ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

October 25th

1968 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin played a gig at Surrey University, England. Although there are unconfirmed reports of earlier shows, this appears to be the band's first gig with their new name after initially performing as The New Yardbirds. In 2003 a poster for the Surrey gig (billing the group as The New Yardbirds) sold at auction for £2,400.

1968 - Jimi Hendrix

The double album 'Electric Ladyland' by the The Jimi Hendrix Experience was released. It was also made available as two albums with changed artwork after complaints about the naked women who were pictured on the sleeve. The female models were each paid £5 for the photo shoot and another £5 if they posed completely naked. Jimi is said to have not enjoyed it and thought it less than flattering, demeaning even, contrary to what we might have expected at the time.  I liked it but I was very VERY young!

1969 - Archies

'Sugar Sugar' by The Archies was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. It stayed at the top for eight weeks, and was also No.1 in the US, selling over six million copies worldwide. The Archies were a rock group based on comic book characters.

1985 - Gary Holton

Actor and singer Gary Holton died of a drug overdose. Member of The Heavy Metal Kids, and one half of the duo Casino Steel. Holton appeared in the film Quadrophenia and UK TV's Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

1985 - R.E.M. The Smiths and Tom Waits

R.E.M., The Smiths and Tom Waits all appeared on the music TV show The Tube broadcast live from Tyne Tree Television Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

1989 - Nirvana

Nirvana and Tad appeared at the Duchess Of York, Leeds, England. The two acts were on the third night of their debut European tour.

1992 - Roger Miller

Roger Miller died of died of lung and throat cancer in hospital in Los Angeles. Scored the 1965 UK No.1 & US No.4 single 'King Of The Road’. Miller won eleven Grammy Awards as a songwriter and seven Tony awards for writing the music and lyrics for 'Big River'. The Proclaimers had the 1990 UK No.9 hit with their version of 'King Of The Road.'

1997 - Johnny Cash

After falling over on stage when reaching for a guitar pick, Johnny Cash announced during a gig in Michigan that he was suffering from Shy-Drager Syndrome a type of Parkinson's disease

1997 - Spice Girls

The Spice Girls went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spice Up Your Life'. Taken from their second album 'Spiceworld' the single set new record, making them the only act to have their first five singles reach No.1.

2001 - Jerry Garcia

13 law firms were still involved in claims to Grateful Dead's guitarist Jerry Garcia's $10m estate six years after his death. Former wives & girlfriends continued to fight on how to distribute his estate and annual royalties of $4.6m.

Trixe Garcia, Annabelle Garcia, Sunshine Garcia and Carolyn "Mt. Girl" Garcia

2002 - Richard Harris

Richard Harris, who had the 1968 US No.2 & UK No.4 hit 'MacArthur Park' died of cancer. The 72-year-old Irish-born actor had been undergoing chemotherapy at a private clinic in London. Though he charted three other times, Harris was better known for his acting roles on stage and film, most recently playing Albus Dumbledore in two Harry Potter films.

2003 - Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash's step-daughter, Rosey Nix Adams and her fiddle player Jimmy Campbell were found dead on their tour bus in Clarksville, Tennessee from Carbon monoxide poisoning. Heaters that had been left on were blamed for the accident.

2004 - John Peel

John Peel died in Cuzco, Peru of a heart attack, aged 65. He was BBC’s longest-serving radio DJ and the first DJ to introduce the Ramones, The Smiths, Rod Stewart, Blur, the Sex Pistols,  T Rex and others to the masses. He founded Dandelion Records in 1969, and was also known for his ‘Peel Sessions’, releases of live radio sessions. Peel was appointed an OBE in 1998.

2014 - Jack Bruce

Jack Bruce, best known as one third of Cream died of liver disease aged 71. Bruce played bass, sang and was the principal songwriter in Cream, and his CV reads like a comprehensive guide to the British blues boom, with spells in Alexis Korner’s Blues Inc, the Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann. I adored his solo work too especially 'Songs For a Tailor' dedicated to the mercurial fashion designer Jeannie Franklyn who had designed the Cream's psychedelic clothing and was the girlfriend of Richard Thompson when she was killed in the group's van that killed Fairport's drummer too, Martin Lamble, but his debut solo album with its Pete Brown lyricism lends itself to Jack's fabulous voice but as bass players go he was unique and a supreme talent. 

BIRTHDAYS

1984 - Katy Perry

Katy Perry, American singer-songwriter, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson into a strongly devout 'born again' Pentecostal religious family. She scored the 2008 single ‘I Kissed a Girl’ which was a worldwide hit topping the charts in over than 20 countries. Her 2013 single 'Roar' gave the singer her eighth non-consecutive US No.1 hit.  Though her maybe more down to earth good looks seem to have led her from the pentecostal scene to more prosaic earthly pleasures her first marriage to  Russell Brand lasted only 14 months

1965 - Nick Thorp

Nick Thorp, from British pop band, Curiosity Killed The Cat who had the 1989 UK No.14 single 'Name And Number' and the UK No.1 album Keep Your Distance.

1944 - Jon Anderson

English singer and songwriter Jon Anderson, who was a member of The Warriors, and Yes who scored the 1983 UK No.28 & US No.1 single 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart'. Anderson is also noted for his solo career and collaborations with other artists, including Vangelis as Jon and Vangelis. One of the most uniquely gifted of our singers I loved what he did with 'Yes' and don't think I would have bothered with them half as much but for his distinctive soprano voice