Today In Music, January 3rd

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Saturday, 3rd January):

Birth

1964. Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub) born in Glasgow, Scotland.

On Tour

1963. The Beatles first ever tour starts with a gig at The Two Red Shoes in Elgin. Last night’s show at the Longmore Hall in Keith was cancelled due to bad weather. Paul McCartney filled in the wasted evening by flying home to Liverpool and returning this morning. Check out the Two Red Shoes blog here.

In Court

1996. After the jury is selected to try her stalker’s case, Madonna appears at the Superior Court in Los Angeles. Before the jury take their places, the singer asks for a motion to seal court documents to stop them being made public and also asks that her alleged stalker, Robert Dewey Hoskins a.k.a. Herbert Hoskins, be excluded during her testimony to the court. Hoskins is the subject of an order prohibiting him from being in close proximity to Madonna and has admitted that his “not guilty” plea was a planned action to ensure he would be in the same room as her. After arguments for both sides, the motions are denied. Once the jury take their places Madonna, obviously shaken, gives her testimony for the prosecution. The judge then adjourns the case until the next day. The court minutes for today’s proceedings.

In Hospital

2001. Moby is walking down a street in New York’s Chinatown when he stops to stroke a cat. The feline is obviously no fan as it bites deep into the ambient star’s hand. Despite the hand becoming more and more swollen throughout the day, Moby leaves it until the next morning when the pain becomes unbearable and he heads for the local E.R. He’s rushed into an urgent care ward, given a tetanus shot and dosed up with anti-biotics.

On Television

1964. NBC’s “The Jack Paar Show” becomes the first U.S. TV show to feature The Beatles playing live. Despite Brian Epstein having an exclusive contract with “The Ed Sullivan Show”, NBC licensed the live footage of “She Loves You”, shot for the documentary “The Mersey Sound”, direct from the BBC. Epstein’s fury was short lived and although he tried to block the screening, he accepted the £ 225 fee received from the BBC. Without this piece of advance publicity it’s doubtful that the ground-breaking “Ed Sullivan Show” would have had quite the same impact in sparking Beatlemania in the States. Here’s the original clip!

Death

2002. Zac Foley, bass player with EMF dies aged 31. The circumstances surrounding his death are not revealed at the time of the announcement.

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Today In Music, October 21st

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Tuesday 21st October):

Birth

1940. Manfred Mann born Michael Lubowitz in Johannesburg, South Africa.

On Tour

1973. 20 teenage girls are hurt as part of a wall and 30 feet of railing collapses on them at London’s Heathrow Airport. The wall gave way to pressure from thousands of fans gathered on the viewing gallery above. More than 10,000 girls were there to see The Osmonds arrive. Many had camped out overnight. The British Airports Authority announces it will review access for fans to ensure this never happens again. The group had been at the airport on October 18th but fans were unaware as there was no publicity. Airport officials have blamed the fanclub for notifying its 60,000 members that the group were arriving back from Copenhagen today.

In Custody

1998. Police in Surrey today confirm that Paul Weller was arrested during the week and questioned concerning an allegation that he sexually assaulted a woman at a party in Farnham, Surrey in 1996. After questioning Weller was released on police bail. The allegation has been made by a 36 year old woman who claims to have been to traumatised by her rape to contact police at the time.

In Court

1966. Wayne Fontana is fined £ 15 by a court in Barking, London after being caught speeding in his Jaguar at 64-66 m.p.h. in a 40 m.p.h. limit.

On Television

2005. Later… With Jools Holland (BBC-2, U.K.) Goldfrapp, Editors, Burt Bacharach with Rufus Wainwright, Brendan Benson, Corinne Bailey Rae. Here’s Burt and Rufus with, “Go Ask Shakespeare”.

Death

1965. Bill Black, Elvis’ guitarist 1954-1957 dies in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

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Today In Music, August 10th

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Sunday 10th August):

Birth

On Tour

1967. The Bee Gees announce they are cancelling nightclub bookings in Germany this weekend. Two Australian members of the group have been ordered to leave Britain by the middle of September. If they were to leave the country before then it seems certain they would be barred from re-entering. Until the matter is settled, the group will not undertake any overseas concerts.

