On This Day(In Music )

September 29th: On this Day


1956, Bill Haley had five songs in the UK Top 30; 'Rockin Through The Rye', 'Saints Rock n' Roll', 'Rock Around The Clock', 'Razzle Dazzle', and 'See You Later Alligator'.

1960, Ricky Valance was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tell Laura I Love Her', making him the first Welsh singer to top the charts, and a One-hit Wonder.

1967, The Small Faces appeared at the Royal in Tottenham, London, admission was 7/6.

1967, Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am the Walrus’ which included the sound of a radio being tuned through numerous stations, coming to rest on a BBC production of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles' lyrics, he added a verse of nonsense words.

1969, The Doors appeared at Lincoln Center's 7th New York Film Festival, New York City.

1971, Gilbert O'Sullivan made his live debut at London's Royal Albert Hall. Also on the bill, Sweet, Dave Edmunds Rockpile and Ashton Gardner & Dyke.

1973, Grand Funk Railroad went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We're An American Band', the group's first of two US chart toppers.

1976, Enjoying his own birthday celebrations singer Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player Norman Owens in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived but sued his boss.

1979, Boney M scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Oceans Of Fantasy'.

1979, The Police had their first UK No.1 single with 'Message In A Bottle' the group's third Top 20 hit.

1980, Elvis Costello supported by The Stray Cats appeared at the Rainbow, London, England.

1984, Prince and the Revolution started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Go Crazy', his second US No.1, a No.7 hit in the UK.

1989, While travelling on his motorbike from Los Angeles, Bruce Springsteen called in at Matt's Saloon in Prescott, Arizona and jammed with the house band. Bruce played a bunch of rock and roll classics, including Elvis Presley’s 'Don’t Be Cruel,' and Chuck Berry’s 'Sweet Little Sixteen' and 'Route 66.” Bruce also donated $100,000 to a barmaid's hospital bill.

1990, Maria McKee was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Show Me Heaven' the song featured in the Tom Cruise film 'Days Of Thunder'.

1990, Nelson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with '(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection' the duo being the twin sons of 50's singer Ricky Nelson.

1991, Metallica kicked off their 138 date Wherever We May Roam world tour at the Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois.

1992, American singer, songwriter Paul Jabara died from lymphoma related to AIDS at the age of 44. He wrote Donna Summer's Oscar and Grammy Award-winning hit ‘Last Dance’ and Barbra Streisand's ‘The Main Event/Fight’ and co-wrote the Weather Girls hit, ‘It's Raining Men’ with Paul Shaffer.

1999, Receivers were called in to concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith's empire after suffering losses on a series of shows. Goldsmith was awarded the MBE after his work on Live Aid.

1999, The Manic Street Preachers were given a bill for £28.000 after smashing up equipment during their show at Scotland's T In The Park festival.

2001, Jennifer Lopez married dancer Cris Judd in Calabasa California. The couple separated nine months later.

2002, US TV Pop Idol winner Kelly Clarkson started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'A Moment Like This.'

2002, UK Pop Idol winners Will Young and Gareth Gates started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles 'The Long And Winding Road.'

2004, Keith Moon's five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Who drummer in 1968, sold for £120,000 pounds ($215,772) in London to an American collector, setting a world auction record for a set of drums.

2004, The Sun reported that Michael Jackson had a secret fourth child who was now 19. The story claimed that Norwegian Omar Bhatti was born after a one night stand and had stayed with Jackson at his Neverland home in California.

2007, US rapper 50 Cent was beaten by rival rap star Kanye West in the stand-off to claim the best-selling album in the US. West's Graduation shifted 957,000 copies in its first week of sales while 50 Cent's album, Curtis, only sold 691,000. Before the albums went on sale 50 Cent vowed he would retire from making solo albums if he was outsold by West. 50 Cent axed his forthcoming European tour and a performance at London Mobo Awards the Vodafone Live Music Awards in London, as well as at an MTV show in Germany.


September 29th: Born on this day


1907, Born on this day, Gene Autry, America's singing cowboy. During his career Autry scored 25 successive Top 10 Country hits. He died on 2nd October 1998 aged 91.

1935, Born on this day, Jerry Lee Lewis, US singer, keyboards, (1958 UK No.1 & US No.1 single 'Great Balls Of Fire', 1957 multi million seller 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On').

1937, Born on this day, Joe 'Guitar' Hughes, US blues guitarist, died May 20th 2003 aged 65. Worked with T-Bone Walker, BB King, Big Joe Turner.

1939, Born on this day, Tommy Boyce, singer, songwriter. 1968 US No 8 single with Bobby Hart, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite'. Wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby-Doo Where Are You.' Sold over 40m records. Boyce committed suicide on 23rd November 1994.

1943, Born on this day, Manuel Fernandez, Los Bravos, (1966 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'Black Is Black'). First Spanish rock band to have a UK & US hit single.

1948, Born on this day, Mark Farner, Grand Funk Railroad, (1974 US No.1 single 'The Locomotion'). Most successful US Heavy Metal band of the 70's selling over 20m albums.

1948, Born on this day, Mike Pinera, Blues Image, (1970 US No.4 single, 'Ride Captain Ride').

1957, Born on this day, Mari Wilson, UK singer, (1982 UK No.8 single 'Just What I Always Wanted').

1958, Born on this day, Mick Harvey, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, (1996 UK No.36 single with PJ Harvey 'Henry Lee').

1965, Born on this day, Ian Baker Keyboards, Jesus Jones, (1991 UK No.7 single 'International Bright Young Thing').

1966, Born on this day, Tony Foster, guitarist, worked with Julian Cope and Olive, (1997 UK No.1 single 'You're Not Alone).

1968, Born on this day, Matt & Luke Goss, Bros, 1988 UK No.1 single 'I Owe You Nothing' plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles).

1969, Born on this day, Donald DeGrate, (DeVante Swing), Jodeci, vocals, (1995 UK No.17 single 'Freak 'N' You').

1981, Born on this day, Suzanne Shaw, vocals, Hear'Say, (2001 UK No.1 single, 'Pure and Simple).

1987, Born on this day, Joshua Farro, guitarist, Paramore, 2009 UK No.1 album ‘Brand New Eyes’.

DONDON wrote: Great stuff Frank it's my lunchtime reading

As I said to you before,I do this for 2 reasons.

1) To keep the site ticking over(sometimes it can be very slow here).

2) For those who actually like these bits of trivia.



Edited by monarch - 30-September-2011 at 00:18

September 30th: On this Day


1960, The Beatles performed at the Indra Club, Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, West Germany.

1964, The Who appeared at the Town Hall, Greenwich, South London.

1965, EMI Records launched the budget priced 'Music For Pleasure' label, selling the albums in grocery stores for 12/6d each.

1965, Donovan made his US television debut on Shindig! along with The Hollies, The Turtles and the Dave Clark Five.

1967, BBC Radio 1 was launched in the UK. Former Radio Caroline DJ Tony Blackburn was the first presenter on air. The Move's 'Flowers In The Rain', was the first record played.

1967, During a UK tour Pink Floyd appeared at the Skyline Club in Hull north east England.

1969, Christine Hinton the girlfriend of David Crosby was killed in a car crash near San Francisco.

1971, Rick Wakeman made his live debut with Yes at The De Montford Hall, Leicester at the start of a 23-date UK tour.

1972, David Cassidy was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'How Can I Be Sure.' It was the star from the US TV series the Partridge Family's first UK No.1. It was originally recorded by The Young Rascals in 1967.

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.

