From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Sunday 31st August):
Birth
1947. Pete Gage (Vinegar Joe) born.
On Tour
1991. Guns N’ Roses and support band Skid Row play London’s Wembley Stadium. Both bands were allowed to play after receiving written instructions banning them from swearing or leaving the stage at any time during their performances. At one point, Skid Row read out their letter from Brent Council instructing them not to perform the song, “Get The Fuck Out”. This prompts the crowd to chant the title repeatedly before the band do play it. Not to be outdone, Axl Rose lambasts the media for their reaction to the band and their poster campaign – “Guns N’ Fucking Roses, Wembley Fucking Stadium, Sold Fucking Out”. Brent council later say the bands would never have been allowed to play had they not given written undertakings to abide by their instructions. While the council refuse to say if they will now ban both groups, they do admit it will have an effect on license applications.
In Court
1989. Shane McGowan appears at Marylebone Magistrates Court charged with possession of cannabis. He pleads guilty and is fined £ 150. The court is told that the offence came to light when he was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
On The Radio
1990. The Cure try launching their own pirate radio station, Cure 94.8. Broadcasting to the London area. The station runs into a mass of technical problems, eventually starting more than three hours late with Robert Smith at the microphone. They soon give up after discovering that their signal is being swamped by BBC Radio 2 and shelve plans for any future broadcasts.
On Television
1990. The Word (Channel 4, U.K.) Guests include LL Cool J and Deee-lite. Musical guests: MC Tunes and 808 State; Movement 98 featuring Carol Thompson. Here’s MC Tunes vs 808 State with “Tune Splits The Atom”. 4m 50s.
Death
1947. Bluesman Son Bonds dies in Dyersburg, Tennessee from an accidental gunshot wound.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Saturday 30th August):
Birth
1951. Eurovision winner and one-time Irish presidential candidate, Dana born Rosemarie Brown.
On Stage
1969. The Isle of Wight Festival opens. Today’s line-up features The Who, The Moody Blues, Fat Mattress, Joe Cocker, Bonzo Dog Band, Family, Free, Pretty Things, Marsha Hunt and White Trash; Battered Ornaments; Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation; Blodwyn Pig; Gypsy; Blonde On Blonde; Edgar Broughton Band; King Crimson. Moody Blues performing “Night’s in White Satin”:
In Court
1994. Rapper Dr. Dre is sentenced to five months in jail at Los Angeles Municipal Court. He appeared on a charge of drunk driving but that was found to be in breach of a 1992 probation order placed on him after a conviction for assault. He’s also fined $ 1,053 and ordered to attend a 90 day alcoholism programme.
In Hospital
1979. Lulu is taken to hospital unconscious with multiple head injuries after her car was in collision with another at Brooks End, Birchington, near Margate where she’s been the star of a summer season. The singer’s husband, hairdresser John Frida, rushed to be at her bedside. Her agent, Pat Lake-Smith, said she would be cancelling all engagements until the end of September. Her top slot in Margate will now be taken by Rod Hull & Emu. The driver of the other car was treated for cuts.
On Television
1975. Musikladen (ZDF, West Germany) 21. Tumbleweeds; Alexis Korner; Bill Clifton & The Echo Mountain Band; Bill Clifton & Alexis Korner. Here’s Alexis with Steve Marriott performing “One Scotch, One Burbon, One Beer”
Death
1988. Thomas Sylvester better known as “Papa” Dee Allen (War) dies. The 57 year old drummer suffered an aneurysm whilst onstage at the Talk Of The Town nightclub in Vallejo, California and died soon after.
Babble
The long-running saga of the memorabilia exhibition seemed to get a new lease of life yesterday. A visit to the Red Shoes Theatre in Elgin ended up with an agreement that it would be staged the week after next. It will be tied in with a charity fund-raiser but exactly how long it will run remains to be seen. It also seems likely that I’ll get a Two Red Shoes ballroom blog up as I did for the sister venue, The Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn.
You’ll see I’ve included the handbill for the 1969 Isle Of Wight Festival which started on this day. I’ll now do a blatant plug and tell you that I’m selling it on the Handbills and Flyers section of Rockmine. Another new addition to that page is a 1967 handbill for Cliff Richard and The Shadows in Cinderella!
