April 12th

Musical birthdays today include Herbie Hancock (86), Steppenwolf frontman John Kay (82), Village People vocalist Alex 'G.I.' Briley (79), former Martha & the Vandellas vocalist Lois Reeves (78), Pat Travers (72), Vince Gill (69), Echo & the Bunnymen lead guitarist Will Sergeant (68), Dead Can Dance lead singer Lisa Gerrard (65), Everclear frontman Art Elaxakis (64), Indigo Girl Amy Ray (62), Cypress Hill rapper Ulpiano Reyes AKA Mellowman Ace (59), 311 frontman Nick Hexum (56), Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman (48), ex-Westlife vocalist Brian McFadden (46), country singer Easton Corbin (44), and Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendan Urie (39). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for New Orleans clarinetist Johnny Dodds, born on this day in 1892... for operatic soprano Lily Pons, born in 1898... for bluesman Theodore 'Hound Dog' Taylor, born in 1915... for orchestra leader & multi-instrumentalist Billy Vaughn, born in 1919... for country singer Ned Miller, born in 1925... for Herbert Khaury AKA Tiny Tim, born in 1932... for David Cassidy, who would have been 76... for violin maker Nicola Amati, who died on this date in 1684... for operatic bass Feodor Chaliapin, who died in 1937... for pianist and Miles Davis sideman Wynton Kelly, who passed away in 1971... for Lecil Martin AKA Boxcar Willie, who died in 1999.... and for operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé, who left us today in 2019. 

Also on April 12th: Bill Haley & His Comets record 'Rock around the Clock' at Pythian Temple Studios in NYC (1954)... Thelonious Monk goes into the studio to begin recording his first solo album, Thelonious Himself (1957)... Bob Dylan performs his first major solo show as headliner, at the Town Hall in NYC (1963)... Motown releases Martha and the Vandellas' Dance Party, the group's third and biggest selling album (1965)...  Jan Berry of Jan & Dean is almost killed when he crashes his car into a parked truck a short distance from Dead Man's Curve in Los Angeles. Berry is partially paralysed and suffers brain damage, but will walk again after extensive therapy (1966)... Mick Jagger is punched in the face by an airport official during a row at Le Bourget Airport outside Paris. Jagger lost his temper after The Stones were searched for drugs at such length that they missed their flight  (1967)... The 5th Dimension hit № 1 on the US singles chart with 'Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine in' (1969)... David Bowie announces his second career retirement, saying "I've rocked my roll. It's a boring dead end, there will be no more rock 'n' roll records from me" (1975)... After two DJs at KLOS in Los Angeles ask "What ever happened to David Cassidy?" on the air on the occasion of the one-time idol's 39th birthday, the singer calls the station up and the presenters invite him onto the show. David plays three songs live on air and is subsequently signed by a new record label... Garth Brooks releases his self-titled debut album, which will prove both a critical and a chart success (1989)... Two weeks after her death, Governor George W. Bush declares today 'Selena Day' in Texas (1995)... The Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Centre announces that recently identified Asteroids 4147-4150 will be named Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr (1990)... Metallica file a lawsuit against Napster for copyright infringement (2000)... The Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano publishes a story praising The Beatles and saying that it forgives John Lennon for his 1966 comment that the group was "bigger than Jesus" (2010)... A study published in the journal Science states that listening to new music is rewarding for the brain. Using MRI scans, a Canadian team of scientists found that areas in the reward centre of the brain became active when people heard a song for the first time. The more the listener enjoyed what they were hearing, the stronger the connections were in the region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens (2013).

April 11th

Musical birthdays today include Joel Grey (94), operatic bass Kurt Moll (88), bluesman Luther 'Guitar Jr.' Johnson (86),Art rock multi-instrumentalist Francis Lickerish (72), Geordie bassist Tom Ford (63), former Catatonia lead singer Cerys Matthews (57), Marcy Playground bassist Dylan Keefe (56), Rammstein bassist Oliver Riedel (55), Sum 41 lead guitarist Tom Thacker (49), and Joss Stone (39). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for early Dixieland trumpeter Nick LaRocca, born on this day in 1889... for jazz double-bassist John Levy, born in 1912... for former Ruts guitarist Paul Fox, who would have been 75 today... for Flirtations vocalist Michael Callen, who would have been 71... for Big Country frontman Stuart Adamson, who would have been 68... for Gin Blossoms lead guitarist Doug Hopkins, who would have been 65... for ragtime singer Eddie Morton, who died on this date in 1938... for folk guitarist Sandy Bull, who died in 2001... for June Pointer, who passed away in 2006... and for jazz-funk keyboardist & producer Don Blackman, who left us today in 2013. 

