1958, The Everly Brothers held the UK No.1 position with ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream.’ The Duo’s first No.1 single was recorded in just two takes and features Chet Atkins on guitar. The song was written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.
1964, The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Get Around’, the group’s first No.1, which was a No.7 hit in the UK. It is noteworthy for its back-to-front structure—it starts with a chorus and has two short verses.
1966, The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans. The Beatles failed to appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos’ family, who were not informed that the Beatles had declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent this as a deliberate snub and when Brian Epstein tries to make a televised statement, his comments are disrupted by static. The next day, as The Beatles make their way to the airport they were greeted by angry mobs, the Philippine government had retaliated by refusing police protection for The Beatles.
1969, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Winter, Delaney and Bonnie, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chuck Berry, Spirit, Chicago and Paul Butterfield all appeared at the two-day Atlanta Pop Festival, Byron, Georgia.
1971, Donald McPherson lead singer of US soul group Main Ingredient died of leukaemia aged 30. Had the 1972 hit song, ‘Everybody Plays the Fool’.
1973, Slade drummer Don Powell was badly injured in a car crash in which his girlfriend was killed.
1974, Despite the fact that they have the No.4 song in the US with ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’ and a current Platinum album with Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan’s Walter Becker and Donald Fagan play their final gig together in Santa Monica, California. They would not tour again for the next eighteen years.
1976, The Clash made their live debut supporting the Sex Pistols at the Black Swan, Sheffield, England.
1986, The second Farm Aid benefit concert took place at Manor Downs Racetrack, Manor, Texas. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Alabama, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Emmylou Harris, Jason & the Scorchers, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, Vince Neil and Willie Nelson.
1990, Paul Stanley from KISS sustained neck and back injuries when he was involved in a car crash in New Jersey.
1999, Victoria ‘Posh Spice’ Adams married footballer David Beckham at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland. The couple had signed a deal worth £1million for OK magazine to have the exclusive picture rights.
2000, A man fell 80 feet to his death during a Metallica concert at Raven Stadium, Baltimore.
2002, George Michael took part in a live phone interview on US news channel CNN, defending his new single ‘Shoot The Dog’. Americans were upset by the controversial video, which had President Bush in bed with Tony Blair.
2003, American record producer and singer-songwriter and five-time Grammy Award-winner Barry White died from Kidney failure aged 58. Produced hits for girl group Love Unlimited and other chart hits include 1974 hit ‘You’re The First, The Last, My Everything’, 1974 US No.1 ‘Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe’. Bubblegum act The Banana Splits recorded his songs and he arranged the 1963 hit ‘Harlem Shuffle’ for Bob & Earl.
2004, Ja Rule was arrested for driving while his licence was suspended and being in possession of marijuana. Rule, 28, was stopped by police after changing lanes without signalling, he later pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended licence but the possession charge was dropped.
2005, U2 won their court fight for the return of items of memorabilia, including a Stetson hat which they accused a former stylist of stealing. Judge Matthew Deery at Dublin’s Circuit Court ordered Lola Cashman to return the items, which also include earrings, within seven days. Ms Cashman, had worked as U2’s stylist during the 1980s and wrote an unauthorised book called ‘Inside the Zoo’. Judge Deery said he found Ms Cashman’s version of how she had been given the items at the end of a US tour doubtful, particularly her description of Bono running around in his underpants backstage.
2007, Former laboratory worker Devon Townsend admitted to a court in Albuquerque, New Mexico of stalking Chester Bennington lead singer with Linkin Park. Townsend used US government computers to obtain his personal information, accessing Bennington’s e-mail account and mobile phone voicemail. The court was told how she travelled to Arizona solely for the purpose of trying to see the singer and monitored Chester Bennington’s voicemails as a means of trying to locate where he might be eating.
2009, 77-year-old Allen Klein, the former manager of The Rolling Stones and later The Beatles died after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The assets of his company, ABKCO Music & Records, include recordings by The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Bobby Womack, The Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and many others.
2010, George Michael was arrested after he crashed his car into the front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, North London. The singer was returning home from a Gay Pride parade when the incident was spotted on CCTV. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive and charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
2012, Bonhams of London announced that Freddie Mercury’s black and white harlequin stage costume had sold for £22,500 at their Entertainment Memorabilia sale. The harlequin costume was one of Freddie’s most recognisable stage designs, which he wore at a number of high-profile concerts in the 1970s. Also a pair of Freddie’s ballet pumps exceeded the pre-sale estimate of £1,500 – 2,000, selling for £4,000 to an overseas internet bidder. Freddie had worn the white leather ballet shoes during Queen’s legendary Hyde Park performance in 1976.
2015, Blur’s Damon Albarn was removed from stage at the Roskilde festival in Denmark after a mammoth five-hour set. The singer who was headlining the event with his Africa Express project encouraged the crowd to protest at the plug being pulled. The stage manager emerged, put the singer’s jacket over his shoulders and lifted him off stage.
