From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 3rd July):
Birth
1940. Soul singer Fontella Bass born in St. Louis, Missouri.
On Stage
1999. Mark Sandman, lead singer and bass player of Morphine collapses onstage at a rock festival in Palestrina, about 30 miles east of Rome, Italy. The 46 year old could not be revived and was pronounced dead in the ambulance enroute to a nearby hospital. It’s thought he suffered a heart attack.
In Custody
1975. Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) is arrested for possession of cocaine in his hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky on the first night of the band’s tour. Charges are eventually dropped in October when a court decides that the warrant used in the bust was granted on a basis of “unfounded information”.
In Hospital
1978. Keith Moon is taken off a plane at Mauritius just before it was due to fly to London. The captain of the British Airways flight felt that the drummer was unfit to travel and referred him to the airline’s resident doctor who admitted him to hospital where he is detained overnight. It’s thought the illness was a reaction to sleeping pills taken before the flight.
On Television
1985. Shelley Preston steps into the limelight on the BBC-1’s “Wogan” show as the new member of Bucks Fizz. The 21 year old was chosen from more than 1,000 hopefuls who auditioned as replacements for Jay Aston last month.
Death
1971. Jim Morrison dies in Paris. Okay, that’s way too simple. Here are the three main possibilities:
a) Jim has a heart attack in the bath in his appartment at 17 Rue Beautreillis (pictured above) and dies.
b) Jim overdoses while out boozing in a nightclub or brothel.
c) Jim never dies but uses the story as a means of bowing out of public life and an impending jail sentence.
The Doors say they were sick of rumours about his death so they didn’t respond as quickly as they might have to yet another story regarding his demise. By the time Bill Siddons was sent by the band it was too late to see the body. All we’ve got is Pamela’s word that it was Jim in the coffin. Unfortunately she’s not around to question; or is she? Anyway, the closest we can get to finding out what did happen is to check out Pamela Courson’s statement to the Paris police:
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday 2nd July):
Birth
1942. Leapy Lee born Lee Graham in Eastbourne, Sussex.
On Tour
1991. 60 people are hurt in the ensuing melee when Axl Rose jumps from the stage during a Guns ‘N’ Roses concert and attacks a member of the audience he spots videotaping the show. The venue outside St. Louis, Missouri is badly damaged in the near-riot which follows. Axl is charged with third degree assault and property damage but isn’t arrested by police for one year.
In Court
1997. Rick Danko (The Band) tells a court in Chiba, Japan that his wife sent him a package of heroin from America when he asked her to send him the prescription drug codeine. He’s quoted as saying, “I’m just surprised that she did anything so stupid”. Danko was arrested in May during a tour of Japan. Police raided his hotel room and found 1.25 grammes of heroin in a magazine that had recently arrived by post from the U.S. If found guilty he faces a jail sentence of up to two and a half years.
In Business
1997. Berry Gordy sells a 50% interest in his Jobete Music group of companies to EMI for $ 132 million. He’s already sold Motown Records to Polygram but retained the music publishing company Jobete. The new agreement allows Gordy and his sister Esther Edwards to sell their remaining share in Jobete for up to $ 250 million within five years. The company owns the copyright to more than 15,000 songs including such classics as “I heard It Through The Grapevine” and “My Girl”.
On Television
1980. Sheena Easton gets her big break on the BBC TV series, “The Big Time”. Fronted by Esther Rantzen, the show gives ordinary people the chance to fulfill their dreams. In Sheena’s case, it’s to become a pop singer. We see her being groomed for stardom and recording her debut single (released in April). Her second single, “9 To 5″ capitalises on the publicity from the show, hits number 3 in the U.K. chart - and a star is born.
Death
1969. Sometime between 11.30 p.m. and midnight, Brian Jones dies in the swimming pool of his 15th century home, Cotchford Farm near Hartfield, Sussex. He had spent the evening with his girlfriend, 22 year old Anna Vohlin, Frank Thorogood (a builder employed by The Rolling Stones to repair their homes) and his friend Janet lawson, a State Registered Nurse. Brian suggested they all go for a swim, complaining of the heat. After being in the pool a while, the two women returned to the house. Mr. Thorogood followed shortly after. When Jones didn’t join them after a short while, Lawson went to check on him. She found him lying on the bottom of the pool. She called the others to help. They dived in and pulled him out while she called an ambulance. While she was on the telephone, Anna tried the kiss of life and at one point felt Jones’ hand grip hers. When the ambulance crew arrived they tried for half an hour to revive him but he didn’t respond.
