronte novel, began a four-week run at #1 in the UK. Over here, it's hard for us to imagine the sensation the song caused in Britain; for example, it placed 32nd in Q magazine's Top 100 Singles of All Time, voted by readers. Trivia: it's often mistakenly believed that Pink Floyd's David Gilmour plays the guitar solo in this recording; actually, it's a fellow named Ian Bairnson, known for his work with Alan Parsons Project, Pilot ("It's Magic"), and Bucks Fizz ("Making Your Mind Up").
Today In Music History: I Thought Those Guys Hated Each Other
Posted at 6:12 AM on March 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Tom Scholz of Boston is 63.
Singer-guitarist Gary Louris of The Jayhawks is 55.
Bassist Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam is 47.
Today in:
1977 - A&M Records in Britain signed the Sex Pistols in a ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, two months after EMI nulled its contract with the band. A&M ended its association with the band nine days later.
1988 - Pop singer Andy Gibb died of a heart condition in Oxford, England. Gibb was 30.
1992 - Prince received a lifetime achievement award at the Soul Train Awards. Winners of other awards included Natalie Cole and Color Me Badd.
1993 - Songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2003 - Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London, "Just so you know, we're ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas." They endured a firestorm of criticism that included radio stations banning their music and
protests outside their concerts.
History Highlight:
On this day in 2003, The Police reunited for their first show together in 18 years, at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They went on to an extremely successful reunion tour in 2007-2008. Sting and drummer Stewart Copeland, who's intense arguments over the years the band was together would sometimes turn into wrestling matches and fist fights, put aside their differences for the tour (probably for just long enough). This morning we played a tune that actually opens with Stewart Copeland on vocals: "Does Everyone Stare" from Regatta de Blanc.
This Day in History: The Biggest Joshua Tree in the World
Posted at 7:34 AM on March 9, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthday:
ROBIN TROWER is 65 (Guitar god who began as member of late-'60s/early-'70s-era hit band Procol Harum; later fronted his own highly successful Hendrix-influenced band with James Dewar on lead vocals, broke through with 1974's Bridge Of Sighs album.)
This Day in Music:
In 1969, The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour was canceled by CBS-TV after the pair refused to censor comments made by Joan Baez about her husband, David Harris. Harris was bound for jail for objecting to the draft on moral convictions.
In 1974, Bad Company performed its first concert in England. The band was made up of former members of Free, King Crimson and Mott the Hoople.
Also in 1974, the Grand Ole Opry put on its last Saturday night show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
In 1975, Elvis Presley went into RCA's Hollywood studios for what would be his final recording session.
In 1987, Carole King was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City.
In 1997, the Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death while sitting in his car after a music industry party. He was 24.
History Highlight:
In 1987, U2 released The Joshua Tree. It would go on to win a Grammy for Album Of The Year and go Diamond (sales of 10 million copies). We played one of the big hits from the album, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
This Day in Music History: Gary Numan Turns 52
Posted at 7:47 AM on March 8, 2010
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Gareth "Gaz" Coombes (Vocalist and guitarist with '90s-born Brit pop/rock band Supergrass; "Alright," "Caught By The Fuzz") is 34.
MICKY DOLENZ (Wacky drummer and singer for hit '60s pop band, The Monkees; child film star; "Last Train To Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "[Theme From] The Monkees," "Stepping Stone") is 65.
THIS DAY IN MUSIC 3/8:
In 1962, The Beatles appeared on television for the first time, performing Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby" on the BBC program Teenager's Turn.
In 1965, David Bowie made his TV debut, appearing with The Mannish Boys on a British TV program called Gadzooks! It's All Happenin'. They played their new single, "I Pity The Fool."
In 1968, Bill Graham, owner of the fabled San Francisco rock ballroom The Fillmore, opened The Fillmore East in an abandoned movie theater on Second Avenue and Sixth Street in New York City. The opening night show presented Albert King, Tim Buckley and Big Brother & The Holding Company.
In 1973, Grateful Dead keyboardist, singer and founding member Ron "Pigpen" McKernan died of a stomach hemorrhage, a result of advanced alcoholism, in the Central California town of Madera. He was just 27.
In 1979, It was officially acknowledged in the mainstream press that hard times were affecting the record industry. Rolling Stone magazine reported that because of the "skyrocketing costs of producing, promoting and supporting a new album, now put at between $350,000 and $500,000," labels would have to start cutting back on their new releases.
In 1990, In Rolling Stone's annual awards, some for dubious achievements, Cher "won" for Worst Dressed Female and Worst Video for "If I Could Turn Back Time." The recipient of the Most Unwelcome Comeback award was Donny Osmond.
In 1993, The cartoon series, Beavis And Butthead debuted on MTV.
History Highlight:
Gary Numan (born Gary Anthony James Webb) is 52. He's one of the founding fathers of '80s synth-pop, famous for his use of synthesizers in rock music. His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals. We played his big hit "Cars."
Today In Music History: Sweet Dreams, Patsy
Posted at 6:01 AM on March 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Eddy Grant is 62.
Guitarist John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 40.
Today in:
1982 - Manic comic/actor and Blues Brother John Belushi overdosed at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles. He was only 33.
1994 - Grace Slick aimed a shotgun at deputies after they showed up at her Marin County, CA home to settle a domestic dispute. The following June, she was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and mandatory attendance at a long series of Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings.
2002 - "The Osbournes" premiered on MTV.
History Highlight:
It's hard to call this a "highlight," since it was a sad day in music history: On this day in 1963, Patsy Cline - the soulful country crooner who had won crossover fame for pop hits such as "Crazy" and "I Fall To Pieces" - perished in a small plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. Cline was on her way to Nashville from St. Louis. Musicians Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins also died in the crash. We honor Patsy's legacy this morning with "Sweet Dreams (Of You)."
Today In Music History: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Clash
Posted at 5:58 AM on March 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Jason Newsted of Metallica is 47.
Evan Dando of The Lemonheads is 43.
Today in:
1966 - John Lennon made his infamous remarks that led to an uproar, even the banning and burning of records by The Beatles for a brief period. In an interview with The Evening Standard, Lennon commented, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue that. I'm right and will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus right now."
1967 - The Rolling Stones had the #1 single in the land with "Ruby Tuesday," their fourth #1 in the U.S. It was originally the "B" or flip side of "Let's Spend The Night Together," but in the wake of many puritanical radio stations banning the latter, London/Decca Records made the flip-flop.
1978 - The I.R.S. descended on the home of Jerry Lee Lewis in a dawn sneak attack, confiscating about $200,000 worth of vehicles to help pay off past tax debts.
1996 - Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr turned down a $225 million offer to tour North America, Europe and Japan.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1977, CBS released the first album by The Clash - in the United Kingdom only. It would not appear in the U.S. for another two years, and then in altered form. CBS in America had decided that the album was "not radio friendly," so it was initially only available in the States during 1977/1978 as an import, and as such became the biggest selling import of the year, selling over 100,000 copies. The Clash is now seen as one of the most important records in not just punk rock but rock period - and one of the greatest records of the '70s. We played "I'm So Bored With the USA."
Today In Music History: Buffalo Springfield Is Born
Posted at 6:08 AM on March 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Robyn Hitchcock is 57.
Rapper Tone-Loc is 44.
Today in:
1957 - Cardinal Samuel Strich, the head of the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago (the largest in the world), banned rock & roll from Catholic schools and various associated events in his district. He complained about the "tribal rhythms" and "encouragement to behave in a hedonistic manner" inherent in the music. Chicago record retailers reported no apparent drop in sales of the devil's music.
1967 - In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, The Animals refused to play a slated concert unless they were paid up front. Consequently, over 3,000 fans in the audience broke into a riot, causing about $5,000 in damages. Yes, even Canadians riot.
1995 - R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry underwent surgery to halt bleeding caused by a brain aneurysm. The operation was a success, but he still felt it was best that he retire from the band.
2006 - New age musician Yanni was arrested for domestic battery at his home outside Palm Beach, Fla. He was not charged.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1966, Buffalo Springfield was formed, featuring Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer. The band lasted for 25 months, releasing a total of three albums but leaving many demo recordings, studio outtakes and live recordings. Despite it's short life, it's considered one of the most influential bands of the 1960s, with most members going on to successful careers and two of them - Stills and Young - becoming superstars. We played the Neil Young penned classic, "Mr. Soul."
Today In Music History: Honoring Dusty Springfield
Posted at 6:01 AM on March 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lou Reed is 68.
Jon Bon Jovi is 48.
Chris Martin of Coldplay is 33.
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles began work in London on the film "A Hard Day's Night."
1988 - Paul Simon won record of the year for "Graceland," the first time a winning record did not hit the top 40. U2's "The Joshua Tree" won album of the year. Little Richard got a standing ovation for announcing himself as winner for best new artist and complaining the Grammys never gave him anything.
Tribute of the day:
On this day in 1999, singer Dusty Springfield died of cancer at the age of 59, just 11 days before her scheduled induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Honoring Dusty for both her career and her Hall of Fame induction this morning, we played "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me."
Today in Music History: Happy Birthday Roger Daltrey
Posted at 6:33 AM on March 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1968 - Johnny Cash and June Carter were married in Franklin, Kentucky.
1969 - The Doors' lead singer Jim Morrison was charged with several offenses after exposing himself on stage during a concert in Miami. He was found guilty on exposure and profanity charges in 1970. His sentence was on appeal when he died in 1971.
1972 - Singer Merle Haggard was pardoned by California Governor Ronald Reagan. Haggard had served time for attempted burglary.
1991 - The Oliver Stone movie The Doors opened in the US, with Val Kilmer portraying singer Jim Morrison.
1995 - Drummer Bill Berry of R.E.M. left the stage during a concert in Switzerland after having a brain aneurysm. He would later leave the band.
Birthday Highlight:
Roger Daltrey is 66 today. He might have looked a little stiff at his Super Bowl performance, but c'mon, the guy's in his mid-sixties. We played one of his great vocal performances this morning: The Who's "The Real Me" from Quadrophenia.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Johnny, We Miss You
Posted at 6:28 AM on February 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Fats Domino is 82.
Singer Mitch Ryder is 65.
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 60.
Singer Michael Bolton is 57.
Today in:
1955 - R&B singer LaVern Baker appealed to Congress to revise the Copyright Act of 1909 that black recording artists be protected from note-for-note copying of previously recorded R&B tunes and arrangements by white artists. Yes, this used to be legal.
1970 - The Beatles album "Hey Jude" was released in the U.S. and Canada. It was made up of singles that were previously unavailable in the U.S.
1980, Island Records reps offered U2 a recording contract after witnessing their performance at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium before an audience of 2,400.
1993 - Police in Augusta, Ga. fined singer Bobby Brown $580 for pretending to have sex with one of his backup singers during a concert. She also was fined $580.
Birthday Highlight:
We celebrate Johnny Cash's birthday today; he was born on this date in 1932 (passing away in September of 2003). What can be written or said about Johnny that hasn't already been said? He's practically like the Beatles in that sense. So we simply honor Johnny today with a track of his last album, the new - and second pothsumously-released album - American 6, Ain't No Grave ... the title track
Today In Music History: Has Anybody Ever Figured Out What "Soy Bomb" Means?
Posted at 5:59 AM on February 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1957 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets recorded "That'll Be The Day," their first and only No. 1 hit.
1963 - Vee Jay Records released the first Beatles record in the U.S., "Please Please Me" backed with "Ask Me Why." At the time, the single went unnoticed by the record-buying public.
1981 - Singer Christopher Cross was the big winner at the Grammy Awards, picking up an award for best album for his self-titled debut album. His hit "Sailing" was named best song
and best record.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1998, Bob Dylan won his first Best Album Grammy for Time Out of Mind, his 42nd album. His performance was interrupted by a dancing man with "Soy Bomb" written on his chest. At that same ceremony, singer Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech was interrupted by rapper ODB, who upstaged her with a rant about his clothes. (Somewhere, a young Kanye West was watching). Anyway, all this detracts a bit from Dylan's achievement, his award for an album that is now considered one of the best of the latter part of his career. From Time Out of Mind, we played "Cold Irons Bound."
Today In Music History: Pearl Goes Gold
Posted at 6:01 AM on February 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Actor Abe Vigoda is 89. No, he's not a musician, but it's Abe Vigoda for Pete's sake, so we thought we'd wish him a happy birthday.
Singer/guitarist George Thorogood is 60.
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles made their third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. They were seen via tape this time, performing three songs.
1976 - The Eagles' "Greatest Hits" album became the first album in the U.S. to be certified platinum, for at least 1 million copies sold. The new award was conceived because high sales meant too many artists were winning gold records.
1979 - The Sex Pistols release the album "The Great Rock N' Roll Swindle."
1988 - Alice Cooper announced he was running for governor of
Arizona.
1998 - Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue was arrested for kicking his wife, actress Pamela Anderson Lee. She filed for divorce. He eventually served four months in prison.
1998 - Elton John was knighted.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1971, Janis Joplin's posthumous release, Pearl, was awarded a Gold record. In 2003, the album was ranked number 122 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. We played the last track on the classic album, "Get It While You Can."
Today In Music History: He's My Fine Sweet Lord
Posted at 5:52 AM on February 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Brad Whitford of Aerosmith is 58.
Singer Howard Jones is 55.
Today in:
1970 - Canada's music awards, known as the Junos, were presented for the first time. The Guess Who won for best group that year.
1983 - Toto won six Grammys, including Album Of The Year for Toto IV, an effort that included the hits "Africa" and "Rosanna."
1988 - Michael Jackson kicked off his first solo U.S. tour in Kansas City.
2003 - Norah Jones won five Grammys, one for every category in which she was nominated, including album of the year. The Grammys show opened with Simon and Garfunkel, the first time they had performed together in a decade.
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, The Chiffons' "He's So Fine" appeared on the pop chart for the first time, on its way to #1. George Harrison was sued years later for unconsciously plagiarizing the melody for his "My Sweet Lord."
Today In Music History: Only A Northern Song
Posted at 5:54 AM on February 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1978 - The Police starred in a TV commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum. The ad was made a few months before the band's single "Roxanne" was released in the U.K.
1989 - The first heavy metal Grammy was given out. Jethro Tull, of all bands, won.
1986 - The Dream Academy's "Life In A Northern Town," which had been produced by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, peaked at #7 on the singles chart.
1992 - Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love.
2001 - In another year for odd Grammy upsets, Steely Dan won their first Grammys ever, including album of the year for "Two Against Nature." They beat out
Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP."
History Highlight:
Today in 1963, The Beatles put together their Northern Music Publishing Company. Ever wonder what the George Harrison-penned tune "Only a Northern Song" was about? It's Harrison's commentary on the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership, and how he was basically an "employee" of their publishing company - an arrangement that resulted in Lennon and McCartney actually making more royalties on his songs than he did. Thus the line, "It doesn't really matter what chords I play/What words I say or time of day it is/As it's only a Northern Song." Well, we enjoy giving George his due every chance we get.
Today In Music History: Smokey is 7-0
Posted at 5:55 AM on February 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath is 62.
Singer-guitarist Dave Wakeling of English Beat is 54.
Today in:
1972 - Paul McCartney and Wings released "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," a commentary about the Britain-Ireland conflict. It was banned by the BBC, but still reached the top 20 in England.
1974 - Dick Clark staged the first American Music Awards as an alternative to the industry-dominated Grammy Awards. The winners of the American Music Awards are determined by the votes of music fans. "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" by Tony Orlando and Dawn won for favorite pop single that year.
1995 - Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married Pamela Anderson of the TV show "Baywatch" on a beach in Cancun. The bride wore white -- a bikini. They've since divorced.
1996 - London police arrested singer Jarvis Cocker of Pulp for allegedly attacking three children performing with Michael Jackson at the Brit Awards. Cocker admitted he walked on stage but denied he touched any children.
1997 - A judge in New York dismissed a $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 in to it.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer Smokey Robinson is 70 today, born on this day in 1940 in Detroit. One of the primary figures associated with Motown Records, Robinson's consistent commercial success and creative contributions to the label have earned him the title "King of Motown." As the singer for Motown Records' first vocal group The Miracles and as a solo artist, Robinson delivered thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987. One of the bigger ones: "I Second That Emotion."
Today In Music History: The Big 3-0 For Regina
Posted at 5:57 AM on February 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Yoko Ono is 77.
Dennis DeYoung of Styx is 63.
Dr. Dre is 45.
Regina Spektor is 30.
Today in:
1968 - David Gilmour replaced Syd Barrett as lead guitarist for Pink Floyd.
1972 - Neil Young got a gold record for his album, "Harvest," which includes the number one single, "Heart of Gold."
1992 - Vince Neil quit as lead singer for Motley Crue, after eleven years with the group. He said he wanted to spend more time on his race car driving. He has since returned to the band.
Today In Music History: Were They Bored With The USA?
Posted at 6:03 AM on February 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is 38.
Today in:
1971 - James Taylor made his prime-time TV debut on "The Johnny Cash Show." Taylor sang "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina on My Mind."
1972 - Pink Floyd premiered "Dark Side of the Moon" in concert at London's Rainbow Theater. The album was released the next year.
1988 - In Hollywood, Florida, a 12-year-old fan of Motley Crue set his legs on fire while trying to imitate a stunt in the group's "Live Wire" video. He suffered burns over ten percent of his body. Motley Crue said the band's stunts should not be tried at home.
History Highlight:
1979, The Clash kicked off its first U.S. tour in New York. There's really no further reason needed to play some Clash, is there? We played "Janie Jones."
Today In Music History: A Faces Reunion
Posted at 6:29 AM on February 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper-actor Ice-T is 52.
Guitarist Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) is 49.
Drummer Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters is 38.
Rapper Lupe Fiasco is 28.
Today in:
1968 - John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives traveled to India to study transcendental meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Later, they were joined by Ringo Starr and his wife and Paul McCartney and his fiancee.
1974 - Elton John released "Bennie and the Jets."
1990 - Musician Ike Turner was sentenced to four years in prison on cocaine charges. He began serving his sentence the next day. Four years earlier, Turner had said he had been addicted to cocaine for 15 years.
2007 - Britney Spears shaved her head after a salon owner refused to do it for her.
History Highlight:
On this day in In 1993, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones and Bill Wyman (filling in for an ailing Ronnie Lane) participated in a Faces reunion at the Brit Awards in London. They played "Stay With Me" and "Sweet Little Rock & Roller." (Lane, who had long suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, died of pneumonia in 1997). We played a live version of "Stay With Me" this morning, from the Faces box set, Five Guys Walk Into a Bar.
Today In Music History: That's the Booze Talkin'
Posted at 5:59 AM on February 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors is 71.
Singer Michael McDonald is 58.
Singer Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips is 42.
Today in:
1974 - The soon-to-be world famous Bottom Line opened in New York City.
1990 - M.C. Hammer released Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, featuring the hit single, "U Can't Touch This."
1997 - U2 held a press conference on this day to announce their "Popmart" world tour dates at the Manhattan K Mart. The tour began April 25 in Las Vegas.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1956, Screamin' Jay Hawkins recorded "I Put A Spell On You" in New York City. Hawkins had originally intended to record the tune as love song, a blues ballad. However, after the producer "brought in ribs and chicken and got everybody drunk," Hawkins says, "we came out with this weird version. I don't even remember making the record. Before, I was just a normal blues singer. I was just Jay Hawkins. It all sort of just fell in place. I found out I could do more destroying a song and screaming it to death." (via Wikipedia)
Today In Music History: Come and Get It
Posted at 5:49 AM on February 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Songwriter Gerry Goffin (husband of and songwriting partner to Carole King; responsible for co-writing over 100 hit songs in the '60s including "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?," "The Loco-motion," "One Fine Day," Up On The Roof") is 71.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles recorded all of the tracks for their first album to be released in the U.K., "Please Please Me." John Lennon had a bad cold and belted out "Twist and Shout" in one take.
1972 - David Bowie unveiled his Ziggy Stardust alter-ego for the first time at a concert in Tollworth, England.
1986 - Boy George guest-starred on an episode of "The A-Team" as a singer mistakenly booked into a country dance hall.
1987 - In the wake of Liberace's death from AIDS, the London Daily Mirror asked if it could have back the $53,000 U.S. libel award the entertainer won from the paper more than 30 years earlier. The tabloid had called Liberace a "fruit-flavoured, mincing, ice-covered heap of mother love" in 1956.
History Highlight:
Forty years ago today in 1970, the Ringo Starr-Peter Sellers film The Magic Christian premiered in New York. The film's soundtrack album included the Badfinger song "Come and Get It," which was written by Paul McCartney. The Magic Christian itself became a minor cult classic, despite its almost too over-the-top absurdity - but the tune has enjoyed a much stronger life of its own ever since.
Today In Music History: Are You Ready Steve?
Posted at 6:10 AM on February 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Roberta Flack is 73.
Guitarist Don Wilson of The Ventures is 77.
Bassist Bob Spalding of The Ventures is 63.
Today in:
1975 - Record producer Phil Spector was injured in a car accident. Not much was known about what happened, except that it occurred somewhere between Los Angeles and Phoenix and that Spector was injured.
1993 - Michael Jackson revealed during a live TV interview with Oprah Winfrey that he has a disorder that destroys the pigmentation of his skin. He also insisted he'd had very little plastic surgery, contrary to what the public had thought.
1997 - Liam Gallagher of Oasis called off his wedding to actress Patsy Kensit because of what he called "obsessive and intrusive" media attention. They quietly got married the following April. They have since separated.
Tribute of the Day:
On this day in 1997, singer Brian Connolly of Sweet died of kidney failure in a hospital in southern England. He was 52. As a teenager, Connolly played in a number of local bands before eventually replacing singer Ian Gillan (later of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath fame) in a band called Wainwright's Gentlemen, which, after splitting up in 1968, morphed into a band called Sweetshop, which changed it's name to Sweet in 1970. Connolly fronted Sweet through eight succesful years and a number of hits, including, "Fox on the Run," "Little Willy," Blockbuster," and the song we played in our salute this morning, "Ballroom Blitz."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Joe Ely
Posted at 6:10 AM on February 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Carole King is 68.
