This Day in Music

May 19th, 2012

Sat, 19 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1958, The soundtrack to South Pacific went to No.1 on the US album chart.

1960, American DJ Alan Freed was indicted along with seven others for accepting $30,650 in payola from six record companies. Two years later, he was convicted and given a suspended sentence and a $300 fine.

1961, The Everly Brothers launched their own record label, 'Calliop'e'.

1967, The Beatles held a press party at manager's Brian Epstein's house in London for the launch of the 'Sgt Pepper's' album. Linda Eastman was hired as the press photographer.

1968, Johnny Cash appeared at The Odeon, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear during a UK tour.

1973, Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'. His third US No.1, a No.7 hit in the UK.

1973, Wizzard were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'See My Baby Jive,' Roy Wood's (from The Move), latest group spent four weeks at the top of the charts.

1973, Paul Simon released the single 'Kodachrome' which became a hit in the US, but was banned from airplay in the UK because it contained a brand name.

1974, The Rubettes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sugar Baby Love', the group's only UK No.1.

1976, Rolling Stone Keith Richards crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, Bucks, after falling asleep at the wheel; marijuana and cocaine were found by the police resulting in another fine for the guitarist.

1978, Dire Straits released their first major label single 'Sultans Of Swing', recorded on a £120 budget.

1979, Abba started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Voulez-Vous' the group's fourth No.1 LP.

1979, Eric Clapton held a party at his Surrey house celebrating his recent marriage to Patti Boyd. Clapton had set-up a small stage in the garden and as the evening progressed Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ended up jamming together along with Clapton, Ginger Baker and Mick Jagger. The all-star band ran through old Little Richard and Eddie Cochran songs.

1979, Supertramp went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Breakfast In America', the group's only US No.1.

1980, Ringo Starr and his future wife were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed, the car was a write-off but Starr and Bach were not seriously injured.
1981, Sting was named songwriter of the year at the 26th Ivor Novello Awards.

1984, Bob Marley and the Wailers started a 12-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the compilation album 'Legend', released to commemorate the third anniversary of Marley's death.

1985, Tears For Fears appeared at The Playhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, tickets cost £4.50.

1988, James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, following a car Chase near his home, he was charged with assault, resisting arrest and being in charge of illegal weapons, he was given a 6 year jail sentence.

1990, Madonna started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Vogue'. Originally planned as a B-side, it became the singers eighth US No.1 and seventh UK No.1 hit.

1996, Ash went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their album '1977.'

2001, Mike Sammes founder of The Mike Sammes Singers died aged 73. He worked with Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and featured on The Beatles, 'I Am The Walrus' and 'The Long And Winding Road.'

2002, Liberty X went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Just A Little.' They were the five runners-up from the TV talent show "Pop Stars", who failed to become part of the winning group Hear'Say.

2002, Moby scored his second UK No.1 album with '18.'

2007, Lawyers for Michael Jackson dropped an effort to block an auction of the star's personal belongings and other Jackson family items. An agreement was reached with representatives of an auctioneer, who was the current owner of the materials, and a New Jersey man who claimed to own a warehouse full of Jackson memorabilia after a failed business venture wound up in bankruptcy court.

2010, ‘Stairway To Heaven’ was named the UK's favourite rock song in a survey by listeners to radio station Absolute Classic Rock. The band had two other tracks in the top 10; ‘Whole Lotta Love’ was voted at No. 4 and ‘Rock 'n' Roll’, from the group’s fourth album, was at No. 7.

This Day in Music

May 18th, 2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1963, Jimmy Soul was a No.1 on the US singles chart with 'If You Want To Be Happy', a No.39 hit in the UK.

1964, A riot broke out in Hamilton, Scotland during a Rolling Stones UK tour when over 4,000 fans with forged tickets gatecrashed the bands gig at the Chantingall Hotel.

1966, The Castiles (with Bruce Springsteen on vocals), made their first recordings at Mr Music Inc in Brick Town, New Jersey. They cut two Springsteen songs, ‘Baby I’ and ‘That’s What You Get’. The songs were cut directly to disc, of which seven or eight test pressings of the studio takes were made.

1967, John Lennon and Paul McCartney sang backing vocals on The Rolling Stones track 'We Love You' during a session at Olympic Studios, London.

1967, The Beatles were selected to represent the UK for the first-ever global-wide satellite broadcast. The group agreed to be shown in the studio recording a song written especially for the occasion, scheduled for June 25. John Lennon wrote ‘All You Need is Love’ which was thought to sum up the 1967 'summer of love' and The Beatles' sympathies. With the satellite broadcast being broadcast to many non-English-speaking countries, the BBC asked The Beatles to 'keep it simple'.

1968, Archie Bell and The Drells started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tighten Up', it didn't chart in the UK.

1968, Scott Walker was at No.1 on the UK chart with his second album 'Scott 2.'

1968, Grateful Dead, The Doors, The Steve Miller Band and Jefferson Airplane all appeared at The Northern California Rock Festival in Santa Clara.

1974, Ray Stevens started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the novelty song 'The Streak' which capitalized on the then popular craze of streaking. Also No.1 in the UK.

1975, Five times married US country singer, Tammy Wynette was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Stand By Your Man.' Originally recorded by Tammy Wynette and released as a single in 1968 in the USA. It proved to be the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music.
1978, The Buzzcocks supported by Penetration appeared at Newcastle Upon Tyne City Hall, England, tickets £1.75.
1978, Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first night on a 19-date North American tour at the Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

1980, Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis hanged himself in the kitchen of his house in Macclesfield, England at the age of 23. Curtis had the Iggy Pop album 'The Idiot', playing on his stereo and left a note that said, 'At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I Just can't cope anymore.' Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Suffering from epilepsy, a failing marriage, and bouts of depression, Curtis committed suicide on the eve of Joy Division's debut North American tour.

1984, Simple Minds were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't You Forget About Me', (a No. 7 hit in the UK). Written by Keith Forsey (who won an Oscar for "Flashdance... What a Feeling") and Steve Schiff (guitarist and songwriter from the Nina Hagen band, the track was featured in the 1985 American teen drama film The Breakfast Club.

