BIRTHDAYS
1948: Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Saile Eno a.k.a. Eno
1948: Gary Thain (Keef Hartley Band / Uriah Heep)
1951: Dennis Fredericksen (Toto)
1953: Mike Oldfield
1959: Andrew Eldritch (The Sisters of Mercy)
1974: Ahmet Zappa
New Zealand bassist, Gary Thain of Uriah Heep would have been 76 today. Gary’s three years with Heep highlighted his mastery of the bass and wonderful original style, but sadly he succumbed to heroin addiction, dying at the age of 27 on 8th of December, 1975.
EVENTS
1976: The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Black and Blue’.
1982: Asia started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US chart with their self-titled debut album.
1991: YES played a concert at Los Angeles Forum, on the ‘Union’ Tour ~ I was there! (My first YES gig attended).
2020: Death of singer / songwriter, Phil May of The Pretty Things [aged 75].
The YES concert “In the Round” at LA. Forum in ‘91 was the greatest musical experience I have ever witnessed! Picture above is me outside The Forum, before the show. The revolving stage ensured an ever-changing view, and above that were eight mechanical claw-like arms for the lighting, which would lower and surround the band at the appropriate moments. The musicianship was ~ of course ~ exceptional! Below is one of only two songs the 8-piece group played from their then current ‘Union’ album (filmed six days before the concert I attended).
