BIRTHDAYS
1888: Huddie Ledbetter a.k. a. Lead Belly
1910: Jean-Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt
1921: Murray Marbeck
1953: Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)
EVENTS
1971: George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 with “My Sweet Lord”.
1973: Rick Wakeman released his album, ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’.
1976: David Bowie released his album, ‘Station to Station’.
1977: Patti Smith broke her vertebra when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida.
1978: Death of guitarist, Terry Kath of Chicago [aged 31].
1988: Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino.
1990: Death of guitarist, Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd [aged 37].
1990: David Bowie announced his ‘Sound & Vision’ tour, to perform his fan-voted hits for the final time.
2016: Death of bassst, Jimmy Bain of Rainbow, Phil Lynott, Wild Horses & Dio [aged 68].
Can you believe, it’s been 44 years since David Bowie masterpiece, ‘Station to Station‘ LP hit the shelves? And 30 years ago, Bowie asked his fans to vote for their favourite songs from his catalogue, so he could perform them on the ‘Sound & Vision’ tour. It probably was the last time he played some of these songs. I couldn’t pick just one, so here is the full show… but if you don’t have two hours spare, this was the appropriate opening number ~ “Space Oddity”.
BIRTHDAYS
1931: Sam Cooke
1949: Steve Perry (Journey)
1949: Nigel Pegrum (Steeleye Span)
1957: Ian Morris (Th’ Dudes)
1959: Linda Blair
1962: Michael Hutchence (INXS)
1965: Steven Adler (Guns N Roses)
1985: Orianthi Panagaris (Michael Jackson / Alice Cooper)
EVENTS
1972: David Bowie announced that he was bisexual, during an interview in Melody Maker.
1977: Paul McCartney & Wings went to No.1 in U.S. with the triple live album ‘Wings Over America’.
1983: The 24-hour music video network, MTV started broadcasting to the West Coast of America.
1988: Pink Floyd performed their ‘A Momentary Lapse Of Reason’ concert at Western Springs Stadium, Auckland ~ I was there!
2016: Death of Alec Wishart, singer / songwriter, leader of New Zealand band Hogsnort Rupert [aged 76].
2017: Death of Peter “Overend” Watts, bassist for Mott The Hoople & British Lions [aged 69].
2017: Death of Jaki Liebezeit, drummer and founder member of Can [aged 78].
Were you there at the Springs for Pink Floyd, 32 years ago? My ticket is shown above. Amazing music, flying pigs, bed on a flying fox, incredible imagery, lots of smoke… was like being in a different world!!!
BIRTHDAYS
1939: Bob Smith a.k.a. Wolfman Jack
1941: Richie Havens
1942: Edwin Starr
1947: Julian “Pye” Hastings (Caravan)
1958: Anita Baker
1966: Wendy James (Transvision Vamp)
1972: Charlyn Marshall a.k.a. Cat Power
EVENTS
1977: Pink Floyd released their ‘Animals’ album.
1984: Yes started a 2-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “Owner of a Lonely Heart”.
1984: Death of singer, Jackie Wilson [aged 49].
2002: Death of singer, Peggy Lee [aged 81].
2003: David Palmer (former keyboard player for Jethro Tull), changed his name to Dee Palmer after a successful sex change operation.
36 years ago, Yes had their biggest hit with “Owner of a Lonely Heart”, which was nothing at all like the epics they had done in the 1970s. At this point in their career, Trevor Rabin was guitarist / vocalist and was the one who penned the smash single. Still trying to figure out what this video means exactly, but it was a huge hit on MTV. (Yes enthusiasts will know that this video is the only moment that Eddie Jobson was a member of the band, although he plays nothing on it).
BIRTHDAYS
1945: Eric Stewart (10cc)
1951: Ian Hill (Judas Priest)
1952: Paul Stanley (Kiss)
1960: Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa Band)
1965: Greg Kriesel (The Offspring)
1969: Nicholas Jones a.k.a. Nicky Wire (The Manic Street Preachers)
1971: Paul Masvidal (Cynic)
1971: Derrick Green (Sepultura)
1979: Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park)
EVENTS
1965: Death of radio DJ, Alan Freed [aged 43].
1968: Syd Barrett performed his last gig with Pink Floyd.
1982: At a concert in Des Moines, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off what he thought was a toy bat. It was actually a live bat, so Ozzy was immediately rushed to hospital for rabies shots.
1996: Death of jazz saxophonist, Jerry Mulligan [aged 68].
