Saturday, December 31, 2011

Dec 31, Today's Rock History Report...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

1955, Based on sales from stores, radio and jukebox plays Billboard named 'Unchained Melody' by Les Baxter the number 1 US song of 1955.

1961, The Beach Boys made their live debut using their new name when they appeared at Long Beach Civic Auditorium, California.


1963, The Kinks made their live debut when they played at the Lotus House Restaurant, London.

1966, The Monkees started a 7-week run at No.1 on the US singles charts with the Neil Diamond song 'I'm A Believer'. Also No.1 in the UK in 1967.

1966, Ray Charles appeared at the City Center Arena in Seattle Washington, tickets cost $4.50 on the door.

1967, American songwriter and producer Bert Berns died of heart failure aged 38. He wrote many classic songs including 'Twist And Shout', 'Hang On Sloopy', ‘Here Comes the Night’, ‘I Want Candy’ and 'Brown Eyed Girl'.

1968, Joe Cocker, Amen Corner, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Small Faces, Free and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band all appeared at Alexandra Palace, London. Tickets 25 shillings, ($3.00).

1970, Paul McCartney filed a suit against the rest of The Beatles to dissolve their partnership.

1973, Australian band AC/DC made their live debut when they appeared at Chequers Bar in Sydney.

1973, Journey made their live debut at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom.

1979, Blondie's gig at The Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland was broadcast live on BBC 2's 'Old Grey Whistle Test'.

1979, David Bowie performed an acoustic version of 'Space Oddity' on the UK TV 'Kenny Everett New Year's Show'.

1981, Tom Waits married Irish playwright Kathleen Brennan.

1982, Guitarist with The E Street Band, Miami Steve Van Zandt married Maureen Santora in New Jersey. Best man was Bruce Springsteen.

1982, Max's Kansas City in New York City closed down. The venue had been a launching pad for such artists as The New York Dolls, Bruce Springsteen and The Velvet Underground.

1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen, crashed his Corvette Stingray, on the A57 outside Sheffield, Allen lost his left arm in the accident. Allen was on his way to a New Year's Eve party at his family's home when a Jaguar passed him. The driver had been egging Allen on and would not allow him to pass. In his rage to pass this driver, he did not see a turn up ahead and lost control of his car. He was thrown from the car, with his left arm severed due to the seatbelt not being properly fastened.

1985, Ricky Nelson was killed along with six others, when his charted light aircraft crashed in Texas. Nelson had played himself on his parent's US TV The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet.' (1958 US No.1 'Poor Little Fool', 1961 UK No.2 single 'Hello Mary Lou' plus over 30 US Top 40 hit singles).

1991, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all appeared on the same bill at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California.

1991, Ted Nugent donated 200 pounds of venison to a Salvation Army soup kitchen in Detroit with the message 'I kill it, you grill it'.

1996, Paul McCartney became a Sir after he was listed in the Queens New Year's Honours List.

2000, Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson married actress Kate Hudson the daughter of actress Goldie Hawn. The couple separated in 2006.

Happy Rock-n-Roll Birthdays to...
1942, Andy Summers, The Police
1943, Henry John Deutschendorf, (John Denver), killed in a plane crash on October 12, 1997.
1947, Burton Cummings, The Guess Who
1948, Donna Summer,
1951, Tom Hamilton, Aerosmith
1951, Fermin Goytisolo, KC and the Sunshine Band
1963, Scott Ian, Anthrax

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