Today in Rock History – 9th JUNE:

BIRTHDAYS
1891: Cole Porter
1915: Les Paul
1929: Johnny Ace
1934: Jackie Wilson
1941: Jon Lord (Deep Purple)

1947: Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
1949: Francis Monkman (Curved Air / 801 / Sky)
1950: Trevor Bolder (The Spiders From Mars / Wishbone Ash / Uriah Heep)

1954: Paul “Tonka” Chapman (Skid Row / Lone Star / UFO)
1970: Ed Simons (The Chemical Brothers)
1978: Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
1980: James Walsh (Starsailor)

EVENTS
1970: Bob Dylan received an honorary Doctorate in Music from Princeton University.
1972: Columbia Records boss, John Hammond signed singer/songwriter, Bruce Springsteen.
2020: Death of guitarist, Paul “Tonka” Chapman, of Skid Row, Lone Star & UFO [aged 66].
2022: Death of singer / songwriter / actress, Julee Cruise [aged 65]

Happy 77th Birthday to Mick Box! Mick is the awesome guitarist & great guy who leads Uriah Heep! He’s the only original member left in Heep, since they formed in 1969! Sadly, several members have died along the way, including two bassists ~ New Zealander, Gary Thain & Trevor Bolder (who shares the same birthday as Mick and should have been celebrating his 73rd today). But as you can see by this clip from Heep’s 2014/2015 tour (which also made it to Auckland), Mick still has the magic touch on the fretboard, playing as well as ever. This is the song that started it all… “Gypsy”!!!