Today In Music, June 15th

June 15, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Sunday 15th June):

Birth

1943. Johnny Hallyday born Jean-Phillipe Smets in Paris, France.

On The High Seas

1989. Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) has to be rescued from his boat in the English Channel after it runs out of fuel and drifts for two hours.

In Court

1995. Snoop Doggy Dogg appears at a pre-trial hearing in Los Angeles. His lawyers ask Judge Paul Flynn to dismiss the murder charges against the rapper after the prosecution admit that key items of evidence have been accidentally destroyed by a police officer. The judge tells the defence the trial will go ahead and the prosecution will have to explain to a jury why the evidence was destroyed. As yet no date has been set for the trial.

In Hospital Beds

1987. 30 hired hands move 800 rented National Health Service beds onto Saunton Sands in North Devon for Storm Thorgerson to shoot the cover of Pink Floyd’s next album, “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason”. He had tried in Los Angeles but hadn’t been able to get the type of beds he wanted.

On Television

1973. The Midnight Special, (NBC, U.S.A.) 21. Host: Jim Croce. Guests: Little Anthony and the Imperials; Savoy Brown; Barbara Fairchild; Shawn Phillips; Wishbone Ash; Bobby Womack. Here’s the wonderful Jim Croce with, “I Got A Name”.

Death

1968. Guitarist Wes Mongomery dies of a heart attack in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Babble

Well, I’ve missed the blogs for the last two days. I was up in Elgin on Friday morning and never had the time to get online. Blame a dodgy connection! How anyone manages with BT HomeHub amazes me. I was sitting looking at a dead Safari window for ages. Anyway, I’m ranting again. I left there at lunchtime to drive down to perth and then on to Peebles in the Scottish borders. It’s becoming a bit of a habit. I was down there last year for “An Audience With Bill Wyman” and this time I was heading there for Bob Dylan. Yes, Peebles! Sleepy border town and Bob Dylan. I kid you not.

The event was a private view for “The Drawn Blank Series” at one of only two galleries in Scotland taking part in the release of the limited edition collections of Dylan’s work. The art was originally created while Dylan was undertaking the “Never Ending Tour” of 1989 - 1992.

Breeze Gallery in Peebles pulled out all the stops with a champagne reception to launch the exhibition and it paid off for them. The atmosphere was easy and relaxed, with those attending chatting about the artwork on show and the life of Bob himself. Not long after the start, an array of red dots started to appear next to the framed and glazed pieces which added to the excitement. By the time I left, most of the items on the walls had been sold. There were also portfolio sets of images that seemed to be drawing a lot of interest but with the complete boxed collection selling for £ 33,900 I’d be surprised if that went on the preview night.

The gallery’s owner, Bob Corsie, pictured here, put on a great show and did his utmost to make everyone feel welcome and fully informed. Another great evening in Peebles and a triumph for the Gallery. Well done!


Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, June 11th

June 11, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday 11th June):

Birth

1940. Joey Dee (Joey Dee & The Starlighters) born Joseph DeNicola in Passaic, New Jersey.

On Tour

1964. Police break up a press conference being given by The Rolling Stones on a traffic island in the middle of Michigan Avenue, outside Chess Studios in Chicago. According to police, they and the many fans who’d gathered to see them were bringing traffic to a standstill. After a senior police officer threatened to jail everyone, the Stones, reporters and fans moved to the sidewalk outside the studio. The police involvement, the screaming fans and the presence of TV and radio ensured massive prime-time coverage of the event. It was an ideal boost in the middle of the U.S. tour and a prime example of Andrew Loog Oldham’s love of publicity stunts.

In Court

1992. Tom and Jennifer Crazy Bear DuBray of the Oglala Sioux tribe of native Americans file a $ 61 million lawsuit against The Cult. The couple claim that a photo of their son was used on the cover of the album “Ceremony” without their permission.

In Hospital

1995. Courtney Love is taken to hospital in Seattle having passed out after an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. She is released later in the day. A spokesman played down the seriousness stressing that the hospital is bound to keep patients in for 72 hours if they suspect a suicide attempt.

