2020 – Neil Peart
Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for Canadian rock band Rush, died from brain cancer aged 67. Placed at No.4 in Rolling Stone’s list of all-time greatest drummers, Peart was well-known for his technical proficiency and animated live performances.
2016 – Troy Shondell
American singer Troy Shondell died from complications of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease aged 76. He became a transatlantic one-hit wonder, with his 1961 ‘This Time’, which topped the charts in both US and the UK, selling over one million records. He also recorded under the name of Gary Shelton.
2010 – Michael Jackson
According to Nielsen SoundScan’s final 2009 figures, Michael Jackson was the best selling artist of the year, moving 8,286,000 units. Forty years after their break-up, The Beatles were still the best selling group, thanks to their remastered catalog which sold 3,282,000 copies. Digital downloads however, were a different story. Lady Gaga was the queen of the downloads, selling 15,297,000 digital tracks. The Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift all finished in the vicinity of 12 million digital units.
2006 – Pink
Pink married her motocross racer boyfriend Carey Hart on a beach in Costa Rica. More than 100 people attended the singer’s big day, including Lisa-Marie Presley. Pink proposed to him during one of his races in Mammoth Lakes, California, by holding up a sign that read “Will you marry me?” Hart pulled out of the race to say yes.
2004 – John Guerin
Drummer John Guerin died of pneumonia aged 64. Worked with Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Linda Rondstadt, Gram Parsons, Todd Rundgren. He also played on the original title tune for the television series Hawaii Five-O.
2003 – The Beatles
The Beatles Book Monthly closed down after 40 years. Author Sean O’Mahony who set up the magazine in 1963 said there was nothing more to say as the number of things the former Beatles were doing gets less and less as the years go on.
2001 – James Carr
American rhythm and blues and soul singer James Carr died aged 58. After being turned down by Stax, he made his first recordings for Goldwax Records in 1964. He released several singles for the label before achieving his first success in 1966, when ‘You’ve Got My Mind Messed Up’ reached No.7 on the Billboard R&B chart.
1998 – Owen Bradley
American record producer Owen Bradley died aged 82. Along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, he was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly. Bradley produced artists such as Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Lenny Dee, and Conway Twitty.
1994 – Oasis
Oasis started recording their debut album Definitely Maybe at Monnow Valley Studio in South Wales. When released in August 1994, it became the fastest selling debut album of all time in the UK, (being surpassed in 2006 by Arctic Monkeys debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not). The album went on to sell over 12 million copies worldwide.
1981 – The Police
The Police played the first night of a North American tour at The University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada during their Zenyatta Mondatta World Tour.
1980 – Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd released ‘Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)’ in the US. The single peaked at No.1 on both the US and UK charts, giving Pink Floyd their first and only No.1 hit single. The single went to No.1 in many other countries, including Australia, Germany and Italy.
1980 – Hugh Cornwell
Hugh Cornwall of The Stranglers was found guilty of possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis. He was fined £300 ($510) and sentenced to three months in Pentonville prison.
1974 – Aerosmith
Aerosmith played at the Michigan Theatre in Detroit, the first date on their 56 date North American Get Your Wings Tour.
1972 – David Bowie
David Bowie released ‘Changes’ as a single in the UK. The track peaked at No.49 on the UK chart and later at No.41 on the US chart. This was the last song Bowie performed live on stage before his retirement from live performances at the end of 2006 when he joined Alicia Keys at the Black Ball fundraiser at New York’s Hammersmith Ballroom.
1971 – Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath released ‘Paranoid’ their second studio album in the US. The album features the band’s best-known signature songs, including the title track, ‘Iron Man’ and ‘War Pigs’. The album was originally titled War Pigs, but allegedly the record company changed it to Paranoid, fearing backlash from supporters of the ongoing Vietnam War.
1970 – Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin kicked off an 8-date UK tour at Birmingham Town Hall. The set list included: I Can’t Quit You Baby, Dazed And Confused, Heartbreaker, Since I’ve Been Loving You, Thank You, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Whole Lotta Love and Communication Breakdown.
1964 – The Beatles
The Beatles recorded a seven-song appearance for the BBC Radio program Saturday Club. They played ‘All My Loving’, ‘Money’, ‘The Hippy Hippy Shake’, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Johnny B. Goode’, and ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’. The show was broadcast on February 15, while the Beatles were in the US.
1964 – Cyril Davies
English blues musician Cyril Davies died of leukaemia aged 32. Davies was a driving force in the early Sixties blues movement forming Blues Incorporated with Alexis Korner. Davies and Korner opened a London Rhythm and Blues club “England’s Firstest and Bestest Skiffle Club”, later known as the “London Blues and Barrelhouse Club”. Popular with other musicians, the club hosted gigs by blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Memphis Slim.
1955 – Bill Haley
‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley and his Comets, entered the UK chart for the first time. The original full title of the song was ‘We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight!’ and is often cited as the biggest-selling vinyl rock and roll single of all time with sales over 25m.
