Today in rock history 1st April

1945 – John Barbata (Jefferson Starship) is born 1946 - Ronnie Lane-bassist for The Faces is born today 1955 – George Martin became the head of A&R for EMI’s Parlophone label 1970 – 50 musicians recorded the orchestral scores for The Beatles tracks ‘The Long And Winding Road’ and ‘Across The Universe’ for the Phil Spector produced sessions. 1970 – Earls Court in London received over one million postal ticket applications for The Rolling Stones forthcoming six concerts as part of the group’s European tour. 1973 – Curved Air kicked off a 12-date UK tour at Birmingham Town Hall. 1976 – Making their live debut in the UK, AC/ DC played at The Red Cow, Hammersmith, London. 1976 – The Buzzcocks played their debut live gig when they appeared at Bolton Institute Of Technology. The power was turned off after three numbers. 1985 - David Lee Roth left Van Halen to begin a solo career. Roth later re-joined Van Halen briefly in 1996 & 2000 before re-joining permanently in 2006. 1992 – Billy Idol is fined $2,000 by a Beverly Hills, Calif. judge after pleading no contest to charges he hit a woman in the face as they left a restaurant together the previous October. 1992 – Singer Jimmy Buffett and wife Jane Slagsvol have their second child, which they name Sarah Delaney, in Nashville, Tenn. 2000 – Santana started a nine week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with, ‘Maria Maria.’ 2002 – Paul McCartney kicked off the first leg of his 19 date ‘Driving USA’ North American tour at The Oakland Arena, Oakland. 2004 – Paul Atkinson, veteran record executive and guitarist for the Zombies, dies in his sleep after a long battle with cancer and kidney disease. He is 48. 2009 – In what appears to be an elaborate April Fools joke, Nine Inch Nails have announced the release of a new Timbaland-produced album called ‘Strobe Light’.

Today in rock history 31st March

1934 – John D. Loudermilk, who in the midst of an erratic career wrote the classic “Tobacco Road,” is born in Durham, N.C. 1944 – Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs is born in Hereford, 1948 – Prog alert! Focus flautist Thijs Van Leer is born in Amsterdam. 1955 - Angus Young-guitarist for AC/DC born in Glasgow, Scotland 1958 – Chuck Berry releases the single “Johnny B. Goode.” It becomes his fifth top 10 single, peaking at No. 8. 1967 – Jimi Hendrix begins first his British tour as part of a package that includes Cat Stevens. 1969 – George Harrison and his wife, Patti, appear in an Amersterdam court charged with possession of cannabis. They are fined 250 pounds. 1969 – In Amsterdam John and Yoko call off their “Bed-In” so they can premiere Ono’s new film Rape in Vienna. 1972 – The No. 1 album in the country today is America’s self-titled debut, featuring their classic “A Horse With No Name.” 1973 – Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon enters the Billboard albums chart for the very first time. 1982 – The Doobie Brothers break up for the first time. 1982 – Toto release their No. 2 single “Rosanna.” 1983 – Pink Floyd release The Final Cut, their last album with Roger Waters. 1995 – A Led Zeppelin fan tries to stab Jimmy Page with a pocketknife. The fanatic says he believed the mighty Zep were “Satanic.” 2003 – Moby and Santana cancel gigs in Hong Kong after an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus kills 12 people there. 2003 – The new Radiohead album Hail to the Thief appears online three months before it’s due in stores. 2004 – The Darkness are forced to postpone shows in Cleveland and Pittsburgh after singer Justin Hawkins comes down with a sore throat. 2004 – In a radio interview, Ozzy Osbourne confirms that he is reforming Black Sabbath for a summer tour. 2006 – Courtney Love sells off part of her stake in the Nirvana song catalogue to primary Wave Music Publishing. 2009 - The Osbournes Reloaded aired on Fox and was cancelled after only one episode

Rock Talk – Jackson Browne

This quality show that puts all other rock shows to shame is available on multiple fine radio stations by going to the website, dominicforbes.org Part 1 1. Jackson Browne – Stay 2. Jackson Browne – Take it easy 3. Jackson Browne – Doctor my eyes 4. Jackson Browne – Running on empty 5. Jackson Browne – Lives in the balance Part 2 1. Jackson Browne – Lives in the balance 2. Jackson Browne – The pretender 3. Jackson Browne – In the shape of a heart 4. Jackson Browne – The load out 5. Jackson Browne – These days