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Friday 29th August):
Birth
1944. Sterling Morrison (Velvet Underground) born in Long Island, New York.
On Stage
1958. George Harrison joins John Lennon and Paul McCartney in The Quarrymen as they play at the opening night of The Casbah Club in Liverpool.
In Service
1991. UB40 front-man, Ali Campbell, is served with a paternity suit at his home in Birmingham. The action has been raised by 22 year old Tiffany Crow who claims that she got pregnant after two nights of sex with the star during UB40’s last US tour. Campbell has previously denied he is the father. A court will probably demand blood tests to settle the matter.
In Custody
1977. Three men are arrested and charged with trying to steal Elvis Presley‘s body from Forest Hill cemetery in Memphis. It’s thought they were planning to hold the corpse for ransom. As a result Elvis soon moves to Graceland.
On Television
rockminer
1981. Rockpalast (WDR, West Germany) Thin Lizzy; Nine Below Zero; Outlaws; .38 Special (Loreley St. Goarshausen). Here are Thin Lizzy with “Are You Ready”. 3m 44s.
Death
1998. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is charged with murder after shooting a friend at his home in Texas this morning. He has been troubled with burglars over the past months and when he heard a noise at the door and saw a figure he fired. Unfortunately it was Israel Borrego, an unemployed labourer he met several months ago. The singer is being held until a bail bond of $ 250,000 can be raised.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 28th August):
Birth
1943. Honey Lantree (The Honeycombs) born Ann Lantree in Hayes, Middlesex.
On Stage
1999. During Blur‘s set at the Reading Festival tonight, Damon Albarn gets into a confessional mood and tells the audience (and the rest of the world) that he took ecstacy on “Top Of The Pops”. According to the singer, he and another, un-named, member of the band were given the drug by someone from their record label prior to the show in the early 1990’s. He does go on to say it was “a bit crap” to have taken the drug but the tabloid press just concentrate on the confession.
In Court
1978. Rick Wright (Pink Floyd) and his children’s tutor, Professor Michael Smith file lawsuits against the Chief Of Police on the Greek island of Lindos claiming ill-treatment. Wright and his family have been staying in a villa owned by Pink Floyd to which police were called following complaints from neighbours about noise. When they arrived an argument started and Michael Smith was arrested. Wright and his wife, Julia, went to the police station to establish why Smith was being held. There, they claim they were threatened with a revolver. The keyboard player also received bruised eyes and cut lips having been beaten about the face. The Chief Of Police has been recalled to Rhodes awaiting the outcome of an internal investigation.
In Hospital
1985. Mick Jagger‘s girlfiend Jerry Hall gives birth to a son, James Leroy Augustine Jagger at New York’s Lennox Hill Hospital.
On Television
1982. Rockpalast (WDR, West Germany) Frankie Miller & Band; TheEric Burdon Band; Bap; David Lindley’s El Rayo X; Rory Gallagher (Loreley, St. Goarshausen). Here’s David Lindley with his wonderful “Mercury Blues”. 4m 58s.
Death
2006. Drummer “Pip” (Philip) Pyle dies in Paris, France. He worked with Hatfield And The North, Robert Wyatt, National Health, Chicken Shack, Gong, The Paul Jones Group, The Hugh Hopper Band and many more.
Babble
Well, the week has been a bit of a disaster. Since Saturday, I haven’t been able to get this or my Ballerina Ballroom Blog online. Every day I’ve requested new passwords, I’ve reset my machine and been totally stumped by the fact that I couldn’t get in.
Somehow, I sussed it today. I’ve no idea how or why but Safari (the web browser I use) was set to “Private Browsing”. The moment I took that off, I got straight back in to my account. About time!
Anyway, I’d like to say the week’s been packed with excitement but there’s not much to report. I decided to go back to the garage sale and put some stuff on ebay. Most of it is cheap and cheerful but I did get carried away and put a copy of Derek Taylor’s “Fifty Years Adrift” up as an auction item. It was one of Genesis Publications’ first rock music limited edition books back in 1985. 2,000 hand-made, leather bound, gilt edged books packed with bits of memorabilia and the insight of one of rock’s true insiders. It’s even edited and annotated by George Harrison. No wonder that the edition sold out extremely quickly. Anyone who invested £ 185 in buying it twenty-three years ago is now looking at something valued up to £ 5,000! All 2,000 copies of the limited edition were signed by Derek and George but mine is rather unusual. It carries the disclaimer that it is neither signed nor numbered and is a review copy and therefore not part of the limited edition. Presumably, as one of only a few review copies, it’s even rarer! Time will tell.
