On This Day

2017

On This Day
September 4th
1954 - Elvis Presley
To coincide with the release of his second Sun single, 'Good Rockin' Tonight', Elvis Presley along with Bill Black and Scotty Moore made their first appearance at The Grand Old Opry. The audience reaction was so poor, the Opry's manager, Jim Denny told Elvis that he should go back to driving a truck.
1962 - The Beatles
The Beatles first formal recording session at EMI's Abbey Road studios took place. George Martin was unhappy with a previous session on June 6, so he called The Beatles back into the studio to try again. They recorded six songs, including 'Love Me Do' and 'Please Please Me.'

1965 - The Who
The Who had their van stolen containing over £5000 worth of equipment outside the Battersea Dogs Home. The band were inside the home at the time buying a guard dog. The van was later recovered.

1968 - The Beatles
The Beatles recorded promotional videos for ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Revolution’ at Twickenham Film Studios. The vocals are recorded live over the pre-recorded instrumental tracks to get round the current British Musicians Union ban on lip-sync performances. For ‘Hey Jude’, The Beatles were accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra and 300 fans and other assorted extras who join in singing the long refrain.

1968 - Bee Gees
The Bee Gees had their second UK No.1 single with 'I've Gotta Get A Message To You'. The song is about a man who, awaiting his execution in the electric chair, begs the prison chaplain to pass a final message on to his wife.

1969 - Easy Rider
The film 'Easy Rider' starring Jack Nicholson Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper opened at The Classic in London England. The movie's soundtrack featured The Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Steppenwolf.

1971 - Paul McCartney
Taken from the album 'Ram', Paul and Linda McCartney went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the US only released 'Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey'. McCartney's first US solo No.1. Paul would later explain that "Uncle Albert" was based on his real-life uncle. "He's someone I recall fondly and when the song was coming, it was like a nostalgia thing... As for Admiral Halsey, he's one of yours, an American admiral", referring to Admiral William "Bull" Halsey.

1976 - Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac went to No.1 on the US album chart with their self-titled album after being on the charts for over a year. The album went on to sell over 5 million copies in the US and was the first of three No.1 albums for the group.
1976 - Bee Gees
The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Should Be Dancing', the group's third US No.1, a No.5 hit n the UK. It was this song that launched the trio into Disco stardom and is the first chart-topper in which Barry Gibb used his now-trademark falsetto.

1976 - Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols made their television debut when they appeared on the Manchester based Granada TV program 'So It Goes'.

1982 - Survivor
Survivor were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the theme from the film Rocky III 'Eye Of The Tiger', their only chart topper. Survivor won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for the song.
1982 - The Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Abracadabra' the group's third US No.1, a No.2 hit in the UK. The song is said to have been inspired by Diana Ross with whom Miller had met while performing together on Hullabaloo in the 1960s.

1987 - Mike Joyce
Mike Joyce drummer with The Smiths, quit the band saying that 'the present role within the group had been fulfilled'. In 1996, Joyce sued former Smiths' colleagues Johnny Marr and Morrissey for an equal share of performance and recording royalties. Joyce won the case and was awarded damages of around one million pounds.
1995 - Paul Weller
Blur, Oasis, Radiohead, Paul Weller, Manic St Preachers and The Stone Roses all recorded tracks for the 'War Child' charity album, which was released five days later. All profits went to children caught up in the current war in former Yugoslavia.
1996 - Oasis
Oasis created outrage at the MTV awards held at New York's Radio City Hall. During the bands performance of 'Champagne Supernova' singer Liam spat on stage and threw a beer into the crowd.
2000 - David Brown
American bassist David Brown died due to liver and kidney failure. He was the primary bass player with Santana from 1966 until 1971 and played in Santana at Woodstock and at Altamont in 1969 and on the band's first three studio albums.
2007 - The Police
The Police played the first UK date on their Reunion tour when they played two nights at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.

2008 - Jimi Hendrix
The first guitar torched on stage by Jimi Hendrix sold for £280,000 at an auction of rock memorabilia. The Fender Stratocaster was burned at the end of a show at the Astoria in Finsbury Park, north London, in 1967. The sale held in London also included The Beatles first management contract, signed in 1962 by all four members of the group and manager Brian Epstein, sold for £240,000.
2012 - One Direction
One Direction won a legal dispute over the right to keep using their band name. A US punk group of the same name challenged the UK boyband earlier this year, saying that they had called themselves One Direction first. One Direction US sued the British band for $1million (£630,000) in damages and asked for a share of The X Factor stars' royalties. One Direction US would now be known as Uncharted Shores.
2015 - Keith Richards
Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards told The New York Daily News that Rap music was for "tone deaf people." He went on to say "All they need is a drum beat and somebody yelling over it and they're happy. There's an enormous market for people who can't tell one note from another."

2015 - Rico Rodriguez
Cuban-born Jamaican ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez died aged 80. He recorded with many artists including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd "Matador" Daley. He was known as one of the first and most distinguished ska artists, and from the early 1960s performed and recorded in Britain, with the Specials, Jools Holland, Paul Young, and others.

Born On This Day
September 4th
1942 - Bubba Knight
Bubba Knight, singer with The Pips. Their first hit single was a version of 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' in 1967. With Gladys Knight had the 1973 US No.1 single 'Midnight Train To Georgia', and the 1975 UK No.4 single with Gladys 'The Way We Were'.
1944 - Gene Parsons
American drummer, banjo player, guitarist, singer-songwriter, Gene Parsons who was a member of The Byrds, and a member of The Flying Burrito Brothers and Parsons Green. Parsons is credited with inventing the B-Bender (also known as the StringBender) along with Clarence White.
1946 - Ronald LePread
Ronald LePread bassist from American funk/soul band, The Commodores, who had the 1978 UK & US No.1 single 'Three Times A Lady' as well as the hits 'Easy' and 'Nightshift'.

1946 - Gary Duncan
Gary Duncan guitar, US acid rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service.

