Musician Birthdays: Sonny Bono (US Singer/songwriter, actor, comedian, politician. Most famous as the musical duo with Cher and for the hit, “I Got You Babe”, born in 1935) Ice – T (US rapper, actor, can be seen on “Law & Order: SVU”, born in 1959) Taylor Hawkins (drummer for the Foo Fighters, born in 1972)

– In 1964: The Beatles made their second live appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, exactly one week after the first. Before an audience of 3,500 at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, The Beatles performed ‘She Loves You’, ‘This Boy’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘From Me to You’, and ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’.

– In 1972: Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watt’s wife Shirley was arrested after an incident at Nice Airport for swearing and hitting custom’s officials.

– In 1972: Led Zeppelin made their Australian live debut when they kicked off a six-date tour at the Subiaco Oval, Perth. Police battled with over 500 fans who rammed locked gates trying to get into the concert. Over 4,000 fans stood outside the venue without tickets and local residents jammed police phone lines to complain about the noise.

– In 1974: Bob Dylan started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Planet Waves, his first US No.1. The album was originally set to be titled Ceremonies Of The Horsemen, a reference to the song ‘Love Minus Zero / No Limit’, from the 1965 album ‘Bringing It All Back Home’. When Dylan decided to change the title at the last minute, the release was delayed for two weeks.

– In 1985: Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Born In The USA’, his first UK No.1 album. The singers seventh studio album, was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen’s most successful album ever). The album produced a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles.

– In 1991: The Simpsons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Do The Bartman’. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Bryan Lorenand, The Simpsons became the first cartoon characters to make No.1 since the Archies hit ‘Sugar Sugar’ in 1969. Jackson was a massive fan of The Simpsons and had called the producers one night offering to write Bart a number one single and do a guest spot on the show.

– In 2003: 50 Cent was at No.1 on the US album chart with his debut album ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’, a No.2 hit in the UK.

– In 2005: Kid Rock was arrested for allegedly punching a DJ at a strip club in Nashville, Tennessee. Police were called to the incident but Rock escaped from the club. Shortly after, he was pulled over by an officer who got an autograph but did not do a breath test despite smelling alcohol. (The officer has since been fired). The star was eventually arrested a few hours later, taken to the night court and released on $3,000 (£1,600) bail.

– In 2009: Chris Brown talked about his recent arrest for the first time. The R&B singer was being investigated by police over claims he attacked a woman. In a statement Chris Brown said “I am seeking the counselling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person.” There had been speculation that his girlfriend Rihanna was the woman in the attack and had been seen with bruises on her face

Loren Weisman said:

Dont worry over the awards! So many people are concerned with winning this award or that award. They set it as the end all be all goal and then begin to lose site of the original goal, lose common sense and lose smart business sense. Often times, this is followed by making decisions that will hurt their career, chances at long term success as well as losing percentages and ownership they will never get back. Work to understand the dream you want and how to execute it. Dont get lost in the delusions. A Grammy doesn’t mean that much anymore. I think it is a greater award where an artist has a sustaining amount of sales, sustaining amount of touring and sustaining amount of income while keeping majority control of their art and their career.

See her blog post, here.

Well, I’m glad I’m not alone on this.

Bands obsess with wanting to win awards like Battle of the Bands stuff and other stupid songwriting contests or radio station contests. I mean, who cares about all that, right? Like I said in a different blog post, that stuff will MEAN NOTHING TO ME!

It’s  more rewarding when people are supporting your music: listening to it, buying it and going to your shows. That’s all they should care about. The love of music.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Ali Campbell (singer of UB40, famous for hit “Red Red Wine”, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, and more. Born in 1959)

– In 1964: The Beatles scored their first US No.1 album with ‘Meet The Beatles!’ The album stayed at No.1 for eleven weeks.

– In 1965: American singer and pianist Nat King Cole died of lung cancer. First hit was the 1943 ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’, had the 1955 US No.2 single ‘A Blossom Fell’ and 1957 UK No.2 single ‘When I Fall In Love’ plus over 20 other US & UK Top 40 singles. Father of singer Natalie Cole. In 1956 he became the first black American to host a television variety show.

– In 1968: John and Cynthia Lennon, along with George and Patti Harrison, flew to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul and Ringo joined them a few days later, but Starr would become bored and leave on March 1st, comparing the experience to be like a ‘Butlins holiday camp.’ Much of the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ was written during their stay.

– In 1969: Sly and the Family Stone started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Everyday People’, their first No.1.

– In 1975: Linda Ronstadt went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You’re No Good’, the singers only solo chart topper out of 12 other top 40 hits. Also today Ronstadt went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Heart Like A Wheel.’

