TODAY IN HISTORY – JANUARY 30th
1942 - Born on this day, Martyn Balin, singer and founder of US group Jefferson Airplane (later became Jefferson Starship), who had the 1967 US No.18 single 'White Rabbit'.
1947 - Born this day, Steve Marriott, singer, songwriter, musician, guitar, Small Faces, 1967 UK No.3 single Itchycoo Park, Watcha Gonna Do, Hey Girl, All or Nothing, My Mind’s Eye, Swinging London, 1969 UK No.4 single Natural Born Bugie, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Moments, Humble Pie, Packet of Three; 1968 No.1 UK album Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, child actor: Oliver!). Died in Essex, England in a house fire on 20 April 1991.
1951 - Born this day, [Philip David Charles] Phil Collins, singer, songwriter, drummer, actor, born on 31 January 1951, in Chiswick, London. In his early years he was a child actor, performing in the London stage play The Artful Dodger and Oliver as a teenager. He was an extra in The Beatles A Hard Days Night. Phil joined Genesis in 1970, and kicked off his solo career in 1981. His biggest hit with Genesis was the 1986 US No.1 Invisible Touch, also 1992 UK No.7 single I Can't Dance plus six UK No.1 albums. Solo, 1988 UK and US N0.1 single A Groovy Kind Of Love plus six other US No.1's and four UK No.1 solo albums. Acting roles include Miami Vice, Risky Business, Buster, Hook and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In 2000, Phil won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error but because the two musicians had no other income they would not have to pay the money back. His fifth US No.1 single Separate Lives was taken from the film White Nights and featured Marilyn Martin. Phil appeared on the Wembley and JFK leg at the 1985 Band Aid concerts on the same day after flying from the UK to America on Concorde. Other tracks include In the Air Tonight, I Missed Again, You Can’t Hurry Love, Sussudio, One More Night, Two Hearts.
1958 - On the first night of a six date Australian tour, Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jodie Sands and Johnny O'Keefe all appeared at Sydney Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales
1961 - The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US chart when 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?' reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.
1964 - The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song 'Needles And Pins'. The group's second UK No.1 had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon.
1969 - The Beatles (with Billy Preston), played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row in London. Lasting for just over 40 minutes it was the last time The Beatles performed live. The played ‘Get Back’, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, ‘The One After 909’ and ‘Dig A Pony’. Traffic was brought to a standstill as crowds of people gathered below and watched from windows in nearby buildings. The performance itself began at around 12pm on a bitterly cold Thursday lunchtime and lasted for 42 minutes. John Lennon ended the performance by saying “I’d like to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.”
1970 - Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).' The group's only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
1971 - George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when My Sweet Lord, went to the top of the UK single charts.
1972 - Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.
1973 - After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as Kiss at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.
1975 - The Bee Gees begin recording 'Jive Talkin', which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit. Barry Gibb's inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, "It's our drive talkin'."
1982 - Hall and Oates went to No.1 on the US singles chart with I Can't Go For That, (No Can Do), the duo's fourth US No.1, and a No.8 hit in the UK.
1985 - Pop singer Janet Jackson filed a petition to nullify her marriage to James DeBarge in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
1988 - During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits Relax and Two Tribes. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make the records.
1988 - INXS had their first US No.1 hit single with Need You Tonight.
1988 - Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Think We're Alone Now', the singers only UK No.1 single. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.
1992 - Touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the The Barton Theater in Adelaide.
1999 - After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Baby One More Time. Britney's debut album also went to No.1 on the US chart on the same day.
1999 - In the NME readers poll results the winner of 'The pop personality that you would like as your doctor' was won by singer Natalie Imbruglia.
2000 - Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rise'. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan's 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer, the other two being The Byrds version of 'Mr Tambourine Man' and Manfred Mann's 'The Mighty Quinn'.
2010 - Neil Young was named the Musicares person of the year for his "influential artistic accomplishments and philanthropic work". A string of artist including Elton John, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, John Forgarty, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crowe performed his songs as he was honoured by the US Recording Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.
2013 – Most popular song played on NZ radio this past week is “Take It Easy” by Stan Walker.
2013 - Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated “Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men – and he’s pushing 70.”
