2022 – Dallas Frazier
American country musician and songwriter Dallas Frazier died aged 82. Frazier’s 1957 song ‘Alley Oop’, taken to No. 1 in the US by The Hollywood Argyles, became his first hit, (The lyric from ‘Alley Oop’ “look at that caveman go” is referenced in David Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars’). He wrote ‘There Goes My Everything’, a big hit for Jack Greene in 1966 that earned him a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. His tunes were recorded by George Jones (who recorded an entire album of Frazier’s songs in 1968), Diana Ross, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Elvis Presley.
2014 – Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber was questioned by police over the egging of his neighbour’s house in Calabasas, California. Bieber spoke to police in relation to the incident, which saw him accused of throwing eggs at his neighbour’s house while his neighbour and neighbour’s daughter were on the balcony filming him. Billboard reports that a dozen vehicles arrived on Bieber’s property with a search warrant, looking for evidence that Bieber was involved in the incident. Det. Dave Thompson commented: “We collected evidence related to that crime. Mr. Bieber was present and cooperative. He was not arrested.”
2012 – Robbie France
English drummer, producer, journalist, music educator, and broadcaster Robbie France died aged 52. Born in Sheffield, England, France moved to Australia where he formed the jazz-fusion group, Carnival. He also worked with Stevie Wright of the Easybeats, Marty Rhone, Tim Gaze, and other major Australian artists as well as Skunk Anansie and Diamond Head in the UK. He amassed over 1,000 television, radio, and advertising credits, including eight documentaries and four film scores, including Band on the Run, one of the most successful surfing films ever made.
2010 – U2
The BBC admitted coverage of the launch of U2’s album No Line On The Horizon in 2009 went too far – giving “undue prominence” to the band. RadioCentre, the trade body for commercial radio companies, had made a formal complaint over the coverage saying the BBC had given U2 “the sort of publicity money can’t buy”.
2010 – Jimmy Page
Guitarist Jimmy Page was honoured with the United Nations’ first ever Pathways To Peace Award. Pathways To Peace is an international peace building, educational and consulting organization which has consultative status with the United Nations.
2007 – Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Back To Black’. The album has sold over 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK’s second best-selling album of the 21st century. Worldwide, the album has sold over 20 million copies.
2005 – Johnny Ramone
A $100,000 (£58,823) statue honouring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55. Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including Tommy Ramone the only surviving band member. Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.
2003 – Van Morrison
Linda Gail Lewis the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, dropped a claim of sex discrimination against Van Morrison. Lewis had claimed that Morrison had ‘publicly humiliated’ her on stage and had tried to ruin her life by asking her for sex. She withdrew her claim after discussions with her lawyer. Morrison denied all the allegations.
2001 – Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez scored her first UK No.1 single with ‘Love Don’t Cost A Thing.’ The track was taken from her album J.Lo.
1996 – Oasis
Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’, the group’s second UK No.1 spent a total of 145 week’s on the chart.
1992 – Jerry Nolan
American rock drummer, Jerry Nolan from The New York Dolls died from a fatal stroke aged 45. The influential American band formed in 1972 and made just two albums, the 1973 New York Dolls and 1974 Too Much Too Soon. Nolan joined the New York Dolls in the autumn of 1972 to replace Billy Murcia, who had died of asphyxiation as a result of a failed attempt to revive him from a drug overdose while on tour in England, early in the band’s career. Nolan left the Dolls together with Johnny Thunders in the spring of 1975. The two then placed a call to bassist Richard Hell, formerly of the Neon Boys and Television, to form The Heartbreakers.
1984 – Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Pipes Of Peace.’ With this release McCartney made chart history by becoming the first artist to have a No.1 in a group, (The Beatles), in a duo, (with Stevie Wonder) in a trio, (with Wings) and as a solo artist.
1978 – Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols played their last show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco where Johnny Rotten yelled to the crowd at the outset, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated.” It was the last time the band played with bassist Sid Vicious.
1977 – David Bowie
David Bowie released his eleventh studio album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno termed the “Berlin Trilogy”. The track ‘Sound and Vision’ was released as a single and used by the BBC in the UK on trailers at the time, providing much needed exposure, as Bowie opted to do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song reach No.3 on the UK charts.
1970 – Diana Ross
Diana Ross made her last appearance with The Supremes at The Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas. During the show, Diana introduced her replacement, Jean Terrell, who would lead the group to seven more Top 40 hits, including the Top 10 entries ‘Up The Ladder To The Roof’ and ‘Stoned Love’ later in the year.
1967 – The Human Be-In
Over 25,000 people attend The Human Be-In-A Gathering Of The Tribes at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The event was a forerunner of major, outdoor rock concerts and featured Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother And The Holding Company.
1966 – David Bowie
David Jones changed his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones from The Monkees, just in time for the release of his single, ‘Can’t Help Thinking About Me’. He would later say that he chose “Bowie” because he liked that “big American bear-killin’ knife.”
1964 – The Beatles
The Beatles (minus Ringo Starr who was fog-bound in Liverpool) departed from Liverpool for Paris, France for an 18-day run at the Olympia Theatre. Arriving in Paris, John, Paul, and George were met by 60 fans. Ringo, accompanied by roadie Neil Aspinall, arrived the next day.
1963 – Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts made his live debut with The Rolling Stones at The Flamingo Jazz Club, Soho, London. Before joining the Stones, Watts played regularly with Blues Incorporated.
1961 – Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley’s ‘GI Blues’ started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK chart. Also on this day Elvis was promoted to Acting-Sergeant in the US Army, receiving a pay increase of $22.94 per month.