1977, Mary Ford died from cancer after being in a diabetic coma for 54 days. One-half of the husband-and-wife musical team, Les Paul and Mary Ford. Between 1950 and 1954, the couple had 16 top-ten hits; in 1951 alone, they sold six million records.

1978, Exile started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kiss You All Over', it made No.6 in the UK.

1978, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John had their second UK No.1 from the film 'Grease' with 'Summer Nights.' Seven weeks at No.1 it became the second best selling single of 1978, beaten by 'Saturday Night Fever'.

1984, UK station Capitol Radio launched 'The Network Chart' show hosted by David 'Kid' Jenson.

1984, The music division of Thorn EMI once said to be the greatest recording organisation in the world reported a world-wide loss of almost $5 million during the last six months.

1984, Kiss kicked off a 14-date UK tour at the Brighton Centre.

1989, Tina Turner scored her first solo UK No.1 album with 'Foreign Affair'.

1992, US singer Steve Earle was arrested in Nashville after he failed to report for jury service.

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.

1994, T.A.F.K.A.P. launched music channel VH1 in the UK, which gave the first airing of his new video 'Dolphin.'

1995, Mariah Carey made chart history when she started an eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Fantasy', making her the first female act to enter the chart in pole position.

1995, Simply Red scored their first UK No.1 single when 'Fairground' started a four-week run at the top of the charts. It was their 15th UK Top 40 hit.

1999, Chris de Burgh's web site was closed down after countless obscene messages were posted on the guestbook. One message consisted entirely of two four-letter words repeated 3500 times.

2002, Popstars band Hear'say announced they had split up. The winners of the Popstars TV talent show who scored two UK No.1 singles had lasted less than two years.

2003, An auction of the contents of Sir Elton John's London home raised more than £1.4 million. An oil painting, entitled Madison Square Park, sold for £67,200, and a 19th Century portrait of Lieutenant George Dyer, painted by James Northcote in 1817, fetched £55,200. Sir Elton sold off the items so he could redecorate his home in a more modern style.

2006, Justin Timberlake started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with his second solo album ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ which also became the biggest album ever for pre-orders on iTunes.

2007, Country music singer Keith Urban crashed his motorcycle on the way to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The 39-year-old, who was not injured, said he was being followed by a photographer when the accident happened near his home in Sydney, Australia.

2007, Foo Fighters went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Echoes Silence Patience & Grace' the bands sixth studio album and second UK No.1. Reba McEntire was at No.1 on the US album chart with Reba: Duets.

2007, Sugababes started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'About You Now', the girl group's 6th UK No.1 hit.


September 30th: Born on this day


1933, Born on this day, Soul singer Cissy Houston, and mother of Whitney Houston. Member of Sweet Inspirations, The Drinkard Singers, (with Dionne Warwick), back-up singer with Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross.

1935, Born on this day, Johnny Mathis, US singer, 1976 UK No.1 single 'When A Child Is Born', plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles. 1978 US No.1 single 'Too Much Too Little Too Late' and over 15 other Top 40 singles). His Greatest Hits album spent over nine years on the US chart.

1942, Born on this day, Dewey Martin, The Dillards, Buffalo Springfield, (1967 US No.17 single 'For What It's Worth').

1942, Born on this day, Frankie Lymon, singer, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, (1956 UK No.1 & US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'). He died from a drug overdose on 28th February 1968 aged 25.

1942, Born on this day, Gus Dudgeon, producer. Best known for his work with Elton John. Also produced David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Zombies, Kiki Dee, Strawbs, XTC and Joan Armatrading. Dudgeon was killed in a car accident on 21st July 2002, his wife, Sheila, was also killed in the accident.

1943, Born on this day, Marilyn McCoo, singer, 1977 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'You Don't Have To Be A Star'. Also a member of The 5th Dimension.

1946, Born on this day, Sylvia Peterson, The Chiffons, (1963 US No.1 single 'He's So Fine', 1972 UK No.4 single 'Sweet Talking Guy', first released in 1966).

1947, Born on this day, Marc Bolan, guitarist, UK singer, songwriter, T Rex, (1971 UK No.1 single 'Hot Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles, 1972 US No.10 single Bang A Gong, (Get It On). Bolan was killed in a car accident on 16th September 1977.

1952, Born on this day, John Lombardo, 10,000 Maniacs, (1993 UK No.47 single 'Candy Everybody Wants').

1954, Born on this day, Lesley Beach, sax, Amazulu, (1986 UK No.5 single 'Too Good To Forgotten').

1959, Born on this day, Basia Trzetrzelewska, singer, Matt Bianco, (1988 UK No.11 single 'Don't Blame It On That Girl').

1964, Born on this day, Robby Takac, bass, Goo Goo Dolls (1999 UK No. 26 single 'Iris', 2002 US No.3 album ‘Gutterflower’).

1964, Born on this day, Trey Anastasio, American guitarist, and singer with Phish.

1984, Born on this day, Keisha Buchanan, singer, Sugababes, (2002 UK No.1 single, 'Round Round', 2002 UK No.2 album 'Angels With Dirty Faces').

October 2nd: On this Day


1954, US band vocalist from the 1940s, Don Cornell was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hold My Hand'. This song was banned by the BBC for the words 'kingdom of heaven'.

1959, 'Stay' by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs entered the US chart on its way to No.1. At just 1:37, it becomes the shortest US chart topper in Rock and Roll history.

1959, Fifteen Elvis Presley fans were arrested in Germany after marching through the streets of Leipzig shouting "Long live Elvis Presley" and making unkind remarks about German music.

1961, Phil Spector and partner Lester Sill released the first single on their new label Philles, The Crystals’, ‘Oh Yeah Maybe Baby.’ A little over a year later, they had a No.1 hit with ‘He’s a Rebel,’ and soon after, ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ and ‘Then He Kissed Me.’

1965, The McCoys were at No. 1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hang On Sloopy’ (No.5 in the UK when released on Andrew Oldham’s new Immediate label). The song was first released by The Vibrations and called ‘My Girl Sloopy’.

1967, All six members of The Grateful Dead were busted by California narcotics agents for possession of marijuana at the groups' 710 Ashbury Street House in San Francisco, California.

1971, Rod Stewart started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Maggie May / Reason To Believe', his first solo No.1. Stewarts album 'Every Picture Tells A Story' also started a four-week run on this day at No.1 on the UK and US chart.

1971, John Lennon's 'Imagine' LP entered the US album chart, where it will reach No.3.

1977, The body of Elvis Presley and his mother Gladys were moved from the cemetery where they were buried to Graceland's after an unsuccessful attempt was made to body snatch the coffin.

1979, The Buzzcocks kicked off a 25-date UK tour at the Mountford Hall, Liverpool, England.

1980, Leaveil Degree from the soul group The Whispers started a two-year prison sentence in Boron California for his part in diamond robbery.

1981, Terry Hall, Neville Staples and Lynval Golding all left The Specials to form Fun Boy Three.

1982, Dire Straits started a four-week run at No.1 on UK the album charts with 'Love Over Gold'.

1982, John Cougar started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Jack and Diane', his first US No.1a No.25 hit in the UK.

1982, Musical Youth were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pass The Dutchie'. The group were made up of Birmingham school boys, aged 11-16. The song was a cover of The Mighty Diamonds song called 'Pass The Kutchie', a slang term for a cannabis smoking pipe, but the word was changed to avoid the song being banned for it's drug reference.

1982, Peter Gabriel and Steve Hacket joined their former band mates in Genesis for a one-time benefit performance at The Milton Keynes Bowl in Buckinghamshire, England to help raise money for Gabriel's WOMAD project (World of Music, Arts and Dance).