The on-off-and-on-again state of the memorabilia exhibition is still up in the air although there are moves afoot. Anyway, I got bored hanging around and decided to get on with Rockmine’s sales section. I’m not sure if I want to call it a mall or a gallery but that will no doubt work itself out. The first new page up is as yet very small but definitely of interest. It’s “Handbills and Flyers” and it’s already got several real gems on it. There are three Marquee Club handbills. Each features a festival on the front and Marquee listings for a month on the reverse. There’s one for the Sunbury Festival with August 1968, Plumpton Festival with August 1969 but the real oddity is for Stockley Festival with July 1969. Stockley, near West Drayton was the original site for 1969’s 9th National Jazz, Blues & Popular Music Festival which went on to take place at Plumpton. I know how difficult it is to change venues for a small gig, changing the site for a complete festival must have been a nightmare.
One other item on the page is a handbill for Pink Floyd at Liverpool Empire Theatre on 15th February 1970. It may be missing its corners but this really is a cracker! I suppose I better get back to it. There’s more to get online – including a handbill for Bob Dylan at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1969.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday 27th August):
Birth
1954. Daniel Bressanutti (Front 242) born in Brussels, Belgium.
On Tour
1966. Pop duo Chad & Jeremy disappear after the first performance of a five day engagement at the Minnesota State Fair, After their first afternoon show, they returned to their hotel with their instruments and shortly after disappeared. They were due to have played another three shows today and every day until August 41st. Officials say no clue was given as to their reason for leaving. The duo’s American agent is arranging for Bobby Vee to replace them as star of the show.
In Custody
1989. Izzy Stradlin is arrested in Phoenix, Arizona for urinating in the galley of an airplane after he found the toilets were engaged.
In Scotland
1970. Derek McEwen, the missing promoter of the Yorkshire Pop, Blues & Jazz Festival reappears after vanishing on August 15th. He explains that he was in a confused state and had wandered around the moors for 15 hours before making his way to Scotland to stay with friends.
On Television
1981. (BBC-1, U.K.) Introduced by Richard Skinner. Aneka; Cliff Richard; Genesis; Legs & Co / ELO; The Nolans; The Rolling Stones; Soft Cell; Startrax; Ultravox. Today’s clip is Genesis with “Abacab”. 3m 45s.
Death
1967. Brian Epstein dies of an overdose at his flat at 24 Chapel Street, Belgravia, London. Simon Napier Bell will later claim in his book, “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”, that Epstein was depressed at being unable to seduce him and committed suicide.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Friday 22nd August):
Birth
1945. Ron Dante (The Cuff-Links) born Carmine Granito on Staten Island, New York.
On Stage
1978. Sid Vicious stages his farewell party at The Electric Circus. He and girlfriend Nancy Spungeon are moving to New York. The party-cum-gig features Sid with a scartch band of Rat Scabies on drums, Glen Matlock on bass, Steve New on guitar and Nancy on backing vocals. Also there are Blondie, Captain Sensible, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, The Rich Kids, The Slits among others.
In Hospital
1966. Two teenage girls threaten to throw themselves off a ledge on the 21st floor of a New York hotel unless they are allowed to hand a letter to Paul McCartney. Eventually, Patrolman Richard Powers manages to convince 16 year old Susan Richmond and her 17 year old friend Carol Hopkins to return inside the building after he and a colleague promise to see the letter is delivered. Afterwards the girls are taken to hospital for observation. An eye-witness said they just seemed to want attention. Strangely, The Beatles weren’t even in the hotel but were in another a block away and unaware of any problems.
In Church
1992. Sting and Trudie Styler make up for their low key wedding by holding a major bash for their blessing at St. Andrew’s Church, Great Dunford, Wilts. 150 guests are invited and The Police reform to play at the reception.
On Television
1998. Rockpalast (WDR, Germany) The Cure; Goldie; Guano Apes; The Deftones; The Afghan Whigs; The Notwist; Soul Coughing; The Toaster; Core; Funf Sterne Deluxe; Headcrash; Gautsch; Turbonegro; Mad Sin; Junkie XI (Bizarre Festival, Butzweiller Hof, Koln).