All At Sea

1965. An air-sea search is launched after a crewman goes missing overboard from a yacht chartered by Frank Sinatra. The singer is cruising the waters off New England with actresses Rosalind Russell and Claudette Colbert, their husbands and other guests. Among them is Mia Farrow, the 19 year old actress whose name has been romantically linked with Sinatra. The missing man, 23 year old Robert Goldfarb, is thought to have been lost when the boat’s dingy overturned.

In Court

1964. Mick Jagger is fined £ 32, and given two endorsements to his license, at Liverpool Magistrate’s Court for driving without insurance, being unable to produce a valid drivers’ license and driving at 48-50 m.p.h. in a 30 m.p.h. limit.

On Television

2003. The South Bank Show (ITV, U.K.) Tonight’s show features Nick Cave. Today’s clip will link to the other parts to give you the whole show. 10m 04s.

Death

2002. Guitarist Michael Houser (Widespread Panic) dies at his home in Athens, Georgia as a result of complications related to his pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Barbette and son, Walker. Houser (40) last played with the band on July 2nd. Since leaving due to his worsening condition, guitar duties have been taken on by George McConnell a longtime friend of Michael and the rest of the group. With the announcement of his death comes news that his family are setting up the Michael Hauser Music Fund “as a living memorial to Michael and his love of music”.

Babble

I’m back in Elgin today and heading to Nairn soon. The plan to stage a memorabilia exhibition seems to have run into problems. With entrance to the cafe area being open to ticket holders only, public access is the main concern. Needless to say with strict fire safety laws, the number of people allowed in the venue at any time must be strictly adhered to.

With that in mind, I’m hoping either to find a compromise solution or see if one of the vacant shops near the Ballerina Ballroom can be used to house the show as a “fringe” event. I will, of course, keep you updated.

 

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Today In Music, August 7th

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:

July 07 – 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.

July 10 – Cream return to play their concert.

July 21 – Pink Floyd

July 28 – Gino Washington and The Ram Jam Band plus The Copy Cats

August 18 – The Small Faces – concert cancelled.

August 31 – Zoot Money and his new group Dantalion’s Chariot plus The T-Set

September 08 – The Freddie Mack Show

September 15 – The Throb plus The Life N’ Soul

September 22 – Tony Merrick plus The T-Set

October 06 – The Who plus Gideon’s Few

October 13 – The Beatstalkers plus The Rebel Sound

October 20 – The Four Shades Of Blue plus The T-Set

October 27 – The Tamala Express plus The Beatroute

November 03 – The Rhubarb plus The Barons

November 10 – Clock-work Orange plus Last Chapter

November 17 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

December 01 – The Delroy Williams Show plus Keith Taylor

December 08 – The Troggs plus The Throb

December 15 – Symon Dupree

December 22 – Cash Boutique Queen For 1967. Grand Final

December 25 – Aberdeen Students’ Charities’ Campaign present Their Xmas Beatnik Ball with The Circle plus The T-Set

December 29 – 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.

 

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Today In Music, August 3rd

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Sunday 3rd August):

Birth

1953. Ian Bairnson (Pilot) born in Shetland.

On The Street

1999. 150 fans turn up to see a star unveiled on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame to country legend Patsy Cline. Her husband, Charlie Dick, was onhand to represent the family, 36 years after the singer’s death.

In Court

1969. Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys) is indicted in Los Angeles for failing to undertake his work as a hospital orderly in lieu of military draft.

In Hospital

1965. Johnny Little lead singer with The Vikings pop group is released from Perth Royal Infirmary following his accident on July 27th when he fell from scaffolding during his job as a painter.

On Television

1974. The Partridge Family (ABC, U.S.A.) in an episode entitled, “Keith And Lauriebelle”. 8m 26s. This clip will link to another two to give you the whole episode.

Death

1992. Jazz trombonist and rock ‘n’ roll singer Don Lang dies of cancer in London’s Royal Marsden Hospital. He had a long session career that included work on The Beatles‘ “white” album.

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© Copyright 1995 – 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.

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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Today In Music, July 10th

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Thursday 10th July):

Birth

1949. Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Rainbow, Dio) born Ronald Padavona in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In Custody

1997. Liam Gallagher sets off for a quiet evening seeing labelmates Idha at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Club but things soon turn sour. Driving to the club, his Mercedes cuts up a cyclist approaching a junction. The cyclist alleges that he looked across at the car to see Liam make an obscene gesture at him. Some words are exchanged and Liam leans from the car and grabs hold of the cyclist who is dragged along with the car. The cyclist, described by police as a 33 year old man from West London struggles free and cycles away.