1951 - Martin Chambers
Martin Chambers, drummer with English-American rock band The Pretenders, who had the 1980 UK No.1 single with ‘Brass In Pocket’ and the 1983 US No.5 single, 'Back On The Chain Gang'.
1960 - Kim Thayil
Kim Thayil, Soundgarden, Guitar, (1994 UK No.12 single 'Black Hole Sun').
1969 - Sasha
Sasha, producer, DJ, (1996 UK No. 17 single ‘Be As One’).
1970 - Igor Cavalera
Igor Cavalera, from Brazilian heavy metal Sepultura. Formed in 1984 the band was a major force in the thrash metal and groove metal genres during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
1971 - Ty Longley
Ty Longley, guitarist, singer, Great White. Had the 1989 hit with a cover of Ian Hunter's 'Once Bitten Twice Shy'. Longley died on 20th February 2003 along with 100 fans after pyrotechnics ignited a club during a Great White gig in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
1972 - Guto Pryce
Guto Pryce, bass, Super Furry Animals, (1999 UK No.11 single 'Northern Lines').
1974 - Carmit Bachar
Carmit Bachar, The Pussycat Dolls, (2005, US No.2 & UK No.1 with their debut single ‘Don't Cha’ featuring Busta Rhymes). The Pussycat Dolls became only the fourth ever girl band to enter the UK charts at No.1 with their debut single. (The other’s being the Spice Girls, B*Witched and Girls Aloud).
1975 - Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson, UK music producer, artist who had the 2007 UK No.2 album 'Version’, and has produced Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus. In 2014 his single ‘Uptown Funk’ featuring vocals from Bruno Mars spent 14 consecutive weeks at No.1 on the US chart, seven non-consecutive weeks at No.1 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the best-selling singles of all-time.
1980 - Dan Miller
Dan Miller, from American boy band O-Town, who were the winners of US TV show 'Making The Band' They scored the 2001 US No. 3 single 'All Or Nothing'.
1981 - Beyonce
Beyonce, American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. With Destiny’s Child she had the 2000 US No.1 single with ‘Say My Name’ and the 2001 US & UK No.1 single and album 'Survivor'. Beyonce scored the 2003 US & UK No.1 single ‘Crazy In Love’ from the world-wide No.1 album 'Dangerously In Love'. Throughout her career, she has sold an estimated 100 million records as a solo artist and a further 60 million records with the group Destiny's Child. She has won 22 Grammy Awards and is the most nominated woman in the award's history.
1990 - James Bay
English singer, songwriter James Bay. His 2015 album Chaos and the Calm went to No.1 on the UK album chart.

On This Day
September 5th
1956 - Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley surprised his mother with a gift of a pink Cadillac. The car remained in the Presley family and eventually went on display at Graceland.
1963 - Mike Berry
The Rolling Stones kicked off their fourth UK tour at The Astoria London. A 32-date package tour with Mike Berry and the Innocents The Mojos and Simon Scott and the Leroy's.

1964 - The Animals
The Animals started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'House Of The Rising Sun'. When first released the record company printed the time of the song on the record as three minutes feeling that the real time of four minutes was too long for radio airplay.
1965 - The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones recorded their eighth single 'Get Off Of My Cloud' at RCA studios in Hollywood. The song peaked at No.1 in the US and the UK.

1965 - Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher made their first live UK appearance when they appeared at the 100 Club in London.
1966 - John Lennon
John Lennon started work on his role as Private Gripweed in the film 'How I Won The War'. The black comedy directed by Richard Lester, was filmed in Spain in Almería Province and saw Lennon, taking a long-overdue break from The Beatles after nearly four years of constant touring.

1967 - The Beatles
Working at Abbey Road studios, London, The Beatles began recording John Lennon’s new song ‘I Am the Walrus’, recording 16 takes of the basic backing track.

1968 - The Doors
On their first ever visit to the UK The Doors appeared on Top Of The Pops performing 'Hello I Love You' live on the TV show.
1970 - Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin started recording sessions recording a version of the Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster song 'Me and Bobby McGee'. Joplin, (who was a lover and a friend of Kristofferson's from the beginning of her career to her death), topped the US singles chart with the song in 1971 after her death, making the song the second posthumous No.1 single in US chart history after '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' by Otis Redding.
1976 - Gary Rossington
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington was seriously injured in a car crash in Florida.

1978 - Joe Negroni
Joe Negroni from Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers died of a brain haemorrhage. They had the 1956 UK No.1 & US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love' and are also noted for being rock's first all-teenaged act.
1981 - Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks went to No.1 on the US album with Bella Donna, featuring the tracks ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ (the Tom Petty duet), ‘Leather and Lace’ (with Don Henley), ‘Edge of Seventeen’ and ‘After the Glitter Fades.’
1981 - Soft Cell
Soft Cell were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of 'Tainted Love.' The song had been a hit for Gloria Jones in 1964. (Jones who became Marc Bolan's girlfriend was the driver of the car, that crashed and killed Bolan on 16 September 1977. Jones nearly died in the accident).
1987 - Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury of The Cult was arrested after a show in Vancouver ended in a riot. Staff at the concert claimed they were assaulted by Astbury, who spent the night in the local police cells.
1990 - Charley Charles
Ian Dury And The Blockheads drummer Charley Charles died of cancer. Scored the 1978 UK No.1 single 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'.
1994 - Oasis
Oasis appeared at The Hacienda in Manchester to celebrate the launch of their debut album Definitely Maybe. The album went on to become the fastest selling debut album of all time in the UK and marked the beginning of Oasis' success in America, selling over one million copies there.
1998 - Diane Warren
Aerosmith scored their first US No.1 single with the Diane Warren written song 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing'. The song which was featured in the 1998 film Armageddon gave the band their first No.1 single after 28 years together.

