Musician Birthdays: Phil Lesh (former bassist of the Grateful Dead.  Born in 1940), Sly Stone (singer/guitarist of Sly & the Family Stone, famous for hit, “Everyday People”. Born in 1944), Dee Snider (longtime singer of Twisted Sister, famous for hits “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, “I Wanna Rock”, etc. Born in 1955), Mark McGrath (Singer of Sugar Ray, famous for hit, “Every Morning”. Born in 1968), Will.I.Am. (singer/rapper of Black Eyed Peas. Born in 1977)

– In 1955: Elvis Presley signed a management contract with Colonel Tom Parker. Parker had previously managed the ‘Great Parker Pony Circus’ with one of the acts being a troupe of dancing chickens.

– In 1967: The first session recording George Harrison’s new song ‘Within You Without You’ took place at Abbey Road studios, London. George was the only Beatle to perform on this song, which was still called ‘Untitled’. Harrison played the swordmandel and tamboura, Natver Soni played tabla, Amrat Gajjar played dilruba, PD Joshi played swordmandel, and an undocumented musician played a droning tamboura.

– In 1969: Janis Joplin was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents, (2/6).

– In 1969: Tyrannosaurus Rex singer Marc Bolan’s first book of poetry ‘The Warlock Of Love’ was published, priced at 12 and 6.

– In 1969: During a Scandinavian tour Led Zeppelin played at the Brondby Pop Club in Norregard. Also on the bill, The Keef Hartley Band, Ham and Swedish band Made In Sweden.

– In 1973: Roberta Flack was at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’ and Elton John had the No.1 album with ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’.

– In 1975: Led Zeppelin went to No.1 on the UK chart with the double album ‘Physical Graffiti’, the first on their own ‘Swan Song’ label, the album spent six weeks at No.1 on the US chart.

– In 1975: The Doobie Brothers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Black Water’, the group’s first of two US No.1’s.

– In 1977: Pink Floyd played the first of six sold-out nights at Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England.

– In 1986: The Bangles were at No.2 on the UK singles chart with ‘Manic Monday’, a song written by Prince under the pseudonym Christopher, it also made No.2 in the US, held of No.1 by Prince with ‘Kiss’.

– In 1989: The Rolling Stones signed a $70 million (£40 million) contract to play 50 North American dates. It was the largest contract in rock history.

– In 1999: Bruce Springsteen was inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame by U2’s Bono.

– In 2000: Sir Paul McCartney confirmed that him and former model Heather Mills had become ‘an item’. The couple had met after working on the same charity project.

– In 2002: Yoko Ono unveiled a seven foot bronze statue of John Lennon overlooking the check- in hall of Liverpool John Lennon airport. The re-branding of the airport featured a sketch of Lennon’s face with the words ‘Above Us Only Skies.’

– In 2004: George Harrison, Prince, Bob Seger, The Dells, Traffic and ZZ Top were all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York City.

– In 2008: Six people were charged with conspiracy to defraud the Isle of Wight Festival by trying to sell fake tickets and wristbands. A police investigation was launched after alleged counterfeit tickets were discovered at last year’s event, which was headlined by the Rolling Stones.

– In 2010: Sony Music announced the biggest recording deal in history with the estate of Michael Jackson worth more than $200m (£133m). The deal involved 10 album projects over seven years including one of previously unreleased material. Sony had sold about 31 million copies of Jackson’s albums worldwide since his death on 25 June, 2009.

– In 2011: Disney Studios scrapped plans for a 3D remake of The Beatles’ 1968 film Yellow Submarine. The new film which was being developed by Forrest Gump Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis was going to incorporate the 16 Beatles songs and recordings from the original animated film. Budget issues and a cancelled meeting with surviving Beatles’ members were cited as reasons for the film’s demise.

– In 1955: CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey turned down the chance to sign Elvis Presley, instead at the same audition he signed singer Pat Boone.

– In 1968: The promotional film for ‘Lady Madonna’ was broadcast in black and white on Top of the Pops on UK television. The video portion of the film clip was shot while The Beatles were performing the song ‘Hey Bulldog’, but the ‘Lady Madonna’ audio track was paired with the video for the promo release.

