ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

1970 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Mary Abbot's Hospital in London at the age of 27 after choking on his own vomit. Hendrix left the message 'I need help bad man', on his managers answer phone earlier that night. Rumors and conspiracy theories grew up around Hendrix’s death. Eric Burdon claimed Jimi had committed suicide, but that’s contradicted by reports that he was in a good frame of mind although the final shots do not show this in my view.  In 2009, a former Animals roadie published a book claiming that Jimi’s manager had admitted to him that he arranged the murder of Hendrix, since the guitarist wanted out of his contract. I would not know but this sounds like nonsense although his then manager certainly contributed to his early demise by forcing Jimi to tour almost constantly to pay off what he was told were immense debts (Electric Ladyland Recording Studio being cited as throwing good money after bad) this wouldn't have happened today as witnessed by the value of his estate as it is now.

Jimi the day before his death in his garden 1970

I have to add that after his last public stage performance where there was a sense of foreboding and the exhaustion Jimi was suffering from being made to travel almost continuously and erratically in his final year or so I think he was simply at his lowest ebb. Suicide? I don't believe so but that he was functioning at all is staggering and should realistically have been being supported and nurtured not run into the ground. Such exhaustion and his frustration at being unable to realise the music he heard in his wonderful creative mind (something he had readily discussed several time in that last year or so) saw him over do whatever it was that forced his end comes as no real surprise. A terrible tragedy which would not have happened today IMHO

Jimi plays his last gig the ominous Fehmarn

Hendrix arrives at Fehmarn        (Image: Michael Ochs Archives) 

Jimi's funeral at home in Seattle

1971 - The Who

Who's Next photo shoot by Ethan Russell

The Who scored their first and only UK No.1 album with Who's Next, the bands sixth LP release, featuring 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. Cover artwork shows a photograph, taken at Easington Colliery, of the band apparently having just urinated on a large concrete piling. According to photographer Ethan Russell, most of the members were unable to urinate, (not Townshend apparently!) so rainwater was tipped from an empty film canister to achieve the desired effect.

1976 - Wild Cherry

One Hit Wonders Wild Cherry started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Play That Funky Music'. The song started life as a B-side. It was the group's only hit in the UK which peaked at No.7.

1981 - Gary Numan

Gary Numan took off on a round the world trip in a single engine Cessna plane. The attempt ended after he was forced to land in India, where local police arrested him.

1996 - Julian Lennon

At Sotheby's in London, Julian Lennon successfully bid just over $39,000 (£21,000), for the recording notes for the song Paul McCartney wrote for him, 'Hey Jude'. At the same event, John Lennon's scribbled lyrics to 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite' sold for $103,500, (£57,500).

2004 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears married dancer Kevin Federline during a private ceremony in Los Angeles. Federline had two daughters from his previous relationship with actress Shar Jackson. I guess you can't buy taste! Generations of what looks remarkably like white trailer trash

2006 - Willie Nelson

73 year old country singer Willie Nelson and four members from his band were charged with drug possession after marijuana and magic mushrooms were found by police on his tour bus. Police had stopped the tour bus near Lafayette, Louisiana.

2006 - Ian McCulloch

Echo And The Bunnymen singer Ian McCulloch was cleared of a charge of assault but convicted of the lesser charge of committing a breach of the peace by shouting, swearing and threatening Gary Duncan and his girlfriend Juliet Sebley backstage at Glasgow Barrowlands in Scotland. A court was told that McCulloch had lost his temper when he discovered the two fans in a toilet cubicle inside his private dressing room.

2007 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears was dropped by her management company, one month after employing their services. Los Angeles-based The Firm said: "We have terminated our professional relationship with Britney Spears. "We believe she is enormously talented, but current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job."

2009 - Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen collapsed on stage during a concert in Valencia in Spain and was taken to hospital. He was later discharged after doctors told him he had food poisoning. Cohen was in the middle of singing his song Bird On The Wire when he fainted, prompting the band to stop playing and rush to help him.

2012 - John Lennon

In a survey of more than 160,000 readers, British music magazine NME named John Lennon as Rock's ultimate icon. John was followed followed by David Bowie, Liam Gallagher, Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner and the late Nirvana icon Kurt Cobain.

2014 - Taylor Swift

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was at no.1 on the US singles chart with 'Shake It Off'.

1962 - Joanne Catherall

Joanne Catherall, singer with The Human League. Formed in Sheffield, England in 1977 the group attained widespread commercial success with their third album Dare in 1981. The album contained four hit singles, including the UK/US No.1 hit 'Don't You Want Me'.

1952 - Dee Dee Ramone

Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Colvin), bassist, Ramones, 1977 UK No.22 single 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'). He died of a drug overdose 5th June 2002. Dee Dee is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California, not far from the cenotaph of his former Ramones' bandmate, Johnny Ramone.

thanks to This Day In Music