1983, Abba singer Agnetha Faltskog was taken to hospital suffering from concussion after being involved in a car crash in Skane Sweden.

1983, Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Jim Steinman written and produced track 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'. It made her the only Welsh artist to score a US No.1.

1995, Oasis released their second album '(What's The Story), Morning Glory', which entered the UK chart at No.1.

1996, A Pearl Jam show in Hartford Connecticut ended in a riot when mass fighting broke out among the 30,000 strong crowds.

1998, America's singing cowboy Gene Autry died aged 91. During his career he scored 25 successive Top 10 Country hits. In 1995 it was estimated he was worth $320 million.

1999, Matchbox 20 singer Rob Thomas married model Marisol Maldonado. Marisol appeared in the Santana video ‘Smooth’ with Thomas.

2000, Coldplay kicked of a 17-date UK tour at The Junction, Cambridge.

2001, Actor Kevin Spacey hosts Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Performers include, Alanis Morissette, Moby, Stone Temple Pilots and the Dave Mathews Band. The evening was closed with those present singing 'Give Peace A Chance'.

2002, Adam Ant escaped a prison sentence after a judge ruled that an incident in which he threatened drinkers with a replica pistol in a London pub was a result of mental illness. The 1980's pop star had been voluntarily having psychiatric treatment since the incident.

2002, Robbie Williams signed the most lucrative British record deal in history when he signed with EMI records for £80m. Asked what he was going to do with money Robbie said, "I'm going to count it all."

2003, Police were called to a suspected burglary at the Los Angeles house of Courtney Love's former boyfriend and ex-manager Jim Barber in the early hours. Ms Love was picked up in the street outside and detained - with officers noting "Miss Love's behaviour was consistent with being under the influence of a controlled substance". Shortly after her arrest, Ms Love was taken to hospital with a suspected drug overdose.

2004, Billy Joel married 23-year-old Kate Lee at his Centre Island, New York mansion. It was the third marriage for Joel.

2005, James Blunt kicked off a 17 date UK tour at Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland.

2005, Katie Melua scored her second UK No.1 album when ‘Piece By Piece’ went to the top of the charts.

2005, Sugababes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Push The Button', the girl group's 4th No.1.

2007, Britney Spears was ordered to hand over her two young children to her former husband Kevin Federline by a judge in Los Angeles. The court ruled that Federline would be given custody of Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James, until further notice. Last month Judge Scott Gordon had said Ms Spears showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol." The singer was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week as part of her child custody dispute with Mr Federline.

2008, Pink went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Funhouse’ the singer’s fourth studio album. The album's original title was 'Heartbreak is a Motherf**ker'.


October 2nd: Born on this day


1939, Born on this day, Lolly Vegas, Redbone, (1971 UK No.2 & US No.21 single 'The Witch Queen Of New Orleans').

1941, Born on this day, Ron Meagher, The Beau Brummels, (1965 US No.8 single 'Just A Little.')

1945, Born on this day, Don McLean, US singer, songwriter, (1971 US & 1972 UK No.1 single 'American Pie', a song inspired by the death of Buddy Holly).

1949, Born on this day, Richard Hell, vocals, The Voidoids, (1977 album 'Blank Generation' features the track 'Love Comes In Spurts').

1950, Born on this day, Mike Rutherford, guitar, Genesis, (1986 US No.1 single 'Invisible Touch', 1992 UK No.7 single 'I Can't Dance' & 6 UK No.1 albums). & Mike And The Mechanics, (1989 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'The Living Years').

1951, Born on this day, Sting, (Gordon Sumner), singer, songwriter, The Police, (1983 UK & US No.1 single 'Every Breath You Take', plus 4 other UK No.1 singles). Solo, (1990 UK No.15 single 'Englishman In New York' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). One time member of Last Exit.

1952, Born on this day, John Otway, UK singer, songwriter, guitarist, (1977 UK No.27 single 'Really Free', with Wild Willy Barrett). 2002 UK No.7 single 'Bunsen Burner'.

1955, Born on this day, Phil Oakey vocals, Human League, (1981 UK No.1 & 1982 US No.1 single 'Don't You Want Me' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1956, Born on this day, Freddie Jackson, US soul singer, scored US 10 R&B No. 1's.

1961, Born on this day, Robbie Nevil, singer, (1987 UK No.3 single 'C'est La Vie').

1962, Born on this day, Sigtryggur Baldursson, drums, The Sugarcubes, (1992 UK No.17 single 'Hit').

1969, Born on this day, Badly Drawn Boy, (Damon Gough), singer, songwriter, 2002 UK No.9 single 'You Were Right', 2002 UK No. 10 album, 'Have You Fed The Fish'.

1971, Born on this day, Tiffany, US singer (1987 US No.1 & 1988 UK No.1 single 'I Think We're Alone Now').

1973, Born on this day, Lene G Nystrom, Aqua, (1997 UK No.1 single Barbie Girl).

October 4th: On this Day


1957, Winners at this years Annual NME readers poll included Pat Boone who was voted the world's No.1 singer, with Elvis Presley voted second. The top two UK group's were The King Brothers and The Stargazers.

1961, Bob Dylan played a showcase at New York's Carnegie Hall to 53 people.

1962, The Tornadoes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the instrumental, 'Telstar', (named after a communication satellite). The track went on to be the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart also reaching No.1.

1963, The Beatles made their first appearance on the UK ITV pop show 'Ready Steady Go!'

1966, The Byrds played the first of a 13 night run at The Village Gate, New York City.

1967, A 10-date package tour of the UK kicked off at London's Finsbury Park, featuring Traffic, The Young Rascals, Vanilla Fudge, Art and Keith West.

1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Green River', the group's first US chart topper.

1969, The Beatles 'Abbey Road' album went to No.1 on the UK chart. The final studio recordings from the group featured two George Harrison songs 'Something' and 'Here Comes The Sun' plus 'Come Together', 'Sun King' and 'Golden Slumbers.' The cover supposedly contained clues adding to the ‘Paul Is Dead’ phenomenon: Paul is barefoot and the car number plate ‘LMW 281F’ supposedly referred to the fact that McCartney would be 28 years old if he was still alive. ‘LMW’ was said to stand for ‘Linda McCartney Weeps.’ And the four Beatles, represent; the priest (John, dressed in white), the Undertaker (Ringo in a black suit), the Corpse (Paul, in a suit but barefoot), and the Gravedigger (George, in jeans and a denim work shirt).

1970, US singer Janis Joplin was found dead at the Landmark Hotel Hollywood after an accidental heroin overdose. (1971 US No.1 single 'Me And Bobby McGee', 1971 US No.1 album 'Pearl').

1971, Pink Floyd played the first of four nights at the Roman Ampitheater, Pompeii, Italy for their Live in Pompeii album.

1973, The BBC broadcast the 500th edition of UK music show Top Of The Pops. Slade, Gary Glitter and The Osmonds all appeared.

1975, David Essex was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hold Me Close', the singers second and last UK No.1.

1975, Pink Floyd went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Wish You Were Here'. The album featured a tribute to ex band member Syd Barrett, 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'. Also No.1 in the US.

1978, Country singer Tammy Wynette, was abducted, beaten and held in her car for two hours by a kidnapper wearing a ski mask. He held a gun on her and forced her to drive 90 miles from Nashville, Tennessee. She was later released and the kidnapper escaped.

1980, Carly Simon collapsed on stage during a show in Pittsburgh suffering from nervous exhaustion.

1980, Queen started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Another One Bites The Dust.'

1980, Winners in the Melody Makers readers poll included, Kate Bush who won Best female singer, Peter Gabriel won Best male singer, Best guitarist went to Ritchie Blackmore, Phil Collins won Best drummer, Genesis won Band of the year, Best single went to Pink Floyd for ‘Another Brick in The Wall’, and Saxon won brightest hope.

