From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thurssday 12th June):
Birth
1943. Reg Presley (The Troggs) born Reginald Ball in Andover, Hampshire.
In Court
1998. Three Appeal Court judges dismiss Kirk Brandon’s appeal to overturn the judgement of Justice Douglas Brown on 29th April 1997. Brandon had originally brought an action of malicious falsehood against Boy George, publishers Sidgwick And Jackson Limited, Virigin Records Limited and EMI Music Limited. The suit related to a claim in Boy George’s autobiography that he had a homosexual affair with Brandon, a charge which the latter has always denied.
In Hospital
2001. Eric Clapton’s girlfriend, Melia McEnery gives birth to the couple’s first child, at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The baby, Julie Rose, weighed in at 7lb 1oz. The 57 year-old father was on hand throughout the delivery.
In Parliament
2002. The first ever debate on the U.K. music industry is held in the House Of Commons. It was brought to The House by Pete Wishart M.P. (North Tayside), who was keyboard player with Runrig from 1986 - 2001. Dr. Kim Howells, Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting spoke during the 90 minutes alloocated to the debate and revealed that despite the problems of piracy and falling numbers of live concerts, the U.K. music industry had grown by 5.3% last year, in face of a global showdown.
On Television
2003. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Musical guests - Sugar Ray.
Death
1957. Jazz-band leader Jimmy Dorsey dies of cancer in New York.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 15th May):
Birth
1948. Brian Eno born Brian Peter George St. John Le Baptiste De La Salle Eno in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
On Tour
1995. The Cranberries free concert in the grounds of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. is stopped by police after only one song. 10,000 fans turn up, 8,000 more than anyone has made allowances for.
In Court
1997. A judge in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles awards MCA Records summary judgement in their nine-month battle with toy giant Mattel over Danish pop group Aqua’s hit single, “Barbie Girl”. Mattel had sought an unspecified amount of damages and the withdrawal of all copies of the song on CD or video claiming that the song associated “sexual and unsavoury themes” with the doll.
In Awards
2000. Bob Dylan and violinist Isaac Stern share this year’s Polar Music Prize awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy Of Music. Both men are in Stockholm today to receive their award from King Carl Gustav. Dylan’s commendation said that he had “demonstrated an impressive ability to question the most determined political forces, to fight all forms of prejudice and to offer unflinching support for the less fortunate.”
On Television
1974. Musikladen (ZDF, West Germany) 14. Mungo Jerry - “All Right, All Right, All Right”; David Cassidy - “Rock Me Baby”; Kenny Ball and The Jazzmen - “Entertainer”; Lesley Duncan - “My Soul”; Mungo Jerry - “Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black”; Lionel Hampton - “Won’t You Come Along With Me”; Schubert & Black - “Ich Und Die Kranke Umwelt”; Wilma Reading - “There Is Something About You”; Hudson Ford - “Crying Blues”; Donovan - “Catch The Wind” (clip from 1965); Kenny Ball and The Jazzmen - “Shine”. Here’s Hudson Ford.
Death
1985. Eric Clapton’s father, Edward Fryer dies near Toronto in Canada. The two men had never met (Clapton’s mother never married and he was brought up by his grandparents) but by chance Clapton was playing Toronto on this day.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Sunday 4th May):
Birth
1949. Zal Cleminson (Sensational Alex Harvey Band) born in Glasgow, Scotland.
On Tour
1974. Taking an after show breather after a gig in Farnborough, Hampshire, The Troggs are attacked by a group of Hell’s Angels who break into their dressing room armed with a knife and broken bottles. Guitarist Richard Moore is stabbed several times in the back, piercing a lung. He is later rushed to hospital in a serious condition. Ronnie Bond (who’s celebrating his 31st birthday today) is slightly luckier as he’s stabbed only once, in the neck. Reg Presley sustains a broken nose and Tony Murray has his right hand badly gashed by a broken bottle.
In Court
1993. Gerald Jackman, a 23 year old Canadian musician, is charged with extortion following threats by phone and letter that he would kill the members of Pink Floyd unless he received $ 2.2 million from the band’s manager Steve O’Rourke. A spokesman for the Metropilitan Police in London said the band discounted the threat at first until Jackman obtained their unlisted private telephone numbers. Then the matter was handed over to the police.
In The Studio
1964. Eric Clapton gets his first job as a session guitarist at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London. He records two tracks for Otis Spann (”Pretty Girls Everywhere” and “Stirs Me Up”) playing lead guitar with Muddy Waters playing rhythm.
On Television
1984. Rockpalast (WDR, West Germany) The Smiths (Markthalle Hamburg). Here they are with “Hand In Glove” and “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”.
Death
1992. Dudu Zulu (real name Dudu Mntowaziwayo Ndlovu), percussionist and vocalist for Johnny Clegg & Savuka dies from a gunshot wound in Zululand, South Africa, aged 33.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Tuesday 29th April):
Birth
1953. Bill Drummond (The KLF) born William Butterworth in South Africa.
On Tour
1970. “Twiggs” Lyndon, road manager for the Allman Brothers Band stabs club owner Angelo Aliotta three times with a ten-inch fishing knife after he refuses to pay the band for two shows they played the previous night. Aliotta dies about an hour later. Twiggs refuses to run from the cops and is arrested and charged with first-degree murder. When he eventually comes to trial, after spending 18 months in jail, he’s found not-guilty having proved that working for the band had driven him to temporary insanity!
In Government
1997. Speaker Of The House, Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader, Trent Lott honour Tori Amos’s Rape Abuse and Incest National Network at a ceremony in Washington. The singer launched RAINN in 1994 with her own money and contributions from Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group. Rep. Susan Molinari (Republican, New York) announces that May 16th will be RAINN Day as a tribute to the 142,000+ victims the service has helped in three years.
In Hospital
1992. Country singer Doug Stone undergoes quadruple bypass surgery in Nashville, Tennessee only three days after complaining of chest pains at a concert in Oregon.
On Television
2000. Later… With Jools Holland (BBC-2, U.K.) 15.3. Bobby Whitlock - “Bell Bottomed Blues (with Jools And Eric Clapton)”, “Wing And A Prayer (with Jools And Eric Clapton)”, “Later Jam (with Jools And Eric Clapton)”; Doves - “Catch The Sun”, “The Cedar Room”; Ute Lemper - “The Part You Throw Away”; Embrace - “You’re Not Alone”, “Hooligan”, “Save Me”; Lynden David Hall - “Sleeping With Victor”, “Let’s Do It Again (with Hinda Hicks)”. Here’s “Bell Bottomed Blues”.
Death
1993. Guitarist and producer, Mick Ronson dies in London after a two year battle against liver cancer.
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