2015: Death of composer/ keyboard player, Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream [aged 70].
2017: Death of Howard Kaufman, manager of Aerosmith, Eagles, Stevie Nicks and other artists [aged 79].
2018: Death of bassist, Jim Rodford of The Bluetones, The Zombies, Argent & The Kinks [aged 76].
Rest in Peace, Edgar Froese, of Tangerine Dream, who passed away five years ago today. Edgar was a pioneer in the field of electronic music, creating soundscapes on his keyboards that were well ahead of the time. Check out this fantastic piece from the brilliant ‘Phaedra‘ LP (1974).
BIRTHDAYS
1935: Johnny O’Keefe
1935: Phil Everly
1943: Janis Joplin
1943: Joe Butler (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
1946: Dolly Parton
1947: Rod Evans (Deep Purple / Captain Beyond)
1949: Robert Palmer
1954: Francis Buchholz (Scorpions)
EVENTS
1967: The Beatles began recording “A Day in the Life” at Abbey Road studios.
1980: Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’, started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.
1998: Death of singer / songwriter / guitarist, Carl Perkins [aged 65].
2006: Death of soul singer, Wilson Pickett [aged 63].
2007: Death of Mamas & Papas singer, Denny Doherty [aged 66].
2008: Death of songwriter / singer, John Stewart [aged 68].
2018: Ziggy Rockstuff & The Grey Matter From Mars performed at the Bowie Tribute night at The Cabana, Napier. I sang on stage, as Ziggy Rockstuff. 😉
2019: Death of drummer, Ted McKenna of Sensational Alex Harvey Band & Rory Gallagher Band [aged 68].
Happy Birthday to Rod Evans, original singer with Deep Purple, who is 73 today! This is Rod with his Captain Beyond band from 1971. If you haven’t heard them before, be sure to check out their amazing debut LP!
BIRTHDAYS
1941: David Ruffin (The Temptations)
1954: Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins)
1971: Jonathan Davis (Korn)
1973: Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker)
EVENTS
1974: Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell & Simon Kirke formed Bad Company.
1996: Porno For Pyros played a concert at The Powerstation, Auckland — I was there!
2014: Death of singer, Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen of Trillion, LeRoux, Toto & Survivor [aged 62].
2015: Death of drummer, Dallas Taylor of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young / Manassas [aged 66].
2016: Death of singer / songwriter / guitarist, Glenn Frey of Eagles [aged 67].
2017: Death of Mike Kellie, drummer for Spooky Tooth & The Only Ones [aged 69].
2019: Diggin’ Bones played at The Cabana, as part of the David Bowie Tribute evening.
46 years ago, Bad Company formed from the ashes of Free. Super fine singer, Paul Rodgers & drummer Simon Kirke were joined by ex-Mott The Hoople guitarist, Mick Ralphs & former King Crimson bassist, Boz Burrell to become Bad Company. Paul Rodgers undoubtedly has one of the best singing voices ever, as heard in this song. It’s taken from the debut Bad Company album, entitled ‘Bad Company’ and the song is called… “Bad Company”!
And get a taste of “Silver, Blue & Gold”:
BIRTHDAYS
1927: Eartha Kitt
1949: Mick Taylor (Bluesbreakers / The Rolling Stones)
1952: Ryuichi Sakamoto
1953: Jeff Berlin
1955: Steve Earle
1971: Robert Ritchie a.k.a. Kid Rock
EVENTS
1970: The Doors played the first of several shows at the Felt Forum in New York City. The shows were recorded for use on their “Absolutely Live” album.
1996: Pink Floyd was officially inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
2016: Death of trumpeter, Mic Gillette of Tower of Power [aged 64].
2016: Death of drummer, Dale “Buffin” Griffin of Mott The Hoople [aged 67].
Happy 71st Birthday to Mick Taylor ~ the best guitarist The Rolling Stones ever had! The five short years that Mick was in the band (1969 – 1974) produced the greatest Stones albums… ‘Let It Bleed‘, ‘Sticky Fingers‘ and ‘Exile On Main St.‘. (Also their most essential live album, ‘Get Yer Ya-Yas Out’). Taylor wasn’t credited for most of the songs he contributed to, so missed out on the big royalties that Mick & Keef rake in. I have seen The Stones three times over the years, and easily the best concert was when they last toured, in 2014. The 20 minutes while Mick Taylor was guest guitarist (“Midnight Rambler” & “Satisfaction”) were absolute magic!
