On This Day(In Music )

January 4th: On this Day


1936, Billboard Magazine introduced the first ever-pop music chart that ranked records on national sales; big band violinist Joe Venuti was the first No.1.

1954, Elvis Presley made his second visit to the Memphis recording service and cut two songs onto a 10 acetate, 'Casual Love Affair 'and 'I'll Never Stand In Your Way'. Studio boss Sam Phillips asked Presley to leave his phone number.

1957, Elvis Presley had his pre-induction medical check up at Kennedy Veterans Hospital, a preliminary to his call up from the US Army.

1960, Marty Robbins started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'El Paso'. A No.19 in the UK.

1962, Liverpool's Mersey Beat published its first popularity poll, with The Beatles coming in first place and Gerry and the Pacemakers voted second.

1965, The Fender guitar company was bought by CBS for $13 million (£7.6 million).

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played the first of what would be over 240 gigs in this year when they appeared at the Bromel Club, Bromley. (Many of the concerts were two shows per night).

1967, The Doors released their self-titled debut album The Doors. Unique packaging of the album included each band member’s bio.

1968, The University of California, Los Angeles announced that students taking music degrees would have to study the music of The Rolling Stones saying they had made such an important contribution to modern music.

1969, UK music weekly Disc and Music Echo reported that The Beatles were to release five new albums. One would be their first ever live album plus four separate LP's, each one the choice of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr.

1970, Chauffeur Neil Boland was accidentally killed when The Who's drummer Keith Moon ran over him. Moon was trying to escape from a Gang of skinheads after a fight broke out at a pub in Hatfield, England. Moon had never passed his driving test.

1970, The Beatles (without John Lennon) re-record vocals and a new guitar solo on the Paul McCartney song ‘Let It Be’ at Studio Two, EMI Studios, London. This session will be the final studio appearance for The Beatles, as a group. (The final date that all four of The Beatles were in the studio together is August 20, 1969).

1974, Bruce Springsteen played the first of a three night run at Joes’ Place in Cambridge Massachusetts. Supported by Peter Johnson & The Manic Depressives. On the ticket it said: “Because of the energy crisis all our outside lights except for one will be shut off”.

1975, Elton John started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'. His third US No.1, the song featured John Lennon on guitar.

1976, Former Beatles roadie Mal Evans was shot dead by police at his Los Angeles apartment. His girlfriend called police when she found Evans upset with a rifle in his hand; he pointed the gun at the police who opened fire.

1977, The Sex Pistols shocked passengers and airline staff at Heathrow Airport when they spat and vomited boarding a plane to Amsterdam.

1986, Irish singer, songwriter and bassist Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy died of heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose. Had the 1973 hit 'Whiskey in the Jar', (their version of the traditional Irish song), 1978 album 'Live and Dangerous' spent 62 weeks on the UK chart. A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin in 2005.

1992, Simply Red went back to No.1 on the UK album chart for a five week run with 'Stars' making it the third time it had been at the top of the charts.

2001, Courtney Love filed a lawsuit against her alleged stalker claiming that Lesley Barber, the ex-wife of her current boyfriend Jim Barber, drove over her foot. This had forced her to forfeit her role in a forthcoming film and lost her the £200,000, ($340,000) fee that went with it.

2001, Madame Tussaud's waxworks in London revealed that Oasis singer Liam Gallagher had come third in 'The Most Hated Characters' list of exhibits, behind Adolf Hitler and Slobodan Milosevic.

2001, US rapper Vanilla Ice spent the night in jail after allegedly ripping out some of his wife’s hair. Ice (born Robert Van Winkle) told police he pulled out some of his wife's hair to prevent her from jumping out of their truck's window. He was released the following morning from Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale on $3,500 bail.

2004, Britney Spears had her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas with childhood friend Jason Alexander. They couple married on Saturday morning, during a night out in Las Vegas, but immediately her lawyers filed for an annulment, saying Spears 'lacked understanding of her actions to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to the marriage.'

2005, The owner of a recording studio where Eminem recorded his 'Slim Shady' LP was found shot dead. AJ Abdallah, who was 36, was discovered by a business colleague at the Detroit studio, it was thought he had been dead for at least two days. Police suggested that a robbery may also have taken place. Mr Abdallah had lived in a apartment above the studio on Eight Mile Road, the Detroit street which inspired the title of Eminem's 2002 film '8 Mile.'

2006, The house where Johnny Cash lived for 35 years was bought by Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb. The rustic house near Nashville, Tennessee went on the market in June 2005 with an asking price of $2.9m (£1.7m). Gibb said he planned to preserve the house to honour the Cash memory. Unfortunately Gibb’s ownership of the house was short-lived. In April
2007, the house burned to the ground. Gibb was having the house renovated when a flammable spray sealer caused fire to break out during construction.

2007, Nikki Bacharach the daughter of songwriter Burt Bacharach and actress Angie Dickinson committed suicide by suffocation using a plastic bag and helium. She had suffered from Asperger's disorder. 40 year old Nickki who was the couple's only child died at her home in California.

2008, Beyonce won a long-running legal wrangle over claims her hit song ‘Baby Boy’ infringed the copyright of another artist's work. The appeals court in Houston, Texas upheld a 2006 decision which dismissed musician Jennifer Armour's claims that its lyrics were based on her work. Ms Armour claimed she had posted 'I Got A Little Bit Of Love For You' to Beyonce's manager and record company in early 2003.

2008, Britney Spears was carried out of her home on a stretcher and taken into custody after police were called in a dispute involving her children. Police were called to Spears' home over a family custodial dispute that they tried to resolve, after nearly three hours, Spears handed over her children, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James, to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

2009, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant was voted the Greatest Voice In Rock by listeners of radio station Planet Rock. Plant beat Queen's Freddie Mercury, Free's Paul Rodgers and Deep Purple's Ian Gillan to the top spot in the UK poll.

2010, Scottish singer songwriter Gerry Rafferty died aged 63 after a long illness. Rafferty had been a member of Stealers Wheel, who had the 1973 US No.3 & UK No.8 single 'Stuck In The Middle With You' and had the solo 1978 UK No.3 and US No.2 single 'Baker Street.'

2010, MP3 players given as presents helped boost UK single sales to an all-time high in the week after Christmas. According to Official Charts Company figures, 4.22m singles were sold in the last week of 2009, beating the previous record of 4.03m over Christmas 2008. The Christmas chart battle between X Factor and Rage Against the Machine had helped boost sales.


January 4th: Born on this day


1937, Born on this day, John Gorman, singer, The Scaffold, (1968 Christmas UK No.1 single 'Lily The Pink').

1942, Born on this day, John McLaughlin, guitarist, Mahavishnu Orchestra, (1973 UK No.7 album with Carlos Santana 'Love Devotion Surrender').

1955, Born on this day, Clive Gregson, singer, songwriter, and leader of late 70's Stiff Records band Any Trouble, one half of Gregson & Collister folk duo.

1956, Born on this day, Bernard Sumner, guitar, vocals, Warsaw, Joy Division, (1980 UK No.13 single 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'), New Order, (1983 UK No.9 single 'Blue Monday'), Electronic, (1991 UK No.8 single 'Get The Message'),

1956, Born on this day, Nels Cline, guitarist, songwriter, Wilco, (2004 album 'A Ghost Is Born').

1958, Born on this day, Macel King, singer, Sweet Sensation, (1974 UK No.1 single 'Sad Sweet Dreamer').

1960, Born on this day, Michael Stipe, vocals, R.E.M. (1991 UK No.6 & US No.10 single 'Shiny Happy People' plus over 20 Top 40 UK singles. 1992 UK No.1 & US No.2 album 'Automatic For The People').

1962, Born on this day, Martin Mcaloon, bass, Prefab Sprout, (1988 UK No.7 single 'The King Of Rock 'N' Roll').

1962, Born on this day, Robin Guthrie, guitar, keyboards, programming, Cocteau Twins, (1984 UK No.29 single 'Pearly- dewdrops' Drops').

1962, Born on this day, Till Lindemann poet, lead vocalist for the German rock band Rammstein.

1965, Born on this day, Beth Gibbons, vocals, Portishead, (1995 UK No.13 single 'Glory Box').

1965, Born on this day, Cait O'Riordan, bass, The Pogues, (1987 UK No.8 single 'The Irish Rover').

1965, Born on this day, David Glasper, Breathe, (1988 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'Hands To Heaven').

1967, Born on this day, Ben Darvill, harmonica, Crash Test Dummies, (1994 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'MMM MMM MMM MMM').

1977, Born on this day, Timothy Wheeler, guitar, vocals, Ash, (1995 UK No.11 single 'Girl From Mars').

January 5th: On this Day


1961, The Beatles played at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool. In the audience are two members from Rory Storm & the Hurricanes: Johnny Guitar and Ringo Starr who have just returned from Hamburg, Germany.

1966, The Who appeared on a new UK television program 'The Whole Scene Going.'

1967, Pink Floyd appeared at The Marquee Club, London, England.

1967, During The Beatles Sgt Pepper sessions at Abbey Road in London, Paul McCartney recorded his vocal track on 'Penny Lane.'

