From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Wednesday, 14th January):
Birth
1938. Allen Toussaint born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
On Stage
1963. Charlie Watts takes the drum-stool for the first time with The Rolling Stones at the Flamingo Jazz Club in London’s Wardour Street. He had been approached by Mick Jagger to join the band the week before but hadn’t been sure. Charlie was used to working for money, which the stones didn’t have – but as he didn’t have anything else lined up, he took the job.
In Court
1981. Marianne Faithfull fails to appear at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court in London to answer charges (in her married name of Brierley) of possessing 15 milligrammes of heroin and 900 milligrammes of cannabis at her flat in Danvers Street, Chelsea. Her solicitor told the court she had been admitted to hospital for the removal of a wisdom tooth. The case is continued until February 17th.
In Hospital
1994. Tammy Wynette performs with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in Arizona despite the fact she had to leave hospital for the performance. She was struck by a life-threatening bile duct infection in the new year and was on a life support machine for four days remaining in a critical condition until recently.
On Television
1987. Late Night With David Letterman (CBS, U.S.A.) Musical guest: Joan Jett
Death
1970. Songwriter Harry Woods (“When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin’ Along”) dies after a car crash in Phoenix, Arizona aged 73.
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 13th May):
Birth
1947. Peter “Overend” Watts (Mott The Hoople) born in Birmingham, England.
On Stage
1966. Jimi Hendrix is photographed playing his guitar with his teeth at the Club Cheetah, 53 Broadway, New York. Still with Curtis Knight And The Squires, this gives an indication of Hendrix’s future style.
… and in:
2002. Madonna makes her first appearance onstage in London’s West End in the play, “Up For Grabs”. Tickets for her run at the city’s Wyndham Theatre sold out within 10 days. It’s her first stage performance since appearing in David Mamet’s “Speed The Plow” on Broadway in 1988. Tonight’s show was a preview with the run opening properly in 10 days. Here’s the flyer:
In Court
1997. Jerome “J.J.” Johnson has his claim for wrongful termination against Michael Jackson thrown out by Judge David Horowitz. Jackson claimed he was fired from his job as a security guard for Jackson’s production company when he overheard the head of security bragging about having lied to the Grand Jury investigating allegations of child molestation against the singer.
On Television
2000. Later… With Jools Holland (BBC-2, U.K.) 15.5. Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros – “London Calling”, “Tony Adams”, “X Ray Style”, “I Fought The Law”; Tracy Chapman – “Telling Stories”, “Behind The Wall”, “Speak The Word”; The Delgados – “American Trilogy”, “Thirteen Gliding Principles”; Angie Stone – “Life Story”, “No More Rain (This Cloud)”; Warren Zevon – “Werewolves Of London”, “My S**t’s F****d Up”. Here’s Joe with “London Calling”.
Death
1988. Chet Baker dies when he falls (or jumps) from an Amsterdam hotel window.
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