– In 1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a live concert for ‘Fan Club’, the Dutch TV show in Amsterdam, Holland.

– In 1973: Elton John was at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Crocodile Rock.’

– In 1981: Eric Clapton was hospitalised with bleeding ulcers causing a US tour to be cancelled. He was back in hospital five weeks later after being involved in a car crash.

– In 1982: Metallica made their live debut when they appeared at Radio City in Anaheim, California.

– In 1983: Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Alec John Such formed Bon Jovi. Their fourth album, New Jersey, released in 1988, is notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date from a hard rock album.

– In 1984: Rainbow played their last ever gig as a band when they performed in Japan.

– In 1990: Flea and Chad Smith from The Red Hot Chili Peppers were arrested for sexually harassing a woman on Daytona Beach, Florida. They were each fined $1,000 (£588).

– In 1998: Will Smith started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’.

– In 2005: Michael Jackson was blasted by British Army veterans for wearing military badges while on trail for child abuse. The singer had appeared in court on most days with either an Army motif on his breast pocket or a cap badge tied around his neck.

There are some people out there who don’t see me being a metal head. Why is metal my favorite genre of music? Not only that it’s inspiring and helps make you feel like a better person, I enjoy metal ’cause that genre has the best guitar playing. I’ve been listening to this genre ever since I was a child and I think it was Twisted Sister’s, “Stay Hungry “, album that introduced me to the genre. Then later, I got into Sabbath, AC/DC, Metallica, Motley Crue, etc. All those bands from the 80’s. I did listen to all the 90’s grunge metal. Yes, I did listen to a little bit of death & black metal as well.

A lot of my own songwriting is metal inspired. I get a lot of my own song ideas, by borrowing a little bit from other bands. Metal continues to inspire my songwriting. I can not sing like a metal singer and can’t growl like one, that’s why I just play regular hard rock, get what I’m saying? I get all my inspiration from Led Zep, they’re my no. 1. I’ll never get tired of being a huge Led Zep fan and will never get tired of listening to their stuff. I also love Slayer & Iron Maiden. I also like Lamb of God, the Sword, and Megadeth.

I have been to metal concerts before and seen some local metal bands as well.

I know it’s hard for people to tell what genre of music I listen to. People thought I listened to country & folk just because I play an acoustic guitar. I do listen to country & folk, but not that much. I mostly listen to metal. I enjoy regular rock n’ roll too.

Anything with great guitar playing, it’s most likely I’ll be a fan of.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Adam Clayton (bassist of U2. Born in 1960)

– In 1956: RCA Records issued the first album and extended play releases by Elvis Presley.

– In 1958: The Recording Industry Association of America introduced its awards for record sales, (RIAA). The Beatles hold the record for being awarded the most with 76 platinum certifications.

– In 1964: Billboard reported that sales of Beatles singles currently accounted for 60 percent of the US singles market and The Beatles album Meet the Beatles had reached a record 3.5 million copies sold.

– In 1965: Eric Clapton quit The Yardbirds due to musical differences with the other band members. Clapton wanted to continue in a blues type vein, while the rest of the band preferred the more commercial style of their first hit, ‘For Your Love’.

– In 1965: The Beatles started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Eight Days A Week’, the group’s 7th US No.1.

– In 1966: Rod Stewart left Steampacket to work as a solo artist.

– In 1966: Pink Floyd appeared for the first time at The Marquee in Wardour Street, London, England. The Marquee became the most important venue for the emerging British scene and witnessed the rise of some of the most important artists in the 1960s and 1970s, such as Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Manfred Mann, The Who, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Genesis.

– In 1967: Working at Abbey Road studios in London, six members of Sounds, Inc. recorded the horn parts for The Beatles song ‘Good Morning Good Morning’ (three saxophones, two trombones, and one french horn).

– In 1976: The Four Seasons started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘December 1963, (Oh What A Night)’, the group’s 5th US No.1, also their only UK No.1.

– In 1977: Iggy Pop and David Bowie kicked off a North American tour at Le Plateau Theatre, Montreal, Canada with Blondie as the opening act.

– In 1987: Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

– In 1993: Canadian rapper Snow, (Darrin O’Brien), started a 7-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Informer’, a No.2 hit in the UK.