1968, Jimi Hendrix was jailed for one day in Stockholm, Sweden on drink charges after going berserk and destroying everything in his room at the Goteberg Hotel.

1972, David Bowie played two shows at Green's Playhouse, Glasgow, Scotland.

1973, Bruce Springsteen released his debut album 'Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.' Recorded in a single week the album only sold about 25,000 copies in the first year of its release. Both 'Blinded By The Light' and 'Spirit In The Night' were released as singles but neither made a dent in the charts. Manfred Mann's Earth Band later released a version of 'Blinded By The Light' on their album 'The Roaring Silence,' which reached #1 on the US charts in 1977.

1974, The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Singles 1969-1973'.

1974, Yes scored their first UK No.1 album with the double set 'Tales From The Topographic Oceans'.

1978, The Sex Pistols started a US tour in Atlanta, Georgia before an estimated audience of 500 people.

1979, Jazz musician and bandleader Charles Mingus died aged 56. His final project was 'Mingus' a collaboration with Joni Mitchell.

1979, Prince made his live debut at the Capri Theatre, Minneapolis.

1980, Donna Summer scored her third US No.1 album with 'On The Radio- Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & II.'

1980, KC and the Sunshine Band had their 5th US No.1 single and scored the first No.1 of the 80's when 'Please Don't Go' went to No.1 in the UK.

1983, Everything But The Girl made their live debut at the ICA in London. (They took their name from a second-hand furniture store in Hull).

1987, Alied Jones the young Welsh chorister announced his retirement from pop music at the age of 16, to study for his O level exams.

1989, Winners in music weekly Melody Makers Readers Poll results, The Mission won best band, best live act, best single and best album. Morrissey won best male singer, Julianne Regan from All About Eve best female singer, worst LP went to Bros with 'Push' and best new band was won by House Of Love.

1990, During a UK tour Paul McCartney appeared at The NEC Birmingham, England.

1991, Iron Maiden went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.' It became the lowest selling No.1 since 1960, with just over 42,000 copies sold in its first week.

1991, Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Justify My Love', a song co-written with Lenny Kravitz and No.2 hit in the UK.

1997, Sonny Bono was killed in a skiing accident at a resort near Lake Tahoe, aged 62. Bono who was one half on Sonny and Cher scored the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'I Got You Babe' and had become a US Congressman.

1997, No Doubt went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Tragic Kingdom.'

1998, Ken Forssi bassist with Love died of brain cancer aged 55. Love scored the 1966 US No.33 single '7 And 7 Is', 1968 UK No.24 album 'Forever Changes.'

2001, Kirsty MacColl was laid to rest at a private funeral ceremony, ahead of a public memorial to pay tribute to her life. The singer songwriter was killed in a boating accident on 18th Dec 2000.

2002, UK Pop magazine Smash Hits listed the Best singles Of 2001 had Kylie Minogue at No.3 with 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head', No.2, Shaggy, 'It Wasn't Me' and at No.1 S Club 7 'Don't Stop Movin.'

2003, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut release ‘Let Go.’

2003, Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after being stopped in California speeding in a black BMW convertible. He failed a breath test and was taken to Berkeley county jail and was later released on $1,053 (£657) bail.

2004, Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans. The 59-year-old singer-songwriter was shot when running after two men who stole his girlfriend's purse at gunpoint. Davies was admitted to the Medical Centre of Louisiana but his injuries were not considered serious. New Orleans police said one person had been arrested, and police were still searching for the second.

2005, New York group Scissor Sisters had the UK's best-selling album of
2004 after overtaking Keane's sales on the last day of the year. Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut CD sold 1,594,259 copies in 2004 - 582 more than Keane's ‘Hopes and Fears.’ Robbie Williams' ‘Greatest Hits’ was the year's third biggest-seller, followed by Maroon 5, Katie Melua and Anastacia.

2008, Josh Groban was at No.1 on the US album chart with his Christmas album ‘Noel’. The best selling US album of 2007 selling over 3.5 million copies in 10 weeks.


January 5th: Born on this day


1923, Born on this day, Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, the first label of Elvis Presley's recordings. Recorded Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis. Phillips died on 30th July 2003.

1940, Born on this day, Athol Guy, singer, The Seekers, (1965 UK No.1 single 'I'll Never Find Another You').

1941, Born on this day, Grady Thomas, Funkadelic, (1978 US No.16 album 'One Nation Under A Groove').

1949, Born on this day, George Brown, singer, Kool & The Gang, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Celebration', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hits).

1950, Born on this day, Chris Stein, guitar, Blondie. (Five UK No.1 singles including 1979 UK & US No.1 single 'Heart Of Glass' and 1978 world-wide No.1 album 'Parallel Lines').

1951, Born on this day, Biff Byford, vocals, Saxon, (1980 UK No.5 album 'Wheels Of Steel').

1964, Born on this day, Grant Young, drums, Soul Asylum, (1993 US No.5 and UK No.7 single 'Runaway Train').

1964, Born on this day, Phil Thornalley, songwriter, vocals, guitar, Johnny Hates Jazz, The Cure. Writer of Natalie Imbruglia word- wide hit 'Torn'.

1966, Born on this day, Kate Schellenbach, singer, Luscious Jackson, (1997 UK No.25 single 'Naked Eye').

1969, Born on this day, Brian Warner, (Marilyn Manson), 1998 US No.1 album, 'Mechanical Animals', UK No. 12 single, 'The Dope Show'. His stage name was formed from juxtaposing the names of two 1960s American cultural icons, Marilyn Monroe and convicted multiple murder Charles Manson.

1970, Born on this day, Jeffrey Jey, singer, Italian group Eiffel 65, (1999 UK No.1 single 'Blue (Da Ba Dee'). The single was also No.1 in Norway, Austria, Finland, Germany and Denmark.

1970, Born on this day, Troy Van Leeuwen, American guitarist, Queens of the Stone Age.

1976, Born on this day, Matthew Walter Wachter, bassist Angels & Airwaves, 30 Seconds to Mars.

January 6th: On this Day


1956, Elvis Presley performed in the gym at Randolph High School, Mississippi; this was the last time he ever appeared in a small auditorium.

1958, Gibson guitars launched it' 'Flying V' electric guitar. Guitarists who played a Flying V include, Albert Collins, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top.

1962, Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 album with 'Blue Hawaii'; it spent a total of 18 weeks at the top of the charts.

1964, The first night of a 14 date UK tour 'Group Scene 1964', featuring The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes, Marty Wilde, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Dave Berry and The Cruisers, played at the Granada Theatre, Harrow on The Hill, Middlesex.

1967, The Who played their first gig of this year when they appeared at Morecambe, Central Pier in England.

1968, Irish singer Val Doonican was at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently'.

1968, The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' started an eight week run at No.1 on the US album chart, the group's 11th US chart topper.

1970, Crosby Stills Nash & Young made their UK live debut at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

1973, Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain', (with Mick Jagger on backing vocals), started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart.

1975, Pink Floyd started session’s start at Abbey Road Studios London for their next album ‘Wish You Were Here’.

1975, The mayor of Boston cancelled a Led Zeppelin concert after over 2,000 fans rioted trying to buy tickets. The fans caused an estimated $50,000 to $75,000 damage at Boston Garden. The gig during the bands North American tour was rescheduled for Feb 4th.

1977, EMI Records dropped The Sex Pistols, giving the band £40,000 ($68,000) to release them from their contract.

1979, The Bee Gees started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Too Much Heaven' the group's 7th US No.1.

1979, Showaddywaddy went to No.1 on the UK chart with their 'Greatest Hits' compilation.

1979, The Village People scored their only UK No.1 single with 'Y.M.C.A.' At its peak the single was selling over 150,000 copies a day. In the gay culture from which the group sprang, the song was understood as celebrating the YMCA's reputation as a popular cruising and hookup spot.

1980, Georgeanna Gordon singer with Motown girl group The Marvelettes died aged 46. (1961 US No.1 single 'Please Mr Postman').

1987, Eric Clapton started what became an annual event by playing six shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

1989, The biggest selling UK album artists of 1988 were, No.5, Dire Straits, No.4, U2, No.3, Michael Jackson, No.2, Kylie Minogue and No.1, Fleetwood Mac.

1990, Phil Collins started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with '...But Seriously'.

1993, It was reported that David Bowie had lost over £2.5 million ($4.25 million) in unpaid royalties to an Italian Mafia-linked bootleg fraud.

1996, James Brown's wife Adrienne died in a Los Angeles hospital aged 47 after suffering a heart attack during a major plastic surgery operation.

1997, Two bronze busts worth £50,000 were stolen from a garden at George Harrison's estate in Henley-on- Thames, Oxfordshire. Thieves had climbed a 10- foot-wall and cut the figures of two monks from their stone plinths.

2001, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour won the right to his dot com name. Dave took legal action in his battle to reclaim davidgilmour.com from Andrew Herman who had registered the URL and was selling Pink Floyd merchandise through the site.

2002, Daniel Bedingfield went back to No.1 on the UK singles chart for the second time with 'Gotta Get Thru This'.

