April 9th

Musical birthdays today include country singer Kay Adams (85), country singer Margo Smith (83), session drummer Steve Gadd (81), singer-songwriter John Howard (73), country singer Hal Ketchum (73), Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly (65), former My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way (49), ex-S Club vocalist Rachel Stevens (48), Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. (47), Escape the Fate lead singer Craig Mabbitt (39) and Jesse McCartney (39).  

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for bluesman Mance Lipscomb, born on this day in 1895... for Paul Robeson, born in 1898... for Indian classical musician... for

Musical birthdays today include Tom Lehrer (97), country singer Kay Adams (84), country singer Margo Smith (82), session drummer Steve Gadd (80), singer-songwriter John Howard (72), country singer Hal Ketchum (72), Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly (64), former My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way (48), ex-S Club vocalist Rachel Stevens (47), Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. (46), Escape the Fate lead singer Craig Mabbitt (38) and Jesse McCartney (38).  

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for bluesman Mance Lipscomb, born on this day in 1895... for Paul Robeson, born in 1898... for Tom Lehrer, born in 1928... for Indian classical musician Sharan Rani Backliwal, born in 1929... for Carl Perkins, born in 1932... for producer and manager Terry Knight, who would have been 82... for Phil Ochs, who took his own life today in 1976 at the age of 35... for Dave Prater of Sam & Dave, who died in a car crash today in 1988 at the age of 50... for avant-garde cellist Tom Cora, who died in 1998... for Delfonics founding member Randy Cain, who passed away in 2009... and for DMX, who left us four years ago today.  

Also on April 9th: On Easter Sunday, Marian Anderson performs an open-air concert for an crowd of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., after being denied permission by the Daughters of the American Revolution to appear at Constitution Hall before an integrated audience (1939)... The Righteous Brothers are at № 1 on the Billboard singles chart with 'You're My Soul and Inspiration' (1966)... The Doors play to their largest audience to date when they open for Jefferson Airplane at Santa Monica Pier before 3,000 spectators (1967)... Columbia Records releases Bob Dylan's album Nashville Skyline (1969)... Newly signed to EMI, Queen play a showcase gig for their record company at London's Marquee Club (1973)... Terry Jacks becomes the first Canadian since 1957 to score a UK № 1, with 'Seasons in the Sun' (1974)... ABBA have the № 1 single in the US, the UK and 12 other countries with 'Dancing Queen' (1977)... Bill Wyman (52) announces that he and Mandy Smith (19) are engaged. The Stones bassist further reveals that they have been dating for six years (1989)... Sir Paul McCartney plays his first show in Manchester in 24 years when he appears at the MEN Arena on the UK leg of the 'Back in the World' Tour (2003).

Sharan Rani Backliwal, born in 1929... for Carl Perkins, born in 1932... for producer and manager Terry Knight, who would have been 82... for Phil Ochs, who took his own life today in 1976 at the age of 35... for Dave Prater of Sam & Dave, who died in a car crash today in 1988 at the age of 50... for avant-garde cellist Tom Cora, who died in 1998... for Delfonics founding member Randy Cain, who passed away in 2009... and for DMX, who left us four years ago today.  

Also on April 9th: On Easter Sunday, Marian Anderson performs an open-air concert for an crowd of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., after being denied permission by the Daughters of the American Revolution to appear at Constitution Hall before an integrated audience (1939)... The Righteous Brothers are at № 1 on the Billboard singles chart with 'You're My Soul and Inspiration' (1966)... The Doors play to their largest audience to date when they open for Jefferson Airplane at Santa Monica Pier before 3,000 spectators (1967)... Columbia Records releases Bob Dylan's album Nashville Skyline (1969)... Newly signed to EMI, Queen play a showcase gig for their record company at London's Marquee Club (1973)... Terry Jacks becomes the first Canadian since 1957 to score a UK № 1, with 'Seasons in the Sun' (1974)... ABBA have the № 1 single in the US, the UK and 12 other countries with 'Dancing Queen' (1977)... Bill Wyman (52) announces that he and Mandy Smith (19) are engaged. The Stones bassist further reveals that they have been dating for six years (1989)... Sir Paul McCartney plays his first show in Manchester in 24 years when he appears at the MEN Arena on the UK leg of the 'Back in the World' Tour (2003).

