TODAY IN HISTORY – MAY 31st
1948 - Born this day, John Bonham, drummer, Led Zeppelin, 1969 US No.4 single Whole Lotta Love. Their 4th album released in 1971 sold over 11 million copies and features the rock classic Stairway To Heaven. Died 25 September 1980.
1956 - Buddy Holly saw the John Wayne movie The Searchers, and the line 'That'll be the day' inspired him to write a song with that title.
1961 - Chuck Berry opened 'Berry Park', an amusement complex near St Louis. The park had its own zoo, golf course and ferris wheel.
1962 - Born this day, Corey Hart, singer.
1965 - Born this day, Brooke Shields, in New York City, actress, model.
1966 - Filming began on The Monkees first TV series. The Monkees' first single, 'Last Train to Clarksville' was released in August 1966, just weeks prior to the TV broadcast debut. In conjunction with the first broadcast of the television show on September 12, 1966 on the NBC television network, NBC and Columbia had a major hit on their hands
1969 - Jimi Hendrix was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents (2/6).
1969 - The Plastic Ono Band recorded Give Peace A Chance, during a 'bed-in' at the Hotel La Reine in Montreal, Canada.
1971 - 36 Grateful Dead fans were medically treated after unknowingly drinking L.S.D. laced cider, at a gig in the US.
1975 - Freddy Fender went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Before The Next Teardrop Falls. It was his only US No.1.
1975 - During a press conference held at the 5th Avenue Hotel in New York City to announce The Rolling Stones forthcoming American tour, the Stones themselves came down the street playing live from the back of a flat-bed truck. Stones drummer Charlie Watts came up with the idea, after the practise of New Orleans jazz musicians, who would play walking down the street.
1976 - The Who put out a total of 76,000 watts of power at 120 decibels. They played the loudest concert anyone had ever heard, making it into The Guinness Book of World Records. They played at Charlton Athletic Football Ground
1977 - The BBC announced a ban on the new Sex Pistols single 'God Save The Queen' saying it's, "in gross bad taste". And the IBA issued a warning to all radio stations saying the playing the single would be in breach of Section 4:1:A of the Broadcasting act. The single reached No.2 on the UK chart.
1980 - Lipps Inc went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Funkytown'. The disco hit was also a No.1 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Australia and The Netherlands. It reached No. 2 in the UK..
1980 - The Theme From M*A*S*H* (Suicide Is Painless) started a three week run at No.1 in the UK singles chart, 10 years after it was first recorded.
1986 - Peter Gabriel scored his 2nd solo UK No.1 album with So featuring the single Sledgehammer and a duet with Kate Bush Don't Give Up.
1986 - The Notting Hillbillies made their live debut when they appeared at The Grove in Leeds. The group featured Mark Knopfler, Steve Phillips and Brendan Crocker who were each paid £22.
1987 - Born this day, Danielle, to Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' granddaughter.
1998 - Geri Halliwell announced she had left The Spice Girls saying 'This is because of differences between us. I am sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best'.
2005 - Former East 17 singer Brian Harvey was in a critical condition in a London hospital after he fell under the wheels of his Mercedes convertible. The accident happened outside his home in Walthamstow when Harvey was reversing from an access road into the street. The singer suffered a broken leg, pelvis and a crushed abdomen and ribs.
2006 - 71 year-old songwriter Hal Bynum, (whose credits include Kenny Rogers "Lucille,") and his wife were arrested and charged with growing marijuana inside their Nashville home and possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms. After receiving a tip, police searched the couple's home and confiscated 256 marijuana plants, 7.5 pounds of harvested marijuana, 14 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, growing lamps and other drug paraphernalia. Bynum, and his wife were released on $73,500 bond each.
1948 - Born this day, John Bonham, drummer, Led Zeppelin, 1969 US No.4 single Whole Lotta Love. Their 4th album released in 1971 sold over 11 million copies and features the rock classic Stairway To Heaven. Died 25 September 1980.
1956 - Buddy Holly saw the John Wayne movie The Searchers, and the line 'That'll be the day' inspired him to write a song with that title.
1961 - Chuck Berry opened 'Berry Park', an amusement complex near St Louis. The park had its own zoo, golf course and ferris wheel.
1962 - Born this day, Corey Hart, singer.
1965 - Born this day, Brooke Shields, in New York City, actress, model.
1966 - Filming began on The Monkees first TV series. The Monkees' first single, 'Last Train to Clarksville' was released in August 1966, just weeks prior to the TV broadcast debut. In conjunction with the first broadcast of the television show on September 12, 1966 on the NBC television network, NBC and Columbia had a major hit on their hands
1969 - Jimi Hendrix was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents (2/6).
1969 - The Plastic Ono Band recorded Give Peace A Chance, during a 'bed-in' at the Hotel La Reine in Montreal, Canada.
1971 - 36 Grateful Dead fans were medically treated after unknowingly drinking L.S.D. laced cider, at a gig in the US.
1975 - Freddy Fender went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Before The Next Teardrop Falls. It was his only US No.1.
1975 - During a press conference held at the 5th Avenue Hotel in New York City to announce The Rolling Stones forthcoming American tour, the Stones themselves came down the street playing live from the back of a flat-bed truck. Stones drummer Charlie Watts came up with the idea, after the practise of New Orleans jazz musicians, who would play walking down the street.
1976 - The Who put out a total of 76,000 watts of power at 120 decibels. They played the loudest concert anyone had ever heard, making it into The Guinness Book of World Records. They played at Charlton Athletic Football Ground
1977 - The BBC announced a ban on the new Sex Pistols single 'God Save The Queen' saying it's, "in gross bad taste". And the IBA issued a warning to all radio stations saying the playing the single would be in breach of Section 4:1:A of the Broadcasting act. The single reached No.2 on the UK chart.
1980 - Lipps Inc went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Funkytown'. The disco hit was also a No.1 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Australia and The Netherlands. It reached No. 2 in the UK..
1980 - The Theme From M*A*S*H* (Suicide Is Painless) started a three week run at No.1 in the UK singles chart, 10 years after it was first recorded.
1986 - Peter Gabriel scored his 2nd solo UK No.1 album with So featuring the single Sledgehammer and a duet with Kate Bush Don't Give Up.
1986 - The Notting Hillbillies made their live debut when they appeared at The Grove in Leeds. The group featured Mark Knopfler, Steve Phillips and Brendan Crocker who were each paid £22.
1987 - Born this day, Danielle, to Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' granddaughter.
1998 - Geri Halliwell announced she had left The Spice Girls saying 'This is because of differences between us. I am sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best'.
2005 - Former East 17 singer Brian Harvey was in a critical condition in a London hospital after he fell under the wheels of his Mercedes convertible. The accident happened outside his home in Walthamstow when Harvey was reversing from an access road into the street. The singer suffered a broken leg, pelvis and a crushed abdomen and ribs.
2006 - 71 year-old songwriter Hal Bynum, (whose credits include Kenny Rogers "Lucille,") and his wife were arrested and charged with growing marijuana inside their Nashville home and possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms. After receiving a tip, police searched the couple's home and confiscated 256 marijuana plants, 7.5 pounds of harvested marijuana, 14 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, growing lamps and other drug paraphernalia. Bynum, and his wife were released on $73,500 bond each.