1988, Fleetwood Mac played the first of six sold out nights at Wembley Arena, London on their The Tango In The Night Tour.

1991, R.E.M. went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Out Of Time.'

1993, Sister Lovers, 18 Wheeler, Boyfriend and Oasis appeared at King Tuts in Glasgow, Scotland. Creation Records boss Alan McGee who was in the audience declared after seeing Oasis, 'I've found the greatest rock 'n' roll band since The Beatles.' McGee had missed a train at nearby Queen Street station, and decided to head to Tuts to kill time before the next one. He signed Oasis to his Creation label.

1996, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony started a 8 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tha Crossroads', a No.8 hit in the UK.

1997, Blur won pop music's equivalent of the FA Cup, the Music Industry Soccer Six. The band's win at Fulham's FC's ground Craven Cottage saw them beating off competition from Robbie Williams, My Life Story and The Prodigy.

2000, Madonna's boyfriend Guy Ritchie was arrested after attacking a fan outside the superstar's London home. Ritchie was said to have kicked and punched a male fan after the couple returned home from a night out.

2003, The Isley Brothers were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Body Kiss' the group's first US No.1 in over 30 years.

2004, Clint Warwick the original bass player with The Moody Blues died from liver disease at the age of 63. Clint left the band in 1966 after playing on their only number one hit, 'Go Now'.

2008, Neil Diamond went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Home Before Dark, also a US No.1.

2008, Ting Tings scored their first UK No.1 single with 'That's Not My Name'. Taken from the Manchester duo's debut studio album We Started Nothing.

2011, John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for the 1967 Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' sold for $237,132
at an auction in the US. The sale of the sheet, which featured the song's third verse and the opening words to 'She's Leaving Home', took place at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Both songs feature on the 1967 album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was speculated the song was about the drug LSD, however, The Beatles denied this, with Lennon saying the inspiration had come from a picture his son Julian had drawn of a classmate named Lucy Vodden - who died of the immune system disease Lupus in 2009.

This Day in Music

May 17th, 2012

Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1962, During a UK tour Jerry Lee Lewis played at The Tower Ballroom, tickets cost 5 shillings in advance.

1963, The first Monterey Folk Festival in California was held over three days and featured Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary.

1964, Bob Dylan made his first major concert UK appearance when he played at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

1966, During a UK tour, Bob Dylan appeared at The Free Trade Hall in Manchester. This was the concert where a member of the audience shouted out ‘Judas’ at Dylan unhappy with the singers move from acoustic to rock. Dylan replied with ‘You’re a liar’, the entire concert was eventually officially released in The Bootleg Series by Sony Music in 1999.

1967, The Tremeloes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of a Four Seasons song, (the B-side to Rag Doll), 'Silence Is Golden', the group's only UK No.1.

1967, Working at Abbey Road studios The Beatles began recording a new John Lennon song ‘You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)’. The song was not finished until November 1969, and was not released until March 1970 (as the B-side of the ‘Let it Be’ single).

1968, The Monkees appeared at Valley Music Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah.

1969, It was reported that for the first time ever album sales had overtaken single sales in the UK. 49,184,000 albums were produced during 1968 compared with 49,161,000 singles.

1969, Joni Mitchell was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents, (2/6).

1971, Dawn were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Knock Three Times', the group's first of two UK No.1's. Singer Tony Orlando had retired from singing when he was persuaded to front Dawn for studio recordings.

1975, Earth Wind and Fire started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with the soundtrack to 'That's The Way Of The World.'

1975, Elton John was awarded a Platinum Record for sales of a million copies of the LP 'Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy', the first album ever to be certified Platinum on the day of its release.

1975, Led Zeppelin played the first of five sold-out nights at Earls Court Arena, London, England. Tickets cost $1.70 - $4.25.

1979, The Police appeared at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California.

1980, Boney M scored their third UK No.1 album with 'The Magic Of Boney M.'

1980, This years Eurovision song contest winner Johnny Logan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'What's Another Year.' The second Eurovision winner for Ireland, Logan won it again in 1987 and wrote a further winner in 1992.

1986, Spitting Image started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Chicken Song.' Spitting Image had become the 'must see' Sunday night UK TV show, which mocked politicians and public figures.

1986, Whitney Houston started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Greatest Love Of All', the singers third US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK.

1987, A fire destroyed Tom Petty's house in Los Angeles, the cost was estimated at $800,000.

1989, Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's first Sticky Fingers restaurant opened in London.

1989, The first night of a 12-date UK tour for R.E.M. starting at Leicester De Montfort Hall. (Promoting the new single 'Orange Crush').

1990, Nirvana played the last date of a North American tour at the Zoo in Boise, Idaho. This was Chad Channing's final gig with the band, drummer Dave Grohl replaced him in Sept of this year after his band Scream had split-up.

1996, US blues guitarist Johnny Guitar Watson died of a heart attack while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. According to eyewitness reports, he collapsed mid guitar solo. His last words were "ain't that a bitch."

1996, Kevin Gilbert, multi instrumentalist and songwriter, died of accidental asphyxiation. Member of Giraffe, worked with Sheryl Crow, co-wrote her 1994 UK No.4 hit 'All I Want To Do.'

1997, Olive started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'You're Not Alone.' The group featured Tim Kellett who was previously with Simply Red.

1998, Garth Brooks was at No.1 on the US album charts with 'The Limited Series.'

2002, Sharon Sheeley, US songwriter, died aged 62. Hits include 'Poor Little Fool' US No.1 for Ricky Nelson in 1958 and 1959 hit for Eddie Cochran 'Somethin' Else'. Sheeley survived the car crash that killed Eddie Cochran during a 1960 UK tour.

2002, Lance Bass of boy-band *NSYNC underwent hospital treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat. Bass was hoping to qualify for a seat onboard a Russian rocket flight to the International Space Station.

2003, Singer with Stone Temple Pilots Scott Weiland, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession after being stopped during a routine traffic search in Los Angeles, He was released on $10,000 bail.