2004, Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer with The Undertones was made Head of The Live Music Forum a body to promote music in the UK.

2005, US CD sales rose for the first time in four years. The CD format accounted for 98% of the 666 million albums sold, according to research company Nielsen Soundscan. A total of 140 million digital tracks were legally downloaded during 2004, equivalent to 14 million albums. R&B star Usher was the biggest-selling artist with his album 'Confessions' selling eight million copies. Other top sellers of the year were Norah Jones, Eminem and country stars Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson. The UK recorded a record year for album sales in 2004, with 237 million sold The Scissor Sisters proved the most popular album of the year, followed by Keane and Maroon 5.

2006, Ms Dynamite was charged with assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct. The singer allegedly punched a female officer in the face, bruising her nose, while in custody. She had been arrested after allegedly kicking the door to the Paragon Lounge night-club in London and was said to have been abusive towards officers who questioned her.

2006, American soul, jazz, singer Lou Rawls died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The 72-year-old, Grammy-winning artist had been battling lung cancer. Rawls had the 1976 US No.2 & UK No.10 single 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine'.

2006, A collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia bought by a council worker who embezzled nearly £600,000 was set to be sold to compensate the local authority. Julie Wall, 46, from Rippon Drive in Sleaford, was jailed for three years for the offence last October. The collection - which included rare recordings and foreign pressings of Elvis songs – was to be auctioned off by a High Court receiver to provide compensation.

2006, Guitarist, trumpeter and drummer Alex St. Claire died. Member of The Omens, The Solid Senders and an original member of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band and Frank Zappa.

2007, US country-rock steel guitar player 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow, died aged 72. He was one of the original members of the Flying Burrito Brothers with the Byrds' Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons. Also worked with John Lennon and Joni Mitchell.


January 6th: Born on this day


1929, Born on this day, Wilbert Harrison, singer, 1959 US No.1 single 'Kansas City.' Wrote 'Let's Work Together' a hit for Canned Heat & Bryan Ferry.

1935, Born on this day, Nino Tempo, US singer, songwriter, Nino Tempo and April Stevens had the 1963 US No.1 'Deep Purple', a No.17 hit in the UK.

1944, Born on this day, Van McCoy, singer and producer, who had a 1975 US No.1 and UK No.3 single with ‘The Hustle’. He also produced Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin. McCoy died on July 6th 1979 aged 38.

1946, Born on this day, Syd Barrett, guitar, vocals, Pink Floyd original member, left in 1968, released two solo albums. Barrett died from complications arising from diabetes aged 60 on 7th July 2006.

1947, Born on this day, Sandy Denny, UK folk singer and member of Fairport Convention. She died on April 21st 1978 after falling down the stairs at a friend’s house. She sang on the Fairport Convention 1969 UK No.21 single ‘Si Tu Dois Partir’ and also worked as a solo artist. She is featured on the Led Zeppelin track ‘Battle Of Evermore’ on the bands fourth album.

1953, Born on this day, Malcolm Young, guitar, AC/DC, (1980 UK No.36 single 'Whole Lotta Rosie'. 1980 UK No.1 & US No.14 album 'Back in Black' sold over 49 million copies).

1959, Born on this day, Kathy Sledge, singer, Sister Sledge, (1979 US No.2 single 'We Are Family', 1985 UK No.1 'Frankie').

1960, Born on this day, Muzz Skillings, bass, Living Colour, (1991 UK No.12 single 'Love Rears Its Ugly Head').

1964, Born on this day, Mark O'Toole, bass, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, (1984 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Relax' and six other UK Top 40 singles).

1969, Born on this day, Tim Garbutt, Utah Saints, (1992 UK No. 4 single ‘Something Good’).

January 8th: On this Day


1957, Bill Haley & His Comets started the first ever 'rock & roll tour' of Australia, playing two sold out nights in Sydney.

1958, The Everly Brothers kicked off a 17 date North American tour at the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Also on the bill, Buddy Holly, The Rays, Royal Teens, Shepherd Sisters, Paul Anka, Margie Rayburn and
Danny & The Juniors.

1963, The Beatles appeared live on Scottish TV's Round Up, transmitted live from The Theatre Royal, Glasgow. They mimed to 'Please Please Me.'

1966, The Beatles started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Rubber Soul' the group's seventh US chart topper, which went on to spend 56 weeks on the chart. The group also started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Can Work It Out' the group's 11th US No.1 single.

1969, Mike Jagger and Keith Richards were both barred from an exclusive hotel for wearing "op art" pants and nothing else. They were both asked to leave the Hotel Crillen in Lima, Peru after refusing to change clothes.

1972, The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, (in Perfect Harmony'). The song started as a Coca Cola TV ad. It originally included the line, 'I'd like to buy the world a Coke.'

1977, Queen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Day At The Races.'

1977, Taking time out from their group 5th Dimension Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Don't Have To Be A Star', a No.7 hit in the UK.

1979, Canadian rock band Rush were named the country's official Ambassadors Of Music by the Canadian government.

1991, Steve Clark guitarist with Def Leppard, was found dead at his Chelsea flat by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs. The autopsy revealed he had died from an overdose of codeine and had Valium, morphine and a blood alcohol level of .30, three times the British legal driving limit. In 2007 Clark was ranked No.11 on Classic Rock Magazine's "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes".

1994, Jamaican reggae/rap (ragga) duo Chaka Demus and Pliers were at No.1 in the UK with their version of 'Twist And Shout.' The song was originally recorded (and produced by Phil Spector) by the Top Notes in
1961 and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was also covered by The Beatles on their first album Please Please Me.

1996, A Los Angeles court found Robert Hoskins guilty of five counts of stalking, assault and making terrorist threats to Madonna. Hoskins had twice scaled the walls of the singer's estate and had threatened to slash her throat from ear to ear.

2000, Christina Aguilera started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'What A Girl Wants.' She ended Santana's 12- week run at No.1 with 'Smooth.'

2000, It was reported that police foiled a £1 million ($1.7million) kidnap plot to snatch Victoria Beckham and her baby son. The plot was uncovered after a tip off to the police. The gang had planned to kidnap the pair when husband David was away playing football.

2001, A woman who believed that Axl Rose communicated with her via telepathy was arrested for stalking the Guns N' Roses singer for a second time. Police detained Karen Jane McNeil after she was spotted loitering outside his house.

2004, The estate of George Harrison started a $10 million (£5.8 million) legal action against Dr Gilbert Lederman of Staten Island University Hospital, claiming the doctor coerced Harrison to sign souvenirs. The main allegations of the legal action was that Dr Lederman got an extremely sick Harrison to sign his son’s guitar and autographs for his two daughters.

2006, The Strokes went to No.1 on the UK chart with 'First Impressions Of Earth' the bands third album and first No.1.

2010, Jimmy Page launched a new set of stamps in the UK which featured classic album covers from the last 40 years including Led Zeppelin IV, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Division Bell by Pink Floyd, A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Coldplay, Power, Corruption And Lies, New Order, Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones, London Calling, The Clash, Screamadelica, Primal Scream, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, David Bowie and Parklife by Blur.


January 8th: Born on this day


1935, Born on this day, Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of rock ‘n’ roll. He had his first No.1 in 1956 – the US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. His first UK No.1 single was in 1957, with ‘All Shook Up’, and he went on to have over 100 US & UK Top 40 singles from 1956–2006. He died on August 16th 1977.

1937, Born on this day, Shirley Bassey, singer. First charted in the UK in 1957, 1970 UK No.4 single with cover of The Beatles George Harrison song 'Something' also James Bond theme 'Goldfinger' and 'Diamonds are Forever'.

1941, Born on this day, Anthony Gourdine, Little Anthony and The Imperials, (1958 US No.4 single 'Tears On My Pillow') the song gave Kylie Minogue a UK No.1 in 1990.

1942, Born on this day, John Petersen, drums, The Beau Brummels, (1965 US No.8 single, 'Just A Little').

1943, Born on this day, Lee Jackson, bass, vocals, The Nice, (1968 UK No.21 single 'America').

1943, Born on this day, Marcus Hutson, vocals, The Whispers, (1980 UK No.2 & US No.19 single 'And The Beat Goes On').

1945, Born on this day, Terry Sylvester, guitar, vocals, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies, (joined in 1969). 1972 US No.2 single 'Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress', 1988 UK No.1 single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', first released in 1969.

1946, Born on this day, Robert Krieger, guitarist with The Doors, (1967 US No.1 & UK No.49 single with ‘Light My Fire’ and a 1971 US No.14 & UK No.22 single ‘Riders On The Storm’).

1947, Born on this day, David Jones, (David Bowie). First UK Top 40 single was the 1969 'Space Oddity' which became a UK No.1 in 1975, plus over 50 other UK Top 40 hits including five No.1's. Bowie has also scored two US No.1 singles, the 1975 'Fame' and 1983 'Let's Dance'. Plus two albums with Tin Machine in 1991 and 1992.

1948, Born on this day, Paul King, Mungo Jerry, (1970 UK No.1 & US No.3 single 'In The Summertime').

