From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 7th August):
Birth
1949. Tim Renwick (Quiver, Mike & The Mechanics) born in Cambridge, England.
On Tour
1984. Death threats have been received by The Knoxville News Sentinel against Michael Jackson who is performing the first of two shows in the city tonight. The threats are taken seriously enough that the F.B.I. are called in. The F.B.I. think the threats are unfounded but organisers step up security all the same. Both tonight’s concert and another on the 9th pass off without incident.
In Court
1998. Bernard Ortiz, a homeless man who has been stalking Linda Ronstadt for three years, is sentenced to ten months in jail. It was his second time in court over the singer. He had previously been given three years probation and ordered not to contact Ronstadt or her family. He violated the probation after only three months, sending his “victim” a watch, candles and a letter on her birthday.
In Hospital
1997. Richard Marsh (Bentley Rhythm Ace) breaks his back during a parachute jump at Langar Airfield, Nottinghamshire. The jump was being filmed for the video of the band’s next single, “Bentley’s Gonna Sort You Out” but Marsh was caught by a gust of wind during landing and thrown heavily onto his back. He was taken to Nottingham General Hospital where doctors said he would make a full recovery but need three months rest.
On Television
1957. American Bandstand (ABC, U.S.A.) 3. Paul Anka; The Tassels. This was Paul Anka’s first network TV appearance in the U.S.A. Aged only 16, he performed his soon to be massive international number 1 hit, “Diana”. While I can’t guarantee this is the correct clip, it is the correct period and I’m a bit short of time today. 2m 13s.
Death
1978. Les Perrin, publicist for The Rolling Stones and others, dies.
Babble
There’s not a huge amount to report since yesterday. I spent another three hours in the Heritage Centre in Elgin digging through microfiche copies of the Northern Scot newspaper. So far I’ve compiled a list from 1966 to 1970 of the bands that played the Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn.
Here’s a sample from July - December 1967:
July07 - Cream plus Newton’s Theory with its Go-Go Girls. The gig was cancelled when the van carrying the band’s equipment failed to turn up.
July10 - Cream return to play their concert.
July21 - Pink Floyd
July28 - Gino Washington and The Ram Jam Band plus The Copy Cats
August18 - The Small Faces - concert cancelled.
August31 - Zoot Money and his new group Dantalion’s Chariot plus The T-Set
September08 - The Freddie Mack Show
September15 - The Throb plus The Life N’ Soul
September22 - Tony Merrick plus The T-Set
October06 - The Who plus Gideon’s Few
October 13 - The Beatstalkers plus The Rebel Sound
October20 - The Four Shades Of Blue plus The T-Set
October27 - The Tamala Express plus The Beatroute
November03 - The Rhubarb plus The Barons
November10 -Clock-work Orange plus Last Chapter
November17 - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
December01 - The Delroy Williams Show plus Keith Taylor
December08 - The Troggs plus The Throb
December15 - Symon Dupree
December22 - Cash Boutique Queen For 1967. Grand Final
December25 - Aberdeen Students’ Charities’ Campaign present Their Xmas Beatnik Ball with The Circle plus The T-Set
December29 - The 1967 Last Fling with The Middle Earth plus The T-Set
I have to say it’s been a bit disappointing. While I wasn’t expecting a weekly or monthly catalogue of household names, they’ve so far been few and far between apart from the period above. That said, it paints an incredible picture of the constant touring of small to medium sized bands. The names that have stood out are the likes of Writing On The Wall, My Dear Watson, Spiggy Topes and Archemedes Principle. Now what i’m trying to do is find photos and adverts for some of them.
I went back to the Ballerina and found that John Byrne had more or less completed the area that will serve as exhibition space and festival cafe. I’ll get up some images either later today or tomorrow.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Saturday 2nd August):
Birth
1941. Doris Coley Kenner (The Shirelles) born in Passaic, New Jersey.
In Politics
1963. Lord Sutch (real name David Edward Sutch) is officially nominated as a candidate for the Stratford-Upon-Avon bi-election on August 15th. The nomination wasn’t without problems. When he first arrived he had only £ 125 of the required £ 150 deposit. On his return it was discovered his proposer, a local taxi driver, wasn’t on the electoral roll. After his successful third trip with the correct money and a valid proposer, Sutch took sherry with the Town Clerk.