1982, The Smiths made their live debut at the Ritz in Manchester England, supporting Blue Rondo A La Turk.

1983, Gary Numan appeared at The Odeon, Birmingham, England.

1986, Paul Simon started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Graceland.'

1997, Boyz II Men went to No.1 on the US singles chart with '4 Seasons Of Loneliness', the group's fifth US No.1. A No.10 hit in the UK.

1999, It was reported that the sister of Jimi Hendrix was planning to exhume her brothers body and move it to a pay-to view mausoleum. Other plans for the new site included a chance for fans to buy one of burial plots around the guitarist's new resting-place.

2000, Craig David picked up the awards for Best R&B Act Best UK Newcomer and Best UK Single for 'Fill Me In' at the Mobo awards.

2004, Canadian bassist Bruce Palmer died of a heart attack. Member of The Mynah Birds and The Buffalo Springfield. Also worked with Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and Neil Young.

2005, Mike Gibbins, drummer with Badfinger died in his sleep at the age of 56. Badfinger had the 1970 UK No.4 & US No.7 single 'Come And Get It'.

2006, Former R Kelly employee (who claimed to have been a “mentor and guide” to Kelly since he was a teenager) Henry Vaughn filed a lawsuit against the singer accusing him of assault, false imprisonment, and a breach of contract that defrauded him of songwriting royalties. Vaughn also claimed that Kelly and his associates dragged him to the basement at Kelly’s Olympia Fields home and “repeatedly struck him about the face and body with his fists.

2007, Producer Phil Spector was set to be retried for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson following the collapse of the first trial in Sept of this year. The first trial ended with the jury deadlocked 10-2 favouring conviction. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler set another hearing for the case on 23 October.

2007, The Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time with their A Bigger Bang tour. The tour which ran from late 2005 to August 2007, earned the band £247m, ($437m) with The Stones playing to over 3.5 million people at 113 shows. The previous high was set by U2's Vertigo tour, which took place in 2005 and 2006, earning £220m, ($389m).

2009, Paramore went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Brand New Eyes’, the American bands third studio album.


October 4th: Born on this day


1929, Born on this day, Leroy Van Dyke. In 1961 he had a No.1 US country hit and No.5 pop hit with Walk On By. He had two other top-ten country hits, Auctioneer and If A Woman Answers.

1947, Born on this day, Jim Fielder, bass, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.2 single 'Spinning Wheel', 1969 US No.12 & UK No.35 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy').

1957, Born on this day, Barbara Kooyman, Timbuk 3, (1987 UK No.21 single 'The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades').

1959, Born on this day, Chris Lowe, keyboards, Pet Shop Boys, (1986 UK & US No.1 single 'West End Girls', plus three other UK No.1 singles and over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).

1961, Born on this day, Jon Secada, US singer, (1992 UK No. 5 single 'Just Another Day').

1963, Born on this day, Lena Zavaroni, UK singer, (1974 UK No.10 single 'Ma He's Making Eyes At Me'). She died on 1st October 1999 from to anorexia nervosa. She was discovered on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks, became the youngest British singer to earn a silver disc.

1965, Born on this day, Neil Sims drummer Catherine Wheel, (1992 UK No.35 single 'I Want To Touch You').

1984, Born on this day, Katina Sergeevna, singer, Tatu, (2003 UK No.1 single 'All The Things She Said').

October 6th: On this Day


1959, Jerry Keller was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Here Comes Summer'. A one hit wonder, Keller went on to be a vocalist for television jingles throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

1963, The Yardbirds appeared at Studio 51, Leicester Square, London.

1964, The Beatles spent the afternoon recording 'Eight Days A Week' at Abbey Road studios in London. Late evening was spent at The Ad Lib Club, London, partying with The Ronettes and Mick Jagger.

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a session for the UK BBC radio show 'Top Gear.' Stevie Wonder who was also appearing on the show jammed with Hendrix.

1967, The Doors appeared at the Cal State Gymnasium, Los Angeles, California. With The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Sunshine Company.

1967, Pink Floyd appeared at the Miss Teenage Brighton Contest, Top Rank Suite, Brighton, England, playing the musical interlude during the contest.

1969, George Harrison's song 'Something' was released as the "A" side of a Beatles' 45, a first for Harrison. Along with Lennon and McCartney's Come Together, the single will reach No.1 in the US next month.

1970, The US Top 5 singles: at 5, 'All Right Now' by Free, 4, 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', Diana Ross, 3, 'Candida', Dawn, 2, 'I'll Be There', Jackson Five and No.1, 'Cracklin' Rose,' Neil Diamond.

1973, Cher started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Half-Breed', the singers second US No.1. The single didn't chart in the UK.

1973, Slade scored their second UK No.1 album when 'Sladest' started a three week-run at the top of the charts.

1978, Australia’s ‘King of rock 'n' roll’ Johnny O’Keefe died aged 43 of a heart attack. He was the first Australian rock’n’roll performer to tour the United States, and Australia’s most successful chart performer, with 29 Top 40 hits between 1958 and 1974,. O’Keefe’s 1958 hit, ‘Real Wild Child’, was covered by Iggy Pop in 1986.

1978, Abba members Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad married.

1979, Robert John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sad Eyes', a No.31 in the UK.

1979, Buzzcocks, supported by Joy Division appeared at the Odeon Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, tickets £2.50

1980, John Lydon was arrested by Irish police for assault after a pub brawl in Dublin.

1980, The Bee Gees sued their record company Polygram and the bands manager Robert Stigwood for fraud.

1984, David Bowie scored his sixth UK No.1 album with 'Tonight', featuring the single 'Blue Jean'.

1990, Maxi Priest went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Close To You', a No.7 hit in the UK.

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 1997.

1996, Celine Dion was at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Falling Into You'.

1998, A music industry poll was published by London Magazine 'Time Out', naming the top stars from the past 30 years. 5th place was Marvin Gaye, 4th; James Brown, 3rd; Bob Marley, 2nd; The Beatles and first place went to David Bowie.

1999, Winners at The Mobo Awards included Kele Le Roc, for best newcomer and best single. Shanks & Bigfoot won best dance act. TLC won best video for 'No Scrubs'. Lauryn Hill, won best International act and Tina Turner won a Lifetime Achievement Award.

2000, Manhattan Supreme Court sentenced rapper Busta Rhymes to five years probation after pleading guilty to a gun possession charge.

2002, Elvis Presley started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Elvis 30 #1 Hits.’

2004, Britney Spears threw a full cup of cola over a photographer. The snapper was waiting to take pictures of the singer and her new husband outside a subway take-away shop in Malibu, California.

2005, A Rolling Stones concert at the University of Virginia, in the US, was halted eight songs into the show at the Scott Stadium after police received a bomb threat targeting the stage area. A 45-minute police sweep of the area found nothing unusual, and the band completed the show. The Stones were touring to promote their latest album, 'A Bigger Bang.'

2007, Bruce Springsteen was being sued for $850,000 (£415,973) by a man who claimed he backed out of a contract to buy a horse. Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa were both named in legal documents filed in Florida by Todd Minikus. He claimed the couple pulled out of a deal to pay $650,000 (£358,097) for a horse, named Pavarotti.

2007, Queen's groundbreaking promo for their 1975 hit Bohemian Rhapsody was named the UK's best music video in a survey of music fans. Out of 1,051 adults polled by O2, 30% named the six-minute video, (which took only three hours to shoot and cost a mere £3,500 to make), their favourite.