1959, Born on this day, Paul Hester, drums, Crowded House, (1992 UK No.7 single 'Weather With You'). Hester died on 26th March 2005 aged 46, after he "attempted suicide" and died from strangulation after being found hanged in a park in Melbourne, Australia.

1966, Born on this day, Andrew Patrick Wood, American musician best known as the lead singer for grunge bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, cited as "founding fathers" of the Seattle's grunge movement. Wood died on March 19th 1990.

1969, Born on this day, R. Kelly, singer, writer, producer, (1994 US No.1 single 'Bump N' Grind', 1997 UK No.1 single 'I Believe I Can Fly').

1969, Born on this day, Jeff Abercrombie, bassist with American band Fuel.

1971, Born on this day, Karen Poole, vocals, Alisha's Attic, (1996 UK No.14 'I Am I Feel'). Daughter of 60's musician Brian Poole.

1973, Born on this day, Sean Paul, singer, (2003 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Get Busy').

1975, Born on this day, Stove King, Mansun, (1996 UK No.15 single 'Wide Open Space').

January 10th: On this Day


1953, Jo Stafford was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'You Belong To Me'. Originally a singer with Tommy Dorsey until 1942, Stafford was the first female to have a No.1 on the UK singles Chart.

1956, Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA Records at The Methodist television, radio & TV Studios in Nashville. 'Heartbreak Hotel' was one of the songs recorded during this session.

1957, Tommy Steele and the Steelmen were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Singing The Blues'. Guy Mitchell had been at No.1 the previous week with his version and then returned to No.1 the following week.

1958, Jerry Lee Lewis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Great Balls Of Fire'. Lewis was the only major white rock 'n' roll star to play piano rather than guitar.

1958, The Quarry Men (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanton, and Len Garry) played at the New Clubmoor Hall, Norris Green, Liverpool.

1963, On his second visit to the UK in less than a month Bob Dylan played at the Troubadour Club in London.

1964, The Rolling Stones recorded ‘Not Fade Away’ at Regent Sound Studios in London, England.

1964, The first US Beatles album, 'Introducing The Beatles', was released on Vee-Jay records. The album cover showed John, Paul and George with their now famous "mop top" haircuts, but Ringo had yet to convert. Vee-Jay would be forced to stop selling the disc by the end of the year because of legal complications, but by then over 1.3 million copies had been sold.

1965, John Lennon appeared on the UK TV Peter Cook and Dudley Moore show, 'Not Only But Also.'

1973, Cliff Richard appeared on the Cilla Black Show, singing the six entries chosen to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest. TV viewers picked 'Power To All Our Friends'.

1976, Blues artist Howlin Wolf, (Chester Burnett), died in hospital of cancer aged 66. The guitarist, singer and harmonica player's well known songs included 'Smoke Stack Lightning', 'Little Red Rooster' and 'Spoonful.'

1976, CW McCall went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Convoy', it made No.2 in the UK. CW McCall was in fact an advertising agent whose real name was Bill Fries.

1978, The Sex Pistols make their US TV debut on the show 'Variety'.

1981, John Lennon's 'Imagine' started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart, 10 years after it was recorded. Lennon had two other songs in the Top 5 this week, 'Happy Christmas, (War Is Over') and '(Just Like) Starting Over.' 'Imagine' was voted by the viewers of BBC TV as the best lyrics of all time in a poll broadcast in Oct 1999. Also on this day John and Yoko's 'Double Fantasy' album started an eight-week run at No.1 on the US chart. 'Just Like Starting Over' was at No.1 on the US singles chart.

1984, Motley Crue played their opening show on the first leg of Ozzy Osbourne’s Bark At The Moon tour in front of nine and a half thousand people in Portland, Maine.

1984, Cyndi Lauper became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to be nominated for five Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

1990, Bon Jovi played the first of seven sold-out nights at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England on their New Jersey Syndicate Tour.

1997, English singer Kenny Pickett with the 60's band Creation died aged 54 of a heart attack. Had the 1966 hit 'Painter Man'.

1997, James Brown received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1999, DMX were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood.’

2000, Singer Melissa Etheridge announced that David Crosby was the sperm donor of her two children with girlfriend Julie Cypher.

2001, American guitarist and songwriter and founder member of The Cramps Bryan Gregory died after suffering a heart attack aged 46 at Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, Anaheim, California.

2003, A haul of 500 Beatles tapes known as the 'Get Back sessions' stolen in the 1970's were found after UK police cracked a major bootleg operation in London and Amsterdam. Five men were arrested.

2003, Bee Gee Maurice Gibb was fighting for his life after a heart attack following major stomach surgery. The 53 year-old singer had been rushed to hospital after collapsing at his Florida home.

2005, American drummer Spencer Dryden died from colon cancer at his home in California aged 66. Was the drummer for Jefferson Airplane, (replaced Skip Spence), New Riders of the Purple Sage and The Dinosaurs. Dryden was the Nephew of Charlie Chaplin.

2005, A woman was suing Gene Simmons from Kiss for slander, alleging a documentary made her out to be a "sex-addicted nymphomaniac". Georgeann Walsh Ward, 53, of New York, said during a VH1 documentary her photo was flashed up as Simmons talked about his past sexual encounters. Ms Walsh Ward had dated Simmons for three years when he was a student. In the documentary, Simmons boasted of having sex with over 4,600 women.

2006, An Australian woman appeared in court charged with repeatedly stabbing her partner with a pair of scissors in the back, shoulder and thigh because he played Elvis Presley's song 'Burning Love' over and over again.

2007, Madame Tussauds unveiled its fourth waxwork of Kylie Minogue, making the Australian pop star the most modelled celebrity after the Queen. The model became the first scented waxwork, wearing Minogue's Darling perfume.

2008, Rod Allen Bainbridge, lead singer of The Fortunes, died aged 63 after battling liver cancer. The group's biggest hit was ‘You've Got Your Troubles’ which was a UK No.2 hit in 1965, also reaching No.7 seven in the US.

2008, Radiohead topped the US album charts with the physical release of ‘In Rainbows’, originally sold via the internet for a price chosen by fans. The album sold 122,000 copies during its first week on release, giving the band a second US chart topper following 2000's ‘Kid A’, which sold an initial 207,000 copies.

2009, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie married actor Josh Duhamel at the Church Estates Vineyards in Malibu. Guests included her bandmate Will.i.am and actress Kate Hudson.


January 10th: Born on this day


1917, Born on this day, Jerry Wexler, producer and record company executive. Co-owner of Atlantic records, vice president at Warner Brothers, worked with Ray Charles, Phil Spector, Dr John, Dusty Springfield, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan. Died on Aug 15th 2008, aged 91.

1927, Born on this day, US teen idol singer Johnnie Ray, (1956 UK No.1 & US No.2 single, 'Just Walking In The Rain', plus over 20 Top 40 singles between 1952 & 60). Died of liver failure on 21st February 1990.

1935, Born on this day, Ronnie Hawkins, singer, (1959 US No.26 single 'Mary Lou', formed The Band, (then known as The Hawks).

1939, Born on this day, Scott McKenzie, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.4 single 'San Francisco, Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair'. McKenzie also auditioned for The Monkees).

1943, Born on this day, Jim Croce, US singer/songwriter who had a 1973 US No.1 single with ‘Time In A Bottle’. He was killed in a plane crash on the way to a concert on September 20th 1973.

1945, Born on this day, Martin Turner, guitar, Wishbone Ash, (1972 UK No.3 album 'Argus' and 8 other Top 40 albums).

1945, Born on this day, Rod Stewart, singer, songwriter, The Hoochie Coochie Men, Steampacket, Shotgun Express, Jeff Beck Group, The Faces, (UK No.6 & US No.17 single 'Stay With Me'). Solo, (1971 UK & US No.1 single 'Maggie May', plus five other UK No.1's & over 35 Top 40 hits). His 1971 debut album 'Every Picture Tell's A Story' was the first album ever to simultaneously be No.1 in the UK & US.

1946, Born on this day, Aynsley Dunbar, drums, Journey, (1982 US No.2 single 'Open Arms'), Whitesnake, (1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Here I Go Again').

1946, Born on this day, Bob Lang, Mindbenders, (1965 US No.1 single 'Game Of Love', 1966 UK No.2 single 'Groovy Kind Of Love').

1946, Born on this day, Neal Smith, drums, Alice Cooper Band, (1972 UK No.1 & US No.7 single 'School's Out').

1948, Born on this day, Cyril Neville, vocals, percussion, The Neville Brothers, (1989 UK No.47 single 'With God On Our Side').

1948, Born on this day, Donald Fagen, vocals, keyboards, Steely Dan, (1973 US No.11 single 'Reeling In The Years' and nine other US Top 30 hits). Steely Dan's 'Two Against Nature' won a Grammy in 2001 for Album of the year. Also a solo artist.

1953, Born on this day, Pat Benatar, singer, and four-time Grammy winner, (1985 US No.5 and UK No.17 single 'Love Is A Battlefield' plus 10 other US Top 40 singles).

1955, Born on this day, Luci Martin, vocals, Chic, (1978 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Le Freak').

