Today in Rock History – 4th JULY:

BIRTHDAYS
1938: Bill Withers
1940: Dave Rowberry (The Animals)
1943: Alan Wilson (Canned Heat)
1948: Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac)
1954: John Waite (The Babys)
1958: Kirk Pengilly (INXS)
1963: Matt Malley (Counting Crows)
1970: Andy McClure (Sleeper)
1972: William Goldsmith (Foo Fighters)

EVENTS
1973: Slade drummer Don Powell was badly injured in a car crash in which his girlfriend was killed.
1976: Blue Oyster Cult released their single “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”.
1976: The Clash made their live debut, supporting The Sex Pistols at the Black Swan, Sheffield.
1980: Rory Gallagher played a concert at the Regent Theatre, Dunedin ~ I was there!
1982: Wedding of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.
1990: Paul Stanley of Kiss sustained back injuries from a car crash in New Jersey.
2003: Death of singer, Barry White [aged 58].
2017: Death of drummer, John Blackwell Jr., best known for his work with Prince [aged 43].
2021: Death of bassist, Rick Laird, best known for his work with Mahavishnu Orchestra [aged 80].

Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson, founder of Canned Heat, was born on this day in 1943. Alan was leader, main composer, singer, guitarist and harmonica player in the band and it was his expertise of the blues that got Canned Heat up and cookin’. Sadly, he died when he was quite young ~ you guessed it, aged 27. Canned Heat have many great songs, but this is the most well known…

Love this song. Classic stuff!