BIRTHDAYS
1923: Barney Kessel
1934: Rico Rodrigues (The Specials)
1946: Jim Tucker (The Turtles)
1968: Ziggy Marley
1972: Marshall Mathers II a.k.a. Eminem
EVENTS
1961: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards met on platform two of Dartford Train Station. Keith had his guitar, Mick was carrying two albums with him — ‘Rockin’ at the Hops’ by Chuck Berry and ‘The Best of Muddy Waters’.
1962: The Beatles made their television debut on Granada TV.
1969: Led Zeppelin kicked off their third US tour at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd released their ‘Street Survivors’ album.
1984: Death of singer / songwriter, Alberta Hunter [aged 89].
1996: Death of drummer, Chris Acland of Lush [aged 30].
2017: Death of singer, Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip [aged 53].
2019: IRIS released her sixth single, “Frozen Hearts”.
The ‘Street Survivors’ LP by Lynyrd Skynyrd was released 47 years ago today! 3 days later, vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines (Steve’s sister) and road manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed when their plane crashed in Gillsburg, MS. The other 4 members of the band were seriously injured, but survived the crash.
The original cover for ‘Street Survivors’ had featured a photograph of the band, particularly Steve Gaines, engulfed in flames. After the plane crash, this cover became highly controversial. Out of respect for the deceased (and at the request of Teresa Gaines, Steve’s widow), MCA Records withdrew the original cover and replaced it with a similar image of the band against a simple black background.
Skynyrd – “FREE BIRD!!!”
