ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

January 24th

1958 - The Quarry Men

The Quarry Men performed at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, (this was the bands only performance at the club). It was three years later when they appeared again at the Cavern but under their new name as The Beatles. 

1962 - Brian Epstein

Brian Epstein signed a management deal with The Beatles. Epstein was to receive 25 per cent of the bands gross earnings, the normal management deal was 10 per cent. 

1967 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd spent the second of three days recording the Syd Barrett songs 'Arnold Layne' and 'Candy And A Current Bun' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London. 'Candy And A Current Bun' was first known as 'Let's Roll Another One' and contained the line 'I'm high - Don't try to spoil my fun', but it was decided that Syd Barrett should rewrite it without the drug references.



1969 - The Doors

The Doors appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York City, They were paid over $50,000 for the gig making them one of the highest paid acts that year.

1969 - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

New Jersey state prosecutors issue a warning to US record dealers that they would be charged with distributing pornography if they were caught selling the John Lennon / Yoko Ono LP 'Two Virgins'. The front cover of the album showed the pair frontally nude, while the back cover showed them from behind. The album still managed to reach No.124 on the US, but failed to chart at all in the UK, where only 5,000 copies were ever pressed.

1970 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin appeared at Leeds University, Leeds, England. It was at this show when Zeppelin had a meeting with fine arts lecturer Zacron to discuss their ideas for the album sleeve of the band's next album, Led Zeppelin III. Zacron, born Richard Drew, had studied at Kingston College of Art with members of the Yardbirds.

1976 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan started a five week run at No.1 on the US chart with his 17th studio album Desire. The album features 'Hurricane', which protests the conviction of former middleweight boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter for triple murder in 1966, arguing his innocence.


1977 - Buzzcocks

The Buzzcocks appeared at the Roxy, in London, England, supported by Chelsea. Also appearing at the venue over the last week; The Damned, The Boys, The Adverts, Slaughter And The Dogs and Squeeze.

1980 - Pink Floyd

A billboard was erected on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, California to promote Pink Floyd's new album The Wall. A blank wall was pasted up and each day a brick was ‘removed’ to slowly reveal the inside spread and title of the album. Gosh what a challenging idea! 

1981 - Adam And The Ants

Adam And The Ants started a 10-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with their debut album 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier'.



1992 - Nirvana

Nirvana played their first ever show in Australia at the Phoenician Club in Sydney. Also on the bill, Tumbleweed and The Meanies.

1998 - Oasis

Oasis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Rockin' All Over The World oops I mean  'All Around The World'. The longest running-time for a UK No.1 with a total duration of 9 minutes 38 seconds. It was one of the first songs to be written by Noel Gallagher, with the band rehearsing it as early as 1992. Nice clear vocals and the television sanitised, truncated abridged 4 minute version . . . . . nuff said


2005 - Lynn Anderson

Country singer Lynn Anderson was arrested for shoplifting after being caught stealing a Harry Potter DVD from a New Mexico supermarket and punching a police officer during her arrest. The 57 year-old had the 1970 Top 5 hit 'Rose Garden'.

2008 - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse was admitted into rehab in a battle to kick her addiction to drugs. A statement from her record company, Universal said she entered the facility "after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors to continue her ongoing recovery against drug addiction."

2016 - David Bowie

David Bowie was at No.1 on both the UK & US album charts with his twenty-fifth and final studio album Blackstar, Bowie's only album to top the Billboard 200 in the US. Bowie was the biggest-selling vinyl artist of 2016 in the UK, with five albums in the vinyl Top 30, including Blackstar as the No.1 selling vinyl album of the year.

2017 - The Allman Brothers Band

American drummer Butch Trucks from The Allman Brothers Band died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 69. He played in various groups before forming the 31st of February while at Florida State University in the mid 1960s. He joined the Allman Brothers Band in 1969. Their 1971 live release, At Fillmore East, represented an artistic and commercial breakthrough.

2018 - Mark E. Smith

English singer and songwriter Mark E. Smith from Manchester post-punk band The Fall died aged 60 after a long illness with lung and kidney cancer. Smith formed the Fall in 1976 and was the only constant member of the band. He was known for his tempestuous relationship with his bandmates, and frequently fired them – there have been something like 66 different members over the years

BIRTHDAYS

1955 - Jools Holland

Jools Holland, English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, who was a founding member of Squeeze who had the 1979 UK No.2 single 'Up The Junction'. Became a TV presenter on the long running UK music show The Tube and then the BBC music show Later... With Jools Holland. He also tours and releases records with the Jools Holland Big Band.

1949 - John Belushi

John Belushi, actor and singer who played Joliet 'Jake' Blues in The Blues Brothers who had the 1990 UK No.12 single 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love'. Belushi died of a drug overdose on 5th March 1982.

1947 - Warren Zevon

American singer, songwriter Warren Zevon. During the early 1970s, Zevon toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player, band leader, and musical coordinator. During his career recorded over 15 solo albums. He is best known for his 1978 single 'Werewolves Of London' taken from his third studio album Excitable Boy. Zevon died on September 7th 2003 aged 56.

1941 - Ray Stevens

Ray Stevens, singer, songwriter who had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Everything Is Beautiful' and scored the 1974 US & UK No.1 single 'The Streak'.

1941 - Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond, singer, songwriter. Had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Cracklin' Rose' plus over 30 other US & 10 UK Top 40 singles. Wrote 'I'm A Believer', the No.1 for The Monkees. Many acts from Elvis Presley, Lulu and Deep Purple have all covered his songs. With his 2008 album ‘Home Before Dark’ Diamond became the oldest artist to have a US number one, the record was previously held by Bob Dylan in 2006 with ‘Modern Times’. I had no time for Diamond and didn't care for any of his work but then it didn't really travel well over to the UK . . . .the first time I payed any attention to him was as he appeared on the Band's Last Waltz . . . . . .seemed like an odd addition but hey . . . . . still didn't like him

1941 - Aaron Neville

Aaron Neville, singer with The Neville Brothers who had the 1966 US No.2 single 'Tell It Like It Is', and the 1989 UK No.2 single with Linda Ronstadt 'Don't Know Much'). The Neville Brothers on the other hand I liked as soon I heard them . . . . and Aaron with that voice blew usual away








with eternal thanks to On This Day In Music