Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Oct 25 - Today's Rock History Report

1963, The Beatles kicked off their first tour of Sweden by playing two shows at Nya Aulan, Sundstavagen, Karlstad, Sweden. The local pop reviewer was not impressed, saying The Beatles should be grateful to their screaming fans for drowning out the group's terrible performance, adding that The Beatles "were of no musical importance whatsoever and that their local support group, The Phantoms, decidedly outshone them."

1964, The Rolling Stones appeared for the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show from New York, performing ‘Around And Around’ and ‘Time Is On My Side’. A riot breaks out in the studio, prompting Sullivan’s infamous quote, “I promise you they’ll never be back on our show again.” The Rolling Stones went on to make a further five appearances on Sullivan’s show between 1965 and ‘69. 

1968, Led Zeppelin play a gig at Surrey University, England. Although there are unconfirmed reports of earlier shows, this appears to be the band’s first gig with their new name after initially performing as The New Yardbirds. In 2003 a poster for the Surrey gig (billing the group as The New Yardbirds) sells at auction for £2,400.

1968, The double album 'Electric Ladyland' by the Jimi Hendrix Experience was released. It was also made available as two albums with changed artwork after complaints about the naked women who were pictured on the sleeve. The female models were each paid £5 for the photo shoot and another £5 if they posed completely naked

1970, Speaking at a US radio conference, President Nixon asked programmers to ban all songs containing drug references.

1974, Al Green was taking a shower at his Memphis home when his ex-girlfriend Mary Woodson burst in and poured boiling hot grit over him. She then shot herself dead. Green suffered second degree burns. 

1979, Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first of four sold out nights at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City, New York.

1980, Barbra Streisand scored her fourth US No.1 album with 'Guilty.' Also on this day Streisand started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with a song written by the Bee Gees, 'Woman In Love', the singers only UK No.1. 

1985, Actor and singer Gary Holton died of a drug overdose. Member of The Heavy Metal Kids, and one half of the duo Casino Steel. Appeared in the film Quadrophenia and UK TV's Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

1985, R.E.M. The Smiths and Tom Waits all appeared on The Tube, at Tyne Tree Television Studios, Newcastle, England. 

1986, Bon Jovi went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Slippery When Wet'. Featuring two US No.1 singles, 'You Give Love A Bad Name' and 'Livin' On A Prayer'. The album went on to sell over 8 million copies world wide.

1986, For the first time in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, the top three spots were held by female solo acts. Cyndi Lauper's 'True Colors' held down the No.1 position, followed by Tina Turner's 'Typical Male' at No.2 and Janet Jackson's 'When I Think Of You' at No.3. 

1989, Nirvana and Tad appeared at the Duchess Of York, Leeds, England. The two acts were on the third night of their debut European tour.

1992, Roger Miller died of died of lung and throat cancer in hospital in Los Angeles. Scored the 1965 UK No.1 & US No.4 single 'King Of The Road’. Miller won eleven Grammy Awards as a songwriter and seven Tony awards for writing the music and lyrics for Big River. The Proclaimers had the 1990 UK No.9 hit with their version of 'King Of The Road.' 

1997, After falling over on stage when reaching for a guitar pick, Johnny Cash announced during a gig in Michigan that he was suffering from Parkinson's disease.

2001, 13 law firms were still involved in claims to Grateful Dead's guitarist Jerry Garcia's $10m estate six years after his death. Former wives & girlfriends continued to fight on how to distribute his estate and annual royalties of $4.6m. 

2002, Richard Harris, who had the 1968 US No.2 & UK No.4 hit 'MacArthur Park' died of cancer. The 72-year-old Irish-born actor had been undergoing chemotherapy at a private clinic in London. Though he charted three other times, Harris was better known for his acting roles on stage and film, most recently playing Albus Dumbledore in two Harry Potter films.

Happy Rock and Roll Birthdays To...

1941, Helen Reddy
1944,Jon Anderson, vocals, Warriors, Yes
1944,Taffy Danoff, Starland Vocal Band
1948, Glenn Tipton, guitar, Judas Priest
1955, Matthias Jabs, The Scorpions
1960, Christina Amphlett,The Divinyls
1962, Chad Smith, drummer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot
1970, Ed Robertson, Barenaked Ladies
1984, Katy Perry

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