BIRTHDAYS
1944: Ric Ocasek (The Cars)
1946: Michael Nyman
1950: Phil Lanzon (Grand Prix / Sweet / Uriah Heep)
1953: Yvette Marie Stevens a.k.a. Chaka Khan
1967: John Stohm (The Lemonheads)
1968: Damon Albarn (Blur)
EVENTS
1961: Elvis Presley set a new UK chart record with three consecutive No. 1 singles: “It’s Now or Never”, “Are You Lonesome Tonight” & “Wooden Heart”.
1973: Roxy Music released their second album, ‘For Your Pleasure’.
1973: King Crimson released their fifth album, ‘Larks’ Tongues In Aspic’.
1976: Judas Priest released their second album, ‘On The Sad Wings Of Destiny’.
1985: Former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Centerfield’.
1997: Death of keyboard player, Craig Scott of Elastica & The Dylans.
2006: Death of singer / percussionist, Pio Leyva of Buena Vista Social Club [aged 88].
2008: The ROCK2WGTN concert, featuring Whitesnake & Ozzy Osbourne was held in Wellington ~ I was there!
2023: Death of lyricist / songwriter, Keith Reid [aged 76]. Most of the songs Keith wrote lyrics for were with Procol Harum, including “A Whiter Shade of Pale”.
2024: Death of guitarist, Steven Mironovich aka Steven Irons [aged 60]. Based in Staten Island, Steven played in many bands, including Cities, Dark Black Past & Circle of Thorns.
Rest in Peace, Ric Ocasek. The singer / guitarist and principle songwriter for The Cars would have been 80 today. He passed away on 15 September, 2019. Here’s one of the great songs from their debut LP, which was a big hit, back in 1978!
