BIRTHDAYS
1937: Ray Collins (Frank Zappa Band)
1952: Anthony Eddie Rayner “The Prof” (Split Enz)
1957: Phil Spalding (GTR / Mike Oldfield Band / Many Sessions)
1960: Matt Sorum (The Cult / Guns N’ Roses / Velvet Revolver)
1971: Justin Chancellor (Tool)
EVENTS
1955: Carl Perkins recorded “Blue Suede Shoes” at Sun Studios in Memphis.
1973: Emerson, Lake & Palmer released their album, ‘Brain Salad Surgery’.
1982: Led Zeppelin released their ‘Coda’ album, a compilation of live tracks and rarities.
1983: Death of Badfinger singer / songwriter / bassist, Tom Evans [aged 36].
1994: Nirvana entered the US album chart at No.1 with ‘Unplugged in New York.’
1994: CSN member, David Crosby had a successful liver transplant operation in Los Angeles.
2000: The Beatles started an 11-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘1’.
2003: Death of Spooky Tooth / Humble pie bassist, Greg Ridley [aged 56].
2007: Death of singer, Kevin DuBrow of Quiet Riot [aged 52].
Happy 72nd Birthday to greatly talented keyboardist / writer / arranger / producer, Eddie Rayner. He was an integral player in legendary New Zealand group, Split Enz (1974-1985), but was also a member of Space Waltz, Crowded House and went on to be the driving force of the ENZSO project.
Eddie has contributed to and performed on such a wide range of songs over the decades, it’s difficult to choose just one video clip… the wonderfully weird early Enz stuff, like “Spellbound”… the moving ENZSO rendition of “Message to My Girl”, featuring Rikki Morris… The most popular song won out — and Eddie is in full flight on this one, captured on the 2009 Enz reunion tour:
