MY DIARY - GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BLOG

Aside from my continual raft of articles about all things music, I thought it would be good to introduce a regularly updated Daily Diary/Blog for all those extra bits of information, thoughts and the rest that happen daily. Enjoy!

September 23rd

On this day - in 1957 The Cricket's topped the charts with That'll be The Day...in 1966 The Rolling Stones played the Royal Albert Hall, headlining a bill that included Long John Baldry, Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds, who included both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page...in 1968 The Beatles record Happiness Is A Warm Gun...David Bowie's glorious collaboration with Brian Eno, and featuring the wonderful drones and power of Robert Fripp on guitar, Heroes is released in 1977...Ray Charles was born on this day in 1930...and Birthday wishes to Bruce Springsteen, 67 today.

September 22nd

On this day - in 1969 The Band released their second elpee, self titled after the Music From Big Pink debut. a top 10 hit in the US it included the classics Rag Mama Rag and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down...four years later The Rolling Stones scored their 8th UK #1 elpee with Goat's Head Soup, a particular favourite of mine, including the classics Heartbreaker and the immediately banned Star Star...In 1984 former Baby John Waite topped the US singles charts with AOR Pop classic Missing You...in 1985 Farm Aid was held for the first time, to help the American farmers Dylan in particular felt were ignored by Live Aid. A star studded line up included a cameo by Sammy Hagar, introducing Eddie Van Halen for a stirring rendition of Led Zeppelin's Rock And Roll...Birthday greetings to David Coverdale, 65 today. Australian singer soungwriter Nick Cave is 59. And Joan Jett, erstwhile Runaway and known for the glorious anthem I Love Rock And Roll is 58.

September 21st

On this day - Deep Purple (mk1) scored their first hit with Hush, reaching #4 on the US singles charts in 1968...1971 was a landmark day in broadcasting and for music fans. BBC launched the Old Grey Whistle Test with film of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan and Leslie Duncan and America performing in the studio. This wonderfully eclectic and unbiased mix of artists would continue through its' heyday throughout the 1970's, making it essential and exciting viewing...Jaco Pastorius, widely regarded as one of the finest bassists of all time, very sadly died from injuries sustained in a fight outside a night club in Florida...Birthday wishes to the great Canadian singer songwriter Leonard Cohen, 82 today...Don Felder of The Eagles in 69...Motorhead drummer 'Philthy' Phil 'The Animal' Taylor was born on this day in 1954. Part of the classic 3 piece line up behind the classics Overkill, Bomber, Ace Of Spades, No Sleep Til Hammersmith and Iron Fist, he inadvertently invented power metal/thrash with his amphetamine fuelled double bass drum style. He sadly died on November 11th 2015...

September 20th

On this day - In 1969 'Supergroup' Blind Faith hit the #1 spot on the UK album charts. They only played the one show - Hyde Park on July 7th - and left behind a classic 5 track album complete with slightly dubious artwork...In 1970 The Rolling Stones release their live set 'Get Your Ya Ya's Out' recorded on their 1969 US Tour at Madison Square Garden. Hardcore fans were less than impressed, pointing instead to the classic TMOQ bootleg 'liveR Than You'll Ever Be', a classic audience recording from Oakland on the same tour...Singer songwriter Jim Croce sadly died in a Plane crash on this day in 1973...'Fame' gave David Bowie his 1st US #1 single on this day in 1975, part of his thin white duke soul phase and co-written with John Lennon...The MM Polls released on this day in 1975 had Led Zep with best elpee, Robert Plant as best singer, Joni Mitchell best female singer and Camel as 'brightest hope'...And Kate Bush hit the #1 elpee spot in the UK with Never For Ever... 

September 19th

On this day - CCR hit the UK #1 singles charts with 'Bad Moon Rising', the same day their Green River elpee made #1 on the US charts...In 1973 Country Rock legend Gram Parsons died in somewhat mysterious circumstances at Joshua Tree, California. Hugely talented but troubled, Gram was a major part of the Byrds success....in 1993 Pearl Jam release the follow up to their debut 'Ten' titled 'VS'. Massive pre-order and first week sales saw it breaking all records. Includes some of their finest songs, including 'Daughter' and the wonderfully titled 'Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town'...Born on this day in 1934, Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Also Cass Elliott of Mama's & The Papa's in 1943. She sadly passed on July 29th 1974. Birthday wishes to Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and songwriter/actor Paul Williams, both 76 today...Quo drummer John Coghlan reaches 70 today, and 10cc founder member and video director Lol Creme is 69. Runaways guitarist Lita Ford is 58.
In the world of Led Zeppelin, they concluded their 6th US Tour with 2 shows in one day at Madison Square Garden 1970. Both shows are great and both bootlegged. The second show sees a loose, celebratory show full of jams and great cover versions. Check out my review page elsewhere here.