Also on April 11th: The first performance of Beethoven's Archduke chamber trio is given in Vienna, with the composer at the piano. His contemporary and manuscript editor Louis Spohr, who was present, wrote later that the piano was badly out of tune but that Beethoven was too deaf to notice (1815)... Amsterdam's Concertgebouw is inaugurated (1888)... Travelling from Amarillo to Nashville, the plane that Elvis Presley is flying on develops engine trouble and is forced to make an emergency landing. The incident instills a fear of flying in Presley that will last the rest of his life (1956)... Bob Dylan gives his first billed performance in NYC, opening for John Lee Hooker at Gerde's Folk City (1961)... Buffalo Springfield make their live debut at the Troubador in Los Angeles (1966)... While Fleetwood Mac are on tour in Germany, Peter Green informs his bandmates that he is leaving the group. He agrees to stay on until the end of the tour to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit (1970)... Fantasy Records release Mardi Gras, Creedence Clearwater Revival's final studio album (1972)... The Beach Boys appear at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, GA. The group are at a very low ebb in popularity in America, and this show proves a financial disaster for the promoter, with fewer than 3,000 tickets sold for the 16,000 capacity venue. The opening act is Mothers Finest, followed by a recently signed CBS act named Bruce Springsteen who plays a 60-minute solo set (1973)... Eddie Van Halen marries Valerie Bertinelli (1981)... Cher wins the Best Actress Oscar for her work in 'Moonstruck' (1988)... Pearl Jam are the musical guests on Saturday Night Live (1992)...  Robbie Williams raises £165,000 at a charity auction with the money going to his old school in Stoke to build a performing arts wing. Items sold are Robbie's personal possessions, including a toilet from a stage show, a Union Jack bikini, tiger's head briefs, a Millennium jet pack and the hand written lyrics to 'Angels', which fetch £27,000 (2001)... The government of Malawi accuses Madonna of "bullying state officials" after she reportedly complained about her treatment on a visit to the country. Madonna - who has adopted two Malawian-born children, recently visited 10 primary schools funded by her charity. Madonna's manager accuses local governmental officials of having a "grudge" against the singer's charity, Raising Malawi (2013).

April 10th

Bunny Wailer (79), 10,000 Maniacs bassist Steve Gustafson (69), R&B songwriter and producer Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (67), Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer (67), former Katrina and the Waves lead singer Katrina Leskanich (66), Ratt lead guitarist Warren DeMartini (63), Primus drummer Tim Alexander (61), Kamaal Ibn John Fareed AKA Q-Tip (56), ex-Arab Strap lead singer Aidan Moffat (53), Dashboard Confessional frontman Chris Carraba (51), former Theaudience lead singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor (47), Lifehouse bassist Bryce Soderberg (45), Atomic Kitten vocalist Liz McLarnon (44), Fun. multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost (42), Mandy Moore (42), and New Age singer Hayley Westenra (39). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Claude Bolling, born on this day in 1930... for Spinners lead singer Bobbie Smith, who would have been 87 today... for former Parliament-Funkadelic lead guitarist Eddie Hazel, who would have been 76... for cornet player and bandleader Joe 'King' Oliver, who died on this date in 1938... for Stuart Sutcliffe, who died in 1962... for film score composer Nino Rota, who passed away in 1979... for producer Martin Hannett, who died in 1991... for Eva Boyd AKA Little Eva, who died in 2003... and for bluesman Jimmy Dawkins, who left us today in 2014.
 
