1956 - It's 1956 and rock'n'roll is becoming the new music, movie companies wanting to get into the act, so Paramount Pictures signed the new teen idol, Elvis Presley to a three-movie deal. This was the same year Capitol Tower became the home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, California. The building was 13 stories tall, and the very first circular office tower in America, with a 92 foot diameter. A year after that, 1957, on this day, Elvis Presley released this little ditty much to the consternation of of conservative groups of people across the world. The song was considered too sexy. Thanks to youtuber AaronK33 for creating and uploading this short clip, showing headlines, dancing, fans and giving us a glimpse of the mood of the day.
1960 - One of the most influential acts in rock'n'roll was the Everly Brothers, whose harmonies had a huge and obvious influence on the Beatles and others, and it was 51 years ago today that the duo opened their first British tour in London. (For plenty of videos and references to the Everlys, go to our search section and visit the archives). Two years later, when the Twist dance craze crossed the world, Russian newspaper, Pravda, warned youths about the dangers of twisting., and on the same day in 1963, The Kingsmen recorded their version of this little ditty, which has since been covered by many artists.
1965 - At the peak of their worldwide breakthrough, The Beach Boys recorded California Girls, and in this amazing blast from the past breakthrough video, legendary Bob Hope and Jack Benny join in the fun.This is a bona fide classic.
1968 - Two years away from splitting, The Beatles helped revolutionise the music industry by creating their own record and publishing company, Apple Corps Ltd. (Frank Sinatra beat them to the punch by eight years, when he formed his own record label, Reprise, so recording artists could have more creatove freedom, he said at the time. Go to our search engine for more details and videos of Sinatra's Reprise. This was also the day and year, 1968, that Pink Floyd founder, Syd Barrett, officially left the group due to so-called multiple psychiatric disorders, compounded by drug use. This was also the night, 40 years ago that Carly Simon and James Taylor first met at the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles. Eight years later and the pair performed this classic standard, at the No Nukes concerts in New York City. And is Carly Simon just so, so, so vibrant, and energetic, exploding with freshness and alluring charm.
1971 - This is the year, three years after The Beatles went biz-indie, The Rolling Stones formed their own label, Rolling Stones Records, and just a few years later, again on the same day, April 6, their movie Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones opened at New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre. It was the first concert film to feature a soundtrack in quadraphonic sound. Here's the movie promo trailer
1981 - Two weeks after releasing their album East in the USA, Australia's speed-swaggering rock'n'roll band, Cold Chisel, released the double live album, Swingshift in their home country. Songs were recorded during their Youth in Asia concerts. These are two of the standout iconic songs on the album, both from the Swingshift album, both Australian rock anthems - Star Hotel and Ke Sanh.
1998 - It is now 13 years since one of rock's wildest performers, Wendy O. Williams from the group The Plasmatics committed suicide. She set a height and standard of onstage mahem that Sid, Iggy, heavy metals acts et al would died for. Even a smell of it. Disturbed? Yes, but a true original and a bench mark of real, wild theatre-rock, merging punk and heavy metal to express and relay the rebellion on the ground. A one-off. RIP. Wanna taste?