On Television

2004. Later… With Jools Holland (BBC-2, U.K.) 19.6. Toots & The Maytals; Jet; Charlie Musselwhite; Eric Bibb; Bebel Gilberto; Hope Of The States; Tom Baxter. Here’s Tom with “My Declaration”.

Death

1966. Radio stations in Holland, Germany and France incorrectly announce that Roger Daltrey is dead. The reports come about following confusion surrounding Pete Townshend’s car crash on the M1 motorway on May 30th.

 

Babble

Once again, the blog’s late up today. I’ve been busy with Rockmine’s Gallery page of rock film posters and taking advantage of the sun to get some photos of the posters. I’ve got 24 online but it may take a while longer to get all their individual pages working. Here’s the link if you want to check them out.

I’ve also got a page up for the Elton John Sotheby’s box sets. These are the lavish, stunning catalogues for Elton’s first major auction sale back in September 1988. 4 catalogues covering everything from stage clothes to furniture. All housed in a hard slip-case. Unfortunately, they weigh well over 2 kilos and signed-for postage to the U.S. would be nearly £ 50! That means they’re only available for sale in the U.K. Check them out here.

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, June 5th

June 5, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 5th June):

Birth

1947. Performance artist Laurie Anderson born in Chicago, Illinois.

On Stage

1983. DJ Kenny Everett, is acting as master of ceremonies for the Conservative Party Youth event at Wembley Conference Centre. Unfortunately, he gets carried away and tells his audience, “Let’s bomb Russia!” and “Let’s kick Michael Foot’s sticks away!” He also jokes that he’d had tea with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and said to her, “Maggie, you’re rolling that joint all wrong”. Everett isn’t asked back.

In Court

1978. A temporary High Court injunction is obtained in London, stopping David Gates and two former members of Bread from touring the U.K. as David Gates And Bread. The injunction follows a writ issued by James A. Griffin (another former member) and Bread Enterprises Inc., who own the registered trade mark on the band’s name. A hearing is set for June 7th.

In Church

1989. Bill Wyman and Mandy Smith have their wedding blessed at the Church Of St. John The Evangelist in London’s Hyde Park Crescent. In marked contrast to their wedding on June 2nd, 170 guests attend the ceremony which is followed by a reception for 400 at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

On Television

1971. Disco (ZDF, West Germany) 4. Bourbon Family - “Acapulco gold”; Joe Dolan - “Sometimes a man just has to cry”; Clodagh Rodgers - “Jack in the box”; Dave Dee - “Wedding bells”; T.Rex - “Hot love”; Samantha Jones - “Sweet Inspiration”; Bill + Buster - “Hold on to what you’ve got”; Thomas Hock - “; The Rolling Stones - “Brown sugar”; Ricky Shayne - “Ginny come to me”. Here’s a ten minute section of the show featuring Dave Dee, T. Rex, Samatha Jones and Bill + Buster.

Death

1968. Bob Dylan’s father, Abraham Zimmerman, dies from a heart attack. Dylan flies back to Hibbing the following day. The funeral is held on June 7th and Bob stays with his mother until June 11th, when he flies back to New York. Sara, his wife, is expecting a baby and Bob wants to be at the birth.

Babble

On Tuesday I visited Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris and Patti Smith’s exhibition entitled, “Land 250″. The first thing that strikes you about Fondation Cartier is the building itself, a glass box held together by a steel exoskeleton set in a garden in the middle of the city. Walking into the building you can’t help but be awed by the scale of the open exhibition space on the ground floor. It’s an open, bright space but that wasn’t where Patti’s show was hanging.

For that, you walk down into the basement. The large space seems smaller and more intimate with subdued lighting and sofas sitting on rugs in the middle of the room. Initially the senses are bombarded. Video projections flicker on the walls and even on suspended screens around the homely seating. There are some stunning huge photographs along with Patti’s drawings and polaroids around the walls. It’s an assault on the senses that pulls you in and seduces you. This is, quite simply, amazing.

Throughout the main room (described as “At Home”) are a number of display cases. One features an original visiting card of Arthur Rimbaud’s as well as a first edition of “A Season In Hell”. Sharing the space with these relics is another modern one, Patti’s t-shirt worn for many live performances over the last 30 years.