1998 - Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers scored their first UK No.1 single with 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next'. The group's 19th hit and the first Welsh act to have a No.1 single since Shakin' Stevens in 1985. The song is in the Guinness World Records as the longest title for a No.1 single without brackets.
1999 - Shania Twain
After spending 58 weeks on the UK album chart, Shania Twain went to No.1 with 'Come On Over'. It became the best-selling country music album, and the second best-selling studio album by a female act. To date, the album has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
2002 - Heather Mills
Heather Mills, Paul McCartney's second wife accepted £50,000 libel damages over an article in the Sunday Mirror. The paper had suggested that Mills acted dishonestly over cash collected for an earthquake appeal.
2006 - Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys won this year's UK Mercury Prize for their album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.' The Sheffield-based bands album became the fastest-selling debut in chart history after shifting more than 360,000 copies in its first week of release in Feb 2006.
2008 - Musical Tastes
A study of more than 36,000 people from around the world concluded that musical tastes and personality type were closely related. The research, which was carried out by Professor Adrian North of Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh in the UK suggested classical music fans were shy, while heavy metal fans were gentle and at ease with themselves. Fans of Indie music had low self-esteem and were not hard working, fans of Rap music had high self-esteem and were outgoing. Country & Western fans were hardworking and outgoing, Reggae fans were creative but not hardworking, and fans of chart pop had high self-esteem, were not creative, but where hardworking and outgoing.
2012 - Joe South
Singer-songwriter Joe South, who had hits in the late 1960s and early ’70s, including 'Games People Play,' 'Walk a Mile in My Shoes' and '(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden,' died at home in Flowery Branch, Atlanta from a heart attack, aged 72. South also played on Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album.
2016 - Freddie Mercury
An asteroid was named after Freddie Mercury to mark what would have been the singer's 70th birthday. The Queen frontman has had his name attached to Asteroid 17473, which was discovered in 1991 - the year he died. Queen guitarist Brian May told a gathering of 1,250 fans at Montreux Casino in Switzerland that the asteroid would now be known as Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury.

2017 - Rick Stevens
Former Tower of Power lead singer Rick Stevens died age 77 after a battle with cancer. Stevens was in his 30s, four years out of Tower of Power and addicted to drugs, when he shot to death three men in a 1976 dealing dispute and served 36 years in prison.

Born On This Day
September 5th
1936 - Willie Woods
Willie Woods, Junior Walker and the All Stars, (1969 US No.4 single 'What Does It Take To Win Your Love'). Woods died of lung cancer on 27th May 1997.
1939 - John Stewart
John Stewart, singer, songwriter with The Kingston Trio. As a solo artist he had a 1979 US No.5 single with ‘Gold’. He also wrote The Monkees hit ‘Daydream Believer’. Stewart died aged 68 after he suffered a massive stroke or brain aneurysm in San Diego on 19th Jan 2008.
1945 - Al Stewart
Al Stewart, UK singer, songwriter, (1977 UK No.31 & US No.8 single 'Year Of The Cat').
1946 - Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles drummer with The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Santana, Electric Flag and Jimi Hendrix. Miles featured on the 1970 Hendrix album Band Of Gypsies as well as tracks on Electric Ladyland and The Cry of Love. He died on 28th Feb 2008 died aged 60 at his home in Austin, Texas after struggling with a long-term illness.
1946 - Dean Ford
Dean Ford, singer, guitarist from Scottish pop rock band Marmalade, (originally formed in 1961 as The Gaylords). They scored the 1969 UK No.1 single with their version of The Beatles song 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da'. Ford died on 31 December 2018 aged 73.
1946 - Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury singer, Queen, (1975 UK No.1 single 'Bohemian Rhapsody' also UK No.1 in 1991, plus over 40 other UK Top 40 singles. 1980 US No.1 single 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'). Solo, (1987 UK No. 4 single 'The Great Pretender'). Mercury died of bronchio-pneumonia on November 24th 1991 aged 45, just one day after he publicly announced he was HIV positive.

1946 - Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III, US singer, songwriter, (1973 US No.17 single 'Dead Skunk'). Once appeared in TV 's M.A.S.H. He is the father of Martha and Rufus Wainwright,
1947 - Mel Collins
Mel Collins, British saxophonist and flutist and session musician. Collins who played the sax solo on The Rolling Stones' 'Miss You' and has also worked with King Crimson, Camel, Alan Parsons Project, 10cc, Clannad, Eric Clapton, Bad Company, Dire Straits, Roger Waters, Gerry Rafferty, Tears For Fears and others.
1949 - Dave Clempson
Dave Clempson guitar, Humble Pie (1969 UK No.4 single 'Natural Born Bugie').
1954 - Sal Solo
Sal Solo, Classix Nouveaux, (1982 UK No.11 single 'Is It A Dream').
1956 - Roine Stolt
Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer Roine Stolt. A major figure in Sweden's rock history, Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward.
1964 - Kevin Saunderson
Kevin Saunderson, from American electronic group Inner City, who had the 1989 UK No.4 single 'Good Life' and the hit 'Big Fun'.
1966 - Terry Ellis
Terry Ellis, vocals, En Vogue (1992 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'My Lovin').
1968 - Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk, drummer, from Rage Against The Machine, who had the 1996 US No.1 album Evil Empire. And with Audioslave had the 2005 US No.1 album Out of Exile.
1980 - Kevin Simm
Kevin Simm, vocals, Liberty X (2002 UK No.1 single 'Just A Little'). The group was formed by the five finalists of the British talent show Popstars who failed to make it into the group Hear'

On This Day
September 7th
1959 - Craig Douglas
Craig Douglas was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Sam Cooke hit 'Only Sixteen'. Born Terence Perkins, he was employed as a milkman before becoming a professional singer and was known as the 'Singing Milkman'.
1963 - The Beatles
The Beatles recorded an appearance on the BBC radio program ‘Saturday Club’, at the Playhouse Theatre in London. They performed ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Memphis’, ‘Happy Birthday Saturday Club’ (arrangement credited to John Lennon), ‘I'll Get You’, ‘She Loves You’, and ‘Lucille’.

1968 - Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham made their live debut as Led Zeppelin but billed as The New Yardbirds at Teen Club in Gladsaxe (a suburb in the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark). Around 1,200 youngsters attended the show at Egegard School. Teen Club President Lars Abel introducing 'The New Yardbirds' on stage introduced Robert Plant as Robert Plat. A local review stated; 'Their performance and their music were absolutely flawless, and the music continued to ring nicely in the ears for some time after the curtains were drawn after their show. We can therefore conclude that the new Yardbirds are at least as good as the old ones were'.
1968 - Doors
The Doors played the first of two nights at The Roundhouse, London, playing 2 shows a night on their first UK visit. Granada TV filmed the sold out gigs (later shown as "The Doors Are Open"), which were attended by members of The Rolling Stones and Traffic.
1974 - The 101ers
The 101ers made their performing debut at the Telegraph pub in Brixton. The pub rock band featured singer, guitarist Joe Strummer who would later join The Clash.
1976 - Abba
ABBA were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Dancing Queen', the group's fourth UK No.1 single and their only US No.1 chart topper. The song was a No.1 hit in over a dozen countries and stayed at the top of the Swedish charts for 14 weeks.

