Friday, December 16, 2011

Dec 16, Today's Rock History Report...

1965, Released as a double A side The Beatles 'Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out', became their ninth UK No.1 and their third Christmas chart topper in a row. The single was a US No.1 in January 1966.

1966, The first Jimi Hendrix Experience single 'Hey Joe', was released in the UK on Polydor records, the track had been rejected by the Decca label. It went on to be a No.6 hit in the UK, but failed to chart in America.

1967, The Rolling Stones announced that Marianne Faithfull was the first signing to their 'Mother Earth' label.

1970, Five singles and five albums by Credence Clearwater Revival were certified gold in the US. The singles were: ‘Down on the Corner’, ‘Lookin out My Back Door’, ‘Travelin' Band’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and ‘Up around the Bend’. The LPs were ‘Cosmo's Factory’, ‘Willy and the Poor Boys’, ‘Green River’, ‘Bayou Country’ and ‘Credence Clearwater Revival’.

1971, Frank Zappa's '200 Motels' film opened at London's Piccadilly Classic Cinema.

1972, Billy Paul started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Me and Mrs Jones.'

1974, Guitarist Mick Taylor announced he was leaving The Rolling Stones, saying he felt that now was the time to move on and do something new.

1983, Judas Priest played the first of two sold out nights at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

1983, The Who announced that they were splitting up.

1988, American soul and disco singer Sylvester James died of complications from AIDS in San Francisco aged 41. Scored the 1978 US No.36 & UK No.8 single 'You Make Me Feel, Mighty Real'. He sang back-up vocals for Aretha Franklin on her 1985 Who's Zoomin' Who? Album.

1989, Billy Joel went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Storm Front'.

1993, MTV aired Nirvana's 'Unplugged' session for the first time.

1997, American singer songwriter Nicolette Larson died aged 45 of complications arising from cerebral edema. Worked with Neil Young, (Comes a Time and Harvest Moon albums), Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys and The Doobie Brothers. Best known for her 1978 cover of Neil Young's ‘Lotta Love’.

2001, Stuart Adamson, lead singer of Big Country was found dead in Hawaii a month after disappearing from his home in the US. The 43-year old Scottish musician had fought a long battle against alcoholism. His body was found in a hotel room.

2004, A Detroit studio where Eminem recorded ‘My Name Is’ went up for auction on the website eBay. Studio 8, in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale was to be listed in eBay's commercial property section for 30 days, with a minimum bid is $215,000 (£161,448).

2004, Gold and silver Black Sabbath discs were stolen from the Kent home of Ozzy Osbourne's former manager Patrick Meehan. Police recovered the discs a week later after they were offered for sale on the internet auction site eBay.

2005, The surviving Beatles and relatives of the band's late members began legal action against EMI to get royalties allegedly worth £30m. Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and relations of George Harrison and John Lennon claimed EMI owed record royalties to their company Apple Corps.

2006, Incubus started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Light Grenades’ the bands sixth album.

2007, American singer songwriter Dan Fogelberg died at his home in Maine at the age of 56. The US singer, songwriter discovered he had advanced prostate cancer in 2004. Had the 1981 album ‘The Innocent Age’, which featured the hits ‘Leader of the Band,’ ‘Hard to Say,’ and ‘Run for the Roses.’

Happy Rock-n-Roll Birthdays to...
1945, Tony Hicks, The Hollies
1946, Benny Anderson, Abba
1950, Billy Gibbons, Moving Sidewalks (opened for Jimi Hendrix on his first US tour), ZZ Top

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