– In 1993: Eric Clapton started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Unplugged.’

– In 1993: Lenny Kravitz started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way.’

– In 1999: Cher started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Believe’, making Cher the oldest woman to top the Hot 100 at the age of 53.

– In 2006: The Sex Pistols refused to attend their own induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. . Blondie, Herb Alpert and Black Sabbath were all inducted but the Pistols posted a handwritten note on their website, calling the institution “urine in wine”, adding “We’re not your monkeys, we’re not coming. You’re not paying attention”.

– In 2006: The Kinks came out the top earners for music used in TV adverts in the US, earning them £6m a year. The sixties group were enjoying a resurgence with their music being used to sell washing powder, computers and medicines. Led Zeppelin came in second place with £4m and The Rolling Stones third with £2.3m.

– In 2007: Coffee house Starbucks announced the launch of its own music label, saying it would sign both established and new artists. The chain, which had 13,000 stores worldwide, had already released albums under its Hear Music brand, licensing songs from other companies. Starbucks bosses said the label would now become more independent and that music fitted with the firm’s identity.

– In 2008: Michael Jackson refinanced his Neverland ranch to save it from being auctioned off, after being told that if he failed to pay $25m (£12.5m) he owed on the California property, it would be auctioned within a week. Jackson bought Neverland in 1987 intending to create a fantasy land for children naming it after an island in the story Peter Pan, where children never grow up.

Musician Birthdays: Bobby McFerrin (singer, famous for hit, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Born in 1950), Vinnie Paul (former drummer of Pantera. Born in 1964), Lisa Loeb (US Singer/songwriter, famous for hit “Stay, I Missed You”. Born in 1968)

– In 1964: The Beatles spent the day filming at Twickenham Studios for A Hard Day’s Night. Filming on a stage set made to look like a train guard’s cage, where the Beatles played cards and mimed to ‘I Should Have Known Better’.

– In 1966: This week’s ITV music show ‘Ready Steady Go’, was entirely devoted to the music of James Brown.

– In 1967: The Supremes had their ninth US No.1 single with ‘Love Is Here And Now Your Gone’ a No.17 hit in the UK.

– In 1968: The Otis Redding single ‘Dock Of The Bay’, went gold in the US three months after the singer was killed in a plane crash.

– In 1971: Jim Morrison of The Doors arrived in Paris booking into The Hotel George’s, the following week he moved into an apartment at 17 Rue Beautreillis in Paris. Morrison lived in Paris until his death on July 3rd 1971.

– In 1972: Neil Young went to No.1 on the US & UK album chart with ‘Harvest.’ The album featured the hit single ‘Heart Of Gold.’

– In 1977: The Clash appeared at The Roxy Club, London, supported by The Slits, the first all-female punk group who were making their live debut.

– In 1978: Meat Loaf’s ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, album began a 416-week run on the UK chart, going on to sell over 2 million copies.

– In 1989: Debbie Gibson started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Electric Youth.’

– In 1995: Van Halen kicked off their 131-date Balance World Tour, at the Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola Civic Center, Florida. (Dubbed the “Ambulance” Tour by Eddie Van Halen due to his hip surgery, and his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen wearing a neck brace for most of the tour).

– In 2000: Destiny’s Child went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Say My Name’.

– In 2001: Dave Matthews Band started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Everyday.’

– In 2005: The front door of Ozzy Osbourne’s childhood home in Birmingham went up for sale because the current owner was fed up with fans defacing it. Ali Mubarrat, who now owned the house in Lodge Road, Aston, said over the years it had become a pilgrimage destination. He was now auctioning the door on eBay and giving the money to charity.

– In 2008: Madonna was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a star-studded ceremony in New York City, she received her honour at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel from singer Justin Timberlake. The 49-year-old thanked her detractors in an acceptance speech, including those who “said I couldn’t sing, that I was a one hit wonder”. Rock star John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, The Ventures and The Dave Clark Five were also among the inductees.

