BIRTHDAYS
1942: Lewis Brian Hopkin-Jones a.k.a. Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones)
1942: Joe South
1948: Geoff Nicholls (Black Sabbath / Quartz)
1957: Phil Gould (Level 42)
1966: Ian Brown (The Stone Roses)
1972: Danny McCormack (The Wildhearts)
EVENTS
1970: Led Zeppelin played a gig in Copenhagen as The Nobs after Eva Von Zeppelin, a relative of the airship designer, threatened to sue if the family name was used in Denmark.
1972: George & Patti Harrison were injured in a car crash; Patti was unconscious for several days.
1982: Thin Lizzy guitarist, Scott Gorham collapsed on tour in Europe, suffering from heroin withdrawal.
1985: Death of singer, David Byron of Uriah Heep [aged 38].
1996: Jeff Buckley played a concert at Palais Theatre, Melbourne. I was there! So were Jimmy Page and Robert Plant!! (Songs from the gig later appeared on the live album, ‘Mystery White Boy’). Setlist: Dream Brother / Moodswing Whiskey / Mojo Pin / So Real / I Woke Up in a Strange Place / What Will You Say / Last Goodbye / Lilac Wine / Eternal Life / Kick Out the Jams / Lover, You Should’ve Come Over / Grace / Hallelujah / Last Month of the Year / Vancouver Kanga Roo
82 years ago, an exceptional musician was born on this day ~ the man who got The Stones rolling… Brian Jones! Apart from being an excellent guitarist (particularly slide guitar), Brian could play a wide variety of instruments, including organ, recorder, Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp & harmonica. “Paint It Black” was recorded in March 1966, and was one of the first instances of a sitar being used in rock music.
BIRTHDAYS
1951: Stephen Nice a.k.a. Steve Harley (Cockney Rebel)
1954: Neal Schon (Santana / Journey / HSAS)
1955: Garry Christian (The Christians)
1957: Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
1957: Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
EVENTS
1956: Specialty Records released Little Richard’s “Slippin’ and Slidin'”.
1967: Pink Floyd recorded their first single, “Arnold Layne”, with producer Joe Boyd.
1970: Jefferson Airplane was fined $1,000 for using profanity during a concert in Oklahoma City.
1975: Yes released their ‘Yesterdays’ album.
1977: Keith Richards’ Toronto hotel suite was raided by Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and cocaine, then released on $25,000 bail.
Happy 67th Birthday to guitarist, Adrian Smith, of Iron Maiden! Here is one of the many Maiden songs Adrian wrote with singer, Bruce Dickinson…
BIRTHDAYS
1928: Antoine “Fats” Domino
1932: Johnny Cash
1945: Bob “The Bear” Hite (Canned Heat)
1947: Sandie Shaw
1950: Jonathan Cain (Journey)
1952: John Giblin (Session bassist for Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Jon Anderson, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Simple Minds & more).
1960: Jeremy “Jaz” Coleman (Killing Joke)
1968: Tim Commerford (Rage Against The Machine)
1972: Oliver Wakeman (Yes)
1979: Luke Buda (The Phoenix Foundation)
EVENTS
1980: Split Enz played a concert at Dunedin Town Hall ~ I was there!
1991: Death of songwriter Jerome Felder a.k.a. Doc Pomus [aged 65].
2008: Death of drummer, Buddy Miles [aged 60].
2021: Death of singer / songwriter, Bob James of Montrose [aged 68].
2022: Death of singer / songwriter, Nicky Tesco of The Members [aged 66].
Happy Birthday Jaz! Mr. Coleman is 64 today, so let’s check out some classic Killing Joke:
BIRTHDAYS
1943: George Harrison
1957: Dennis Diken (The Smithereens)
1959: Mike Peters (The Alarm / Big Country)
EVENTS
1957: Buddy Holly & The Crickets recorded “That’ll Be the Day”.
1972: Led Zeppelin performed at Western Springs Stadium, Auckland. Man, I wish I had been there!!!
1984: Van Halen’s “Jump” started a 5-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart.
1992: James Brown received a “Lifetime Achievement” Award at The Grammys.
1993: I interviewed Sammy Hagar, then singer in Van Halen.
1994: Bo Diddley & Roy Orbison received “Lifetime Achievement” Awards at The Grammys.
2019: Death of singer / songwriter / musician, Mark Hollis of Talk Talk [aged 64].
George would have been 81 today. Such a wonderful musician, hugely missed, every day ~ Mr. George Harrison!
BIRTHDAYS
1944: Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones / Jeff Beck Group / Joe Cocker Band)
1962: Michelle Johnston a.k.a. Michelle Shocked
EVENTS
1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience returned by popular demand for a second performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London. They had played there six days earlier.
1975: Led Zeppelin released their double album, ‘Physical Graffiti‘.
1990: Death of singer, Johnnie Ray [aged 63].
1992: Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii.
1994: Death of violinist, “Papa” John Creech of Jefferson Airplane & Hot Tuna [aged 76].
1995: I interviewed Steve Vai.
2000: Carlos Santana won eight Grammy awards.
2004: Death of Estelle Axton, co-creator of the legendary Stax Records label [aged 85].
2013: Journey & Deep Purple played a concert at Vector Arena, Auckland ~ I was there!
