Today in Rock n Roll History

1966: The Cavern Club in Liverpool, U.K. made famous by The Beatles’ residency there, closed due to being $15,000 in debt. Police were called after more than 100 fans barricaded themselves in the club to protest the club’s closing. Today, the area where The Cavern Club resided is now a subway station.

1970: In an interview with the New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. The following year Green confronted his accountant with a gun after he sent him an unwanted royalty check. The guitarist went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum and was committed to a mental hospital in 1973. He re- launched his career in the 90’s.

1977: Ray Charles attacked onstage by a man who tries to strangle him with a rope (big tough guy attacking a blind man).

1982: Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham collapsed during Thin Lizzy’s European tour while battling heroin withdrawal.

1984: Michael Jackson wins eight Grammys, all connected to his album “Thriller.” Eddie VanHalen is a Noted player on Beat It!

1985: David Byron the original singer for Uriah Heep, died of alcohol related complications in Reading, U.K. He was 38 years old.

1991: The Record Plant in Hollywood closes. Among the albums recorded at the recording studio and rock hangout were the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” and Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life.”
Note: it has since reopened.

1996: The original lineup of Kiss made their first public appearance in full makeup & costumes in 17 years at the 38th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Kiss & Tupac Shakur presented the Grammy Award for Best New Artist to Hootie & the Blowfish.

2000: Charging that he has been shortchanged millions in publishing royalties, Stan Penrige, the songwriter who penned “Beth,” sues the members of Kiss, the band’s publishing company, and Universal Music Group.

2008: Boy George pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning a male escort by chaining him to a wall. The singer and DJ was also accused of assaulting Audun Carlsen during the alleged incident on 28 April 2007. He was released on bail until a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in November.

2008: Drummer Buddy Miles who played with Jimi Hendrix in his last regular group, Band of Gypsys, died aged 60 at his home in Austin, Texas after struggling with a long-term illness. Born George Allen Miles in Omaha, Nebraska, Buddy’s nickname was a tribute to his idol, jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Rich also played with The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters and Barry White. In the 1980s, he achieved a certain amount of notoriety in the US as the vocalist on the celebrated claymation California Raisins commercials.


TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
1942: Brian Jones guitarist/founder of The Rolling Stones
1957: Cindy Wilson singer for The B-52’s