Today in Rock History – 18th AUGUST:

BIRTHDAYS
1944: Carl Wayne (The Move)
1949: Nigel Griggs (Split Enz)
1950: Dennis Elliott (Foreigner)
1967: Dan Peters (Mudhoney)
1971: Richard James a.k.a. Aphex Twin

EVENTS
1962: Ringo Starr made his first appearance as a Beatle at Hulme Hall in Port Sunlight.
1969: The Woodstock 3-day Festival came to a close at Max Yasgur’s farm in New York, with a performance by Jimi Hendrix.
1973: Jethro Tull scored their second US No.1 album with ‘A Passion Play’.
1978: The Who released ‘Who Are You’, their last album to feature Keith Moon. On the cover, Moon is sitting on a chair with a notice that reads “Not To Be Taken Away” ~ he died three weeks later.
1980: Yes released ‘Drama’, their first album to not feature Jon Anderson.
1986: Bon Jovi released their album ‘Slippery When Wet’.
1987: Aerosmith released their album ‘Permanent Vacation’.
1992: Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love’s child was born, a girl named Frances Bean.
2017: Death of rockabilly guitarist / singer, Sonny Burgess [aged 88].
2020: Death of guitarist, Jack Sherman, of Red Hot Chili Peppers [aged 64].

55 years ago, Jimi Hendrix gave a legendary performance at Woodstock, which featured his stratospheric rendition of “Star Spangled Banner”. The festival was running well behind, so Jimi didn’t take the stage until Monday morning, at 8 a.m! The audience, which peaked at an estimated 400,000 people, was now reduced to 30–40,000. Jimi had been awake for more than three days and collapsed from exhaustion after his set. Many other artists had played over the three days, including Richie Havens, Joe Cocker, Canned Heat, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After, The Band, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Santana and The Who.

Also, Happy Birthday to Nigel Griggs (pictured top centre), who was long-time bassist for popular New Zealand band, Split Enz.