Brit Rock 1st April

This quality show that puts all other rock shows to shame is available on multiple fine radio stations by going to the website, dominicforbes.org 1. Elvis Presley – You’re so square 2. Buddy Holly – Not fade away 3. Little Richard – Long tall Sally 4. Jerry Lee Lewis – Whole lotta shaking going on 5. Fats Domino – Blueberry hill 6. Alea Calvert – Lust 7. Jethro Tull – In the past 8. Jethro Tull – Sossity waiting 9. Jethro Tull – Aquafugue 10. Bonnie Tyler- Total eclipse of the heart 11. Steel Panther – I got what you want 12. Heart – There’s the girl 13. Deep Purple – Hush 14. The Doors – Hello I love you 15. Iron Butterfly – In a gidda di vida 16. The Marbles – Only one woman 17. Status Quo – Pictures of matchstick men 18. The Band – The weight 19. The Zombies – Time of the season 20. Canned Heat – Going up the country 21. Jimi Hendrix Experience – All along the watchtower 22. The Beatles – While my guitar gently weeps 23. Rolling Stones – Street fighting man 24. Kings Of Leon – Radioactive 25. The Police – King of pain Hour three is British bands who made it big in the USA 1. The Beatles – Revolution 2. Yes – Roundabout 3. Rolling Stones – Gimme shelter 4. Def Leppard – Photograph 5. Led Zeppelin – Over the hills and far away 6. The Kinks – Lola 7. Billy Idol – White wedding 8. The Who – Who are you 9. David Bowie – Starman 10. Pink Floyd – Comfortably numb 11. Deep Purple – Smoke on the water 12. Eric Clapton – Behind the mask

Today in rock history 30th March

1941 - Graeme Edge-drummer for The Moody Blues born 1945 – Eric Clapton is born in Ripley 1948 – Jim Dandy Mangrum of Black Oak Arkansas is born in Black Oak, Ark. 1964 – British press report first Mods and Rockers clash in Clacton 1967 – The cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is photographed at a studio on London’s Flood Street, using cardboard cutouts and wax figures to represent the Beatles’ heroes. The effigies featured include Edgar Allan Poe, Lenny Bruce, Vidal Sassoon, Laurel and Hardy, Bob Dylan, and Huntz Hall. 1967 – Pink Floyd debut on UK singles chart with Arnold Layne. 1968 – In London, David Bowie makes his debut with the Lindsay Kemp mime troupe in Pierrot in Turquoise. 1970 – Led Zeppelin walk off stage during a Pittsburgh gig and say they won’t play until the police stop intimidating the audience. Ten minutes later they resume the show. 1974 -Steely Dan debut on UK LP chart with Pretzel Logic. 1974 – Ramones play first show at the Performance Studio with Joey playing drums. 1975 – Jeff Beck releases his first solo album, Blow by Blow, in the U.S. 1976 – The Sex Pistols play their first gig at London’s 100 Club. There are 50 people in the audience, including the next English person you meet. 1984 – Greg Lake leaves Asia to be replaced by the band’s original bassist/singer, John Wetton. 1987 – Paul Simonon and Topper Headon of the Clash are arrested on charges of shooting pigeons. 1999 – It is announced that anti-American feeling over the bombing of Yugoslavia has prompted rock group KISS to cancel three concert dates in Russia. 2000 - Mick Jagger visited his old school, Dartford Grammar School to open Mick Jagger Centre, dedicated to the arts & music programmes at the school. Jagger was quoted as saying he had spent the worst years of his life at the school. 2003 – Limp Bizkit unveil guitarist Wes Borland’s replacement when they play Wrestlemania. Their new axe-man is Mike Smith, formerly of Snot. 2004 – Welsh rock band The Stereophonics play a gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. They’re joined onstage by Ron Wood, The Jam’s Paul Weller, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield. 2004 – Guns N’ Roses pull out of the Rock in Rio – Lisbon festival following the sudden departure of guitarist Buckethead. 2006 – Led Zeppelin: A man is removed from a flight to London on suspicion of terrorism after a taxi driver reports he was listening to The Clash’s “London’s Burning” and Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” on his way to the airport. Harraj Mann is released without charge. 2012 – Jerry Lee Lewis ties the knot for the 7th time.