At the junction with St. Pancras Way, Liam allegedly gets out of the car goes up to the man and says something. He then grabs the cyclist’s sun glasses and throws them to the ground. Liam then allegedly picks them up and throws them to the ground again before walking back to the car and driving off. A spokesman for Scotland Yard later said Kentish Town Police were investigating an incident and had formally recorded an allegation of criminal damage to a pair of sunglasses worth approximately £ 60. After admitting criminal damage, Liam receives a formal police caution on July 24th.

After the gig, Liam is involved in a scuffle at Ronnie Scott’s with Hurricane #1‘s lead singer (and ex-boxer) Alex Lowe. The incident stems from comments Lowe made about Oasis in an NME interview last month. An Oasis’ spokesman later denied that the two men had come to blows and insisted it was merely “high jinks”.

In Court

2000. Kid Rock‘s former manager, Stephen Hutton, files a federal lawsuit against the star in a New York District Court. The suit, for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, seeks $ 4 million damages from the rap-rocker and his company, Top Dog Records Inc. Hutton claims that Rock (real name Robert J. Ritchie) failed to pay management commissions and terminated his contract without warning on June 28. The latter action breaches a contract signed in 1996.

In Hospital

1981. Jerry Lee Lewis is reported in a critical condition after 5 and a half hours of surgery to remove abscesses which developed after an operation on his stomach on June 30th. Doctors say the 45 year old rocker has only a 50-50 chance of survival.

On Television

1978. Disco (ZDF, West Germany) 92. Dee D. Jackson – Automatic lover; Lena Valaitis – Oh Cavallo; Sunrise – Call on me; Francis Goya – Argentina; Smokie – Oh Carol; Sailor – All I need is a girl; Mireille Mathieu – Santa Maria; Cliff Richard – Please remember me. Here are Sunrise.

Death

1979. Arthur Fiedler, conductor with The Boston Pops Orchestra dies aged 84. He had been conductor from 1930 until today.

 

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Today In Music, July 8th

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Tuesday 8th July):

Birth

1961. Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode) born in Basildon, Essex.

On Tour

1999. Tonight’s Celine Dion concert at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium is slated in the press after it’s revealed that 12 children from the city who took part in the concert had to beg for free passes to the show.

Although it’s thought that the singer, who visited the children’s dressing room and signed autographs for them, knew nothing about it, the promoter insisted parents had to pay £ 35 each if they wanted to see the children on stage. Those who refused were only allowed to hear the performance.

In Custody

1986. Boy George‘s brother, Kevin O’Dowd, and pop singer Marilyn are arrested and charged after a series of morning raids by Paddington Green drugs squad officers. Kevin O’Dowd is charged, along with Anna Tinmaung, Steven Luben and Diane Fiener, with conspiring to supply Boy George with heroin. Marilyn is charged with unlawful possession of heroin.

Culture Club drummer, John Moss is arrested but released without charge after questioning. Another of George’s friends, the flamboyant nightclub owner, Phil Sallon, is also taken to Paddington Green but later released without charge. The whereabouts of Boy George are unknown. It’s thought he’s travelling to New York or is already there. The five who have been charged will appear in Marylebone Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

In Court

1974. Sonny & Cher‘s divorce wrangles, which are continuing in the courtroom and the full glare of the media, take a bizzare turn today. Sonny is recording in the studio in town when Cher moves back into the couple’s Holmby Hills mansion.

Sonny has already told the court that her return would interfere with his work and day to day living but this isn’t Cher coming back to share. She moves in with daughter Chastity, a secretary, a bodyguard and her new boyfriend, David Geffen. Sonny gives in and takes up residence at The Beverly Hills Hotel. As for the divorce? It won’t be finalised until June 26th next year!

On Television

1992. Late Night With David Letterman (CBS, U.S.A.) Show #1655. Musical guest: Lindsey Buckingham with “Countdown”.

Death

1991. Orchestra leader Geoff Love (Manuel And His Music Of The Mountains) dies aged 73.

 

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