2005, Akon was at No.1 on the UK singles with ‘Lonely’, Gwen Stefani held the US No.1 spot with ‘Hollaback Girl’ and Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake were at No.1 on the Australian chart with ‘Signs.’

2006, Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills admitted that they had given up the fight to save their marriage, saying that after fours years together, they were going their separate ways.

2008, Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty posted a two-minute clip of themselves playing with newborn mice on Youtube. The video showed Doherty and Winehouse in a bare room, making rambling comments, picking up the mice and talking to them.

2008, Madonna was at No.1 on the US album chart with her eleventh studio album 'Hard Candy'. The album reached number one in thirty-seven other countries.

2009, Black Eyed Peas went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Boom Boom Pow', their second UK No.1 hit.
2009, Green Day went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their eighth studio album '21st Century Breakdown'.

This Day in Music

May 16th, 2012

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1962, B Bumble and the Stingers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Nut Rocker.' The instrumental was based on Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite.'

1963, The Beatles appeared live on the national BBC TV children's program ‘Pops and Lenny’, at Television Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London, in front of an live audience. The Beatles performed ‘From Me to You’ and a shortened version of ‘Please Please Me.'

1964, Mary Wells started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Guy', it made No.5 in the UK.
1965, Driving away from a gig at the Civic Hall, Long Beach, California, the limo taking the Rolling Stones back to their hotel was besieged by fans who caved in the roof by standing on it. The band attempted to hold the roof up while their chauffeur drove off with bodies falling onto the road.

1966, The Beach Boys released the album Pet Sounds in the US. The album is now regarded as the masterpiece of composer-producer Brian Wilson. To confirm this, Pet Sounds has been widely ranked as one of the most influential records ever released and has been ranked at No.1 in several music magazines lists of greatest albums of all time, including New Musical Express, The Times and Mojo Magazine. In 2003, it was ranked No.2 in Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, (Sgt. Pepper's came first).

1967, Jeff Beck appeared at the Corn Exchange in Bristol, Manfred Mann played at the Industrial Ballroom in Norwich and appearing on the ITV show 'As You Like It'; Lulu, Cat Stevens, Herd, Georgie Fame and the Tremeloes.

1969, Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane was arrested for possession of marijuana and received a two and a half year suspended sentence.

1969, Pete Townshend spent the night in a US jail for assaulting a man during a Who gig at The Fillmore East. What Townshend didn't know was the man who jumped onto the stage was a plainclothes policeman trying to warn the audience that a fire had broken out. The Who guitarist was later fined $30 for the offence.

1970, Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Deja Vu'.

1970, The England World Cup Squad were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Back Home.' The track spent three weeks at the top of the charts.

1972, Al Green, Etta James and Joe Simon with J.J. Malone, Little Denise, Harvey Mandel and Paul Lagos appeared at Oakland Coliseum, California. Billed as The Baddest Soul Show Of 1972.

1974, Brian May collapsed in New York while Queen were on a US tour and was flown back to England suffering from hepatitis.

1974, Neil Young made an unannounced appearance at The Bottom Line in New York and played songs from his new album 'On The Beach.'

1976, Patti Smith made her UK debut at The Roundhouse, London.

1980, Former Buggles members Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes joined Yes, replacing Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson.

1981, Former New Christy Minstrels member (with Kenny Rogers), Kim Carnes started a nine week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Bette Davis Eyes', the singers only US No.1 and a No.10 hit in the UK.

1984, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee for 'staggering drunk' down Beale Street.

1987, Crosby, Stills and Nash singer David Crosby married his long time girlfriend Jan Dance

1987, U2 started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart 'With Or Without You', the group's first US No.1.

1992, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine scored their first and only UK No.1 album with '1992 The Love album.'

1992, Kiss kicked of the European leg of their Revenge world tour at the SEC, Glasgow, Scotland.

1993, US soul singer Marv Johnson died of a stroke. He had the US Top 10 single 'I Love The Way You Love' and the 1969 UK No.10 single 'I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose'. Johnson's recording of Berry Gordy's song 'Come To Me' became Motown Records first ever-single release in May 1959.

1996, The Fugees went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Score'.

1998, Aqua scored their third UK No.1 single with 'Turn Back Time' the Scandinavian dance-pop group's third and final No.1.

1998, Catatonia went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'International Velvet.'

1998, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards fell while reaching for a book of nude art in his Connecticut home. The fall broke his ribs, causing the Stones to postpone many dates on their Bridges To Babylon tour.

1999, Boyzone scored their 6th UK No.1 single with 'You Needed Me' making them the act with the most UK Top 5 hits of the 90's. The song was originally a hit for Canadian, Anne Murray 1978.

2004, UK band Keane started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut release 'Hopes and Fears'.

2004, Usher was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Burn' his second US No.1 single of 2004.

2009, Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Together Through Life’, his 33rd studio album. The album received two Grammy Award nominations in Best Americana Album category and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category for 'Beyond Here Lies Nothin'. The album also is significant as the only album by Dylan to top the US and UK charts consecutively.

2010, Ronnie James Dio, singer with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio died after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old. Dio’s career began in 1957 with The Vegas Kings, which later changed to Ronnie and the Rumblers, then Ronnie and the Redcaps, then in 1961, Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. In 1967, Dio and Prophets guitarist Nick Pantas formed the Electric Elves, which shortened its name to Elf. The band’s success eventually landed them an opening slot for Deep Purple, which exposed Dio’s voice to Deep Purple’s guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, who later recruited Dio and other members of Elf for his new band Rainbow.

This Day in Music

May 15th, 2012

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1959, Elvis Presley scored his fourth No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight.' His first ballad to hit No.1.

1961, Floyd Cramer was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'On The Rebound.' The US singers only UK No.1. The Nashville pianist played on many Elvis Presley hits.

1963, During a UK tour, The Beatles performed at the Royalty Theatre in Chester. The set list was: ‘Some Other Guy’, ‘Thank You Girl’, ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’, ‘Please Please Me’, ‘You Really Got a Hold on Me’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, and ‘From Me To You’.

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played two shows in Berlin, West Germany.

1967, Paul McCartney met American photographer Linda Eastman for the first time, during a Georgie Fame concert at the Bag O'Nails nightclub in London, England. They married on March 12, 1969.