April 8th

Musical birthdays today include Lennon sister Peggy Lennon (85), Family lead singer Roger Chapman (84), Yes guitarist Steve Howe (79), Grand Funk Railroad bassist Mel Schacher (75), New Model Army frontman Justin Sullivan (70), Guns N' Roses co-founder & former guitarist Izzy Stradlin (64), Julian Lennon (63), ex-L7 guitarist Donita Sparks (63), rapper Marcel Hall AKA Biz Markie (62), Tracy Grammer (58), Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig (42), Bridget Kelly (40), and The Cab lead singer Alexander DeLeon (37). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for song lyricist Edgar 'Yip' Harburg [best remembered for 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'], born on this day in 1896... for jazz singer Carmen McRae, born in 1920... for jazz trumpeter Ollie Mitchell, born in 1927... for Jacques Brel, born in 1929... for original Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, who would have been 53... for composer Gaetano Donizetti, who died on this date in 1848... for Marian Anderson, who passed away in 1993... for Laura Nyro, who died in 1997... and for Annette Funicello, who left us today in 2013.

Also on April 8th: Franz Liszt gives a recital for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle (1886)... Bartók's 5th String Quartet is premiered by the Kollisch Quartet at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. (1935)... The Supremes record 'Where Did Our Love Go' at Motown Studios in Detroit. When released, it will become their first US № 1 single (1964)... In Vienna, Sandie Shaw wins the Eurovision Song Contest representing the UK with 'Puppet on a String'... John Lennon takes his Rolls Royce to coachbuilders J.P. Fallon Ltd in Surrey to enquire if they can paint his car in psychedelic colours. The idea was suggested to him by Marijke Koger AKA 'The Fool', who is a member of Dutch team of gypsy artists. J.P. Fallon himself commissions Steve Weaver's pattern of scroll and flowers for the Phantom V. The bill for the work done comes in at £2,000. A custom interior/exterior sound system is also installed as well as a Sony television, a telephone (WEYBRIDGE 46676) and a portable refrigerator (1967)... Paul McCartney and Wings release the single 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish', which was written after the Bloody Sunday tragedy in Northern Ireland. The song is immediately banned by the BBC, but will still rise as high as № 16 on the British chart (1972)... David Bowie plays the first of three sold out nights in Tokyo on the Ziggy Stardust world tour (1973)... With their American debut at CBGB, The Damned become the first British punk group to play in the US... CBS Records UK releases the self-titled debut of The Clash (1977)... New Order bassist Peter Hook is knocked unconscious by rioting fans at a gig in Rotterdam (1982)... An electrician named Gary Smith working at Kurt Cobain's house in Seattle discovers the singer's body lying on the floor in the greenhouse. Local radio  station KXRX breaks the news at 9.40 AM PST that the Nirvana frontman is dead. A shotgun was found next to Cobain's body, along with a suicide note reading 'I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music, along with really writing . . . for too many years now'. The autopsy will reveal a high concentration of heroin and traces of Valium in Cobain's system (1994)... Stones guitarist Ron Wood is one of 11 passengers rescued in the nick of time from a boat when an engine catches fire. The boat was exploring the islands near Angra Dos Reis, south of Rio De Janeiro,  when one of the boat's engines burst into flames. Passengers are rescued by nearby journalists, just before craft explodes (1998)... After a false start in 2003, the Rolling Stones finally perform for the first time in the People's Republic of China, at Shanghai's Grand Stage Theatre. The Stones were told ahead of time that they could not play 'Brown Sugar', 'Honky Tonk Women' or 'Rough Justice'. Chinese rock star Cui Jian joins the band on stage for a duet with Mick Jagger on 'Wild Horses' (2006)... It is reported in the British press that organizers for the 2012 London Olympic Games recently asked The Who's manager Bill Curbishley if legendary drummer Keith Moon would be able to perform at the forthcoming opening ceremony. Curbishley told The Times how he responded to the request: "I emailed back saying Keith now resides in Golders Green crematorium, having lived up to The Who's anthemic line 'I hope I die before I get old'. I told them that if they have a round table, some glasses and candles, we might contact him" (2012).