1955, Born on this day, Michael Schenker, German guitarist, formed The Scorpions, member of UFO. (1982 UK No.5 album with the Michael Schenker group 'One Night At Budokan').

1958, Born on this day, Shawn Colvin, Singer songwriter, (1995 UK No.40 single with Mary Chapin Carpenter, 'One Cool Remove').

1964, Born on this day, Brad Roberts, vocals, guitar, Crash Test Dummies, (1994 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'MMM MMM MMM MMM').

1965, Born on this day, Joey Santiago, guitar, Pixies, (1990 UK No.28 single 'Velouria').

1965, Born on this day, Nathan Moore, vocals, Brother Beyond, (1988 UK No.2 single 'The Harder I Try').

1973, Born on this day, Aerlee Taree, vocals, Arrested Development, (1992 UK No.2 single 'People Everyday').

1978, Born on this day, Matt Roberts, guitarist, 3 Doors Down, (2003 US No.4 single ‘When I’m Gone’, 2005 US No.1 album ‘Seventeen Days’).

1979, Born on this day, Chris Smith, Kris Kross, (1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Jump'). The duo of Chris Smith and Chris Kelly were 12 and 13 when they recorded the song.

1986, Born on this day, Alex Turner, guitar, vocals, Arctic Monkeys, (2005, UK No.1 single ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’, 2006 UK No.1 album ‘Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not’).

January 12th: On this Day


1964, The Beatles appeared on the ATV show Sunday Night At The London Palladium performing ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’, ‘This Boy’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘Money’ and ‘Twist And Shout’. The compare for the evening was Bruce Forsyth. When The Beatles appeared on this show on October 13, 1963, their fee had been £250, now, just three months later, their fee was £1,000.

1969, Led Zeppelin's debut album was released in the UK. Recorded at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, the album took only about 36 hours of studio time to complete at a cost of just £1,782, most of the tracks being recorded 'live' in the studio with very few overdubs. The album spent a total of 71 weeks on the UK chart.

1974, Jim Croce started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'You Don't Mess Around With Jim'.

1974, The Steve Miller Band were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Joker', the group's first of three No.1's. It reached No.1 on the UK chart in 1990.

1975, The first night of a UK tour kicked off under the banner of The Warner Brothers Music Show. It featured Little Feat, Montrose, Tower Of Power, The Doobie Brothers and Graham Central Station. Also released was an album sampler featuring all the acts that was priced at 69p ($1.17).

1977, EMI Records issued a statement saying it felt unable to promote The Sex Pistols records in view of the adverse publicity generated over the last two months.

1977, Rolling Stone Keith Richards was fined £750 ($1,275) for possession of cocaine found in his car after the guitarist had been involved in a car crash.

1977, The Police had their first rehearsal, held at drummer's Stewart Copeland's London flat, with Henri Padovani on guitar.

1981, It was reported that the White House had expanded its record library by including albums by Bob Dylan, Kiss and The Sex Pistols.

1983, Swedish percussionist with Traffic, Reebop Kwaku Baah died from a brain haemorrhage in Stockholm, Sweden. Also worked with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Can and The Rolling Stones.

1992, Bob Geldof was arrested after a disturbance on a Boeing 727, which had been grounded for 5 hours at Stansted Airport.

1993, Van Morrison failed to turn up at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction dinner, making him the first living inductee not to attend.

1995, Snoop Doggy Dogg was charged in Los Angeles with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

1996, AC/DC played the first date on their Ballbreaker World Tour in Greensboro, North Carolina. The world tour would last for 11 months finishing on November 30, 1996 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

2000, Teenage diva Charlotte Church sacked her manager Jonathan Shalit. Shalit had won her a five album deal with Sony Records and helped the singer with her career – which had earn her £6 million ($10.2 million) to date.

2001, British Airways staff complained about Oasis singer Liam Gallagher after he had grabbed a stewardess' bottom, refused to stop smoking and thrown objects around the cabin during a flight from London to Rio De Janeiro.

2002, Aaliyah had the posthumous UK No.1 single with 'More Than A Woman'. Aaliyah was killed in Aug 2001 in a plane crash in the Bahamas aged 22. The Cessna plane crashed a few minutes after take off killing everyone on board. Aaliyah had been filming a video on the island for her latest release ‘Rock The Boat’.

2003, Singer-songwriter Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gee's died aged 53 in Miami Hospital, Florida following a heart attack during abdominal surgery. The Bee Gees released over 20 albums and had the 1979 world-wide No.1 album 'Spirits Having Flown', and 'How Deep Is Your Love, 'Stayin' Alive', and 'Night Fever' from the soundtrack 'Saturday Night Fever' were all US No.1 singles. Gibb was married to the Scottish singer Lulu from 1969 to 1973. In 2002, Maurice was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), along with his brothers.

2004, American songwriter and guitarist Randy VanWarmer died from leukaemia aged 48. (1979 US No.4 & UK No.8 single 'Just When I Needed You Most'). Also wrote The Oak Ridge Boys No.1 US Country hit 'I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes.' VanWarmer's had arranged for a space burial and his cremated remains were sent into space in 2007.

2005, It was announced that the Strawberry Field children's home immortalised by The Beatles was to close. The home in Woolton, Liverpool was made famous when John Lennon wrote ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ after playing there as a child.

2007, Toni Braxton filed a lawsuit at the U.S District Court in Manhattan against her former manager Barry Hankerson for $10 million, alleging "fraud, deception and double dealing." According to Braxton, Hankerson placed his own personal financial interests ahead of hers by using "double-talk" to compromise the relationship between Braxton and her former recording label, Arista Records.

2009, A full frontal nude photo of Madonna, taken in 1979 before she became famous, sold at auction for $37,500. The black and white picture was taken at a time when Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was a 20-year-old dancer trying to make ends meet in New York.

2010, Shakin' Stevens was found guilty of hitting a press photographer with a microphone stand during a concert at a hotel in Ballymena. The Welsh singer who scored No.1’s in the 80’s was fined £300 for assault and criminal damage and ordered to pay the photographer £479 to compensate for his damaged camera lens.


January 12th: Born on this day


1932, Born on this day, Des O'Connor, UK singer, comedian, TV presenter, (1968 UK No.1 single 'I Pretend'. Plus seven other UK Top 40 singles). Toured the UK with Buddy Holly in 1958.

1939, Born on this day, William Lee Gordon, Oak Ridge Boys, (1981 US No.5 single 'Elvira').

1941, Born on this day, Long John Baldry, vocals, Bluesology and solo artist, (1967 UK No.1 single 'Let The Heartaches Begin'). Baldry died of a chest infection on 21st July 2005.

1945, Born on this day, Maggie Bell, singer, The Power, Stone The Crows & solo, (UK No.11 solo single 'Hold Me').

1945, Born on this day, Abe Tilmon, Detroit Emeralds, (1973 UK No.7 single 'Feel The Need In Me'). Died of a heart attack in 1982

1946, Born on this day, Cynthia Robinson, vocals, Sly and The Family Stone, (1971 US No.1 & 1972 UK No.15 single 'Family Affair').

1951, Born on this day, Chris Bell, guitarist, Big Star. Bell was killed in a car accident on 27/12/78.

1954, Born on this day, Felipe Rose, vocals, The Village People, (1978 US No.2 & 1979 UK No.1 single 'YMCA').

1959, Born on this day, Blixa Bargeld, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, (1996 UK No.36 single with PJ Harvey,' Henry Lee').

1960, Born on this day, Charlie Gillingham, keyboards, Counting Crows, (1994 UK No.28 single 'Mr Jones', 1996 US No.1 album 'Recovering The Satellites').

1963, Born on this day, Guy Chambers, singer, songwriter, producer, member of The Waterboys, World Party, The Lemon Trees. Worked with Robbie Williams from 1997 as co-songwriter and producer penning tracks including ‘Angels’, ‘Rock DJ’, ‘Millennium’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You.’

1965, Born on this day, Greg Kriesel, bass, The Offspring, (1999 UK No.1 & US No. 59 single 'Pretty Fly, (For A White Guy'), 1999 US No.6 & UK No.10 album 'Americana').

1968, Born on this day, Raekwon, Wu-Tang Clan, (1997 US & UK No.1 album 'Wu-Tang Forever').

1974, Born on this day, Melanie Chisholm, Mel C, Sporty Spice, The Spice Girls, (1996 UK No.1 & 1997 US No.1 single 'Wannabe', solo, 2000 UK No.1 single, 'Never Be The Same Again').

1991, Born on this day, Pixie Lott, British singer, 2009 UK No.1 with her debut single ‘Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)’.

January 14th: On this Day


1960, Elvis Presley's' 'GI Blues' started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK chart.

1963, Charlie Watts made his live debut with The Rolling Stones at The Flamingo Jazz Club, Soho, London.

1964, The Beatles (minus Ringo Starr, who was fog-bound in Liverpool) departed from Liverpool for Paris, France for an 18-day run at the Olympia Theatre. Arriving in Paris, John, Paul, and George were met by 60 fans. Ringo, accompanied by roadie Neil Aspinall, arrived the next day.

1965, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Yeh Yeh.'

1967, Cliff Richard told the music paper the NME that he was retiring from show business to teach religious education in schools.