It was 49 years ago that my favourite Led Zeppelin album was released ~ ‘Physical Graffiti’!! Packaged in a very intricate die-cut cover with windows and interchangeable inner sleeves, the 2LP set was the first Zep release on the band’s own Swan Song label.
The glorious double album features the towering epic “Kashmir”, the brilliantly layered “Ten Years Gone”, the irresistible groove of “Trampled Underfoot”, the monstrous “Rover”, delicious “Custard Pie” and several other essential Zeppelin numbers ~ including this thunderous blues rock masterpiece:
BIRTHDAYS
1944: Johnny Winter
1948: Steve Priest (Sweet)
1952: Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
1958: David Batt a.k.a. David Sylvian (Japan)
1963: Rob Collins (The Charlatans)
EVENTS
1978: David Coverdale’s Whitesnake made their debut at the Sky Bird Club, Nottingham, England.
1997: Death of jazz drummer, Tony Williams [aged 51].
2003: Death of bassist, Howie Epstein of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers [aged 47].
Mr. Steve Priest was born on this day in 1948! Great bassist / singer / songwriter and co-founder of Sweet… Was terribly sad to hear of his death on 4th of June, 2020. Here’s the video for the first single I ever bought ~ “The Ballroom Blitz”! Are you ready, Steve?
BIRTHDAYS
1953: John Sparks (Dr. Feelgood)
1953: Nigel Planer a.k.a. Neil (The Young Ones / Bad News)
1962: Michael Wilton (Queensryche)
1973: Scott Phillips (Creed)
EVENTS
1968: Jon Anderson & Chris Squire met at La Chasse club in London and went on to form Yes.
1968: Genesis failed to chart with “Silent Sun”, their first single.
1987: Death of artist, Andy Warhol [aged 58].
2022: Death of singer / songwriter, Mark Lanegan, of Screaming Trees / Queens of the Stone Age / The Gutter Twins / Mad Season [aged 57].
The seeds of Yes were planted 56 years ago. “Looking Around” was one of the first songs that Jon Anderson & Chris Squire wrote together. Right from the start of their career, you can hear how prominent Squire is on bass within the Yes sound. (Photo: Charles Hope, 1978)
BIRTHDAYS
1893: Andrés Segovia
1933: Nina Simone
1948: Paul Newton (Uriah Heep)
1949: Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads / The Modern Lovers)
1952: John Thomas (Budgie)
1952: Jean-Jacques Burnel (The Stranglers)
1962: Mark Arm (Mudhoney)
1967: Michael Ward (The Wallflowers)
1969: James Dean Bradfield (The Manic Street Preachers)
EVENTS
1958: The first Gibson Flying V guitar was shipped from the factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1995: For the first time in seven years, Bruce Springsteen performed live with the E Street Band, at a New York City night.
2016: Death of guitarist, Piotr Grudziński of Riverside [aged 40].
2019: Death of singer / bassist, Peter Tork of The Monkees [aged 77].
Happy Birthday to Jerry Harrison, who is 75 today! This is one of the great songs he co-wrote with Talking Heads…
BIRTHDAYS
1946: J. Geils
1950: Walter Becker (Steely Dan)
1951: Randy California (Spirit)
1967: Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
EVENTS
1960: Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut when he played at a High School in Seattle.
1970: Thin Lizzy made their debut live appearance in Dublin, Ireland.
1974: A concert by Yes at Madison Square Garden sold out immediately, without any advertising.
1991: Bob Dylan was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 33rd annual Grammy Awards.
2003: 100 people died after pyrotechnics ignited a club, during a gig by Great White in Rhode Island.
2009: Iron Maiden played a concert at Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland ~ I was there!
2012: Roger Waters performed ‘The Wall’ concert at Vector Arena, Auckland ~ I was there!
2018: Dweezil Zappa played a concert at Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland ~ I was there!
2020: Alice Cooper played a concert at Trusts Arena, Auckland ~ I was there!
Twelve years ago already! I’m sure many of you out there witnessed at least one of the four nights, when Roger Waters staged ‘The Wall’ in Auckland… or the other 215 performances around the world. What a phenomenal event!
BIRTHDAYS
1948: Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
1948: Mark Andes (Spirit)
1949: Eddie Hardin (Spencer Davis Group)
1950: Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
1954: Francis Buchholz (Scorpions)
1957: David Wakeling (The Beat)
1963: Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel a.k.a. Seal
EVENTS
1971: Yes released their third LP, ‘The Yes Album’, the first to feature Steve Howe on guitar.
1980: Death of AC/DC singer, Bon Scott [aged 33].
1982: Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in San Antonio, Texas for urinating on the Alamo (whilst wearing a dress).
2017: Death of guitarist, Larry Coryell [aged 73].
2022: Death of singer / songwriter / pianist / guitarist, Gary Brooker of Procol Harum [aged 76].
Happy Birthday Tony Iommi! He will be very glad to have made it to 76 ~ what a trooper. He had ongoing cancer treatment, even while travelling around the world, playing gigs with Black Sabbath over the last few years. Their final tour came to an end in their home town, Birmingham on 4th February, 2017. I am so glad I got to see him play (twice with Sabbath and once with Ronnie James Dio, as Heaven & Hell). Of course, Tony invented the heavy doom guitar sound on his Gibson SG and has come up with so many classic riffs and songs. Here’s one of them… and I was at this Melbourne gig!