April 7th

Musical birthdays today include country singer Bobby Bare, Sr. (91), original Jethro Tull lead guitarist Mick Abrahams (83), former Chiffons vocalist Patricia Bennett (79), John Oates (78), Janis Ian (75), Our Lady Peace Drummer Jeremy Taggart (51), and former Liberty X lead singer Kelli Young (45). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Percy Faith, born on this day in 1908... for Billie Holiday, born in 1915... for Ravi Shankar, born in 1920... for Babatunde Olatunji, born in 1927... for Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden, jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, and producer and Record Plant co-founder Gary Kellgren, all of whom would have been 87... for Kraftwerk drummer Florian Schneider, who would have been 79... for composer Anton Diabelli, who died on this date in 1858... for bassist and John Coltrane sideman Jimmy Garrison, who passed away in 1976... for Dr. Feelgood lead singer Lee Brilleaux, who died in 1994... for producer & engineer Andy Johns, who died in 2013...  and for John Prine, who left us three years ago today.

Also on April 7th: Bach's St. John Passion is performed for the first time at a Good Friday service at the Nicholaskirche in Leipzig (1724)... French composer Rouget de Lisle completes 'La Marseillaise' (1792)... In Vienna, Beethoven conducts the premiere performance of his 3rd Symphony, commonly known as the Eroica (1805)... Rogers & Hammerstein's musical South Pacific first opens on Broadway (1949)... The CBS Radio Network premieres the first regularly scheduled nationally broadcast rock music show in America, Alan Freed's 'Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party (1956)... At the Ealing Jazz Club in West London, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet Brian Jones for the first time. Jones is calling himself Elmo Lewis and playing guitar for singer P.P. Pond (1962)... At Abbey Road, The Beatles continue work on Revolver, as John completes vocal overdubs on 'Tomorrow Never Knows', and the group move on to Paul's new song 'Got to Get You into My Life' (1966)... The top 5 singles on the Billboard chart today: № 5, 'Bridge Over Trouble Water' by Simon and Garfunkel; № 4, 'Spirit in the Sky', by Norman Greenbaum; № 3, 'Instant Karma' by John Lennon; № 2, 'ABC' by The Jackson Five; and at № 1, 'Let It Be' by The Beatles... Miles Davis finishes recording A Tribute to Jack Johnson at the CBS 30th St. Studios... (1970)... Atlantic Records release Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's album 4 Way Street (1971)... Ritchie Blackmore announces that he is leaving Deep Purple to form his own band, Rainbow ~ he will be replaced by Tommy Bolin (1975)... Siouxie and the Banshees play a gig to raise money for the UK disability charity Mencap, but have to come up with another £2000 of their own money to pay for damage done to the seats during the show by the audience (1979)...Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kick off their first full European tour with a show in Hamburg (1981)... Wham! become the first western pop group to perform live in China, when they play at the Workers Gymnasium in Beijing (1985)... Courtney Love is arrested on drugs and theft charges after a reported overdose. At this time, Love is still unaware that her husband Kurt Cobain is dead at their home. [His body was not discovered until April 8, by an electrician who had arrived to install a security system at their house] (1994)... Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher marries actress Patsy Kensit in London (1997)... Paul McCartney buys Courtney Love's 4-bedroom 1930's Beverly Hills bungalow for $3.995 million (2001).

April 6th

Musical birthdays today include operatic mezzo-soprano Felicity Palmer (82), Tangerine Dream drummer Christopher Franke (73), bluesman Blind Mississippi Morris (71), Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes (66), Pixies frontman Charles Thompson AKA Black Francis (61), Stone Sour drummer Roy Mayorga (56), Sigur Rós bassist Georg Hólm (50), Opeth bassist Martin Méndez (42), and Say Anything lead singer Max Bemis (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for blues harmonic virtuoso Big Walter Horton, born on this day in 1918... for jazzman Gerry Mulligan, born in 1927.. for conductor André Previn, born in 1929... for Merle Haggard, who would have been 89... for Igor Stravinsky, who died on this date in 1971... for Wendy O. Williams, who took her own life today in 1998 at the age of 48, and for Tammy Wynette, who left us on the same day... and for former Crickets guitarist Niki Sullivan, who passed away in 2004. 