1976 - Buddy Holly
The first Buddy Holly week was held by UK fans in London, England.

1978 - Keith Moon
Keith Moon drummer with The Who, died of a overdose of heminevrin prescribed to combat alcoholism. A post-mortem confirmed there were 32 tablets in his system, 26 of which were undissolved. Moon had attended a party the night before organised by Paul McCartney for the launch of the The Buddy Holly Story movie. He played on all The Who albums from their debut, 1965's My Generation, to 1978's Who Are You, which was released two weeks before his death.

1985 - David Bowie
David Bowie and Mick Jagger were at No.1 on the UK singes chart with their version of the Martha Reeves and The Vandellas 1964 hit 'Dancing In The Street.' The song had been recorded as part of the Live Aid charity appeal. The original plan was to perform a track together live, with Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium and Jagger at the JFK Stadium, until it was realised that the satellite link-up would cause a half-second delay that would make this impossible.
1985 - John Parr
John Parr started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'St Elmo's Fire', taken from the film of the same name a No.6 hit in the UK.
1996 - Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson played the first date on the HIStory World Tour, his third solo world concert tour, at Letna Park, Prague in the Czech Republic. The tour consisted of 82 concerts and was attended by approximately 4.5 million fans, beating his previous Bad Tour with 4.4 million and grossing a total of over $163.5 million.
1997 - Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Dance'. The album went on sell over 5 million copies in the US alone.
2001 - Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was reunited onstage with the Jackson Five at his 30th Anniversary Celebration in New York City's Madison Square Garden. It ended Jackson's 11-year hiatus from performing in the U.S. Jackson was joined by Eminem, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Britney Spears and Destiny's Child to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his singing career.
2002 - Frankie Miller
The Frankie Miller tribute concert was held at Barrowlands in Glasgow, Scotland with all profits going to the Drake Music Project. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Nazareth, Gallagher & Lyle, Hamish Stuart, former Thin Lizzy, guitarist Brian Robertson, ex-Genesis singer Ray Wilson and Joe Walsh all appeared. Miller attended the show, but was still recovering from a 1994 brain hemorrhage, and so was unable to join in.
2003 - Warren Zevon
US singer, songwriter, Warren Zevon died. He had worked as a session musician, was the piano player and band leader for the Everly Brothers. His 1969 song 'She Quit Me' was included in the soundtrack for the film Midnight Cowboy. Jackson Browne, the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt all appeared on his albums. He recorded over 15 solo albums, had the 1978 US No.21 single 'Werewolves Of London'.
2003 - Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas started a six-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Where Is The Love.' The best selling single of 2003. (with an un-credited Justin Timberlake on the recording).

2007 - MP3 Players
A report showed that two-thirds of young people who regularly used MP3 players faced premature hearing damage. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People said its findings were alarming with research showing that 72 out of 110 MP3 users tested in the UK were listening to volumes above 85 decibels. Some MP3 players at full volume registered at 105 decibels, an aircraft taking off measured at 110 decibels.
2007 - Rock Stars
A new study revealed that rock stars were twice as likely to die early as the rest of us. Researchers said that the problem was so bad the industry should be labeled a 'high risk' profession.
2010 - Queen
Queen’s 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was voted the greatest ‘lighter in the air song of all time’ by lighter company Zippo. Led Zeppelin’s 'Stairway To Heaven', was voted in at No. 2 and Meat Loaf's ‘I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)’ was at No. 3 in the survey.

2016 - The Chainsmokers
The Chainsmokers featuring American singer Halsey were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Closer'. The song stayed at the top spot for 12 consecutive weeks and topped the charts in more than ten countries. The song went on to become the first song to spend 26 weeks in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also became only the second song in the history of the Hot 100 chart to spend 32 weeks in the top ten of the chart.

On This Day
September 8th
1952 - Ray Charles
After Atlantic Records bought Ray Charles' contract from Swingtime, Charles recorded his first session for Atlantic, cutting four songs. Over the next seven years, he would record such classics as ‘Mess Around,’ ‘I Got a Woman,’ ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’ and ‘What'd I Say.’
1956 - Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran signed a one year contract with Liberty Records, Cochran went on to give Liberty three top 40 hits over the next several years including ‘Summertime Blues,’ ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ and ‘C’mon Everybody’.
1957 - Jackie Wilson
Reet Petite' by Jackie Wilson was released for the first time, it became a UK No. 1, 29 years later. During a 1975 benefit concert, Wilson collapsed on-stage from a heart attack and subsequently fell into a coma that persisted for nearly nine years until his death in 1984.
1968 - The Beatles
The Beatles performed 'Hey Jude' on the UK television show 'Frost On Sunday' in front of an invited audience. The song was the first single from The Beatles' record label Apple Records and at over seven minutes in length, 'Hey Jude' was, at the time, the longest single ever to top the British charts. It also spent nine weeks as No.1 in the United States—the longest run at the top of the American charts for a Beatles' single.

1968 - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin appeared at Raventlow Parken, Nykobing, Falster, Denmark supported by The Beatnicks and The Ladybirds, (who were a all girl topless go-go dancing outfit). This was the group's third ever live gig.
1971 - Tams
The Tams were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hey Girl Don't Bother Me', a reissue of a 1964 US hit.
1973 - Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye Gaye started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Get It On', his second US No.1, only reached No.31 in the UK.

1974 - Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and The Beach Boys all appeared at the New York 'Summersault '74' at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury.

1977 - Wings
Guitarist Jimmy McCulloch left Wings to help re-form the Small Faces. McCulloch had played with Paul McCartney band on the Venus and Mars and Wings At the Speed of Sound albums, as well as on the Wings Over America tour. He died two years later at the age of 26. Drummer Joe English also left Wings at this time, joining Sea Level.