Also on April 10th: Brahms conducts the first performance of his own Deutsches Requiem at a Good Friday concert in Bremen (1868)... Nat King Cole is attacked on stage in Birmingham, AL by five members of a local White Citizens Council. After the assailants are removed by police, the singer continues the show unfazed (1956)... A school in Wrexham, North Wales sends letters to parents asking to them to please send their children to class in school uniform, and not in the 'corduroy trousers' worn by the Rolling Stones... British acts start a run of eight weeks at the top of the US charts when Freddie and the Dreamers go to № 1 with 'I'm Telling You Now'. Over the next two months, they will be followed by Wayne Fontana's 'Game Of Love', Herman's Hermits 'Mr's Brown' and The Beatles' 'Ticket To Ride (1965)... Marvin Gaye records his version of 'I Heard It through the Grapevine' (1967)... Jim Morrison is wrestled off stage by Ray Manzarek during a Doors concert in Boston, after Morrison asks the audience, "Would you like to see my genitals?" Theater management quickly switched off the power. Morrison was arrested in Miami the previous year for 'lewd and lascivious behavior' during a performance... Paul McCartney issues a press statement, announcing that The Beatles have split. McCartney says, "I have no future plans to record or appear with The Beatles again, or to write any music with John". John Lennon, who kept his much-earlier decision to leave The Beatles quiet for the sake of the others, is furious. When a reporter calls Lennon to comment upon McCartney's resignation, John says, "Paul hasn't left. I sacked him"... A Miles Davis performance in San Francisco is recorded by Columbia Records for release as Black Beauty: Live at the Fillmore West (1970)... Peter Frampton is at № 1 on the US album chart with Frampton Comes Alive!... Melody Maker publishes a scathing review of a Sex Pistols gig that concludes with the line 'I hope we shall hear no more of them' (1976)... With the Beastie Boys as her opening act, Madonna kicks off her first US tour with a show at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, WA (1985)... Fleetwood Mac release Behind the Mask, their first album since the departure of Lindsay Buckingham (1990)... Depeche Mode have the № 1 album in the USA with Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)... Nearly 10,000 fans attend a public memorial service for Kurt Cobain at the Seattle Flag Pavilion (1994)... Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland marries longtime girlfriend Heather McMillan at Disneyworld. The couple announce that they will be honeymooning in theme parks all across America, concluding at Disneyland (1998)... A charity tribute concert for the late Linda McCartney is held at the Royal Albert Hall. Among the performers are Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, George Michael, Elvis Costello and Sinead O'Connor (1999)... The final episode of The Osbournes is aired on MTV in the UK. The show reached a peak audience of eight million at its height during a three year run, Ozzy is at a loss to explain its popularity, saying, "I suppose Americans get a kick out of watching a crazy Brit family like us make complete fools of ourselves every week" (2005)... Kate Bush receives her CBE for services to music from the Queen at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. The singer-songwriter, who was catapulted to fame in 1978 when 'Wuthering Heights' topped the charts, says that she is "incredibly thrilled". The 54-year-old dedicates the award to her family and jokes that it will have pride of place at the top of her Christmas tree (2013).

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).

April 2nd

Musical birthdays today include DJ Barry Hansen AKA Dr. Demento (85), Emmylou Harris (79), ex-Cars drummer David Robinson (77), soul singer & producer Gregory Abbott (72), Bananarama vocalist Keren Woodward (65), country singer Billy Dean (64), former Smashmouth frontman Greg Camp (59), and Maroon 5 keyboardist Jesse Carmichael (47). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Serge Gainsbourg, born on this day in 1928... for jazz trumpeter Booker Little, who would have been 88... for Marvin Gaye, who would have been 87... for Leon Russell, who would have been 83... for jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, who would have been 82... for Guess Who guitarist Kurt Winter, who would have been 79... for original Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, who would have been 74... for Buddy Rich, who died on this date in 1987... for Edwin Starr, who passed away in 2003... for saxophonist and Stan Kenton sideman Bud Shank, who died in 2009... and for classical flautist Linda Vogt, who left us today in 2013.

