TODAY IN HISTORY – OCTOBER 26TH
1953 - Born this day, Julian Keith Strickland, drummer, guitarist, B52s, 1990 UK No.2 and US No.3 single Love Shack. Rock Lobster.
1961 - Bob Dylan signed his first recording contract, with Columbia Records.
1963 - Born this day, Natalie Merchant, 10,000 Maniacs, 1993 UK No.47 single Candy Everybody Wants.
1965 - The Beatles were invested by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace as members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their service to Britain's export industry. Critics were upset with the appointments, feeling that the award was being squandered on mere rock musicians, although the Queen stood firm on her decision. The 'Fab Four' had become a lucrative public commodity. Four years later, John Lennon sent back his MBE, stating that he was returning the award in protest against British involvement in Biafra, Nigeria, and Vietnam.
1967 – Born this day, Keith Urban, in Whangarei, New Zealand. Moved to Australia at a young age and then to Nashville in 1992. A talented singer/guitarist who plays banjo, bass, sitar and drums amongst a plethora of other instruments he played as a session musician before finding success as a solo artist. Hits include “Someone Like You”, “Day’s Go By” & “You Look Good In My Shirt”. Married to actress Nicole Kidman in 2006 and they have 2 daughters.
1970 - A wake was held at the Lion's Share in San Anselmo, California to celebrate the life of Janis Joplin. The singer who died of an accidental drugs overdose had left $2,500 in her will to throw a wake party in the event of her demise. The party was attended by her sister Laura and Joplin's close friends; Brownies laced with hashish were unknowingly passed around amongst the guests. Joplin was cremated in the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary in Los Angeles; her ashes were scattered from a plane into the Pacific Ocean and along Stinson Beach.
1973 - Wings released Helen Wheels.
1981 - Born on this day, Guy Sebastian, Australian singer-songwriter, winner of the first Australian Idol series. (2003 Australian No.1 single, ‘Angels Brought Me Here’).
1984 - 19-year-old John D. McCollum killed himself with a .22 caliber handgun after spending the day listening to Ozzy Osbourne records. One year later, McCollum's parents took court action against Ozzy and CBS Records, alleging that the song "Suicide Solution" from the album Blizzard of Ozz contributed to their son's death. The case was eventually thrown out of court.
1991 - Legendary Rock concert promoter Bill Graham was killed when the Bell 206B JetRanger III helicopter he was riding in struck the top of a Pacific Gas and Electric transmission tower near Sears Point, northwest of Vallejo and exploded. The crash, which left the helicopter's wreckage dangling near the top of the towering structure, killed Graham, his girlfriend Melissa Gold and pilot Steve Kahn. Graham had founded the Fillmore theaters in San Francisco and New York and had played key roles in supporting such bands as the Who, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Janis Joplin, The Band, Bob Dylan, The J. Geils Band, The Allman Brothers Band and The Rolling Stones.
1993 - Catholic churches in San Juan, Puerto Rico asked residents to tie black ribbons on trees in protest against Madonna's first live appearance in the country.
1996 - The Spice Girls had their second UK No.1 single when 'Say You'll Be There' started a two-week run at the top of the charts. The song included a harmonica solo, played by Judd Lander who also played the harmonica solo on Culture Club's 1984 hit 'Karma Chameleon'.
2004 - Elvis Presley came top of a list of the highest-earning dead celebrities. Forbes.com listed the Top 5 dead music earners; 1. Elvis Presley $40m (£22m), 2. John Lennon $21m (£11m), 3. George Harrison $7m (£3.8m), 4. Bob Marley $7m and at 5. George and Ira Gershwin $6m.
2004 - Apple launched the U2 Special Edition iPod as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group. The new U2 iPod held up to 5,000 songs and featured a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. The iPod was being introduced as the band released their new album 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.'
2006 - Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor quit the band during the US leg of their world tour. A statement on behalf of the group described the relationship with Andy Taylor as unworkable and one that could not be resolved.
2007 - A judge in Los Angeles ruled that Britney Spears was no longer facing hit-and-run charges after she compensated the other car's driver. But the singer would still face a charge of driving without a valid licence. She allegedly crashed into a parked car in North Hollywood in full view of photographers, before leaving the scene on 6 August.
2007 - 1,730 guitarists played the immortal Bob Dylan classic, 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' in a bid to break a record in the state of Meghalaya, North East India. The guitarists hoped their achievement would earn them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The current Guinness World Record was held by a guitar-ensemble from Kansas City in the US when 1,683 guitarists, played Deep Purple's 'Smoke On The Water'.
2010 - Former Culture Club vocalist Boy George stunned an audience in London, England after reportedly flying into a rage and tossing his drink on a woman who was talking during his show. Before emptying his glass on her from the stage, George was heard shouting, "Why don't you shut the f**k up, you rude c**t!"
2010 – Michael Jackson is this years top-earning dead celebrity with NZ$364 million which meant he raked in more than the combined total of the other 12 celebrities combined. Elvis came in 2nd followed by Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R Tolkien in 3rd. Charlie Brown and Snoopy creator, Charles Schulz was 4th and coming in 5th with a paltry income of NZ$23 million was former Beatle, John Lennon.
2011 – Number 1 album on the NZ charts is the debut from Six60. The NZ band have already scored to successful singles in 2011, “Rise Up 2.0” and “Don’t Forget Your Roots” in the lead up to the launch of the album.
2011 - A coroner's inquest on the death of Amy Winehouse reached a verdict of misadventure. The report explained that Winehouse's blood alcohol content was 416 mg per decilitre at the time of her death, more than five times the legal drink-drive limit. According to the coroner ‘The unintended consequences of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden death’.