1979 - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin scored their eighth UK No.1 album when 'In Through The Out Door' went to the top of the charts for two weeks. The eighth studio album by Zeppelin, was their final album of entirely new material.
1984 - Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder had his first UK No.1 with 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'. Taken from the film 'The Woman In Red', it was 18 years after Wonder's chart debut in 1966. The song stayed at No.1 for six weeks.

1990 - Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Blaze Of Glory', a No.2 in the UK. The track appeared in the motion picture Young Guns II, for which it was originally recorded.
1993 - Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love appeared on stage together at a show in Hollywood. They performed a song they wrote together 'Penny Royal Tea'.

1997 - Led Zeppelin
29 years after the band first formed, Led Zeppelin released 'Whole Lotta Love', their first ever single in the UK. The track recorded in 1969 and featured on the bands second album was issued to promote their re-issued back catalogue.
1997 - Derek Taylor
Derek Taylor the publicist for The Beatles died aged 67. Taylor had been responsible for many of the legends surrounding their career and had also worked with The Beach Boys and The Byrds. In 1967 he helped organise the Monterey Pop Festival together with Lou Adler and John Philips. He helped launch the Beatles Anthology trilogy in the 90s.
1999 - Sean Puffy Combes
Sean Puffy Combes and his bodyguard Paul Offered both pleaded guilty to harassment in a New York Court. The pair faced charges of assaulting record company executive Steve Stoute with a champagne bottle a chair and a telephone.
2002 - Bruce Dickinson
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson started his new job as an airline pilot. The heavy metal singer qualified as a £35,000 - a year first officer with Gatwick based airline Astraeus who took holidaymakers to Portugal and Egypt.
2003 - David Bowie
David Bowie performed the first interactive concert when his performance was beamed live into 21 cinemas from Warsaw to Edinburgh. Members of the audience talked to Bowie via microphones linked to ISDN lines and took requests for songs from fans.
2004 - Robert Plant
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant was guest of honour at the unveiling of a statue of 15th century rebel leader Owain Glyndwr at Pennal church, near Machynlleth in Wales. Plant, who owns a farmhouse in the area had donated money towards a bronze sculpture of the Welsh prince.
2005 - Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart was ordered to pay a Las Vegas casino $2m (£1.1m) for missing a New Year concert in 2000. Stewart had said he was unable to play at the Rio hotel and casino because his voice disappeared after an operation to remove a cancerous thyroid tumour. The singer said his voice only recovered in time to begin a world tour in June 2001 and he had since performed 150 shows.

2005 - Kaiser Chiefs
A charity album featuring some of the biggest bands in the UK was thought to be the fastest ever produced. Coldplay, Radiohead, Kaiser Chiefs, Antony and the Johnsons, The Magic Numbers, The Coral, Bloc Party and Gorillaz were among those who recorded tracks for ‘Help: A Day in the Life.’ The whole 22-track album was made available for download from the War Child website the following day.

2007 - Foxy Brown
Foxy Brown was sent to jail for a year in New York for violating her probation terms after she travelled outside New York without the court's permission and had missed anger management classes. The rapper (real name Inga Marchand), was arrested for allegedly assaulting a neighbour and in October 2006 she was put on probation for allegedly assaulting two nail salon workers in August 2004.

2007 - Don Arden
A commemorative plaque dedicated to Don Arden and the Small Faces was unveiled at 52–55 Carnaby Street, London, Arden's former offices. Arden achieved notoriety in Britain for his aggressive, sometimes illegal business tactics and looked after the career's of Small Faces, the Move, the Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath. He was the father of Sharon Osbourne (and father-in-law of Ozzy Osbourne).
2011 - Michael Jackson
Jury selection began for the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. Prospective jurors were asked to fill out a 30-page questionnaire to determining their level of knowledge of the case and any strong views about Jackson or Murray.
2016 - Prince Buster
Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer, Prince Buster died in a hospital in Miami, Florida, after suffering heart problems. The first Jamaican to have a top 20 hit in the UK, Prince Buster defined the sound of ska in the 1960s before going on to inspire the Two Tone movement of the late '70s.

Born On This Day
September 8th
1897 - Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers singer, songwriter, the first country music star. Sold over 12 million records and was the first person to be elected into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Rodgers died on 26th May 1933.
1925 - Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers actor, The Goons, (1956 UK No.9 single 'Ying Tong Song' with The Goons, 1960 UK No.4 single 'Goodness Gracious Me', with Sophia Loren, 1965 UK No.14 single 'A Hard Day's Night'). Sellers died of a heart attack on 24th July 1980.
1932 - Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline country music singer. Her hits began in 1957 with Donn Hecht's and Alan Block's 'Walkin' After Midnight', Hank Cochran's and Harlan Howard's 'I Fall to Pieces', Willie Nelson's 'Crazy' and ended in 1963 with Don Gibson's 'Sweet Dreams'. She died aged 30 on 5 March 1963 at the height of her career in a plane crash. She was one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. Ten years after her death, in 1973, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1942 - Brian Cole
Brian Cole, bass, vocals, The Association, (1967 US No.1 single 'Windy'). Cole died on 2nd August 1972.
1942 - Sal Spampinato
Sal Spampinato, The Beau Brummels, (1965 US No.8 single, 'Just A Little.')
1945 - Kelly Groucutt
English musician Kelly Groucutt, bassist, with Electric Light Orchestra, who had the 1979 UK No.3 & US No.4 single 'Don't Bring Me Down' plus 26 other Top 40 hits. Groucutt began his musical career at 15 as Rikki Storm of Rikki Storm and the Falcons. He died from a heart attack on 19 February 2009 aged 63.
1945 - Ron Mckernan
Ron McKernan, organ, and one of the founding members of Grateful Dead who played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Unlike the other members of the Grateful Dead, McKernan avoided psychedelic drugs, preferring to drink alcohol (namely whiskey and flavored fortified wine). By 1971, his health had been affected by alcoholism and liver damage and doctors advised him to stop touring. He died on 8th March 1973 from cirrhosis of the liver aged 27.
1947 - Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr bass, vocals, The Cars, who had the 1978 UK No.3 single 'My Best Friend's Girl.' Their 1984 US No.3 & 1985 UK No.4 'Drive' was used as part of the soundtrack for the Live Aid concert. Orr died of cancer in Atlanta on 3 October 2000, aged 53.
1958 - David Lewis
David Lewis, from American band Atlantic Starr who had the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Always'.
1960 - Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann, US singer songwriter, member of Til Tuesday, solo, (1993 album 'Whatever').
1960 - David Steele
David Steele, from British band Fine Young Cannibals, who had the 1989 UK No.5 single 'She Drives Me Crazy'.