Rumours about his death abound. One suggests Brian was visited by two drug dealers wanting payment of outstanding debts. To frighten him they put his head in a bucket of water but Brian suffered an asthma attack and stopped breathing. In panic the body was thrown into the swimming pool where he drowned. It’s a great story - and one of many conspiracy theories - but it doesn’t tie in with any of the pathological evidence. Look in almost any book and they’ll list Brian’s date of death as tomorrow but we’ve taken the time of death from the notes of the Post-Mortem Examination seen here:
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 30th June):
Birth
1951. Andy Scott (Sweet) born in Wrexham, Wales.
On Tour
1973. After two days of fans besieging the Holiday Inn in London’s Swiss Cottage, London, where Slade are staying, the manager orders the band to leave. They refuse to go. Word of the expulsion reaches the fans outside, who nearly riot at the news. Eventually the band are allowed to stay another two days and peace is restored.
In Custody
1976. Neil Diamond is bust for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana after police with a search warrant raid his California home.
In Hospital
1977. Dave Vanian (The Damned) needs hospital treatment after suffering a dislocated shoulder when he and the rest of the band are attacked by anti-punk yobs in the dressing room after their gig at The Garden in Penzance.
It’s not the only attack on a punk band tonight. Bob Geldof is attacked onstage during The Boomtown Rats gig at The Music Machine in London’s Camden. He was hit with such force that he was very nearly knocked off the stage which is 20 feet above the audience. He completed the gig with a swollen and bloody face but didn’t seek treatment. His attacker was caught but Geldof didn’t press charges.
Recent Punk gigs have been marred by violent attacks which some say are being stirred up by the press.
On Television
1965. Shindig (ABC, U.S.A.) The Blossoms, Glen Campbell, Chad & Jeremy, Jerry Lee Lewis, Donna Loren, The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Sherman, The Wellingtons, Jackie Wilson. Here’s the closing duet from Jerry Lee Lewis and Jackie Wilson with “Whole Lotta Shakin’”
Death
2002. Legendary Motown drummer, Howard Richard “Pistol” Allen dies after a long battle with cancer aged 69. Although working as a jazz drummer before he was hired by Berry Gordy in 1962, Allen seemed perfectly at home as a session player behind most of the label’s classic songs. They included “Baby Love” by The Supremes, “Heat Wave” by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 23rd June):
Birth
1962. Richard Coles (The Communards) born in Northampton, England.
In Custody
2003. Norwegian rockers TurboNegro run into trouble at Stuttgart airport, when they’re stopped for Arms smuggling. On their way through security before flying home to Oslo, an 18-inch knife was spotted in their luggage. Despite saying it was a stage prop, security officials wouldn’t accept it. The police took over and as they refused to arrest the whole band, one of the crew, named only as Trond took responsibility and was taken to jail. He was released later in the day having paid a fine.
In Court
1997. The trial in Michigan resulting from the murder of Motown songwriter Arthur Ross (Diana’s brother) and his wife Patricia Ann Robinson-Ross collapses after a key prosecution witness disappears. The man charged with their murder, Ricky Vernon Brooks is aquitted. The bodies of Ross and his wife were found at Brooks’ house on the outskirts of Detroit. Brooks maintained that he was not involved in suffocating the couple who had borrowed the house for a drug deal. Ross was facing trial resulting from drugs charges at the time of his death.
On The Road
2000. Sir Paul McCartney drops his rock & roll lifestyle to become chauffeur for the day. He donned a grey suit to drive his second cousin, Sally Harris to her wedding at a civil ceremony in Wallasey, Merseyside.
On Television
1965. Shindig (ABC, U.S.A.) Opening medley (song excerpts): Willy Nelson - “Long Tall Sally”; David Crosby and Roger McGuinn (of The Byrds) - “Long Tall Sally”; Righteous Brothers - “Sticks and Stones”; TheKingsmen, Billy Preston - “Good Golly Miss Molly”; The Byrds - “Not Fade Away”; Willy Nelson - “Jump Back”; Micki Lynn - “Crazy ’bout My Baby”; The Stoneman Family - “Lost Ball in the High Weeds”; Melinda Marx - “Is That What I Get for Loving You?” (Groucho’s daughter); The Kingsmen - “Louie, Louie”; Billy Preston - “Hey Hey Hey Hey”; Willy Nelson - “Shout”; Micki Lynn - “Old Landmark”; Dave Berry - “The Crying Game”; Adam Faith - “Message to Martha”; Jody Miller - “Queen of the House”; The Righteous Brothers - “Burn On Love”; The Byrds - “Mr. Tambourine Man; The Stoneman Family - “Big Ball In Monterey”; Dave Berry - “One Heart Between Two”; The Righteous Brothers - “Poison Ivy”; Jody Miller - “Saved”; Jean King (one of the Blossoms) - “Why Did I Choose You?”; The Everly Brothers - “I’ll Never Get Over You”; Finale: The Kingsmen - “Do the Climb”. According to my records, this is show 42, not 41 as stated on YouTube but I’m not complaining. You’ll find the whole hour-long show here in ten minute sections. Take the time to watch it all, it’s a fascinating glimpse of one of the best 60’s pop shows.