1967, Over 25,000 people attend The Human Be-In-A Gathering Of The Tribes at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The event was a forerunner of major, outdoor rock concerts and featured The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother And The Holding Company.

1970, Diana Ross made her last appearance with The Supremes at The Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas.

1972, Stevie Wonder kicked off a 15-date UK tour at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

1978, The Sex Pistols played their last live gig at Winterland, San Francisco, (they re-formed in 96).

1984, Paul McCartney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pipes Of Peace.' With this release McCartney made chart history by becoming the first artist to have a No.1 in a group, (The Beatles), in a duo, (with Stevie Wonder), in a trio, (with Wings) and as a solo artist.

1989, Bobby Brown went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Prerogative.'

1992, Jerry Nolan drummer with The New York Dolls died from a fatal stroke. The influential American band formed in 1972 and made just two albums, the 1973 'New York Dolls' and 1974 'Too Much Too Soon'.

1995, Swedish performing arts collective Rednex started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Cotton Eye Joe.'

1996, Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with '(What's The Story) Morning Glory', the group's second UK No.1 spent a total of 145 week's on the chart.

2001, Jennifer Lopez scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Love Don't Cost A Thing.' The track was taken from her album J.Lo.

2003, Linda Gail Lewis the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, dropped a claim of sex discrimination against Van Morrison. Lewis had claimed that Morrison had 'publicly humiliated' her on stage and had tried to ruin her life by asking her for sex. She withdrew her claim after discussions with her lawyer. Morrison denied all the allegations.

2005, A $100,000 (£58,823) statue honouring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55. Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including Tommy Ramone – the only surviving band member. Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.

2006, American actor and stand-up comic Jamie Foxx started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with his second album ‘Unpredictable.’

2007, Amy Winehouse started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Back To Black’ (which went on to become the biggest-selling album of 2007 with sales over 1.5m copies). Nas was at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Hip Hop Is Dead.'

2010, The BBC admitted coverage of the launch of U2’s album No Line On The Horizon in 2009 went too far - giving "undue prominence" to the band. RadioCentre, the trade body for commercial radio companies, had made a formal complaint over the coverage saying the BBC had given U2 "the sort of publicity money can't buy".


January 14th: Born on this day


1936, Born on this day, Clarence Carter, blind US singer, guitarist, (1970 US No.4 & UK No.2 single 'Patches').

1937, Born on this day, Billie Jo Spears, US female singer, (1975 UK No.6 single 'Blanket On The Ground').

1938, Born on this day, Alain Toussaint, US singer, songwriter, producer, worked with Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, The Band, Lee Dorsey, Neville Brothers.

1944, Born on this day, Linda Jones, US soul singer. She died on 14th March 1972 aged 26, after collapsing into a diabetic coma following a performance at Harlem's Apollo Theatre in New York. Jones had the 1967 US No.21 single 'Hypnotized.'

1948, Born on this day, Tim Harris, drums, The Foundations, (1967 UK No.1 single 'Baby Now That I've Found You', 1969 US No.3 single 'Build Me Up A Buttercup').

1956, Born on this day, Bob Bradbury, Hello, (1974 UK No.6 single 'Tell Him').

1959, Born on this day, Chas Smash, horns, Madness, (1982 UK No.1 single 'House Of Fun' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits).

1962, Born on this day, Patricia Morrison, Gun Club, Sisters Of Mercy, (1992 UK No.3 single 'Temple Of Love').

1967, Born on this day, Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osbourne Band, (1986 UK No.20 single 'Shot In The Dark').

1968, Born on this day, James Todd Smith, (L.L. Cool J), 1987 UK No.8 single 'I Need Love'.

1969, Born on this day, Dave Grohl, drummer, singer, Nirvana, (1991 UK No.7 & 1992 US No.6 single Smells Like Teen Spirit' from the 1991 album 'Nevermind' spent over 2 years on the UK chart & made US No.1 album chart in 1992). Foo Fighters, (1995 UK No.5 single 'This Is A Call', US No.5 single 'All My Life').

1974, Born on this day, Denise Van Outen, actress / singer, (2002 UK No. 23 single with Andy Williams, 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'). The song set a new record of the biggest age gap of a duo to have a hit: 45 years.

1982, Born on this day, Caleb Followill, lead singer, rhythm guitarist, Kings of Leon, (2007 UK No.1 album ‘Because Of The Times’, 2008 UK No.1 single ‘Sex on Fire’, 2008 UK No.1 album ‘Only By The Night’).

January 16th: On this Day


1956, Tennessee Ernie Ford was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Merle Travis coal-mining song 'Sixteen Tons.' Written in 1947 about the misery of coal mining.

1957, The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool. It became the home of many Liverpool bands including The Beatles who appeared at the club 292 times.

1964, The Dave Clark Five were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Glad All Over', the group's only UK No.1.

1964, The Beatles played two shows at the Olympia Theatre, Paris, France, the first of an 18-night engagement. This first show was attended mostly by Paris' "top society" members (all dressed in formal evening attire). The French press had little good to say about The Beatles in the next day's papers, but The Beatles didn't care, because they'd just received news that their single ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ had hit No.1 in the US, selling 10,000 copies an hour in New York City alone.

1965, The Beatles played the last of a 16 night run billed as 'Another Beatles' Christmas Show' that had started on Jan 1st at The Hammersmith Odeon, London.

1969, Marmalade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da'.

1969, Fleetwood Mac, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Albert Collins all appeared at the Fillmore West, San Francisco, California.

1970, John Lennon's London Art Gallery exhibit of erotic lithographs, 'Bag One' was closed by Scotland Yard.

1973, Bruce Springsteen appeared at Villanova University, Philadelphia to an audience of 25 people.

1974, The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second and final UK No.1 single 'You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me'.

1977, One half of TV cop show "Starsky & Hutch" (he was blonde Hutch), David Soul went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us'. Also a No.1 in the US.

1978, Sex Pistol, Sid Vicious fell through a glass door at a San Francisco hotel, took a drug overdose and was rushed to hospital.

1979, Cher's divorce from Gregg Allman was finalised.

1980, Paul McCartney was jailed for nine days in Tokyo for marijuana possession after being found with 219g on his arrival at Narita Airport in Japan.

1982, Bucks Fizz were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second No.1 'Land Of Make Believe'. The lyrics to the song were written by ex-King Crimson member Peter Sinfield.

1984, Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested in Barbados for drug possession and were each fined $200 (£117).

1985, David Bowie's schizophrenic half-brother Terry Burnes killed himself after laying down on the railway lines at Coulsdon South station, London. He was killed instantly by a passing train. He was 47.

1987, TV presenter Jools Holland was suspended from Channel 4's UK music show The Tube for 6 weeks, after using the phrase 'groovy f**kers' during a live trailer broadcast in children's hour.

1988, 24 years after The Beatles first topped the chart, George Harrison went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Got My Mind Set On You'.

1988, Former Go-Go's singer Belinda Carlisle scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth.' The promotional video was directed by Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton and features an appearance of Carlisle's husband Morgan Mason.

1988, George Michael went to No.1 on the US album charts with his debut solo album 'Faith'. It went on to sell over 8 million copies.

1988, Tina Turner gave herself a place in the record books when she performed in front of 182,000 people in Rio De Janeiro. The largest audience ever for a single artist.

1988, Wet Wet Wet went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP 'Popped In 'Souled Out'.

1989, Bryan Ferry played the first of three nights at London’s Wembley Arena. Tickets were £12.50 ($21.25).

1989, Michael Jackson played the first of five nights at the Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. These were the last shows on the singers Bad World Tour. Jackson donated more than $1m of the final concert's takings to an organisation fighting child cruelty.

1990, Ike Turner was convicted of driving under the influence of cocaine and being under the influence of cocaine and sentenced to a four year prison sentence in California.

1992, Eric Clapton recorded his unplugged session for MTV. The set which included his current hit single ‘Tears in Heaven’ and a reworked acoustic version of ‘Layla’, earned six Grammy Awards for the album including Record of the Year.

1996, Jamaican authorities opened fire on Jimmy Buffett's seaplane, mistaking it for a drug trafficker's plane. U2 singer Bono was also on the plane; neither singer was injured in the incident.

1999, Norman Cook scored his third UK No.1 single under the name of Fatboy Slim with 'Praise You'. The song features the prominent vocal sample "Praise You" from the opening of 'Take Yo' Praise' by Camille Yarbrough. Cook's other No.1's had been with The Housemartins and Beats International.

1999, Brandy started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Diane Warren song 'Have You Ever' a No.13 hit in the UK.

2000, Coasters singer Will Jones died aged 71. (1958 US No.1 single 'Yakety Yak', 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6 single 'Charlie Brown').

2000, It was reported that Mick Jagger had lost the chance of a knighthood because of his errant ways. British Prime Minister Tony Blair had second thoughts about the message it would give about family values.

2000, The Manic Street Preachers went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Masses Against The Classes', the bands second UK No.1 single. A limited release, the single which was deleted on the day of issue.

2000, Jay-Z was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Vol 3. Life and Times of S. Carter.’