1968, George Harrison and Ringo Starr attended the premiere of 'Wonderwall' at the Cannes Film Festival.

1969, John Lennon's 'Life With The Lions' was released on Apple's avant-garde imprint Zapple. One side of the album was recorded on a cassette player at London's Queen Charlotte Hospital during Yoko Ono's pregnancy which ended in a miscarriage.

1971, Crosby Stills Nash & Young scored their second US No.1 album with '4 Way Street.'

1973, Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first of four sold-out nights at the Speakeasy in London, England as part of their Catch A Fire Tour.

1974, Frank Zappa and his wife announced the birth of their third child, a boy named Ahmet Rodan, after the Japanese movie monster that lived of a steady diet of 707 planes.

1976, Sylvers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Boogie Fever'; the group were made up by nine family sisters and brothers.

1976, The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Black And Blue', the group's sixth US No.1 album.

1977, Procol Harum played their last ever concert when they appeared at New York's academy of music.

1981, Former Sex Pistol John Lydon's band Public Image Ltd performed a show at New York's Ritz Club posing behind a video screen while the music was played from tapes. They were showered with missiles and eventually booed off stage.

1982, Asia went to No.1 on the US album chart with their self-titled album. It spent a total of nine weeks at No.1.

1982, This years Eurovision Song Contest winner for Germany 'A Little Peace' by Nicole was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. Her only UK Top 40 hit.

1982, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ebony And Ivory'. The song gave McCartney his 24th US No.1 as a songwriter. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan say "black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony folks!". It was later named as the tenth worst song of all time by Blender magazine and in 2007 was named the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music listeners.

1991, Manic Street Preacher guitarist Richey Edwards carved '4 real' into his arm with a razor blade while being interviewed by music paper The NME.

1992, Barbara Lee of the Chiffons died from a heart attack the day before her 45th birthday. Had the 1963 US No.1 single 'He's So Fine.'

1993, Janet Jackson started a eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'That's The Way Love Goes', her sixth US No.1, a No.2 hit in the UK.

1993, New Order went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Republic', featuring the singles 'Regret' and 'World (The Price Of Love).

1994, Blur scored their first UK No.1 album with ‘Parklife’, which went on to spend over two years on the chart. The album featured four UK hit singles: 'Girls & Boys', 'End of a Century', 'Parklife' and 'To the End'.

1995, Supergrass released their debut studio album 'I Should Coco'. The album which peaked at No.1 on the UK chart featured their No.2 hit single 'Alright'. The album title is Cockney rhyming slang for "I should think so".

1997, Courtney Love sold the Seattle mansion she shared with Kurt Cobain. A local family purchased the house in the salubrious Denny Blaine area for $3m.

1997, Oasis became one of the first artists to attempt to exert censorship over the Internet. The group were working with Sony to put an end to unofficial websites carrying lyrics, sound files and photographs of the band.

1998, American singer and actor Frank Sinatra died at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles aged 82, after suffering a heart attack. Sinatra had his first hit in 1940, working in the Swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity. He went on to score over 25 Top 40 singles including the 1966 No.1 'Strangers In The Night'. His 1969 single 'My Way', re-entered the UK charts eight times and spent a total of 165 weeks on the UK chart.

1999, Rob Gretton manager of Joy Division and New Order died aged 46. He was also a partner in Factory Records, proprietor of the Rob's Records label and a co-founder along with Tony Wilson of The Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, England.

2000, Songwriter Geoff Goddard died aged 62. Wrote 'Johnny Remember Me', and played keyboards on The Tornadoes 1962 No.1 hit 'Telstar'. Wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, The Outlaws, Freddie Starr and Screaming Lord Sutch.

2000, It was reported that Britney Spears had been crowned the queen of America's fastest growing youth movement, the teenage celibates. Spears told a German magazine that she intended to abstain from sex until her wedding night.

2001, Brian Pendleton of The Pretty Things died of cancer aged 57, (1964 UK No.10 single 'Don't Bring Me Down'). The bands 1974 album Silk Torpedo was the first album release on Led Zeppelin's own label Swan Song.

2002, Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay claimed he was assaulted at the premiere of 'Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones' in London. The singer suffered facial injuries after an incident with a photographer after the star-studded event.

2003, Country singer June Carter Cash, the second wife of Johnny Cash died in Nashville, Tennessee, of complications following heart valve replacement surgery, aged 73. Member of the Carter Family, had hits with Johnny Cash, including Grammy Award winning song, 'Jackson', 'Ring Of Fire', (which she co-wrote about their courtship), and 'If I Were A Carpenter.'

2005, Winner of the 2004 X Factor UK TV talent show Steve Brookstein went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Heart & Soul'.

2005, Nine Inch Nails were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'With Teeth', the bands fifth album and second US No.1 album.

2008, Neil Diamond reached the top of the US Billboard album chart for the first time in his career with ‘Home Before Dark’ the 67-year-old's 29th studio album. His previous highest chart position was in 1973 when the soundtrack to the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull peaked at No.2. At the age of 67, Diamond became the oldest artist to have a US number one, the record was previously held by Bob Dylan in 2006 with ‘Modern Times’ released when he was 65.

This Day in Music

May 14th, 2012

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1957, Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after swallowing a porcelain cap from one of his front teeth, which then lodged its-self in one of his lungs.

1960, The Silver Beats (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore) performed at Lathom Hall, Seaforth, Liverpool. They played a few songs during the "interval" to audition for promoter Brian Kelly. Also appearing are Cliff Roberts & the Rockers, The Deltones, and Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes. This is the only occasion on which the group uses the name "Silver Beats", quickly changing it back to "Silver Beetles".

1963, The Beatles appeared at The Rink Ballroom, Sunderland, England.

1967, Gigs around the UK; Jimi Hendrix played at the Elizabethan Ballroom in Manchester, The Bee Gees appeared at The Beachcomber in Nottingham and Alan Price played at the Coatham Hotel in Redcar.