Also, Happy Birthday to Jeff Berlin, bass player ~ heard of him? He’s performed with Frank Zappa, Bruford, ABWH, Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Eddie Van Halen and many more great musicians. Carlos Santana called Berlin “The best bass player in the world”, and Geddy Lee of Rush claimed Jeff as, “the greatest bass player on the planet”. Recommended viewing is the ‘Evening of Yes Music Plus…’ by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, where he stood in for Tony Levin who was ill. Jeff had to learn the entire set at the last minute and impressively played the cuts from the ABWH album, along with complicated Yes pieces that originally featured Chris Squire.
BIRTHDAYS
1944: Jim Stafford
1945: Ronnie Milsap
1959: Helen Folasade Adu a.k.a. Sade
1962: Paul Webb (Talk Talk)
1971: Jon “Juano” Davison (Sky Cries Mary / Glass Hammer / Yes)
1974: Kate Moss
1981: Nick Valensi (The Strokes)
EVENTS
1957: The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool.
1971: ZZ Top released their debut LP, entitled ‘First Album’.
1972: Blue Oyster Cult released their self-titled debut album.
1985: Death of David Bowie’s half-brother, Terry Burns [aged 47].
1988: Tina Turner performed for 182,000 people in Rio, the largest audience ever for a single artist.
1997: I interviewed Steve Vai.
2005: The Killers started a 2-week run at No.1 on the UK charts with their debut album, ‘Hot Fuss’.
2013: Death of bassist, Nic Potter of Van der Graaf Generator [aged 61].
2016: Death of bassist, Steve Wright of the Greg Kihn Band [aged 67].
2018: Death of drummer, Dave Holland of Trapeze & Judas Priest [aged 69].
Bowie’s song, “The Bewlay Brothers” (along with “Jump They Say” from ‘Black Tie, White Noise’) reputedly is about David’s relationship with his half-brother, Terry, who sadly committed suicide, 35 years ago today. Nine years David’s senior, Terry heavily influenced his brother’s tastes, introducing him to beat literature and jazz music. Now David & Terry are together again… This eerily beautiful song is from one of my favourite albums of all time ~ ‘Hunky Dory’.
BIRTHDAYS
1893: Ivor Novello
1909: Gene Krupa
1941: Donald Van Vleit a.k.a. Captain Beefheart
1948: Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1951: Martha Davis (The Motels)
1959: Peter Trewavas (Marillion)
1961: Damian O’Neill (The Undertones)
1965: Adam Jones (Tool)
EVENTS
1965: The Who released their first single “I Can’t Explain”, featuring Jimmy Page on guitar.
1977: Eagles went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Hotel California’, their 3rd US No.1 album.
1992: Death of bassist, Dee Murray of Elton John Band [aged 45].
1994: Death of singer / songwriter, Harry Nillson [aged 52].
1998: Death of blues singer / harmonica player, Amos Blakemore a.k.a. Junior Wells [aged 63].
2015: Death of producer, Kim Fowley [aged 75].
2018: Death of singer / songwriter, Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries [aged46].
The late, great Captain Beefheart was born on this day, 79 years ago. His music was certainly bizarre and unique!
And it’s been 55 years since The Who released their first single! How do Townshend & Daltrey keep rockin’ in 2020? I Can’t Explain…
BIRTHDAYS
1938: Alan Toussaint
1959: Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
1961: Michael Trampenau a.k.a. Mike Tramp (White Lion)
1967: Jeffrey Weilandt a.k.a. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne Band / Black Label Society)
1969: David Grohl (Nirvana / Foo Fighters / Them Crooked Vultures)
1982: Caleb Followill (Kings of Leon)
EVENTS
1966: David Jones changed his name to David Bowie.
1972: Yes played the first of two nights at the Rainbow Theatre, London.
1977: David Bowie released his ‘Low’ album.
1978: The Sex Pistols played their last live gig at Winterland, San Francisco. (They re-formed in 1996).
1992: Death of drummer, Jerry Nolan of The New York Dolls [aged 45].
1993: The Pixies announced that they had split. (They re-formed in 2004).
1996: Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory’.
Zakk Wylde hits 53 today! He’s best known for his guitar work with Ozzy Osbourne, but has been leader of his own heavy duty outfit, Black Label Society for the past couple of decades. Here he is playing on an old fave, which Ozzy co-wrote with Zakk and the late Lemmy Kilmister, back in 1991. Happy Birthday, Mr Wylde!