2003, Steve Strange former front man of 1980's band Visage told a London court he was robbed of a bracelet given to him by Kylie Minogue after being beaten over the head in central London. A man had been arrested for the attack.

2003, Tori Amos played the first of two nights at the Hammersmith Carling Apollo in London.

2004, Michael Jackson appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to seven charges of child molestation. The singer who arrived 21 minutes late was told off by the Santa Barbara judge saying 'Mr Jackson, you have started out on the wrong foot here, it is an insult to the court.'

2005, Elvis Presley's single ‘One Night’ made chart history by becoming the 1,000th UK No.1. Elvis, who led last week's chart with ‘Jailhouse Rock’, had now scored more number one UK hits than any other artist with 20 No.1’s, beating The Beatles' 17 chart toppers.

2005, The Killers started a two week run at No.1 on the UK charts with their debut album 'Hot Fuss.' The Las Vegas band also entered the UK singles chart at No.3 with 'Somebody Told Me'. Green Day were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'American Idiot.'

2007, James 'Pookie' Hudson the lead singer of the 50's doo-wop group The Spaniels died. Their 1954 hit 'Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight' was featured in such films as Three Men and a Baby, Diner and American Graffiti.

2007, Bob Dylan and his brother bought Aultmore House a mansion in the Scottish Cairngorms National Park, near Nethybridge, Inverness-shire.

2008, Radiohead were forced to abandon an intimate gig at Rough Trade East records in London after police raised safety fears. The band moved the gig to a nearby club after over 1,500 fans turned up after the event was announced in the morning promising tickets to the first 200 fans.

2009, Boy George was sentenced to 15 months in prison after being convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort. The Culture Club frontman denied the charge at Snaresbrook crown court and claimed the victim, Norwegian Audun Carlsen, 29, had stolen photos from his laptop. The singer told police he invited Carlsen back to his home after a cocaine-fuelled pornographic photo shoot in January, 2007, because he suspected the Norwegian of stealing pictures from his computer. He admitted handcuffing Carlsen to a wall in April 2007 but said he did so in order to trace the missing property.

2009, Chesney Hawkes led nearly 600 people in an attempt to set a record for the number of people playing air guitar at the same time. The group strummed along to his 1991 hit ‘The One and Only’ in Portsmouth's Guildhall Square.


January 16th: Born on this day


1937, Born on this day, Bob Bogle, guitar, The Ventures, (1960 UK No.4 single 'Perfidia', 1960 US No.2 'Walk Don't Run').

1942, Born on this day, Raymond Philips, The Nashville Teens, (1964 UK No.6 & US No.16 single 'Tobacco Road').

1942, Born on this day, William Francis, keyboards, vocals, Dr Hook, (1972 UK No.2 & US No.5 single 'Sylvia's Mother').

1942, Born on this day, Barbara Lynn, US singer, (1962 US No.8 single 'You'll Lose A Good Thing').

1946, Born on this day, Ronnie Milsap, blind US singer, (1981 US No.5 single 'There's No Gettin' Over Me').

1959, Born on this day, Helen Folasade Adu (Sade), singer, 1984 UK No.6 single 'Your Love Is King', 1985 US No.5 single 'Smooth Operator'.

1962, Born on this day, Paul Webb, bass, Talk Talk, (1986 UK No.16 single 'Life's What You Make It').

1965, Born on this day, Maxine Jones, singer, En Vogue, (1992 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'My Lovin').

1970, Born on this day, Brendan O'Hare, Teenage Fanclub, (1992 UK No. 31 single 'What You Do To Me').

1976, Born on this day, Stuart Fletcher, The Seahorses, (1997 UK No.3 single 'Love Is The Law').

1979, Born on this day, Aaliyah, US singer, actress, killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas 25/8/01. (2000, US No.1 single 'Try Again', 2002 UK No.1 single 'More Than A Woman').

1981, Born on this day, Nick Valensi, guitar, The Strokes, (2001 UK No. 14 single, 'Last Nite' 2001 UK No.2 album ‘Is This It’).

1982, Born on this day, Samuel Dylan Murray Preston, lead singer of The Ordinary Boys.

   

January 18th: On this Day


1960, Johnny Preston started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Running Bear'. Written by J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), the tune originally entered the chart in October 1959, then quickly vanished, but re-entered in November and slowly climbed to the top. It was also a UK No.1.

1964, The Beatles made their US chart debut when 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' entered the chart at No.45 just ten days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history. It went on to spend seven weeks at the No.1 position.

1965, The Rolling Stones recorded 'The Last Time' and 'Play With Fire' at the RCA studio in Hollywood, California. Phil Spector played acoustic guitar on 'Play With Fire.'

1967, Jimi Hendrix recorded an appearance on UK TV show Top Of The Pops and also played a show at the Seven and a Half Club in Mayfair, London.

1969, Pink Floyd played three shows in one day: first at the Homerton College, Cambridge, then the London College of Printing, London and finally at Middle Earth, The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London, England (in the early hours of 19 January).

1974, Former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US No.1 album with their debut release.

1975, Barry Manilow scored his first US No.1 single when 'Mandy', (originally titled 'Brandy' when it was recorded in 1972 by Scott English), went to the top of the charts.

1975, Status Quo were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Down Down', the group's only UK No.1 from 52 hits between 1968 and 1996.

1981, Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics was arrested on stage at Milwaukee and was charged with the offence of simulating sex with a sledgehammer. Williams later filed a multimillion dollar civil suit against the Milwaukee Police, claming they sexually assaulted and beat her during the arrest, but a jury rejected her claims.

1984, Van Halen kicked off their 103-date '1984' North American tour at Jacksonville Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida.

1986, 'That's What Friends Are For' by Dionne Warwick began a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart, all company and artists profits were given to aids charities.

1989, At just 38 years old, Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, other inductees include The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Otis Redding and Dion DiMucci.

1991, During an AC/DC North American tour three fans were killed during a crush in a crowd at a gig in Salt Lake City.

1991, The first of three nights at Wembley Arena for The Brits 91, which featured the Happy Mondays, James, 808 state, The Cure, Jesus Jones, The Quire Boys, Thunder and The Little Angels. Tickets £12.50 ($21.25) for each day.

1993, Elton John resigned his directorship of Watford Football Club.

1996, Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson after less then two years of being married.

1997, Songwriter and producer Keith Diamond died of a heart attack. He wrote, 'Caribbean Queen' and 'Suddenly' for Billy Ocean, and also wrote hits for Donna Summer, James Ingram, Mick Jagger, Sheena Easton and Michael Bolton.

1997, Tori Amos was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Professional Widow' (It's Got To Be)'. The song had been remixed by Armand Van Helden and was rumoured to be about Courtney Love the former wife of Kurt Cobain.

2000, Spencer Goodman was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas. Goodman was convicted of kidnapping and murdering the wife of ZZ Top manager Bill Ham in 1991. Ham was present for the execution.

2001, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was granted a quickie divorce from Meg Matthews at the High Court in London. The couple had split last September, eight months after Meg had given birth to their daughter, Anais.

2004, Jennifer Lopez’s divorce from her second husband Cris Judd became final. Lopez and Judd married in 2001, after meeting when filming the video to ‘Love Don’t Cost A Thing’ but split the next year. He was expected to get a $15 million (£8.8 million) settlement from the divorce.

2004, Winner of the 2003 Pop Idol TV show Michelle McManus started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All This Time.'

2005, Motown producer Norman Whitfield pleaded guilty for failing to report royalty income he earned from 1995 to 1999 to the Internal Revenue Service. Facing charges of tax evasion on over $2 million worth of income, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest and a $25,000 fine. The producer was not imprisoned because of health problems.

2006, Animals in Michael Jackson's private zoo were declared to be in good health after officials paid a surprise visit to the singer's Neverland ranch. A medical officer from the US department of agriculture inspected the property following concerns voiced by the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Jackson had earlier moved out of Neverland and had taken up residence in Bahrain in the Middle East.

2008, Four photographers were arrested for reckless driving after they chased Britney Spears' car on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The four were among a group of paparazzi seen driving at high speed, each of the men were ordered to post $5,000 (£2,539) bail. The cars were following Ms Spears' car too closely and travelling at an unsafe speed and made several unsafe lane changes, according to police.

2010, Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle died of cancer at home in Montreal at the age of 63. Once married to folk singer Loudon Wainwright lll, Kate was the mother of singers Rufus and Martha Wainwright. She rose to prominence with sister Anna when they recorded together in the 1970s. Other artists who covered the pair's songs included Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl and Judy Collins.

2011, The largest collection of Beatles memorabilia went on display in a new museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rodolfo Vazquez, a 53-year-old accountant, turned his mammoth Beatles collection into a museum with more than 8,500 objects - setting the new world record for the largest collection of Beatles memorabilia. Some of the items included a box of condoms bearing the names of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, a brick from the Cavern Club, a hunk of the stage from the Star Club in Hamburg, and certified copies of the band members' birth certificates. Among his favorite items were 64 boxes of chewing gum in the form of Beatles records.


January 18th: Born on this day


1941, Born on this day, Bobby Goldsboro, US singer, (1968 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Honey').