I was totally mesmerized by this room, the quality of the work, the intimacy of the videos and the personal items. There’s too much to take in. This is definitely an exhibition that would benefit from repeat visits. The only trouble seemed to be that it was too comfortable. I saw one visitor dozing on a sofa!

Along with the main exhibition space are two other rooms. One is the Rene Daumal Room. The walls are white, covered with the comments and scribblings of the fans who’ve attended since the exhibition opened on March 28th, a century and 12 days since Daumal’s birth. On May 21st, to commemorate the day of his death, the walls were covered with sheets of white gauze. As well as the constantly running video, are a number of drawings and photographs. In the room are a prison bed, an ethiopian blanket and a offering bowl of rice. I have to say, this room didn’t work as well for me as the others.

The third room is the Coral Sea Room. In the centre of this darkened space is a large black gazebo with black gauze walls. A video projection plays on one wall and also on a screen stretched arcoss a table in the middle of the room. A bench on either side allows people to sit and fully absorb the atmosphere. Patti says in her commentary that she likes to come and sit here and think of Robert Mapplethorpe. I can see why, it’s a quiet restful meditative space. The walls around this are lined with photographs by both Patti and Robert. One of Patti’s is a polaroid taken of the Last Supper which salutes religion and Warhol at the same time. Two other religious relics add to the atmosphere - a chalice carved from driftwood and the slippers worn by Pope Benedict XV who made Joan of Arc a saint.

I wanted to take a break and went outside to try and photograph the building and when I walked back inside was stunned to see that Patti herself was there. She was relaxed and charming, happily signing autographs for anyone who asked. While she was there she explained many of the items exhibited and even the Rene Daumal Room to those in it at the time. She was followed by a TV crew but stayed long after they left, disappearing into the offices above the gallery spaces.

The exhibition runs until June 22nd. If you’re in Paris, check it out. I was told that Patti was staying in an hotel just around the corner so you may be lucky and catch her on one of her visits.

I flew back yesterday afternoon and stopped at a shopping mall for dinner on my way home. It was full of screaming kids and more than a thousand people. Needless to say I had to see what was happening. It was a personal appearance by the scariest of the Spice Girls, Mel B, at the Debenham’s store. She wasn’t there to plug a new release but to launch a new range of Ultimo bras! Here she is with the bra’s designer, Michelle Mone. The birthday cake was for Mel, albeit a few days out!

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, May 29th

May 29, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 29th May):

Birth

1949. Francis Rossi (Status Quo) born Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi in Forest Hill, London.

On Tour

1990. NWA appear at Birmingham’s Hummingbird Club with a strict warning that they’ll be arrested if the show gets out of hand. They drop the use of starting pistols (which its felt will cause panic if they’re fired) and cut the song “Fuck The Police” from the set. The situation’s been stirred up by local councillor Alan Blumenthal who tried to have Public Enemy’s show at the venue earlier in the year cancelled.

In Court

1969. Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull (charged as Marianne Evelyn Dunbar) make a 20 second appearance at Marylebone Magistrate’s Court charged with possession of cannabis following their arrest yesterday. The couple are remanded on bail until June 23.

In Hospital

1965. Bob Dylan is discharged from St. Mary’s Hospital in London and returns to the city’s Savoy Hotel.

On Television

1968. The Mike Douglas Show (Syndicated, U.S.A.) 1183. Guests are The Beach Boys. Here they are with “Never Learn Not To Love”.

Death

1997. Jeff Buckley drowns in the Mississippi river while swimming with a friend off Mud Island in Memphis, Tennessee.

Babble

I’m back up in Elgin today. I still think the idea of a rock memorabilia exhibition in the Two Red Shoes Ballroom is a great one but it seems it’s not to be. I can’t get my head around why the owners of the venue (now called Red Shoes Theatre) are totally upbeat and positive when I come to see them and seem to forget about the exhibition totally when I’ve gone. Very much a case of “out of sight, out of mind”. I realise they’re busy and may have genuine hassles with their insurers but I only get contacted after pestering them. It would have been so much easier if they’d never said they were interested.