In Custody
1976. Keith Richards arrives at Newport Pagnell police station to be charged with possession of cannabis and cocaine. The charges date back to May when Keith drove his Bentley off the M1 motorway into a field. After the crash he was searched at Newport Pagnell police station where the drugs were found. At the time he asked for 10 weeks police bail so he could complete The Rolling Stones‘ tours of Europe and America. He is once again bailed and will appear in court next month.
In Court
1988. Nick Cave appears at Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court in London charged with possession of heroin. Cave pleads guilty to possessing 884 milligrammes of the drug. Although it is his second offence he is given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £ 15 court costs. The condition of his discharge is that Cave enters a rehabilitation clinic in two days time.
On Television
1969. Beat Club (WDR, West Germany) 45: Dave Clark Five, Steppenwolf, Marmalade, Rainbow People, Robin Gibb, Zager & Evans, Clodagh Rodgers, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Thunderclap Newman, Plastic Ono Band, Paul Revere & the Raiders. Here’s Thunderclap Newman with, “Something In The Air”.
Death
1976. Ex-Pink Floyd road manager, Peter “Puddy” Watts, dies of a heroin overdose in a house owned by the band in Notting Hill, London. He is one of the voices that can be heard on “Dark Side Of The Moon”. Although he was living in a house belonging to the group, he hadn’t worked for them for over a year following an argument.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 31st July):
Birth
1958. William Thomas Berry (R.E.M.) born in Duluth, Minnesota.
On Tour
1972. Dundee’s Lord Provost, W.K. Fitzgerald, announces that Hawkwind are banned from performing in the city’s Caird Hall after a nude dancer (Stacia) appeared on stage for the climax of their show on July 26th. Fitzgerald said that there was “A standing order to the person in charge that if anything like this does happen, the lights will be put out immediately, the police will be called and a charge will be brought against the person responsible”. Unfortunately, the usual person was not present when the incident took place and the instruction was not carried out”. 1,100 people attended the gig.
In Custody
1990. Axl Roses files a complaint against the Los Angeles Sheriff’s department after 13 deputies arrive at his Hollywood home with batons drawn.
In Court
1967. The convictions against Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are overturned by three judges sitting at the Appeal Court in London. Richards, who was convicted of allowing his house to be used for the smoking of cannabis, had his 12 month sentence set aside. Jagger, who was sentenced to three months for possessing “pep” pills, was given a conditional discharge. Providing he isn’t involved in any trouble in the next 12 months, this will not be recorded as a conviction.
The three judges - Lord Parker (The Lord Chief Justice), Lord Justice Winn and Mr. Justice Cusack - ruled that session chairman Judge Block had erred in his summing up to the jury at West Sussex Quarter Sessions. Lord Parker said there was only “tenuous” evidence that a girl clad only in a fur rug had smoked cannabis and that Richards must have known about it. It would, therefore, not be safe to allow the conviction to stand. Jagger’s case was somewhat less clear cut. He had been taking the amphetamines with the full knowledge of a doctor but without prescription. Teenagers, armed with “Save The Stones” placards, who had queued from 6.30 a.m. for seats in the public gallery, screamed and gasped as the judges’ decision was announced. Jagger later said that he would only ever take “pep” pills again if prescribed by a doctor.
On Television
1985. Late Night With David Letterman (CBS, U.S.A.) Musical guest: Nina Hagen
Death
1964. Jim Reeves and his pianist/manager Dean Manuel die when the small plane Reeves was piloting crashes into woods outside Nashville.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 28th July):
Birth
1949. Steve Peregrine Took (Tyrannosaurus Rex) born in London, England.
On Tour
2002. Rapper Ja Rule (real name Jeffrey Atkins), who’s appearing at Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica’s Montego Bay, is served with a summons to appear in court on the island tomorrow to answer a charge of using a profanity during last year’s Sumfest.
In Ecology!
1958. It’s official - listening to rock and roll on your car radio costs you more money. The findings of the Esso Research Center published today in “Billboard” show that the beat of the music causes drivers to fluctuate their speed subconsciously and thereby waste fuel.
