March 25th

Musical birthdays include Elton John (72), Boney M singer Maizie Williams (68), Spandau Ballet multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman (59), All Saints vocalist Melanie Blatt (44), Cellist Natalie Clein (42), and rapper Sean Anderson AKA Big Sean (31). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Arturo Toscanini, born on this day in 1867... for Béla Bartók, born in 1881... for bandleader Frankie 'The Wizard of the Keyboard' Carle, born in 1903... for operatic soprano Magda Olivero, born in 1910... for country-pop singer Bonnie Guitar, born in 1923... for jazz pianist Cecil Taylor, who would have been 90 today... for former Bob Dylan and Velvet Underground producer Tom Wilson and for jazz drummer Paul Motian, both of whom would have been 88... for rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette, who would have been 85... for Aretha Franklin, who would have been 77... for Shadowfax leader & producer Chuck Greenberg, who would have been 69... for chanteuse Teri Moïse, who would have been 48... for Claude Debussy, who died on this date in 1918... for ballet director Robert Joffrey, who passed away in 1988... and for Buck Owens, who left us today in 2006. 

Also on March 25th: Having been sworn in as Private 53310761 the previous day, Elvis receives the regulation short back and sides haircut from army barber James Peterson. Presley will earn $78 per month as an Army enlisted man... Buddy Holly plays the Gaumont Theatre in London, the final date on his first and only British tour (1958)... The Beatles make their debut on 'Top of the Pops', performing 'Can't Buy Me Love' and 'You Can't Do That' (1964)... At a photo session at Bob Whitaker's studio in London, The Beatles pose in white coats using sides of meat with mutilated and butchered dolls for the cover of their next American album, 'Yesterday and Today'. After advance copies are sent to disc jockeys and record reviewers, negative reaction to the cover photo is so strong that Capitol recall 750,000 copies from distributors to replace the cover. The total cost to the company to replace the cover and promotional materials comes to $250,000, wiping out their initial profit (1966)... The Turtles go to № 1 in the US with 'Happy Together'... The Who and Cream both make their U.S. concert debut at the RKO 58th Street Theatre in NYC as part of a rock & roll extravaganza promoted by DJ Murray the K. (1967)... John and Yoko start their week long 'bed-in for peace' in the presidential suite at the Amsterdam Hilton hotel. The couple invite the world's press into their hotel room every day to talk about promoting world peace (1969)... Capitol Records release Band of Gypsys, Jimi Hendrix's first LP since the dissolution of the Experience, and the last album that he will authorise in his lifetime (1970)... Motown Records celebrate their 25th anniversary with a concert in Pasadena, CA, featuring The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Jr. Walker, The Commodores, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and The Jackson 5 (1983)... Guns N' Roses sign a worldwide deal with Geffen Records (1986)... Madonna is at № 1 on the UK singles chart with 'Like A Prayer' ~ it will also go to № 1 in the US the following week, knocking 'The Living Years' by Mike and the Mechanics out of the top spot. The song is accompanied by a highly controversial music video, which in 2005 will be voted the 'Most Groundbreaking Music Video of All Time' in an MTV viewers poll (1989)... Eddie Vedder is rescued by lifeguards when a sudden riptide carries him 300 feet offshore in New Zealand (1995)... Former Bay City Rollers drummer Derek Longmuir is sentenced to 300 hours community service after being caught with a stash of child pornography including 150 videos and 70 floppy disks (2000)... Bono makes a appearance at the London air rage trial of R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, telling the court "I came to court because Peter is actually famously known for being a peaceable person. I once had to twist his arm to get him to a boxing match." Buck is later cleared of all charges. He was accused of attacking two cabin staff and covering them in yoghurt, knocking over a trolley, and trying to steal a knife (2002)... Justin Bieber's manager is arrested after police claim he failed to warn fans on Twitter about overcrowding at a shopping centre event. Police say they asked Scott Braun to tell fans through Twitter that Bieber would not be appearing because of fears over safety after hundreds turned up ~ five people were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police maintain that Mr. Braun refused to send the message until 90 minutes later. He pleads not guilty to charges including reckless endangerment related to November's event at Roosevelt Field Mall (2010).