I know I’m moaning about this but here’s a place that played host to The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd and many more and I’m not getting to play in it. One of the ideas I’d had for the private view was a couple of old style microphones on the stage and a drum kit with The Beatles logo. A couple of tight spotlights, some genuine 1963 live tapes and it could have been the perfect atmosphere. Oh well, such is life. I’m just going to have to get my memorabilia on-line instead.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to ditch the Garage sale using eBay. I just hadn’t had time. It takes so long to get anything listed, it drives me mad. The day before I went off on holiday to Egypt I sold two things but didn’t get them out until after I got back. eBay clearly states that you should allow 14 days but although I was within that time the guy who bought both items gave me two neutral feedbacks. Then I had one guy in Australia who paid UK signed for postage. I mailed him to say that I’d have to send it standard air mail and he gave me a negative feedback. Three items out of seven or eight in the last few months and suddenly I have a 62% satisfaction rating! And to make matters worse they’ve stopped the chance of sellers leaving neutral or negative feedback for buyers.

I am worried that if I start selling on Rockmine it might be seen as a signal that I’m becoming overly commercial. The bottom line is that Rockmine is a commercial archive. the web site has always been advert free and will remain that way. The free access element is as much a way of promoting the business aspect of Rockmine as anything.

So, although there are changes coming, I don’t think it will change the ethos behind the site. It’s been here since 1995 and I want to see it growing and flourishing. To that end, as well as getting a sales section up in the coming weeks, I’ll be adding an “Ask Rockmine” section. Anyone with a question can post it and pay a nominal sum to have it answered - as long as it’s a private individual. If I can’t answer the question, I’ll post it here and on Rockmine and see it other users can answer the question. If I don’t, needless to say, there will be no charge. If the question relates to a commercial project then the charge will be higher.

Okay, enough rant for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with news of a number of page revamps and other updates.

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, May 26th

May 26, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 26th May):

Birth

1959. Wayne Hussey (The Mission) born Jerry Lovelock in Bristol, England.

On Tour

1997. U2 have a few hours to kill before their PopMart show at Washington’s RFK Stadium, so they pop in to see President Bill Clinton. For more than an hour the band and Bill talked about the Northern Ireland peace talks, Bosnia and the imprisoned American Indian activist, Leonard Peltier. Unfortunately the President couldn’t make it to the gig as he was heading to Europe for a NATO meeting but daughter Chelsea and some friends stood in for him. The gig itself wasn’t without problems. The massive video screen and some of the lighting rig were damaged by severe thunderstorms the night before. The screen will be staying in D.C. for three days of repairs. Coincidentally, the gig was number 13 on the tour.

In Court

2000. Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) is sent to the county jail for five days after appearing in Malibu Superior Court for violating parole by drinking alcohol. Judge Lawrence Mira, presiding, also extended his parole until May 26th 2003 and reinstated random drug and alcohol testing. Lee will also have to enrole in alcoholics anonymous. That said, it could have been far worse. The judge had the option of jailing him for up to three years.

In Hospital

1965. Bob Dylan is admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in London after spending several days confined to his bed at the city’s Savoy Hotel. He’s diagnosed as suffering from a viral infection that would respond more readily to treatment in hospital.

On Television

1965. Shindig (ABC, U.S.A.) - The Rolling Stones; Howlin’ Wolf; Sonny & Cher; Jackie DeShannon. Here are Brian Jones and Mick Jagger indtroducing Howlin’ Wolf and “How Many More Years”.

Death

1968. R&B artist Little Willie John (”Fever”, “Need Your Love So Bad”) dies in prison in Walla Walla, Washington. In 1966 he stabbed a railroad worker and was found guilty of manslaughter.

 

Babble

Before the weekend I’d been working on revamping the archive part of Rockmine. My intention had been to keep the free public archive material but get an up-to-date listing of what’s actually in the archive on-line. Needless to say, things are never as easy as they might seem. A list of the music papers in the archive seemed to be a manageable task and would take less than a day. How wrong could I be!