Also on April 2nd: Beethoven conducts the first performance of his 1st Symphony in Vienna (1800)... The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the oldest symphony in the United States, is founded in Manhattan (1842)... The Beach Boys record 'I Get around' (1964)... The Who make their radio debut on the BBC's 'Joe Loss Pop Show' (1965)... Bob Dylan attends a screening of 'Don't Look back', D.A. Pennebaker's cinema verité documentary of the singer's 1965 UK tour. Following the private showing in Hollywood, Dylan tells the director that he has several changes in mind that he will point out if he can see the film again. After another screening the next day, however, Dylan decides that the movie is fine as it is (1966)... Bruce Springsteen's new band Child make their live debut at the Pandemonium Club in Wanamassa, NJ (1969)... Phil Spector finishes editing and mixing Let It Be from the 'Get Back' studio tapes (1970)... Donny Hathaway's eponymous debut album is released (1971)... ABBA top the UK singles chart with 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', while Frank Sinatra's Portrait of Sinatra gives him his first British № 1 album... In America, the № 1 LP is Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (1977)... U2 kick off the 29-date US leg of their Joshua Tree tour at the Arizona State Activity Center (1987)...  Nirvana go into Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin and start work on demo versions of ‘In Bloom’, ‘Dive’, ‘Lithium’, ‘Pay To Play’, ‘Imodium’, ‘Sappy’ and ‘Polly’ with Butch Vig producing (1990)...Joni Mitchell is reunited with Kilauren Gibb, the daughter whom she gave up for adoption 34 years earlier (1997)... Mariah Carey signs the most lucrative recording deal in history. The 31-year old singer inks a contract with Virgin for three albums worth £60m. The singer has sold over 120 million records worldwide, scoring 14 US № 1 singles (2001)... One of John Lennon's schoolbook containing the 12-year-old's illustrations of Lewis Carroll's poem The Walrus and the Carpenter sells at auction in London for £126,500. Also sold for £12,000 was a ship's log book written by Lennon during a stormy trip to Bermuda in 1980, while a letter from Paul McCartney to his three bandmates fails to reach its £50,000 reserve price (2006)... A fully restored grand piano used in the Motown Records studios is put on display at a museum dedicated to the legendary record label in Detroit. Sir Paul McCartney helped fund the refurbishment of the 1877 Steinway, which was originally in Motown's Studio B. and was used to create hits for names including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Edwin Starr... Coldplay beat the likes of Pink Floyd and The Beatles to the top of a BBC Radio 2 poll to find listeners' favourite album of all time. A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Coldplay's second collection, which was released in 2002, comes top of the list. Keane's Hopes And Fears takes second place, with Duran Duran's Rio in third. Dark Side Of The Moon finished fourth, while Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' could only manage eighth place. The poll was held to tie in with the recent BBC season The Golden Age of the Album (2013).

April 1st

Musical birthdays today include Rudolph Isley (87), The Tokens drummer & vocalist Phil Margo (84), former Turtles drummer Johnny Barbata (81), M lead singer Robin Scott (79), Jimmy Cliff (78), Susan Boyle (65), ex-ABC guitarist Mark White (65), Clifford Smith AKA Method Man (55), ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Jesse Tobias (54), Bijou Phillips (46), and Lady A lead singer Hilary Scott (40). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Sergei Rachmaninoff, born on this day in 1873... for Alberta Hunter, born in 1895... for Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith, born in 1921... for jazz saxophonist Kathy Stobart, born in 1924... for R&B singer Amos Milburn, born in 1928... for Debbie Reynolds, born in 1932... for country singer Jim Ed Brown, born today in 1934... for Ronnie Lane, who would have been 79... for Gil Scott-Heron, who would have been 77... for Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro, who would have been 72... for Scott Joplin, who died on this date in 1917... for Marvin Gaye, who was shot to death by his father at the age of 43 today in 1984... for Martha Graham, who passed away in 1991... for The Cult drummer Nigel Preston, who died of a drug overdose today in 1992 at the age of 32... and for Zombies guitarist Paul Atkinson, who left us today in 2004.

Also on April 1st: Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabeus is performed for the first time at Covent Garden (1747)... Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra make their Carnegie Hall debut (1924)... George Martin becomes head of A&R for EMI's Parlophone label (1955)... Elvis is given his first Hollywood screen test at Paramount Studios (1956)... Atlantic Records release John Coltrane's Giant Steps (1959)... The Beatles begin a three-month residency at Hamburg's Top Ten Club, playing 92 straight nights. The group play for seven hours a night on weekdays and eight hours at weekends with a fifteen-minute break every hour. It is during this visit that Astrid Kirchherr cuts Stuart Sutcliffe's hair into the style destined to become known as the 'Beatle haircut' which the band later adopt themselves (1961)... The Who record an appearance for Top of the Pops at the BBC's Manchester studio. The band then play a gig opening for Donovan at The Town Hall, Wembley, with Rod Stewart appearing at the bottom of the bill (1965)... Pye Records release David Bowie's first solo single, 'Do Anything You Say'. Bowie had previously recorded as David Jones and The Lower Third... The Troggs record 'Wild Thing' at Regency Sound Studios in London... John Lennon buys a copy of Timothy Leary's 'The Psychedelic Experience' and The Tibetan Book Of The Dead, where he reads near the beginning of the book's introduction 'When in doubt, relax, turn off your mind, float downstream...' (1966)... The Beach Boys announce that they are suing Capitol Records for $2 million in unpaid royalties (1969)... 50 musicians record the orchestral scores for The Beatles tracks 'The Long And Winding Road' and 'Across The Universe' for the Phil Spector produced sessions. The bill for the 50 musicians comes to £1,126 and 5 shillings... As an April Fool's joke, John Lennon and Yoko Ono issue a statement to the press that they are planning to have dual sex change operations (1970)... AC/DC make their live UK debut at the Red Cow in Hammersmith, London... The Buzzcocks play their first live gig at the Bolton Institute of Technology. The power is turned off by school authorities after three numbers (1976)... David Lee Roth announces that he is leaving Van Halen, on the same day that his version of The Beach Boys' 'California Girls' is released (1985)... Madonna's Like a Prayer is at № 1 on both the American and British album charts... Topping the singles rankings on both sides of the Atlantic is The Bangles' 'Eternal Flame' (1989)... Modest Mouse are at № 1  on the US album chart with We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. featuring former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr who joined the band in May 2006 (2007).