Today in:
1964 - The Beatles made their American television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show before 73 million people-over one-third of the entire U.S. population (the largest television audience ever). George Harrison had a sore throat, but no matter. He was barely audible above the screaming fans in the audience.
1972 - Wings played its first show - unannounced and uninvited - for students during lunchtime at Nottingham University in England. The price of admission was 33 cents.
2000 - The Million Dollar Hotel, a film starring Mel Gibson and co-written by Bono, opened at the 50th Berlin Film Festival.
Birthday Highlight:
Joe Ely, Texas singer/songwriter and honky-tonk legend, one of the original purveyors of "outlaw country" in the '70s, is 63 today. Ely began with fellow West-Texans Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in The Flatlanders; Merle Haggard took him on a tour of England in 1979 where met Joe Strummer, and he later toured Europe with The Clash and played on their 1982 Combat Rock album. We wished Joe a happy birthday today with a spin of his tune, "Dallas."
Today In Music History: That's Really Super, SuperGroup
Posted at 6:30 AM on February 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Vince Neil of Motley Crue is 49.
Today in:
1964 - Max Firetag, who had published "Louie, Louie" as recorded by The Kingsmen for Wand Records, refuted Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh's assertion that the song was "pornographic." Firetag offered $1,000 to anyone who could detect anything objectionable in the song's lyrics. No one stepped up.
1973 - Carly Simon received a gold record for the single "You're So Vain."
1973 - Max Yasgur died of a heart attack. He was the owner of the Woodstock farm where the legendary festival was held. Joni Mitchell sang about him in her song "Woodstock."
1990 - Singer Del Shannon was found shot to death at his home in Santa Clarita, California. Police found a rifle near his body, suggesting he committed suicide. His biggest hits were "Runaway" and "Hats Off To Larry."
History Highlight:
On this day in 1969, Ex-Cream guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, and ex-Traffic keyboardist and singer Steve Winwood revealed that they were putting together a new band and auditioning for a bassist. They settled on ex-Family bassist/violinist Rick Grech, and, ladies and gentlemen, Blind Faith, the first rock supergroup, was born. We played their hit, "Can't Find My Way Home."
Today In Music History: Heart of Gold
Posted at 6:15 AM on February 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
- Al Kooper (Versatile musician, vocalist, keyboards, session man [was on some of Dylan's most famous recordings, including being the organ player on "Like a Rolling Stone"] is 76.
- Bassist Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N' Roses) is 46.
Today in:
1967 - "Pop Stars And Drugs--Facts That Will Shock You" was the headline in the British tabloid News Of The World. The lurid and not entirely true exposé reported on LSD parties put on by The Moody Blues, attended by Pete Townshend, Ginger Baker and others. The story went on to quote Mick Jagger as having taken acid, and claimed Jagger displayed Benzedrine tablets and a chunk of hashish while in the reporter's company. That afternoon, Jagger had his lawyers file a writ against the tabloid. It turned out that the reporter in question had overheard Brian Jones talking about drugs in a London disco and mistook him for Jagger. The suit started a feud between the tabloid and the band which led to a police raid on Keith Richards' home five days later.
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, Neil Young's "Heart Of Gold" was released from Harvest. It would be his biggest hit single to date. It's no "Pants on the Ground," but it's a pretty good song.
Today In Music History: One Billion Dollars? What?
Posted at 5:56 AM on February 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Florence LaRue of the Fifth Dimension is 66.
Alice Cooper is 62.
Today in:
1969 - In response to Lennon, Harrison and Starr acquiring the services of Allen Klein to represent them the previous day, Paul McCartney hired the law firm of Eastman & Eastman, Linda Eastman's father's law firm, as general legal counsel for Apple. It was the beginning of the end for The Beatles.
1970 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono, shorn of their locks, donated their hair for an auction to raise funds for the Black Power movement.
1983 - Singer Karen Carpenter died of cardiac arrest in Downey, Calif., at age 32. She had suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.
1996 - One-time Milli Vanilli guy Rob Pilatus had to be hospitalized when a man struck him over the head with a baseball bat in Hollywood. This was in retaliation for Pilatus reportedly attempting to steal the man's car.
History Highlight:
On Februrary 4th 2000, ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus revealed that the band had refused a $1 billion offer from a British and American consortium to regroup. One billion? Are you kidding? I guess their royalties from tunes like "Dancing Queen" must be pretty good.
Today In Music History: Lone Beatle
Posted at 6:07 AM on February 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks is 63.
Guitarist Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth is 54.
Today in:
1959 - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash in Iowa. Holly was 22, Valens was 17 and the Big Bopper was 28.
1967 - Jimi Hendrix recorded "Purple Haze" in London. It was released in March in the U.K. as a follow-up to his first British single "Hey Joe."
2003 - Authorities arrested producer Phil Spector at his mansion in suburban Los Angeles. The body of actress Lana Clarkson had been found in the foyer.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1968, Paul McCartney recorded "Lady Madonna" at Abbey Road studios. The record is credited to The Beatles, but McCartney played with unknown session musicians.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Graham Nash
Posted at 6:04 AM on February 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Ross Valory of Journey is 61.
Today in:
1959 - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper made what ended up being their last public appearances at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. They died in a plane crash the next day.
1973 - The NBC concert show "Midnight Special" made its debut, with Helen Reddy as the host.
1974 - Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer sustained minor cuts when a rigged piano exploded prematurely during a concert in San Francisco.
1979 - Former Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose at age 21. The death was ruled accidental.
1980 - In remembrance of the first anniversary of the death of Sid Vicious, some 1,000 punks marched from London's Chelsea section to Hyde Park. Vicious' mother, Ann Beverly, who was supposed to have led the procession, was unable to do so as the result of a drug overdose.
Birthday Highlight:
Graham Nash is 68 today. His harmonizing was an integral part of The Hollies in the '60s and later Crosby, Stills, Nash and [sometimes] Young from 1969 to the present day; he also made solo records and sometimes partnered with David Crosby. We enjoyed some of Nash's distinctive lead vocals with CSN this morning, "Pre-Road Downs" from Crosby Stills & Nash.
Today In Music History: Your "Ears Tingled"?
Posted at 6:11 AM on February 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Don Everly of The Everly Brothers is 73.
Singer Exene Cervenka of X is 54.
Today in:
1950 - RCA introduced the 45 RPM record player.
1978 - The Bob Dylan film "Renaldo and Clara" premiered in Los Angeles. It mainly was a documentary of Dylan's "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour.
2004 - Justin Timberlake ripped Janet Jackson's top during the Super Bowl halftime show and exposed her breast. During that same show, Kid Rock wrapped himself in a poncho made of an American flag.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, Indiana Governor Matthew E. Welsh determined somehow that the smash hit "Louie, Louie" by The Kingsmen was pornographic and requested that the Indiana Broadcasters Association ban the record. Although many stations rightfully claimed that it was impossible to exactly decipher the lyrics from "the unintelligible rendition as performed by The Kingsmen," Governor Welsh claimed that his "ears tingled" when he heard the song. Uh huh, we see.
Today In Music History: Tequila!
Posted at 6:06 AM on January 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Bettye LaVette is 64.
Drummer Tommy Ramone of The Ramones is 58.
Guitarist Jonny Lang is 29.
Today in:
1983 - The Australian band Men At Work went to the top spots on the U.S. and British album and singles charts simultaneously with Business As Usual and "Down Under." Rod Stewart was the last artist to accomplish this feat in 1971.
1996 - Garth Brooks refused his American Music Award for favorite overall artist. Brooks said Hootie and the Blowfish did more for music that year than he did.
History Highlight:
Today in 1958, Challenge Records released the single "Tequila" by The Champs. Like we need an excuse to play "Tequila" ... but hey, it is our fifth birthday party here at The Current tonight at First Ave, so here's a little pre-party celebration ...
Today In Music History: Still Standin' By Her Man
Posted at 6:14 AM on January 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan is 42.
Singer Joey Fatone of 'N Sync is 33.
Singer Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys is 30.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley made his first national TV appearance on "The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show" on CBS. After the appearance, sales of his "Heartbreak Hotel" single skyrocketed.
1965 - The Who appeared for the first time on the British program "Ready, Steady, Go." The band's performance helped put the single "I Can't Explain" into the British top ten.
1985 - A who's who of rock and pop musicians, such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, showed up at the A&M Studios in Hollywood, "checked their egos at the door," and taped the benefit single, "We Are The World."
History Highlight:
1992 - First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized to country singer Tammy Wynette, who was angry over comments Mrs. Clinton made on "60 Minutes." Mrs. Clinton had said "I'm not sitting here like some little woman standing by her man like Tammy Wynette." Her apology was aimed just as much, of course, at moderate and conservative voters who felt Clinton was disparaging the idea of traditional gender roles, but it had the side-effect of giving a classic country song a small resurgence in the spotlight. Whether you agree with the politics of Wynette's lyrics or not, you gotta admit: this is a song it's pretty hard not to sing along with.
Today In Music History: Instant Karma!
Posted at 6:13 AM on January 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Nick Mason of Pink Floyd is 65.
Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 49.
Singer Mike Patton (Faith No More) is 42.
Today in:
1971 - David Bowie arrived in the U.S. for the first time, but was not allowed to play anywhere due to work permit restrictions. However, he did manage to turn some heads when he wore a dress to a promotional event.
1984 - Michael Jackson was burned on his scalp during the filming of a Pepsi commercial that featured special effects. He was briefly hospitalized.
1991 - Whitney Houston sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. It was revealed later she actually sang over a pre-recorded version of the anthem.
1993 - Warner Brothers Records announced that it was releasing rapper Ice-T from his contract due to what it called "creative differences." The previous summer, the record company was in the middle of the controversy over Ice-T's song "Cop Killer."
History Highlight:
Today in 1970, John Lennon recorded "Instant Karma," his third solo single on Apple Records. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded (at London's Abbey Road Studios) the same day it was written, and coming out only ten days later. Lennon remarked to the press, he "wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we're putting it out for dinner."
Today In Music History: Miss Big Stuff
Posted at 6:07 AM on January 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lucinda Williams is 57.
Eddie Van Halen is 55.
Today in:
1956 - Buddy Holly made his first recordings for Decca Records. Two years later on this date, Holly and the Crickets appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show."
1962 - Bishop Burke of the Buffalo, New York, Catholic Diocese prohibited the dance of the devil, "The Twist." It couldn't be danced, sung about or listened to at any Catholic school, parish or youth event. Later in the year, "The Twist" was also banned from community center dances in Tampa, Florida, as well.
1977 - Guitarist Peter Green, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, was committed to a mental hospital in England. He had fired a gun at a delivery boy who was bringing a royalty check to him. Green had left the band in May 1970 to pursue a life of religious seclusion.
Birthday Highlight:
Singer Jean Knight is 67 today, born in 1943 in New Orleans. Her signature tune and biggest success came in the early '70s with the song "Mr. Big Stuff," although she did have another minor hit in 1985 with "My Toot Toot." Today she continues to tour, often along with artists such as Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor. This morning we played her monster hit, "Mr. Big Stuff."
Today In Music History: That New Car Smell
Posted at 6:05 AM on January 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jazz/blues singer Etta James is 62.
Today in:
1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival released "Proud Mary."
1971 - Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane had a daughter who they named God. Reconsidering the ramifications, they later renamed her China.
1980 - Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo jail where he cooled his heals for ten days after getting busted for trying to get nearly a half pound of weed past customs at the Tokyo airport.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1979, The Cars were named Best New Band Of The Year in Rolling Stone magazine's annual readers' poll. The award wasn't a surprise; Robert Palmer, music critic for Rolling Stone described The Cars' musical style by saying: "they have taken some important but disparate contemporary trends--punk minimalism, the labyrinthine synthesizer and guitar textures of art rock, the '50s rockabilly revival and the melodious terseness of power pop--and mixed them into a personal and appealing blend." Off of the Cars' debut album, we played "Bye Bye Love."
Today In Music History: Are You Ready, Boots?
Posted at 6:53 AM on January 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Steve Perry of Journey is 61. Eek!
Today in:
1959 - Buddy Holly made his last recordings in his N.Y.C. apartment, alone with an acoustic guitar and tape, he recorded "Peggy Sue Got Married," "Crying, Waiting, Hoping," "That's What They Say," "What to Do," "Learning the Game" and "That Makes it Tough." The recordings were embellished and overdubbed, released posthumously by Coral Records.
1967 - The Rolling Stones refused to go on the revolving stage during the finale of the British TV show "Sunday Night At The London Palladium." The press saw it as a snub against tradition.
1990 - Slash, the guitarist for Guns N' Roses, used a profanity while accepting American Music Awards for his band. Viewers complained to ABC, which had broadcast the show live. The network apologized.
History Highlight:
Today in 1966, Nancy Sinatra entered the Hot 100 for the second time with what would be her biggest hit," These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." The tune went to #1 the following week and would spend 14 weeks altogether on the singles chart.
Today In Music History: The Byrds Record Dylan
Posted at 5:57 AM on January 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Richie Havens is 69.
Singer Cat Power (Chan Marshall) is 38.
Today in:
1938 - Wolfman Jack (born Robert Weston Smith), popular '60s-era deejay, actor, and entertainer was born. He developed the "Wolfman" persona while howling behind funk and rock hits on high-powered California and Texas/Mexican border AM radio stations like XERF and XERB; immortalized in songs like "Clap For The Wolfman" by The Guess Who and "Wolfman Jack" by Todd Rundgren). He died on July 1, 1995.
1966 - George Harrison married model Patti Boyd. They had met during the filming of The Beatles' film "A Hard Day's Night."
1982 - Bluesman B.B. King donated his entire record collection - 7,000 records - to the University of Mississippi. The collection included rare records he played as a DJ in the 1940s.
1990 -The first MTV "Unplugged" special was aired, with Squeeze as the first performers.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1965, The Byrds recorded "Mr. Tambourine Man" in Los Angeles, produced by Doris Day's son Terry Melcher. It's one of a handful of Bob Dylan tunes that have gone on to be arguably bigger hits in their cover versions (Hendrix's cover of "All Along The Watchtower" also comes to mind).
Today In Music History: Man Bites Bat
Posted at 6:03 AM on January 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Paul Stanley of Kiss is 58.
Bassist Ian Hill of Judas Priest is 58.
Drummer ?uestlove of The Roots is 39.
Today in:
1958 - St. Louis radio station KWK completed a "record breaking week," with station management banning all rock n' roll music from the airwaves. The deejays gave every rock record in the station library a "farewell spin" before smashing it into smithereens. The station manager called the action "a simple weeding out of undesirable music." How'd that turn out?
1973 - Jerry Lee Lewis made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Opry officials allowed him to perform as long as he didn't use profanities and played only country music. By the end of the set, Lewis broke both agreements.
1988 - Beach Boy Mike Love hurled insults at Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger while the Beach Boys were being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1982, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat he thought was rubber while performing at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa (an incident Rolling Stone ranked as #2 in their list of "Rock's Weirdest Myths"). While the Rolling Stone article stated the bat was alive, the woman who threw it onto the stage said it was brought to the show dead. According to Osbourne himself in the booklet to the 2002 edition of Diary of a Madman, the bat was not only alive but also managed to bite Osbourne, resulting in him having to take rabies shots. Only Ozzy knows the true story, and he probably doesn't accurately remember anyway.
Today In Music History: The Original Blue Suede Shoes
Posted at 6:05 AM on January 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Dolly Parton is 64.
Today in:
1974 - A nine-mile traffic jam kept fans from attending performances by Bob Dylan and The Band in Miami. Many ticketholders didn't get in until the show was half over, prompting
a few demonstrations.
1976 - Promoter Bill Sargent offered The Beatles at least $30 million to reunite for a concert in the U.S. Sargent estimated that the reunion show could gross up to $300 million. They refused.
1977 - Aretha Franklin sang "God Bless America" at a special inaugural concert for President-elect Jimmy Carter, who took the oath of office the next day.
1993 - Fleetwood Mac reunited for the Inaugural Gala for President-elect Bill Clinton.
1993 - The Supreme Court refused to lower the amount that a judge awarded Tom Waits for unauthorized usage of a Waits sound-and look-alike in a Frito-Lay commercial. The chip company paid up to the tune of a cool $2.5 million.
History Highlight:
On January 19th 1998, Carl Perkins, a legendary pioneer of rockabilly, died in Nashville following a series of strokes. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Perkins' style influenced Elvis, The Beatles and many others. His original version of "Blue Suede Shoes" sold two million copies in 1956 before Presley struck gold with his version.
Today In Music History: Jimmy Page Plays With The Who, Uncredited
Posted at 6:00 AM on January 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) is 69.
Will Oldham (aka "Bonnie Prince Billy") is 40.
Today in:
1967 - The Rolling Stones appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" to sing "Let's Spend The Night Together." To satisfy censors, Mick Jagger sang "Let's spend some TIME together."
1971 - George Harrison released the single "My Sweet Lord," from All Things Must Pass.
1974 - Brownsville Station got a gold record for their only hit, "Smokin' in the Boys' Room."
1992 - Johnny Cash, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Isley Brothers were among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2002 - Adam Ant was confined in a mental ward 24 hours after being charged with pulling a gun on employees at a London pub.
History Highlight:
Today in 1965, "I Can't Explain," an early classic by The Who and their first single, was released in the U.K. In an interview with Creem Magazine, Jimmy Page claimed to have played rhythm guitar as a session guitarist. Pete Townshend has since confirmed this.
Today In Music History: Keeping the World Safe From Foo
Posted at 6:18 AM on January 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-producer T-Bone Burnett is 62.
LL Cool J is 42.
Singer-guitarist Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon is 28.
Today in:
1966 - Britaish musician David Jones legally changed his last name to Bowie to avoid confusion with The Monkees' Davy Jones. On this same day, Parlophone Records released the single "Can't Help Thinking About Me" by David Bowie And The Lower Third.
1967 -The first so-called "Human Be-In" was held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Among the performers were the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane.
1970 - Diana Ross performed for the last time with The Supremes, at a show in Las Vegas.
1970 - A display of John Lennon's erotic "Bag One" lithographs opened in London. Scotland Yard seized prints two days later as evidence of pornography.
Birthday Highlight:
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana is 41 today. Grohl was raised in the Washington, DC, area and moved to Seattle in late '80s, where he up with the late Kurt Cobain and Nirvana in 1990. He formed the Foo Fighters in 1995 and surprised a lot of people who weren't aware of his singing, songwriting and guitar playing skills. From Foo Fighters' 1995 debut, we played "Big Me."
Today In Music History: Outlaws of Love
Posted at 6:20 AM on January 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness is 49.
Today in:
1973 - Following a couple years plagued by heroin addiction, Eric Clapton made a triumphant return at London's Rainbow Theatre. Accompanied by an impressive all-star band including Pete Townshend, Steve Winwood and Ron Wood, he sold out two shows and began and ended each one with "Layla." After the concerts, Clapton revealed to a reporter, "I was very nervous, felt sick, the whole bit." Acknowledging the audience he added, "They don't know how much it helped me."
1979 - The Y.M.C.A., unimpressed and certainly not amused by the flamboyantly gay Village People's song "Y.M.C.A.," sued the group. The action was later dropped.
2003 - Musician Pete Townshend was arrested on suspicion of
possessing child pornography in London. Townshend was later cleared
of the charges.
History Highlight:
On Janurary 13th 1978, work began on the first album by Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland, known as The Police. The album would be titled Outlandos d'Amour. It contained the classic "Roxanne," plus the hit "Can't Stand Losing You." But since it contains a bunch of other excellent deep cuts as well, we played "Truth Hits Everybody."
Today In Music History: Honoring Maurice Gibb
Posted at 6:12 AM on January 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine is 40.
Today in:
1963 - Bob Dylan performed in a radio play for the BBC in London. The play was called "The Madhouse of Castle Street" and he played a folk singer.
1968 - The Supremes appeared in an episode of NBC's "Tarzan." They played a group of nuns.
1974 - "The Joker," by the Steve Miller Band, was the #1 single in the land.
2000 - Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne's wife, announced she was quitting as manager of Smashing Pumpkins. She issued a statement saying she had to resign "due to medical reasons -- Billy Corgan was making me sick."
History Highlight:
Today back in 2003, Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees died at a Miami hospital. He was 53. He had suffered a heart attack three days before prior to undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. We paid our respects to Maurice this morning with some classic brothers Gibb: "In My Own Time" is from Bee Gees 1st, dating from 1967. (It's a sound most listeners aren't quite as familiar with as their blockbuster disco sound from the 70s).
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Clarence Clemons
Posted at 7:15 AM on January 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Mary J. Blige is 39.
Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers is 39.
Today in:
1963 - The Whisky A-Go-Go club opened on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Doors are among the bands that got their start there.
1984 - Michael Jackson was nominated for a dozen Grammy Awards. At the time, his "Thriller" album was becoming the best-selling album of all time. Jackson went on to win eight Grammys.
1992 - Paul Simon became the first international star to perform in South Africa following the end of the United Nations cultural boycott. Simon opened a concert tour in Johannesburg.
The Rock n' Roll Police Blotter:
1993 - Singer Jesse James Dupree of the band Jackyl was arrested for mooning an audience in Cincinnati. The band was touring with Damn Yankees, who also had some trouble. Damn Yankees' guitarist Ted Nugent shot a flaming arrow, which was a violation of Cincinnati's fire code. Dupree was released on bond. Nugent paid a fine.
2000 - Gary Glitter was freed from prison after serving half of a four-month sentence for downloading pornographic pictures of children.
2000 - Authorities at an airport in Hawaii say they found a half-ounce of marijuana in Whitney Houston's bag. She caught herflight before she could be arrested.