– In 1977: Glen Matlock was fired as bass player from The Sex Pistols, being replaced by Sid Vicious. Matlock rejoined in the 90’s when the Pistol’s reformed.

– In 1981: American guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose. He was a member of the Paul Butterfield band and Electric Flag and had played on Bob Dylan’s album ‘Highway 61 Revisited’. In 2003 he was ranked at number 22 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

– In 1986: Whitney Houston started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘How Will I Know’, which was also a No.5 in the UK.

– In 1994: A federal court jury ruled Michael Jackson did not steal the idea for his hit song ‘Dangerous’ from a Denver woman who had sent him a demo tape.

– In 2000: Sting pulled-out of a concert in Vienna in protest at the inclusion of Jorg Haider’s far right freedom party in Austria’s new government. Lou Reed had also cancelled shows in the country.

– In 2009: Lily Allen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ the singers second album.

Musician Birthdays: Rob Thomas (singer of Matchbox Twenty, famous for the hit, “Push”, born in 1972)

– In 1961: The Beatles perform at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool, and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool where they play a special Valentine’s Day show. Paul McCartney sang Elvis Presley’s “Wooden Heart”, wearing wooden heart pinned to his coat, covered with satin and embroidered with the names “John”, “Paul”, “George”, and “Pete”. The heart was raffled off, and the winner also won a kiss from Paul.

– In 1970: The Who appeared at Leeds University, England. The show was recorded for the bands forthcoming ‘Live At Leeds’ album. The University of Leeds refectory, has now been named a national landmark in the UK, commemorated with a blue plaque.

– In 1972: John Lennon and Yoko Ono started a week long run as co-hosts on ‘Mike Douglas’ US TV show

– In 1973: David Bowie collapsed on stage during a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

– In 1977: US singer songwriter Janis Ian received 461 Valentine’s day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her song ‘At Seventeen’, she had never received any.

– In 1978: Dire Straits began recording their first album at Basing Street Studios, London. The whole project cost £12,500 ($21,250) to produce. The album which featured the group’s breakthrough single ‘Sultans of Swing’ went on to enjoy a 132 week run on the UK chart.

– In 1986: Frank Zappa appeared on an episode of the television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrayed a crime boss named ‘Mr. Frankie.’

– In 1987: Bon Jovi started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’, the group’s second US No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK.

– In 1992: The film ‘Waynes World’, which featured appearances from Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper premiered in the US. The use of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the film propelled the song to No.2 on the US singles charts nearly 20 years after its first release.

– In 1995: Rapper Tupac Shakur was sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison on a sexual abuse charge. He was later released on appeal.

– In 1998: Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ set a new recorded for the most radio plays in the US with 116 million plays in one week.

– In 1999: Elton John appeared as himself in a special episode of the animated series The Simpsons shown on US TV.

– In 2003: Stolen reel-to-reel studio recordings by The Beatles were found in Australia. Police recovered the tapes of the bands 1968 ‘White album’ and the ‘Abbey Road’ album after they were advertised for sale in a Sydney newspaper. Australian police had been tipped off by British detectives from Operation Acetone, an investigation into thefts of original Beatles music from Abbey Road studios in London in the 1960’s .

– In 2009:  Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Working on a Dream’, his 16th studio album.

Musician Birthdays: Peter Tork (singer, bassist of the Monkees, born in 1944), Peter Gabriel (former singer of Genesis, solo career, famous for hits, “Sledgehammer”, “Red Rain”, “Digging In the Dirt”, and more. Born in 1950), Henry Rollins (singer, actor, spoken word artist, born in 1961)

– In 1961: Frank Sinatra launched his own record label, Reprise Records, in order to allow more artistic freedom for his own recordings. Hence, he garnered the nickname “The Chairman of the Board.” One of the label’s founding principles under Sinatra’s leadership was that each artist would have full creative freedom, and at some point complete ownership of their work; including publishing rights. Reprise later became the home of many influential US acts such as Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and The Beach Boys.

– In 1967: The Monkees announced that from now on they would be playing on their own recordings instead of session musicians.

– In 1967: The Beatles released the double A sided single ‘Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane’ on Capitol Records in the US. The single spent 10 weeks on the chart peaking at No.1.

– In 1969: Bob Dylan recorded versions of ‘Lay, Lady, Lay’, at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. ‘Lay Lady Lay’ was originally written for the soundtrack of the movie Midnight Cowboy, but wasn’t submitted in time to be included in the finished film. The song has gone on to become a standard and has been covered by numerous bands and artists over the years, including The Byrds, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, The Everly Brothers, Neil Diamond, Melanie, The Isley Brothers, Duran Duran, Hoyt Axton and Isaac Hayes amongst others.