March 31st

Musical birthdays today include Shirley Jones (92), Herb Alpert (91), film score composer Arthur B. Rubinstein (88), original Mott the Hoople frontman Mick Ralphs (82), AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young (71), ex-Stiff Little Fingers bassist Ali McMordie (67), Placebo bassist Stefan Olsdal (52), Garfunkel & Oates singer Kate Micucci (46), Ryan Bingham (45), Cobra Starship lead guitarist Ryan Blackinton (44), Fun lead guitarist Jack Antonoff (42), and Tokio Hotel bassist Georg Listing (38). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Johann Sebastian Bach, born on this date in 1685... for Franz Josef Haydn, born in 1732... for blueswoman Etta Baker, born in 1913... for country singer Lefty Frizzell, born in 1928... for Anita Carter, born in 1933... for Isley Brother O'Kelly Isley Jr., who died on this date in 1986... for Selena Quintanilla-Pérez AKA Selena, who was murdered today in 1995 at the age of 23... and for saxophonist and bandleader Jackie McLean, who left us today in 2006. 

Also on March 31st: On his 62nd birthday, Haydn conducts the premiere performance of his 100th Symphony in the Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square, London (1794)... Dvořák's opera Rusalka is performed for the first time at the National Theatre in Prague (1904)... The Vienna Concert Society riots during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Anton von Webern and others. The audience reaction brings a premature end to the concert as chairs as well as punches are thrown. The incident is still referred to in Austria as the 'Skandalkonzert' (1913)... RCA Victor introduce the 45 RPM single record, which has been in development since 1940. The 7-inch disc is designed to compete with the Long Playing record introduced by Columbia last year. Both formats offer higher fidelity and longer playing time than the 78 RPM record that is currently in use. Advertisements for new record players boast that with 45s, the listener can hear up to ten records with speedy, nearly silent and hardly noticeable changes. The first 45 disc, 'Texarkana Baby' by country & western singer Eddy Arnold, is issued by RCA in the US. It is made of green vinyl, as part of an attempt to colour-code singles according to the genre of music they featured. Others include red for classical music and yellow for children's songs (1949)... Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' single is released. The song's original lyrics referred to Johnny as a 'colored boy', but Berry later acknowledges that he changed the words to 'country boy' to ensure radio play (1958)... Lonnie Donegan becomes the first British artist to enter the UK singles chart at № 1 with 'My Old Man's a Dustman'. The only previous singer to achieve the feat was Elvis Presley (1960)... The Beatles play their first gig in the south of England when they open for The Rebel Rousers in Stroud, Gloucs. (1962)... Filming for A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles give a 'live television performance' in front of a studio of screaming fans, one of whom is played by a 13-year-old extra named Phil Collins (1964)... Jimi Hendrix sets fire to his guitar live on stage for the first time during a show at the Astoria in London, on the opening night of a 24-date tour with The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck. In 2008, the Fender Stratocaster burnt by Hendrix on this occasion will sell for £280,000 at a London auction of rock memorabilia (1967)... The Beatles Official Fan Club ceases operations... Deep Purple release Machine Head (1972)... Led Zeppelin release Presence, their seventh studio album (1976)... Kenny Loggins is at № 1 in the US with 'Footloose' (1984)... The Smiths' valedictory compilation album Louder Than Bombs is released in the US (1987)... Madonna appears on The Late Show With David Letterman. The network will have to delete 13 offending words from the interview before the show airs. Madonna also hands the host a pair of her panties and tells him to sniff them ~ Letterman politely declines and stuffs them into his desk drawer (1994)... Jimmy Page escapes being knifed when a fan rushes the stage at a Page and Plant gig in Auburn Hills, MI. The fan is intercepted by two security guards, whom he stabs instead, inflicting minor wounds. After his arrest, the assailant tells police that he wanted to kill the guitarist because of the 'Satanic vibrations' in the music he was playing (1995)... Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown are banned for life from the Bel Air hotel in Los Angeles after wrecking their room. Hotel employees say a TV was smashed, two doors were ripped from their hinges, and the walls and carpets stained with alcohol. It is reported that Whitney called in her lawyers to plead with the hotel management not to call the police. The suite is so badly damaged that it will be shut for five days for repair (2001)... A new world record for the longest non-stop concert is set by several hundred musicians in Japan. The performance began on the evening of 23 March in the city of Omi, with 650 musicians aged between 6 and 96 taking turns ~ over 2,000 tunes will be performed in a little more than 182 hours. Organisers praise the musicians, one of whom carried on despite a major earthquake during her piano piece. The previous world record was set in Canada in 2001 at 181 hours (2007).