Birthday Highlight:
Saxophonist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is 68 today, born January 11th, 1942 in Norfolk, Virgina. Couldn't let the morning pass without hearing one of those classic Clarence Clemons sax riffs; we chose "Badlands."
Today In Music History: Yoko Goes For A Twofer
Posted at 6:03 AM on January 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Shirley Bassey is 73.
Guitarist Robby Krieger of The Doors is 64.
David Bowie is 63.
Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith is 46.
Singer Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley is 34.
Today in:
1935 - Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Miss. He died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis in August of 1977.
1974 - Kiss signed its first recording contract, with Casablanca Records.
1979 - The Canadian government named Rush its official "Ambassadors of Music."
History Highlight:
On this day in 1973, Yoko Ono released Approximately Infinite Universe as a double album. She told the press, "I figured if George Harrison can put out a triple album, then I can put out a double album." So to commemorate this, we thought we'd play something from that George Harrison album (All Things Must Pass) - "What Is Life."
Today In Music History: Race Relations?
Posted at 6:08 AM on January 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keyboardist Paul Revere of Paul Revere and the Raiders is 72.
Singer Kenny Loggins is 62.
Bassist Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's is 51.
Today in:
1954 - Muddy Waters recorded "Hoochie Coochie Man" in Chicago.
1970 - Neighbors of New York land owner Max Yasgur sued him for $35,000 for property damage caused by people who attended the Woodstock festival. It's estimated more than 450,000 people attended the three-day event.
1994 - Nirvana played their last U.S. show, at the Seattle Arena.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1969, In an issue revolving around relations between blacks and whites, Look magazine ran an article called "Jimi Hendrix Socks It To The White House." It read in part, "Jimi is not so much an Experience as a menace to public health. Plugged in and zonked, he only has to step across the stage to turn on (the ladies') high-pitched passion." He was pictured lounging by a swimming pool surrounded by bikini-clad white women. Wow. Anybody got a copy of the January 1969 Look magazine we can laugh at? So we played Jimi playing a tune that no doubt got those white ladies all hot and bothered, "Fire."
Today In Music History: Birth of the Flying V
Posted at 6:10 AM on January 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist
Malcolm Young (rhythm guitarist for AC/DC and brother of Angus Young) is 57.
Singer Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) is 24.
Today in:
1957, Elvis Presley made his last appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show." He was on screen for more than 20 minutes, singing "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel," among other songs.
1964 - The Rolling Stones began their first British tour as a headliner. The Ronettes were the opening act.
1977 - EMI canceled its contract with the Sex Pistols, only three months after signing the band.
1993 - Bassist Bill Wyman confirmed he was quitting the Rolling Stones. He told a TV interviewer in England that he wanted to pursue other music and business projects.
History Highlight:
On January 6th 1968, Gibson Guitars patented their famed "Flying V" electric guitar design. The V has been a favorite of many guitarists over the years including Metallica's Kirk Hammett, bluesmen Albert King and Lonnie Mack, Marc Bolan of T. Rex, Bob Mould, and Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, who's playing we heard this morning in Cheap Trick's "Hello There."
Today In Music History: Shortest. Tour. Ever.
Posted at 6:08 AM on January 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Chris Stein of Blondie is 60.
Singer Marilyn Manson is 41.
Today in:
1965 - The Supremes recorded "Stop! In the Name Of Love."
1983 - Everything But The Girl made their concert debut as a duo at the Institute for Contemporary Arts in London.
1998 - Sonny Bono died when he slammed into a tree while skiing at a resort near the
Nevada-California border. He was 62.
2004 - Britney Spears' marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander was annulled. They had been married 55 hours.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1978, the Sex Pistols began its first tour of the U.S. Less than two weeks after the first show in Atlanta, the tour was over and the band had broken up. So howabout some Sex Pistols? We played "Holidays In the Sun."
Today In Music History: Stipe Hits the Big 5-0!
Posted at 6:55 AM on January 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Bernard Sumner of New Order (and Joy Division) is 54.
Alt-country singer Justin Townes Earle is 28.
Today in:
1953 - Thousands of people attended the funeral of country star Hank Williams in Montgomery, Ala. He had died of a heart attack a few days earlier.
1954 - Elvis Presley met Sam Phillips of Sun Records at the Memphis Recording Service. Phillips got Elvis' address and phone number to contact him later about a formal recording session.
1984 - Van Halen released their "1984" album.
1986 - Former Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott (LY'-naht) died in a London hospital of heart failure and pneumonia.
2004 - Singer Ray Davies of The Kinks was shot in the leg as he chased after a purse snatcher in New Orleans.
Highlight:
Celebrating the big 5-0 today: Michael Stipe of R.E.M., who was born on this date in 1960 in Decatur, Georgia. He's had long curly hair, he's had a monk's peak, he's been bald since the late 80's. He's been an outspoken political activist and advocate for gay rights issues. He's still got a great southern accent. He's also known for being a skinny fellow. Stipe claims, however, that during the recording of R.E.M.'s Fables of the Reconstruction album, his depression led to him "being fat." As he claims, "Marlon Brando fat." Really? We can't find any such proof of this online; if you've got some, post the link in comments. Anyway, we played "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" from Automatic For The People in honor of Mike's 50th birthday today.
Today In Music History: One Final Jam Kicked Out
Posted at 6:04 AM on December 31, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Andy Summers of The Police is 67.
Singer Donna Summer is 61.
Paul Westerberg is 50.
Today in:
1961 -The Beach Boys played their first gig in Long Beach, California. They earned $300.
1976 - The Cars played their first show at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
1984 - Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard lost his left arm in a car crash near his home in England.
2004 - Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson was arrested after he and his son got into a fight with police during a New Year's Eve celebration in Naples, Florida.
2005 - Dick Clark returned to his "New Year's Rockin' Eve" telecast after missing the previous year because he had had a stroke. He was hoarse and sometimes hard to understand, but he said he "wouldn't have missed this for the world."
History Highlight:
Today in 1972, The MC5 played their last gig, in Detroit. They were paid $200. Gotta mark the occasion with the MC5's most famous recording (despite the fact that we must edit it's famous intro). "Kick Out the Jams," live.
Today In Music History: A Couple o' Monkees
Posted at 6:11 AM on December 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Patti Smith is 63.
Musician/producer Jeff Lynne of ELO is 62.
Singer Jay Kay of Jamiroquai is 40.
1962 - Singer Brenda Lee was slightly injured when she tried to rescue her dog from her burning home in Nashville. The dog died of smoke inhalation.
1981 - XTC played their first American concert, in Philadelphia.
1999 - An intruder broke into George Harrison's home outside London and stabbed Harrison and his wife. Michael Abram was later found innocent by reason of insanity.
2002 - Singer Diana Ross was arrested for drunk driving in Tucson, Arizona.
Highlight:
There are two Monkees celebrating birthdays today: Davy Jones (the cute one) is 67, and Mike Nesmith (the tall one who ended up hating the fact that he'd been in the Monkees, and then went on to come up with the idea for MTV) is 67. So we had to play some Monkees this morning; a tune sung by Davy, "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Jim Reid
Posted at 6:28 AM on December 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Marianne Faithfull is 63.
Today in:
1974 - The #1 hit single in the US was "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" covered by Elton John.
1975 - Paul Kantner and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane divorced.
2006 - Burlesque artist Dita Von Teese filed for divorce from
singer Marilyn Manson, citing irreconcilable differences. They had
been married barely a year.
Highlight:
Guitarist-singer Jim Reid of the Jesus and Mary Chain is 48 today; born in 1961 in Glasgow, Scotland. He's also released solo material as well as with his side project Freeheat. Jim formed the Jesus and Mary Chain with his brother William in 1983, and they were active until 1999 (but reunited in 2007). We featured a tune from JAMC today: "Darklands."
Today In Music History: The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Posted at 6:40 AM on December 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Lemmy of Motorhead is 64.
Today in:
1965 - Rubber Soul, a Beatles album that was perceived by many as a more mature and serious work and a turning point in their career, went Gold after two weeks.
1972 - Nearby residents complained about the volume of a Manfred Mann's Earth Band concert in Miami, prompting the police to cut the show short and the fans to riot. During the melee, Mann and the band hid out in the dressing room.
History Highlight:
Today in 1961, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" became the first pop song of African origin to make it to #1 on the U.S. singles chart. Recorded by The Tokens, the American version was a translation of a South African folk song known alternately as "Mbube" and "Wimoweh."
Today In Music History: The Stones Get Trippy
Posted at 6:34 AM on December 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Adrian Belew (King Crimson, David Bowie, Talking Heads) is 60.
Singer Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is 45.
Today in:
1929 - Legendary trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker was born in Yale, Oklahoma. He died on May 3, 1988 in Amsterdam.
1964 - Performing "Little Saint Nick," "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Johnny B. Goode" and "Monster Mash," The Beach Boys made their first appearance on Shindig!.
1985 -Two fans of Judas Priest shot themselves after listening to the band's Stained Class album. Raymond Belknap died instantly and James Vance died in 1988 after lapsing into a coma. In 1990, a judge decided Judas Priest did not place subliminal messages on the album.
(On a lighter note), today's History Highlight:
On this day in 1967, the Rolling Stones album Their Satanic Majesties Request was released. It was criticized by some as being a poorly conceived attempt to top The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but others still admire it as a courageously weird experiment for the band. Either way, it did reach #3 on the British album chart. The one tune that did become a succesful single was "She's a Rainbow."
Today In Music History: Saint Joe
Posted at 6:02 AM on December 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick is 63.
Singer Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees is 60.
Today in:
1978 - Kenney Jones became the drummer for The Who, replacing Keith Moon, who died four months earlier.
1979 - The first of four "Concerts for the People of Kampuchea" was held in London. Performers included The Clash, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders and The Who.
1988, Morrissey performed for the first time as a solo act in England.
History Highlight:
Today in 2002, singer-guitarist Joe Strummer of The Clash died of sudden cardiac arrest at his home in southwest England. He was 50. Must fans around the world mourned the loss of one of the true forefathers of punk rock, and lamented all the music lost that Strummer might have continued to make. He had just begun a career renaissance with his new band The Mescaleros, and declared "I'm much more dangerous now," than he was in his younger days. In honor of Joe, we played his tune with the Mescaleros, "Burnin' Streets."
Today In Music History: The Weirdest Photo-Op In Music History
Posted at 6:09 AM on December 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Murph of Dinosaur Jr. is 45.
Today in:
1968 - Janis Joplin made her first appearance after leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company. She performed in Memphis at the second annual "Yuletide Thing" event sponsored by Stax-Volt Records.
1968 - Crosby, Stills and Nash performed together for the first time.
2005 - Elton John and his longtime partner, David Furnish, held a civil union ceremony in Windsor, England, the first day that same-sex partnerships became legal in Britain.
History Highlight:
It was on December 21st 1970 that Elvis, in his quest to become an honorary undercover agent for the DEA and do his bit for the never-ending war on drugs, was invited to the White House to offer his services to President Richard Nixon. Reportedly under the influence of heavy prescription barbiturates, the King gave the president a chrome-plated Colt .45 pistol (that's right: Elvis was packing heat as he walked into the White House). In exchange, Nixon gave Presley a Narcotics Bureau badge. A famous photo commemorating the occasion remains. Naturally, there's only one tune we could play for this occasion: "Jailhouse Rock."
Today In Music History: Joy Division In Paris
Posted at 7:30 AM on December 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Keith Richards is 66.
Guitarist Elliot Easton of The Cars is 56.
Christina Aguilera is 29.
Rapper DMX is 39.
Today in:
1968 - John and Yoko appeared (sort of) at "An Alchemical Wedding" at the Underground Club in London. They were both onstage but not visible, crawling along inside a large white bag. It was the beginning of what Yoko called "Baggism."
1974 - Kris Kristofferson received his second Gold record for "Me And Bobby McGee," the title track of a four year-old album. The song, of course, had become a million-seller for the late Janis Joplin.
1976 - The album Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller was released. Over two decades later, the U.S. postal service would use the record's title track in their TV commercial campaign.
2000 - British singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico. She was 41.
History Highlight:
1979 - Joy Division played what would be their only gig ever in Paris when they appeared at the Les Bains Club. Singer Ian Curtis committed suicide in May of 1980. Our tribute to Curtis and Joy Division this morning was the song "She's Lost Control."
Today In Music History: Near Wild Heaven
Posted at 6:06 AM on December 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, Queen) is 60.
Today in:
1977 - Elvis Costello and the Attractions performed on "Saturday Night Live" as a last-minute replacement for the Sex Pistols, who were denied U.S. visas. Costello was told not to play his song "Radio, Radio" because of its criticisms of the broadcasting industry, but he interrupted another song to play it.
1982 - The Who played the last show of its farewell tour at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. By the end of the decade, they had reunited for another tour.
1986 - A jury in Las Vegas found NBC guilty of defaming singer Wayne Newton by linking him to organized crime.
1999 - Keith Richards decided to keep a guitar from an autograph seeker at his birthday party at the Russian Tea Room in New York. The owner of the guitar shrugged it off with, "It's Keith, man."
Highlight:
Bassist Mike Mills of R.E.M. is 51 today, born in 1958 in Orange County, California. Though known primarily as a bassist, piano player and background singer, he also plays many other instruments including strings, winds and percussion, and he also contributes to much of the band's songwriting. He's sung lead vocals on "Texarkana," the cover of The Clique's "Superman," and the song we played today, "Near Wild Heaven."
Today In Music History: Hey Joe, This Is Going To Be The Definitive Version Of Your Song
Posted at 6:03 AM on December 16, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Benny Anderson of ABBA is 63.
Singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is 60.
Today in:
1970 - Five singles and five albums by Creedence Clearwater Revival were certified gold. The songs were "Travelin' Band," "Up Around the Bend," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Down on the Corner" and "Bad Moon Rising."
1974 - Mick Taylor revealed in a press release that he was departing The Rolling Stones after a five-year run, stating that "he felt it was the time to move on and do something new."
1975 - The Bay City Rollers got their first U.S. gold record for the song "Saturday Night."
History Highlight:
On this day in 1966, "Hey Joe," the first single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was released in Britain. The song was not released as a single in the U.S.
Today In Music History: What's Up With Grace's Tan? Oh, Wait.
Posted at 6:43 AM on December 15, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five is 67.
Bassist Paul Simonon of The Clash is 54.
Today in:
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band made its concert debut in London.
1977 - Members of the Sex Pistols were denied visas to enter the U.S., two days before they were to appear on Saturday Night Live. Their replacement was Elvis Costello and the Attractions.
1988 - James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison for leading police on a chase through two states.
History highlight:
Today in 1968, performing with Jefferson Airplane on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Grace Slick appeared in dark facial makeup and raised a black leather glove in the black power salute at the conclusion of "Crown Of Creation." It was one of the incidents that led to corporate axing the show the following season.
Today In Music History: The Head Waterboy
Posted at 6:30 AM on December 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Actress-singer Jane Birkin is 63.
Today in:
1968 - Iron Butterfly's epic dirge, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" went Gold. The 18-minute long, bass-riffing track was a classic back in the days of early progressive FM radio.
1972 - Alexander's department store in New York stayed open late so singer Alice Cooper could do his Christmas shopping.
1980 - Fans around the world paid tribute to John Lennon, six days after he was shot to death in New York City. Hundreds of silent vigils were held at 2 p.m. Eastern time for 10 minutes at the request of Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono.
1984 - Madonna had her first No. 1 hit when "Like a Virgin" hit the top of the Billboard singles chart.
Singer-guitarist Mike Scott of The Waterboys is 51 today. The Waterboys' commercial success peaked in the 1980s, but Scott has continued performing and recording solo and under the Waterboys monkier to this day, still garnering critical acclaim. This morning we played the title track from the Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues.
Today In Music History: We're Not Sorry For Brenda Lee
Posted at 6:01 AM on December 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Jermaine Jackson is 55.
Bassist Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is 51.
Rapper-actor Mos Def is 36.
Today in:
1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis secretly married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, in Hernando, Tennessee.
1964 - Singer Sam Cooke was shot and killed at a Los Angeles motel.
1971 - The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, released his 32nd album, Revolution Of The Mind. Its opening track had a title only J.B. could have concocted, "It's A Brand New Day So Open Up The Door And Let A Man Come In To Do The Popcorn."
1972 - Genesis performed its first U.S. concert, at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
2002 - Moby was assulted after a show at Boston's Paradise Club. He was attacked by three assailants with mace and beaten for reasons unknown.
History highlight:
Singer Brenda Lee is 65 today, born Brenda Mae Tarpley in 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. Lee had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, including "I'm Sorry" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." This morning we honor Brenda Lee by playing her hit, "Sweet Nothin's."
Today In Music History: Otis Redding Dies
Posted at 6:09 AM on December 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist-singer J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. is 44.
Drummer Meg White of The White Stripes is 35.
Today in:
1971 - Frank Zappa broke a leg and ankle and fractured his skull when he was pushed from a London stage by the jealous boyfriend of a Zappa fan. Zappa spent months in a wheelchair recovering.
1984 - The all-star group assembled by Bob Geldof, Band-Aid released "Do They Know It's Christmas?". The proceeds went to Ethiopian famine relief. Geldof would later receive knighthood back home in Britain for his efforts.
2007 - Led Zeppelin reunited for the first time in 30 years, for a tribute concert in London for Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun (AH'-met ER'-teh-gun).
History focus:
Today in 1967, Otis Redding and several members of his band died when their plane crashed into a lake near near Madison, Wisconsin. His biggest hit, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," was released just three days earlier. Otis Redding was 26.
Today In Music History: All By Myself
Posted at 6:30 AM on December 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Brian Bell of Weezer is 41.
Singer-guitarist Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers is 40.
Singer Imogen Heap is 32.
Today in:
1972 - The all-star orchestral stage version of The Who's Tommy had a one-night stand at London's Rainbow Theatre. According to most on the scene, the performers, including narrator Pete Townshend, appeared to be overly drunk and/or stoned. Of all the participating artists (including Peter Sellers and Richie Havens), only Roger Daltrey and Steve Winwood, in their respective roles as Tommy and Tommy's father, performed without embarrassing themselves. Still, the show was recorded and was released, making it to #5 on the album chart the following year.
1974 - George Harrison released his first solo album on his own newly formed label, Dark Horse. The record, named after the label, made it to #4.
1988 - A U.S. poll revealed that the #1 preferred background music for love-making by adults was by Neil Diamond. Beethoven came in second, while Luther Vandross made the #3 slot.
1992 - Bill Wyman, bass player with The Rolling Stones from their inception, resigned from the band. After 30 years, he had his fill of touring.
1984 - The Jacksons' "Victory Tour" ended in Los Angeles. It was the last time Michael Jackson toured with his brothers.
Drummer Tre Cool of Green Day is 37 today. That's as good a reason as any to play one of the couple of Green Day songs that Tre has lent his singing voice to over the years - the hidden track from Dookie, "All By Myself."
Today In Music History: We'll Never Get Over John
Posted at 7:33 AM on December 8, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers is 62.
Reggae singer Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) is 61.
Guitarist Phil Collen of Def Leppard is 52.
Singer Sinead O'Connor is 43.
Singer Ingrid Michaelson is 30.
Today in:
1961 - The Beach Boys' first single, "Surfin'," was
released.
1976 - The Eagles released their "Hotel California" album.
1984 - Motley Crue singer Vince Neil crashed a sports car on a California highway, killing his passenger, Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle Dingley.
1995 - The surviving members of the Grateful Dead announced they were breaking up, after Jerry Garcia's death the previous August.
Today in 1980, John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City
apartment building by an apparently deranged fan. He and wife Yoko
Ono were returning home from a recording session. He was 40.
Today In Music History: Brian Wilson Breaks Down, Emerges An Even Greater Genius On Other Side
Posted at 6:47 AM on December 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Brithdays:
Tom Waits is 60.
Today in:
1962 - Bassist Bill Wyman auditioned for the Rolling Stones. He played his first gig with the band the following week.
1967 - The Beatles opened their Apple Boutique in London to the public. John Lennon and George Harrison had held a private opening party two days before.
1967 - Otis Redding recorded "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay."
1991 - U2's Achtung Baby debuted at the top of the album charts.
History Highlight:
Today in 1964, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys had a nervous breakdown on a flight between Houston and Los Angeles. It eventually led to his decision to drop from touring with the Beach Boys. Wilson's resulting focus on songwriting and studio mastery, however, led to his creation of some of The Beach Boys' most acclaimed and innovative music - in particular, Pet Sounds, which came out in 1966. From Pet Sounds, we played "God Only Knows."
On This Day in Music History: Led Zeppelin Deflates
Posted at 7:42 AM on December 4, 2009
by Jill Riley
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
CHRIS HILLMAN (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers) is 65
DENNIS WILSON (The Beach Boys) was born on this day in 1944 in Inglewood, California. In a bitter irony, he drowned in the ocean in Marina del Rey, California, on December 28, 1983.
On this day in 1956, What would later be well-named "The Million Dollar Quartet," Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash got together for an impromptu jam on Gospel, Country, R&B, what-have-you, at the Sun studios in Memphis. Tape happened to be rolling, and the session was released by RCA as The Million Dollar Quartet in 1990.
In 1957, Urged on by reports that many radio stations across the country were banning Elvis's Christmas album because of his hip-swiveling, etc., DJ Allen Brooks of a Kingston, Ontario, radio station, played the disc and invited his listeners to call in with their opinions. Of the 800 who did, only 56 objected to Presley's interpretations of religious tunes.
In 1969, Oh, to have been a fly on the wall: President Nixon, Vice President Agnew and 40 U.S. governors gathered to try to determine the causes of the generation gap. They talked, watched films of simulated LSD freak-outs and listened to hours of anti-establishment hard rock music.
In 1993, Frank Zappa died at age 52 of prostate cancer. He led the satirical '60s/'70s group, The Mothers of Invention.
In 1997, the band Dinosaur Jr. broke up. They have since reformed.