In Court
1966. Donovan (real name Donovan Philip Leitch) is fined £ 250 at Marylebone Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis resin at his flat in Alexander Court on June 10th. His flat-mate, David John Mills, described as a musical director is fined the same amount on the same charge. Although the two men had attempted to stop police entering and had then jumped on their backs, no charges of assault were raised against them. Also in court was 20 year old Doreen Febienne Samuel who was found by police in a bedroom. She was put on 12 months probation. Donovan’s business manager, Ashley Cozac, appeared in court earlier in the day on charges of possessing cannabis and amphetamines. He was fined £ 100 on the first charge and £ 50 on the second.
In Hospital
1986. Keith Richards‘ wife Patti Hansen gives birth to a daughter, Alexandra Nicole Richards, at New York’s Lennox Hill Hospital. The 9lb 3oz girl is Keith’s fourth child and his second with Patti.
On Television
1979. American Bandstand (ABC, U.S.A.) 2378. Maxine Nightingale - “Lead Me On”. 2m 58s.
Death
1996. Margie Ganser (The Shangri-Las) dies from breast cancer aged 48.
Babble
At long last, Rockmine has a new front page! The previous one didn’t give nearly enough information and the main page had way too much. Hopefully this is a viable compromise. You wouldn’t believe how many pages needed replacing in order to give every entrance point the same look. If you find one that hasn’t been changed - please let me know.
Anyway, the new front page is here. The next problem I have is updating all the pages off that. The Beatles and Stones pages haven’t been touched for years and EVERYTHING needs a make-over. The new front page does now lead directly to the John Lennon Autograph, The Doors Tapes, Elton John’s Sotheby’s Catalogues and the Rock Film Posters - all of which are for sale. Needless to say, there’s also a link to Rockmine’s Garage Sale, although nothing new has been added since yesterday.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 24th July):
Birth
1935. Songwriter Les Reed (”It’s Not Unusual”, “There’s A Kind Of Hush” and many more) born in Woking, Surrey.
On Tour
1964. Britain’s biggest rock riot takes place during The Rolling Stones concert in Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom. Blackpool is besieged by drunken Glaswegians, in the city for their annual holiday. Unfortunately hundreds of them are amongst the audience of 9,000. Things turn sour when Keith Richards objects to Brian Jones being spat at by youths at the front of the stage. He retaliates with his boot, first standing on someone’s hands and then kicking another in the face. Within moments, the band are running for their lives.
It takes several hours for calm to be restored. By that time more than £ 2,000 worth of Stones’ equipment has been smashed, curtains in the hall are pulled down, seating is destroyed and the ballroom’s chandelier damaged. Two policemen and thirty members of the audience require treatment at Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital.
The band are booked in to spend the night at a hotel in Preston, twenty miles away and hastily arrange a round the clock police guard in case they’ve been followed.
In Custody
1996. Rapper Warren G is arrested at the Los Angeles gay and lesbian nightclub Peanuts following the discovery of a loaded 9mm assault weapon in his trunk. Police are called to a disturbance outside the club and notice the truck which matches the description of one used in an armed robbery last week.
The rapper later holds a press conference to admit that he was arrested at the club but insists he was there on a lesbian only night (?). He is released on $ 10,000 bail and will appear in court on August 16th to face charges of possessing a concealed loaded weapon.
In Church (well, almost)
1999. Following their civil marriage yesterday, Phil Collins, 48, and his new bride Orianne Cevey, 27, have a religious blessing at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland. After the ceremony, a lavish reception is held in the hotel with guests including Eric Clapton.
During their stay at the hotel, Phil arranged for Jack (his Jack Russell Terrier) to have his own suite at a cost of £ 220 a night. Jack got a double bed, minibar, sunken bath and balcony. If that wasn’t enough, a dog-sitter was booked to take Jack walkies, whenever the need arose. Orianne’s mother didn’t fare so well. While Jack was living it up in a suite, she had to make do with a standard room!
On Television
1968. Kraft Music Hall (NBC, U.S.A.) 84. The Turtles - “Elenore”. 2m 33s.
Death
1972. Bobby Ramirez (drummer with Edgar Winter’s White Trash) dies in a knife fight in a back alley off Rush Street, Chicago aged 23.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Friday 18th July):
Birth
1946. Tim Lynch (The Flamin’ Groovies) born in San Francisco, California.
On Tour
1972. The Rolling Stones arrive in Boston but after a scuffle at the airport, Mick Jagger, Marshall Chess and film-maker Robert Frank are charged with obstructing police officers and Keith Richards is charged with assaulting a photographer and a journalist. With the band playing Boston’s Garden Theater tonight, the city’s mayor, Kevin White, bails them out of jail. The band hits the stage two hours late but no-one seems to care. The mayor is given a standing ovation by the audience.