Also on April 6th: Arthur Sullivan's debut success, his suite of incidental music for The Tempest, is performed for the first time at Covent Garden, leading to a career that included the celebrated Gilbert and Sullivan operas (1861)... Elvis signs a 7-year contract with Paramount Pictures (1956)... The Everly Brothers kick off their first UK tour at London's New Victoria Theatre, with The Crickets as their opening act (1960)... At Carnegie Hall, one of the most controversial concerts in the history of the NY Philharmonic takes place. It features a performance by Glenn Gould of Brahms' First Piano Concerto, with the orchestra led by its musical director, Leonard Bernstein. The concert became famous because of Bernstein's remarks from the podium prior to the concerto, in which he disassociated himself from the interpretation that was to come (1962)... At Abbey Road, the Beatles hold their first session for what will become the Revolver album by recording 'Tomorrow Never Knows' (1966)... The first master tape of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is made. The track order on side one is different from the final product at this point, the last five songs on that side initially ordered as follows: ‘Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite’, ‘Fixing a Hole’, ‘Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds’, ‘Getting Better’, and ‘She's Leaving Home’. The Beatles specified that there were to be no gaps between songs, an unprecedented idea at the time (1967)... Pink Floyd announce that founder Syd Barrett, suffering from psychiatric disorders compounded by drug use, has officially left the group... Simon & Garfunkel's soundtrack to The Graduate is the № 1 album in America... The Beatles Apple Corps Ltd. record company, management and publishing firm, open their offices on Savile Row in London (1968)... Carly Simon is introduced to James Taylor after her show at the Troubador in Los Angeles... The Rolling Stones announce the launch of their own record label (1971)... ABBA win the Eurovision song contest with 'Waterloo', launching their international career (1974)... Rod Stewart marries Alana Hamilton in Beverly Hills (1979)... Roger Waters' lawyers issue a statement that their client believes himself to be the driving creative force behind Pink Floyd, and will therefore contest the use of the name by anyone else, including any former members of Pink Floyd (1987)... The Dandy Warhols release their debut album, Dandys Rule OK (1995)... An all-star tribute to Joni Mitchell is held at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, featuring performances by Elton John, Bryan Adams, Shawn Colvin, James Taylor, Cyndi Lauper, Richard Thompson, k.d. Lang, and Mary Chapin Carpenter (2000).

April 5th

Musical birthdays today include former Fairport Convention fiddler Dave Swarbrick (85), Hollies lead singer Allan Clarke (84), former Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland (78), ABBA vocalist Agnetha Fältskog (76), original Wall of Voodoo lead singer Stan Ridgway (72), ex-Plimsouls lead singer Peter Case (72), classical pianist Julius Drake (67), Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready (60), Paula Cole (58), Ra frontman Sahaj Ticotin (57), Three 6 Mafia rapper Jordan Houston AKA Juicy J (51), and jazz pianist Robert Glasper (48). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for conductor Herbert von Karajan, born on this day in 1908... for cabaret singer Gale Storm, born in 1922... for Platters vocalist Tony Williams, born in 1928... for producer & songwriter Joe Meek [best remembered for 'Telstar'], born in 1929... for R&B singer Billy Bland, born in 1931... for saxophonist Stanley 'The Sugar Man' Turrentine, born in 1934... for pop singer Crispian St. Peters and Miracles vocalist Ronald White, both of whom would have been 87... for Canned Heat lead singer Bob Hite, who died of  drug overdose today in 1981 at the age of 37... for Kurt Cobain, who took his own life today in 1994 at the age of 27... for Cozy Powell, who was killed in a drunk driving accident today in 1998 at age 50... for original Alice in Chains lead singer Layne Staley, who died of a drug overdose today in 2002 at the age of 34... for Gene Pitney, who passed away in 2006... and for amplifier inventor and designer Jim Marshall, who left us today in 2014.