Death
1979. Bluesman John Lee Granderson dies of cancer in Chicago, Illinois.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 21st August):
Birth
1957. Budgie (Siouxsie And The Banshees) born Pete Clark in Lancashire.
On Tour
1976. The Mont De Marsan Festival is staged in a bullring south of Bordeaux by Marc Zermati, owner of Skydog Records. It is the first punk rock festival to be held in Europe and features The Count Bishops, The Damned, Nick Lowe, The Pink Fairies, Little Bob Story and The Tyla Gang.
En-route to the festival, Ray Burns of The Damned buys a trendy shirt with epaulettes. Later, when he’s wearing it, he fools around pretending to be an airline pilot saving his plane from certain doom. One of his colleagues shouts out, “It’s fucking Captain Sensible“. The name sticks.
In Court
1998. Jim Kerr‘s brother Paul is jailed for two years at the High Court in Edinburgh follwing an arson attack on the home of Radio Tay DJ John Darroch on July 18th 1997. The former Simple Minds tour manager had originally been charged with the attempted murder of 18 year old Karen Darroch and other occupants of the house in Broughty Ferry but this was later reduced to wilfully setting fire to a settee and attempting to set fire to the house to the danger of the occupants. The attack was the culmination of a two year dispute over a shop bought from Darroch in Blairmore, Argyll. Paul Kerr had bought the property with the intention of settling down after years on the road. Unfortunately, the business didn’t take off for him and he claimed that he had been conned by Darroch.
In Hospital
1994. According to The News Of The World, Sinead O’Connor has been having treatment at the London Priory psychiatric hospital. In an article published today entitled, “Sinead Cracks Up”, the paper alleges that she has being undergoing intensive therapy at the £ 350 a day clinic.
On Television
1998. Rockpalast (WDR, Germany) Portishead; Tindersticks; P.J. Harvey; Fun Lovin’ Criminals; The Bluetones; Chumbawumba; The Jesus And Mary Chain; H-Blockx; Such A Surge; Thumb (Bizarre Festival, Butzweiler Hof, Koln). Here’s P.J. with “Electric Light”. 4m 50s.
Death
1975. Country guitarist Sam McGee dies in Franklin, Tennessee.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday 20th August):
Birth
1948. Robert Plant (do I really have to say Led Zeppelin?) born in West Bromwich, England.
On Tour
1996. Whitney Houston gets £ 1.3 million for a 90 minute performance at a banquet held by the Sultan Of Brunei.
In Court
1981. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) appears at Kingston Crown Court to face three charges – possessing cocaine, possessing cannabis and cultivating cannabis. He’s found guilty of possessing cocaine and fined £ 200 but acquitted on both of the other charges. The court case follows a police raid on Lynott’s house in Kew Road, Richmond in November 1979. It took the jury two and three-quarter hours to reach its verdicts. Speaking to reporters outside the court, Lynott said he was very concerned about the effect the guilty verdict might have on his ability to tour the United States. Lynott had told the court that he’d given up smoking cannabis after the birth of his daughter, Sara, almost three years ago. he also said that he was unaware of possessing any cocaine. The jacket, in which two packets of the drug had been found, had been loaned to a friend and only returned the day before the raid.
In Hospital
1994. Sound engineer Tim Warhurst falls from a lighting gallery during rehearsals for Take That’s appearance at London’s Docklands Arena. He is flown by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where he is found to be suffering from head and spinal injuries that may leave him paralysed for life.
On Television
1975. Musikladen (ZDF, Germany) 20. 10cc; Bay City Rollers; Johnny Cash; Rubettes; The Cats; Paper Lace; ABBA; Roger Glover; Creedence Clearwater Rivival (Oldie); The Seekers. Here’s 10cc with “I’m Not In Love”. 4m 06s.
Death
1971. George Jackson, one of the Soledad Brothers, is shot dead by warders when he tries to escape from San Quentin Prison in California. Jackson, 29, had served 11 years for the theft of $ 70 and was currently in jail awaiting trial for the alleged killing of a prison warder during his sentence which was served at Soledad Prison. His court hearing was scheduled for August 23rd but he decided not to wait and escape instead. During the escape attempt, two other prisoners were shot dead by guards. Two prisoners had their throats slit by those escaping and a warder was stabbed to death. The event is captured for posterity by Bob Dylan in the song, “George Jackson”.
