Today in rock history 26th May

1940 – The Band’s Levon Helm is born in Marvell, Ark. 1944 - Verden Allen-keyboardist for Mott the Hoople is born 1948 – Stephanie Lynn “Stevie” Nicks is born in Phoenix, Arizona. 1969 - John Lennon & Yoko Ono begin an eight day bed-in in room 1742 of The Hotel La Reine in Montreal to promote world peace. 1972 - Mott the Hoople, on the verge of splitting up were offered two new songs by David Bowie, “Suffragette City” & “All the Young Dudes”. They would record “All the Young Dudes”, which would be their commercial breakthrough. 1973 - Deep Purple released “Smoke on the Water” which went on to peak at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. 1976 - On a transatlantic British Airways flight, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page & Robert Plant got drunk and verbally harassed other first class passengers, including actors Dudley Moore and Telly Savalas. 1993 - Singapore lifted a ban on music by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Chicago and Credence Clearwater Revival. 1994 – Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley secretly wed in the Dominican Republic. 1999 – The British punk revivalist band Manic Street Preachers refuse to play a concert to mark the opening of Wales’ parliament because Queen Elizabeth II is present. 2000 – Drummer Tommy Lee was jailed for five days for drinking alcohol. Lee appeared in front of a LA court charged with violating his probation by consuming alcohol, an act that directly contravenes the terms of his parole. 2001 – Appearing at Ozzfest, Milton Keynes Bowl, England were Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Tool and Papa Roach. Tickets cost £32.50 ($55.25). 2002 – The first episode of ‘At Home With The Osbournes’ was shown on MTV in the UK. 2010 – Sum 41 had this bad news for fans: It’s unfortunate to say but we are forced to postpone some upcoming European Tour dates. Stevo was in a minor accident yesterday and is unable to get on a airplane to fly to Europe to perform. Anyone who knows our band, knows that touring is our life and is the primary reason we play music. We are completely and utterly bummed out and we all wish Stevo a speedy recovery. 2010 – The good news for Stone Temple Pilots is that the band’s first studio album in nine years will be the highest debut on the Billboard chart.