Also on April 5th: Johann Strauss' opera Die Fledermaus has its premiere in Vienna (1874)... Ray Charles marries his second wife, Della (1955)... After making 6 live albums over the last two years, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers have their first studio recording session at Columbia's 30th St. Studios in NYC (1956)...  Monkees fans walk from London's Marble Arch to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square to protest Davy Jones' planned call-up. Jones will be exempted when he is deemed responsible for supporting his father (1967)... Elvis launches a 15-date tour at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, NY (1972)... Minnie Riperton has the № 1 single in America with the Stevie Wonder-produced 'Lovin' You' (1975)... Duran Duran make their live debut at the Lecture Theatre at Birmingham Polytechnic (1978)... R.E.M. play their first ever gig at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Athens, GA (1980)... Marvin Gaye's funeral takes place at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles; Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy and many other Motown singers, writers and producers attend the service (1984)... At 3:50 PM GMT, over 5,000 radio stations worldwide air the charity single by USA for Africa 'We Are The World'. The song goes on to be a № 1  in the US & the UK, as well as in most Western territories (1985)... Tracy Chapman's eponymous debut album is released (1988)... The Spice Girls perform their first ever-live UK concert when they appeared in front of a 9,000 strong audience in Glasgow (1998)... Apple's iTunes overtakes Wal-Mart to become the largest music retailer in the US. Market research firm NPD says that iTunes surpassed Wal-Mart in January and February if 12 downloads are considered equal to the sale of one CD album. iTunes has sold more than four billion songs since its launch in 2003 (2008)... A statue in tribute to Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain is unveiled in his hometown of Aberdeen, WA. The ceremony marks the 17th anniversary of Cobain's death. The statue designed by local artists Kim and Lora Malakoff is of his signature Fender Jag-Stang guitar. The concrete guitar is eight and a half feet tall and also features a ribbon with lyrics written on it from Nirvana's 'On a Plain'. It reads: 'One more special message to go and then I'm done and I can go home' (2011).

April 4th

Musical birthdays today include industry executive Clive Davis (94), Slade lead guitarist Dave Hill (80), ex-Dire Straits drummer Pick Withers (78), classical violinist Chen Yi (73), The Alarm bassist Craig Adams (64), producer and guitarist Vinny Burns (61), Buckcherry lead singer Josh Todd (55), Jill Scott (54), Cardigans bassist Magnus Sveningsson (54), Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell (46), and Jamie Lynn Spears (35). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Muddy Waters, born on this day in 1913... for South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, who would have been 87 today... for songwriter and music impresario Sharon Sheeley, who would have been 86... for former Allman Brothers band bassist Berry Oakley, who would have been 78... for reggae singer Junior Braithwaite, who would have been 77.. for Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore, who would have been 74... for Deacon Blue guitarist Graeme Kelling, who would have been 69... for original Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr, who would have been 60... for country singer Red Sovine, who died on this date in 1980... for multi-genre cellist Arthur Russell, who passed away in 1992... and for Manowar drummer Scott Columbus, who left us today in 2011. 

Also on April 4th: 'Dixie' is performed for the first time by Bryant's Minstrels as the finale of a blackface show in NYC (1859)... Camille Saint-Saëns' 1st Violin concerto premieres at the Salle Pleyel in Paris with Pablo Sarrasate as soloist (1872)... Elvis plays the first of two nights at the San Diego Arena in San Diego, CA. The local police chief issues a statement saying if the singer ever returns to the city and gives another similar performance, he will be arrested for disorderly conduct (1956)... RCA Victor Records announce that they will henceforth release all pop singles in mono and stereo simultaneously, making them the first record company to do so (1960)... The Beatles hold the top five places on the Billboard singles chart: № 5, 'Please Please Me'; № 4, 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'; № 3, 'Roll Over Beethoven'; № 2, 'Love Me Do'; and at № 1, 'Can't Buy Me Love.' They also have another nine singles on the chart, bringing their total in the Hot 100 to fourteen (1964)... Jimi Hendrix is the guest on the premiere episode of Kiki Dee's new BBC show 'Dee Time', with Cat Stevens also appearing (1967)... Crosby Stills Nash & Young go to № 1 on the US album chart with Deja Vu (1970)... London Records release ZZ Top's second album Rio Grande Mud (1972)... Take That give their final performance on The Ivo Niehe Show on Dutch TV, playing two songs in front of a 250 strong studio audience (1996)... A Swedish couple run into trouble with authorities after trying to name their baby 'Metallica'. Michael and Karolina Tomaro are in court today to resolve a dispute with the country's National Tax Authority over naming their daughter after the rock band. The six-month-old has been baptised Metallica, but tax officials say that the name is 'inappropriate'. Under Swedish law, both first names and surnames must be approved by tax and census before they may be used (2007)... Beyonce Knowles marries Jay-Z at his New York apartment. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and wife Gwyneth Paltrow, and Beyonce's former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams all attend the private ceremony (2008).