– In 2009: Heavy metal group Iron Maiden’s tour manager criticised people who were arrested for trying to gatecrash a concert in Bogota. Colombian police arrested more than 100 people after stones were thrown hours before the group were due to perform. In a statement posted on the band’s website, Rod Smallwood said: “We abhor the inane behaviour of a small minority of people outside.” Riot police fired tear gas canisters at those who tried to enter the concert without tickets.

– In 2011: The former singer with Iron Maiden was jailed for nine months for fraudulently claiming benefits. Paul Andrews, fronted the band between 1978 and 1981, under the stage name Paul Di’Anno. Andrews, 52, was jailed at the city’s crown court after earlier admitting falsely claiming more than £45,000. Fraud investigators had viewed online videos and read about gigs on the performer’s website.

I just noticed some things about that new, “Spotify”, software for Facebook. The people behind the website did get permission with the music industry. I am listening to albums on it, and they do give credit to the record labels, and they put the copyright on. So they must have gotten written permission to upload albums on there. Plus, the music industry makes money off of “Spotify”, by advertisements and the Premium thing. When you listen to albums on “Spotify”, there are commercials played in between songs. If you buy the Premium, you’ll get  to listen to music with no commercials.

That’s okay, I am not going to buy the Premium. “Spotify” is a great opportunity to listen to albums I’ve always wanted to hear, plus, you get to listen to the new albums before buying them. If I’m interested in a new album, I’ll listen to it in “Spotify” first and then I’ll decide if I want to buy the CD.

Not only that, local and independent bands put their music on there too. I’ll figure out how to get my music on there.

Spotify is nice. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to share your facebook friends what kind of music you’re into. I like the Spotify software. Glad I finally got into it.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Jeff Ament (bassist of Pearl Jam. Born in 1963.)

– In 1956: RCA Records placed a half page ad in Billboard Magazine claiming that Elvis Presley was ‘the new singing rage.’

– In 1964: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel record ‘The Sounds Of Silence’ as an acoustic duo. It wasn’t until record company producers added electric guitar, bass and drums, without the knowledge of Paul and Art, that the song would become a hit in late 1965.

– In 1967: The Monkees held the No.1 position on the US album chart with ‘More Of The Monkees.’

– In 1973: Pink Floyd released their eighth studio album ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ in the US. It remained in the US charts for 741 discontinuous weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history. After moving to the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Chart, the album notched up a further 759 weeks, and had reached a total of over 1,500 weeks on the combined charts by May 2006. With an estimated 45 million copies sold, it is Pink Floyd’s most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums worldwide.

– In 1977: At 7am in the morning on a trestle table set up out-side Buckingham Palace, London, The Sex Pistols signed to A&M Records. The contract lasted for six days.

– In 1979: Gloria Gaynor started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Will Survive’, also a No.1 in the UK. The song was originally released as the B-side to a song first recorded by The Righteous Brothers called ‘Substitute.’

– In 1984:  Van Halen held the No.1 position on the US singles chart with ‘Jump’.

– In 1988: Younger brother of The Bee Gees Andy Gibb died in hospital. His death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) followed a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.

– In 1996: Alanis Morissette won Best Album for ‘Jagged Little Pill’, Best Female singer, Best Rock Album, Best songwriter and best single at the 25th Juno Awards held in Hamilton, Canada.

– In 2000: Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde was arrested for leading an animal rights protest against the clothing firm Gap, who were accused of using leather from cows slaughtered ‘illegally and cruelly’. The protest took place in a store in Manhattan.

– In 2002: Alanis Morissette went to No.1 on the US album chart and No.2 on the UK chart with ‘Under Rug Swept.’

– In 2003: Johnny Cash was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to undergo treatment for pneumonia.

– In 2005: Michael Jackson arrived in court an hour late dressed in his pyjamas after being treated for a back injury. Jackson was attending the Santa Moria court for his child abuse trial.

– In 2009: Tickets for a one-off gig by Sir Paul McCartney in Las Vegas sold out seven seconds after going on sale. The former Beatle was booked to perform at the opening of the New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on 19 April 2009 in-front of 4,000 fans. Tickets cost $750 each.

– In 2010: Pink Floyd won a court battle with EMI that prevented the record company from selling single downloads and ringtones on the Internet from the group’s albums. Pink Floyd’s back catalogue was second in sales to only the Beatles.