THE YEAR IN ROCK - WEEK ONE

 

1st January

 

January 1, 1942, ‘Country’ Joe McDonald of Country Joe & the Fish is born

 

Happy birthday also to Morgan Fisher (Mott the Hoople), born 1950

 

and Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler), born 1958

 

In 1962 The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records on this day, and they decline to sign them

 

yet by January 1 1965 they (on Capitol Records) have three albums in the US Billboard Top 10

 

In 1967 The New Year's Wail in San Francisco featured Big Brother & the Holding Company and The Grateful Dead

 

 

and in 1968 the band previously known as The Blue Velvets became Creedence Clearwater Revival

2nd January

 

Born today were "Chick" Churchill of Ten Years After in 1949

 

Glenn Goins from Parliament in 1954

 

and Swing King Roger Miller in 1936

 

On January 2, 1971 George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" started a seven-week run at the top of the US album charts

 

 

Ozzy Osbourne rejoined Black Sabbath just 2 months after quitting the band, in 1978

 

and in 1997 Randy California of Spirit drowned at the age of 45 while rescuing his son in the ocean off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i

 

3RD January

 

Born on January 3, 1926 was Sir George Martin, producer of The Beatles amongst many others

 

John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and, more recently, Them Crooked Vultures, in 1946

 

Stephen Stills of Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Buffalo Springfield, in 1945

 

On January 3, 1964 The Beatles made their debut appearance on American TV, in a short film clip on Jack Paar's late night talk show, prompting Paar to joke about their haircuts

 

 

and in 1970 The Beatles recorded 'I Me Mine' - their last time in the studio together

 

Bob Dylan and The Band reunited on this day in 1974 for a U.S. tour, Dylan's first in more than seven years

 

4th January

Born on January 4, 1956, was Bernard Albrecht/Summer (Joy Division/New Order)

 

and in 1950, Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

 

In 1973 Lamar Williams joined Allman Brothers Band after the death of bassist Berry Oakley

 

The very first Marquee Club opened in London, in 1958, at 165 Oxford Street

 

and most tragically, the great Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy overdosed on drugs and died of a heart attack & pneumonia, at age 36 in 1986

 

 

5th January

 

Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, was born on this day in 1923

 

as was, in 1964, Grant Young of Soul Asylum

 

1966, Kate Schellenbach of Luscious Jackson, in 1966

 

Blondie's Chris Stein, in 1950 (pictured with Debbie Harry)

 

 

and shock rocker Marilyn Manson in 1969

 

In 1978 The Sex Pistols started their doomed US tour in Atlanta

 

Buddy Holly released his last single, 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' in 1958

 

Bassist Ken Forssi of Love died of cancer at age 55 in 1998

 

Ray Davies of The Kinks was shot in the leg after chasing 2 dudes who snatched his girlfriend's purse in New Orleans

 

and in 2005 Danny Sugerman, latterday manager of The Doors and Iggy Pop and author of the wild "No one Gets Out Of Here Alive" died of cancer at the age of 50

 

6Th January

 

Happy birthdays today to January 6, 1929, Wilbert Harrison of Canned Heat, who was born in 1929

 

she of the amazing and wistful voice, Sandy Denny, from Fairport Convention, born 1947

 

Kim Wilson, singer with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, born 1951

 

Malcolm Young, rhythm guitarist with AC/DC, Born in Glasgow in 1953

 

The irrepresible crazy diamond Syd (born Roger) Barrett of Pink Floyd, born 1946

 

Also on this day, in 1958 Gibson patented their Flying V guitar

 

 

In 1975 after fans waiting for tickets to go on sale caused major damage at Boston Garden, the Led Zeppelin performance they hoped to see was abruptly cancelled

 

and in 2007 "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow, Flying Burrito Brothers co-founder, died of complications from Alzheimer's at age 72

 

7th January

 

Born on January 7, were Paul Revere (Paul Revere's Raiders) in 1937

 

Yacht rocker Kenny Loggins in 1948

 

Kathy Valentine from The Go-Go's in 1959

 

and in 1946, Jann Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone magazine

 

in 1970 Max Yasgur's neighbors sued him for damage inflicted on their property during the Woodstock festival staged on Yasgur's farm five months earlier

 

In 1980 Led Zeppelin's "In Through The Out Door" was certified platinum in the US; it was to be the last Zep album issued while drummer John Bonham was alive

 

 

and on January 7, 1981 "Eagles Live" is certified platinum in the US; it will be 13 years until the next Eagles album was released

THE YEAR IN ROCK WEEK 2

 

Shane Pinnegar