In 2003, Courtney Love takes a break from rehab to go nightclubbing in Los Angeles. She's seen performing with local band Let's Go Sailing.
In 2005, Two people are shot and injured outside of a Lil' Flip concert at the Quest nightclub in downtown Minneapolis.
History Highlight:
On This day in1980, Led Zeppelin declare that they will not re-form following the death of drummer John Bonham, although Jimmy Page and Robert Plant later tour together in the '90s. Their statement reads, "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were."
On This Day in Music History: When Pigs Fly!
Posted at 4:58 AM on December 3, 2009
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
This day in music history for December 3rd.
Birthdays:
Mickey Thomas is 60 (Elvin Bishop Band and Jefferson Starship)
Ozzy Osbourne is 61.
On this day in 1965, While performing "The Last Time" in Sacramento, Calif., Keith Richards' guitar accidentally touches his microphone. The resulting electric shock knocks him unconscious. He recovers after seven minutes and the show goes on.
In 1966, NBC-TV broadcast the special, Elvis, sponsored by the Singer Sewing Machine Company. The King was making a comeback.
In 1971, the Montreux Casino in Switzerland burned down during a performance by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Deep Purple was the opening act and wrote about it in their song "Smoke on the Water."
In 1976, Bob Marley was injured after gunman randomly shot into his house in Kingston, Jamaica while he and the Wailers were rehearsing. Marley, his wife Rita, a friend and Wailer manager Don Taylor all suffered minor injuries. The shooters were never caught. Marley and the band performed two nights later.
In 1979, eleven people were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum, where the Who was performing. Dozens of others were injured.
In 1980, Annie Leibovitz photographs John Lennon and Yoko Ono at their Dakota apartment in New York.
In 1998, Coolio was found guilty of stealing clothes from a boutique in Stuttgart, Germany, and punching the boutique owner. He was fined $30,000 dollars.
In 2002, Bono and friends launched a "talking tour" through the heartland of America in Lincoln, Nebraska on World Aids Day. The two-week bus tour continued via Omaha, Iowa City, Dubuque, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Nashville, with formal and informal stops in smaller communities along the way.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1976, Pink Floyd released a 40-foot helium-filled pig at
Battersea Power Station in England so they could photograph it for
their "Animals" album cover. The pig broke loose, and authorities
had to alert pilots to watch for a flying pig. We pay tribute to the day that pigs flew with Pink Floyd "Pigs on the Wing Part 1."
On This Day in Music History: The Clap Campaign
Posted at 8:04 AM on December 2, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
In 1972, Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" was released. Mick Jagger, rumored to be the subject of the tune, sang back-up vocal. Later, word leaked out that the song was about actor Warren Beatty.
In 1973, The Who spent the night in jail in Montreal after causing $6,000 worth of damage to a hotel room. The incident
inspired John Entwistle to write "Cell Block Number Seven."
Also in 1973, mail-in ticket requests for a Bob Dylan U.S. tour went
on sale. At one San Francisco post office, there was a five
block-long traffic jam.
In 1974, While touring with George Harrison as the opening act, Ravi Shankar (Norah Jones' father) was hospitalized in Chicago after suffering from chest pains. He recovered and rejoined the tour a week later in Boston.
In 1983, MTV first aired Michael Jackson's 14-minute
"Thriller" video.
In 1986, Jerry Lee Lewis checked into the Betty Ford Clinic to
overcome an addition to painkillers.
In 1995, The Guinness Book of World Records confirms that Ace of Base's The Sign is the best-selling debut of all time, with 19 million copies sold.
In 2000, The Smashing Pumpkins played their last concert with the
original lineup, at a club in Chicago. It was the same club where
they had played their first show 13 years earlier.
History Hightlight:
In 1970, Eric Burdon launched his "Curb The Clap" bumpersticker campaign designed to battle what he called the "number one sickness in the record business today, V.D". Thanks for doing your part Eric... We played Eric Burdon and War "Spill The Wine."
This Day in Music History: The Sex Pistols are Bad Boys
Posted at 7:37 AM on December 1, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult is 65.
Drummer John Densmore of The Doors is 65.
Lou Rawls (Soul/jazz/pop hit crooner who once worked with Sam Cooke) is 73.
On this day in 1957, Buddy Holly and Sam Cooke made their national TV debuts on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1960, Paul McCartney and Pete Best were deported from West
Germany on suspicion of arson after their hotel room mysteriously
caught fire.
In 1969, Chicago blues man, "Magic" Sam Maghett, best known for his recording of "High Heel Sneakers," died of a heart attack at age 32.
In 1978, Ian Dury scored his biggest hit with "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick." Not a huge hit in the U.S., it made it to #1 in the U.K. and sold 2 million copies worldwide.
In 1980, The newly expanded nine-piece Talking Heads played London's Hammersmith Palais. A very promising Irish band that would go on to great things opened, a group called U2.
In 1982, What turned out to be the biggest-selling pop album of all time at 40 million units, Michael Jackson' Thriller hit the streets.
In 1986, singer Lee Dorsey died in New Orleans of complications
from emphysema. He's known for the hits "Ya-Ya" and "Working In
The Coal Mine."
In 1987, A Kentucky school teacher lost her appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court after having been fired for screening Pink Floyd's The Wall for her class. The court decided, due to bad language and sexual content, that the film was unsuitable for minors.
History Highlight:
In 1979, The Sex Pistols, who had just released their first single, "Anarchy In The U.K.,'" appeared as a last minute replacement for the Queen of England on a popular Brit TV morning "chat" show. Interviewer Bill Grundy taunted them about their "nasty reputation," compelling bassist Glen Matlock to utter a few vulgarities. In the ensuing uproar, the Pistols were banned from nearly every venue that had booked them for their first tour.
On This Day in Music History: Who turns down being in Led Zeppelin?
Posted at 7:30 AM on November 30, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Dick Clark is 80
Singer Rob Grill of the Grass Roots is 66
Bassist Roger Glover of Deep Purple is 64
Guitarist Shuggie Otis is 56
Billy Idol is 54
Guitarist John Ashton of Psychedelic Furs is 52
On this day in 1965, the state of Colorado declared "Rolling
Stones Day," in honor of the Stones concert in Denver. They were even given a key to the city.
In 1969, Sponsor AT&T reneged on backing Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special when they learned that footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral and the Viet Nam was going to be shown.
In 1972, Despite being banned by the BBC for containing "unsuitable lyrics," 'Hi, Hi, Hi" by Paul McCartney & Wings made it to #5 in the U.K. and was Top Ten eventually in the U.S.
In 1977, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas aired. That special is remembered for Bing Crosby and David Bowie's performance of "Peace on Earth" and "The Little Drummer Boy."
In 1980, Elvis Costello and Squeeze played a benefit show for the family of the late Welsh boxer Johnny Owen. He had died from injuries sustained in the ring at an American match.
In 1999, Officials from the Boy Scouts of America were not amused when Elton John appeared on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall performing "It's A Sin" as six male dancers dressed up as Cub Scouts pranced around him, peeling off their uniforms.
History Highlight:
TERRY REID was born in 1949 in England. He's best known for turning down Jimmy Page's offer to join Led Zeppelin as lead singer. He did all right for himself though. Reid made a number of acclaimed solo albums. We celebrated his 60th birthday with "Stay With Me Baby."
On This Day in Music History: Happy Birthday Mr. Lanegan
Posted at 7:49 AM on November 25, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Percy Sledge is 69
Tim Armstrong of Rancid is 44.
In 1961, Don and Phil Everly were sworn in to the U.S. Marine
Corps Reserves in Nashville and later reported to Camp Pendleton in
San Diego.
In 1968, The Beatles' "White Album" was released.
In 1976, The Band gave its final performance in San Francisco.
The concert was documented in the movie "The Last Waltz."
In 1969, John Lennon returned his MBE medal to the Queen to
protest Britain's support for U.S. involvement to Vietnam, among
other things. The other three Beatles kept their medals, which they
received in 1965.
In 1984, the Ethiopian famine relief song "Do They Know It's
Christmas" by Band Aid was recorded in London. The session was
organized by singer Bob Geldof.
In 1985, Bobby Brown announced he was leaving the group New
Edition for a solo career.
Mark Lanegan of Queens of the Stone Age and Screaming Trees is 45. We salute him this morning with a one of the biggest hits from his days in Screaming Trees with "Nearly Lost You."
Today In Music History: One Of Our Best Friends
Posted at 6:12 AM on November 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Former Beatles drummer Pete Best is 68.
Bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. and the MG's is 68.
Record producer Terry Lewis is 53.
Today in:
1966 - The Beatles began recording sessions for their next album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." However, the song they recorded on this date, "Strawberry Fields Forever," did not make it onto that album.
1972 - ABC premiered the late night rock show "In Concert," which was produced by Don Kirshner. Guests on the first show included Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Poco and Seals and Crofts.
2005 - Creed singer Scott Stapp and members of the band 311 got into a fight at a hotel bar in Baltimore.
2007 - Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea lost his multi-million dollar house in a wildfire that swept through Malibu. 53 other properties were destroyed by the blaze. Flea told the Los Angeles Times the $4.8 million property was "burnt to a crisp". Around the world, lovers of fine bass guitars wept.
History Highlight:
Today in 1991, Freddie Mercury died of complications from AIDS at his home in London at age 45, just two days after he publicly admitted he was HIV positive. Mercury was openly bisexual and enjoyed a colourful rock star lifestyle. During his career with Queen he scored many Top 40 singles including the worldwide No.1 "Bohemian Rhapsody". This morning we honored Freddie with Queen's "You're My Best Friend."
Today In Music History: A Salute To Roy Acuff
Posted at 7:13 AM on November 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - The BBC banned the Rolling Stones from its airwaves after the band arrived late for two radio shows.
1976 - Ten hours after his last arrest, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested again after brandishing a Derringer pistol outside Elvis Presley's Graceland's home in Memphis, demanding to see the 'King'. When police arrived they found Lewis sat in his car with the loaded Derringer pistol resting on his knee.
1979 - Keith Richard's girlfriend Anita Pallenburg was cleared by a court of shooting a man found dead at her home.
2008 - Guns N' Roses released their long-awaited album, "Chinese Democracy."
History highlight:
Today in 1992, American country music singer Roy Acuff died aged 89. Known as the "King of Country Music," he was the first living artist elected to the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Acuff started his career in 1932 working for Dr. Hauer's Medicine Show, hired as one of its entertainers to draw a crowd to whom Hauer could sell medicines. In 1942, Acuff co-founded with Floyd Rose the first major Nashville-based country music publishing company, Acuff-Rose Music, which signed acts such as Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, and The Everly Brothers. Acuff is often credited with moving the genre of country music from its early string band format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful. From Roy Acuff and his Smokey Mountain Folks, we played "Wabash Cannonball."
Today In Music History: He Wrote The Religious Song That Wasn't
Posted at 6:05 AM on November 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer/guitarist Joe Walsh is 62.
Rapper Mike D of the Beastie Boys is 44.
Bassist Jared Followill of Kings of Leon is 23.
Today in:
1970 - Kinks singer Ray Davies re-recorded one word for the single "Apeman." The song contained the word "foggin'," which sounded too much like an expletive.
1973 - Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed twice during a concert in San Francisco, apparently because of jet lag. Guitarist Pete Townshend asked for a volunteer from the audience to finish the set -- and got one.
1990 - The two performers known as Milli Vanilli held a press conference to discuss the lip-synching scandal that cost them their Grammy. Rob Pilatus (pih-LAY'-tuhs) told kids to get a good lawyer if they want to get into show business.
1994 - Musician David Crosby got a liver transplant.
Today's highlight:
Singer Norman Greenbaum is 67 today; his big hit, released in 1969 was "Spirit In The Sky." He was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said, "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes." "Spirit in the Sky" contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus. However, Greenbaum, who is Jewish, stated that he had no particular religious intentions with the song.
Today In Music History: The Original Blue Suede Shoes
Posted at 6:07 AM on November 19, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses, The Cult and Velvet Revolver is 49.
Today in:
1964 - The Beefeaters changed their name to The Byrds.
1968 - Diana Ross interrupted a set by The Supremes at the Royal Command Variety Performance in London to make a plea for racial harmony. The audience applauded for two minutes.
1990 - Pop duo Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy because other singers had lent their voices to the "Girl You Know It's True" album.
2002 - Michael Jackson dangled his baby son over a fourth-floor balcony at a hotel in Berlin for fans waiting outside.
History highlight:
Today in 1955, Carl Perkins recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" at Sun Studios in Memphis. The rock 'n' roll classic became a US No.2 & UK No.10 hit for Perkins in 1956, and has been covered by many acts including Elvis Presley and John Lennon. A lot of people associate the tune with Elvis in fact, but we played the original this morning.
Today In Music History: The Needle And The Damage Done
Posted at 6:44 AM on November 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica is 47.
Singer Tim DeLaughter (dee-LAW'-ter) of Polyphonic Spree (and Tripping Daisy) is 44.
Today in:
1970 - Jerry Lee Lewis and his cousin Myra Gale Brown were divorced in Memphis. She had described their recent years together as a nightmare.
1987 - The band U2 opened for itself as a country-rock group called the Dalton Brothers during a Los Angeles concert.
1993 - Nirvana recorded their MTV unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York.
1997 - Police arrested singer Gary Glitter and questioned him about child pornography allegedly found on his computer. He later pleaded guilty to 54 charges of making indecent computer images of children. All together now: "ick."
History highlight:
Today in 1972, Danny Whitten, member of Neil Young's Crazy Horse, died of a drug overdose aged 29. Whitten wrote "I Don't Wanna Talk About It", covered by Rod Stewart, Rita Coolidge and Everything But The Girl. He led a tragic short life, but he was immortalized in song, as Neil Young wrote his classic tune "The Needle and the Damage Done" about Whitten (before he died of an overdose).
Today In Music History: Jeff Buckley Is Born
Posted at 6:23 AM on November 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Gerry McGee of The Ventures is 72.
Singer Gordon Lightfoot is 71.
Guitarist Isaac Hanson of Hanson is 29.
Today in:
1963 - John Weightman, the Headmaster of a Surrey Grammar School in England, banned all pupils from having Beatle haircuts saying, "this ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically. It makes them look like morons."
1968 - Glen Campbell received gold records for the singles "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Gentle On My Mind."
1990 - David Crosby broke his left leg, ankle and shoulder in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. Police said he was speeding and was not wearing a helmet.
History highlight:
Singer songwriter Jeff Buckley was born on this day in 1966; he would have been 43 today. The son of singer songwriter father Tim Buckley, he released one completed studio album before his death by drowning in 1997: 1994's Grace. While it initially had poor sales (peaking at #149 in the U.S.), it received wide critical acclaim and has now sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Grace contains gems like "Last Goodbye" and Buckley's extremely beloved cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (considered by some to be the definitive version of the song). We played a less-often-heard album cut: "So Real."
Today In Music History: Whatever Gets You Through The Night
Posted at 6:20 AM on November 16, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley's film debut, "Love Me Tender," opened in New York.
1960 - Patsy Cline recorded the song "I Fall To Pieces" in Nashville. She also recorded the songs "Shoes" and "Lovin' In Vain" during that same session.
1968 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience went to No.1 on the US album chart with "Electric Ladyland". The double album included "Crosstown Traffic," "Voodoo Chile" and "All Along the Watchtower" and featured guest appearances by Dave Mason, Steve Winwood and Al Kooper.
1973 - David Bowie's first TV special, "1980 Floor Show" aired on NBC.
History highlight:
Today in 1974, John Lennon was at No.1 in the US singles chart with "Whatever Gets You Through The Night." Elton John played on the session and made a deal with Lennon that if the song reached No.1, Lennon would have to appear on stage live with Elton. Lennon kept his side of the deal and appeared live with Elton. They played three songs together: "I Saw Her Standing There," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." Backstage after the concert, Lennon got back with Yoko Ono after a temporary split.
Today In Music History: They Still Had Each Other, Babe
Posted at 6:09 AM on November 13, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1974 - An impostor posing as Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore borrowed a Porsche and crashed it in Iowa City. He eventually was charged with misrepresentation.
1976 - Rod Stewart started an 8 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Tonight's The Night". It was Rod's second US No.1; it made No.5 in the UK after being banned by many radio stations due to song being about the seduction of a virgin.
1992 - Elton John performed in Mexico for the first time. An estimated 90,000 people attended the concert at a stadium in Mexico City.
History highlight:
Today in 1987, Sonny and Cher reunited for a performance on Late Night with David Letterman, where they sang "I Got You Babe." The couple's divorce in the mid '70s had initially been bitter, but a reconcilation followed and the two became friends again some time after that. How can we pass up an opportunity to play this song, anyway?
Today In Music History: Booker T. is 65
Posted at 6:02 AM on November 12, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Neil Young is 64.
Today in:
1970 - Singer Jim Morrison performed with The Doors for the last time during a concert in New Orleans. Morrison died in July 1971.
1980 - Bruce Springsteen earned his first number-one album, with "The River."
1984 - Madonna released her "Like A Virgin" album.
1987 - Sly Stone showed up over an hour late to his comeback concert in Los Angeles. When he got there, he was arrested for nonpayment of child support.
History highlight:
Organist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG's is 65 today. Jones has worked in the studios with some of the highest regarded artists of our time, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement, but it's his work fronting his band the MG's (including the likes of guitarist Steve Cropper and bassist Duck Dunn) that earned him his greatest fame, playing organ on such tracks as the hugely succesful "Green Onions" and our track today, "Mo' Onions."
Today In Music History: The Duke Of Stratosphear
Posted at 6:13 AM on November 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1958 - Hank Ballard and The Midnighters recorded the original version of "The Twist." It became a number-one hit in 1960 after Chubby Checker recorded it.
1965 - The Velvet Underground made their concert debut at a high school dance in Summit, New Jersey.
1969 - Doors lead singer Jim Morrison was arrested for public drunkenness and for interfering with the flight of an aircraft. Morrison allegedly had annoyed a flight attendant on a trip from Los Angeles to Phoenix. The charges eventually were dropped.
History highlight:
Andy Partridge of XTC is 56 today. Partridge founded XTC in the late '70s as a hyperactive mix of punk, ska, new wave and pop, and the band enjoyed significant commercial success until he suffered an onstage nervous breakdown in Paris in 1982. Revealing that he suffered from a severe strain of stage fright, XTC thereafter became a studio-only band, but went on to produce some of the most critically acclaimed records of the '80s, including their Todd Rundgren-produced Skylarking, widely considered their masterpiece. We played the song Partridge may forever be known for more than any other: "Dear God."
Today In Music History: Remember When Elton Rocked?
Posted at 6:40 AM on November 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 62.
Today in:
1976 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers began their first major tour, opening for Kiss.
1984 - Singer Chaka Khan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Feel For You.' Written by Prince, the song featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica and the Rap was by Grandmaster Melle Mel. The repetition of Khan's name by rapper Melle Mel at the beginning of the song was originally a mistake made by producer Arif Mardin, who then decided to keep it.
1992 - A judge found Axl Rose guilty of assault and property damage in connection with a riot at a 1991 Guns N' Roses concert near St. Louis. Rose's sentence was suspended and he was put on probation. Rose also was ordered to pay $10,000 each to five
charities.
History highlight:
Today in 1973, Elton John started a eight week run at No.1 on the Billboard album chart with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, his third No.1 album. A double LP that was John's most ambitious and sprawling work to date, it contained such hits as "Bennie and the Jets," "Candle In The Wind" and the soft-rock smash title track, as well as what was likely John's one and only true rocker: "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting." It's a testament to the power of the original version that even though others have covered the song (such as The Who on the Elton John tribute record Two Rooms), the Elton original still rocks the hardest.
Today In Music History: See Ya, Dave
Posted at 6:08 AM on November 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Rapper Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa is 40.
Lots of Beatles stuff today:
1953 - Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He soon became the band's manager.
1966 - Paul McCartney supposedly was killed in a car crash, according to the "Paul is Dead" hoax that circulated in 1969.
1967 - Rolling Stone magazine began publication, with John Lennon on the first cover.
And a non-Beatles item: Today in 1967, Roger McGuinn expelled David Crosby from The Byrds. McGuinn and Chris Hillman had become aggrivated by what they saw as Crosby's growing egotism and his attempts to control the band, not to mention his drug use and lengthy tirades onstage at such gigs as the Monterey Pop Festival (where he droned on about everything from the JFK assassination to the benefits of giving LSD to "every man, woman and child" in the country). Finally, his insistence that his song "Triad" (about the joys of a menage a trois) be included on an album proved too much for the others. "Eight Miles High" felt like an appropriate choice today given the widespread suspicion that it was a drug song ( it's not - McGuinn wrote it about a plane ride).
Today In Music History: What Would You Say If I Sang Out Of Tune?
Posted at 6:08 AM on November 6, 2009
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Glenn Frey of The Eagles is 61.
Corey Glover of Living Colour is 45.
Today in:
1967 - During a three hour session Bob Dylan recorded "All Along The Watchtower" and "John Wesley Harding" at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
1970 - Aerosmith performed their first ever gig when they played at Nipmuc Regional High School in Mendon, Massachusetts.
1973 - Singer Gram Parsons' manager, Phil Kaufman, was fined $300 for stealing Parsons' body from the Los Angeles International Airport. The body was cremated instead of being taken to Parsons' funeral. Kaufman claimed that it was Parsons' wish to be cremated.
1975 - The Sex Pistols played their first concert, at a London art school dance. Ten minutes into it, the school social programmer unplugged their amps.
Music history highlight:
Today in 1968, Joe Cocker was at No.1 in the UK singles chart with his version of The Beatles song "With A Little Help From My Friends". Cocker's rendition of this song became one of his signature tunes (not to mention a target for easy parody by the likes of John Belushi in his awesome Joe Cocker impersonation).
Today In Music History: Saluting The Grievous Angel
Posted at 6:12 AM on November 5, 2009
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Art Garfunkel is 68.
Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits is 62.
Bryan Adams is 50.
