Today in Rock History – 3rd MAY:

BIRTHDAYS
1903: Bing Crosby
1919: Pete Seeger
1933: James Brown

1944: Peter Staples (The Troggs)
1950: Mary Hopkin
1951: Christopher Geppert a.k.a. Chris Cross
1953: Gary Young (Pavement)
1969: Jay Darlington (Kula Shaker)

EVENTS
1968: Jimi Hendrix and friends recorded “Voodoo Chile” for the ‘Electric Ladyland’ album.

1972: Death of guitarist, Les Harvey, of Stone The Crows [aged 27].
1976: Aerosmith released their 4th album, ‘Rocks’.
1976: David Bowie played the first of six sold out nights at Wembley.
1984: Deep Purple (Mk II line-up: Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice) announced that they had reformed.
1994: The Tea Party played a concert at The Powerstation, Auckland ~ I was there!
1997: Death of Spanish guitarist, Narciso Yepes [aged 69].
2001: Death of jazz drummer, Billy Higgins [aged 64].
2005: Death of drummer, Pierre Moerlen of Gong & Mike Oldfield Band [aged 52].
2020: Death of keyboardist, Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers [aged 71].
2021: Death of singer / songwriter / bandleader, Lloyd Price [aged 88].
2023: Death of singer / songwriter, Linda Lewis [aged 72]. Linda released several albums from the 70s to the 90s, as well as appearing on classic albums by David Bowie (that’s her wailing on “Panic in Detroit”), Rick Wakemman (‘Lisztomania’) and Cat Stevens.

What a happy day it was, when Deep Purple announced their reformation in 1984. It had been 11 years since the classic Mk II line-up of Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord & Ian Paice had last performed together. They recorded the excellent ‘Perfect Strangers’ album and played concerts around the world ~New Zealand was second stop on the tour! With Mk II Purple back and in top form again, it was glorious for the fans for another five years. But, with Ritchie Blackmore refusing to shake Ian Gillan’s hand ~ as shown in this official “Perfect Strangers” clip ~ it was never going to last!