March 30th

Musical birthdays today include Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge (85), Eric Clapton (81), MC Hammer (64), Tracy Chapman (62), former Queens of the Stone Age drummer Joey Castillo (60), Celine Dion (58), Snow Patrol bassist Mark McLelland (50), Norah Jones (47), Blue vocalist Simon Webbe (47), and singer-songwriter Anna Nalick (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Frankie Laine, born on this day in 1913... for Sonny Boy Williamson I, born in 1914... for former Surfaris bassist Ken Forssi, R&B singer Al Goodman, and Jay and the Americans frontman Jay Traynor, all of whom would have been 83... for Randy van Warmer, who would have been 71... for ex-Lagwagon drummer Derrick Plourde, who took his own life today in 2005 at the age of 33... and for producer Phil Ramone, who left us today in 2013.  

Also on March 30th: Richard Strauss' 1st Symphony receives its premiere in Munich (1881)... The Julliard Musical Foundation is incorporated in NYC (1920)... Buddy Knox becomes the first artist of the rock era to write his own № 1 hit, when his song 'Party Doll' tops the US singles chart (1957)... The Chiffons start a four week run at № 1 on the US singles chart with ‘He’s So Fine’. In 1971 George Harrison will be taken to court for allegedly plagiarizing the song on his 1970 hit ‘My Sweet Lord’ and ordered to pay $587,000 to the writers... 16-year-old Lesley Gore records 'It's My Party' (1963)... During an appearance by Jimi Hendrix on 'Top Of The Pops', a technician puts on the backing track of Alan Price's 'Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear', to which Hendrix responds "I don't know the words to this one, man"... The photo session for the cover of Sgt. Pepper takes place at Chelsea Manor studios in London with Michael Cooper. After the shoot, The Beatles resume work at Abbey Road on ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’, adding guitars, bass, tambourine, and backing vocals. The session begins at 11:00 pm and ends at 7:30 am (1967)... John Denver has the № 1 single in the US with 'Sunshine on My Shoulders' (1974)... The Sex Pistols play their first show at the 100 Club in London. They will begin a weekly residency at the venue in June (1976)... Paul Simonon and Nicky Headon of The Clash are arrested in Camden Town, London after shooting down racing pigeons with air guns from the roof of Chalk Farm Studios. Four police cars and a helicopter are required to make the collar. The fines total £800 (1978)... R.E.M. begin recording Automatic for the People at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY (1992)... Pink Floyd release their final studio album, The Division Bell (1994)... Mick Jagger makes a nostalgic visit to his old school to open the new arts centre named after him at Dartford Grammar. The singer says he spent 'the worst years of his life' at the school (2000)... A man is arrested by police and detained under the Mental Health Act after trying to force his way into Paul McCartney’s mansion, screaming "I must get to him!" The middle-aged man burst through security patrols into McCartney’s isolated Sussex estate; guards who feared an assassination attempt were scrambled to intercept him as he sped towards the front door. He was finally halted by trees and a fence just yards from Sir Paul’s six-bedroom home at Peasmarsh (2007).

