1. 1957: Buddy Holly and The Crickets, still being billed by the band name only, begin a six-night engagement at Harlems famed Apollo Theater, the first white rock act to play the venue. Although crowds boo a little at first -- many, including the venue, assumed theyd be seeing R&B vocal group The Crickets -- by the third night of the engagement Buddys energy and songs have won them over. 2. 1962: Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles, fires drummer Pete Best on the orders of the other members of the group, with no clear explanation and no other members present. Incredibly, Epstein then asks Best to fulfill his commitment and play the groups show that night in Cheshires Riverpark Ballroom, but when he doesnt show, the group is ready with a replacement: Johnny Hutchinson of fellow Merseybeat group The Big Three. Fans will react badly to the news, pummeling the group at their next few shows, sending petitions to local papers, and shouting Pete Best forever, Ringo never! at the Cavern. 3. 1969: During the Whos performance of their rock opera Tommy at Woodstock (specifically, during the instrumental Underture) activist and hippie leader Abbie Hoffman leaps on stage, grabs the microphone, and yells I think this is a pile of s**t, while John Sinclair rots in prison! (Sinclair, a fellow activist, had been sentenced for ten years for two marijuana joints.) Pete Townshend, not knowing who Hoffman is, hits him over the head with his guitar and orders him to **** off my ****ing stage! 4. 1962: Peter, Paul, and Mary release If I Had A Hammer. It peaked at # 10 on Billboard.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 20:16:40 +0000
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