October 6th: Born on this day


1917, Born on this day, Bob Neal, ex DJ, agent and one time Elvis Presley manager, died on 9th May 1983.

1945, Born on this day, Robin Shaw, The Flowerpot Men. (1967 UK No.4 single 'Let's Go to Francisco').

1948, Born on this day, Millie Small, (Millie), 1964 US & UK No.2 single 'My Boy Lollipop).

1949, Born on this day, Bobby Farrell, Boney M, (1978 UK No.1 & US No.30 single 'Rivers of Babylon').

1949, Born on this day, Thomas McClary, guitar, The Commodores, (1978 UK & US No.1 single 'Three Times A Lady').

1951, Born on this day, David Hidalgo, Los Lobos (1987 UK & US No.1 single 'La Bamba').

1951, Born on this day, Gavin Sutherland, The Sutherland Brothers, (1976 UK No.5 single 'Arms Of Mary'. Wrote the million seller 'Sailing' a No.1 for Rod Stewart in 1975).

1951, Born on this day, Kevin Cronin, REO Speedwagon, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Keep On Loving You').

1958, Born on this day, Tim Mooney, drums, American Music Club, (1993 album 'Mercury').

1960, Born on this day, Richard Jobson, The Skids, (1979 UK No.10 single 'Into The Valley'), Armoury Show, TV presenter.

1961, Born on this day, Tim Burgess, Drums, T'Pau, (1987 UK No.1 single 'China In Your Hand', 1987 US No.4 single 'Heart and Soul').

1964, Born on this day, Matthew Sweet, singer guitarist, (solo single 'Girlfriend'). The Thorns.

1966, Born on this day, Tommy Stinson, bass, The Replacements, (1984 album 'Let It Be'). Also worked with Guns N' Roses.

1982, Born on this day, William Pierce, synthesiser, bass, guitar. percussion, Arcade Fire, (2005 album ‘Funeral’).

October 8th: On this Day


1955, Jimmy Young was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the theme song from the James Stewart western 'The Man From Laramie', the singers second UK No.1.

1964, Roy Orbison was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Oh Pretty Woman', his third UK No.1.

1964, Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded their next single ‘She's a Woman’ in seven takes plus overdubs, recording the song from start to finish in five hours.

1965, During a UK The Rolling Stones appeared at The ABC, Stockton on Tees. Also on the bill, Spencer Davis Group, Unit Four + 2, The Checkmates, The End, and Charles Dickens and The Habits.

1965, The Florescents supported by The Castiles, which featured a young singer called Bruce Springsteen appeared at the I.B. Club in Howell, New Jersey. This was The Castiles first publicly advertised nightclub appearance. Admission was $1.00

1966, Cream drummer Ginger Baker collapsed during a gig at Sussex University, England after playing a 20 minute drum solo. He recovered in a local hospital.

1967, Jimi Hendrix, Arthur Brown and John's Children all appeared at the Saville Theatre in London, England.

1969, Humble Pie supported by David Bowie appeared at The Coventry Theatre in England.

1976, Rainbow appeared at the Luxor Theater, Hoensbroek, Holland supported by AC/DC.

1977, One half of TV cop show "Starsky & Hutch" (he was blonde Hutch), David Soul was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Silver Lady', his second and last UK No.1 single.

1982, R.E.M. appeared at the Peppermint Lounge, New York City, supported by The Fleshtones.

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.

1987, Chuck Berry was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His film biography, Hail, Hail Rock & Roll also premiered on the same night.

1988, Def Leppard were at No.1 in the US singles chart with 'Love Bites.'

1988, On their 12th single release, U2 scored their first UK No.1 with 'Desire.' The track which was also a US No.3 hit was taken from their album 'Rattle And Hum.'

1988, Pink Floyd's ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ finally left Billboard's Hot 200 Album Chart after a record breaking 741 weeks.

1992, The US Postal Service issued a set of commemorative stamps to celebrate pop music legends. The stamps included Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, Clyde McPhatter and Dinah Washington.

2000, All Saints went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Black Coffee'. The girl group's 5th and final No.1, taken from their album 'Saints & Sinners'.

2000, Christina Aguilera started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Come On Over Baby.'

2000, Radiohead started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Kid A'. Also No. in the US.

2000, Mystikal was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Let’s Get Ready.’

2003, Coldplay singer Chris Martin asked Australian police to drop a charge of malicious damage after allegedly attacking a photographer's car. Martin was charged in July after breaking a windscreen with a rock after being photographed surfing. Martin did not appear in court at Byron Bay, New South Wales, when his lawyer, Megan Cusack, asked for the charge to be dropped.

2004, Britney Spears split with the manager who had guided her career since she was 13 years old. Larry Rudolph said he and the singer had "mutually agreed not to renew their nine-year management relationship".

2006, The Killers started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Sam's Town' the US bands second album.

2007, Arctic Monkeys were named the best act in the world at this year’s Q Awards held in London. Best album went to Amy Winehouse's Back to Black and Muse won Best live act. Manic Street Preachers won the award for the year's top track for ‘Your Love Alone is Not Enough’ and ‘Ruby’ by the Kaiser Chiefs won best video. Top breakthrough artist was Kate Nash, The icon of the year went to Sir Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue was named idol of 2007, former Blur frontman Damon Albarn took the prize for inspiration, Classic songwriter award went to Billy Bragg, Innovation in sound award Sigur Ros and Lifetime achievement award went to Johnny Marr. The late Tony Wilson, founder of Manchester's Factory Records was named Q's hero.


October 8th: Born on this day


1934, Born on this day, Doc Green, The Drifters, (1960 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Save The Last Dance For Me').

1940, Born on this day Fred Cash, vocals, The Impressions, (1965 US No.7 single 'Lilies Of The Field').

1940, Born on this day George Bellamy, guitar, The Tornadoes, (1962 UK & US No.1 single 'Telstar'). The first major hit from a UK act on the American chart.

1941, Born on this day Dave Arbus, East Of Eden, (1971 UK No.7 single 'Jig A Jig').

1945, Born on this day Butch Rillera, Redbone, (1971 UK No.2 & US No.21 single 'The Witch Queen Of New Orleans').

1945, Born on this day Ray Royer, guitarist, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale').

1947, Born on this day, Tony Wilson, Hot Chocolate, (1975 US No.3 single 'You Sexy Thing', 1977 UK No.1 single 'So You Win Again' plus over 25 other Top 40 hits).

1948, Born on this day, Johnny Ramone, guitar, The Ramones, (John Cummings), 1977 UK No.22 single 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'). Died of prostate cancer on 15th September 2004.

1949, Born on this day, Hamish Stewart, Average White Band, (1975 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Pick Up The Pieces'). Member of the Paul McCartney band during the 90's, now solo.

1949, Born on this day, Harry Bowens, Was Not Was, (1992 UK No.4 single 'Shake Your Head').

1959, Born on this day, James Johnstone, Pigbag, (1982 UK No.3 single 'Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag').

1967, Born on this day, Teddy Riley, US singer, Blackstreet, (1996 UK No. 9 & US No.1 'No Diggity', featuring Dr Dre).

October 10th: On this Day


1902, The Gibson Mandolin guitar company was formed. Gibson's first electric guitar the ES-150 was produced in 1936, and in 1946 Gibson introduced the P-90 single coil pickup, which was eventually used on the first Les Paul model made in 1952.

1939, The real Eleanor Rigby died in her sleep of unknown causes at the age of 44. The 1966 Beatles' song that featured her name wasn't written about her, as Paul McCartney's first draft of the song named the character Miss Daisy Hawkins. Eleanor Rigby's tombstone was noticed in the 1980s in the graveyard of St. Peter's Parish Church in Woolton, Liverpool, a few feet from where McCartney and Lennon had met for the first time in 1957.

