ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

JIMI'S BIRTHDAY - POSSIBLY THE GREATEST ROCK GUITARIST WHO EVER LIVED

November 27th

1961 - Jimmy Page

Neil Christian and the Crusaders, featuring a young Jimmy Page on guitar, played a concert at Holloway Women’s Prison in London, England. The inmates were all dressed in washed out yellow, green, blue and red faded floral print dresses and wore homemade mascara, using the charcoal from burnt matches.

1962 - The Beatles

The Beatles recorded their first BBC radio session at the BBC Paris studio on Regent Street in London. They played 'Twist and Shout', 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You', the tracks were aired on the BBC Light Program 'Talent Spot.'

1964 - The Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger was fined £16 for driving offences by a court in Tettenhall, Staffs. His solicitor told the court: "The Duke of Marlborough had longer hair than my client and he won some famous battles. His hair was powdered, I think because of fleas. My client has no fleas."

1967 - Jimi Hendrix

The 16-date UK package tour with Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice, The Outer Limits, The Eire Apparent and The Amen Corner travelled to Belfast to appear for two shows at the Whitla Hall, Queens College. It was Jimi's 25th birthday and before the shows the guitarist was given a birthday cake by the promoters This was to be the only concert that The Jimi Hendrix Experience ever played in Ireland.

1969 - The Rolling Stones

During a North American tour The Rolling Stones played the first of four shows at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The group played to 55,000 fans over the four nights grossing over $100,000.

1970 - George Harrison

George Harrison released All Things Must Pass which includes the hit singles 'My Sweet Lord' and 'What Is Life', as well as songs such as 'Isn't It a Pity' and the title track that had been turned down for inclusion on releases by the Beatles. The triple album would go on to be certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA, making it the best selling album by a solo Beatle.

1982 - Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie was No.1 in the US with 'Truly'. Richie achieved a No.1 each year from 78-86 as a writer, 'Three Times A Lady', 'Still', 'Lady (Kenny Rodgers), 'Endless Love', (Diana Ross), 'All Night Long', 'Hello' 'Say 'You Say Me and as co-writer of 'We Are The World'.

1991 - Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury's funeral service was conducted by a Zoroastrian priest, for 35 of his close friends and family, with Elton John and the remaining members of Queen among those in attendance. Mercury was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery, West London, England.

1996 - John Squire

Former Stones Roses guitarist John Squires new band The Seahorses made their live debut, when they played at The Buckley Tivoli, England in front of 200 fans.


1997 - Michael Hutchence

A disturbed rock fan brought the funeral of INXS singer Michael Hutchence to a standstill when he tried to launch himself from a 20 ft high balcony with a cord around his neck. He was removed by police and taken away to a psychiatric unit.

2003 - The Rolling Stones

Figures released by The Rolling Stones showed that the band had grossed £175m from their 2002 '40 Licks World Tour.' The report also showed they had made over $1billion from 1989-2002 from royalties, album sales and tour revenue.

2005 - Tony Meehan

Tony Meehan drummer with The Shadows died aged 62 from head injuries sustained in a fall at his London flat in Maida Vale. Had the 1963 UK No.1 single 'Foot Tapper' plus 28 other UK Top 40 singles. Left The Shadows in 1961 to work as a session drummer with Joe Meek. Also had the UK No.1 hit ‘Diamonds’ with Jet Harris.

BIRTHDAYS

1978 - Mike Skinner

Mike Skinner, singer, songwriter, aka The Streets, (2004 UK No.1 album 'A Grand Don't Come For Free').

1959 - Charlie Burchill

Charlie Burchill, guitarist with Scottish rock band, Simple Minds, who had the 1985 US No.1 single 'Don't You, Forget About Me', and the 1989 UK No.1 single 'Belfast Child', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles. In 2016, they won the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.

1942 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix, guitarist, singer, songwriter who had the 1967 UK No.6 single 'Hey Joe', the 1970 UK No.1 single 'Voodoo Chile', and the 1968 US No.1 and UK No.6 album 'Electric Ladyland'. Hendrix who is widely considered to be the greatest guitarist in musical history made appearances at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival. Hendrix died one The Samarkand Hotel, London on 18th September 1970 of asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates, the autopsy revealed he had consumed some Vesparax sleeping tablets belonging to his then girlfriend Monika Dannemann, some 18 times the prescribed dosage.

1935 - Al Jackson

Al Jackson, drummer, Booker T and the MG's. (1962 US No.3 single 'Green Onions', 1969 UK No.4 single 'Time Is Tight'. Shot dead by burglars at his home 1st October 1975.