1969, During a UK tour, Fairport Conventions van crashed on the M1 motorway on the way home from a gig in Birmingham killing the group's 19 year-old drummer Martin Lamble and Richard Thompson's girlfriend Jeannie Franklyn.

1976, 33 year-old Keith Relf, former lead singer for The Yardbirds, was electrocuted while tuning a guitar which was not properly earthed. The accident happened in his West London home where he was found by his eight year old son, still holding the plugged-in electric guitar. The Yardbirds had the hits 'For Your Love', 'Heart Full of Soul', and 'Shapes of Things'.

1977, Talking Heads played a gig at The Rock Garden in London where Brian Eno who was in the audience sees them and goes on to produce the band.

1977, Leo Sayer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager song 'When I Need You', the singers second US No.1, also No.1 in the UK.

1983, Spandau Ballet scored their first and only UK No.1 album with 'True.' The title track from the album spent four weeks at No.1 on the UK singles charts and reached No.2 in the US. Other singles from the album included 'Gold' (a No.2 UK hit and a Top 30 hit in the U.S.), 'Lifeline', and 'Communication'.

1988, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Anything For You', a No.10 hit in the UK.

1988, Led Zeppelin reunited for the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary party at Madison Square Garden, New York, appearing with Jason Bonham the son of John Bonham on drums. Other acts performing included Foreigner, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Wilson Pickett and Ben E. King.

1993, During an auction at Christies in London the acoustic guitar that Elvis Presley used to make his first recordings in 1954, 'That's All Right Mama' and 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' sold for $152,000. And four 'Super Hero', Costumes worn by the group Kiss sold for $35,385.

1994, Scottish band Stiltskin were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Inside'. The song had been used on a Levi's TV Jeans commercial. The bands only No.1 and only Top 30 hit.

1997, Mark Morrison was jailed for three months after threatening a police officer with an electric stun gun, he was also ordered to pay £350 costs.

1998, George Michael was fined £500 after being convicted of a "lewd act" in a Los Angeles lavatory. The Los Angeles court also ordered him to undergo psychological counselling and carry out 80 hours community service.

2000, Madison Avenue went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with, 'Don't Call Me Baby'. They were the first Australian group to have a UK No.1 since Men At Work in 1983.

2000, Tom Jones was at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Reload' making the singer the oldest artist to score a UK No.1 album with new material.

2003, Lawyers for Britney Spears and the Skechers footwear company settled a dispute over a deal for the pop star to market a line of roller skates and accessories. Spears had filed a $1.5 million breach of agreement lawsuit against Skechers in December, claiming the company failed to pay her adequately. Skechers had responded with a $10 million lawsuit, accusing Spears of fraud and breach of the three-year licensing agreement she signed in January 2002.

2004, Phil Spector was arrested after getting into a scuffle with his chauffeur at his California mansion. The 64 year old record producer was taken into custody and later released after a court date was set.

2005, A judge in Springfield, Massachusetts, ordered rapper 50 Cent to stay clean of drugs and take an anger management course to avoid spending time in jail. The rapper appeared in court charged with assaulting three women at a concert in 2004 after leaping into the crowd.

2006, Red Hot Chili Peppers started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Stadium Arcadium' the bands ninth studio album, also a US No.1.

2008, Metallica kicked off a 26-date North American and European tour at the Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, California.

This Day in Music

May 13th, 2012

Sun, 13 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1957, Guy Mitchell was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rock-A-Billy', the singers fourth and final UK No.1. The Song gave its name to a music style - a mix of rock and country.

1965, Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men appeared at the Marquee Club in Soho, London, England, supported by the Alex Harvey Soul Band.

1967, The Monkees second album 'More Of The Monkees', went to No.1 on the UK charts. In 1967 only four albums reached No.1; 'The Sound Of Music' which spent 17 weeks at No.1, The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper's', 25 weeks at No.1 and The Monkees first and second albums spent 9 weeks at No.1.

1967, The Supremes scored their 10th US No.1 single with 'The Happening'; it made No.6 in the UK. It was the last single to be released as the Supremes, from now on they were known as Diana Ross and the Supremes.

1968, John Lennon and Paul McCartney gave a series of interviews to help launch Apple Corps in the US.

1970, The world premiere of The Beatles film 'Let It Be' took place in New York City.

1971, On his twenty- first birthday Stevie Wonder received all his childhood earnings. Despite having earned $30 million so far, he received only $1 million.

1971, Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane crashed her Mercedes into a wall near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and was hospitalised.

1974, Forty-three people were arrested and more than fifty were injured after youths started throwing bottles outside a Jackson Five concert at RFK stadium in Washington DC.

1976, Kiss played the fist UK date on their current Alive World Tour at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England.
1978, Boney M were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rivers of Babylon'. The single stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks.

1978, Yvonne Elliman went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Gibb brothers song 'If I Can't Have You'. The song was featured in the film 'Saturday Night Fever'; a No.4 hit in the UK.

1981, US singer Joan Weber died of heart failure at a mental institution in Ancora, New Jersey, aged 45. Had just one hit, the 1954 US No.1 single 'Let Me Go Lover.'

1983, Def Leppard appeared at The Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, on their Pyromania World tour.

1985, Bruce Springsteen married Julianne Phillips at Lake Oswego, Oregon. Julianne filed for divorce on Aug 30th 1988.

1987, U2 played the third of a five night run at Brenden Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

1988, Scottish band Fairground Attraction were at No.1 on the UK singles with 'Perfect'. The group featured Eddi Reader who had previously worked as a backing singer with the Eurythmics and Sandie Shaw. 'Perfect' won the award for Best Single at the 1989 BRIT Awards.

1989, Bon Jovi went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I'll Be There For You', the group's fourth US No.1, a No.18 hit in the UK.

1989, Kylie Minogue was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with her second solo No.1 'Hand On Your Heart.' The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

1989, Simple Minds went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Street Fighting Years', their fourth No.1 album. The album featured 'Mandela Day', 'Belfast Child' and 'Biko'.

1995, Italian dance act Livin' Joy went to No.1 on the UK singles chart for one week. with 'Dreamer'. Also a US No.1.