1956, Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" entered the US chart for a 19 week stay, peaking at No.1 for 5 weeks. The song, from Presley's first film of the same name, was adapted from the tune "Aura Lee", written in 1861.

1959, The Quarry Men played at the Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool. Ken Brown, suffering from a heavy cold was unable to perform and after the show, an argument started when Paul McCartney says that Brown should not get a share of the performance fee since he had not performed. Lennon and Harrison side with McCartney and Brown quits The Quarry Men.

1959, Barry Gordy's first release on the newly established Motown Records, "Bad Girls" by The Miracles, entered the Billboard Pop chart.

1960, Larry Verne went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Mr Custer'. The song didn't chart in the UK.

1963, Little Richard, The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley, The Rolling Stones, Micky Most, The Flintstones and Bob Bain all appeared at The Gaumont, Wolverhampton, England.

1963, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Do You Love Me.' The group's only UK No.1.

1964, During a UK tour The Beatles appeared at De Montfort Hall in Leicester. Ringo Starr drove himself to the venue after taking delivery of a brand new Facel Vega, apparently reaching speeds of 140 MPH on the M6 motorway.

1970, The Carpenters were at No.2 on the US singles chart with 'We've Only Just Begun.' The song was originally written for a TV commercial advertising a bank.

1970, Black Sabbath were at No.1 on the UK chart with their second album 'Paranoid.' The album is now regarded as one of the classic Heavy Metal albums.

1970, Neil Diamond went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Cracklin' Rosie', his first No.1 as an artist. Diamond wrote the 1966 No.1 hit 'I'm A Believer' for The Monkees.

1970, The first issue of Sounds the British music paper was published. It was well known initially for giving away posters in the centre of the paper, Sounds closed on April 6, 1991.

1973, Rod Stewart & The Faces and Rory Gallagher appeared at San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego. California.

1978, Joe Perry and Steve Tyler from Aerosmith were injured after a cherry bomb was thrown on stage during a gig in Philadelphia. The group performed behind a safety fence for the rest of the tour.

1978, The second Stiff Records UK tour kicked off featuring; Wreckless Eric, Jona Lewie, Rachel Sweet, Lene Lovich and Micky Jupp. The UK tour was undertaken by train, and then continued on to the USA, without Jupp, who was afraid of flying.

1979, Fleetwood Mac were awarded a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame.

1980, The funeral took place of Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham. ‘Bonzo’ was found dead at guitarists Jimmy Page's house of what was described as asphyxiation, after inhaling his own vomit after excessive vodka consumption, (40 shots in 4 hours) aged 32.

1981, The Police went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Ghost In The Machine', the bands third No.1 LP.

1983, The first night on the Wham! Club fantastic tour kicked off in Aberdeen, Scotland.

1987, Whitesnake went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Here I Go Again', a No.9 hit in the UK in 1987.

1987, Wanda Nicholls made an official complaint that David Bowie raped her and bit her on the legs and back. Bowie dismissed the alleged incident, claiming Nicholls was 'publicity seeking.'

1992, Garth Brooks went to No.1 on the US album chart with, 'The Chase.' The album spent 35 weeks on the chart and sold over 6m copies.

1992, R.E.M. scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Automatic For The People', featuring the singles 'Drive', 'Everybody Hurts', 'Man On The Moon' and 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight.'

1999, American singer, songwriter and actor Hoyt Axton died of a heart attack in Victor, Montana aged 61. Wrote songs for, Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, (1971 US No.1 Joy To The World), John Denver, Ringo Starr, Glen Campbell. His mother Mae Boren Axton wrote 'Heartbreak Hotel.'

1999, A charity auction selling Elvis Presley's belongings was held at The Grand Hotel, Las Vegas. A wristwatch sold for $32,500, a cigar box $25,000, an autographed baseball sold for $19,000, and a 1956 Lincoln Continental sold for $250,000.

1999, US teenager Christina Aguilera went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Genie In A Bottle.' The song spent 5 weeks at No.1 on the US chart and won Aguilera the Best New Artist Grammy for the year.

2000, Britney Spears made her UK live debut when she played the first of three sold out nights at London's Wembley Arena.

2002, Twelve protesters dressed as monkeys picketed outside the north Wales holiday home of former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown. The demonstrators argued Brown, was selling the five-bedroom house, in the small village of Llithfaen on the Llyn Peninsula for an inflated price - £150,000 - which local people could not afford. The monkey costumes worn by the anonymous protesters, referred to the name of Brown's recent solo album 'Unfinished Monkey Business.'

2004, Robbie Williams scored his sixth UK No.1 solo single with 'Radio', co-written with Stephen Duffy.

2007, Sting topped a list of the worst lyricists ever, for such alleged sins as name-dropping Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov in the Police tune "Don't Stand So Close to Me," quoting a Volvo bumper sticker ("If You Love Someone Set Them Free"), and co-opting the works of Chaucer, St. Augustine and Shakespeare. The survey in Blender magazine placed Rush drummer Neil Peart at No. 2, Creed frontman Scott Stapp at No. 3 and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher at No. 4 saying Gallagher "seemed incapable of following a metaphor through a single line, let alone a whole verse."

2009, Pearl Jam went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Backspacer’, the group’s ninth studio album.
2009, Boyzone singer Stephen Gately died suddenly at the age of 33 while on holiday in Majorca. Spanish police said there were no signs of suspicious circumstances, but the cause of death was not yet known. Gately was on holiday with his long-term partner Andy Cowles.


October 10th: Born on this day


1943, Born on this day, Denis D'Ell, The Honeycombs, (1964 UK No.1 single 'Have I The Right'). Died on 6th July 2005.

1945, Born on this day, Alan Cartwright, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale').

1945, Born on this day, Jerry Lacroix, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.12 & UK No. 35 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy').

1946, Born on this day, John Prine, singer, songwriter, 1971 Vietnam War song 'Sam Stone' from the album 'John Prine.'

1951, Born on this day, Keith Grimes, guitarist, Eva Cassidy. (Only artist to score three posthumous UK No.1 albums, 2001 'Songbird',

2002 'Imagine', 2003 'American Tune'. 2001 UK No. 42 single 'Over The Rainbow').

1952, Born on this day, Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy and star of MTV The Osbournes TV Show.

1955, Born on this day, David Lee Roth, vocals, Van Halen (1984 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Jump') & solo, (1988 UK No.27 single 'Just Like Paradise').

1955, Born on this day, Midge Ure, guitarist, singer, songwriter. First joined Slik, (1976 UK No.1 'Forever And Ever'), Rich Kids, (1978 UK No.24 'Rich Kids'), Ultravox, (1981 UK No.2 'Vienna'), Band Aid, (1985 UK No.1 'Do They Know It's Christmas') & solo (1985 UK No.1 'If I Was').

1955, Born on this day, Tanya Tucker, US country singer, 1991 Country Music Association singer of the year. Best known for her debut hit 'Delta Dawn' which she released when she was 13. She has topped the US country music charts 10 times. Starred in her own fly-on-the-wall TV show, Tuckerville, in 2005.

1959, Born on this day, Kirsty MacColl, UK singer, songwriter, (1985 UK No.7 single 'A New England', 1987 UK No.2 single with The Pogues, 'Fairytale Of New York'). MacColl was killed in a boating accident on 18th December 2000.

1960, Born on this day, Al Connelly, Glass Tiger, (1986 UK No.29 single 'Don't Forget Me, When I'm Gone').
1960, Born on this day, Eric Martin, singer, Mr. Big, (1992 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'To Be With You').