Death
1997. Swedish pop star Ted Gardestad dies aged 41. He had represented the country in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite having retired from the music biz in the ‘eighties, he made a successful comeback in 1995.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Friday 20th June):
Birth
1942. Brian Douglas Wilson (The Beach Boys) born at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, California.
In Custody
1997. Darius Rucker (Hootie And The Blowfish) is involved in an altercation outside an all-night store in Charleston, South Carolina. He claims to have been attacked by three drunks and merely defended himself. After studying a security video, police decide not to press charges against anyone involved.
In Court
1997. Latoya Jackson’s six year marriage to her manager, Jack Gordon ends in a Los Angeles family courtroom. Along with the decree absolute, the judge imposed a gagging order preventing either party from disclosing the divorce settlement as well as re-imposing a protection order banning the couple from being within 150 of each other. After the hearing, Latoya’s lawyer Bill Oxmon was seeking Gordon’s arrest on contempt charges for breaking the gag order as he left court. Gordon told waiting journalists that he was getting half of the $ 3 million, five cars and two houses the couple owned.
In Politics
2002. U2 frontman Bono visits French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The singer urges the president to be “a champion for Africa” when world leaders gather next week to discuss development plans for the continet. Bono later said that Chirac “has a passion for Africa and I want to turn his passion into cash”.
On Television
1998. Rockpalast (WDR, Germany) Money Mark; Asian Dub Foundation; Catatonia; Rancid; Pulp; Sonic Youth; Garbage; Beastie Boys (Loreley). Here are Pulp with “Common People”.
Death
1997. Lawrence Payton (The Four Tops) dies from liver cancer at his home in Southfield, Michigan, aged 59.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 19th June):
Birth
1948. Nick Drake born in Rangoon, Burma.
On Politics
1984. Michael Jackson is denounced by the Kremlin for having sold out his black roots and being a puppet of the Reagan administration.
In Custody
1990. Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) is arrested and charged with causing an affray after an incident with a bouncer after the band’s gig at London’s Borderline Club which leaves him with several broken teeth and facial bruising. He spends a night in police cells before being released in the morning. Due to his injuries he can barely speak. As a result the band cancel the rest of their U.K. tour.
In The Press
1976. Seventeen year old scribe, Steven Morrissey hits the big time when he gets a letter published in Melody Maker and New Musical Express about The Sex Pistols concert on June 4th in Manchester. Here’s the letter:
“I PEN this epistle after witnessing the infamous Sex Pistols ‘in concert’ at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall. The bumptious Pistols in jumble sale attire had those few that attended dancing in the aisles despite their discordant music and barely audible audacious lyrics, and they were called back for two encores. The Pistols boast no inspiration from the New York / Manhattan rock scene, yet their set includes “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone” a number believed to be done almost to perfection by the Heartbreakers on any sleazy New York night, and the Pistols’ vocalist/exhibitionist Johnny Rotten’s attitude and self-asserted “love us or leave us” approach can be compared to both Iggy Pop and David JoHansen in their heyday.
Not to mention the fact that the Pistol’s manager is the legendary Malcolm MacClaren who has had close connections with the New York Dolls. The Sex Pistols are very New York and it’s nice to see that the British have produced a band capable of producing atmosphere created by the N.Y. Dolls and their many imitators, even though it may be too late. I’d love to see the Pistols make it. Maybe then they will be able to afford some clothes which don’t look as though they’ve been slept in.” - STEVE MORRISEY, Stretford, Manchester
On Television
1980. Musikladen (ZDF, Germany) 54. A la Carte - Do wah diddy diddy; Gibson Brothers - Mariana; The Days - Teacher, teacher; Oscar Harris - Song for the children; Matchbox - Midnite dynamos; Jona Lewie - Kitchen at parties; Jimmy Ruffin - Hold on to my love; Paul McCartney - Coming up (Video); Pretenders - Brass in pocket; Marianne Faithful - Broken English; Roxy Music - Over you; Lipps Inc. - Funkytown; Johnny Cash - Sunday morning coming down (Oldie: 1972); Showaddywaddy - Always & ever. Here’s Marianne Faithful.