1996, Oasis became the fastest selling group in UK history after all 330,000 tickets for their summer shows sold out in just nine hours, the tickets for shows at Knebworth and Loch Lomand were priced at £22.50.

2000, Shaun Ryder's Volkswagen Corrado was found abandoned after being used as the getaway car. The former Happy Mondays singer's car was used in an armed robbery on Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant in Manchester. £7,000 cash was taken in the robbery.

2001, Destiny's Child started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Survivor'.

2002, Dionne Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport for possession of marijuana after authorities found 11 joints in a lipstick case in the singer's hand luggage. The charges were dropped after she completed a drug program and made a contribution to charity.

2003, Michael Jackson launched a court case suing Motown Records. Jacko filed the lawsuit in LA, saying he hadn't been paid royalties due for the music he did with the Jackson Five in the 60s and 70s. The singer also claimed his music has been used in TV ads without his permission.

2006, Godsmack were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'IV' the American heavy metal bands second No.1 album.
2007, Brian May was under 24-hour security watch after a deranged man announced he was setting off to murder him - then disappeared. Police were hunting for a schizophrenic who left a letter behind at his home blaming the Queen guitarist for his illness. In it the man - said May was an "impostor" and that HE was the real rock star. He signed the letter "Brian May."

2007, Ne-Yo was at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Because of You' the US R&B singers second No.1. The album featured the title track, a US No.2 and UK No.4 hit single.

2007, McFly scored their 7th UK No.1 single with 'Baby's Coming Back', (a cover of the 1991 Jellyfish song) and 'Transylvania'

2008, Babyshambles appeared at The Forum in London, the bands first gig since singer Pete Doherty was released from Wormwood Scrubs jail.

2008, The US Postal Service issued a 42-cent postage stamp in honor of Frank Sinatra. The design showed a 1950s-vintage image of Sinatra, wearing a hat.

This Day in Music

May 12th 2012

Sat, 12 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1958, The Everly Brothers started a four-week run at No.1 in the US with 'All I Have To Do Is Dream', (the song was written in 15 minutes).

1961, The Beatles, in Hamburg, West Germany, signed a recording contract with producer Bert Kaempfert. That evening they played at The Top Ten Club, Reeperbahn, Hamburg.

1962, Billboard Magazine reported that last year's most-played jukebox record was 'Big Bad John' by Jimmy Dean. The second most-played was Chubby Checker's 'The Twist'.

1963, Bob Dylan walked out of rehearsals for the US TV Ed Sullivan show after being told he couldn't perform 'Talking John Birch Society Blues' due to it mocking the US military.

1964, The Beach Boys started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Beach Boys Concert', the group's first US No.1.

1965, The Rolling Stones recorded '(I Can't Get No), Satisfaction' at RCA Hollywood studios. Keith Richards had come up with the guitar riff in the middle of the night a week earlier. It gave the band their first number 1 single in the US.

1967, Pink Floyd appeared at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, giving a special concert 'Games For May.'

1967, 'Are You Experienced', the debut album by Jimi Hendrix was released in the UK. Hendrix also played a gig at the Bluesville Club, Manor House in London on this day.

1968, Jimi Hendrix was arrested by police on his way to Toronto for possession of hashish and heroin. Hendrix claimed the drugs had been planted on him.

1968, Brian Jones made his final live appearance with The Rolling Stones when they appeared at the New Musical Express Poll Winners Concert at the Empire Pool, Wembley, England.

1969, Cliff Richard made a guest appearance on the UK children's TV show, 'Sooty'.

1971, Rolling Stone Mick Jagger married Bianca Macias at St Tropez Town Hall. The guest list included the other members of the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Stephen Stills. The couple separated in 1977.

1973, Led Zeppelin started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Houses Of The Holy', the group's third US No.1.

1975, Jefferson Starship gave a free concert in New York's Central Park in front of 60,000 fans. The band and concert sponsor, WNEW-FM, were forced to pay $14,000 for cleaning up and damage done to the park after the event.

1977, After being dropped by both EMI and A&M records in less than 6 months, Virgin records announced they had signed The Sex Pistols.

1977, Led Zeppelin received the outstanding contribution to British music at the second Ivor Novello Awards held at the Grosvenor Hotel, London.

1981, Meat Loaf filed for bankruptcy with debts of over $1 million.

1981, Van Halen kicked off their 82 date North American Fair Warning Tour at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1984, Lionel Richie started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hello' his second US solo No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

1985, Phil Collins kicked off the North American leg on his No Jacket Required World Tour at the Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts.

1986, Joe Strummer of The Clash was banned from driving after being convicted of drink driving.

1990, Adamski started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Killer'. The single featured Seal who remade the song under his own name, reaching the Top 10, the following year.

1994, Depeche Mode played the first night on the North American leg of their 159 date Exotic Tour at the Cal Expo in Sacramento, California.

1996, 17-year-old Bernadette O'Brien died the day after being injured 'body surfing' at a Smashing Pumpkins gig at The Point, Dublin.

1996, Hootie & the Blowfish went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Fairweather Johnson'.

2000, Thieves stole the gates to Strawberry Fields the Merseyside landmark immortalised by The Beatles song. The 10' high iron gates were later found at local scrap metal dealers in Liverpool.

2001, American singer and TV presenter Perry Como died aged 88. He scored fourteen US No.1 singles, from 150 US chart hits and over 25 UK chart hits, including the single 'Magic Moments' and 'Catch A Falling Star.' Como was once the highest-paid performer in the history of television.

2001, Travis played a gig at singer's Fran Healy's local primary school at Weston Park, Crouch End, London. The 150 crowd paid a £1 entry fee to the summer fete.

2002, Ronan Keating scored his third UK No.1 single with a song written by American country artist Garth Brooks 'If Tomorrow Never Comes'.

2004, Barry and Robin Gibb were both presented with honorary degrees from Manchester University. They also picked up a posthumous award for their brother Barry. The brothers had once lived in Manchester, England.

2008, Singer-songwriter Neil Young had a spider named after him. US university biologist Jason Bond discovered a new species of trapdoor spider and decided to name it after his favourite musician. Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi was found in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2007.