September 18th

On this day - In 1970 music lost one of the great guitar innovators when James Marshall Hendrix died. Although there has always been controversy about his death, his achievements and body of work are much more important. His first 3 studio elpees - Are You Experienced?, Axis Bold As Love and the expansive double set Electric Ladyland show his true guitar genius and hold up with that rare timeless quality...The following year The Who celebrate their first (and only) UK #1 album with Who's Next...in 1983 Kiss appeared on MTV for the first time anywhere without make up. After a few years and elpees with gradually diminishing success they ended up putting the slap back on and continue (with 2 original members) to fill the coffers to this day...Born on this day in 1939 Frankie Avalon. The teen sensation received a for the time massive royalty payment of $600,000 when he reached 21 for his 50's hits...Dee Dee Ramone (real name Douglas Colvin) was born on this day in 1952. The Ramones bassist passed on June 5th 2002 from a drugs overdose.

September 17th

On this day - Way back in 1931 RCA-Victor demonstrated the first long playing 33 1/3 rpm record. Sadly, the high price of record players - $95 - and the economic climate of the time meant it was 1948 before they became viable...In 1967 The Doors were banned from the Ed Sullivan show after Jim Morrison broke a verbal agreement not to sing the words 'get much higher'. The clip is a classic!...A media frenzy on this day in 1969 was frothing at the mouth over the 'Paul McCartney is dead' story. Allegedly he was killed in a car crash in Scotland in November 1966 and was replaced by a doppelganger. Hmm....In 1978 Queen filmed the Bicycle Race promo video featuring 65 naked models at Wimbledon Stadium...In 1991 MC5 lead singer Rob Tyner passed after a heart attack...In 2000 Paula Yales was found dead of a drugs overdose...Country legend Hank (Hiram King) Williams was born on this day in 1923. He passed on New Years Day 1953 aged just 29...birthday wishes to Tubes frontman Fee Waybill, 66 today. Former Budgie drummer Steve Williams is 63...
Folkets Park, Malmo saw the final date of Led Zeppelin's debut tour, often billed as Yard Birds or New Yardbirds in 1968. In 1971 their 7th US Tour concluded with a second night in Honolulu, Hawaii.

September 16th

On this day - in 1967 Jimi Hendrix hit the US charts with his debut elpee Are You Experienced? where it stayed for 106 weeks...In 1970 Led Zeppelin deposed The Beatles as 'best group' in the MM poll...in 1972 the Buxton Festival included sets from Steppenwolf, Wishbone Ash, Family, Roy Wood & Wizzard, Slade, Uriah Heep and Glencoe amongst others...In 1977 Marc Bolan was tragically killed in a car crash in Barnes, London. The T Rex frontman and Glam Rock legend was only 29 years old and was rebuilding his career including the success of his own TV show and embracing the New Wave bands coming through...in 2006 Bob Dylan returned to #1 on the US charts with his Modern Times elpee, his first chart topper since Desire 30 years before...BB King was born on this day in 1925. The legendary Blues guitarist passed on May 15th 2015...Legendary drummer Kenney Jones is 68 today.
Led Zeppelin returned to Hawaii, playing the Honolulu Civic Auditorium on this day in 1971.

September 15th

On this day - in 1961 The Pendletones made their first recording session with 'Surfin' at Hite Studios, Los Angeles. Soon they would explode onto the scene as the more familiar The Beach Boys...in 1965 Ford introduced 8-track players into their cars...In 1966 the Small Faces hit the UK #1 spot with All Or Nothing...in 1975 Pink Floyd release Wish You Were Here, they long awaited follow up to Dark Side Of The Moon. In 2008 keyboardist Rick Wright sadly died from cancer aged 65...in 1979 Led Zeppelin hit the US #1 spot with In Through The Out Door, their 6th US chart topping elpee. It stayed at the top for 7 weeks...Joey Ramone (John Cummings) sadly passed from prostrate cancer on this day in 2004...
Led Zeppelin's debut shows continued at Liseberg Amusement Park, Gothenburg in 1968 

September 14th

On this day - in 1955 Little Richard recorded Tutti Frutti...in 1968 US comic strip The Archies debuted on US TV. The following year the one hit wonder single Sugar Sugar spent an impressive 8 weeks at the top of the UK singles chart...in 1974 Eric Clapton hit the US #1 spot with Bob Marley's I Shot The Sheriff...At the same time Stevie Wonder topped the elpee charts with Fulfillingness First Finale...Birthday wishes to Pete Agnew of Nazareth, 70 today...Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines was born on this day in 1949. He sadly died in the tragic plane crash that decimated the band on October 20th 1977...Guitar legend Paul Kossoff was born on this day in 1950. A brilliantly soulful blues player, he tragically died of a heart attack on March 19th 1976 after failing to conquer his addiction demons...Morten Harket of A-Ha is 57 today.
Led Zeppelin played Angby Park, Stockholm in 1968 and 3 years later performed at Berkeley Community Centre, California, a show captured on the legendary and brilliant 'Going To California' bootleg 2 elpee set.