Guitarist Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead is 38.
Ryan Adams is 35.
Today in:
1956 - "The Nat King Cole Show" debuted on NBC-TV. The Cole program was the first of its kind hosted by an African-American.
1966 - The Monkees went to No.1 on US singles chart with "Last Train To Clarksville", the group's first No.1. They revealed during a press conference that no members of the group had played on the record.
1971 - Elvis Presley kicked off a 15-date North American tour at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Minneapolis. Announcer Al Dvorin uttered the well known phrase: "Elvis has left the building" at the end of the show. He was asked to make the announcement in an effort to quiet the fans who continued to call for an encore.
1995 - Producer Butch Vig's new band Garbage made their US live debut when they played at The 7th Street Entry.
Today's history highlight:
Singer songwriter Gram Parsons was born on this day in 1946. Parsons was a Member of The International Submarine Band, The Byrds, and The Flying Burrito Brothers, and had his own influential, if short-lived, solo career, with two studio albums to his credit: "G.P." and "Return Of The Greivous Angel." He died on 19th September 1973 from a heroin overdose at age 26. Since his death, his music has been credited with inspiring the genres of country rock and alt-country. This morning we honored him by playing "Return of the Greivous Angel."
Today In Music History: Jackie Wilson Debuts
Posted at 6:35 AM on November 4, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Chris Difford of Squeeze is 55.
Rapper-producer Diddy (Sean Combs) is 40.
Today in:
1963 - The Beatles performed for the Queen Mother in London. This is when John Lennon commented that people in the cheap seats could clap and the rest could rattle their jewelry.
1976 - A Bruce Springsteen concert in New York was interrupted by a bomb threat. Springsteen joked that the threat could have come from his former manager, with whom he was involved in a legal battle.
1978 - The band Boston played the city of Boston for the first time, in a sold-out show.
1984 - Prince launched his Purple Rain tour in (wait for it) Detroit.
1986 - Country singer Tammy Wynette checked in to the Betty Ford Clinic for addiction to painkillers.
Today's history highlight: On this day in 1957, Jackie Wilson made his US chart debut with "Reet Petite", (it made No.1 in the UK in 1986, 29 years after its first release).
Today In Music History: Great Balls of Fire!
Posted at 6:20 AM on November 3, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Adam Ant (Stuart Goddard) is 55.
Today in:
1961 - Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and Fred Rose became the first people to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1977 - Elton John announced at a London performance that he was retiring from concerts. However, he started performing again in 1979.
1990 - "Ice Ice Baby", by Vanilla Ice became the first rap record to top the US singles chart, it was also a UK No.1 single. The track was initially released as the B-side to the rapper's cover of "Play That Funky Music", and became the A-side after US DJ's started playing the track.
2002 - Eminem started a 12 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Lose Yourself."
Today's music history highlight: It was today in 1957 that Sun Records released "Great Balls Of Fire", by Jerry Lee Lewis. The single went on to sell over five million copies worldwide, a No.1 in the UK & No.2 in the US.
Today In Music History: Happy B-Day Chris Walla
Posted at 6:12 AM on November 2, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays;
Keyboardist Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 65.
Singer k.d. lang is 48.
Bassist Bobby Dall of Poison is 46.
Today in:
1963 - Dion walked out of a live taping of the British TV program "Ready, Steady, Go," claiming that he was distracted by the go-go dancers.
1963 - The single "Be True to Your School" by the Beach Boys was released.
1979 - The movie version of the Who's Quadrophenia opened.
1985 - The TV soundtrack from Miami Vice went to No.1 on the US album chart. It spent a total of 11 weeks at No.1.
Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie is 34 today. In addition to his work with Death Cab (both performing in the band and producing as well), Walla has earned a reputation as an acclaimed producer for other artists, including The Postal Service, The Long Winters, Teagan and Sara, Hot Hot Heat, and even The Decemberists' The Crane Wife. Today we honor Chris with a track from his solo record Field Manual, "Sing Again."
Today In Music History: When Grace Was Ten Feet Tall
Posted at 6:09 AM on October 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1964 - Roy Orbison was awarded a gold record for "Oh, Pretty Woman."
1967 - Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones pleaded guilty to drug possession and was sentenced to nine months in jail. He was released pending an appeal.
1970 - Jim Morrison of The Doors was sentenced to six months in jail and fined $500 for exposing himself in Miami.
1978 - The animated TV movie "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park" aired on NBC.
2002 - Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot and killed at his recording studio in New York. He was 37.
Singer Grace Slick is 70 today.
DONNA E. NATALE PLANAS/MIAMI HERALD
Born Grace Barnett Wing on October 30, 1939, Slick was an important figure in the 1960s psychedelic rock genre as one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and also as a solo artist for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. Known for her powerful, throaty voice heard in such Jefferson Airplane classics like "White Rabbit," we honored Grace with a track from the Airplane's 1967 Monterey Pop Festival appearance, "Somebody To Love."
Today In Music History: It's A Filthy Business (But I Like It?)
Posted at 6:05 AM on October 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues) is 65.
Today in:
1964 - The "T.A.M.I. Show" (for Teenage Awards Music International) was filmed in Santa Monica, California. It featured performances by the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Lesley Gore, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Rolling Stones and The Supremes.
1970 - Neil Diamond received a gold record for "Cracklin' Rosie."
1983 - Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" became the longest-running album on the "Billboard" music charts, with a total of 491 weeks. That record has since been broken.
On this day in 1996, Manchester band The Stone Roses split up. Singer Ian Brown said "having spent the last ten years in the filthiest business in the universe, it's a pleasure to announce the end of The Stone Roses." The Stone Roses led a highly celebrated, if short, career - with their debut album at one point chosen as the greatest album in British history by the readers of NME. From that album, we played "She Bangs The Drums."
Today In Music History: Ben Harper is The Big 4-0
Posted at 6:08 AM on October 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Country musician Charlie Daniels is 73.
Singer-guitarist William Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain is 51.
Today in:
1956 - Elvis Presley made his second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." He sang several songs, including "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog." Contrary to popular myth, the cameras shot his entire body - not just from the waist up.
1977 - The Sex Pistols released their album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols in the U.S. It was released in the U.K. four days later.
1977 - Steve Perry joined Journey for their first public concert together, in San Francisco.
1997 - R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry announced that he was leaving the group after 17 years, becoming a farmer.
Singer Ben Harper is the big 4-0 today, born in 1969 in Claremont, California. A tip-of-the-hat to Ben this morning, as we played "In The Colors."
Today In Music History: The Vice Squad? Are You Kidding?
Posted at 6:05 AM on October 27, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist K.K. Downing of Judas Priest is 58.
Singer Simon LeBon of Duran Duran is 51.
Singer Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver is 42.
Today in:
1960 - Ben E. King recorded "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand By Me" during his first solo recording session for Atlantic Records.
1964 - The single "Come See About Me" by The Supremes was released.
1975 - Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of both "Newsweek" and "Time."
1988 - U2's film Rattle And Hum, received its world wide premiere in the group's hometown Dublin.
Today in 1957, after a show at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, local police told Elvis Presley that he was not allowed to wiggle his hips onstage. The local press also ran headlines saying Elvis would have to clean up his act. The next night, the Los Angeles Vice Squad (!) filmed his entire concert, to study his performance. We honored Elvis's hips with "Hound Dog" this morning.
Today In Music History: Why Can't We Give Love One More Chance?
Posted at 6:16 AM on October 26, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bassist Bootsy Collins is 58.
Guitarist Keith Strickland of The B-52's is 56.
Today in:
1965 - The Beatles were made Members of the British Empire by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
1978 - "Hot Child In The City" by Nick Gilder hit number one on the Billboard pop chart.
1993 - Roman Catholic churches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, opened their doors for the night and urged residents to tie black ribbons on trees to protest Madonna's first concert there.
Today in1981, David Bowie met with Queen in Montreaux, Switzerland, to record "Under Pressure" in an all-night session. The song marked Bowie's first released collaboration with another recording artist as a performer, and the song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also number 31 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s. The September 2005 edition of online music magazine Stylus singled out the bassline as the best in popular music history.
Today In Music History: There's a Battle Outside And It Is Ragin'
Posted at 6:19 AM on October 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer "Weird Al" Yankovic is 50.
Bassist Robert Trujillo of Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne's band and Metallica is 45.
Today in:
1962 - A 12-year-old named Little Stevie Wonder recorded his first single for Motown Records. It was called "Thank You For Loving Me All The Way."
1976 - Led Zeppelin made their US television debut on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, they performed "Black Dog" and "Dazed And Confused".
1978 - Maybelle Carter, the matriarch of the musical Carter family, died. Maybelle was the mother of June Carter, who became Mrs. Johnny Cash. Maybelle Carter was 69.
1984 - Musician Bob Geldof watched a documentary on the BBC about Ethiopia's famine. He was so moved he called his friend, Midge Ure, and together they wrote the charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas."
2004 - Ashlee Simpson walked off stage after the wrong vocal track was played during her performance on Saturday Night Live, which revealed she was lip-synching.
Today in 1963, Bob Dylan recorded "The Times They Are A-Changin" at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. In the liner notes for the 1985 collection Biograph, Dylan notes, "This was definitely a song with a purpose. I wanted to write a big song, with short concise verses that piled up on each other in a hypnotic way. The civil rights movement and the folk music movement were pretty close for a while and allied together at that time." It would become one of Dylan's signature songs.
Today In Music History: Good Vibrations!
Posted at 6:03 AM on October 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Cris Kirkwood of Meat Puppets is 49.
Today in:
1949 - Stiv Bators was born in Youngstown, Ohio. Best known for his bands The Dead Boys and Lords of the New Church, he died in 1990 after being struck by a taxi in Paris.
1976 - Drummer Keith Moon of The Who played in what ended up
being his final concert, in Toronto. Moon died less than two years
later.
Today in 1966, The Beach Boys' song "Good Vibrations" was released. At that time, it was the most expensive single ever recorded, costing $40,000 dollars to make.
Today In Music History: Play It Steve!
Posted at 6:09 AM on October 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's is 56.
Singer Julian Cope is 52.
Singer-bassist Nick Oliveri of Queens Of The Stone Age is 38.
Today in:
1958 - Buddy Holly held what ended up being his last recording session. "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," which he recorded in that session in one take, became a hit after he died.
1961 - Bob Dylan recorded his first album for Columbia Records. The self-titled album was recorded in one day and cost $400.
1972 - After 17 years of recording rock classics, Chuck Berry finally got a number-one hit with "My Ding-A-Ling."
1995 - Singer Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon died of a cocaine overdose in New Orleans. He was 28.
Guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's is 68. His playing can be heard on classics like "Green Onions" and "Groovin'," and he was even appeared in the cast of The Blues Brothers movie as the lead guitarist in the band. This morning we played the Booker T. and the MGs' "Booker-Loo."
Today In Music History: The Brits Love "Only The Lonely"
Posted at 6:01 AM on October 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tom Petty is 59.
Snoop Dogg (born Cordazar Calvin Broadus) is 38.
Today in:
1976 - Led Zeppelin's concert film "The Song Remains The Same" premiered in London.
1977 - Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in the crash of a privately-chartered plane in Mississippi. The crash took the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines.
1978 - The Police made their US debut at CBGB.'s. The trio had flown on low-cost tickets with Laker AirTrain from the UK, carrying their instruments as hand luggage.
1992 - Madonna's album "Erotica" was released, one day before her book "Sex" hit the bookshelves.
Today in 1960, Roy Orbison went to #1 in Britain for the first time with "Only The Lonely" his first of 33 hits in the US and UK. The song had been turned down by The Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley, so Orbison decided to record the song himself. It would be one of his signature songs.
Today In Music History: I Second That Emotion
Posted at 6:05 AM on October 19, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Karl Wallinger of World Party and The Waterboys is 52.
Today in:
1952 - Hank Williams and his second wife, Billie Jean, repeated their wedding vows on a New Orleans stage. Williams died less than three months later.
1974 - Billy Preston went to No.1 with "Nothing From Nothing", the singers second and last No.1.
1985 - A-Ha went to No.1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Take On Me", making them the first Norwegian group to score a US No.1.
1990 - The jury in the 2 Live Crew obscenity trial in Florida asked the judge for permission to laugh out loud. Some of the jurors said it actually was causing them pain to hold in their
laughter.
1995 - During a North American tour Oasis appeared live on The Late Show with David Letterman. The band made an impression when they snubbed Letterman as he attempted to shake their hands.
Today in 1967, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles released "I Second That Emotion." Robinson got the idea for the song from his friend and Motown colleague Al Cleveland, who mispronounced the phrase "I second that motion" as "I second that emotion" while the pair were Christmas shopping in late 1966. The tune went on to be a Top 5 single on the Billboard chart, and a #1 hit on the Billboard "Black Singles Chart," back when the R&B/Hip-Hop chart was called that.
Today in Music History: Flea Dusts Off His Birthday Suit
Posted at 8:50 AM on October 16, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
C.F. Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Bass player) is 66
Singer Bob Mould (Husker Du) is 49
Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 40
John Mayer is 32
On October 16th, 1957, "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke was
released. It was his first million-seller.
In 1967, Joan Baez and about 120 other anti-draft demonstrators
were arrested for blocking the entrance to a military center in
Oakland, Calif. They were jailed for ten days.
In 1968, the New Yardbirds played their first concert at a club
in London. They later changed their name to Led Zeppelin.
In 1969, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. He founded Chess Records with his brother Phil in the early 1950s.
In 1972, the members of Creedence Clearwater Revival announced they were breaking up.
In 1976, Stevie Wonder's album "Songs In The Key Of Life" was
released.
In 1992, singer Sinead (shuh-NAYD') O'Connor was booed off the
stage at a Madison Square Garden show honoring Bob Dylan's 30 years of music. The crowd was still reacting to O'Connor's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" two weeks earlier, when she had torn up a picture of the pope.
In 2003, Simon and Garfunkel reunited for their first concert
tour in two decades, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
It's Flea's 47th birthday today. The question is, will be celebrate in his birthday suit? We played Red Hot Chili Peppers version of Higher Ground.
Today in Music History: My Name is Not Bryan!
Posted at 8:01 AM on October 15, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tito Jackson (The Jackson 5) is 56
Richard Carpenter (the Carpenters) is 63
Don Stevenson (Moby Grape) is 67
Barry McGuire is 74
On this day in 1955, "Grand Ole Opry" made its TV debut on ABC.
In 1971, Rick Nelson was booed when he performed new material at an oldies show in New York. It inspired him to write the song "Garden Party."
In 1976, Ike and Tina Turner split up as a musical act.
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac released "Rumours," one of the best-selling albums of all time.
In 1987, Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia opened a sold-out two-week run of solo shows on Broadway.
In 1996, drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue was charged with attacking a tabloid TV cameraman. The photographer was trying to take pictures of Lee and his wife, actress Pamela Anderson Lee, outside a nightclub in suburban Los Angeles.
It was on this day in 2002, musician Ryan Adams jumped into the audience at a show in Nashville to find a fan who had yelled out a request for "Summer of '69," a Bryan Adams song. Adams gave the fan $30 as a refund and refused to continue the show until the man left. I have a nagging feeling that joke was unfunny the first 500 times Ryan heard it. This morning, we played a tune from his 2002 release Demolition called, "Starting to Hurt."
Today in Music History: Influence or Plagiarism?
Posted at 8:07 AM on October 14, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Thomas Dolby is 51
In 1955, Bill Haley and his Comets, at the height of their fame
with "Rock Around the Clock," played a concert in Lubbock, Texas.
The opening act was the then-little-known Buddy Holly.
In 1964, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts secretly married
Shirley Ann Arnold.
In 1972, singer Joe Cocker was arrested in a drug raid after a
concert in Adelaide, Australia. Cocker could have been fined and
jailed for two years, but police instead ordered him to leave the
country within four hours.
Also in 1972, Michael Jackson had his first solo hit, with
"Ben."
In 1977, singer Bing Crosby died near Madrid, Spain, at age 73.
In 1998, "polka king" Frankie Yankovic died at his home in New
Port Richey, Florida, a week after suffering a fall. He was 83.
On this day in 1971, John Fogerty was sued for allegedly plagiarizing Little
Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly" for Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Travelin' Band." We played the two songs back to back this morning. What do you think? Was John Fogerty just incorporating the influence of the 1950's rock 'n roll sound, or is it just a rip off?
This Day in Music History: Talkin' Bout a Generation
Posted at 8:16 AM on October 13, 2009
by Jill Riley
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Paul Simon is 68
Sammy Hagar is 62
On this day in 1975, musician Neil Young underwent surgery in Los Angeles to have a growth removed from his vocal cords.
In 1980, AC/DC's "Back In Black" album went platinum.
In 1985, guitarist Ricky Wilson of The B-52's died of
complications from AIDS. He was 32.
In 1992, the Supreme Court decided not to reinstate lawsuits
alleging that Ozzy Osbourne's music prompted the suicides of a
Georgia teen and a South Carolina teen.
It was on this day in 1965, The Who recorded "My Generation" in London. Pete Townshend wrote the song to express the British youth's frustration with the older generation, who didn't understand them. "My Generation" is a song that still has relevance today and you can find it on just about every "greatest song in rock n roll" list out there.
Music History:Little Richard Rocks On
Posted at 9:04 AM on October 12, 2009
by Jill Riley
Filed under: Music History
Sam Moore of Sam and Dave is 74
In 1975, Rod Stewart and The Faces played their last show
together at a concert on Long Island, New York.
In 1978, Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols was arrested in New York
in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Nancy
Spungen.
In 1979, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull was injured when a fan
threw a rose on stage and a thorn pierced his eye. The band was
forced to cancel two shows.
In 1971, singer Gene Vincent died in Los Angeles of a seizure
brought on by a bleeding ulcer. He was 36.
In 1996, the film documentary "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll
Circus" was released. It had been filmed in December 1968 but was
shelved for nearly 28 years because the Stones reportedly were
afraid that The Who upstaged them in the film.
In 1997, singer John Denver was killed when his experimental
plane crashed into Monterey Bay in California. He was 53.
On this day in 1957, Little Richard announced that he was
giving up rock and roll for religion. He later was ordained as a
minister, but eventually went back to playing rock and roll.
Just five years late on this day in 1962, Little Richard played a gig in Liverpool, with a then-unknown local band called The Beatles opening for him. There's no doubt he had an influence on The Beatles, they even covered his music. We played Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" this morning.
Today In Music History: Imagine What Would Have Been
Posted at 6:39 AM on October 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jackson Browne is 61.
P.J. Harvey is 40.
Sean Lennon is 34 (born in 1975 on his father John's 35th birthday).
Today in:
1940 - John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. He would have been 69 today.
1944 - John Entwistle, bass, The Who, was born. He died in 2002.
1966 - John Lennon met Yoko Ono for the first time at an art gallery in London, on his 26th birthday.
1961 - Ray Charles started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Hit The Road Jack."
1973 - Elvis and Priscilla Presley were divorced in Santa Monica, California. They had been married since May first, 1967, and had one child, Lisa Marie.
1980 - John Lennon celebrated his 40th birthday by releasing the single "(Just Like) Starting Over."
There's obviously always a lot you could play In honor of John Lennon's birthday today. We decided we'd go with one of his dreamier tunes from his solo career: the title track to his 1973 solo album, Mind Games.
Today In Music History: Long Live Johnny Ramone
Posted at 6:30 AM on October 8, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang is 59.
Today in:
1966 - Cream drummer Ginger Baker collapsed after performing a 20-minute drum solo in Sussex, England. Doctors diagnosed him as having acute exhaustion and the flu.
1968 - Cass Elliot made her solo debut at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. However, she was suffering with tonsillitis, and her band had not rehearsed enough. She ended up canceling the two-week engagement after opening night.
1980 - Bob Marley collapsed during a concert in Pittsburgh. He was flown to a hospital in New York. Marley never performed again; he died in 1981.
1987 - The three members from ZZ Top made advance bookings for seats on the first passenger flight to the Moon. The boys are still waiting for confirmation of the trip.
History highlight:
Johnny Ramone, guitarist for The Ramones, was born on this day in 1948 (born John William Cummings in Forest Hills, Queens, New York). He died in 2004 after a five year battle with prostate cancer. Johnny was known for his fast, high-energy style that influenced both the first- and second-wave of punk, and his technique even inspired the so called "new wave" Of British heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard. This morning we played a Ramones classic, "Judy Is A Punk."
Today In Music History: Big Country See The Country
Posted at 6:13 AM on October 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
John Mellencamp is 58.
Drummer Tico Torres of Bon Jovi is 56.
Thom Yorke is 41.
Today in:
1967 - Cass Elliot from The Mamas And The Papas spent the night in a London jail after being accused of stealing from a hotel. A TV and concert appearance had to be cancelled.
1975 - John Lennon won his battle against U.S. immigration authorities when a federal appeals court overturned an order to deport him. Officials had wanted to kick Lennon out of the country because of a drug arrest in Britain.
1995 - Rapper Tone Loc was arrested for allegedly taking $80 from a pizza parlor in Los Angeles, arguing with the owner over a pizza, and demanding his money back. He pleaded no contest to the charges.
1995 - Alanis Morissette went to No.1 on the US album chart with "Jagged Little Pill". The album went on to become the biggest selling album ever by a female artist with sales over 30 million.
History Highlight:
On this day in 1984, Big Country kicked off an 11 date UK tour at The Glasgow Apollo. Who needs an excuse to play a little Big Country? We played "Fields of Fire."
Today In Music History: Mr. Village Gorilla Head
Posted at 6:57 AM on October 6, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon is 58.
Guitarist David Hidalgo of Los Lobos is 55.
Matthew Sweet is 45.
Today in:
1969 - A George Harrison song became the A-side of a Beatles single for the first time, when The Beatles released "Something" backed with "Come Together."
1976 - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots received a gold record for the novelty single "Disco Duck." The single eventually went platinum.