This Day in Music

May 11th, 2012

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1958, Connie Francis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with a cover of the 1923 song 'Who's Sorry Now.' Francis was the first female rock 'n' roll star to reach No.1.

1963, The Beatles started a 30 week run at No.1 on the UK album charts with their debut album 'Please Please Me', making it the longest running No.1 album by a group ever. The bands follow up 'With The Beatles' replaced it at the top of the charts on 7th December 1963 and stayed there for 21 weeks.

1964, During a UK tour The Rolling Stones were refused lunch at The Grand Hotel, Bristol, where they were staying because they were not wearing jackets and ties. The following day the Daily Express ran the story with the headline, 'The Rolling Stones gather no lunch.'

1965, Roger Miller was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'King Of The Road.' The singer's only UK No.1. The Proclaimers had a UK No.9 hit with their version of the song in 1990.

1967, The Bee Gees made their Top Of The Pops debut performing 'New York Mining Disaster' on the UK TV show.

1970, The triple soundtrack album 'Woodstock' was released in the US, going gold within two weeks.

1972, John Lennon appeared on the US television 'Dick Cavett Show', claiming he was under surveillance from the FBI.

1973, Wings kicked off their first official tour at the Bristol Hippodrome, playing 15 UK shows.

1974, Led Zeppelin attended Elvis Presley show at the Los Angeles Forum in California. After a shaky start to the show, Elvis stopped the band and jokingly said: ‘Wait a minute’if we can start together fellas, because we’ve got Led Zeppelin out there, lets try to look like we know what were doing.’ All four members of Zeppelin met with Elvis after the show, spending over 2 hours backstage. Elvis asked for all the group’s autographs for his daughter Lisa Marie.

1977, X-Ray Spex supported by Adam And The Ants appeared at The Man In The Moon, Chelsea, London.

1978, At the end of their News Of The World 46 date tour, Queen played three sold-out nights at Wembley Arena, London, England.

1979, Rod Stewart appeared at Cobo Arena, Detroit, on his 'Blondes Have More Fun' tour, tickets $12.50.

1980, Thin Lizzy appeared live at The Guildhall, Preston, England, tickets £3.50.

1981, Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley died of lung cancer and a brain tumour aged 36. Had the 1981 single 'No Woman No Cry', plus over ten other UK Top 40 singles. In 1990, the 6th February was proclaimed a national holiday in Jamaica to commemorate his birth. The compilation album, Legend, released in 1984, is the best-selling reggae album ever with sales of more than 20 million copies. Time magazine chose Bob Marley & The Wailers' Exodus as the greatest album of the 20th century.

1985, Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Crazy For You', a No.2 hit in the UK.

1985, UK producer and keyboard player Paul Hardcastle was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '19'. The title referred to the average age of American soldiers in the Vietnam War and features dialogue by television narrator Peter Thomas, and a strong anti-war message.

1985, Bruce Springsteen and a small group of friends went out for a boy’s night out in Lake Oswego, Oregon, two nights before his wedding to Julianne Phillips. Drinking in the Gemini pub Springsteen sang a number of songs, karaoke-style, to his own records in the jukebox.

1987, The UK indie chart had The Smiths at No.1 on with 'Sheila Take A Bow', No.2, The Cult, 'Lil' Devil' No.3, The Pogues, 'The Irish Rover. The CD chart, David Bowie No.1 'Never Let Me Down', 'Raindancing' Alison Moyet at No.2 and Genesis 'Invisible Touch' at No.3.

1990, 31 years after his death, Ritchie Valens was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1991, Roxette scored their fourth US No.1 single with 'Joyride.' The song was inspired by an interview with Paul McCartney who said that writing songs with John Lennon had been 'like a Joyride.'

1996, Bill Graham the Irish journalist credited with discovering U2 died of a heart attack aged 44. He was also the co-founder of the Irish music paper Hot Press. Members from Clannad, U2, Hothouse Flowers and Gavin Friday all attended his funeral.

2001, Oasis, The Black Crowes and Spacehog kicked off 'The Tour of Brotherly Love', a North American tour at The Hard Rock in Las Vegas, Nevada. (The three bands featuring pairs of brothers (Noel and Liam Gallagher, Chris and Rich Robinson, Royston and Antony Langdon, respectively).

2002, Over 500 Michael Jackson fans held a demonstration outside the Sony records building in Berlin complaining that the label hadn't promoted the singer's latest album 'Invincible'.

2003, Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding died at his home in Ireland aged 57. Redding played on the classic Hendrix albums 'Are You Experienced', 'Axis: Bold as Love' and 'Electric Ladyland,' Right up until his death, Redding had been taking legal action against the Hendrix estate for payment estimated at £3.26 million for his part in recordings and for ongoing royalties. Had also been a member of Fat Mattress and formed The Noel Redding Band.

2003, R. Kelly started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ignition Remix.' The singer's second UK No.1. 2003, Blur went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Think Tank', the bands fifth UK No.1 album.

2004, US songwriter John Whitehead was killed by a gunman. He co-wrote 'Back Stabbers' for the O'Jays and as McFadden & Whitehead wrote and sang 'Ain't No Stopping Us Now' which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

2006, George Michael was involved in his second minor car crash in a month after a tabloid photographer found Michael asleep in his parked car in central London. The singer crashed into a bollard after he woke up and was driving away.

2007, The Game was arrested at his home in connection with an incident at a basketball game in South Los Angeles in February 2007. He was alleged to have threatened a person with a gun. The rapper was released the next day, after posting $50,000 bail.

2008, German techno band Scooter went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Jumping All Over The World'.

2011, One of the rarest rock t-shirts in the world sold for $10,000, the largest sum ever paid for a vintage t-shirt. The record-setting sale of a 1979 Led Zeppelin t-shirt on eBay was sold by Kyle Ermatinger of Stormcrow Vintage. The recent completion of the transaction placed the purchase as the world's rarest and most expensive vintage t-shirt.