September 13th

On this day - in 1965 Yesterday was released as a single in the US. Because it was written solely by Paul McCartney and featured him on vocals and acoustic guitar with just a string quartet backing it soon became regarded as a 'solo' rather than a Beatles release...in 1969 the Rugby Bag Blues Festival opened featuring Pink Floyd, The Nice, Taste, Roy Harper, King Crimson and more...Birthday wishes to Chicago's Peter Cetera, 72 today. Producer Don Was is 64. Metallica/Megadeth guitarist and frontman Dave Mustaine is 53. Ringo's son Zak Starkey is 51 today. 
Led Zeppelin continued their first shows in 1968 at Stockholm's Inside Club. In 1971 they played the first of a brace of shows at Berkeley Community Theater, California.

September 12th

On this day - in 1954 Frank Sinatra reached UK #1 single with 'Three Coins In The Fountain'...Nine years later The Beatles were top with 'She Loves You'...in 1966 the first episode of The Monkees was aired on NBC...in 1969 Cosmo's Factory became #1 album in the UK for CCS. In the US it topped the charts for an impressive 9 weeks...in 1989 Aerosmith cemented their resurgence with the release of Pump, their 10th studio elpee in some 17 years...in 2003 country legend Johnny Cash died aged 71. Incredibly influential, he had re established his career with some outstanding sessions with Rick Rubin at the helm including a wonderful version of NIN's 'Hurt'....Birthday wishes to Rush drum maestro Neil Peart, 64 today.
In the world of Zep, their 'New Yardbirds' Scandinavian Tour continued with a show at Stora Scenen, Stockholm.

September 11th

On this day - in 1965 Help became The Beatles 6th US #1 elpee, and stayed top for 9 weeks...in 1977 David Bowie duetted with crooner Bing Crosby on his TV show singing 'Peace On Earth (Little Drummer Boy)'...Birthday wishes to Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, 71 today. Folk singer/songwriter John Martyn (nee Iain David McGeachy) was born on this day in 1948. 'Solid Air' is his renowned classic elpee. Irascible to the last, he passed in hospital in Ireland on January 30th 2009... And a happy birthday to Styx and Damn Yankees Tommy Shaw, 63 today...
In the World of Zep, they played at Rochester War Memorial Auditorium in 1971.

September 10th
On this day - In 1964 The Kinks hit #1 in the UK singles charts with You Really Got Me. Jimmy Page was at the session and played either tambourine or rhythm guitar, depending on whose account you read. Jimmy certainly played guitar at the session, but the debate is if his contribution appears on the released take...The same day Rod Stewart recorded his debut single Good Morning Little Schoolgirl which allegedly featured not only Jimmy Page on guitar but session bass parts from one John Paul Jones. By far his rarest release, a mint copy will set you back up to £100...In 1966 Revolver began a 6 week run at #1 on the US charts for The Beatles...Two years later Hey Jude hit the #1 UK single slot, the longest ever chart topper running at 7 minutes 10 seconds...In 1973 The Rolling Stones once again fell foul of BBC censorship when the Goats Head Soup track 'Star Star' led to the whole elpee being banned for the slightly controversial use of the word 'starfucker', repeated throughout the chorus more than a dozen times...In 1988 Sweet Child O' Mine became US #1 for Guns 'n' Roses and signalled a return to real lead guitar playing and rising sales in boys bedroom mirrors and tennis rackets...In 1939 Cynthia Lennon was born. Mother of Julian, she sadly passed from cancer on April 1st 2015...Birthday greetings to Jose Feliciano, 71 today...Barrimore Barlow of Jethro Tull is 67 today...Slade drummer Don Powell is 66, as is Aerosmith guitar slinger Joe Perry... 
In the World of Zep, they played at Onondaga County War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse in 1971. Robert Plant completed his Shaken 'n' Stirred World Tour at Wembley Arena. Please chec out my article elsewhere here

September 9th

On this day - In 1956 Elvis made his first appearance on the legendary Ed Sullivan show...In 1963 The Beatles scored a double #1 with Please Please Me at the top of the elpee charts and She Loves You the top single...Two years later The Rolling Stones ruled the UK singles chart with Satisfaction...In 1968 The Beatles recorded the pre-metal rocker Helter Skelter at Abbey Road...Bowie and Bolan appeared together on The Marc Bolan show on this day in 1977, Bowie performing Heroes and the pair Standing Next To You. Tragically Bolan died in a car crash the following week...Musician and guitar innovator Ernie Ball passed on this day in 2004 aged 74. He was responsible for the 'super slinky' lighter gauge guitar strings that enabled the string binding playing of rock n roll so much easier. Before that guitarists like Jimmy Page would move the strings up higher and employ a banjo string to replace the top E string to compensate...Legendary soul singer Otis Redding was born on this day in 1941. He sadly passed in a plane crash on december 10th 1967...Iron Butterfly keyboardist Doug Ingle is 71 today...
In the world of Zep, they played at Boston gardens (see my seperate article on this...) on this day in 1970. The following year they played an incendiary show at Hampton Roads Coliseum, New Haven (again see my upcoming in depth article)

