Today in rock history 11th January

1895 – Born on this day, Laurens Hammond, inventor of the Hammond organ. 1942 – The big man – Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band – is born in Norfolk, Va. 1946 - Tony Kaye-keyboardist for Yes is born 1963 – The Whisky A-Go-Go, the Hollywood club devoted to the cutting edge of rock, opens. The Doors were discovered there by Elektra boss Jac Holzman when opening for Love at the Whisky in 1966. 1967 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded ‘Purple Haze’. Jimi also signed to the new record label Track Records on this day. 1967 – Pink Floyd begin two days of recording with producer Joe Boyd, working on the tracks “Interstellar Overdrive,” “Arnold Layne,” “Let’s Roll Another One” and “Nick’s Boogie.” 1968 – Jimi Hendrix moves into a London townhouse formerly owned by the Messiah’s composer George Frederick Handel. 1969 – The Rolling Stones go to No. 5 in the American album charts with their new release Beggars Banquet. 1969 – Jethro Tull release their debut album This Was. 1975 – Led Zeppelin play “Kashmir” live for the first time during a gig at the Ahoy in Rotterdam. 1985 - The first Rock in Rio festival kicked off in Rio de Janeiro. The ten day festival featured artists such as Queen, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Yes, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions and Whitesnake. 1999 – At this year’s American Music Awards, Billy Joel receives the Special Award of Merit and Blondie perform “No Exit” with rapping assistance from Coolio. 2000 – Several fans of Slipknot are arrested in Oklahoma City, Okla. after a promoter oversells one of their concerts. 2003 - T. Rex drummer Mickey Finn died from alcohol related liver problems in a London hospital. He was 55 years old. 2003 – The RIAA certifies AC/DC’s Back In Black as the world’s second-best-selling album of all time, behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller. 2004 – Rock wildman Ted Nugent requires 40 stitches to his leg after wounding himself with a chainsaw. Nugent was in Waco, Texas, taping a segment of his VH1 series Surviving Nugent: The Ted Commandments. 2005 – Singer/songwriter Jimmy Griffin, best known for his work with 1970s soft rock act Bread, dies at his home near Nashville of complications from cancer. 2005 – Spencer Dryden, the drummer for legendary rock band the Jefferson Airplane, dies of cancer at his home in Petaluma, Calif. He was 66. 2008 – Ringo Starr helped launch the celebrations for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture. He was joined by acrobats who dangled on wires from cranes as the opening party kicked off a year-long programme of more than 350 events.