BIRTHDAYS
1925: Riley “B.B.” King
1948: Kenney Jones (The Small Faces / The Faces / The Who)
1952: Ron Blair (Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers)
1954: Colin Newman (Wire)
1969: Justine Frischmann (Elastica)
1984: Katie Melua
EVENTS
1970: Jimi Hendrix joined Eric Burdon on stage at Ronnie Scotts in London for what would become the guitarists last ever public appearance.
1977: Death of singer / songwriter / guitarist, Marc Bolan [aged 29].
Marc Bolan went to rock star heaven 42 years ago. Bolan was a passenger in a purple Mini 1275GT (registration FOX 661L) driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones. The car struck a steel reinforced chain link fence post and came to rest against a sycamore tree after failing to negotiate a small humpback bridge near Gipsy Lane on Queens Ride, Barnes, southwest London. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt. Bolan was killed instantly, while Jones suffered a broken arm and broken jaw and spent time in hospital; she did not learn of Bolan’s death until the day of his funeral, which was attended by David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Tony Visconti, Steve Harley and many others. His crash site has subsequently become a shrine to his memory, with fans travelling from all over the world to leave tributes beside the tree. Bolan never learned to drive, fearing a premature death. Despite this fear, cars or automotive components are mentioned in, if not the subject of, many of his songs and he also owned a number of vehicles, including a white 1960s Rolls-Royce. “I drive a Rolls Royce, ‘cause it’s good for my voice”.
Marc didn’t make it to 30, but he left us some fantastic songs ~ find a T. Rex record and Get It On! This is a great clip for a very cool Bolan number…
BIRTHDAYS
1960: Michel Dorge (Crash Test Dummies)
1965: Zak Starkey (The Who)
1977: Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand)
EVENTS
1974: New Zealand bassist, Gary Thain of Uriah Heep was severely electrocuted, whilst performing on stage with the group in Dallas, Texas.
1979: Led Zeppelin scored their 6th US No.1 album when ‘In Through The Out Door’ started a 7-week run at the top of the charts.
1980: Death of jazz pianist, Bill Evans [aged 51].
2004: Death of guitarist / singer, John Cummings a.k.a. Johnny Ramone [aged 55].
2008: Death of keyboard player, Richard Wright of Pink Floyd [aged 65].
Richard Wright… eleven years gone and hugely missed! He wrote this Pink Floyd masterpiece ~ and it’s where he’s at now: “The Great Gig in the Sky”…
BIRTHDAYS
1946: Pete Agnew (Nazareth)
1949: Ed King (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1949: Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1950: Paul Kossoff (Free)
1983: Amy Winehouse
Singer, Amy Winehouse would have been 36 today! She certainly made her mark in the music world, but tragically died on 23 July 2011, at the age of ~ you guessed it ~ 27.
EVENTS
1974: Mike Oldfield’s 2nd album ‘Hergest Ridge’ started a 3-week run at No.1 on the UK chart.
1975: Supertramp released their fourth album, ‘Crisis? What Crisis?’.
1991: Jane’s Addiction played a concert at Auckland Town Hall — I was there again! (Yes, I went both nights).
2017: Death of drummer / singer / songwriter, Grant Hart, of Husker Du [aged 56].
The late Paul Kossoff of Free was born 69 years ago. Check out this great footage of Free performing “Fire and Water” from 1970. Listen to that Les Paul Gibson sing… Koss!!
BIRTHDAYS
1944: Les Harvey (Stone The Crows / Alex Harvey Soul Band)
1949: Craig McGregor (Foghat)
1952: Don Was (Was Not Was)
1963: Dave Mustaine (Metallica / Megadeth)
1967: Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction)
1977: Fiona Apple
EVENTS
1969: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman & Alan White flew to Canada to perform at the Rock & Roll Revival Show (later issued on record as ‘Live Peace in Toronto’).
1972: Yes released their monumental fifth album, ‘Close to the Edge’. It sounds just as amazing and timeless now as it did in 1972!
1974: Supertramp released their third album, ‘Crime of the Century’.
1991: I interviewed Tony Kaye of Yes.
1991: Jane’s Addiction played a concert at Auckland Town Hall ~ I was there!
1993: Living Colour played a concert at Auckland Town Hall ~ I was there!