September 8th

On this day - In 1973 Marvin Gaye began a 3 week run at #1 with Let's Get It On on the US singles chart...At the same time the Allman Brothers had their only #1 on the US LP charts with Brother & Sisters that began a 5 week run...Patsy Cline was born on this day in 1932. This incredibly talented country star tragically passed on March 5th 1963 aged just 30 in a plane crash...
In the World of Zep, they performed 3 shows in one day in Denmark, in Lolland, Roskilde and Koge in 1968, their 3rd night of life as a live act. Each set, with transporting the gear to the next show and the logistics involved would have been no longer than 45 minutes...In 1977 Jimmy Page jammed at the after conference session at the WEA sales conference in Brighton at the Metropole Hotel...In 1985 Robert Plant played the 1st of 2 'tour dates' promoting his 3rd solo elpee 'Shaken 'n' Stirred'. more on this in my blog later today...

September 7th

On this day - In 1963 The Beatles recorded a 6 track session for BBC's Saturday Club, including a 'happy birthday Saturday Club' jingle...In 1968 The Doors played the first of 2 double set shows at London's Roundhouse, the best of which was released on the Video/DVD 'The Doors Are Open'...The same night Led Zeppelin made their live debut with 2 seperate shows in Denmark - The first at the Teen Club 45 in Gladsaxa and the second at Brondby Pop Club. They were billed as The Yard Birds. Check out my full article on this historic night later today...In 1976 ABBA celebrated their 4th UK NO.1 single 'Dancing Queen'....In 1978 legendary Who drummer Keith Moon passed after overdosing on heminevrin, a prescription tabled designed to wean him off alcohol, just hours after attending a party celebrating the release of the film The Buddy Holly Story. He was undoubtedly one of the finest drummers of the Rock era, cited as a huge influence alongside John Bonham...In 1995 Jagger and Bowie were No.1 in the UK with their Live Aid inspired version of Dancing In The Street...Warren Zevon passed on this day in 2003 aged 56. A prolific and talented songwriter, he is best known for Werewolves Of London, and also had hits with the likes of Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, Lawyers Guns & Money, Excitable Boy and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. Produced by Jackson Browne, he was an unsung hero admired by everyone from Springsteen to Dylan, Neil Young to Joe Walsh...Buddy Holly, legendary singer songwriter, was born on this day in 1936, only to tragically pass in the infamous plane crash on February 3rd 1959 twhen Big Bopper and Richie Valens were also killed. Only 22, he had already left a huge legacy of classic songs.

September 6th

On this day - In 1968 The Beatles were ensconsed in Abbey Road, working on the overdubs on George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Guest guitarist Eric Clapton added his famous (and one of his best) solo...In 1970 Jimi Hendrix played his last scheduled live performance at the Love & Peace Festival,  Isle of Fehmarn, Puttgarden in Germany....In 1994 legendary keyboard player Nicky Hopkins passed aged 50...Blues Singer Jimmy Reed was born on this day in 1925. Famous for a string of classics including Shame Shame Shame, Big Boss Man and Bright Lights Big City (I remember Van Halen jamming this on their 1980 World Invasion Tour), he passed on August 29th 1976...Jackie Trent, famous for a string of hits alongside Tony Hatch was born in 1940....and in 1943 Pink Floyd Uberfuhrer Roger Waters was born...and Scott Travis, powerhouse drummer with Judas Priest is 55 today...
In the World of Led Zeppelin, they played 2 sets on this day in 1970 in Honolulu, check out my in depth look at this stunning show we have a recording and even some 8mm cine film of...In 1988 Jimmy Page opened his Outrider US Tour at the Omni, Atlanta, Georgia