– In 1970: On this day, Friday the 13th, Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled studio album on Vertigo records in the UK. Peaking at #8 on the charts, the album has been recognised as the first main album to be credited with the development of the heavy metal genre.

– In 1971: The Osmonds started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘One Bad Apple’. The group had been appearing on TV in the US from 1962, on the Andy Williams Show and then the Jerry Lewis show.

– In 1973: After becoming ill during a concert in Las Vegas Elvis Presley presented Doctor Sidney Bowers with a Lincoln Continental to show his appreciation for all his work.

– In 1976: Genesis released their first album since the departure of Peter Gabriel, ‘A Trick Of The Tail’ featuring eight new tracks with drummer Phill Collins taking on the role of lead vocalist.

– In 1980: Police raided the home of former Sex Pistol John Lydon who greeted them waving a ceremonial sword, the only illegal item they found was a canister of tear gas, claimed to be for defence against intruders.

– In 1982: The Jam became the first band since The Beatles to play two numbers on the same edition of ‘Top Of The Pops’, when they performed ‘A Town Called Malice’, and ‘Precious’, their latest double A sided No.1.

– In 1997: Michael Jackson became a father when Debbie Rowe gave birth to a baby boy, Prince Michael Jackson Jr.

– In 2002: American country singer, songwriter Waylon Jennings died in his sleep after a lengthy fight with diabetes. Was bassist for Buddy Holly following the break-up of The Crickets. Released a series of duet albums with Willie Nelson in the late 1970s. Scored the 1980 US No.21 single ‘Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard’, he was also the narrator on the television series. Member of The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.

– In 2004: Led Zeppelin were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Grammys. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham all attended. Robert Plant did not, since he was working on a new album and tour.

– In 2010: Doug Fieger singer, songwriter with The Knack died after a long battle with cancer. Had the 1979 US No.1 & UK No.6 single ‘My Sharona’.

Musician Birthdays: Ray Manzarek (keyboardist of the Doors, born in 1939), Lisa Hannigan (Irish folk singer, born in 1981)

– In 1964: The Beatles returned to New York City by train from Washington, D.C. for two performances at Carnegie Hall. There was such a demand for tickets that some extra seating was arranged surrounding the stage. Tickets ranged from $1.65 to $5.50.

– In 1968: Billed as ‘Tour 60 cities in 66 Days’ The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Centre Arena, Seattle, Washington.

– In 1970: John Lennon performed ‘Instant Karma’, on BBC TV’s ‘Top Of The Pops’, becoming the first Beatle to have appeared on the show since 1966.

– In 1972: Al Green went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Let’s Stay Together’, his only US chart topper. Tina Turner took the song to No.26 in 84.

– In 1977: Barbra Streisand started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘A Star Is Born.’

– In 1977: The Police recorded their first single, ‘Fall Out’ for £150 ($255) at Pathway Studios, London, England.

– In 1978: Rush appeared at the Birmingham Odeon, England, promoting their new single ‘Closer To The Heart’, which was in the shops for 99p.

– In 1989: Aretha Franklin lost a court case against Broadway producer Ashton Springer, who sued for $1 million (£0.58 million) when Aretha failed to turn up for rehearsals for the stage show Sing Mahalia Sing, blaming her fear of flying on the non appearance.

– In 1994: Alice In Chains entered the US album chart at No.1 with ‘Jar Of Flies.’

– In 1994: Celine Dion started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Power Of Love’, the singers first US No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK.

– In 1995: Van Halen, scored their first US No.1 album with ‘Balance.’

– In 1997: U2 held a press conference in the Lingerie Department at the Greenwich Village Kmart store in Manhattan, New York City, to announce their Pop Mart world tour. The tour was set to start in Las Vegas on April 25th of this year.

– In 1997: David Bowie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

– In 2003: Former Doors drummer John Densmore took out legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with Ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said “It shouldn’t be called The Doors if it’s someone other than Jim Morrison singing.”

– In 2004: Eminem’s ex-wife Kimberly Mathers was jailed for a month after being found using cocaine while on probation. Mathers was also put on a 90-day drug abuse programme.

– In 2005: A train was named after Clash frontman Joe Strummer at a ceremony in Bristol. The diesel train owned by Cotswold Rail, was named after the singer, guitarist who died aged 50 in 2002.

– In 2007: During a press conference at West Hollywood’s Whisky a Go Go club Sting confirmed that The Police were getting back together. The band were set to kick off a world tour on May 28 in Vancouver, Canada, supported by Sting’s son Joe Sumner’s band, Fiction Plane.