Today in Rock History – 6th JUNE:

BIRTHDAYS
1936: Levi Stubbs (The Four Tops)
1944: Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)
1944: Clarence White (The Byrds)
1946: Tony Levin (King Crimson / Peter Gabriel)
Happy Birthday to phenomenal bassist / stick player, Tony Levin! He has performed on countless recordings and concerts, but is best known for his work with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel. (Photo is me with Tony at G-Taranaki Festival, August 2010).

1948: Richard Sinclair (Caravan / Camel / Hatfield and The North)
1960: Steve Vai (Frank Zappa Band / Alcatrazz / Public Image / David Lee Roth Band / Whitesnake / Steve Vai / G3)
1961: D.C. Lee (Style Council)
1979: Carl Barat (The Libertines)

EVENTS
1962: The first recording sessions by The Beatles begin at Abbey Road studios.
1971: John Lennon & Yoko Ono joined Frank Zappa & the Mothers on stage at Fillmore East.
1993: A re-formed Velvet Underground performed at Wembley Arena, London.
2004: Death of keyboard player, Dave Rowberry of The Animals [aged 62].
2006: Death of singer / songwriter / pianist, Billy Preston [aged 59].
2019: Death of singer / songwriter / pianist, Mac Rebennack a.k.a. Dr. John [aged 77].
2023: Death of singer / songwriter / guitarist, Tony McPhee of Groundhogs [aged 79].

Happy Birthday to Steve Vai ~ born on 6/6/60! (He counteracts the beastly number with his 777 theme). In this famous scene from the great movie, ‘Crossroads’, Vai is the devil’s guitarist, having an astonishing duel with the young character, Eugene. It is not the actor, Ralph Maccio (or Ry Cooder, who provides the rest of the soundtrack) on the other guitar… it is in fact Steve Vai playing ALL the guitar parts!!