September 5th

On this day - In 1964 the Animals topped the US single chart with House Of The Rising Sun, their wonderfully dark, brooding arrangement of a traditional song that dates back centuries before the first recorded version Rising Sun Blues by Appalachian artists Clarence 'Tom'Ashley and Gwen Archer, released on Vocation in 1933. Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly also recorded versions in the 1940's, and it's on a fresh faced Bob Dylan's self titled debut elpee. What gave the Animals the edge was Alan Price's organ led arrangement and Eric Burdon's dangerous vocals. A true classic...The following year the Rolling Stones recorded Get Off Of My Cloud at RCA Studios, Hollywood...In 1970 Janis Joplin started work on her version of Kris Kristofferson's beautiful Me and Bobby McGhee which became a No.1 US single after her untimely death...In 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington was seriously hurt in a car accident,just over a year before a much darker and more fateful tragedy befell the band...In 1981 Stevie Nicks elpee Belladonna hit No.1 on the US charts...Born on this day singer songwriter Al Stewart, most famous for Year Of The Cat, 71 today...Drumming legend Buddy Miles was born on this day in 1946. Most famous for his work with Wilson Pickett and Jimi Hendrix, he passed on February 28th 2008....The late great Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) was born 70 years ago today. One of the finest singers and entertainers I've seen or heard, so hard to believe he passed 25 years ago...
In 1970 Led Zeppelin were preparing to leave Los Angeles after their legendary show at the Forum and subsequent jam with Fairport Convention at the Troubadour and head to Honolulu for a 2 shows in one night stint on the 6th.

September 4th

On this day - In 1962 The Beatles recorded How Do You Do It and Love Me Do at Abbey Road studio 2. At least 15 takes of Love Me Do were recorded and it became their first single. A week later it was rerecorded with session drummer Alan White, and that version replaced the original take...In 1965 The Who left their van outside Battersea Dogs Home in South London while they picked out a guard dog. Ironically the van was stolen and their equipment never recovered...1969 saw the London premiere of classic 60's movie Easy Rider...Birthday wishes to drummer Gene Parsons (also co inventor of the Parsons/White b-stringbender) of the Byrds, who is 72. And Martin Chambers, drummer with the Pretenders (and on Mott The Hoople's reunion shows) is 65.
Led Zeppelin were inadvertently recording the legendary bootleg Live On Blueberry Hill at the LA Forum before jamming with Fairport Convention until the early hours as the Troubadour. In 1971 they played at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.

September 3rd

On this day - In 1966 Donovan hit the US #1 spot with Sunshine Superman, which famously features Jimmy Page on guitar...In 1970 Alan Wilson, guitarist and songwriter with legendary blues band Canned heat was found dead in the garden of vocalist Bob Hite. He was only 27. Alan wrote On The Road Again, perhaps their most famous (and widely released on many a compilation) tune...Also in 1977 recording engineer Keith Harwood died in a car crash after leaving Olympic Studios in Barnes after a session mixing the Rolling Stones Love You Live elpee. Keith famously engineered for both the Stones and Led Zeppelin in the mid-70's, including in late 1975 moving straight from Led Zeppelin's Presence to the Stones Black And Blue, recorded back to back in Munich. Keith was 37...Born on this day Blues Guitarist Freddie King in 1934. Sadly he passed 2 days after Christmas in 1976 aged just 42...Birthday greetings to Al Jardine (Beach Boys, 74), Eric Bell (original Thin Lizzy guitarist, 69) and Steve Jones (Sex Pistols, 61)  
In 1970 Led Zeppelin played at San Diego Sports Arena and also their 3rd appearance at Madison Square Gardens on this day in 1971. 

September 2nd

On this day - In 1964 The Rolling Stones recorded their version of Little Red Rooster at Regent Sound Studios, London...In 1977 Thin Lizzy released their Bad Reputation elpee, one of their very finest...Born on this day in 1925 Hugo Montenegro, composer, best known for The Good The Bad & The Ugly. He sadly passed on February 6th 1981...Also the late Billy Preston was born in 1946. Most famous for playing keyboards on Get Back, he passed on June 6th 2006...and Led Zeppelin played at Oakland Coliseum in 1970,2 days before their LA Forum show famously bootlegged as 'Live On Blueberry Hill'. And at Oakland was the first tie they performed the Fats Domino standard.

September 1st

On this day - In 1966 The Byrds began a run of 11 nights at the Whiskey A Go Go in LA...In 1976 Pink Floyd celebrated a year on the UK elpee charts for Wish You Were Here...in 1984 I was in Karlsruhe, near Frankfurt at the penultimate Monsters Of Rock show at the huge football stadium along with approx 120,000 others (allegedly) where Van Halen took the day on a bill that had AC/DC headline, with sets from Motley Crue, Accept and a few others including both Ozzy Osbourne and Dio sharing a bill both being post Black Sabbath and not the closest of friends...Birthday wishes to Bee Gee Barry Gibb (born 1946), The Jam's Bruce Foxton (1955) and Skunk Anansie Bassist Cass Lewis (1960) Remember seeing Cass with the late Gary Moore at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002...
In the world of Led Zeppelin, they performed at Seattle Center Coliseum in 1970 and Hollywood Sportatorium, Florida in 1971. In 1974 Jimmy Page Jammed with Bad Company in Austin, Texas, joining them on their encore of  Rock Me Baby at the Texas Jam Festival