Death
2002. Frank “Skip” Candelon, ex-lead singer of Turning Point is found dead in his New Jersey home from a suspected drug overdose. The event is announced by the band’s web site which also says, “the family wishes the details of Skip’s death to remain private”.
Babble
I’ve finally got some of Rockmine’s music film posters up for sale on-line. They’ve been sitting in drawers and portfolios since they were last taken to a memorabilia/record fair in Paris back in 1995! They’re all originals, sent out to cinemas to promote the movie. Here are direct links to them:
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Tuesday 17th June):
Birth
1940. Rock poster and record cover designer Alton Kelley born in Houlton, Maine.
On Stage
1989. Suzanne Vega appears at the Glastonbury CND Festival despite police receiving two death threats earlier in the day. They take the threats seriously enough to offer the whole band the use of bullet-proof vests during their time onstage. A search of the backstage area by armed officers wearing flack jackets reveals nothing and the set passes without disruption.
In Custody
1999. Huey DiFontaine, frontman with Fun Lovin’ Criminals is arrested on a street corner in New York when a passing policeman spots him smoking a marijuana joint. DiFontaine is held for 24 hours before being released.
In Hospital
1980. Phil Lynott flies to America for treatment to save the sight in his right eye after a bottle attack at his hotel on June 14th.
On Television
1970. Kraft Music Hall (NBC,U.S.A.) 158. An Evening with Burt Bacharach. Musical guests: Burt Bacarach and Dionne Warwick - “Make it Easy on Yourself” & “Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets”; Dionne Warwick - “What the World Needs Now is Love”; Burt Bacarach and Joel Grey - “What’s New Pussycat?”; Joel Grey - “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “This Guy’s In Love With You” & “Bridge Over Troubled Water”; Sacha Distel - “The Good Life”; Sacha Distel and Burt Bacarach - “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”. Here are Burt and Dionne with “Loneliness Remembers”
Death
1994. Kristen Pfaff, bassist with Hole dies from a suspected drug overdose in the bath at her Seattle apartment. Her body is discovered in the morning by a friend Paul Erickson (Hammerhead) who hadn’t seen her since she’d locked herself in the bathroom late the previous night. As it wasn’t uncommon for Pfaff to fall asleep in the bath, he didn’t check on her until the morning. Police found drug syringes on the floor and found Pfaff kneeling in the bath as if she’d been trying to get out. She had been due to leave the city today as she felt too many of her friends had died there for her to be able to stay. Erickson had been staying with the bassist to help pack her things and drive the van which was loaded and parked outside, ready to go.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Sunday 1st June):
Birth
1947. Ron Wood (The Faces, The Rolling Stones) born Ronald David Wood in Hillingdon County Hospital in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
On Tour
1975. The Rolling Stones start a new American tour at the Louisiana State University Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It’s Ron Wood’s first gig as the band’s new lead guitarist but everyone’s at pains to say it’s not permanent. It seems he’s committed to staying with The Faces. Also being debuted tonight are the new five-petal, lotus-shaped stage and a huge inflatable phallus that’s part of Mick Jagger’s act.
In Court
1983. David Essex is fined £ 200 and banned from driving for five days after admitting speeding on the M3 at Fleet. Police tell Basingstoke Magistrates Court that they were unable to catch his car which they clocked being driven at 130 mph. The ban is in place only until Essex produces his driving licence for it to be endorsed with three penalty points.
In Hospital
1973. Robert Wyatt falls from a window ledge where he has been sitting four floors to the pavement below fracturing his spine and one leg. He had been attending a party for Gong at the Maida Vale flat of Lady June. Wyatt is admitted to the spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital near Aylesbury. Doctors say it will be several weeks before they can tell the extent of his injuries and the damage sustained by his spine. Unfortunately, he never recovers and remains paralysed and wheel-chair bound.
On Television
2001. Rockpalast (WDR, Germany) Radiohead; Alanis Morissette; Manic Street Preachers; Outkast; Queens Of The Stone Age; K’S Choice; Papa Roach; Thumb; H-Blockx; Tex; Godsmack; (Hed)Pe; Orbital (Rock Am Ring, Nürburgring). Here are Radiohead with “How To Disappear Completely”.
Death
1991. David Ruffin (The Temptations) dies from a suspected drug overdose.
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!
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.
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