On This Day
September 10th
1962 - Boris Pickett
The BBC banned Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt Kickers single 'Monster Mash' saying it was offensive. The single went on to be a UK No.3 hit in 1973.
1963 - Paul McCartney
During a chance meeting between The Rolling Stones at Studio 51 Jazz Club in London with Paul McCartney and John Lennon, the two played the Stones a partly finished song 'I Wanna Be Your Man' which the Stones later record.

1963 - The Beatles
The Daily Mirror published a two-page article about The Beatles. Written by Donald Zec, the feature is entitled ‘Four Frenzied Little Lord Fauntleroys Who Are Earning 5,000 Pounds A Week’ Zec, who had attended a Beatles concert in Luton on Sept. 6 and then invited them to his home to complete the interview, referred to The Beatles' haircuts as ‘A stone-age hair style’. The article provided a major boost to their career.

1964 - Jimmy Page
The Kinks third single 'You Really Got Me', was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. Future Led Zeppelin founder and guitarist Jimmy Page played tambourine on the track.
1964 - Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart recorded his first single, a version of Willie Dixon's 'Good Morning Little School Girl.' Future Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones played on the session.
1965 - The Byrds
The Byrds begin recording ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’. Unlike their first hit, ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’, members of the group itself were permitted to play instead of session musicians.
1966 - The Beatles
The Beatles started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Revolver the group's ninth US chart topper. The title ' Revolver ', like Rubber Soul before it, is a pun, referring both to a kind of handgun as well as the "revolving" motion of the record as it is played on a turntable.

1966 - Phil Collins
The Supremes started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Can't Hurry Love', the group's sixth US No.1. It made No.3 in the UK and gave Phil Collins a UK No.1 in 1982.

1967 - Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley recorded 'Guitar Man' at RCA studio, Nashville, Tennessee. The Jerry Reed song became the last of eleven number one country hits for Presley.
1968 - The Beatles
The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hey Jude', the group's 15th UK No.1 and the longest chart topper ever at seven minutes and ten seconds. The single was the first release on the group's Apple records label.

1973 - The Rolling Stones
The BBC banned The Rolling Stones single 'Star Star', from their Goat's Head Soup album because it contained the word "Star-f**ker" in the chorus a dozen times.

1974 - New York Dolls
The New York Dolls split up. The influential American band formed in 1972 and made just two albums, the 1973 'New York Dolls' and 1974 'Too Much Too Soon'.
1977 - Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf released his second studio album Bat Out Of Hell. His first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman and producer Todd Rundgren, it is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 43 million copies worldwide (and still sells over 200,000 copies per year). The first single released from the album 'You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth' failed to chart when first released.

1983 - Michael Sembello
Former Stevie Wonder guitarist Michael Sembello, started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Maniac'. The track was featured in the film 'Flashdance'. A No.43 hit in the UK.
1988 - Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sweet Child O' Mine', the group's first US No.1, a No.24 hit in the UK.
1988 - Phil Collins
Phil Collins was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Groovy Kind Of Love.' Taken from his film 'Buster' the song had been a No.2 hit for The Mindbenders in 1966.
1991 - Nirvana
Nirvana's single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was released in the US. The unexpected success of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' in late 1991 propelled Nevermind to the top of the charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point where alternative rock entered the mainstream.

1994 - R.E.M.
REM were at No.9 on the UK singles chart with 'What's The Frequency Kenneth'. The song's title refers to an incident in 1986 when two unknown assailants attacked journalist Dan Rather while repeating "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

1996 - Ray Coleman
Music journalist Ray Coleman died of cancer. Coleman had worked with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and had been the editor of the UK music weekly Melody Maker throughout the heyday of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones into the era of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
1997 - Andy Warhol
An electric chair, which was used in Alcatraz and once owned by Andy Warhol, sold for £4,800 at an auction in Bristol. Warhol used to sit in the chair and watch horror movies.
1999 - Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney made headline news after being seen at a New York City party minus one of his front teeth after a crown broke off when he was eating. He'd lost the tooth in a motorcycle accident in 1967.

2001 - Jay Kay
Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay pleaded not guilty to assault charges after being accused of hitting a photographer and destroying camera equipment outside London night-club. Photographer, Dennis Gill, alleged that on April 14, Jay Kay punched him and destroyed camera equipment worth £250 outside the Attica night-club in London's West End, the case was adjourned until October 22.
2002 - Chris Cowey
Chris Cowey the man behind the UK's longest running music TV show Top Of The Pops accused record bosses of controlling the singles chart with marketing scams and as a result the chart lacked credibility and was 'full of crap records.'
2005 - The Beatles
The 1967 Beatles track 'A Day In The Life' from Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was voted the best British song of all time by music experts. The survey by Q magazine called the track "the ultimate sonic rendition of what it means to be British". The Kinks' song 'Waterloo Sunset' came second in the poll and 'Wonderwall' by Oasis was voted in third place.