1961, Born on this day, Martin Kemp, bass, Spandau Ballet, (1983 UK No.1 single 'True', plus 16 other UK Top 40 singles). He is the brother of Gary who he appeared with in the British film The Krays.

1963, Born on this day, Jim Glennie, bass, James, (1991 UK No.2 single 'Sit Down').

1963, Born on this day, Jonny Male, guitar, Republica, (1997 UK No.7 single 'Drop Dead Gorgeous').

1964, Born on this day, Graham Crabb, drums, Pop Will Eat Itself, (1991 UK No.15 single 'X Y& Zee').

1967, Born on this day, Mike Malinin, guitar, vocals, Goo Goo Dolls, (1999 UK No. 26 single 'Iris', 2002 US No.3 album ‘Gutterflower’).

1973, Born on this day, Scott Morriss, bass, The Bluetones, (1996 UK No.2 single 'Slight Return').

1976, Born on this day, Richard Oakes, guitar, Suede, (1996 UK No.3 single 'Trash').

1979, Born on this day, Mya, (Marie Harrison), US singer, (2000 US No.2 single 'Case Of The Ex', 2001 US & UK No.1 single with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Pink, 'Lady Marmalade').

October 12th: On this Day


1955, The Chrysler Corporation launched high fidelity record players for their 1956 line-up of cars. The unit measured about four inches high and less than a foot wide and mounted under the instrument panel. The seven inch discs spun at 16 2/3 rpm and required almost three times the number of grooves per inch as an LP. The players were discontinued in 1961.

1957, During an Australian tour Little Richard publicly renounced rock 'n' roll and embraced God, telling a story of dreaming of his own damnation after praying to God when one of the engines on a plane he was on caught fire. The singer threw four diamond rings, valued at $8,000, into Sydney's Hunter River and soon after launched a Gospel career. Five years later, he would switch back to Rock.

1957, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, The Drifters and Chuck Berry all appeared at the Mission Beach Ballroom, San Diego, California.

1962, Little Richard, The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer and other local group's all appeared at The Tower Ballroom, Wallasey, Merseyside, England.

1963, Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sugar Shack'.

1965, Working on their next album Rubber Soul at Abbey Road Studio’s London, The Beatles recorded ‘Run For Your Life’ in its entirety, in five takes. (Lennon later admits to lifting two lines from Elvis Presley's 1955 hit ‘Baby Let's Play House’). And another new Lennon song ‘This Bird Has Flown’, later known as ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’. The track included George Harrison's double-tracked sitar part, the first appearance of that Indian instrument on a pop record.

1967, The Doors appeared at The Surf Club, Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts, supported by Ultimate Spinach.

1968, Big Brother And The Holding Company went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Cheap Thrills'.

1968, The Hollies started a six-week run at No.1 on the UK album charts with their 'Greatest Hits.'

1969, A DJ on Detroit's WKNR radio station received a phone call telling him that if you play The Beatles 'Strawberry Fields Forever' backwards, you hear John Lennon say the words "I buried Paul." This started a worldwide rumour that Paul McCartney was dead.

1971, Gene Vincent (Vincent Eugene Craddock), died from a perforated ulcer, aged 36. Had the 1956 US No.7 & UK No.16 single 'Be Bop A Lula'. Appeared in the film, The Girl Can't Help It with Jayne Mansfield. In 1960, while on tour in the UK, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured the car crash that killed Eddie Cochran.

1974, Olivia Newton-John went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'If You Love Me, Let Me Know.'

1974, The Bay City Rollers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album 'Rollin.'

1975, Rod Stewart and The Faces made their final live appearance when they played at Nassau Coliseum, Long Island.

1978, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark made their live debut at Eric's, Liverpool, England.

1978, Whilst living at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City, Sex Pistol Sid Vicious called the police to say that someone had stabbed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. He was arrested and charged with murder and placed in the detox unit of a New York prison.

1978, The Tom Robinson band appeared at Friars in Aylesbury with Stiff Little Fingers as support and the Johnny Thunders All Stars played at The Lyceum in London. His band featured Paul Cook and Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols.

1982, The Who supported by The Clash appeared at Shea Stadium, New York City.

1985, Ricky Wilson of the B-52's died of complications from aids. The B-52's, had the 1990 UK No.2 & US No.3 single 'Love Shack'.

1985, Jennifer Rush was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Power Of Love'. The song stayed at No.1 for five weeks and became the biggest selling single of the year and the biggest single ever for a woman in the UK. Celine Dion enjoyed a No.1 US hit with her version in 1993.

1985, Ready For The World went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Oh Sheila', a No.50 hit in the UK.

1991, Mariah Carey had her fifth No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Emotions' a No.17 hit in the UK.

1991, Simply Reds fourth album 'Stars' went to No.1 on the UK chart for the first of five times, featuring the singles 'Thrill Me', 'For Your Babies' and the title track 'Stars.' The album became the biggest seller of 1991 and 1992 in the UK spending 134 week's on the chart.

1992, Tupac Shakur was released from prison pending an appeal for sexual assault on $1.4 million bail.

1994, Pink Floyd played the first of a 15-night run at Earls Court, London, England. Less than a minute after the band had started playing 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond', a scaffolding stand holding 1200 fans, collapsed, throwing hundreds of people 20 feet to the ground. It took over an hour to free everyone from the twisted wreckage, ninety-six people were injured, with 36 needing hospital treatment. Six were detained overnight with back, neck and rib injuries. Pink Floyd sent a free T-shirt and a note of apology to all the fans who had been seated in the stand that collapsed. The show was immediately cancelled and re-scheduled.

1995, R.E.M. played the first of 3 nights at the Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania supported by Grant Lee Buffalo.

1996, British dance duo The Chemical Brothers scored their first UK No.1 single with 'Setting Sun.' The song was written by Noel Gallagher and sung by Noel Gallagher of Oasis.

1997, US singer songwriter John Denver was killed when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed into Monterey Bay, California. Denver was aged 53.

1997, Boyz II Men were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Evolution'.

1997, The Backstreet Boys were forced to cancel a show in Madrid after over 7,000 fans arrived for the 5,000 capacity show. More than 300 young girls had to be treated after fainting in the heat.

1999, Adrian Young drummer with No Doubt proposed to his girlfriend during a gig in San Francisco. Young came on to the stage before the bands encore and got down on bended knee with a ring, his girlfriend Nina accepted.

1999, The island of their birth, The Isle Of Man, issued six stamps honouring The Bee Gees. Their mother had run a local post office on the island.

2005, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee suffered minor burns at a concert in Casper, Wyoming during a pyrotechnics explosion. Lee was treated at a local hospital for the injuries to his arm and face, which occurred while he was suspended from a wire 30 feet above the stage.

2005, Singer and Live Aid co-founder Midge Ure received an honorary degree from Dundee's University of Abertay. He said: "Having left school at the age of 15, I never expected to receive such an accolade."

2008, Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Dig Out Your Soul’ the band’s seventh and final studio album.


October 12th: Born on this day


1935, Born on this day, Luciano Pavarotti, Italian singer, (1990 UK No.2 single 'Nessun Dorma', 1990 UK No.1 album 'The Essential Pavorotti', spent 72 weeks on the UK chart).

1935, Born on this day, Sam Moore, singer, (Sam & Dave, 1964 UK No.24 & 1967 US No.2 single 'Soul Man').

1942, Born on this day, Melvin Franklin, vocals, The Temptations, (1971 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' UK No.2 in 1992). He died on 23rd February 1995.