My OCD compulsion for listing everything meant I knew I had an inventory of papers but it was at least 6 months old and you wouldn’t believe how many piles of wood-pulp can accumulate in that time. Then, of course, came the realisation that there were dozens of titles not on the list. Despite that, I’ve decided to put the list up. Here’s the link for it.

At the same time, I’m slowly trying to roll out CSS over the site. On a lot of pages the HTML is fine and totally standard compliant but I’m not sure changing some layouts to CSS would be seen the same by all browsers. It’s a long project but I will get it done!   

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, May 24th

May 24, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Saturday 24th May):

Birth

1941. Bob Dylan born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota.

On Stage

1957. John Lennon and his band, The Quarrymen, play their first live date on the back of a lorry at a street party in Liverpool’s Rose Street as part of Empire Day celebrations.

In Court

2000. Roberta Catherine Rasp (47) appears in Santa Monica Superior Court facing charges of stalking, making terrorist threats and extortion. The charges follow a criminal complaint filed by Jackson Brown who alleges that because of her stalking and harassment he fears for his safety and that of his family. Rasp pleaded innocent but as she was unable to raise $ 150,000 bail was remanded to jail. As the charges relate to felony offences, Rasp could face between 16 months and 3 years in prison on each of the five counts.

In Hospital

2002. Bono and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill visit the prenatal HIV clinic at Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital in South Africa. The two men are in the country on a fact-finding tour but hope the publicity they’re attracting will bring worldwide attention to the problem of AIDS in Africa.

On Television

2005. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, U.S.A.) 89. Guests include: Alice Cooper.

Death

1974. Duke Ellington (born Edward Kennedy Ellington) dies of cancer in New York.

 

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, May 14th

May 14, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday 14th May):

Birth

1943. Jack Bruce (Cream) born John Simon Asher Bruce in Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire.

At The White House

1984. Michael Jackson receives a presidential award from Ronald Reagan at The White House honouring his success and his contribution to an anti-drink driving campaign.

In Court

1998. George Michael appears, under his real name of Georgious Kyriacos Panayiotou, in Beverly Hills Municipal Court to plead no contest on a charge of misdemeanour lewd conduct. He is sentenced to 80 hours of community service, five hours sexual counseling and a fine of $ 810. He is also banned from Beverly Hills’ Will Rogers Memorial Park where he was arrested for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public toilet.

In Hospital

1991. Gary Glitter breaks his leg jumping from a three foot high platform during his performance in “A Slice Of Saturday Night” in Nottingham. He’s back onstage the following night in Hull with his leg in plaster.

On Television

1996. Later… With Jools Holland (BBC-2, U.K.) 7.2. Manic Street Preachers - “Everything Must Go”, “Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky”, “Design For Life”; Hootie and The Blowfish - “Sad Caper”, “Earth Stopped Cold at Dawn”; Salif Keita - “Africa”, “Folon”; Maxwell - “Something, Something”; Pete Townshend - “Let My Love Open The Door”, “English Boy”, “Magic Bus”; Ben Folds Five - “Philosophy”. Here are the Manics with ”Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky”.

Death

1998. Frank Sinatra suffers a heart attack at his Beverly Hills home atapprox. 9 p.m. The 82 year old star is rushed to the Cedars Sinai Medical Center by a family employee but is declared dead in the emergency room at 10.50 p.m. Here’s the death certificate.

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, May 12th

May 12, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 12th May):

Birth

1945. Ian McLagan (The Small Faces) born in London, England.

On Tour

1974. Brian May (Queen) collapses in New York during the band’s tour as support to Mott The Hoople. At first it is assumed to be exhaustion and he is ordered to rest before the next gig in Boston. By the time he gets to Boston, he is so ill a doctor is called and he is found to be suffering from hepatitis. The tour is cancelled and Brian is flown home.

In Custody

1995. Shed Seven are cautioned by police after throwing Alan Leach’s drums out of their van onto the motorway en-route for tonight’s gig at The Garage in Glasgow. His snare drum is never recovered.

In Hospital

2000. Rod Stewart undergoes thyroid surgery in Los Angeles. The operation removed a nodule from the singer’s thyroid gland that had been spotted during a routine CAT scan. Thankfully, the nodule was benign.