2019: Death of singer / songwriter Eddie Money (Edward Mahoney) [aged 70].
Happy 52nd Birthday to Stephen Perkins ~ great drummer for Jane’s Addiction. I also saw JA live on this date, 28 years ago!
BIRTHDAYS
1943: Maria Muldaur
1944: Barry White
1952: Neil Peart (Rush)
1956: Barry Andrews (XTC, Shriekback, Gang of Four, League of Gentlemen)
1966: Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five)
EVENTS
1966: The Beatles received a gold record for ‘Yellow Submarine’.
1970: James Taylor released his first single, “Fire and Rain”.
1975: Pink Floyd released their album, ‘Wish You Were Here’.
1975: Thin Lizzy released their album, ‘Fighting’.
1980: David Bowie released his ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’ album.
1987: Morrissey left The Smiths to pursue a solo career.
1989: Aerosmith released their album, ‘Pump’.
1990: Stevie Nicks & Christine McVie both announced that they would no longer perform with Fleetwood Mac.
1993: Danzig played a concert at Auckland Town Hall — I was there!
2000: The family of Jimi Hendrix released 56 rare tracks in a 4-CD boxed set, ‘The Jimi Hendrix Experience’.
2014: Death of bassist John “Gus” Gustafson of The Big Three, Ian Gillan Band, Roxy Music, Quartermass, etc. [aged 72].
2014: Joe Bonamassa played a concert at Auckland Town Hall — I was there!
2017: Death of singer / guitarist Jessi Zazu Wariner, of Those Darlin’s [aged 28].
2017: Death of guitarist Phil Whitehead, of NZ progressive rock bands, Think & Human Instinct.
Happy 67th Birthday to Neil Peart of RUSH! He is undoubtedly one of the best percussionists on the planet and he also writes the lyrics for Rush. Sadly, it appears to be the end of the road for the band ~ Neil has announced retirement from touring, due to tendinitis and wanting to spend a lot more time with his family. Best wishes go out to the man and thanks for all the great music! Here’s “YYZ”, a showcase for Neil’s incredible drumming…
BIRTHDAYS
1943: Mickey Hart (The Grateful Dead)
1948: John Martyn
1953: Tommy Shaw (Styx)
1955: Hiram Bullock
1958: Mick Talbot (The Style Council)
1965: Richard Hall a.k.a. Moby
1967: Harry Connick Jr.
1971: Richard Ashcroft (The Verve)
1977: Jonny Buckland (Coldplay)
EVENTS
1965: The Beatles started a 9-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Help’.
1967: Filming began in Devon, England, for the Beatles film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’.
1987: Death of Peter Tosh [aged 42].
1987: At the MTV Awards, Peter Gabriel won best video, best male video, best concept video, best special effects and five other awards for the track “Sledgehammer”.
1996: Noel Gallagher walked out on an American tour with Oasis, after a fight with his brother, Liam.
2007: Death of Joe Zawinul of Weather Report [aged 75].
2016: Death of drummer, Leonard Haze, of Y&T [aged 61].
2017: Death of drummer / DJ, Virgil Howe a.k.a. The Verge, of Little Barrie [aged 42]. Virgil was son of Yes guitarist, Steve Howe.
2019: Death of singer / songwriter, Daniel Johnston [aged 58].
Happy Birthday to John Martyn ~ although sadly, he is no longer with us. He played at Sweetwaters Festival the year that I did with Rose Bayonet (1983). His set was very memorable, highlighting what a unique, remarkable guitarist he was. Check out this amazing live rendition of “Solid Air”…
BIRTHDAYS
1945: Jose Feliciano
1949: Barriemore Barlow (Jethro Tull)
1950: Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
1950: Don Powell (Slade)
1955: Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson)
1956: Johnny “Fingers” Moylett (The Boomtown Rats)
1966: Robin Goodridge (Bush)
1984: Matthew Followill (Kings of Leon)
EVENTS
1962: The BBC banned Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & Crypt Kickers “offensive” single “Monster Mash”.
1966; The Beatles began a 6-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Revolver’.
1974: The New York Dolls split up.
1991: Nirvana’s single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released in America.
1994: Sepultura & Sacred Reich played a concert at Auckland Town Hall ~ I was there!
2001: Yes released their nineteenth studio album, ‘Magnification’.