This Day in Music

May 10th, 2012

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

1960, The Silver Beetles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore) auditioned for promoter Larry Parnes and singer Billy Fury for a job as Fury's backing group. Parnes was also looking for backing group's for his lesser-known acts, and The Silver Beetles were selected as backing group for singer Johnny Gentle's upcoming tour of Scotland. The group had changed its name from 'The Beatals' to 'The Silver Beetles' after Brian Casser (of Cass and the Cassanovas) remarked that the name 'Beatals' was "ridiculous". He suggested they use the name 'Long John and the Silver Beetles', but John Lennon refused to be referred to as 'Long John'.

1963, The Rolling Stones recorded the Chuck Berry song 'Come On', at Olympic Studios, London. This the bands first release was issued on the 7th June 1963 by Decca Records.

1964, Bob Dylan arrived in Britain for his first major UK tour including a show at London's Royal Festival Hall on the 17th of this month.

1967, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards appeared at Chichester Crown Court, Sussex, charged with being in possession of drugs, they elect to go to trial pleading not guilty and were both granted £100 bail.

1967, This week's UK Top 5 singles: No.5, Lulu, 'The Boat That I Row', No.4, The Tremeloes, 'Silence Is Golden', No.3, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, 'Somethin' Stupid', No.2, Mamas and the Papas, 'Dedicated To The One I Love', and No.1, Sandie Shaw, 'Puppet On A Sting.'

1969, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, The Move, Status Quo, Tremeloes, Marmalade, Love Sculpture, Van Der Graaf Generator all appeared at Nottingham County Football Ground, Nottingham, England. Presented by John Peel, tickets 22/6 on the gate.

1969, Frank Sinatra's version of 'My Way' made the British Top ten for the first time. Over the next three years it re-entered the Top 50 singles chart on eight different occasions. Paul Anka re-wrote the original French song for Sinatra, after he told Anka he was quitting the music business. Anka changed the melodic structure and lyrics to the song with Sinatra in mind.

1969, The Moody Blues started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'On The Threshold Of A Dream' (their first No.1 album).

1969, The Turtles gave a special performance at the White House as guests of Trica Nixon. Stories circulate concerning members of the group allegedly snorted cocaine on Abraham Lincon's desk.

1969, Led Zeppelin made their first appearance on the UK album chart when the bands debut album charted at No.6, going on to spend 71 weeks on the UK chart. It entered the US chart the following week at No.10. Now considered one of the most important debuts in rock, creating an entirely new interpretation of the rock and roll genre because of the groundbreaking music and recording techniques. The album was recorded in 36 hours.

1969, The Who played the first of three nights at the Grande Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan on their North American Tommy tour.

1970, David Bowie was awarded an Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Song 'Space Oddity', which he performed that night accompanied by the Les Reed Orchestra. The event was transmitted live via satellite to venues in America, France, Spain, Australia, Holland and Venezuela.

1972, Slade started their first major headlining tour in Bradford, supported by Status Quo.

1974, The Who sold out Madison Square Gardens in New York City for four nights selling 80,000 tickets.

1975, Stevie Wonder played in front of 125,000 fans at a free concert near the Washington Monument to celebrate Human Kindness Day.

1976, The Rolling Stones kicked off a 12-date UK tour at the Apollo Theatre, Glasgow.

1977, Adam And The Ants made their live debut when they played at the ICA, London.

1985, All girl group The Go-Go's announced they were breaking up. The members went on to enjoy solo success, (Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin) and the group reformed in the late 90's.

1986, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married TV star Heather Locklear in a courtyard in Santa Barbara California with five hundred guests. Tommy wore a white leather tuxedo.

1986, Falco was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rock Me Amadeus.' Falco became the first-ever Austrian act to score a UK and US No.1 hit single and the first German speaking artist to achieve a No.1 on the US charts.

1986, The Pet Shop Boys went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'West End Girls', the duo's first US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

1991, Madonna's 'warts and all' documentary film 'Truth Or Dare in bed with Madonna', premiered in Los Angeles.

1994, Rapper Tupac Shakur began serving a 15-day county jail term for attacking director Allen Hughes on a video set.

1997, Gary Barlow scored his second UK No.1 single with a song written by Madonna 'Love Won't Wait', the former Take That singer's second and last solo hit.

1997, The Hillsborough Benefit gig took place at Liverpool's Anfield Stadium with The Beautiful South, Manic Street Preachers, Dodgy, Space, Stereophonics and The Lightning Seeds.

1999, American singer, songwriter poet, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack aged 57. Wrote, 'A Boy Named Sue' for Johnny Cash (which Silverstein won a Grammy for in 1970) and many songs for Dr Hook including 'Sylvia's Mother' and 'The Cover of the Rolling Stone.'

2000, Bobby Brown was arrested at Newark airport, New Jersey for breaking his probation order. He had been wanted in Florida since 1999 when his probation officer reported that a urine test proved positive for cocaine use.

2000, Michael Bolton lost his appeal against a court ruling that he stole part of his 1991 hit 'Love Is a Wonderful Thing' from an Isley Brothers song. Bolton had asked for a retrial following a 1994 jury verdict that he had plagiarised parts of The Isley Brothers song of the same name, but, an appeals court panel upheld the ruling which awarded the group $5.4m from the profits of Bolton's single - one of his biggest hits.

2005, Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum in a low-key ceremony on a beach in Mexico near the singer's home on the luxurious Costa Careyes.

2007, US hip-hop artist Akon apologised after footage of him dancing provocatively on stage with a teenage girl was posted on the internet. It led to telecommunications company Verizon pulling out as a sponsor of his US tour with Gwen Stefani. The incident took place on 12 April in Trinidad, where Akon was performing at a nightclub. It was later reported that the girl was just 14. In a statement Akon said he didn't know the girl was underage. He said: "I want to sincerely apologise for the embarrassment and any pain I've caused to the young woman who joined me on stage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert."

2011, The ornate iron gates of a children's home which inspired John Lennon's psychedelic Beatles anthem Strawberry Fields Forever were removed after The Salvation Army, which owned the former home, decided to put the red Victorian gates into storage. Beatles fans who passed the Liverpool site on tours would now be met with 10ft high replicas. The original gates were being taken to a secret location for storage, and would eventually be auctioned off.

This Day in Music