1941, Born on this day, David Ruffin, vocals, The Temptations, (1971 US No.1 & UK No. 8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' UK No.2 in 1992, solo, 1975 US No.9 & UK No.10 single 'Walk Away From Love'). Ruffin died of a drug overdose on 1st June 1991.

1944, Born on this day, Legs Larry Smith, drums, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, (1968 UK No.5 single 'I'm The Urban Spaceman').

1959, Born on this day, Bob Rosenberg, Will To Power, (1988 US No.1 & 1989 UK No.6 single 'Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird').

1962, Born on this day, Jeremy Healey, guitar, Haysi Fantayzee, (1982 UK No.11 single 'John Wayne Is Big Leggy').

1971, Born on this day, Jonathan Davis, vocals, Korn, (1998 UK No.23 single 'Got The Life', 1998 US No.1 album 'Follow The Leader').

1973, Born on this day, Crispian Mills, guitar, vocals, Kula Shaker, (1996 UK No.2 single 'Hey Dude').

1973, Born on this day, Luther Dickinson, guitar, The Black Crowes. Joined in 2007.

1974, Born on this day, Christian Burns, BBMak, (2001 UK No.5 single 'Back Here' No.1 hit in Japan.

1977, Born on this day, Richard Archer, singer, guitarist, Hard-Fi, (2006 UK No.1 album, ‘Stars of CCTV”).

1980, Born on this day in 1980, Estelle Swaray, female English hip-hop artist, singer and producer. 2008 UK No.1 single 'American Boy' featuring Kayne West.

1983, Born on this day, Samantha Mumba, singer, actress, (2000 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'Gotta Tell You', 2001 UK No.3 single 'Always Come Back To').

January 20th: On this Day


1958, Rick Nelson started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Ricky'.

1965, American disc-jockey Alan Freed died from uraemia at the age of 42. Freed called himself the "father of rock and roll", appeared in the movies such as Rock Around The Clock and Don't Knock the Rock. His career was destroyed by the payola scandal that hit the broadcasting industry in the early 1960s.

1966, The Spencer Davis Group were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Keep On Running'.

1967, The Monkees TV show was shown for the first time in the UK.

1968, One hit wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses)', it made No.3 in the UK. The song was inspired by The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky'.

1968, Fleetwood Mac, The Move, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Fairport Convention all appeared at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm in London, England.

1969, Bruce Springsteen had two of his poems published in the Ocean County College Literary Yearbook Seascapes. Springsteen was in his second semester at the Toms River, New Jersey College.

1970, During a UK tour Led Zeppelin appeared at Leeds Town Hall, England.

1972, On the first date of a UK tour, Pink Floyd premiered their new album Dark Side Of The Moon at The Dome, Brighton, England.

1975, The US Top 5 singles: No.5, Stevie Wonder, 'Boogie On Reggae Woman', No.4, Ohio Players, 'Fire', No.3, Barry Manilow, 'Mandy', No.2, Neil Sedaka, 'Laughter In The Rain', No.1, The Carpenters, 'Please Mr Postman'.

1979, Chic appeared at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The group's latest single 'Le Freak' had reached No.7 on the UK chart.

1982, During a Ozzy Osbourne concert in Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the audience threw an unconscious bat onto the stage. Thinking it was one of his rubber fakes, Ozzy picked it up and bit off its head. The singer was taken to hospital to be given a rabies injection.

1982, Stiff Little Fingers played the first night of an 11-date tour at The Tower in Hull, promoting their new 4-track EP. The press ads said, 'Pay no more than £1.10, more cuts than Maggie Thatcher.'

1983, Def Leppard released their third studio album 'Pyromania' which featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album has now sold over 10 million copies in the US.

1985, Foreigner had their only UK No.1 single with 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. London-born Mick Jones wrote the song and sang lead vocals with the British-American rock band.

1986, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan appeared at a concert to celebrate the first Martin Luther King day in the US.

1988, The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.

1990, Michael Bolton started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You', the singers first No.1 and the first No.1 single of the 90's in the US.

1996, Bobby Brown was fined $1,000 (£560), sentenced to two years probation and ordered to attend anger management classes after assaulting a security guard.

1997, Russell Senior guitarist and violinist with Pulp quit the group after 13 years to pursue new projects.

1997, Ben and Jerry's introduced ‘Phish food’, a new flavor of ice cream named after the rock group Phish. The ingredients are chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, caramel and fish-shaped fudge.

1999, Bill Albaugh drummer from the 1960’s psychedelic group The Lemon Pipers died aged 53. Had the 1967 US No.1 single 'Green Tambourine'.

2000, Ray Jones, bass player with Billy J Kramer and the The Dakotas died. 1964 UK No.1 & US N0.7 single 'Little Children'.

2000, Tourism chiefs in Liverpool were banned from putting up motorway signs saying 'Liverpool, the Birthplace Of The Beatles', because the Highways Agency thought the signs would distract motorists.

2001, A memorial service was held for Kirsty MacColl who was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico in December 2000. Bono from U2 and Billy Bragg were among friends and fans that packed St Martin-in-the-fields church in London.

2002, George Harrison had the posthumous UK No.1 single with the re-release of the 1971 former No.1 'My Sweet Lord'. Harrison's single replaced Aaliyah's 'More Than A Woman', the only time in chart history that one deceased artist had taken over from another at No.1.

2002, Stereophonics started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their second No.1 ‘Just Enough Education To Perform.'

2003, 8 Mile, starring Eminem toppled The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers from its four-week hold at the top of the UK box office. The story of a Detroit rapper took £4,440,334 at 423 cinemas in the UK and Ireland.

2006, American music executive Johnny Bienstock died of complications from heart disease aged 83. Owned Moss Rose Music, worked with Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Elvis Presley, The Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Del Shannon and Meat Loaf.

2008, Scouting For Girls went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut and self titled album.


January 20th: Born on this day


1924, Born on this day, Slim Whitman, American country singer, (1955 UK No.1 single 'Rose Marie', 1977 UK No.1 album 'Red River Valley').

1933, Born on this day, Ron Townson, The 5th Dimension, (1969 US No.1 & UK No.11 single 'Aquarius'). Died on 3rd August 2001.

1942, Born on this day, Billy Powell, vocals, The O'Jays, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Love Train'). Powell died on 26th May 1982.

1943, Born on this day, Rick Evans, singer, Zager and Evans, (1969 US & UK No.1 single 'In The Year 2525').

1945, Born on this day, Eric Stewart, guitar, keyboards, vocals, Mindenders, (1966 UK No.2 single Groovy Kind Of Love'), Hotlegs, (1970 UK No.2 single 'Neanderthal Man'), 10cc, (1975 UK No.1 & US No. 2 single 'I'm Not In Love' plus 10 other Top 30 hits).

1946, Born on this day, Jimmy Chambers, singer, Londonbeat, (1990 UK No.2 & 1991 US No.1 single 'I've Been Thinking About You').

1947, Born on this day, George Grantham, drums, Poco, (1979 US No.17 single 'Crazy Love').

1948, Born on this day, Mel Pritchard, Barclay James Harvest, 8 UK Top 40 albums from 1974-87.

1950, Born on this day, Paul Stanley, guitar, vocals, Kiss, (1974 US No.5 single 'On And On', 1976 US No 11 album 'Rock and Roll Over' spent 26 weeks on the chart. 1987 UK No.4 single 'Crazy Crazy Nights').

1952, Born on this day, Ian Hill, bass, Judas Priest, (1980 UK No.12 single 'Living After Midnight', 1980 UK No.4 album 'British Steel').

1965, Born on this day, Heather Small, singer, M People, (1993 UK No.2 single 'Moving On Up' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1969, Born on this day, Nicholas Allen Jones, Manic Street Preachers, (1996 UK No.2 single 'A Design For Life' 1998 UK No.1 album 'This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours').

1969, Born on this day, Tina O'Neill, drummer, We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It, (1989 UK No.11 single 'International Rescue').

1971, Born on this day, Gary Barlow, vocals, piano, songwriter, Take That, (1995 UK No.1 single ‘Back For Good’ plus eight other UK No.1 singles, 1993 UK No.1 album 'Everything Changes spent 78 weeks on the UK chart). Solo, (1996 UK No.1 single ‘Forever Love’). Written songs for Donny Osmond, Charlotte Church, Bryan McFadden and Atomic Kitten. Re-formed Take That without Robbie Williams in 2006 for a sold-out European tour. Topped the UK singles and album charts simultaneously for the first time in their career when the single ‘Patience’ and album ‘Beautiful World’ both reached No.1 in Dec 2006.

1979, Born on this day, Rob Bourdon, drums, Linkin Park, (2002 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'In The End', 2002 US No.2 & 2001 UK No.4 album 'Hybrid Theory').

1979, Born on this day, Will Young, singer, UK TV's Pop Idol winner, (2002 UK No.1 single 'Anything Is Possible / Evergreen').

1981, Born on this day, Nathan Connolly, Snow Patrol, (2006 UK No.1 album ‘Eyes Open’, 2006 UK No.6 single ‘Chasing Cars’).