ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

January 14th

1966 - David Bowie

David Jones changed his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones from The Monkees, just in time for the release of his single, 'Can't Help Thinking About Me'. He would later say that he chose "Bowie" because he liked that it stood for "the ultimate American knife. It is the medium for a conglomerate of statements and illusions."

David The Mod tweeted by Brian Eno

1967 - The Human Be-In

Over 25,000 people attend The Human Be-In-A Gathering Of The Tribes at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The event was a forerunner of major, outdoor rock concerts and featured The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother And The Holding Company.

1970 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross made her last appearance with The Supremes at The Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas. During the show, Diana introduced her replacement, Jean Terrell, who would lead the group to seven more Top 40 hits, including the Top 10 entries 'Up The Ladder To The Roof' and 'Stoned Love' later in the year.

1977 - David Bowie

David Bowie released his eleventh studio album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno termed the "Berlin Trilogy". The track 'Sound and Vision' was released as a single and used by the BBC in the UK on trailers at the time, providing much needed exposure, as Bowie opted to do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song reach No.3 on the UK charts.

I think I have mentioned that it was really with my interest in Brian Eno that drew me to become a true fan of David Bowie and 'Low' and 'Heroes', the Berlin Trilogy so called were all bought upon release . . . . .the film as featured on the cover of 'Low' 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' also drew me back to the cinema. It remains a favourite film . . . . 

1978 - Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols played their last show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco where Johnny Rotten yelled to the crowd at the outset, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated.” It was the last time the band played with bassist Sid Vicious.

1984 - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pipes Of Peace.' With this release McCartney made chart history by becoming the first artist to have a No.1 in a group, (The Beatles), in a duo, (with Stevie Wonder) in a trio, (with Wings) and as a solo artist.

1992 - Jerry Nolan

American rock drummer, Jerry Nolan from The New York Dolls died from a fatal stroke aged 45. The influential American band formed in 1972 and made just two albums, the 1973 New York Dolls and 1974 Too Much Too Soon. Nolan joined the New York Dolls in the autumn of 1972 to replace Billy Murcia, who had died of asphyxiation as a result of a failed attempt to revive him from a drug overdose while on tour in England, early in the band's career. Nolan left the Dolls together with Johnny Thunders in the spring of 1975. The two then placed a call to bassist Richard Hell, formerly of the Neon Boys and Television, to form The Heartbreakers.

1996 - Oasis

Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with '(What's The Story) Morning Glory', the group's second UK No.1 spent a total of 145 week's on the chart.


2001 - Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Love Don't Cost A Thing.' The track was taken from her album J.Lo.


2003 - Van Morrison

Linda Gail Lewis the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, dropped a claim of sex discrimination against Van Morrison. Lewis had claimed that Morrison had 'publicly humiliated' her on stage and had tried to ruin her life by asking her for sex. She withdrew her claim after discussions with her lawyer. Morrison denied all the allegations. "He's pleased that these claims have finally been withdrawn, and he has now accepted a full apology and comprehensive retraction, which represents a complete vindication of his stance from the outset," Morrison's lawyer, Paul Tweed, tells Associated Press. "Mr. Morrison remains very disappointed that the legal process has taken almost two years to reach this stage." Lewis, who toured extensively as a member of his band, had already had a wrongful dismissal claim against Van rejected by a Cardiff employment tribunal.
It's a very weird phase and somehow holds echoes of her old man in the pursuit of totally bonkers behaviour and subsequent stories!

2005 - Johnny Ramone

A $100,000 (£58,823) statue honouring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55. Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including Tommy Ramone the only surviving band member. Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.

Always tasteful the Americans

2007 - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Back To Black'. The album has sold over 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK's second best-selling album of the 21st century. Worldwide, the album has sold over 20 million copies.

2010 - Jimmy Page

Guitarist Jimmy Page was honoured with the United Nations' first ever Pathways To Peace Award. Pathways To Peace is an international peace building, educational and consulting organization which has consultative status with the United Nations.

2014 - Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber was questioned by police over the egging of his neighbour's house in Calabasas, California. Bieber spoke to police in relation to the incident, which saw him accused of throwing eggs at his neighbour's house while his neighbour and neighbour's daughter were on the balcony filming him. Billboard reports that a dozen vehicles arrived on Bieber's property with a search warrant, looking for evidence that Bieber was involved in the incident. Det. Dave Thompson commented: "We collected evidence related to that crime. Mr. Bieber was present and cooperative". He was not arrested but offered settlement in reparation . Yob!

Bieber house raided

2014 - Kanye West

Police in Los Angeles were investigating an alleged battery incident involving rapper Kanye West after West punched a man who had targeted racist comments at his partner Kim Kardashian. I think we would all support Kanye in this as the guy had referenced the N-word to his partner and clearly after being chased down and punched was searching for cash . . . . . . . . I'd have sued him right back! Racist scum . . . . . 

BIRTHDAYS

1989 - Frankie Sandford

Frankie Sandford, best known for being a member of girl group The Saturdays who scored the 2013 UK No.1 hit single 'What About Us' featuring Sean Paul. I like Frankie but have to admit I didn't know who she was until seeing her on Strictly Come Dancing but her bubbly personality and gamin good looks made me like her despite of course being a professional in what is really meant to be an amateur dancing completion as now so many are from school of dance and theatre experience being in a pop girl band obviously she had experience at dancing. I just thought she was good at it! She has also spoken out in sport of mental health charities and disclosed she has suffered from depression. I like her!

1982 - Caleb Followill (Kings of Leon)

Caleb Followill, lead singer, rhythm guitarist, from American rock band Kings of Leon who had the 2007 UK No.1 album Because Of The Times, and the 2008 UK No.1 single ‘Sex on Fire’. The band has sold over 21 million albums worldwide and 38 million singles.

1974 - Denise Van Outen

Denise Van Outen, actress / singer, (2002 UK No. 23 single with Andy Williams, 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'). The song set a new record of the biggest age gap of a duo to have a hit: 45 years.

say what now? . . . . . . what is THAT all about?

1969 - Dave Grohl

American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer Dave Grohl. At the age of seventeen, Grohl joined Scream, he was the longest serving drummer with Nirvana and the frontman and founder of the Foo Fighters and is the drummer and co-founder of the rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. In 2012, Grohl was estimated to be the third wealthiest drummer in the world, behind Ringo Starr and Phil Collins, with a fortune of $260 million.

1938 - Allan Toussaint

Allen Toussaint, US singer, songwriter, producer, pianist, New Orleans based and roots in the rhythm and blues of the south he worked with Dr John, Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, Professor Longhair, The Band, Lee Dorsey, and The Neville Brothers. Toussaint died after appearing in concert in Madrid on 10th Nov 2015. He was 77.
Toussaint was behind the wonderful TV film first broadcast music film on the new Channel Four 'Piano Players Rarely Play Together' which featured him, and two heroes, Tuts Washington and Fess (Professor Longhair) who passed away during the filming and they were allowed to film his New Orleans style funeral and wake


Give yourself a treat and watch this . . . . . . the man, Mr Music!

1937 - Billie Jo Spears

Billie Jo Spears, US female singer, who had the 1975 UK No.6 single 'Blanket On The Ground'. One of Spears's first singles was 'Harper Valley PTA', but her single release was beaten off the presses by Jeannie C. Riley's version which became a monster crossover hit, while Spears's failed to chart. Spears died on Dec 14th 2011.

I am indebted to 'On This Day in Music' as ever . . . .