TODAY IN HISTORY – January 8th
1935 – Born this day, Elvis Aaron Presley. American singer and actor and cultural icon. Died August 16th 1977 at Graceland, Memphis.
1937 - Born on this day, Shirley Bassey, singer. First charted in the UK in 1957, 1970 UK No.4 single with cover of The Beatles George Harrison song 'Something' also James Bond theme 'Goldfinger' and 'Diamonds are Forever'.
1945 - Born on this day, Terry Sylvester, guitar, vocals, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies, (joined in 1969). 1972 US No.2 single 'Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress', 1988 UK No.1 single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', first released in 1969.
1946 - Born on this day, Robert Krieger, guitarist with The Doors, (1967 US No.1 & UK No.49 single with ‘Light My Fire’ and a 1971 US No.14 & UK No.22 single ‘Riders On The Storm’).
1947 – Born this day, David Bowie (David Robert Jones) in Brixton, London. Went from a musical superstar in the 70’s through his distinctive musical persona’s (Ziggy Stardust/Major Tom/Aladdin Sane/Thin White Duke etc) to a megastar of the early MTV era with “Let’s Dance”, “China Girl” & “Modern Love”.
1959 - Born on this day, Paul Hester, drums, Crowded House, (1992 UK No.7 single 'Weather With You'). Hester died on 26th March 2005 aged 46, after he "attempted suicide" and died from strangulation after being found hanged in a park in Melbourne, Australia.
1966 - The Beatles started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Rubber Soul' the group's seventh US chart topper, which went on to spend 56 weeks on the chart. The group also started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Can Work It Out' the group's 11th US No.1 single.
1969 - Mike Jagger and Keith Richards were both barred from an exclusive hotel for wearing "op art" pants and nothing else. They were both asked to leave the Hotel Crillen in Lima, Peru after refusing to change clothes.
1969 - Born on this day, R. Kelly, singer, writer, producer, (1994 US No.1 single 'Bump N' Grind', 1997 UK No.1 single 'I Believe I Can Fly').
1972 - The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, (in Perfect Harmony'). The song started as a Coca Cola TV ad. It originally included the line, 'I'd like to buy the world a Coke.'
1977 - Taking time out from their group 5th Dimension Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Don't Have To Be A Star', a No.7 hit in the UK.
1979 - Canadian rock band Rush were named the country's official Ambassadors Of Music by the Canadian government.
1991 - Steve Clark guitarist with Def Leppard, was found dead at his Chelsea flat by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs. The autopsy revealed he had died from an overdose of codeine and had Valium, morphine and a blood alcohol level of .30, three times the British legal driving limit. In 2007 Clark was ranked No.11 on Classic Rock Magazine's "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes".
1996 - A Los Angeles court found Robert Hoskins guilty of five counts of stalking, assault and making terrorist threats to Madonna. Hoskins had twice scaled the walls of the singer's estate and had threatened to slash her throat from ear to ear.
2000 - Christina Aguilera started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'What A Girl Wants.' She ended Santana's 12- week run at No.1 with 'Smooth.'
2000 - It was reported that police foiled a £1 million ($1.7million) kidnap plot to snatch Victoria Beckham and her baby son. The plot was uncovered after a tip off to the police. The gang had planned to kidnap the pair when husband David was away playing football.
2001 - A woman who believed that Axl Rose communicated with her via telepathy was arrested for stalking the Guns N' Roses singer for a second time. Police detained Karen Jane McNeil after she was spotted loitering outside his house.
2004 - The estate of George Harrison started a $10 million (£5.8 million) legal action against Dr Gilbert Lederman of Staten Island University Hospital, claiming the doctor coerced Harrison to sign souvenirs. The main allegations of the legal action was that Dr Lederman got an extremely sick Harrison to sign his son's guitar and autographs for his two daughters.
2006 - The Strokes went to No.1 on the UK chart with 'First Impressions Of Earth' the bands third album and first No.1.
2010 - Jimmy Page launched a new set of stamps in the UK which featured classic album covers from the last 40 years including Led Zeppelin IV, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Division Bell by Pink Floyd, A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Coldplay, Power, Corruption And Lies, New Order, Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones, London Calling, The Clash, Screamadelica, Primal Scream, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, David Bowie and Parklife by Blur.
2012 – After 25 years and over 800 appearances as Timaru’s Caroline Bay Carnival compere, Noel Burns announces he is taking a “break” from duties next summer. He is joined by Suzanne Lynch for a duet before singing his final song.