1978 - Mick Jagger apologized to the Reverend Jesse Jackson for offensive lyrics in the Rolling Stones song "Some Girls," but he refused to change the words.
1991 - Michael Jackson gave away the bride at Elizabeth Taylor's seventh wedding, held at Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The Groom was construction worker Larry Fortensky, whom Taylor would divorce in 1996.
Tommy Stinson is 43 today. Happy birthday Tommy! While locals still celebrate Tommy's contributions to The Replacements, and a wide audience these days knows him as the bassist for Guns N' Roses since 1998, we thought we'd take the occasion to play some of his solo stuff: from his 2004 release Village Gorilla Head, we played "Motivation."
Today In Musc History: Honoring Eddie Kendricks
Posted at 6:10 AM on October 5, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Steve Miller is 66.
Brian Johnson of AC/DC is 62.
Bob Geldof is 55.
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists is 35.
Today in:
1962 - The Beatles' single "Love Me Do" backed with "P.S. I Love You" was released in Britain. It wasn't a hit in the U.S. until 1964.
1988 - Smashing Pumpkins played their first show together, at a club in Chicago. They earned $50.
Today in 1992, former Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks died of lung cancer at an Alabama hospital. He was 52. Kendricks died hours after his doctor announced he had been taken off chemotherapy and had only a few days to live. We honored Kendricks' soulful voice this morning with The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone."
Today In Music History: He Was Born In The 50's
Posted at 6:24 AM on October 2, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Don McLean ("American Pie") is 64.
Singer Gillian Welch is 42.
1957 - Connie Francis recorded "Who's Sorry Now." She hated the song but recorded it anyway.
1965 - The Who made their American TV debut on "Shindig!" performing "I Can't Explain."
1967 - Narcotics agents with the San Francisco police raided the communal house of the Grateful Dead on Ashbury Street for marijuana possession. Several members of the band were arrested, but Jerry Garcia happened to not be home at the time.
1977 - The bodies of Elvis Presley and his mother, Gladys, were moved from Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis to the grounds of Graceland after an apparent attempt to steal the bodies.
Sting is 58 today, born Gordon Sumner on this date in 1951. So why not some old Police? From their second album Regatta de Blanc, we played "It's Alright For You."
Today In Music History: Birth of The Band
Posted at 6:03 AM on October 1, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tim O'Reagan (The Jayhawks) is 51.
Today in:
1956 - After test audiences gave a negative reaction to Elvis Presley dying at the end of the film Love Me Tender, The King was called back to re-shoot the scene. In the new ending, the hero lived.
1967 - Pink Floyd arrived in the U.S. for their first American tour, a month after their debut album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was released.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix was buried in his hometown of Seattle.
Today in 1965, Bob Dylan appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City and introduced his new touring band made up of guitarist Robbie Robertson, organist Garth Hudson, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manual and drummer Levon Helm. They will become known simply as The Band. We played what would be one of their big hits, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
Today In Music History: Skynyrd V. Cult Grudge Match!
Posted at 6:03 AM on September 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Johnny Mathis is 74.
Trey Anastasio of Phish is 45.
Rapper T-Pain is 25.
Today in:
1950 - The Grand Ole Opry was first televised by Nashville station WSM. WSM-AM had been broadcasting the Opry on radio since 1925.
1965 - Donovan made his American TV debut on "Shindig!"
1967 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney appeared on "The David Frost Show" to talk about the virtues of transcendental meditation as taught by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1974 - Police were called to a Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blue Oyster Cult concert after a fight broke out between two sound engineers. The Skynyrd roadie claimed that the sound had been deliberately turned off during the bands set.
1993 - Kate Pierson from The B-52's was charged with criminal mischief and trespassing during an anti-fur protest at Vogue's New York City offices.
Today In Music History: The Original Gangsta?
Posted at 6:13 AM on September 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Jerry Lee Lewis is 74.
Guitarist Mike Pinera of Iron Butterfly is 61.
Today In:
1977 - James Brown's band walked out on him in Hallendale, Fla., complaining that he underpaid them.
1984 - Prince and the Revolution started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Let's Go Crazy."
Today in 1976, while enjoying his birthday celebration a bit too much, Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player, Norman "Butch" Owens, while trying to shoot at a soda bottle with a .357 Magnum. Lewis was charged with shooting a firearm within city limits. This morning, Jerry Lee keept his hands on the keyboard when we played "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On."
Today In Music History: Janis Announces Her Solo Intensions
Posted at 6:00 AM on September 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Actress and singer Brigitte Bardot is 75.
Singer Ben E. King is 71.
Today in :
1975 - 40,000 people got to see Jefferson Starship and Jerry Garcia and Friends perform for free in San Francisco. "Jerry Garcia and Friends" ended up being the Grateful Dead, who had not performed together in more than a year.
1988 - Singer John Denver offered the Soviet Union $10 million to put him on a Soyuz spacecraft.
1991 - Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis died of pneumonia, respiratory failure and a stroke. He was 65.
Today in 1968, Janis Joplin's manager announced Joplin would leave Big Brother and the Holding Company in November after fulfilling current obligations. Joplin said she and the band "weren't growing together anymore." Joplin would live only just under two years more, dying from an overdose of heroin and alcohol in October of 1970. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Joplin number 46 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and number 28 on its 2008 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Honoring Janis Joplin this morning, we played "Get It While You Can," the final track on her final album, Pearl.
Today In Music History: Jackie, Hey Watcha Doin' Now?
Posted at 6:26 AM on September 25, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1965 - The Beatles cartoon series premiered on ABC. The first story was titled "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and had the group exploring the ocean floor in a diving bell where they met a lovesick octopus.
1973 - The Rolling Stones album Goat's Head Soup went gold, even though the band admitted it wasn't their favorite album.
1980 - Drummer John Bonham of Led Zeppelin died from choking on his own vomit after drinking a huge amount of vodka the night before the band's U.S. tour. He was 32.
1990 - Drummer Dave Grohl joined Nirvana.
On this date in 1975, singer Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack while performing in Cherry Hill, N.J. He collapsed just as he sang the line "My heart is crying" from "Lonely Teardrops." He emerged from a coma with significant brain damage, eventually passing away in 1984. Considered one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and Rock history, he influenced generations of performers from James Brown to Michael Jackson - but also, significantly, Elvis Presley. We honor Jackie Wilson this morning with his hit single "Reet Petite."
Today In Music History: Your Mother Should Know
Posted at 6:21 AM on September 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers is 67 today.
Today in:
1988 - James Brown was arrested after a high-speed chase through Georgia and South Carolina. He eventually was sentenced to six years in jail.
1991 - Nirvana's album Nevermind was released in America, entering the chart at No. 144 on its first week, peaking at No.1 in January 1992.
1967 - Filming continued for The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour at West Malling Air Station, Maidstone, Kent, with the shooting of the "Your Mother Should Know" ballroom finale. The Beatles all dressed in white suits and shoes, gliding down a glittery staircase as 160 members of Peggy Spencer's Dance Team swirled around. We could argue as to whether or not the musical numbers from Magical Mystery Tour were any more successful than the rest of the utterly chaotic bomb of a movie, but one thing's for sure: the image of the Beatles in white tuxedos doing synchronized dancing is a classic trippy image from their career.
Today In Music History: They'e Saying "Bruce"
Posted at 6:52 AM on September 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Ani DiFranco is 39.
Today in:
1967 - Making their UK live debut, The Mothers Of Invention appeared at the Royal Albert Hall London.
1967 - The Box Tops started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "The Letter." The record went on to sell over four million copies and receive two Grammy nominations. It was also a Top Ten hit for Joe Cocker in 1970.
1969 -The Northern Star newspaper of Northern Illinois University ran a story claiming that Paul McCartney had been killed in a car crash in 1966 and had been replaced by a look-a-like. Russell Gibb of WKNR-FM in Detroit picked up on the claim and the story went worldwide. By late October 1969 the rumour was so well established that McCartney came out of seclusion at his Scottish farm to deny the story. When McCartney was asked to comment, he said "Do I look dead? I'm as fit as a fiddle."
Holy cow - Bruce Springsteen is 60 today. Does he look 60? Um, no. With a career that has spanned four decades, Bruce shows no sights of slowing down - go see him live if you need any proof of this. We assume a background paragraph on Bruce's career is unnecessary, so howabout some trivia? Did you know he's good friends with Tom Hanks? He originally wrote "Hungry Heart" for The Ramones? He grew up wanting to be a baseball player? In 1975 he appeared on the covers of Time and Newsweek simultaneously, something that before that had only happened with world leaders?
We played "The Promised Land" from Darkness At the Edge of Town this morning. Happy birthday Bruce!
Today In Music History: She Loves Rock n' Roll
Posted at 6:39 AM on September 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
David Coverdale of Whitesnake and Deep Purple is 58.
Nick Cave is 52.
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde is 52.
1965 - Roger Daltry nearly got thrown out of The Who for punching out drummer Keith Moon on the opening date of their Scandinavian tour in Copenhagen.
1985 - Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty all appeared at the first Farm Aid concert. The event to help small farmers was held at the Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, Champaign.
1999 - Diana Ross was arrested and subjected to a full body search while trying to board a plane in London's Heathrow Airport. A security guard had accused her of assault, but no
charges were filed.
Joan Jett is 51, today, born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22nd 1958 in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. One of the guitarists of the all-female band The Runaways from 1975-1979 which had hits such as "Cherry Bomb," Jett struck out on her own in the late '70s, eventually forming her band The Blackhearts in 1981. Joan is one of those artists whose integrity and career longevity we applaud enthusiastically around here; we played "Bad Reputation."
Today In Music History: You're Our Man, Leonard
Posted at 6:51 AM on September 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Liam Gallagher of Oasis is 37 today.
Today in:
1979 - The New York Post reported that The Beatles would reunite for a concert to benefit boat people. It never happened.
1981 - Adam And The Ants were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second No.1 "Prince Charming".
1985 - With the help Of heavy MTV exposure, "Money For Nothing" gave Dire Straits their first US No.1 single.
1986 - The National Enquirer ran a photo of Michael Jackson lying in an oxygen chamber with the headline, "Michael Jackson's Bizarre Plan to Live to 150." Jackson later said he was simply lying in a chamber he had purchased for burn victims.
Leonard Cohen is 75 today. Cohen is recovering today after collapsing onstage in Spain on Friday; he was performing his song "Bird on a Wire" in concert in Valencia when he collapsed. His music company says Cohen was taken to a hospital
with a stomach complaint but was released early Saturday. He's scheduled to perform the last stop of his Spanish tour tonight in Barcelona, and the equipment for his concert has been set up as usual. We certainly hope the Barcelona crowd gives him a solid ovation for his 75th tonight, and for an amazing life and career. Today, we honor him with "Suzanne."
Today In Music History: You Say It's Your Birthday
Posted at 6:16 AM on September 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Mark Olson of The Jayhawks is 48.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix was found dead in a London apartment. He was 27.
1976 - "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry hit number one on the pop chart.
1978 - The comedy "WKRP in Cincinnati" made its debut on CBS.
1983 - Kiss appeared without make-up for the first time, on MTV.
1984 - David Bowie won Video of the year for 'China Girl' at the first MTV Video awards.
Today in 1968, working at Abbey Road studios on new songs for their forthcoming 'White Album', The Beatles recorded 20 takes of "Birthday." (Yup, 20 takes). Roadie Mal Evans added handclaps, and Yoko Ono and Georrge Harrison's wife Pattie Harrison contributed backing vocals on the track. A lot of work for such a trifle of a song? Well, would you want to live in a world where "Birthday" had never been recorded?
Today In Music History: Hey Good Lookin'
Posted at 7:00 AM on September 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Fee Waybill of The Tubes is 59.
Vocalist Keith Flint of Prodigy is 40.
Today in:
1931 - RCA Victor demonstrated the first 33-and-a-third RPM long-playing record in New York.
1967 - The Doors performed "Light My Fire" on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Jim Morrison had been asked to change the line "Girl, we couldn't get much higher," but Morrison sang it anyway.
1967 - The Who appeared on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." Drummer Keith Moon had set a flash powder explosion in his drum kit, not knowing technicians had already done so. The resulting explosion sent a cymbal into Moon's leg and singed Pete Townshend's hair.
1991 - Geffen Records released "Use Your Illusion One" and "Use Your Illusion Two" by Guns N' Roses. The two albums went on sale at many stores nationwide just after midnight.
1996 - London police intercepted and destroyed a booby-trapped book that an obsessed fan sent to Bjork. The fan shot himself to death hours after mailing the package. The package never reached Bjork's home.
Hank Williams was born on this day in 1923. Arguably the biggest ever country star, he scored 36 Top 10 Country hits including, "Your Cheating Heart" and "Hey Good Lookin". Williams died in the backseat of a Cadillac on 1st January 1953 on the way to a gig. We played "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" in Hank's honor today.
Today In Music History: Hey, Baby Bubba
Posted at 6:54 AM on September 16, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
B.B. King is 84.
Singer Betty Kelly of Martha and the Vandellas is 65.
Drummer Kenney Jones (Small Faces, Faces, The Who) is 61.
Today in:
1964 - The rock and roll TV show "Shindig" premiered on ABC. The show was considered a cut above its competitors at the time because the acts performed on stage, rather than just lip-synched. The first show featured Bobby Sherman, the Everly Brothers, the Righteous Brothers and Sam Cooke.
1970 - A poll in Britain's "Melody Maker" magazine found that Led Zeppelin was the most popular band. It was the first time in eight years that The Beatles had not topped the list.
1977 - Marc Bolan, leader of the band T. Rex, died in a car crash near London. His girlfriend was at the wheel.
1978 - The Grateful Dead performed a concert before the pyramids of Egypt.
Thirty years ago today, September 16th 1979, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang was released. It's often called "the first rap record," although there were a number of performers around the early New York hip-hop scene in the late 70s who could rightly lay claim to creating such a thing before the Sugarhill Gang (check out the Wikipedia entry on the song and this fascinating background account for more of the story). Still, the song was an incredible phenomenon when it first hit the national airwaves, and most of America's first exposure to rap, a totally unfamiliar art form to most. You don't honestly think we could let the day pass without playing it, do you?
Today In Music History: Johnny Ramone Passes
Posted at 6:02 AM on September 15, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1969 - TV host Ed Sullivan released "The Sulli-Gulli," his first and only rock record. He was hoping it would create a new dance.
1979 - ABBA began its first North American tour, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1980 - David Bowie opened on Broadway in the title role of the play "The Elephant Man." The production had already played in Denver and Chicago.
1990 - Steve Miller's song "The Joker" hit No. 1 in Europe, 16 years after it had hit No. 1 one in the U.S. The song saw newfound popularity after it had been used in a Levi jeans
commercial.
Today in 2004, Guitarist Johnny Ramone of The Ramones died of prostate cancer in his home in Los Angeles. He was 55. A little Johnny Ramone salute today: "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker."
Today In Music History: Quadrophenia, The Film
Posted at 6:17 AM on September 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Morten Harket of A-ha is 50.
Rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) is 36.
Amy Winehouse is 26.
Today in:
1955 - Little Richard recorded "Tutti Frutti."
1968 - Pete Townshend of The Who announced his plans to write a rock opera called "Tommy" about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy."
1984 - The first MTV Video Music Awards were held in New York. Herbie Hancock was the big winner, winning five awards for his "Rockit" video. However, Madonna stole the show with her performance of "Like A Virgin" in which she rolled around on the stage in a wedding dress.
1989 - Sting made his stage debut in "The Three Penny Opera" in Washington. He was pummeled by critics, including one who wrote "prepare to be stung."
Today in 1979, a film premiered that did feature a dramatic success for Sting - The Who's Quadrophenia, based on their 1973 album about social life in 1960s London and Brighton telling the story of two opposing gangs, the Mods and the Rockers. The '79 release of the film sparked a renewed excitement about the original album; this morning we played one of the album's highlight's, "5:15."
Today In Music History: Get Up, Stand Up
Posted at 6:07 AM on September 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead is 66.
Tommy Shaw of Styx is 56.
Moby is 44.
Ben Lee is 31.
1962 - The Beatles held their first recording session in London for EMI's Parlophone label. They recorded "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You."
1971 - "The Jackson Five" animated TV series debuted on ABC.
The show used the voices of the five brothers: Michael, Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine.
1992 - Rick James pleaded innocent to charges he sexually assaulted and tortured a woman in his California home.
Today in 1987, Reggae star Peter Tosh was shot to death in his home in Jamaica. Police say Tosh was shot in the head after he refused to turn over money to three robbers. We celebrate Tosh's life and significant contributions to reggae music this morning, with "Get Up, Stand Up."
Today In Music History: Pioneers of Glam Call It Quits
Posted at 6:13 AM on September 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith is 59.
Singer-guitarist David Lowery of Cracker is 49.
Guitarist Matthew Followill of Kings of Leon is 25.
Today in:
1964 - Rod Stewart recorded his first single, a version of Willie Dixon's "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl."
1996 - Sheryl Crow's self-titled album was banned in Wal-Mart because of the song "Love Is A Good Thing," which mentions children killing each other "with a gun they bought at the Wal-Mart discount stores."
1998 - Some Hindu groups criticized Madonna's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. She wore a see-through shirt and a Hindu facial marking while performing "Ray of Light."
Today in 1974, The New York Dolls spit up. The influential band formed in 1972 and made just two albums, the 1973 New York Dolls and 1974 Too Much Too Soon. During their short career, they influenced the look and style of a host of other bands to follow them with their over-the-top androgyny. We honored the Dolls this morning with one of their early hits, "Trash."
Today In Music History: Actually, The Hips Were In The Shot
Posted at 6:32 AM on September 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Today in:
1965 - The Hollywood reporter ran the following advertisement: "Madness folk & roll musicians, singers wanted for acting roles in new TV show. Parts for 4 insane boys." The Monkees were born.
1996 - Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe died in Springfield, Tennessee, at the age of 84.
2008 - Noel Gallagher of Oasis was injured when a man ran on stage at their concert in Toronto and shoved Gallagher into a speaker.
Today in 1956, Elvis Presley made his first of three appearances on the "Ed Sullivan Show." He sang "Love Me Tender," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Ready Teddy." A popular myth is that Sullivan prohibited the cameras from showing Elvis' gyrating hips, insisting the TV audience only see Presley from the waist up. Actually, Elvis' entire body was visible in many shots throughout the performance. Sullivan had in fact been originally opposed to Presley being on his show, but that had been due to rumors that the King's style was far dirtier than it actually turned out to be when Sullivan finally saw footage of Presley performing. Today we played "Hound Dog" in honor of the guy who had the girls screaming long before The Beatles ever did.
Today In Music History: Must Be All That Boxing
Posted at 6:17 AM on September 8, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Neko Case is 39.
Drummer Richard Hughes of Keane is 34.
Today in:
1962 - "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett made its debut on the charts.
1968 - The Beatles performed 'Hey Jude' on the UK television show 'Frost On Sunday' in front of an invited audience.
1973 - Marvin Gaye started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Get It On', his second US No.1.
2002 - Singer Gordon Lightfoot was rushed to the emergency room suffering from a weakened blood vessel in his abdomen. He spent three months in the hospital.
2002 - Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson started his new job as an airline pilot. The singer qualified as a first officer with English airline Astraeus.
Aimee Mann is 49 today. Born in the town of Midlothian, Virginia, she started her musical career in the punk band Young Snakes before forming 'Til Tuesday in 1983, which had a major MTV hit with the song "Voices Carry" in 1985. The early years of Mann's solo career were a critical success, but a nightmare in terms of record company dealings: her first record, Whatever, was lost in the collapse of its record label, Imago; the second, I'm With Stupid, suffered from a near total lack of promotion on the part of Geffen. Finally, it was her success penning the Magnolia soundtrack that kick-started a career that's been going strong ever since. 49? You must be kidding; we should all look so healthy at that age. Today, from her Lost In Space album, we played "Guys Like Me."
Today In Music History: Them's Fightin' Music
Posted at 6:14 AM on September 4, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Martin Chambers of The Pretenders is 58.
Guitarist Kim Thayil of Soundgarden is 49.
Beyonce' Knowles is 28.
Today in:
1965 - The Who had their equipment van stolen in England while they were inside an animal shelter buying a guard dog.
1972 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.
1976 - The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the US singles chart with "You Should Be Dancing", the group's third US No.1, a No.5 hit n the UK.
1986 - Gregg Allman was arrested for drunken driving in Florida. He had just gotten his driver's license back after a five-year suspension.
1996 - Oasis created outrage at the MTV awards held at New York's Radio City Hall. During the bands performance of "Champagne Supernova" singer Liam spat on stage and threw a beer into the crowd.
Today in 1968, radio stations in several U.S. cities banned the Rolling Stones song "Street Fighting Man" because of fears it might incite violence. We trust there's no such fear out there today ...
Today In Music History: I Am The (Naked) God of Hell Fire
Posted at 6:41 AM on September 3, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer-guitarist Al Jardine (Beach Boys) is 67.
Guitarist Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols is 54.
Today in:
1955 - Bill Haley and the Comets turned down their first invitation to tour outside the U.S. because they were afraid of flying.
1967 - Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones announced he was applying for a pilot's licence.
1982 - The three-day "US" Festival opened in San Bernardino, California. More than 400,000 people turned out to see bands like The Cars, Fleetwood Mac and Talking Heads. The show was expected to bring in $10 million, but lost money because of artists like David Bowie and Van Halen demanded huge fees.
1992 - A spokesman for Prince announced that the musician had signed a deal worth up to $100 million, making him the highest paid pop star. Under the reported terms, Prince would receive $10 million per album, for six albums, plus royalties.
2006 - Hundreds of Paris Hilton albums were tampered with in record stores in Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and London in the latest stunt by "guerrilla artist" Banksy. Banksy had replaced Hilton's CD with his own remixes and gave them titles such as "Why am I Famous?", "What Have I Done?" and "What Am I For?". He had also changed pictures of her on the CD sleeve to show the US socialite topless and with a dog's head.
