Today In Rock & Roll History

The late Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld – sax with The Dave Brubeck Quartet – ‘Take Five’ … which he wrote) was born in 1924

The late Percy Sledge (‘When A Man Loves A Woman’) was born in 1940

Bev Bevan (drummer with ELO – ‘Can’t Get It Out Of My Head’) is 71
Rock Factoid: Bevan’s first professional gig was drumming for a band called Denny & The Diplomats. ‘Denny’ was Denny Laine, who went on to become a member of The Moody Blues before joining Paul McCartney’s Wings.

Bob Lind (‘Elusive Butterfly’) is 73
Rock Factoid: By 1991, Lind was out of the music business and working as an Everglades guide, giving airboat rides to tourists. He also wrote short stories and screenplays but he couldn’t sell them. A friend suggested he write for Weekly World News. Lind hated celebrity gossip but he figured writing about aliens might be fun. “I have no shame,” Lind says, talking about his eight years as a writer for the largely fictional news tabloid . “I make no apologies. It’s not something I try to hide.”
Rock Factoid #2: If you ever read Space Aliens Ate My Laundry in Weekly World News, it was Lind who wrote it.
Idle Thought: By the way, it’s okay to admit you read Weekly World News. I won’t tell anyone.

Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps make their U.S. television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show—1957

Lord Rockingham’s XI were at #1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hoots Mon’—1958
Rock Factoid: The novelty song (based on the traditional Scottish folk song ‘One Hundred Pipers’) was helped up the charts due to the exposure Lord Rockingham’s XI received as the house band on the Jack Good TV show Oh Boy!.

Jack Scott recorded ‘What In The World’s Come Over You’—1959

The Everly Brothers joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve—1961

The Rip Chords released ‘Hey Little Cobra’—1963

In an unprecedented move, Harrods of London opened their store after hours for the exclusive use of The Beatles, enabling the Fab Four to do their Christmas shopping—1965

The Jimi Hendrix Experience made its London debut at the Bag O’Nails Club—1966

The Beatles released ‘The Beatles’ (a double-album commonly known as the ‘White Album’) in the U.S.—1968
Rock Factoid: It was the first album by the Beatles to be released by Apple Records, as well as their only original double album. Producer George Martin has said that he was against the idea of a double album at the time and suggested to the group that they reduce the number of songs to form a single album featuring their stronger work, but that the band decided against it.
Rock Factoid #2: While not all of the recording sessions for the album were strained, there were frequent conflicts and disagreements within the group. The early sessions went smoothly, with each member working together to make the best of each others’ compositions, but by the third month tensions began to rise. Many of the later songs were recorded as mostly solo efforts, with different Beatles occupying separate studios at the same time.
“I remember having three studios operating at the same time: Paul was doing some overdubs in one, John was in another and I was recording some horns or something in a third.” … George Harrison

John Lennon returned his Member of the British Empire medal to protest Britain’s involvement in Biafra and Vietnam—1969
Rock Factoid: He also said he was upset his single (‘Cold Turkey’) was slipping down the charts.

Albert Ayler (avant-garde jazz saxophonist – ‘The Wizard’) died (committed suicide by jumping off the Statue of Liberty ferry)—1970

Allan Clarke, founding member (and original lead singer) of The Hollies left the group to begin a solo career—1971
Rock Factoid: Two years (and two disastrous solo albums) later, he was back in the fold. “I wanted to be famous in my own right. I think everybody does if they’re honest.” … Allan Clarke

Nick Drake (‘River Man’) died (Acute amitriptyline poisoning – self-administered when suffering from a depressive illness)—1974

Deep in debt, Elvis Presley took out a $350,000 loan from the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis, TN. His Graceland estate was put up as collateral—1975

At the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, The Band played their last concert, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese and released as the classic concert movie The Last Waltz. Guest performers included Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison, and Neil Young—1976

Playing The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler was forced to leave the stage after being hit in the face with a bottle thrown from the audience—1978

Thirty-six legendary British rock musicians set aside their egos and grouped together to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. Calling themselves Band Aid, they recorded ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’—1984

The original lineup of The Zombies played onstage together for the first time in 30 years—1997

Fenton Robinson (blues singer/guitarist – ‘Somebody Loan Me A Dime’) died (brain cancer)—1997

Spin magazine editor Craig Marks told police that shock rocker Marilyn Manson’s bodyguards pinned him against a wall and hauled him up into the air. Marks claimed he was invited backstage to talk with Manson after the artist performed at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Manson allegedly threatened Marks. According to Marks, Manson said, “You know I can kill you, your family and everyone you know.”—1998

A burglar broke into Alice Cooper’s home in Paradise Valley, CA and stole $6,000 worth of clothes and electronics belonging to his daughter along with four of Alice’s gold records—2000

Don DeVito (producer for Bob Dylan, The Byrds and Billy Joel) died (prostate cancer)—2011

Earl ‘Speedo’ Carroll (lead singer with The Cadillacs – ‘Speedoo’ and later a member of The Coasters – ‘Love Potion No. 9’) died (stroke and complications of diabetes)—2012

Bob Day (born Bernard Colin Day – The Allisons – ‘Are You Sure?’) died (prolonged illness)—2013

Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2014 RayLemire.com. All Rights Reserved.