August 31st

On this day - The Rolling Stones release 'Street Fighting Man' in 1968. it was only a top 50 hit in the US as its political stance and criticism meant most FM stations refused to play it...Three years later the band (plus Brian Jones father) sue Oldham for unpaid and withheld royalties. A common practice at a time when the industry was still tipped towards the businessmen and not the musicians...On the subject of royalties, George Harrison was found guilty of palgiarism in 1976 when a court found that My Sweet Lord was too similar to the Chiffon's He's So Fine, giving that song's writer Ronnie Mack songwriting royalties...In 1985 Dire Straits hit no.1 with Brothers In Arms where it would remain for 9 weeks...and in 1991 Metallica top the charts with the Spinal Tap style 'black' self-titled album...A happy birthday to Irish singer Van Morrison, 71 today...and Scorpions 2nd guitarist and erstwhile acrobat Rudolf Schenker is 68...On this day in 1969 Led Zeppelin stormed the Texas Pop Festival, wowed Milwaukee in 1970 and Orlando in 1971. Check out my in depth look ath those performances elsewhere on this blog!...And in 1984 I was in Winterthur, Switzerland for a 3 band bill at the Fussballstadion to see Van Halen, snadwiched in between openers Motley Crue and headliners AC/DC. More on that and indeed a week of festival mayhem later today...

August 30th

On this day - In 1969 one of those classic one hit wonders reached No.1 in Billboard. 'In The Year 2525' by Zager & Evans spent 3 weeks at the top of the charts...Two years ago, Kate Bush's residency comeback at Hammersmith Odeon and the subsequent media frenzy helped her become the first female artist to have 8 elpees in the charts at the same time, all in the UK top 40...John Phillips of The Mama's And The Papa's was born on this day in 1935. He passed aged 65 on March 18th 2001...Also John Peel (born John R P Ravenscroft) was born on this day in 1939. An iconic DJ, unafraid to play and say what he wanted and was on his mind, and a champion of all manner of new, exciting and interesting music. His sudden passing on October 25th 2004 (can it REALLY be that long ago?) shocked us all...

August 29th

On this day - Roy Orbison's classic (Oh) Pretty Woman was released in the US on this day in 1964...The Beatles play their last ever gig at Candlestick Park, San Francisco to 25,000 fans. The madness and inability to hear themselves onstage had finally proved too much. Although Revolver was their current elpee, their set included no tracks from it....Oasis released their hugely successful debut elpee Definetly Maybe on this day in 1994... Birthdays today include Chris Copping of Procul Harum, 71...Rick Downey, roadie and for a spell in the 1980's drummer for Blue Oyster Cult, 63...Michael Jackson was born on this day in 1958. Sadly the pressures, temptations and dependencies were too much for the legendary performer who passed on June 25th 2009

August 28th

On this day - in 1972 Alice Cooper sat at No.1 with 'Schools Out', a timeless anthem tagged into the burgeoning Glam Rock scene in the UK. Includes the brilliant line 'we can't even think of a word that rhymes'...Legendary session drummer Clem Clattini, who played on Telstar as a member of the Tornadoes aside from numerous session recordings is 77...David Soul, erstwhile pop pin up after reaching fame as Hutch in Starsky & Hutch is 73...Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwall ia 67...Actor/comedian and member of spoof Metal duo Tenacious D Jack Black is 47 today. Best known for me for School Of Rock and his ott and heartfelt speech at The Kennedy Awards that honoured Led Zeppelin

August 27th

On this day - two very sad deaths, in 1967 Beatles manager Brian Epstein passed of an overdose of sleeping pills. In 1990 Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was tragically killed in a Helicoper crash...Pearl Jam's debut 'Ten' was released 35 years ago in 1991. For my money the best of the Seattle scene, this brilliant elpee included a host of classics topped for me by 'Jeremy'...And it's a happy 63rd birthday to Alex Lifeson, guitarist of Rush. Seen him many many times. Top player...

August 26th

On this day - 1970, the 3rd (and for many years final) Isle Of Wight Festival draws to a close. Captured on film, elpee and many a bootleg, Joni Mitchell, The Doors, ELP and Jimi Hendrix were among the show stealing artists, but let's not forget Family, Taste, Jethro Tull, Cactus and of course Free...In 1973 10cc played their first gig at the Palace Lido on the Isle Of Man. A brilliant 4 piece, their first 4 elpees are a joy of musicality, songwriting and humour...Reading 1977 was underway (as all of the annual bank holiday festivals) with a stellar line-up including Aerosmith, SAHB, Thin Lizzy, Golden Earring, Hawkwind and John Miles...and only 2 years ago (can it be that long?) Kate Bush returned to live performance with the first of 22 SRO shows (it took reportedly 13 minutes for about 80,000 tickets to be sold!) at the old dame of London venues, Hammersmith Odeon (or whatever they choose to call it now...)...Brian John Duffy, aka Jet Black of the Stranglers is 78 today. A lovely, thoughtful man...Nik Turner of Hawkwind fame is 76, always remembered for me for assisting Thor onstage at the Marquee where he broke concrete blocks placed on Thor's chest with a Pneumatic Drill. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll....  