1970 - Arthur Brown was arrested at the Palermo Pop '70 Festival in Italy, after he set fire to his helmet (during the performance of his hit "Fire"), and stripped naked during his stage performance, which he was known to do from time to time - usually getting away with it, but not this time. In Arthur Brown's honor we played "Fire."
Today In Music History: Fight The Power, Until You Get Caught
Posted at 6:16 AM on September 2, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Singer Rosalind Ashford of Martha and the Vandellas is 66.
Today in:
1978 - George Harrison married Olivia Trinidad Arias, a secretary at his Dark Horse Records company.
1989 - Singer Ric Ocasek of The Cars married model Paulina Porizkova (por-is-KOH'-vah).
1989 - Ozzy Osbourne was arrested for allegedly trying to kill his wife, Sharon, after a drinking binge. The case was dropped after he went into rehab and the couple reconciled.
1995 - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland. The event featured a concert with Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Berry, and several others.
2005 - Kanye West went off the script during an NBC telethon to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He said, among other things, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
Today in 2006, lead singer of the Isley Brothers, Ronald Isley was sentenced to three years in a US prison for multiple counts of tax fraud. The 64-year-old was also ordered to pay more than $3.1 million to the US tax service for "pathological" evasion. What else to playe for Ronald Isley this morning than the Isley Brothers' "Fight The Power"?
Today In Music History: Blondie Gets Signed
Posted at 6:04 AM on September 1, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees is 63.
Grant Lee Phillips is 46.
1956 - Elvis Presley bought his mother, Gladys, a pink Cadillac.
1989 - A judge in Dublin, Ireland, decided not to convict U2 bassist Adam Clayton of marijuana possession, even though he admitted to the crime. Clayton agreed to contribute money to a women's center in Dublin.
2007 - Supergrass were forced to put all plans on hold after band member Mick Quinn broke his back. The bass player and vocalist sleepwalked out of a first floor window of a villa where he was staying in the South of France.
Today in 1977, Blondie, featuring former Playboy Bunny Debra Harry, signed their first major record company contract with Chrysalis Records. Their self-titled debut record had been released the previous year on the small Private Stock records, but after Private Stock subsequently dropped them, Chrysalis picked them up and re-released the album the following year. From Blondie, we played "Rip Her To Shreds."
Today In Music History: Farewell Hilly
Posted at 6:01 AM on August 31, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Van Morrison is 64.
Singer Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze is 52.
Drummer Gina Schock of The Go-Go's is 52.
Singer Deborah Gibson is 39.
Today in:
1974 - Rolling Stone Keith Richards was quoted as saying; 'I gave up drugs when the doctor told me I had six months to live.'
1976 - George Harrison was found guilty of 'subconscious plagiarism' of the Ronnie Mack song "He's So Fine" when writing "My Sweet Lord". Earnings from the song were awarded to Mack's estate; The Chiffons then recorded their own version of "My Sweet Lord".
1987- The album Bad by Michael Jackson was released in North America.
1988 - Actress-model Julianne Phillips filed for divorce from singer Bruce Springsteen, citing irreconcilable differences.
1991 - Metallica started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with, 'Metallica'. The album featured 'Enter Sandman' 'Sad But True', 'The Unforgiven' and 'Nothing Else Matters' went on to sell over 10 million copies in the US alone.
Two years ago today, Hilly Kristal, founder of the New York punk club CBGB, died from complications arising from lung cancer at the age of 75. Kristal was credited with discovering Patti Smith and The Ramones and his club became a breeding ground for punk rock. The New York City venue, whose full title CBGB OMFUG stood for "Country, Bluegrass, Blues and Other Music for Uplifting Gourmandisers", was originally launched to showcase country music. This morning, we honored CBGB with The Ramones' "Beat On The Brat."
Today In Music History: Ziggy Debuts
Posted at 6:40 AM on August 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1961 - Motown released its first number-one hit, "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes.
1964 - The Beatles met Bob Dylan, who supposedly introduced them to marijuana.
1965 - Bob Dylan was booed off stage at Forest Hills Stadium in New York for playing electric guitar.
1996 - Issac Hayes, who co-wrote the Sam and Dave's classic "Soul Man", sent a protest letter to presidential candidate Bob Dole, requesting Dole to stop using his song, which supporters had changed to "I'm A Dole Man."
Today in 1972, David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars made their debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. Bowie gave the performance while he was sick with the flu (what a dedicated showman). We honored the debut by playing "Starman" from The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
Today In Music History: Travelin' Highway 61
Posted at 6:22 AM on August 27, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush is 56.
Bassist Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols is 53.
Today in:
1965 - The Beatles met Elvis Presley. The meeting was very awkward, and Presley reportedly greeted the Beatles while playing his guitar to the music on TV - leaving The Beatles with the impression that Presley's personality was decidedly "unmagnetic". John Lennon remarked soon after, "Where's Elvis? It was like meeting Engelbert Humperdinck."
1967 - Beatles manager Brian Epstein was found dead at his London home. He had overdosed on sleeping pills. At the time, The Beatles were on a retreat with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1990 - Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and three members of Eric Clapton's entourage were killed in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin. The pilot also was killed. Vaughan was 35. Two years later, federal investigators said pilot error was the probable cause of the crash.
Today in 1965, Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited was released. It was Dylan's first record to be recorded entirely using a full rock band, and it's often seen as the apex of Dylan's "angry young man" period. The record features such classics as "Like A Rolling Stone," "Ballad Of a Thin Man," "Desolation Row," and our choice this morning, "From A Buick 6."
Today In Music History: Ray Gets ... A Post Office
Posted at 6:47 AM on August 26, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Shirley Manson of Garbage is 43.
Today in:
1968 - The Beatles released "Hey Jude" as a single.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix played what proved to be his last concert, at the Isle of Wight Pop Festival off the English coast. Three weeks later, Hendrix died in London.
1987 - Sonny Bono, who once said that he never voted until he was 53, announced that he was running for mayor of Palm Springs, California. He won the election in 1988 and went on to win a seat in Congress in 1996.
Today in 2005, a post office near the Los Angeles studio where Ray Charles recorded much of his music was renamed after the R&B legend. A federal bill was signed by US President George Bush to rename the post office. Charles, died in June 2004 at the age of 74, suffering from acute liver disease. We played "Unchain My Heart."
Today In Music History: Do The Loco-Motion!
Posted at 6:04 AM on August 25, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Gene Simmons of Kiss is 60.
Rob Halford of Judas Priest is 58.
Elvis Costello is 55.
DJ Terminator X of Public Enemy is 43.
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is 42.
Today in:
1970 - Elton John made his U.S. debut at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. The performance kicked off a brief tour and led to a recording contract with MCA.
1976 - Boston released its self-titled album.
1986 - Paul Simon's "Graceland" album was released.
On August 25th 1962, Little Eva (Eva Narcissus Boyd) went to No.1 on the US singles chart with "The Loco-Motion". The Carole King and Gerry Goffin song was offered to Dee Dee Sharp ("Mashed Potato Time"), who turned it down. Eva had recorded the demo version, and since producer Don Kirshner had liked Eva's voice anyway, he suggested she simply be the one to record the single.
Today In Music History: Jai Guru Deva
Posted at 6:10 AM on August 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Guitarist Mason Williams ("Classical Gas") is 71.
Singer Mika is 26.
1968 - Who drummer Keith Moon drove a Lincoln into the swimming pool of a hotel in Flint, Michigan, to cap off his birthday.
1979 - The Cars played before half a million people in New York's Central Park.
1981 - Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the shooting death of John Lennon in New York.
1990 - A judge in Reno, Nevada, ruled that Judas Priest was not responsible for a suicide pact formed by two fans. But, he said the band's "Stained Class" album did contain hidden messages.
Also in 1990, singer Sinead O'Connor banned the "Star-Spangled Banner" from her show in New Jersey. Some radio stations, in turn, refused to play O'Connor's music.
1967 - The Beatles met the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time in London. During a private meeting, the Maharishi accepted them as disciples. The Beatles relationship with the Maharishi would grow the following year as they stayed with him for an extended time in India, studying Transcendental Meditation. It would end acrimoniously, however, after John and Paul were told the Maharishi had made amorous advances toward some of his followers, including Mia Farrow. This falling out led Lennon to pen the tune "Sexy Sadie" about his disillusionment with the Maharishi. However, in later years, Lennon, Harrison and the other Beatles claimed they had probably been misled into believing false attacks. That's why we thought we'd play a different Beatles tune today: one inspired by the positive teachings they received from him. "Across The Universe" contains the phrase "Jai Guru Deva," which is Sanskrit for "Hail Divine Teacher."
Today In Music History: Raise A Toast To Saint Joe Strummer
Posted at 6:49 AM on August 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Kenny Rogers is 71.
Jackie DeShannon is 68.
Serj Tankian of System Of A Down is 42.
1961 - Patsy Cline recorded the classic Willie Nelson song, "Crazy". She was still on crutches after going through a car windshield in a head-on collision two months earlier.
1972 - Grace Slick was sprayed with Mace and Paul Kantner was slammed to the floor by police following a chaotic show by Jefferson Airplane in Akron, Ohio. A bomb threat had been phoned in, fans threw rocks at police cars, and officers responded with
tear gas.
1994 - John Denver was charged with drunken driving after he crashed his Porsche into a tree.
1996 - Singer Rick James was released from prison after serving two years for assaulting a woman. Two days earlier, the woman he was to marry was jailed for shoplifting a $39 pair of boots.
Also in 1996, singer David Byrne sued to prevent the rest of Talking Heads from touring as "The Heads." The suit was settled out of court.
Joe Strummer would have been 57 today, born on August 21st 1952. Co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead singer of The Clash, he was also a member of the The 101'ers, The Mescaleros and, for a short period, The Pogues.
What can be said about The Clash? At their 2003 induction ceremony into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, the band was aptly described as "of the most overtly political, explosive and exciting bands in rock and roll history." With Strummer at the helm, The Clash forcefully tackled issues like war, poverty, racism and oppression - in the minds of many, they were the band that led the way in the re-invigoration of rock at the dawn of the 1980s.
He died on December 22nd 2002 of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. We honor his birth this morning with "Police and Thieves."
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday KRS-One
Posted at 6:10 AM on August 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Robert Plant is 61.
Singer Doug Fieger of The Knack is 57.
Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit is 39.
1969 - Frank Zappa disbanded the Mothers of Invention. He said he was tired of performing for people who clapped for the "wrong reasons."
1969 - After finishing '" Want You, (She's So Heavy)," The Beatles worked on the running order for the Abbey Road album; it was the last time the Beatles were together in Abbey Road Studios. A preliminary master tape was compiled, the medley was originally slated for side one of the album, and the placement of "Octopus's Garden" and "Oh! Darling" were reversed from the final version. The album was to end with the slashed guitar chord that finishes "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."
1992 - Sting and his longtime girlfriend Trudie Styler got married in England. It was his second marriage, her first.
Rapper KRS-One is 44 today. Founder and leader of Boogie Down Productions, one of the most influential hip-hop acts of the 80s, KRS-One went on to have his own influential solo career, writing socially-conscious rhymes that earned him the nickname "The Teacher." In his honor today we played some early Boogie Down Productions, "Ghetto Music."
Today In Music History: Phil Lynott In Bronze
Posted at 6:41 AM on August 19, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1967 - The Beatles scored their 14th US No.1 single with "All You Need Is Love". Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithfull and Walker Brother Gary Leeds all sang backing vocals on the track.
1977 - The Sex Pistols started an undercover UK tour as The Spots, (an acronym for Sex Pistols on tour secretly).
1980 - Christopher Cross' debut album went platinum.
Four years ago today, a life-size bronze statue of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin. The ceremony was attended by his former Thin Lizzy band members Gary Moore, Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham. Lynott died in 1986 of heart failure and pneumonia at the age of 36, after years of drug and alcohol dependency. With Thin Lizzy, Lynott sung on such singles as a rock version of the traditional Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar," and their biggest international hit, the 1976 song "The Boys are Back in Town", which reached the top 10 in the UK, Ireland and Canada, and peaked at #12 in the US. We honored Phil today with a less-often played Thin Lizzy tune, "Waitin' For An Alibi."
Today In Music History: Elvis' Memorial
Posted at 6:16 AM on August 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1962 - Ringo Starr made his debut with The Beatles, replacing Pete Best. He'd had two hours to rehearse.
1969 - Mick Jagger was accidentally shot in the hand during filming of Ned Kelly in Australia.
1984 - George Michael was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his first solo single "Careless Whisper." It made him the first person to reach No.1 as a solo artist and a member of a band (Wham!) in the same year. It also gave Epic records UK their first UK million seller, and the song was No.1 in nearly 25 countries, selling over six million copies worldwide.
1986 - Bon Jovi released their "Slippery When Wet" album.
1992 - Kurt Cobain became a father when his wife Courtney Love gave birth to a daughter, Francis Bean Cobain. Math time! That means Francis Bean is 17 today.
On August 18th 1977, Elvis Presley was buried at a Memphis cemetery, with about 75,000 people gathered outside. His body was ultimately moved to the grounds of Graceland after burglars tried to break into the original mausoleum. Honoring Elvis today, we played "Are You Lonesome Tonight."
Today In Music History: Oh Say Can You See
Posted at 6:16 AM on August 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
(updated below w/ YouTube video)
Birthdays:
John Seiter of Spanky And Our Gang is 65.
Singer Kevin Rowland of Dexy's Midnight Runners is 56.
Bassist and singer Colin Moulding of XTC is 54.
Singer Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's is 51.
Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids On The Block is 40.
1955 - Elvis Presley released his first number 1 hit, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" b/w "Mystery Train". It hit the top of the country charts several months later and stayed there for 5 weeks.
1964 - The single "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks was released in Britain.
1979 - The New York post reported that Anita Pallenberg (wife of Keith Richards) was linked to a witches coven in South Salem, New York where Richards owned a house. A policeman claimed he was attacked by a flock of black-hooded, caped people and a local youth claimed he had been invited by Pallenburg to take part in "pot smoking sex orgies". Locals also claimed they found "ritualistic stakes" and small animals that had been "sacrificed" near the house.
1986 - Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen played his first concert with the band since losing his left arm in a car accident in 1984.
1995 - Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre after an apparent suicide attempt. Police had found him at his Los Angeles home with a two-inch laceration on his wrist.
Today in 1969, the final day of the three day Woodstock festival took place at Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York. Acts who appeared included Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Ten Years After, John Sebastian, Sha Na Na, Joe Cocker, Country Joe and the Fish, The Band, Johnny Winter and Paul Butterfield Blues Band. GIven that this is the day Jimi Hendrix played, you know what that means: it's the 40th anniversary of one of the most significant days in rock n' roll (and counter-culture) history, Hendrix's feedback-laden performance of The Star Spangled Banner.
Today In Music History: Thumpin' and Pluckin'
Posted at 6:06 AM on August 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
David Crosby is 68.
Slim Dunlap is 58.
Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Breeders) is 43.
1962 - Unhappy with drummer Pete Best's role in The Beatles, Brian Epstein and the other three members decide to fire him. Best played his last gig the following night at The Cavern, Liverpool.
1965 - Sonny & Cher started a three week run at No.1 on the Billboard singles chart with "I Got You Babe".
1970 - Stephen Stills was arrested on suspected drugs charges while staying at a San Diego Hotel after being found crawling along a corridor in an incoherent state. Still's was later freed on bail.
1971 - Rod Stewart released "Maggie May."
1974 - "(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka was awarded a gold record. Some feminists objected to the word "my," saying it should have been "our."
1985 - Michael Jackson outbid both Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono for the ATV music publishing catalog, which included many Beatles songs. Jackson paid $47.5 million dollars.
1989 - Bon Jovi's New Jersey was the first American album to be released legally in what was then the Soviet Union.
Bassist Larry Graham is 63 today. Graham has played with Sly and the Family Stone and later Prince, as well as his own band Graham Central Station. He is credited with the invention of the so called "slapping" technique, which opened up the sonic possibilities of the bass considerably (although Graham himself refers to the technique as "Thumpin' and Pluckin'"). A great example of his slapping technique in it's early state: Sly and the Family Stone's "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin."
Today In Music History: As Soon As I Get Thing Disconnected, I'm Gonna Throw It At You
Posted at 6:10 AM on August 13, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Danny Bonaduce of The Partridge Family turns 50 today
1965 - Jefferson Airplane made their live debut at San Francisco's Matrix Club.
1971 - John Lennon flew from Heathrow Airport to New York and never set foot on British soil again.
1977 - Bachman Turner Overdrive split up.
1980 - Four masked robbers broke in to Todd Rundgren's New York house, tied Rundgren and three others up, and proceeded to steal electronic equipment and paintings. It was reported that one of the intruders had been humming Rundgren's hit "I Saw The Light."
1988 - Robert Smith of The Cure married his childhood sweetheart Mary Poole.
Today in 2002, Adam Ant pleaded guilty to threatening drinkers at The Prince Of Wales Pub in London in January of this year. Ant had returned to the bar with a starting pistol after being refused entry. He had also thrown a car alternator through the window of the pub (?!!!).
Today In Music History: As Funky As Possible
Posted at 7:02 AM on August 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1964 - The High Numbers, (later to become The Who), played at The Railway Hotel in Harrow, England. Just before the band were due on stage, Roger Daltry's father-in law came into the venue and dragged the singer outside and hit him. The band started their set and Daltry appeared back on stage after the fight.
1968 - The Beatles released "Hey Jude" backed with "Revolution," the first single from their Apple Records label.
1972 - Elvis and Priscilla Presley filed for divorce. They had married in May of 1967.
1985 - Simon LeBon of Duran Duran was rescued from his yacht, which had capsized during a race off the British coast. His rescuer later received a medal of bravery.
1986 - Six early albums by The Monkees re-entered Billboard's top albums chart after almost 20 years.
1996 - Drummer Mel Taylor of The Ventures died of lung cancer in Tarzana, Calif. He was 62.
1999 - Bassist Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue was arrested for allegedly inciting violence at a show in Las Vegas. Police say he told the crowd to flip cop cars.
On August eleventh, 1962, the Booker T. and the MG's classic instrumental "Green Onions" was released by Stax Records. According to guitarist Steve Cropper, the song's name came from the band members' desire to think of a title that was "as funky as possible". In addition to its original chart success, "Green Onions" has been used extensively in TV, movies, and advertising for decades, and it's also been a traditional favorite at baseball parks for many years.
Today in Music History: Happy B-Day Mr. Fender
Posted at 8:56 AM on August 10, 2009
by Jim McGuinn
Filed under: Music History
Ronnie Spector (The Ronettes) will be our little baby at 66.
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) hops on a foot playing the flute at 62.
1964: On his way to visit two injured fans in Liverpool, England, Mick Jagger is pulled over and fined 32 pounds for speeding and driving without insurance.
1970: Jim Morrison of the Doors goes on trial in Miami, FL, for an infamous incident on March 1, 1969, where he allegedly exposed himself on stage.
1972: Paul and Linda McCartney are arrested backstage in Gothenburg, Sweden, for possession of six ounces of marijuana. The couple are released after paying a combined fine of $1,200.
1987: Wilson Pickett is found guilty of threatening patrons at a New Jersey bar with a loaded shotgun after a brawl inside the club. He is given two years' probation and fined $1000.
2004: The Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts confirms that he is undergoing treatment for throat cancer, which will eventually go into remission.
Today also marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leo Fender, who along with Les Paul, is probably the most influential figure in the development of the electric guitar. Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Precision and Jazz basses, Twin Reverb and Bassman amps - practically everything you've heard in the history of rock and roll has brushed up against a Fender. Fender lived a long life, passing in 1991 at the age of 81.
I spent a few years staring at pictures of Joe Strummer and saving up before I could get my first Fender, a 1983 Telecaster that survived many gigs, drops, and slams on stages throughout the Midwest before breaking the neck in half when it took a bad fall in a very un-rock and roll accident pulling the guitar off my shoulder at the end of a band practice... R.I.P.
Today In Music History: The Pistols Make The Cover
Posted at 7:32 AM on August 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) is 51.
Raul Malo (The Mavericks) is 44.
Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses) is 43.
1957 - The Quarry Men played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, (without Paul McCartney who was away at Boy Scout summer camp). The Cavern was still a jazz club, but skiffle was tolerated. However, when John Lennon played "Hound Dog" and "Blue Suede Shoes," the club owner sent a note to the stage saying, "Cut out the bloody rock!"
1965 - Herman's Hermits went to No.1 with "I'm Henry VIII I Am."
1974 - Peter Wolf from The J Geils Band married actress Faye Dunaway in Beverly Hills. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979.
1997 - Garth Brooks played to the largest crowd ever in New York's Central Park. An estimated 1 million people attended the live concert with an additional 14.6 million viewing live on HBO.
Today in 1976, the British music weekly Melody Maker gave The Sex Pistols their first front cover. Since some Sex Pistols would go so well with a Friday morning, I played you "Holidays In The Sun."
Today In Music History: Saint Elliott
Posted at 6:29 AM on August 6, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1965 - The Beatles released their fifth album and soundtrack to their second film Help! which included the title track, "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket to Ride" and "Yesterday."
1974 - Abba scored their first US top 10 hit when "Waterloo" went to No.6.
1983 - Avant-garde musician (and one time David Bowie backing singer) Klaus Nomi died at the age of 39 of AIDS in New York City aged 38. Nomi was one of the first celebrities to contract AIDS.
1988 - Appetite For Destruction, Guns N' Roses debut album, went to No.1 after spending 57 weeks on the Billboard album chart and selling over 5 million copies.
2004 - Rick James was found dead at his Los Angeles home. Addicted to cocaine, he once admitted to spending $7,000 a week on drugs for five years.
Singer songwriter Elliot Smith would have been 40 today - born Stephen Paul Smith on this day in 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska. Smith spent a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity, first with the band Heatmiser and second as a solo act. He rose to mainstream prominence when his song "Miss Misery" (from soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting) was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category in 1997.