Music Paper From Today
New Musical Express from 20th August 1977. A copy taken from Rockmine’s almost complete run of U.K. music papers from the last 45 years.
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Tuesday 19th August):
Birth
1943. Billy J. Kramer born William Howard Ashton in Bootle, Lancashire.
On Tour
1965. As The Beatles arrive at Houston Airport in Texas, 5,000 fans break through police lines and rush towards their chartered plane. Luckily, a catering truck is backed up to the aircraft and the boys are ferried to safety. Promoter Bill Weaver said that the security force assembled to ensure the group’s safety was larger than that used by President Johnson when he was in the city. Sell out audiences of 12,000 at each of tonight’s shows will earn The Beatles £ 30,050. The city authories, who own the Coliseum where the concerts are taking place, have demanded a $ 10,000 (£ 3,500) damage bond from the promoter.
In Shops
1981. Neil Tennant meets Chris Lowe for the first time in an electronics shop in London’s Kings Road. Finding a common interest in dance music, the pair start writing together, eventually forming a duo called West End. That name soon gets dropped in favour of Pet Shop Boys, a name they had jokingly used to refer to some friends who worked in an Ealing pet shop.
In The Press
1976. Glasgow’s Evening Times runs a headline, “Ramones In Teenage Glue Death Outrage”. The paper claims that the band advocates the habit of sniffing glue. A local member of parliament, James Dempsey, tries to have the band’s first album banned from Scottish stores.
On Television
1972. The Midnight Special (NBC, U.S.A.) Pilot show. Host: John Denver. Guests: Argent; Harry Chapin; David Clayton Thomas; ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot; The Everly Brothers; The Isley Brothers. Here’s Argent with “Hold Your Head Up”.
Death
1996. Gospel-rock drummer Steve Marsh (Elim Hall, One Hundred Days) dies of liver cancer, first diagnosed in June.
Music Paper From Today
Record Mirror from 19th August 1972. A copy taken from Rockmine’s almost complete run of U.K. music papers from the last 45 years.
Babble
The first thing I have to do today, is apologize. Somehow, I managed to put today’s blog (i.e. Tuesday 19th August) up in place of yesterday’s. I didn’t realise until late last night and decided to leave it for the morning. So, here I am correcting a rather idiotic mistake.
Apart from that, there’s little to report today. The Ballerina Ballroom Blog is getting a lot of interest. Whether that’s as a result of my flyer and poster blitz of Nairn remains to be seen. I have started to feature the regular bands that played there and have reworked it so it’s easier to navigate. The trouble is it just keeps giving me more work! All the video clips I’ve added to it will now have to be added to the index of clips on the Rockmine TV pages. No rest for the wicked. Oh well, I better get on…
From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Monday 18th August):
Birth
1941. Johnny Preston (singer of “Running Bear”) born John Preston Courville in Port Arthur, Texas.
On Tour
1980. Half an hour before The Police are due onstage at the Parc des Sports d’Aguilerra in Biarritz, France, Stewart Copeland is hit with a severe attack of food poisoning. His place at the drum stool is taken by his drum roadie, Jeff Seitz. No-one in the audience seems to notice.
In Custody
1965. Three members of Herman’s Hermits are delayed at Manchester Airport on their return from a U.S. tour. The three were held for two hours by customs men who confiscated the gold watches they’d been given by their American agent. Derek Leckenby, Karl Green and Keith Hopwood said they didn’t realise that they had to declare gifts. The watches were valued at £ 50 each.
In Reality
1967. Mr. Washa Ngwanamashala, an official with the Tanzanian national dance troupe, claims that the music of The Beatles is taken from the rhythms of the Wasukuma tribe in the Lake Victoria region of northern Tanzania. He said Beatles music was so popular in Tanzania because people recognised the “twang beat” as their own.
On Television
1966. Top Of The Pops (BBC-1, U.K.) Introduced by Pete Murray. Chris Andrews, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers; Ken Dodd (promo film); Manfred Mann; Napoleon XIV; The Alan Price Set; The Beatles (on disc) The Mamas & The Papas (promo film); The Small Faces. Here are The Mamas and the Papas with the promo film for “I Saw Her Again” which was screened tonight.
Death
2007. Recording engineer Roy Wallace dies in London, aged 80. He developed stereophonic sound for the Decca Recording Company in the fifties.
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