Today in rock history 29th March

1943 – Chad Allan (Guess Who) is born 1947 – Bobby Kimball (Toto) is born 1959 – Jane’s Addiction frontman and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell is born in New York as Perry Bernstein. 1967 – John Popper (Blues Traveller) is born 1967 – Beatles begin work on Bad Finger Boogie (later renamed With a Little Help from My Friends) at Abbey Road. 1968 – Fleetwood Mac release Black Magic Woman in the UK. 1970 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono announce that Yoko is pregnant with John’s son. 1972 – In Bombay, India, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page record versions of “Four Sticks” and “Friends” with the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. Unfortunately, differing music theories lead to the sessions being scrapped. 1973 – Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. 1987 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” Starship. 2001 – New York’s Radio City Music Hall honours Brian Wilson. 2004 – Jon Bon Jovi becomes a dad for the fourth time – officially. His wife gives birth to a son, Romeo Jon. 2005 – Neil Young was treated for a brain aneurysm at a hospital in New York. Doctors expected the 59 year old to make a full recovery. The aneurysm was discovered when Young’s vision became blurred after the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month. 2007 – U2 singer Bono accepted an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin. Fellow band members The Edge and Adam Clayton joined the frontman’s wife and four children at the British ambassador David Reddaway’s official residence. 2011 – BlueBeat.com settles lawsuit over selling Beatles songs illegally.

Today in rock history 28th March

1945 – Born on this day, Chuck Portz, The Turtles. 1948 – Born on this day, John Evans, Jethro Tull 1958 – Buddy Holly kicked off the first night of a 43 date tour at Brooklyn Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. The Alan Freed’s Big Beat Show also featured Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, The Diamonds, Billy Ford, Danny & The Juniors,The Chantels, Larry Williams, Screaming Jay Hawkins. 1964 – Madame Tussauds, London unveiled the wax works images of The Beatles, the first pop stars to be honoured. 1967 – Working on session for the new Beatles album Sgt Pepper at Abbey Road studios in London, John Lennon recorded his lead vocal for ‘Good Morning Good Morning’, and Paul McCartney added a lead guitar solo to the track 1974 – Blues artist Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup died of a stroke at the age of 69. He wrote the Elvis Presley hit ‘That’s All Right (Mama).’ 1976 – Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and Alan Lancaster from Status Quo were arrested after an incident at Vienna Airport, all three were released on bail. 1976 – Born on this day, Dave Keuning, guitarist, The Killers 1977 – During a UK tour, Pink Floyd played the first of four sold out nights at New Bingley Hall, Staffordshire County Showground, Stafford. 1981 – Elton John’s version of The Beatles ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ was released as a tribute to John Lennon. Even though Paul sang the original. 1982 – David Crosby was arrested after crashing his car on the San Diego Highway. Police also found cocaine and a pistol in the Crosby Stills & Nash stars car. When the police asked Crosby why he carried the gun, his reply was, “John Lennon.” 1992 – Over $100,000 (£58,800) worth of damage was caused at The Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, California, when Ozzy Osbourne invited the first two rows of the audience on stage. Several others took up the offer and the band was forced to exit the stage. 1992 –During a North American tour Pearl Jam appeared at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago with Smashing Pumkins as the support act. 1996: Phil Collins announced that he was leaving Genesis to focus on his solo career, soundtrack work and some jazz projects. 2000 – Former Led Zeppelin member Jimmy Page accepts “substantial” libel damages and a public apology at London’s high court over a magazine article that accuses him of contributing to the Death of former bandmate John Bonham. 2005 – After playing a warm-up date the night before at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, U2 kicked off their Vertigo tour at the iPay One Center in San Diego, California. 2005: Queen kicked off their first tour with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and Free replacing Freddie Mercury on vocals at London’s Brixton Academy. 2006 – “loudQuietloud: A Film About the Pixies” premieres during the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas. 2010 - Rush were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. They were recognized for the songs “Closer to the Heart”, “The Spirit of Radio”, “Tom Sawyer”, “Limelight” & “Subdivisions”.