April 3rd

Musical birthdays today include songwriter Jeff Barry (88), Wayne Newton (84), Tony Orlando (82), Richard Thompson (77), Rocket 88s pianist & leader Mitch Woods (75), New Orleans bluesman John Mooney (71), Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness (64), R&B singer Kelly Price (53), Switchfoot guitarist Drew Shirley (52), Outlawz rapper Bruce Washington AKA Hussein Fatal (49), Suburban Legends trumpeter Aaron Bertram (45), and Leona Lewis (41). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Dooley Wilson, born on this day in 1886... for Doris Day, born in 1922... for country singer-songwriter Don Gibson, born in 1928... for saxophonist & jazz flautist Harold Vick, who would have been 90... for Jan Berry and for former Spinners vocalist Phillipé Wynne, both of whom would have been 85... for Richard Manuel of The Band, who would have been 83... for Procol Harum bassist Dee Murray, who would have been 77... for Johannes Brahms, who died on this date in 1897... for Kurt Weill, who died in 1950... and for Sarah Vaughn, who left us today in 1990.

Also on April 3rd: Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt premieres at the King's Theatre in London. The work, the composer's first use of Biblical texts in a theatrical setting, is not well received, and the performance run closes three nights later (1739)... Smetana's The Moldau is performed for the first time in Prague. The composer, now totally deaf, hears neither the music nor the audience's reaction (1875)... Arturo Toscanini conducts his last concert of the NBC Orchestra at Carnegie Hall 10 days after his 87th birthday. He then announces his retirement, ending his 17-year association with the ensemble (1954)... Elvis appears on ABC's 'The Milton Berle Show', live from the flight deck of the  aircraft carrier USS Hancock in San Diego. It is estimated the next day that 1 in every 4 American households with a television watched the broadcast (1956)... The Marcels go to № 1 in both America and Britain with their version of the Rodgers & Hart standard 'Blue Moon' (1961)... Bob Dylan makes his first appearance on the UK singles chart as 'The Times They Are A-changin'' enters the top 100 ~ it will eventually rise as high as № 5 (1964)... At Abbey Road, George Harrison adds his lead vocal to 'Within You Without You', then sitar (1967)... Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends is released (1968)... Jim Morrison turns himself in at the FBI field office in Los Angeles. He was wanted on six charges of lewd behavior and public exposure at a Doors concert in Miami on March 2nd. He is later released on $2000 bail (1969)... The Temptations score their second US № 1 with 'Just My Imagination (Running away with Me)' (1971)... In Los Angeles, Steve Miller is charged with setting fire to the clothes of ex-girlfriend Benita Diorio. When police arrived at Miller's house, Diorio was putting out the flames; Miller then got into a scuffle with some of the policemen and was charged with resisting arrest (1975)... A hitherto unknown band called The Sex Pistols open for the 101ers ~ now remembered as the group Joe Strummer left to help form The Clash ~ at the Nashville Rooms in London (1976)... Kate Bush kicks off her 'Tree of Life' tour at Liverpool's Empire Theatre. Bush will play 28 dates, and then retire from touring for the next 35 years (1979)... Depeche Mode have their first UK № 1 album with Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)... Nirvana and Hole cancel their forthcoming tour amid mounting speculation about Kurt Cobain's drug problems (1994)... Michael Jackson's daughter Paris is born (1998)... Mariah Carey is admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital with food poisoning after eating raw oysters (2000)... Keith Richards denies that he snorted the ashes of his late father during a drugs binge. Jane Rose, Richards' manager, tells MTV News that the remarks were made ‘in jest’, and that she could not believe they were taken seriously. Richards had said in an interview with the NME: ‘He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow.’ But NME interviewer Mark Beaumont was convinced that Richards was not joking when speaking to him about the alleged incident. ‘He did seem to be quite honest about it. There were too many details for him to be making it up,’ he later told BBC News (2007).