1937 - Attention all drummers, all air drummers, and anyone who likes good music. It's 74 years since gene Krupa, the great drummer's drummer hit the skins for the brilliant big band man, Benny Goodman on this near-perfect clip of the near perfect thumping song, Sing, Sing, Sing, which was recorded today, July 6. Their song is hot, hot, hot. This version is from the movie, Hollywood Hotel, and remarkable for its grade A quality. The highlight is Gene Krupa and his drum solo. Krupa influenced the great drummers of the past 80 years, including Keith Moon, John Bonham and so, so many more. I challenge you not to tap your feet on this one.
1957 - This is the day that a 16-year-old John Lennon met a 15-year-old Paul McCartney at this Loverpool Hall, with this mate of John's. It's a genuine video, hosted by a guy in Liverpool, who describes the meeting as he takes you through the church hall, retelling some funny stories as he relishes in his friendship with Lennon. Wouldn't you?
1964 - The Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, premiered in London 47 years ago today, and here's is one of the scenes and some concert footage from the movie. For more information and videos from the movie, and about Lennon and McCartney, go to our archive search engine.
1965 - It was this very day in '65 that the pioneer psychedelic group The Jefferson Airplane formed in San Francisco, California. The band was at the front guard of psychedelic rock and the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success. The band performed at three of the famous American rock festivals of the 1960s; Monterey in 1967, Woodstock in 1969 and Altamont in '69. The band also headlined at The Isle Of Wight. Some of their records were internationally successful, and they scored two US Top 10 hit singles and a string of Top 20 albums. Their 1967 record Surrealistic Pillow is regarded as one of the key recordings of the so-called 'summer of love' and brought the group international recognition. Two chart hits from the album, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit, are listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
1967 - This was the day Pink Floyd perform for the third time on the BBC’s Top of the Pops, promoting their successful pop single, See Emily Play. Serious Pink Floyd fans and survivors from the 60s would remember this pop single, but for all you newbie Floyd fan funks really should watch this birth video of Pink Floyd and ask yourself what drugs they were taking at the time.;)
1971 - He was born before the commercial rock'n'roll era of the 50s, but a rock'n'rollers at heart, spirit and mind, and two days after his 71st birthday, trumpeter legend Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong died - exactly 40 years ago today. He won a Grammy in 1965 as Best Male Vocal Performance for Hello Dolly, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1972, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, as a forefather of rock music, as indeed he was. He's a legend, dear reader, a pure legend, strong and true, one of the true greats of modern music.
1973 - If you are a Queen fan, you probably know that their first single was released almost 40 years ago, today. The foursome released their first single, Keep Yourself Alive, which did moderately well on the charts, but has totally stood the test of time, as this live video of the band from way back then truly testifies. No question, Queen brought their own style and panache to rock music, starting a new thread for others to follow.
1976 - At the forefront of punk music, The Damned made their debut performance at the 100 Club in London, situated on the Oxford Street - a venue that hosted many British groups from the sixties right through to now. Dear reader let's go way back, 34 years back, and watch the Damned's very first public performance, with the song Fan Club, live.
1978 - He ditched his job as a policeman, and turned to another form of crime, that of a rock singer, and scored with a few moderate hits around the world, but this was Eddie Money's biggest hit, released today all over the planet. Appearing on the much-heralded American TV show, Midnight Special, Former policeman Eddie Mahoney changed his name to Eddie Money. He had a string of hits, but this was his first major hit song, and his biggest - Baby Hold On To Me.
1957 - This is the day that a 16-year-old John Lennon met a 15-year-old Paul McCartney at this Loverpool Hall, with this mate of John's. It's a genuine video, hosted by a guy in Liverpool, who describes the meeting as he takes you through the church hall, retelling some funny stories as he relishes in his friendship with Lennon. Wouldn't you?
1964 - The Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, premiered in London 47 years ago today, and here's is one of the scenes and some concert footage from the movie. For more information and videos from the movie, and about Lennon and McCartney, go to our archive search engine.
1965 - It was this very day in '65 that the pioneer psychedelic group The Jefferson Airplane formed in San Francisco, California. The band was at the front guard of psychedelic rock and the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success. The band performed at three of the famous American rock festivals of the 1960s; Monterey in 1967, Woodstock in 1969 and Altamont in '69. The band also headlined at The Isle Of Wight. Some of their records were internationally successful, and they scored two US Top 10 hit singles and a string of Top 20 albums. Their 1967 record Surrealistic Pillow is regarded as one of the key recordings of the so-called 'summer of love' and brought the group international recognition. Two chart hits from the album, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit, are listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
1967 - This was the day Pink Floyd perform for the third time on the BBC’s Top of the Pops, promoting their successful pop single, See Emily Play. Serious Pink Floyd fans and survivors from the 60s would remember this pop single, but for all you newbie Floyd fan funks really should watch this birth video of Pink Floyd and ask yourself what drugs they were taking at the time.;)
1971 - He was born before the commercial rock'n'roll era of the 50s, but a rock'n'rollers at heart, spirit and mind, and two days after his 71st birthday, trumpeter legend Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong died - exactly 40 years ago today. He won a Grammy in 1965 as Best Male Vocal Performance for Hello Dolly, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1972, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, as a forefather of rock music, as indeed he was. He's a legend, dear reader, a pure legend, strong and true, one of the true greats of modern music.
1973 - If you are a Queen fan, you probably know that their first single was released almost 40 years ago, today. The foursome released their first single, Keep Yourself Alive, which did moderately well on the charts, but has totally stood the test of time, as this live video of the band from way back then truly testifies. No question, Queen brought their own style and panache to rock music, starting a new thread for others to follow.
1976 - At the forefront of punk music, The Damned made their debut performance at the 100 Club in London, situated on the Oxford Street - a venue that hosted many British groups from the sixties right through to now. Dear reader let's go way back, 34 years back, and watch the Damned's very first public performance, with the song Fan Club, live.
1978 - He ditched his job as a policeman, and turned to another form of crime, that of a rock singer, and scored with a few moderate hits around the world, but this was Eddie Money's biggest hit, released today all over the planet. Appearing on the much-heralded American TV show, Midnight Special, Former policeman Eddie Mahoney changed his name to Eddie Money. He had a string of hits, but this was his first major hit song, and his biggest - Baby Hold On To Me.