1942 - Born on this day, Martyn Balin, singer and founder of US group Jefferson Airplane (later became Jefferson Starship), who had the 1967 US No.18 single 'White Rabbit'.
1947 - Born this day, Steve Marriott, singer, songwriter, musician, guitar, Small Faces, 1967 UK No.3 single Itchycoo Park, Watcha Gonna Do, Hey Girl, All or Nothing, My Mind’s Eye, Swinging London, 1969 UK No.4 single Natural Born Bugie, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Moments, Humble Pie, Packet of Three; 1968 No.1 UK album Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, child actor: Oliver!). Died in Essex, England in a house fire on 20 April 1991.
1951 - Born this day, [Philip David Charles] Phil Collins, singer, songwriter, drummer, actor, born on 31 January 1951, in Chiswick, London. In his early years he was a child actor, performing in the London stage play The Artful Dodger and Oliver as a teenager. He was an extra in The Beatles A Hard Days Night. Phil joined Genesis in 1970, and kicked off his solo career in 1981. His biggest hit with Genesis was the 1986 US No.1 Invisible Touch, also 1992 UK No.7 single I Can't Dance plus six UK No.1 albums. Solo, 1988 UK and US N0.1 single A Groovy Kind Of Love plus six other US No.1's and four UK No.1 solo albums. Acting roles include Miami Vice, Risky Business, Buster, Hook and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In 2000, Phil won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error but because the two musicians had no other income they would not have to pay the money back. His fifth US No.1 single Separate Lives was taken from the film White Nights and featured Marilyn Martin. Phil appeared on the Wembley and JFK leg at the 1985 Band Aid concerts on the same day after flying from the UK to America on Concorde. Other tracks include In the Air Tonight, I Missed Again, You Can’t Hurry Love, Sussudio, One More Night, Two Hearts.
1958 - On the first night of a six date Australian tour, Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jodie Sands and Johnny O'Keefe all appeared at Sydney Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales
1961 - The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US chart when 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?' reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.
1964 - The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song 'Needles And Pins'. The group's second UK No.1 had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon.
1969 - The Beatles (with Billy Preston), played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row in London. Lasting for just over 40 minutes it was the last time The Beatles performed live. The played ‘Get Back’, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, ‘The One After 909’ and ‘Dig A Pony’. Traffic was brought to a standstill as crowds of people gathered below and watched from windows in nearby buildings. The performance itself began at around 12pm on a bitterly cold Thursday lunchtime and lasted for 42 minutes. John Lennon ended the performance by saying “I’d like to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.”
1970 - Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).' The group's only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
1971 - George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when My Sweet Lord, went to the top of the UK single charts.
1972 - Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.
1973 - After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as Kiss at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.
1975 - The Bee Gees begin recording 'Jive Talkin', which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit. Barry Gibb's inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, "It's our drive talkin'."
1982 - Hall and Oates went to No.1 on the US singles chart with I Can't Go For That, (No Can Do), the duo's fourth US No.1, and a No.8 hit in the UK.
1985 - Pop singer Janet Jackson filed a petition to nullify her marriage to James DeBarge in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
1988 - During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits Relax and Two Tribes. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make the records.
1988 - INXS had their first US No.1 hit single with Need You Tonight.
1988 - Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Think We're Alone Now', the singers only UK No.1 single. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.
1992 - Touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the The Barton Theater in Adelaide.
1999 - After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Baby One More Time. Britney's debut album also went to No.1 on the US chart on the same day.
1999 - In the NME readers poll results the winner of 'The pop personality that you would like as your doctor' was won by singer Natalie Imbruglia.
2000 - Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rise'. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan's 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer, the other two being The Byrds version of 'Mr Tambourine Man' and Manfred Mann's 'The Mighty Quinn'.
2010 - Neil Young was named the Musicares person of the year for his "influential artistic accomplishments and philanthropic work". A string of artist including Elton John, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, John Forgarty, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crowe performed his songs as he was honoured by the US Recording Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.
2013 – Most popular song played on NZ radio this past week is “Take It Easy” by Stan Walker.
2013 - Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated “Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men – and he’s pushing 70.”