2005: “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles was voted “Best British song of all time” by music experts.
2005: Death of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown [aged 81].
2016: Death of Chris Stone, founder of The Record Plant recording studios [aged 81]. The first album to be recorded at The Record Plant was ‘Electric Ladyland’, by Jimi Hendrix. Other albums include Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’ and Fleetwood Mac‘s ‘Rumours’.
Happy 69th Birthday to Joe Perry of Aerosmith. A mean guitarist, Joe co-wrote many of their classic songs, including this one. From my favourite Aerosmith LP, ‘Rocks’, this is “Back in the Saddle”!
BIRTHDAYS
1927: Elvin Jones
1941: Otis Redding
1945: Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly)
1946: Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield)
1952: Nihat Orerel (Grup Bunalim, Erkin Koray Super Grup, Snatch, Nexus, etc.)
1952: Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)
EVENTS
1956: Elvis Presley made his first appearance on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’.
1976: Uriah Heep sacked their singer, David Byron.
1978: Knebworth Festival featured Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Tubes, Boomtown Rats and more!
1987: Pink Floyd began their world tour for ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’, despite threats to sue by former member, Roger Waters.
2004: Death of guitar maker, Ernie Ball [aged 74].
2014: Death of guitarist, Robert Young of Primal Scream [aged 49].
Happy 74th Birthday to Doug Ingle ~ founding member, organist, vocalist, main composer for Iron Butterfly. Let’s celebrate with this little ditty that Doug wrote in 1968… the psychedelic anthem, “In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida”!
BIRTHDAYS
1925: Peter Sellers (The Goons)
1945: Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (Grateful Dead)
1947: Benjamin Orzechowski a.k.a. Benjamin Orr (The Cars)
1960: David Steele (The Beat / Fine Young Cannibals)
1960: Aimee Mann
1979: Alecia Moore a.k.a. P!nk
EVENTS
1979: Led Zeppelin scored their 8th UK No.1 album with ‘In Through The Out Door‘.
1982: Peter Gabriel released his 4th self-titled album, a.k.a. ‘Security’.
1997: Death of Derek Taylor, the publicist for The Beatles [aged 67].
2002: Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson started his second job, as an airline pilot.
2003: David Bowie performed the first interactive concert, beamed live into 21 cinemas from Warsaw to Edinburgh.
2017: Death of country singer / songwriter, Don Williams [aged 78].
‘In Through The Out Door’ got slammed by many when it got released 40 years ago… I can’t imagine why! Can anyone name a better album from 1979? Aside from the almighty “In the Evening”, epic “Carouselambra”, good-time “Fool in the Rain”, and bluesy “I’m Gonna Crawl”, there is this very touching ballad. “All My Love” is Robert Plant’s dedication to his 5-year-old son, Karac, who had tragically died 2 years earlier (on 26th of July, 1977). Watching this clip will bring a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye….
BIRTHDAYS
1930: Sonny Rollins
1936: Charles Holley a.k.a. Buddy Holly
1951: Christine Allen “Chrissie” Hynde (Pretenders)
1953: Marc Hunter (Dragon)
Marc Hunter would have been 66 today! A charismatic frontman and very talented singer for New Zealand band, Dragon, sadly Marc developed heroin and alcohol addictions early on in his career. It was only a matter of time until it all caught up on him and Marc passed away on 17 July 1998, aged 44.
1954: Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers)
EVENTS
1977: David Bowie performed a duet with Marc Bolan on the last episode of his TV show, ‘Marc’. They performed “Heroes” and then went into an instrumental jam. Before the song had reached its end, Bolan tripped over a microphone cable and fell off the stage. Bowie called out “Could we have a wooden box for Marc?”. Nine days later, Bolan was killed in a car crash.
1978: Death of drummer, Keith Moon of The Who (aged 32].
1985: Ringo Starr became the first grandfather Beatle, when his son Zak & wife Sarah had a daughter, Tatia Jayne.
1987: Pink Floyd released their thirteenth album, ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’. It was the first LP from the group since the departure of founder and main songwriter, Roger Waters.
1992: Roger Waters released his third album, ‘Amused to Death’.
Respect to one of the guys who started it all ~ great songwriter / singer / guitarist, Buddy Holly! He was born 83 years ago today, but he only made it to age 22.
