ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

June 24th

1374 Sudden outbreak of St. John's Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion. also known as St Vitus' Dance and could last for a number of weeks!

1965 - John Lennon

John Lennon's second book of poetry and drawings, 'A Spaniard In The Works', was published. The book consisted of nonsensical stories and drawings similar to the style of his 1964 book 'In His Own Write'. 


1966 - The Rolling Stones
After holding a press conference aboard a yacht in New York City, The Rolling Stones kicked off their fifth North American tour at the Manning Bowl, Lynn, Massachusetts, with support acts The McCoys and The Standells.

1969 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin recorded 'Whole Lotta Love', 'What Is And What Should Never Be', 'Travelling Riverside Blues' and 'Communication Breakdown' for BBC Radio 1 at Maida Vale Studios, London. The session was broadcast on 29th June 1969

1971 "McCabe and Mrs Miller" film by Robert Altman, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie with songs by Leonard Cohen is released


1991 - Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa took part at the concert 'Adieu Soviet Army', organised in Prague, as the farewell to the last soldiers of Soviet Red Army, leaving free Czechoslovakia (the Red Army had occupied Czechoslovakia since the Prague spring). This was probably Zappa's last rock appearance on the stage and it is recorded on the album Adieu C. A. (Soviet Army).

1999 - Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton put 100 of his guitars up for auction at Christie's in New York City to raise money for his drug rehab clinic, the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. His 1956 Fender Stratocaster named Brownie, which was used to record the electric version of ‘Layla’, sold for a record $497,500. The auction helped raise nearly $5 million for the clinic.

2007 - The White Stripes

The White Stripes went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Icky Thump' the duo's sixth and final studio album. 'Icky Thump' won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2008.

2012 - Olivia Newton-John

Billboard.com named Olivia Newton-John's 1982 hit, 'Physical' as The Sexiest Song Of All Time. Other classic Rock songs that made the top ten were Rod Stewart's 'Tonight's The Night', Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On', Donna Summer's 'Hot Stuff' and another Rod Stewart contribution, 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy'. Oh very dearie me! Not even in the ball park . . . . . The video is a Benny Hill style joke and not sexy at all neither is Ms John who even in 'Grease' was chosen for her asexual appeal and bland goodie-goodie virginal vibe which she never rally shook off, hence choosing her to be made up into the rick chic schtick to seduce Travolta character. Meanwhile you want sexy it is on the love songs, Aretha Franklin, Irma Thomas, where's Terry Evans'  and Bobby King's 'Just a Little Bit'?

2014 - Bob Dylan

A working draft of Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone', set a record at auction after selling for $2m (£1.2m) at Sotheby's. The manuscript, said to be the only known draft of the final lyrics, was written in pencil in 1965 by the 24 year-old Dylan.

BIRTHDAYS

1959 - Andy McCluskey

Andy McCluskey, from English electronic music band Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. OMD released their debut single, 'Electricity', in 1979, and gained popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 anti-war song 'Enola Gay'. They have scored over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. In 1998, McCluskey founded the UK pop group Atomic Kitten. Their song 'Whole Again', co-written by McCluskey, was his first UK No.1.


1945 - Colin Blunstone

English singer, songwriter Colin Blunstone who with The Zombies had four US hits, 'She's Not There', 'Tell Her No', 'She's Coming Home', and 'Time of the Season'. His solo hits include 'Say You Don't Mind', 'I Don't Believe in Miracles' and 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted'.

1944 - Jeff Beck

English rock guitarist Jeff Beck is largely considered to be one of the best guitarists in the world. He replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds. As a solo artist, he released the 1967 single 'Hi-Ho Silver Lining', before forming The Jeff Beck Group, which featured Rod Stewart. His 1975 album Blow By Blow was produced by George Martin and set a new standard of jazz-rock fusion music. Beck had previously formed Beck, Bogart and Appice with Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice, and later recorded with The Honeydrippers, (alongside Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Nile Rodgers), who had the 1984 US No.3 single Sea Of Love.

1944 - Chris Wood

Chris Wood, English musician, most known as a founding member of the English rock band Traffic who had the 1967 UK No.2 single 'Hole In My Shoe'. He also worked with Jimi Hendrix in 1968, appearing on Electric Ladyland, Free and Small Faces. He died of pneumonia, after battling with drink, drugs and depression, on 12 July 1983. But Chris Wood’s gentle, creative impact, on his generation and those that followed, continues to be felt

with thanks to On This Day In Music