Nov 12, Today in Rock-n-Roll History

1962, The Beatles appeared at the Star Club, Hamburg, Germany, sharing the bill with Little Richard.

1965, After changing his name from Toby Tyler to Marc Bolan, the future T Rex star performed his first single 'The Wizard' on the UK TV show 'Ready Steady Go!' 

1965, Velvet Underground made their live debut when the played at Summit High School, New Jersey, the band were paid $75 for the gig.

1966, The Monkees debut album started a 13-week run at No.1 on the US album chart, selling over 3 million copies in three months.

1966, Pink Floyd appeared at the Corn Exchange, Bedford, England. The set list for these early Floyd shows included: 'Let's Roll Another One', 'Gimme A Break', 'Interstellar Overdrive', 'Astronomy Domine' and 'Stoned Alone'. 'Stoned Alone' was also known as 'I Get Stoned', and was possibly the first song Syd Barrett wrote for Pink Floyd.

1968, UK book and record chain W.H. Smiths refused to display The Jimi Hendrix Experience album 'Electric Ladyland' due to the naked girls featured on the sleeve. The album was then made available as two albums with changed artwork after the complaints. 

1971, Led Zeppelin appeared at The Locarno, Sunderland, England, with tickets at 75p. The set included: 'Immigrant Song', 'Heartbreaker', 'Black Dog', 'Since I’ve Been Loving You', 'Rock And Roll', 'Stairway To Heaven', 'That’s The Way', 'Going To California', 'Tangerine', 'Dazed And Confused', 'What Is And What Should Never Be', 'Celebration Day', 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Communication Breakdown'.

1973, Mott The Hoople kicked off a 20-date UK tour at Leeds Town Hall with support group Queen. 

1977, The Sex Pistols went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols', the punk group's only No.1 album.

1983, Bob Dylan’s 'Infidels' album reached its highest position when it peaked at #9 in the UK chart. Dylan's 22nd studio album was co-produced with Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler. Dylan had also approached Elvis Costello, David Bowie and Frank Zappa as possible producers. 

1988, U2 started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Rattle And Hum.'

1990, Rolling Stone Ron Wood broke both his legs after his car crashed on the M4 motorway near Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Wood was trying to wave other cars past his when he was run over. 

2008, Mitch Mitchell, the British drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead in his US hotel room aged 61. Mitchell had been working with Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames when in 1966 he was invited to audition for a new band being formed to back Jimi Hendrix

Happy Rock and Roll Birthdays to...
1945, Neil Young, Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, Buffalo Springfield, CSNY
1947, Donald Roeser, (Buck Dharma), Blue Oyster Cult
1948, Errol Brown, Hot Chocolate
1949, Arthur Tavares, Tavares
1952, Laurence Juber, Wings
1955, Les McKeown, The Bay City Rollers
1964, David Ellefson, Megadeth