August 25th

On this day - In 1970 Elton John plays his debut live show in the US at the legendary Troubadour club, Los Angeles. He soon became a sensation, the 17-11-70 live elpee (originally a 60 minute radio broadcast) a wonderful souvenir of those halcyon days...Born on this day Kiss motomouth Gene Simmons (born Chain Witz) is 67 today...Heavy Metal legend Rob Halford, lead singer of Judas Priest is 65...Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello (born Declan McManus) is 62...and Vivian Campbell of Dio Whitesnake and Def Leppard fame is 54...And this very day was the first of two nights for Jimmy Page and Robert Plant recording their Unledded project at LWT studios. More on this elsewhere...

August 24th

On this day - Stevie Wonder had his first No.1 US album with 'Little Stevie Wonder' in 1963...in 1975 the recording process of Bohemian Rhapsody began down in Dave Edmund's Rockfield Studios. It took 3 weeks...Brummie rockers Judas Priest were cleared of any blame in the bizarre US suicide trial resulting from 2 stoned teenagers listening to their cover of Better By You, Better Than Me and 'hearing' the command 'do it, do it'. Only in America...Born on this day, Arthur 'big boy' Crudup, who wrote That's Alright Mama' was born in 1905. He passed in 1974...Uriah Heep's Ken Hensley is 71 today, Jean-Michel Jarre is 68...and the 1980 Reading Festival drew to a close. Check out my lookback ath that and much more as the day unfolds...

August 23rd

On this day - In 1962 John Lennon married Cynthia Powell. Sadly John left her for Yoko before the decade was out...Four years later Yellow Submarine was no.1 in the charts...and the same day The Beatles played Shea Stadium, New York to 44,000 of the 55,000 seats, unlike the record breaking sell out the year before...Keith Moon 'the loon' was born on this day. A brilliant, maverick, out there drummer, he sits alongside John Bonham as one of the true rock drumming greats. Their onstage jam at the LA Forum on June 23rd 1977, just a year before his untimely death, is the stuff of legend...

Also happy birthday to folk singer Linda Thompson (69), US soft rocker Rick Springfield (67) and Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice fame (57)

August 22nd

On this day - In 1969 The Beatles posed for their final photoshoot, at Tittenhurst Park, John Lennon's home. The Imagine video clip was shot there... 

Exactly a year earlier Ringo had walked out of Abbey Road amid the arguements and chaos leaving the remaining fab 3 to lay down Back In The USSR with Paul on the skins...CCR hit the top of the US elpee charts with Cosmo's Factory, which went on to stay there for 9 weeks...Led Zeppelin's In Through The Out Door was released on this day in 1979 in the US (August 20th in the UK). Please check out my in depth look elsewhere...Born on this day - John Lee Hooker, legendary bluesman, was born in 1920. He passed on June 21st 2001...Vernon Reid, Living colour axeman is 58 today, and songstress Tori Amos is 53....The late Layne Staley of Alice In Chains was born on this day in 1967, but sadly passed on April 19th 2002...

August 21st

On this day - In 1976 The Rolling Stones headlined the 3rd annual Knebworth Festival with guests 10cc, Hot Tuna, Utopia and the most remembered performance of the day from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their outstanding performance was filmed (as was the Stones) and the version of Freebird was an OGWT staple for many a year...Robert Moog passed this day in 2005 aged 71...birthday wishes to Kenny Rogers, 78 today...60's songstress Jackie DeShannon, former beau and musical collaborator with Jimmy Page, is 72...Glenn Hughes, vocalist and bassist with Trapeze, Deep Purple mks 3 & 4, Black Sabbath (very briefly), Gary Moore and a host of others is 65...On this day in 1970 Led Zeppelin played in Tulsa, Oklahoma and their 3rd appearance at the Inglewood Forum, LA in 1971. See my in depth features elsewhere...

August 20th

On this day - Back in 1965 Andrew Loog Oldham and Tony Calder launch Immediate Records, a label that would not only feature some great songs and artists (many of which are ridiculously expensive to find now!), but also new 'label producer' and session man supreme Jimmy Page...In 1986 the Donington Festival features Rick Allen's return to the stage. The Def Leppard drummer was making an emotional comeback after the horrific accident where he lost an arm...Two years later was the biggest Monsters Of Rock attendance wise - check out my thoughts coming up very soon...In 1990, two days after their MOR headline set Aerosmith play the Charing Cross Road Marquee with the not incosiderable help of a 30+ minute jam with Jimmy Page...Birthday wishes go to Dave Brock, 75 today, Isaac Hayes was born on this day in 1942 and sadly passed on August 10th 2008...Also born on this day were Philip Lynott in 1949 and Robert Plant the year before. I will be sharing my thoughts on these two legends on this blog later today...