On Television

1963. Bob Dylan rehearses four songs for tonight’s live broadcast of “The Ed Sullivan Show”. When the show’s Program Practices Editor, Stowe Phelps, asks him to drop “Talking John Birch Society Blues” from his set, he refuses and leaves. He’s dropped from the show but the programme’s censorship of the song does much to cement Dylan’s position in the protest movement. It’s long been said that some of the show’s production staff were members of the John Birch Society but this has never been confirmed. Izzy Young of the Folklore Centre publishes a xeroxed broadsheet listing all the words to the song which he distributes freely to protest against the programme’s actions.

Here’s something that did get broadcast:

1983. Rockpalast (WDR, West Germany) Tears For Fears (Sartory-Säle Köln). Here they are with their original version of “Mad World”.

Death

2003. Kim Turner dies of cancer. He started as drummer with Cat Iron, a Miles Copeland managed band, before working with Andy Fraser (ex-Free).In the late seventies he again worked with Miles Copeland, this time as a road manager and sound engineer for The Police. In the late eighties he worked as executive producer for Wishbone Ash, with whom his brother Martin played.

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, May 10th

May 10, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Saturday 10th May):

Birth

1952. Sly Dunbar (Sly And Robbie) born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Kingston, Jamaica.

On Tour

2000. Dozens of fans are injured when a crowd surges forward as Michael Jackson steps from his limo outside the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Barriers erected to hold back the crowds gave way as police and dozens of Wacko’s minders tried to fight them back. Jackson is in town for the World Music Awards tonight, where he’ll receive an award for Artist Of the Millenium.

Although Jacko’s stay was meant to be secret and both his management and the hotel have strongly denied his presence, fans have been literally camped outside for the last two days. Police have been called to clear them but with no success.

In Court

1978. Paul Simenon (22) and Nicky “Topper” Headon (22) (both of The Clash) appear at Clerkenwell Court in London, charged with wounding three racing pigeons over a north London recording studio. They were appearing with three other men, musicians Steve Barnacle (21) and Peter Barnacle (17) (both later with Killing Joke) and journalist Robin Crocker (24). All five are remanded on bail until June 5th to allow for tests on an air rifle.

In Church

1982. A memorial service is held for Neil Bogart (founder of Buddah Records) at the Hillside Memorial Chapel in Los Angeles. Bob Dylan is among the mourners.

On Television

1974. The Mike Douglas Show (Syndicated, U.S.A.) 2700. Guests include Sly Stone.

Death

1998. Electronic music pioneer and theramin virtuoso, Clara Rockmore dies at her home in New York City. The 87 year old had never recovered from a recent stroke.

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.


Today In Music, April 14th

April 14, 2008

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 14th April):

Birth

1949. Sonja Kristina (Curved Air) born in Brentwood, Essex.

On Video

1980. Gary Numan releases the first commercial pop video in the UK.

In Court

1998. Mark E. Smith (The Fall) appears in a New York court to answer misdeameanour assault and harassment charges relating to his arrest in a Manhattan hotel on April 8th. The judge ordered Smith to submit monthly reports to the court and placed his girlfriend Julia Nagle (the subject of Smith’s alleged assault) under a limited protection order. This will allow Nagle to continue playing with The Fall but will not allow Smith any other contact with her. Smith was ordered to appear in court again on September 30th and released on $ 1000 bail.

In Hospital

1976. Bay City Roller, Eric Faulkner nearly becomes the Kurt Cobain of teeny-pop after taking an overdose at his manager’s house.

On Television

 

2004. Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, U.S.A.) Show #2153. Musical guest: Damien Rice - “I Remember”.

Death

1983. Ex-Pretenders bassist Pete Farndon is found dead in his bath following a drug overdose. Although he had been fired from the Pretenders in 1982 as a result of his drug abuse, Farndon was in the process of setting up a new band with ex-Clash drummer Topper Headon and erstwhile Bob Dylan acolyte, Rob Stoner.

Music Paper From Today

Record Mirror from 14th April 1973. A copy taken from Rockmine’s almost complete run of U.K. music papers from the last 45 years. 

 

Go to Rockmine’s main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.