1935 – Born this day, Elvis Aaron Presley. American singer and actor and cultural icon. Died August 16th 1977 at Graceland, Memphis.
1937 - Born on this day, Shirley Bassey, singer. First charted in the UK in 1957, 1970 UK No.4 single with cover of The Beatles George Harrison song 'Something' also James Bond theme 'Goldfinger' and 'Diamonds are Forever'.
1945 - Born on this day, Terry Sylvester, guitar, vocals, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies, (joined in 1969). 1972 US No.2 single 'Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress', 1988 UK No.1 single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', first released in 1969.
1946 - Born on this day, Robert Krieger, guitarist with The Doors, (1967 US No.1 & UK No.49 single with ‘Light My Fire’ and a 1971 US No.14 & UK No.22 single ‘Riders On The Storm’).
1947 – Born this day, David Bowie (David Robert Jones) in Brixton, London. Went from a musical superstar in the 70’s through his distinctive musical persona’s (Ziggy Stardust/Major Tom/Aladdin Sane/Thin White Duke etc) to a megastar of the early MTV era with “Let’s Dance”, “China Girl” & “Modern Love”.
1959 - Born on this day, Paul Hester, drums, Crowded House, (1992 UK No.7 single 'Weather With You'). Hester died on 26th March 2005 aged 46, after he "attempted suicide" and died from strangulation after being found hanged in a park in Melbourne, Australia.
1966 - The Beatles started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Rubber Soul' the group's seventh US chart topper, which went on to spend 56 weeks on the chart. The group also started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Can Work It Out' the group's 11th US No.1 single.
1969 - Mike Jagger and Keith Richards were both barred from an exclusive hotel for wearing "op art" pants and nothing else. They were both asked to leave the Hotel Crillen in Lima, Peru after refusing to change clothes.
1969 - Born on this day, R. Kelly, singer, writer, producer, (1994 US No.1 single 'Bump N' Grind', 1997 UK No.1 single 'I Believe I Can Fly').
1972 - The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, (in Perfect Harmony'). The song started as a Coca Cola TV ad. It originally included the line, 'I'd like to buy the world a Coke.'
1977 - Taking time out from their group 5th Dimension Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Don't Have To Be A Star', a No.7 hit in the UK.
1979 - Canadian rock band Rush were named the country's official Ambassadors Of Music by the Canadian government.
1991 - Steve Clark guitarist with Def Leppard, was found dead at his Chelsea flat by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs. The autopsy revealed he had died from an overdose of codeine and had Valium, morphine and a blood alcohol level of .30, three times the British legal driving limit. In 2007 Clark was ranked No.11 on Classic Rock Magazine's "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes".
1996 - A Los Angeles court found Robert Hoskins guilty of five counts of stalking, assault and making terrorist threats to Madonna. Hoskins had twice scaled the walls of the singer's estate and had threatened to slash her throat from ear to ear.
2000 - Christina Aguilera started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'What A Girl Wants.' She ended Santana's 12- week run at No.1 with 'Smooth.'
2000 - It was reported that police foiled a £1 million ($1.7million) kidnap plot to snatch Victoria Beckham and her baby son. The plot was uncovered after a tip off to the police. The gang had planned to kidnap the pair when husband David was away playing football.
2001 - A woman who believed that Axl Rose communicated with her via telepathy was arrested for stalking the Guns N' Roses singer for a second time. Police detained Karen Jane McNeil after she was spotted loitering outside his house.
2004 - The estate of George Harrison started a $10 million (£5.8 million) legal action against Dr Gilbert Lederman of Staten Island University Hospital, claiming the doctor coerced Harrison to sign souvenirs. The main allegations of the legal action was that Dr Lederman got an extremely sick Harrison to sign his son's guitar and autographs for his two daughters.
2006 - The Strokes went to No.1 on the UK chart with 'First Impressions Of Earth' the bands third album and first No.1.
2010 - Jimmy Page launched a new set of stamps in the UK which featured classic album covers from the last 40 years including Led Zeppelin IV, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Division Bell by Pink Floyd, A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Coldplay, Power, Corruption And Lies, New Order, Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones, London Calling, The Clash, Screamadelica, Primal Scream, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, David Bowie and Parklife by Blur.
2012 – After 25 years and over 800 appearances as Timaru’s Caroline Bay Carnival compere, Noel Burns announces he is taking a “break” from duties next summer. He is joined by Suzanne Lynch for a duet before singing his final song.