August 19th

On this day - In 1967 The Beatles continue their chart dominance in the US as 'All You Need Is Love' becomes their 14th No.1 single...The Dick Cavett show on ABC leans towards the new West Coast folk rock popularity, with Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Jefferson Airplane all appearing hours after Woodstock came to an end...in 2005 a life size statue of Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynott was unveiled in Dublin, a fitting if very delayed tribute to the great man....and birthday wishes to Ginger Baker, irascible yet brilliant drummer who is 77 today...Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan is 71...Queen bassist John Deacon reaches 65. The one surviving member of Queen I have respect for, John walked away after Freddie's passing and the tribute concert with his head held high and integrity intact...and Joey Tempest of Europe is 53 today...Time for me to check out a box of classic 60's 45's and some Rory Gallagher footage...

August 18th

On this day - The Beatles played their first ahow with Ringo on drums at the Horticultural Society Dance in Birkenhead in 1962. Two years to the day they arrived in San Francisco to be met by  9,000 screaming fans!...In 1977 The Police played their first gig as a pared down 3 piece at Rebecca's, a club in Birmingham. One of the finest bunch of 'new wave' musicians, sadly for me the rampant ego that is Sting spoilt a lot of it...Talking of rampant ego's, Bon Jovi released their multi-platinum selling Slippery When Wet elpee on this day in 1988. How far US Rock had sunk in just 4 years since Van Halen's seminal 1984. Still, Guns 'n' Roses would be restoring the edge very soon...Move singer Carl Wayne was born on this day in 1944. Always a top band for me, legendary and very influencial. carl sadly passed on August 31st 2004...Actor and dazzling dancer Patrick Swayze was born in 1952. Best known for Dirty Dancing and later Roadhouse (with the late great Jeff Healey leading the house band), he too sadly passed on September 14th 2009...Happy birthday to Dennis Elliott, drummer with Foreigner 66 today, and Ron Strykert of Men At Work, 59...It's also 32 years since for my money the finest Monsters Of Rock Castle Donington festival, with AC/DC, Van Halen, Ozzy, Motley Crue and many more. I'll be expanding on that great day in a seperate article later today....Time to dig out some VH and in the mood for a bit of early Queen too (in fact II)...

August 17th

On this day - Elvis had his first no.1 with Mystery Train... In 1969 the Woodstock festival was drawing to a close. This was the 3rd day, and as we all know the event stretched out to another half a day with Jimi Hendrix closing the festival with an early morning set on the 18th...In 1974 Eric Clapton hit the US top spot with his 461 Ocean Boulevard elpee...and in 1999 the BPI proclaimed Led Zeppelin the most bootlegged artists of all time, having identified 384 Zep bootleg titles?! And the rest....birthday wishes to Sib Hashain, drummer with AOR legends Boston 67 today...Colin Moulding of XTC is 61...and Steve Gorman, Black Crowes drumer is 51...Led Zeppelin were in Wallingford, Conn in 1969 and Hampton Beach in 1970. More on those shows today here on my blog...

August 16th

On this day - The Beatles lay down an assortment of takes of While My Guitar Gently weeps in Abbey road in 1968. For me one of their finest ever songs, a perfect bridge between their pop sensibilities and the ongoing progressive rock movement building around and in part because of their genius....In 1975 Peter Gabriel announces his departure from Genesis. The end of their truly groundbreaking era of music in my opinion, they would change over the coming years with drummer and wannabe cockney/lovable rogue Phil Collins stepping up to the mikestand....The most monument and sad news emerged on this day in 1977. Elvis Presley has died. The original king of Rock 'n' Roll passed of heart failure at the awful incomprehensible age of 42. Late that night newspaper banners proclaimed 'The King Is Dead'. You didn't need to ask who they meant....That same night Ted Nugent played a SRO show at Hammersmith Odeon....In 1988 Kiss played the charing cross road version of the Marquee before their bloated Donington appearance....the late Kevin Ayers was born on this day in 1945. Golden Earring frontman Barry Hays is 68 today. And Madonna is 58....It's also 36 years since the first Monsters Of Rock festival at Castle Donington, something I'll be expanding greatly on later today....Also hope to get through more of the Robert Galbraith (ie J K Rowling) Career Of Evil book, that features a large amount of lyrics, references and even a character from the legendary Blue Oyster Cult. Great read so far, their lyrics and status certainly fit. More on this later...