2005 - Clarence Brown
Grammy-award winning guitarist and singer Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown died in Texas at the age of 81. Recorded with Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder and Frank Zappa during a career that spanned 50 years.
2006 - Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin', the American's band first UK No.1. The song was co-written with Elton John, who also played piano on the song.
2007 - Kid Rock
Pamela Anderson's ex-husband Kid Rock was involved in an alleged assault on drummer Tommy Lee, (who was also married to the actress up until 1998). Police interviewed witnesses to a tussle involving the pair at the MTV Music Video Awards in Las Vegas. Lee was removed from the ceremony while Rock, was allowed to stay.
2007 - Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud broke the record for most consecutive top 10 hits in the U.K. singles chart by a female act. Their latest single 'Sexy! No No No' entered the chart at number five giving them a run of 16 top 10 hits.
2009 - Bob Dylan
A harmonica owned by Bob Dylan sold for £2,700 at auction in Norfolk, England, more than four times the guide price. The singer-songwriter had presented the chromonica harmonica, made by Hohner, to a member of his wardrobe department in 1974. Lifetime Dylan fan John Fellas, of Gorleston, Norfolk, who wore Dylan-style sunglasses while bidding, outbid fans from across the world for the instrument. The inside of the harmonica case was signed and dedicated by Dylan. It had is expected to fetch more than £600 at the sale by Barnes Auctioneers. Fellas told reporters he was still plucking up the courage to tell his wife about what he had done.
2015 - Don Griffin
American guitarist Don Griffin was killed in a car accident in Denver, Colorado. He was 60 years old. Griffin appeared on The Miracles 1976 No.1 hit, 'Love Machine' and had also worked with Anita Baker. Griffin's dance band Madagascar was signed by Clive Davis to Arista Records in 1981 and released the single 'Baby Not Tonight.

1954 - Frank Sinatra
The first 'teen idol', Frank Sinatra was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Three Coins In The Fountain,' the singer's first UK No.1. The song was The Academy Award winning Best Original Song of 1954.

1963 - The Beatles
The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'She Loves You', the group's second No.1. It became the biggest seller of the year and the biggest selling Beatles single in the UK.

1964 - Marvin Gaye
The Supremes, The Shangri-La's, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, The Ronettes, Millie Small, The Temptations, The Miracles and Little Anthony and the Imperials all appeared at The Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, New York.

1966 - Monkees
N.B.C. aired the first episode of The Monkees TV show in the US. The series ran for a total of 58 episodes.
1967 - The Beatles
Filming continued for The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. The bus headed for Widecombe on the Moor, where a local fair was being held but the bus driver (Alf Manders) took a shortcut to bypass heavy traffic and ended up stuck on a bridge, the coach ended up having to drive in reverse for a half-mile before it could turn around. They then head for Plymouth, followed by a 20-car convoy of journalists and photographers.

1970 - The Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert
Bob Dylan joined Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie at the Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.
1970 - Creedance Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival scored their first UK No.1 album with Cosmo's Factory. It enjoyed a nine-week run at No.1 in the US where it sold over three million copies.

1970 - Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Tears Of A Clown', their first UK No.1. Stevie Wonder (who was discovered by Miracles member Ronnie White), and his producer Hank Cosby wrote the music for the song.

1986 - John McGeoch
Public Image Ltd guitarist John McGeoch needed 40 stitches in his face after a two-litre wine bottle was thrown at the stage during a gig in Vienna.

1987 - Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson kicked of his Bad World Tour by playing the first of three sold-out nights at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. By the end of the 123-date tour, Jackson had played to over 4million fans across fifteen countries.
1989 - Aerosmith
Aerosmith released 'Pump' their tenth studio album which featured the hit singles: 'Love In An Elevator', 'The Other Side' and 'Janie's Got a Gun'. Aerosmith found themselves in law school textbooks after a small rock band named Pump sued Aerosmith's management company for service mark infringement. Aerosmith won the case.

1990 - Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac announced they were leaving the band at the end of their current tour. At the time, some believed that Nicks’ and McVie’s departures were hastened by bad blood in the wake of Fleetwood’s memoir, Fleetwood: My Life and Adventures in Fleetwood Mac which revealed some “sordid revelations” about life in Fleetwood Mac.
1995 - Michael Hutchence
INXS singer Michael Hutchence pleaded guilty to punching photographer Jim Bennett outside a London hotel. He was fined £400 and ordered to pay £1,875 costs.

1997 - Stig Anderson
Founder of the Polar Music record label, songwriter, producer and ABBA's manager Stig Anderson died of a heart attack. Anderson co-wrote some of ABBA's biggest hits, such as ‘Waterloo’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘S.O.S’, ‘Fernando’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘The Name of the Game.’ His funeral was broadcast live on Swedish television an honour otherwise only reserved for distinguished statesmen or royalty.

1999 - Vengaboys
The Vengaboys went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'We're Going To Ibiza!' The song was originally known as 'Barbados' a No.1 for Typically Tropical in 1975. The Vengaboys gave it a new title with revised lyrics.
2002 - Rod Stewart
The son of Rod Stewart was sentenced to 90 days in jail and ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation after pleading no contest to attacking a man outside a Malibu, California restaurant. 22 year-old Sean Stewart had been arrested on Dec. 5th, 2001, after he was seen kicking the man in the face and stomach. Stewart was also sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $5,600 to the victim.
2003 - Johnny Cash
US singer songwriter Johnny Cash died of respiratory failure aged 71. One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, known as "The Man in Black." He traditionally started his concerts by saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." Had the 1969 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'A Boy Named Sue', plus 11 other US Top 40 singles. Cash also had his own US TV show in late 60s early 70s.

2004 - Kenny Buttrey
American drummer and arranger Kenny Buttrey died in Nashville, Tennessee, Worked with Neil Young, (Harvest, and After the Gold Rush), Bob Dylan (Blonde on Blonde, Nashville Skyline & John Wesley Harding), and Bob Seger, Elvis Presley, Donovan, George Harrison, Joan Baez, Dan Fogelberg, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Buffett, Chuck Berry and Area Code 615.
2006 - Jay Kay
Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay was arrested and cautioned for common assault following an altercation with a photographer after an incident outside a London nightclub.
2007 - Led Zeppelin
The surviving members of Led Zeppelin announced they would reform for a star-studded tribute concert in London. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones would play at a show to remember the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The place of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980, would be taken by his son Jason. The one-off concert, the trio's first performance for 19 years, would take place at the O2 arena in London on 26th November.
2008 - Kanye West
Kanye West was arrested on suspicion of vandalism after a row with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport. The incident happened before he cleared security screening at the airport before boarding a flight to Hawaii. A camera valued at $10,000 (£5,709) was broken in the incident, according to an airport spokesman.

2013 - Ray Dolby
Ray Dolby, the US engineer who founded Dolby Laboratories and pioneered noise reduction in audio recordings, died of leukemia at the age of 80. The analog Dolby noise-reduction system works by increasing the volume of low-level high-frequency sounds during recording and correspondingly reducing them during playback .