Smith battled depression and drug addiction, topics that often made their way into his lyrics in songs that seemed to contain just about as much dark and forboding imagery as jangly, Beatle-esque pop and melodic sophistication. At age 34, he died in Los Angeles from two stab wounds to the chest. The autopsy evidence was inconclusive as to whether the wounds were self-inflicted.
For Elliott today, I played "Stupidity Tries" from Figure 8.
Today In Music History: The Greatest Rock n' Roll Record Ever?
Posted at 6:23 AM on August 5, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1975 - Kim Fowley formed the first ever all female hard rock band, The Runaways. Joan Jett was one of the members.
1978 - The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Miss You", the group's eighth No.1 hit.
1989 - Prince was at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Batdance" from the Batman movie.
2007 - DNA testing on about a dozen people who claimed James Brown was their father revealed that at least two of them were telling the truth.
Today in 1966, The Beatles' Revolver was released in the UK. The band's seventh album, Revolver is often cited as one of the greatest albums in rock music history - and sometimes as the greatest, usually ranking along with The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and The Beatles' own Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. It has been credited with ushering in the psychedelic era in music, witht it's use of innovative studio effects, varying musical genres from track to track, and relation (both in it's creation and consumption) to the use of psychedelic drugs. It's hard to know which track to spotlight from Revolver, given that they're all significant in some way - "Taxman," "Eleanor Rigby," "I'm Only Sleeping," "Here, There and Everywhere," "Got To Get You Into My Life," "And Your Bird Can Sing" and several others - but in some ways, the album's final song serves as a culmination of it's innovation and tone: "Tomorrow Never Knows."
Today In Music History: Honoring Lee Hazelwood
Posted at 7:08 AM on August 4, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1901 - Louis Armstrong (great American singer, bandleader, trumpeter) was born. He died July 6th 1971.
1958 - Billboard introduced "The Hot 100 Singles Chart". Ricky Nelson was at No.1 with "Poor Little Fool".
1967 - A female Monkees fan stowed away on the bands plane between shows in Minneapolis and St Louis. The girl's father threatened to bring charges for transporting a minor across state lines.
1980 - John Lennon began recording what would become his final album, Double Fantasy, at The Hit Factory, New York.
1984 - Prince started a 24 week run at the top of the US album charts with Purple Rain. It went on to sell over 10 million copies.
Today in 2007, singer, songwriter Lee Hazlewood died of cancer, in his home near Las Vegas aged 78. Hazlewood wrote and produced many of Nancy Sinatra's most famous hits, including "These Boots Were Made For Walkin." He also produced Duane Eddy and Gram Parsons, and "Something Stupid" - the duet Nancy recorded with her father Frank in 1967. In Lee's honor, I played "These Boots" sung by Nancy.
Today In Music History: Farewell To Arthur Lee
Posted at 6:11 AM on August 3, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Tony Bennett is 83.
Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd) is 50.
James Hetfield (Metallica) is 46.
Shirley Manson (vocals, Garbage) is 43.
1963 - The Beatles played their last ever performance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Their fee for their first performance at the Cavern had been £5; on this final gig, they were paid £300.
1971 - Paul McCartney announced the formation of his new group Wings with his wife Linda and former Moody Blues guitarist and singer Denny Laine.
1985 - Tears For Fears started a three week run at No.1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Shout", the duo's second No.1.
2007 - Queen guitarist Brian May completed his astronomy PhD thesis - 36 years after abandoning it to join the band. May had recently carried out observational work where he studied the formation of "zodiacal dust clouds".
Arthur Lee, singer and guitarist of the influential 1960s band Love, died in Memphis on this date in 2006 at the age of 61 following a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia. He called himself the "first black hippie" and formed Love in Los Angeles in 1965. Best known for the critically acclaimed 1967 album, Forever Changes, Love's biggest single was the tune "Alone Again Or."
Today In Music History: Eight Tracks for Hey Jude
Posted at 6:38 AM on July 31, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets) is 52.
Bill Berry (drums, R.E.M.) is 51.
Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim; The BPA; Housemartins) is 46.
Will Champion (drums, Coldplay) is 31.
1964 - A Rolling Stones concert in Belfast was stopped after only 12 minutes because of rioting fans.
1968 - The Beatles recorded four takes of "Hey Jude", working at Trident studios in London with its 8-track equipment (EMI was still using 4-track recorders),
1991 - Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson was given six months probation for spitting on a customer in a 7-Eleven store in Denver.
1996 - Aerosmith fired longtime manager Tim Collins, who later hinted that the band was back on drugs.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Kate Bush
Posted at 6:17 AM on July 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
1966 - The Troggs started a two week run at No.1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Wild Thing".
1966 - The Beatles started a five week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Yesterday...And Today', the group's 8th No.1 album.
1986 - Variety magazine reported that RCA had dropped John Denver from its roster after the release of his single, "What Are We Making Weapons For". Variety said the song upset the record company's new owner, General Electric, one of the largest defense contractors in the US.
1991 - A police officer was forced to tear up a traffic ticket given to the limousine that Axl Rose was travelling in after it made an illegal turn. Rose threatened to cancel that night's Guns N' Roses gig if the ticket was issued.
2003 - The largest concert in Canadian history took place, when The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rush, The Guess Who, Justin Timberlake, The Flaming Lips, Sass Jordan and The Isley Brothers played a benefit concert in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to prove that the city is safe from SARS. 450,000 spectators attended.
2003 - Sam Phillips the founder of the legendary Sun Records and studio died of respiratory failure at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Kate Bush is 51 today, born on this date in 1958. Her achievements include her 1978 British No.1 single "Wuthering Heights" plus over 20 other UK Top singles. Her 1985 UK No.1 album 'Hounds Of Love' spent 52 weeks on the chart. I played one of my favorite Kate tunes this morning, "Running Up That Hill."
Today In Music History: Farewell to Mama Cass
Posted at 6:08 AM on July 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Geddy Lee of Rush is 56.
Simon Jones (bass, The Verve) is 37.
1966 - The magazine Datebook published an interview with John Lennon in which he said "We're bigger than Jesus now." American Christians reacted with outrage, organizing "Beatle bonfires" burning the group's records.
1966 - Bob Dylan was involved in a motorcycle accident near Woodstock, N.Y. He suffered critical injuries and took months to recover.
1966 - Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker made their live debut as Cream.
1967 - The Doors started a three week run at No.1 on the singles chart with "Light My Fire".
1980 - David Bowie starred in the stage play of The Elephant Man, in Denver, Colorado.
2007 - Heart problems forced Kiss singer and guitarist Paul Stanley to abandon a show in California. Paramedics stopped and restarted his heart to give it a regular rhythm after his heart spontaneously jumped to 190 plus beats per minute.
Today in 1974, Mamas And The Papas singer Cass Elliot died in her sleep from a heart attack after playing a sold out show in London, England. She was staying at Harry Nilson's London apartment when she died. Her only solo hit was "Dream a Little Dream of Me," which also featured the rest of The Mamas and The Papas.
Today In Music History: The Killer on Steve Allen
Posted at 6:11 AM on July 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Drummer Simon Kirke of Bad Company is 60.
Bassist Marc Perlman of The Jayhawks is 48.
1945 - Rick Wright (keyboards, Pink Floyd) was born. Wright died in Sept of 2008 at age 65 from cancer.
1954 - The first press interview with 19-year-old Elvis Presley was published in the 'Memphis Press- Scimitar'.
1969 - Police in Moscow reported that thousands of public phone booths had been vandalised after thieves were stealing parts of the phones to convert their acoustic guitars to electric. A feature in a Russian youth magazine had shown details on how to do this.
1979 - "I Don't Like Mondays" gave The Boomtown Rats their second UK No.1 single. Bob Geldof wrote the song after reading a report on the shooting spree of 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer, who fired at children playing in a school playground across the street from her home in San Diego. Her full explanation for her actions was "I don't like Mondays, this livens up the day."
1987 - The surviving Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use
of the song "Revolution" in TV commercials.
1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis made his television debut on "The Steve Allen Show." How could we not play The Killer to mark the occasion? "A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" seemed appropriate.
Today In Music History: Missing Karl Mueller
Posted at 6:16 AM on July 27, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Bobbie Gentry (1967 No.1 single "Ode To Billie Joe") is 65.
Juliana Hatfield is 42.
1958 - Rock & roll music fans were warned that tuning into music on the car radio could cost you more money. Researchers from the Esso gas company said the rhythm of rock & roll could cause the driver to be foot heavy on the pedal, making them waste fuel.
1976 - Tina Turner filed for divorce from her husband Ike, ending their violent 16-year marriage and successful musical partnership.
1976 - Bruce Springsteen filed a fraud and breach of trust lawsuit against his manager Mike Appel (ah-PEL'). Appel countersued.
1976 - After a four-year legal fight, John Lennon was awarded his Green card, allowing him permanent residence in the US.
1986 - Queen became the first western act since Louis Armstrong in 1964 to perform in Easton Europe when they played at Budapest's Nepstadion, Hungary, the gig was filmed and released as Queen Magic in Budapest.
1992 - Michael Jackson sued the British paper The Daily Mirror over photos and an article that said he was left a "scar face" from numerous plastic surgeries.
1962 - Karl Mueller, bassist for Soul Asylum was born. He died in 2005 after a battle with throat cancer. We played a tune from Soul Asylum's first major label release, Hang Time: "Cartoon."
Today In Music History: Come And Get It
Posted at 6:06 AM on July 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Gary Cherone (vocals, Extreme) is 48.
Jennifer Lopez is 40.
1965 - The Byrds were at No.1 on the British singles chart with their version of the Bob Dylan song "Mr Tambourine Man". It was the first Bob Dylan song to reach No.1.
1967 - The Beatles meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time, whose lecture on Transcendental Meditation (TM) they had gone to hear at the Hilton Hotel in London. That same day ...
1967 - All four Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein signed a petition printed in The Times of London newspaper calling for the legalization of marijuana.
1978 - The movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released, featuring The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton.
1982 - Survivor started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Eye Of The Tiger", taken from the film Rocky III. Survivor went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for the song.
1990 - A wrongful death trial involving Judas Priest opened in Reno, Nevada. Parents had charged in a lawsuit that the band's Stained Class album contained subliminal messages that drove two teenagers to attempt suicide.
Today in 1969, Paul McCartney recorded a demo of his new song "Come and Get It" at Abbey Road studios in London. McCartney gave the song to The Iveys, soon to become known as Badfinger. It would be one of Badfinger's biggest singles.
Today In Music History: Happy Birthday Andy Mackay
Posted at 6:21 AM on July 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Martin Gore (keyboards, Depeche Mode) is 48.
Slash (Saul Hudson) is 44.
Alison Krauss is 39.
Fran Healy (vocals, Travis) is 36.
1966 - Frank Sinatra went to No.1 on the Billboard album chart with Strangers In The Night.
1977 - Drummer Keith Moon joined Led Zeppelin on stage during a gig at The Forum in Los Angles playing a duet with Zeppelin drummer John Bonham before taking to the microphone and attempting to sing.
1983 - The Police went to No.1 on the Billboard album chart with Synchronicity. The album spent a total of seventeen weeks at No.1.
1988 - After forty-nine weeks on the US album chart, Hysteria by Def Leppard finally went to the No.1 position.
1999 - Woodstock '99 began in Rome, N.Y. The three-day festival started off peacefully but ended in fires, lootings and accusations of rape.
2008 - Kid Rock was sentenced to a year on probation and fined $1,000 for his part in a fight in an Atlanta Waffle House the previous year. He also received 80 hours community service and six hours of anger management counselling.
Andy Mackay, saxophonist for Roxy Music is 63 today. Over the years he's played parts ranging from the raucus to the lovely (the latter particularly on Roxy's final album Avalon), but this morning we went with a tune featuring some of his edgier playing: "Do The Strand."
Today In Music History: Johnny Cash's Final "American" Recording
Posted at 6:09 AM on July 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
George Clinton (Parliament, Funkadelic) is 68.
Don Henley (Eagles) is 62.
Rufus Wainwright is 36.
1969 - Aretha Franklin was arrested for disorderly conduct after a disturbance in a Detroit parking lot.
1977 - Stiff Records released My Aim Is True,the debut album from Elvis Costello. (It was released later that October in America).
1979 - Little Richard, now known as the Reverend Richard Pennman, told his congregation about the evils of rock & roll music, declaring "If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody."
1989 - The Batman soundtrack by Prince started a six-week run at No.1 on the Billboard album chart.
Today in 2006, Johnny Cash was at No.1 on the US album chart with American V: A Hundred Highways. An ailing Cash recorded all the vocal parts first, and the instrumental tracks were recorded after his death in 2005. The record was a mix of Cash originals, standards, and covers by other artists - continuing the sucessful formula of the previous Amercian recordings produced by Rick Rubin, the covers are sometimes by unusual or unlikely choices of artists, in this case Bruce Sprinsteen and Gordon Lightfoot. We played a Cash original, "Like the 309."
Today In Music History: Stephen Cat Yusuf Georgiou Islam Stevens
Posted at 6:09 AM on July 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1977 - The Sex Pistols made their debut on British music TV show Top Of The Pops.
1987 - Guns N' Roses released their debut album, "Appetite for Destruction."
1990 - Roger Waters' The Wall - his own solo production of his Pink Floyd work - took place at the Berlin Wall in Potzdamer Platz, Berlin with over 200,000 people attending. The event was broadcast live throughout the world. Van Morrison, Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell, The Scorpions, Cyndi Lauper, Sinead O'Connor were among the performers.
1994 - Oasis played their first ever American show as part of the New Music Seminar at Wetlands in New York City.
2003 - Coldplay singer Chris Martin was charged with malicious damage in Australia after he allegedly attacked a photographer's car after he had taken pictures of him surfing on a beach. Martin admitted he had lost his temper and smashed the photographer's windsheild and let the air out of his tires.
Today is the 61st birthday of Yusuf Islam, born Stephen Georgiou, but best known by his stage name Cat Stevens. He changed his named to Yusuf Islam in 1978 after converting to Islam the previous year. In the past couple of years, he has returned to performance, using simply the name Yusuf. In his career as Cat Stevens he sold over 60 milliion records worldwide and recorded a number of huge hits that are beloved to this day. Our choice today: "Another Saturday Night."
Today In Music History: Some Famous Mancunians In One Room
Posted at 6:05 AM on July 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays:
Carlos Santana is 62.
Paul Cook (drums, Sex Pistols) is 53.
Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave) is 45.
1940 - Billboard published its first comprehensive record chart. The magazine had previously published best-seller lists submitted by the individual record companies, but the new chart combined the top sellers from all major labels. Their first number one song was "I'll Never Smile Again" by Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
1963 - Jan and Dean started a two week run with "Surf City", written by Beach Boy Brian Wilson, with the Beach Boys on backing vocals.
1965 - Bob Dylan's single "Like A Rolling Stone" was released by Columbia Records.
1968 - Jane Asher announced on national TV in Britain that her engagement to Paul McCartney was off. McCartney reportedly was watching and was surprised by the news.
1975 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played the opening night on their Born To Run Tour at The Palace Theatre, Providence, Rhode Island. This was also Steven Van Zandt's first show as a member of The E Street Band.
1999 - A coalition of church groups claimed that pictures of Britney Spears printed in Rolling Stone magazine encouraged child pornography. The shots showed Britney with not many clothes on in her bedroom.
Today in 1976, The Buzzcocks made their live debut supporting The Sex Pistols and The Damned at The Lesser Free Trade Hall, Manchester. In the audience, Morrissey, Bernard Sumner Peter Hook of Joy Division, and Mark E. Smith of The Fall. Tickets: one pound, or about a buck fifty. A Buzzcock's tune that might have inspired any one of those kids to go on and form their own bands: "Everybody's Happy Nowadays."
Today In Music History: Ian Curtis Is Born
Posted at 6:51 AM on July 15, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Linda Ronstadt is 63.
Drummer Marky Ramone (The Ramones) is 53.
Drummer Jason Bonham is 43.
1952 - Johnny Thunders (John Genzale - guitar, vocals, The New York Dolls) was born. He died of a drug overdose on April 23rd of 1991.
1973 - Singer Ray Davies announced during a concert in London that he was leaving The Kinks. He returned after a few days.
1978 - The Rolling Stones started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Some Girls, the group's seventh No.1 album.
1985 - Nude photos of Madonna taken in 1977 appeared in this months Playboy and Penthouse Magazines.
1986 - Columbia Records dropped Johnny Cash after 28 years. Cash signed a new recording contract with Polygram the next year.
1988 - MTV banned the video for Neil Young's "This Note's For You" because it ridiculed MTV sponsors.
1956 - Ian Curtis (vocals, guitar, Joy Division) was born. He would have been 53 today. Curtis hanged himself in the kitchen of his house at the age of 23 in 1980, and the story of Curtis' troubled life, career and suicide is one of the sadder tales in rock history. But we don't want to let the day pass without marking Curtis' birth, and his sizeable contributions to the sound of what would become New Wave and subsequent decades of dark, brooding rock. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" will always stand as a classic.
Today In Music History: This Machine Kills Fascists
Posted at 6:38 AM on July 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1967 - The Who began their first full North American tour, supporting Herman's Hermits.
1973 - During an Everyly Brothers concert in Hollywood, Phil Everly smashed his guitar and stormed of stage. Don finished the set by himself and announced that The Everly Brothers had split.
1982, The film version of Pink Floyd's The Wall, had it's movie premier in London.
1989, At The Peach Festival, South Carolina, 432 guitarist's broke the world record for the most guitarists playing in unison for the longest period of time, when they performed "Louie Louie" for 30 minutes.
2007 - A pair of glasses worn by John Lennon sparked a bidding war after being offered for sale online. The circular sunglasses were worn by Lennon during the Beatles 1966 tour of Japan, where the band played some of their last ever live dates. Anonymous rival bidders had pushed the price as high as $1,207,000.
On this day in 1912, Woody Guthrie was born. Guthrie was a major influence on Bob Dylan and American folk music in general. He died in October of 1967. Guthrie wrote hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, and frequently performed with the slogan "This Machine Kills Fascists" inscribed on his guitar in keeping with his populist, left-leaning politics. Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress. Easily his best-known song is "This Land Is Your Land." We played one of his less-often heard tunes today, "Hobo's Lullaby."
Today In Music History: Goodbye to Cream
Posted at 6:11 AM on July 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Arlo Guthrie (singer, songwriter, son of folksinger Woody Guthrie) is 62.
Ronnie James Dio (vocals, Rainbow, Black Sabbath) is 60.
Neil Tennant (vocals, Pet Shop Boys) is 55.
1954 - Producer Sam Phillips took a recording of Elvis Presley singing "That's All Right" to Memphis radio station WHBQ DJ Dewey Phillips. Philips played the song just after 9.30 that evening, and the phone lines lit up asking him to play the song again.
1965 - The Rolling Stones started a four week run at No.1 with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", the group's first US No.1.
1969 - Rolling Stone guitarist Brian Jones' funeral took place.
1976 - One hit wonders Starland Vocal Band started a two week run at No.1 with "Afternoon Delight" (and we now apologize that that song is stuck in your head).
1980 - Bob Marley and the Wailers began what would be Marley's last ever UK tour when they appeared in Dublin, Ireland.
Today in 1968, Eric Clapton announced that Cream would break-up after their current tour. The band had been one of the first true "supergroups" in rock n' roll, not to mention the band first pioneering the "power trio" format of guitar, bass and drums. Even after band's dissolution however, there would still be one more release: Goodbye, released the rollowing year and containing both live and studio material. This was as good a reason as any today to play one of Cream's greatest tracks, taken from that album: "Badge," co-writtten by Clapton and George Harrison.
Today In Music History: Elvis Goes Pro
Posted at 6:39 AM on July 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
Birthdays.
Marc Almond (Soft Cell) is 50.
Jim Kerr (vocals, Simple Minds) is 50.
Courtney Love is 44.
Isaac Brock (singer, guitarist, Modest Mouse) is 34.
Jack White (born John Gillis) is 34.
1946 - Bon Scott (vocals, AC/DC) was born. Scott died in February 1980; the coroner's report stated he had "drunk himself to death."
1983 - The Police started an eight week run at No.1 on the Billboard chart with "Every Breath You Take."
1988 - Cheap Trick went to No.1 with "The Flame", the group's only No.1 single.
1999 - Elton John was fitted with a pacemaker, forcing him to cancel a series of concerts.
2004 - David Bowie was forced to cancel a string of European shows after emergency heart surgery.
It was on this day in 1977 that Elvis Costello quit his day job at Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics to focus on his musical career. It seems appropriate to play his first single to mark the occasion, which would subsequently show up on his debut record My Aim Is True: "Less Than Zero."
Today In Music History: Can You Believe Ringo is Almost 70?
Posted at 6:16 AM on July 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: Music History
1968, The Yardbirds played their last gig before splitting up when they appeared in Luton.
1969, George Harrison recorded his new song "Here Comes the Sun" with just two other Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Star at Abbey Road in London. John Lennon was absent recovering from a car crash in Scotland.
1980, Led Zeppelin played their last-ever concert when they appeared in West Berlin at the end of a European tour.
1984 - Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the US album chart with Born In The USA. The album went on to spend a total of 139 weeks on the US chart. Its also one of three albums (Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814) to produce seven Top-ten US singles.
1984 - Prince started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "When Doves Cry", his first US No.1 which went on to sell over 2 million copies.
1989 - It was announced that for the first time compact discs were out selling vinyl albums.
2006 - Syd Barrett died from complications arising from diabetes aged 60.
Ringo Starr (born Richard Starkey) is 69 today. Ringo sang lead vocals on one track on most Beatles albums. He also had his own US No.1 single, "You're Sixteen" plus 9 other US Top 40 hits. We played one of our favorite Ringo vocal tracks this morning: "Octopus's Garden," from Abbey Road.
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