1953 - Born this day, Julian Keith Strickland, drummer, guitarist, B52s, 1990 UK No.2 and US No.3 single Love Shack. Rock Lobster.
1961 - Bob Dylan signed his first recording contract, with Columbia Records.
1963 - Born this day, Natalie Merchant, 10,000 Maniacs, 1993 UK No.47 single Candy Everybody Wants.
1965 - The Beatles were invested by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace as members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their service to Britain's export industry. Critics were upset with the appointments, feeling that the award was being squandered on mere rock musicians, although the Queen stood firm on her decision. The 'Fab Four' had become a lucrative public commodity. Four years later, John Lennon sent back his MBE, stating that he was returning the award in protest against British involvement in Biafra, Nigeria, and Vietnam.
1967 – Born this day, Keith Urban, in Whangarei, New Zealand. Moved to Australia at a young age and then to Nashville in 1992. A talented singer/guitarist who plays banjo, bass, sitar and drums amongst a plethora of other instruments he played as a session musician before finding success as a solo artist. Hits include “Someone Like You”, “Day’s Go By” & “You Look Good In My Shirt”. Married to actress Nicole Kidman in 2006 and they have 2 daughters.
1970 - A wake was held at the Lion's Share in San Anselmo, California to celebrate the life of Janis Joplin. The singer who died of an accidental drugs overdose had left $2,500 in her will to throw a wake party in the event of her demise. The party was attended by her sister Laura and Joplin's close friends; Brownies laced with hashish were unknowingly passed around amongst the guests. Joplin was cremated in the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary in Los Angeles; her ashes were scattered from a plane into the Pacific Ocean and along Stinson Beach.
1973 - Wings released Helen Wheels.
1981 - Born on this day, Guy Sebastian, Australian singer-songwriter, winner of the first Australian Idol series. (2003 Australian No.1 single, ‘Angels Brought Me Here’).
1984 - 19-year-old John D. McCollum killed himself with a .22 caliber handgun after spending the day listening to Ozzy Osbourne records. One year later, McCollum's parents took court action against Ozzy and CBS Records, alleging that the song "Suicide Solution" from the album Blizzard of Ozz contributed to their son's death. The case was eventually thrown out of court.
1991 - Legendary Rock concert promoter Bill Graham was killed when the Bell 206B JetRanger III helicopter he was riding in struck the top of a Pacific Gas and Electric transmission tower near Sears Point, northwest of Vallejo and exploded. The crash, which left the helicopter's wreckage dangling near the top of the towering structure, killed Graham, his girlfriend Melissa Gold and pilot Steve Kahn. Graham had founded the Fillmore theaters in San Francisco and New York and had played key roles in supporting such bands as the Who, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Janis Joplin, The Band, Bob Dylan, The J. Geils Band, The Allman Brothers Band and The Rolling Stones.
1993 - Catholic churches in San Juan, Puerto Rico asked residents to tie black ribbons on trees in protest against Madonna's first live appearance in the country.
1996 - The Spice Girls had their second UK No.1 single when 'Say You'll Be There' started a two-week run at the top of the charts. The song included a harmonica solo, played by Judd Lander who also played the harmonica solo on Culture Club's 1984 hit 'Karma Chameleon'.
2004 - Elvis Presley came top of a list of the highest-earning dead celebrities. Forbes.com listed the Top 5 dead music earners; 1. Elvis Presley $40m (£22m), 2. John Lennon $21m (£11m), 3. George Harrison $7m (£3.8m), 4. Bob Marley $7m and at 5. George and Ira Gershwin $6m.
2004 - Apple launched the U2 Special Edition iPod as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group. The new U2 iPod held up to 5,000 songs and featured a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. The iPod was being introduced as the band released their new album 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.'
2006 - Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor quit the band during the US leg of their world tour. A statement on behalf of the group described the relationship with Andy Taylor as unworkable and one that could not be resolved.
2007 - A judge in Los Angeles ruled that Britney Spears was no longer facing hit-and-run charges after she compensated the other car's driver. But the singer would still face a charge of driving without a valid licence. She allegedly crashed into a parked car in North Hollywood in full view of photographers, before leaving the scene on 6 August.
2007 - 1,730 guitarists played the immortal Bob Dylan classic, 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' in a bid to break a record in the state of Meghalaya, North East India. The guitarists hoped their achievement would earn them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The current Guinness World Record was held by a guitar-ensemble from Kansas City in the US when 1,683 guitarists, played Deep Purple's 'Smoke On The Water'.
2010 - Former Culture Club vocalist Boy George stunned an audience in London, England after reportedly flying into a rage and tossing his drink on a woman who was talking during his show. Before emptying his glass on her from the stage, George was heard shouting, "Why don't you shut the f**k up, you rude c**t!"
2010 – Michael Jackson is this years top-earning dead celebrity with NZ$364 million which meant he raked in more than the combined total of the other 12 celebrities combined. Elvis came in 2nd followed by Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R Tolkien in 3rd. Charlie Brown and Snoopy creator, Charles Schulz was 4th and coming in 5th with a paltry income of NZ$23 million was former Beatle, John Lennon.
2011 – Number 1 album on the NZ charts is the debut from Six60. The NZ band have already scored to successful singles in 2011, “Rise Up 2.0” and “Don’t Forget Your Roots” in the lead up to the launch of the album.
2011 - A coroner's inquest on the death of Amy Winehouse reached a verdict of misadventure. The report explained that Winehouse's blood alcohol content was 416 mg per decilitre at the time of her death, more than five times the legal drink-drive limit. According to the coroner ‘The unintended consequences of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden death’.