September 14th
1955 - Little Richard
Little Richard entered a New Orleans recording studio to begin two days of recording. Things were not going well and during a break, Richard and his producer; Bumps Blackwell went to the Dew Drop Inn for lunch. Richard started playing the piano in the bar like crazy, singing a loud and lewd version of ‘Tutti Frutti.’ With only fifteen minutes left in the session, Richard recorded the song and coined the phrase, ‘a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.’

1967 - The Beatles
Filming continued for The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' in South West England. The Beatles searched for a quiet, secluded field in which they could conduct filming but once they'd disembarked from the bus and set up for shooting, scores of onlookers began to crowd around, causing a traffic jam that required the police to step in.

1968 - Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison's house in Nashville burnt down, his two eldest sons both died in the blaze. Orbison was on tour in the UK at the time of the accident.
1968 - Archies
The first episode of the comic strip 'The Archies' was aired on US TV. The recording group had contributions from Ron Dante, Andy Kim, Jeff Barry and others. Rock mogul, Don Kirshner (who also brought us The The Monkees) was put in charge of the studio group. The following year The Archies started a eight-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sugar Sugar,' becoming the longest running One Hit Wonder in the UK.
1971 - Led Zeppelin
During a US tour Led Zeppelin appeared at Berkley Community Theatre, Berkley, California. Countless major acts have appeared here, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Van Morrison, The Kinks, Bruce Springsteen, Genesis, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
1974 - Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton scored a US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song 'I Shot The Sheriff' which was first released in 1973 on The Wailers' album Burnin'. Clapton's version was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard.
1974 - Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Fulfillingness First Finale' his second US No.1. The album received three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, in 1974.

1979 - The Who
The film Quadrophenia was released. Based on The Who's 1973 rock opera the film featured Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Ray Winstone, Michael Elphick and Sting.

1981 - The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones played a secret pre-tour warm-up show at the Sir Morgan's Cove club in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Billed as Little Boy Blue & The Cockroaches, a local radio station announced that the Stones were in town, resulting in the club being besieged by over 4,000 fans attempted to get into the 350-person venue. Police were drafted in to control the crowds, which resulted in eleven fans being arrested.

1984 - David Bowie
David Bowie won Video of the year for 'China Girl' at the first MTV Video awards. The song co-written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop during their years in Berlin, first appeared on Pop's album The Idiot released in 1977.
1989 - Perez Prado
Cuban bandleader and composer Perez Prado died of a stroke in Mexico City. Had the US & UK 1955 No.1 single 'Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White'.
1994 - Steve Earle
US singer Steve Earle was sentenced to 1 year in jail after being found guilty of possession of crack cocaine.
1995 - The Beatles
The lyrics to The Beatles song 'Getting Better' hand-written by Paul McCartney sold for £161,000 at a Sotheby's auction in London.

1996 - Peter Andre
Peter Andre scored his first UK No.1 single when 'Flava' went to the top for one week. The English-born Australian singer became a major television personality after taking part in the British reality TV series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!; during which he met and subsequently married glamour model Jordan. The couple split in May 2009 after three and a half years of marriage.
1997 - Jimi Hendrix
Over 2000 fans watched Pete Townshend unveil a English Heritage Blue Plaque at 23 Brook Street, Mayfair London, to mark where Jimi Hendrix had lived in 1968-69. Hendrix was the first pop star to be awarded with the plaque.

1999 - George Michael
It was reported that George Michael was being sued for $10m by the policeman who arrested the singer in a public lavatory. Marcelo Rodriguez claimed he was mocked in the video 'Outside' leaving him in physical distress.
2005 - Britney Spears
Britney Spears gave birth to a baby boy by Caesarean section. Spears and husband Kevin Federline had been taken to the UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, under police escort, early in the morning.
2005 - Bob Dylan
HMV stores in Canada removed Bob Dylan CDs from their shelves in protest at the singer's deal to only sell his new album in Starbucks after he signed an exclusive contract with the coffee giant. The chain has previously boycotted CDs by Alanis Morissette and The Rolling Stones to complain at exclusive deals.
2005 - Grateful Dead
The newly refurbished Grateful Dead's original tour bus went on display at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois. The 1965 Gillig bus, which Jerry Garcia and the rest of the Dead dubbed ‘Sugar Magnolia’ was used by the band on their frequent tours across the US between 1967 and 1985. The ceiling was lined with hundreds of vintage rock posters featuring The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and others who had visited the bus.
2008 - Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson was one of the pilots who flew specially chartered flights after 85,000 tourists were stranded in the US, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe after Britain's third-largest tour operator went into administration. The singer, who had worked for the airline Astraeus for nine years, took up flying during a low point in his solo career after he quit the band in 1993.
2008 - Kings Of Leon
Kings Of Leon started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sex On Fire' taken from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night.
2011 - Bob Dylan
It was reported that a Swedish Bob Dylan fan had been arrested for singing Bob Dylan songs outside his ex-girlfriends house. The love-sick man had also cobbled together a group of five other men to serve as vocal accompaniment for the late-night live performance, each of who donned hoodies with their hoods up. But soon after the man began to serenade his ex, who had previously taken out a restraining order against him, she called the police, leaving 50-year-old guitarist blowin in the wind. 'I had the idea that I'd play a Bob Dylan song for her,' the man told police. (No word on which song, unfortunately.)
2013 - Kanye West
Kanye West was charged with battery and attempted theft over a fight with a photographer at Los Angeles Airport in July. Paparazzo Daniel Ramos sued Mr West after the singer apparently punched him and threw his camera to the ground. If found guilty, West faced a maximum penalty of six months in prison.

2014 - Amy Winehouse
A life-size bronze statue of singer Amy Winehouse was unveiled in Camden, north London. Her father, Mitch Winehouse, said she was "in love with Camden" and it was the place fans associated with her. Created by sculptor Scott Eaton, the statue features the Back to Black star with her hand on hip and her trademark beehive hairdo.

RIP-Ric Ocasek    

Main songwriter with the fabulous band The Cars.

Back in 1985 my sister lived in New York and she waitressed in place that Ric frequented.

Said he was a great bloke, down to earth and tipped well.

RIP Ric......thanks for so many great songs.