Today In Music, July 31st

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.

 

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