1948, Born on this day, Rick Parfitt, vocals, guitar, Status Quo, (1977 UK No.3 single 'Rockin' All Over The World', plus over 50 other UK Top 75 singles).

1955, Born on this day, Jane Siberry, Canadian singer, songwriter, (1989 album 'Bound By The Beauty').

1956, Born on this day, David Letts, (Dave Vanian), vocals, The Damned, (1986 UK No.3 single 'Eloise').

1960, Born on this day, Bob Mould, guitar, vocals, Husker Du, (1987 album 'Warehouse Songs And Stories), Sugar, (1992 album, Copper Blue').

1966, Born on this day, Brian Kennedy, Irish singer, songwriter, worked with Van Morrison band & solo, (1996 UK No.27 single 'Life, Love and Happiness', 1996 UK No.19 album 'A Better Man'). Appeared on Broadway in The River Dance.

1969, Born on this day, Martie Erwin, multi-instrumentalist, Dixie Chicks, (1999 UK No.26 single, 'There's Your Trouble', 2000 single 'Cowboy Take Me Away', 1999 US No.1 album Wide Open Space').

October 14th: On this Day


1957, The Everly Brothers had their first No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Wake Up Little Susie', (a No.2 hit in the UK).

1957, The Elvis Presley classic, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ was released. It become his ninth US number one single and stayed on the Billboard chart for nineteen weeks. The film clip from the movie where he sang the song is considered by many historians to be the first rock video.

1959, Bobby Darin was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mack The Knife'. From Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960.

1964, During a UK tour The Beatles played two shows at the ABC Cinema in Ardwick, Manchester.

1965, The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Checkmates, The Habit, The End and Charlie Dickins all appeared at The Odeon, Birmingham during a UK tour.

1966, Pink Floyd played their first ever "underground" set when they appeared at All Saints Hall, Notting Hill, London, UK.

1967, Bobbie Gentry started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Ode To Billie Joe'.

1967, The second series of The Monkees TV show started on BBC TV in the UK. Plans for the shows to be screened in colour were dropped, so it was aired in black & white.

1969, Police in New Jersey issued a warrant for the arrest of Frank Sinatra in relation to his connections with the Mafia.

1971, Music publishing firm, Arco Industries filed a $500,000 dollar lawsuit against Creedance Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty, claiming that Fogerty's song Travelin' Band "containd substantial material copied from Little Richard's Good Golly, Miss Molly". The suit was eventually dropped.

1972, Joe Cocker was arrested for possession of drugs after a show in Adelaide, Australia.

1972, Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ben', his first solo No.1. a No.7 hit in the UK.

1976, Aerosmith kicked off their first ever UK tour at Liverpool's Empire Theatre.

1987, Bryan Adams with support group T'Pau appeared at Newcastle City Hall, England.

1988, Def Leppard became first act in chart history to sell seven million copies of two consecutive LPs, with Pyromania' (released in 1983) and 'Hysteria.'

1988, Bruce Springsteen appeared at Estadio Mundialista, Mendoza, Argentina to a crowd of over 30,000. The concert was also aired on Chile TV.

1989, Motley Crue started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Dr. Feelgood'.

1989, Tracy Chapman scored her second UK No.1 album with 'Crossroads'.

1990, Multi-Emmy and Grammy award-winning American composer, pianist and conductor, Leonard Bernstein died of pneumonia. Composed music for the 1957 musical 'West Side Story', and 'On The Waterfront'. Bernstein conducted the New York Philharmonic aged 25 and wrote three symphonies, two operas, five musicals, and numerous other pieces.

1996, Madonna gave birth to her first child Lourdes Maria Cicone Leon.

1998, Janet Jackson set off on a 10 date US tour at the Baltimore arena with *NSYNC as the opening act.

2000, The Beatles Anthology book was at No.1 on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list.

2002, The Libertines released their debut album, the record entered the UK charts at Number 35 and went on to top end of year critics polls in several music magazines.

2004, Eric Clapton was suspended from driving in France after being caught speeding at 134mph in his Porsche 911 Turbo near Merceuil. He was given a 750 euro (£515) fine and his UK licence was confiscated. After paying his fine Clapton posed for photographs with French police and then left the scene in his Porsche - with his secretary behind the wheel.

2006, Ludacris was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Release Therapy’ the rappers fifth album release

2006, Freddy Fender, the Tex-Mex singer died of complications from lung cancer at the age of 69. Known for standards as ‘Before the Next Teardrop Falls’ (US No.1 in 1975) and ‘Wasted Days and Wasted Nights’.

2007, US rapper TI was arrested and charged with weapons offences just hours before he was due to perform and collect two awards at the BET Hip-Hop gala in Atlanta. The 27-year-old was arrested in a car park on suspicion of collecting machine guns and silencers bought for him by his bodyguard. His award for CD of the Year was accepted by rapper Common, who jointly won the prize with TI.

2007, Sugababes went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Change' the girl group's fifth album and second No.1.

2008, Illustrator and rock cartoonist Ray Lowry died. He contributed illustrations for NME, Punch, Private Eye and The Guardian and designed the artwork for The Clash album London Calling.

2009, Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of The Year at the 29th Annual ASCAP Awards in London, England. The awards presentation honored songwriters and publishers of the most performed works in the US during 2008.


October 14th: Born on this day


1940, Born on this day, Cliff Richard, (Harry Webb). Britain's most successful solo artist, his first hit was in 1958 the UK No.2 single 'Move It', then 1959 UK No.1 single 'Living Doll' and 1979 UK No.1 single 'We Don't talk Anymore', plus over 100 UK Top 40 hits). He once worked as a clerk at Fergusons TV factory.

1942, Born on this day, Billy Harrison, Them, (1965 UK No.2 single 'Here Comes The Night').

1945, Born on this day, Colin Hodgkinson, bass, Whitesnake, (1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Here I Go Again').

1946, Born on this day, Dan McCafferty, Nazareth, (1973 UK No.9 single 'Broken Down Angel').

1946, Born on this day, Justin Hayward, The Moody Blues, (1965 UK No.1 single 'Go Now' and 1968 UK No.19 single 'Nights In White Satin').

1948, Born on this day, Ivory Tilmon, Detroit Emeralds, (1973 UK No.7 single 'Feel The Need In Me').

1948, Born on this day, Marcia Barrett, Boney M, (1978 UK No.1 & US No.30 single 'Rivers Of Babylon').

1952, Born on this day, Chris Amoo, The Real Thing, (1976 UK No.1 single 'You To Me Are Everything').

1958, Born on this day, Thomas Dolby, solo, (1984 UK No.17 single 'Hyperactive'), Also member of Camera Club, Lene Lovich band, as a producer worked with Joni Mitchell, Prefab Sprout.

1958, Born on this day, Anthony Jude Pero, drummer, Twisted Sister, (1983 UK No.18 single 'I Am, I'm Me', 1984 album 'Stay Hungry').

1965, Born on this day, Karyn White, singer, (1991 US No.1 single 'Romantic', a No.23 hit in the UK).

1974, Born on this day, Natalie Maines, singer, songwriter, Dixie Chicks, (1999 UK No.26 single, 'There's Your Trouble', 2000 single 'Cowboy Take Me Away', 1999 US No.1 album 'Fly').

1975, Born on this day, Shaznay Lewis, vocals, All Saints, (1998 UK No.1 single 'Never Ever'). Solo.

1978, Born on this day, Usher, singer, (1998 UK No.1 single 'You Make Me Wanna', 1998 US No.1 single, 'Nice & Slow'. His 2004 album Confessions sold over a million copies in the US in its first week of release, selling the greatest amount of records in one week for any R&B artist).