In Politics
1972. Frank Sinatra appears before the U.S. House Crime Select Committee in Washington, D.C. and accuses it of irresponsibly letting a convicted felon “bandy his name about”. He told the packed hearing that it was “character assassination” and said they should have immediately refuted claims, made during the testimony of Joseph “The Baron” Barboza, that the singer was a front-man for the Mafia in the Fontainbleau and Sands hotels in Miami and Las Vegas. Joseph Phillips, counsel for the committee, said that Barboza made the allegations when he was being asked about unrelated matters, without any prompting.
In Court
1966. William Oliver Smedley, 54, an accountant and former vice-president of the Liberal Party, appears in court at Saffron Walden, Essex, charged with the murder of Reginald Calvert, 37, head of the Radio City pop radio station. Smedley is reported to have sparked the incident on the night of 19th June, when he and a boarding party visited the old wartime fort at Shivering Sands, where the radio station is based. They immobilized the transmitter and left some men to guard it. It’s thought the action was taken to stop the sale of the radio station to an American company. As a result, Calvert had visited Smedley at home on June 21st. Smedley said he feared for his life and admitted to police that he shot Calvert. Mr. Peter Palmes, prosecuting, said that the only weapon Calvert carried was a small tear gas pen. The hearing continues tomorrow.
On Television
1975. The Midnight Special (NBC, U.S.A.) 125. Host: Helen Reddy. Guests: Mac Davis; Minnie Riperton; Waylon Jennings; Steve Martin; Joe Simon. Here’s Minnie Riperton with “Lovin’ You”.
Death
1966. Bobby Fuller’s body is found in his parked car in Los Angeles. He had been badly beaten and had been forced to swallow gasoline which killed him. Strangely, the police put the 22 year old’s death down to suicide and a coroner’s report, which ignored the bruising, agreed. It was only later after an investigation that details of the true circumstances were revealed. Rumours circulating at the time suggested that he’d been having an affair with the wife of a mafia gangster.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 17th July):
Birth
1949. Terry “Geezer” Butler (Black Sabbath) born in Birmingham, England.
On Tour
1998. Convicted murderess Pamela Keary escapes from prison in Minneapolis, telling fellow inmates she’s going to see The Smashing Pumpkins who are playing the city this evening. Police arrest the 17 year old at the gig.
In Court
1966. A Munich court rules that The Rolling Stones do make music and not just noise. The city authorities had hoped that the court would find against the group and they could claim back £ 1,270 tax relief for “musical performances” on the group’s concerts at Circus-Krone-Bau on September 14th last year.
In Politics
1985. Mr Barney Hayhoe, Minister Of State in the British Government, announces that the £ 190,000 in V.A.T., paid on tickets for Live Aid, will be waived. The tickets had not made it clear that the fee was voluntary and therefore would be excluded from the tax.
On Television
1976. Disco (ZDF, West Germany) 60. Silver Convention; Jürgen Drews; Rubettes; Bob Dylan (video clip); Peter Maffay; Martin Mann; Vicky Leandros; Smokie.
Death
1996. Chas Chandler (born Bryan James Chandler), member of The Animals, the man who “discovered” Jimi Hendrix and manager of Slade dies in hospital while undergoing tests for a heart aneurysm, aged 57.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Friday 11th July):
Birth
1947. Jeff Hanna (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) born in Detroit, MIchigan.
On Stage
1973. Lonesome Stone, a Christian rock musical, opens at London’s Rainbow Theatre. The production charts the history of the Jesus revolution amongst hippies and students in the U.S.A. As well as a cast made up of volunteers from The Jesus Family the show features the rock group, Sheep. Described as a multi-media experience, Lonesome Stone employs the latest back-projection techniques.
In Fashion
1992. Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead) launches a range of eight ties featuring his designs. They go on sale everywhere from Bloomingdales in New York to Tie Rack in the U.K. He’s never seen wearing one himself but President Bill Clinton gets a full set which he does wear.
