Today in Rock History – 10th JANUARY:

BIRTHDAYS
1927: Johnnie Ray
1935: Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins
1945: Rod Stewart
1945: Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash)
1946: Aynsley Dunbar (Frank Zappa Band, Journey, Whitesnake)
1946: Neal Smith (Alice Cooper Band)
1948: Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
1948: Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers)
1953: Patricia Benatar
1955: Michael Schenker (Scorpions / UFO / MSG)
1965: Joey Santiago (The Pixies)

EVENTS
1956: Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA Records, including “Heartbreak Hotel”.
1976: Death of blues singer, Chester Arthur Burnett a.k.a. Howlin’ Wolf [aged 65].
1976: Deep Purple split up at the end of their ‘Come Taste the Band’ UK tour.
2015: Death of bassist, Tim Drummond, who played for Neil Young, CSNY, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Ry Cooder and many others [aged 74].
2016: Death of David Bowie [aged 69].
2018: Death of guitarist, “Fast” Eddie Clarke, of Motorhead & Fastway [aged 67].
2019: Toto, Jefferson Starship & Dragon played a concert at Church Road Winery ~ I was there!
2022: Death of bassist / singer / songwriter / band leader, Burke Shelley, of Budgie [aged 71].
2023: Death of legendary guitarist / songwriter, Jeff Beck [aged 78].

He’s not 18 anymore! Neal Smith of the original Alice Cooper band is celebrating his 78th birthday today! (Pictured centre in group shot above). When I was a kid, I set out to grow my hair as long as Neal Smith’s… took a quite a few years, but I got there. Here is Neal playing drums with Alice Cooper ~ live and raw ~ in 1972.