Today In Music, February 20th

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday 20th February):

Birth

1951. Randy California (Spirit) born Randolph Craig Woolfe in Los Angeles.

On Stage

1995. The Brit Awards are staged in London. Madonna opens the event. Eddi Reader fills in for The Cranberries who’ve pulled out as Delores O’Riordan is struck down with flu. Among the winners are:

Best British Band: Blur.

Best British Male Artist: Paul Weller.

Best British Newcomer: Oasis.

Best British Dance Artist: M People.

Best Album: “Parklife” by Blur.

Best Single: “Parklife” by Blur.

Best Video: “Parklife” by Blur.

Best International Female Artist: K.D. Lang.

Best International Newcomer: Lisa Loeb.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Elton John.

In Court

1997. Following Victor Willis‘ arrest on February 15th for robbery and possession of drugs, a Criminal Complaint is filed with the court in Reno, Nevada. The former Village People lead singer has been held in Washoe County Jail since being charged as he was unable to post bail. Here’s the complaint as it was filed today:

 

 

In Hospital

1997. 35 people are injured at Deep Purple‘s concert at the Santa Laura Stadium in Santiago, Chile. The accident happened three songs into the set when one of the speaker towers collapsed under the weight of people climbing on to it for a better view. 20 people were trapped under the tower but were soon pulled out and the gig continued. The injured fans suffered broken bones and concussions but there were no fatalities.

On Television

1968. Boutton Rouge (France) ORTF TV Studios, Buttes Chaumont, Paris, France including Pink Floyd. Here they are performing “Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun”.

Death

1990. R&B vocalist Harold Worthington (The Unifics) bocomes the innocent victim of a gangland shooting when he’s killed at Player’s Billiard Parlour and Restaurant in Washington, D.C.

Music Paper From Today

 

 

New Musical Express from 20th February 1993. A copy taken from Rockmine’s almost complete run of U.K. music papers from the last 45 years. 

 

Daily Babble

 

It’s The Brit Awards tonight and Take That have the most nominations – Best British Group, Best British Live Act, Best British Album and Best British Single. It’s interesting to look back at the 1995 awards and see the  dominance that Blur had then and remember that Take That were prominent in the charts at the same time. Maybe that’s just frightening.

 

I loved the chaos of the old Brits. When Mick Fleetwood and Samantha Fox hosted the show it was genuinely amusing albeit cringe-makingly AWFUL! But maybe that’s what award ceremonies should be. We can easily applaud a rocker for making it to the ceremony and managing to remain upright but should we not just as whole-heartedly applaud it when they misbehave?  

 

My instant temptation was to see if I could find the now legendary Fleetwood/Fox debacle on YouTube. What I did find was even more bizzare – Mick Fleetwood signing bottles of wine in Costco. Go check it out yourself!

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