In Hospital
1977. Garrie Lammin rhythm guitarist with Cock Sparrer has his hand stitched at hospital after being slashed by a broken bottle after tonight’s gig at The Music Machine in London’s Camden High Street. Mr. Lammin, ever the gent, had gone to the aid of a punk maiden being hassled outside the venue by some Teddy Boys.
Talking of Mr. Lammin; his concern over Keith Richards problems in Canada, prompted him to write to NME. The letter, published in the July 23rd edition, reads: “If Keef goes down for life, can ya please ask him if I can have his Dan Armstrong?”.
On Television
1996. Late Show With David Letterman (CBS, U.S.A.) Musical guest: Garbage, making their network television debut, perform “Stupid Girl”
Death
2002. R&B singer and piano player, Rosco Gordon dies from a heart attach at his home in Rego Park in the New York burgh of Queens aged 74. Despite having a string of hits (on the R&B charts) in the 1950s and 60s, he made little money from his songs. He quit the music business in the early 60s after he learnt that he’d lost the rights to over 300 songs, including the R&B standard, “Just A Little Bit” which was covered by such diverse artists as Blue Cheer, Rory Gallagher, Etta James, Elvis Presley and Them. He moved to New York and bought into a dry cleaning business after winning a card game. In 1969, he launched his own label, Bab-Roc, from home, financed by profits from the dry cleaning and was eventually lured back to touring in 1981. His most recent album was “Memphis, Tennessee”, released by the Canadian label, Stony Plain in 2000.
Babble
I’m at a bit of a loss today. It’s another festival weekend and I haven’t got a paddling pool deep enough for all the mud I’d need to make the cinema room a truly fulfilling experience. It’s always hard to know what to do in these circumstances. I had considered taking the projector outside and having a festival weekend in the garden but I just can’t get enthusiastic about it.
So, it’s going to be another weekend of recording all the different feeds on the Freeview and terrestrial channels and never getting time to edit them to disc. The big news for this weekend is that I’ve reworked the whole rockmine.tv concept and will have a one-page link to EVERY YouTube clip I’ve included in the blog. It really does make for interesting viewing and a great way of wasting time at home or at work. Needless to say, I’ll post the news when it’s online.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Saturday 5th July):
Birth
1950. Andy Ellison (John’s Children) born in Leatherhead, Surrey.
On Tour
1966. President Ferdinand Marcos of The Philipines makes an official statement expressing regret at the treatment received by The Beatles when they left Manila earlier today. The moptops were shoved, kicked, spat at and told to “go to Hell” by Philipinos incensed at the group’s treatment of their president’s wife. They had been expected to visit the Presidential Palace between concerts but were unaware of any arrangements. At the airport, they were given no assistance with their luggage and escalators were turned off. Their flight was then delayed by 45 minutes while Brian Epstein was forced to settle a £ 6,600 tax bill for the two concerts. All this shortly after he had been knocked to the ground and kicked in a scuffle.
In Custody
1975. Keith Richards and Ron Wood are arrested along with aide Fred Sessler by the Arkansas Highway Patrol. Keith is questioned about carrying a concealed weapon, his swiss-army knife. He and Ron (who’s done nothing) are released on bail of $ 162. Sessler, unfortunately, is found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine. He is released on bail of $ 5,000.
In Hospital
1980. Bad Manners‘ gig at the Electric Ballroom in London’s Camden turns nasty. At one point a member of the audience jumps onstage and tries to stab Douglas Trendle (a.k.a. Buster Bloodvessel). Before he has a chance to strike, Louis “Alphonso” Cook kicks him off the stage. Unfortunately, before the gig is over, a member of the audience is stabbed in the kidneys.
On Television
1975. Disco (ZDF, West Germany) 55. George Baker Selection - Paloma blanca; Demis Roussos - Schön wie Mona Lisa; Peter, Sue + Marc - In den Straßen von Belfast; Costa Cordalis - Es stieg ein Eingel vom Olymp; David Cassidy - Get it up for love; Marianne Rosenberg - Er gehört zu mir; Kenny - Fancy pants - and here they are!
Death
1998. Folk singer and broadcaster Danny Kyle dies in hospital in Paisley, Scotland aged 58.
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