March 29th

Musical birthdays today include Astrud Gilberto (86), Evangelis Papathanassiou AKA Vangelis (83), Terry Jacks (82), original Toto frontman Bobby Kimball (79), Stranglers keyboardist Dave Greenfield (77), Jane's Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell (67), Blues Traveler frontman John Popper (59), and Cansei de Ser Sexy guitarist Luiza Sá (45). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for organ virtuoso E. Power Biggs, born on this day in 1906... for Pearl Bailey, born in 1918... for Parliament/Funkadelic bass vocalist Ray Davis, who would have been 86 today... for Australian rocker Billy Thorpe, who would have been 80... for jazzman Michael Brecker, who would have been 77.. for Waitresses lead singer Patty Donahue, who would have been 70... for conductor Annunzio Montovani, who died on this date in 1980... for composer Carl Orff, who left us today in 1982... and for Jeanine 'The Singing Nun' Deckers, who took her own life today in 1985 at the age of 52. 

Also on March 29th: Vivaldi is dismissed from his position as a music teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice for spending too much time on his own operas (1716)... 24-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven makes his concert debut at the Vienna Burgtheater, introducing his 1st Piano Concerto (1795)... Beethoven's funeral in Vienna is attended by Schubert, Czerny, Kreutzer and other musical luminaries (1827)... The Royal Albert Hall opens in London with Queen Victoria in attendance (1871)... Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin premieres at Moscow's Maly Theatre (1879)... Mick Jagger requires 8 stitches to close a gash in his head after an overenthusiastic fan throws a chair at the stage during a gig in Marseille (1966)... At Abbey Road, the Beatles finish recording 'Good Morning, Good Morning', and then go to work on a new song with the working title of 'Bad Finger Boogie', which they will soon change to 'With a Little Help from My Friends' (1967)... Diana!, the soundtrack LP of Diana Ross' first solo TV special, is released (1971)... Dr Hook and The Medicine Show get their picture on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine after their hit 'The Cover of Rolling Stone' reaches № 6 on the US singles chart. According to members of the group, they really did buy five copies for their mothers, as per the lyrics of the song (1973)... King Crimson release the album Starless and Bible Black (1974)... All six Led Zeppelin LPs to date are now in the Bilboard Top 100 albums chart, including their most recent release Physical Graffiti at № 1 (1975)... David Bowie kicks off his Low/Heroes 77-date world tour at the San Diego Sports Arena (1978)... After attending a Dire Straits show during their residency at the Roxy in Los Angeles, Bob Dylan asks Mark Knopfler and drummer Pick Withers to play on the sessions for his next LP. Slow Train Coming will be the album, recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL in May of 1979, with Jerry Wexler producing. Dylan had first heard Knopfler when his assistant Arthur Rosato played him the single 'Sultans of Swing' (1979)... Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon album spends its 303rd week on the US album chart, beating the record set by Carole King's 1971 № 1 album Tapestry. The album remains in the US Billboard charts for 741 discontinuous weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in chart history. After moving to the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Chart, the album notches up a further 759 weeks, and will reach a total of over 1,500 weeks on the combined charts by May 2006 (1980)... U2 play the final gig of their 29-date War tour at London's Hammersmith Palais (1983)... Falco is at the top of both the US and UK singles charts with 'Rock Me Amadeus', making him the first German-speaking artist to score an American № 1 (1986)... 
The David Bowie Internet Radio Network broadcasts its first show for Rolling Stone Radio, a selection of Bowie's favourite songs with the singer introducing each track (1999)... Brian Wilson is honored in a three hour tribute at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Guest performers include Billy Joel, Paul Simon, The Go-Gos and the trio of Carly Simon, David Crosby and Jimmy Webb. Also singing Beach Boy songs are Ann and Nancy Wilson, Elton John and Aimee Mann. Brian Wilson himself joins the festivities when he takes the stage for the final three songs, 'Barbara Ann', 'Surfin' U.S.A.' and 'Fun, Fun, Fun' (2001)... A court in Lithuania sentences French rock star Bertrand Cantat, lead singer of the group Noir Desir, to eight years in prison for killing his actress girlfriend during a domestic quarrel. Cantat was convicted of fatally beating Marie Trintignant in a Vilnius hotel room in 2003. Cantat admitted killing Ms Trintignant but maintained it was an accident (2004)... Neil Young is operated on for a brain aneurysm at a hospital in New York. Doctors expect the 59- year-old to make a full recovery. The aneurysm was discovered when Young complained of blurry vision and then collapsed after the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month (2005).