Today, in the history of Rock and Roll, November 23rd: 1899: The Palais Royal Hotel in San Francisco installs the first coin-operated machine destined to be known as a jukebox, in this case a crude slot-machine apparatus connected to an actual Edison phonograph. At a then-princely nickel a song, it nevertheless took in one thousand dollars in six months time. 1954: The way it is. Singer, songwriter and virtuoso pianist, Bruce Hornsby, is born in Williamsburg, VA. He starts his career in a Grateful Dead covers band. Later, Hornsby tours with the Dead and in ‘94 he inducts the group into the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame. Nice how life works sometimes. 1956: A sheet metal worker in Toledo, OH is arrested for punching Elvis Presley in a bar after the man discovers Elvis picture in his wifes wallet. 1960: Elvis fifth film, G.I. Blues, is released in US theaters, just six years to the day before his 22nd, Spinout! 1964: The Rolling Stones are banned from the BBC for, of all things, unprofessionalism, the band having arrived late twice to perform on the radio shows Saturday Club and Top Gear. 1964: “The Beatles Story,” an adoring and glossy look at the group is released by Capitol Records. The Beatles also release “I Feel Fine” (with the feedback intro) and “She’s A Woman.” 1967: AM radio receives a blow to its self-esteem when San Francisco KMPX-FM disc jockey Tom Donahue, inventor of classic rock and deep cut radio, tells Rolling Stone: Top Forty radio, as we know it today and have known it for the last ten years, is dead, and its rotting corpse is stinking up the airwaves. 1968: Led Zeppelin signs to the Atlantic label after being guided there by... Dusty Springfield? 1972: Bob Dylan goes to Durango, CO, to begin work on his role in Sam Peckinpahs next movie, Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid. 1974: “Free Bird” (often written as “Freebird”) is released as a single. The Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, written by band members Allen Collins (guitar) and Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), is the group’s second Top 40 hit (“Sweet Home Alabama” was the 1st). 1974: UK pop-rock band Spooky Tooth call it quits. Though only a cult hit in the US (and virtually unknown at home), their members will all go on to fame: Gary Wright with Dream Weaver, Mick Jones as the guitarist for Foreigner, Henry McCullough as one of the guitarists for Wings (he does the solo on My Love), and Chris Stainton as an Eric Clapton sideman. 1976: Jerry Lee Lewis visits Elvis Presleys Memphis home, Graceland, very early in the morning and is told that Elvis is asleep. He drives off in a huff but returns after sunrise, invited there by The King himself. Unfortunately, one of Elvis security guards hasnt been told, and when Jerry Lee is refused permission to enter, he allegedly brandishes a gun and claims hes come to kill Presley. Lewis, who later claimed he was making a sarcastic joke, is promptly arrested. 1979: Marianne Faithfull is arrested for possession of marijuana at the airport in Oslo, Norway, but released after signing a confession. 1991: Queen’s dynamic lead singer Freddie Mercury (lower right) states he has AIDS. 1995: U2 is named the Best Group at the MTV Europe Awards. 1998: The worlds first portable mp3 player goes on sale, despite strenuous objections from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). The Diamond Rio PMP300, which cost $200, could play about a dozen songs. 2004: U2 releases How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Recorded with longtime U2 producer Steve Lillywhite, the first single is Vertigo. But there`s more... Nirvana’s box set “With The Lights Out” finally sees the light of day. 81 tracks, including 68 previously unreleased songs, spans Nirvana’s career ranging from an ’87 cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” to Kurt Cobain solo material recorded in ’94. Also, Genocide in Sudan, a benefit compilation designed to draw attention to the plight of the African nation, is issued. System Of A Down contribute NÜGUNS. There are also tracks by Audioslaves Tom Morello (Nightwatchman) and Bad Religion. 2008: A sign that we have reached the “end times,” Guns N Roses finally release their long delayed album “Chinese Democracy” exclusively through Best Buy outlets. When work on the album began Bill Clinton was president. Now, George W. Bush is wrapping up his second term. In other words, it took a hell of a long time (13 years) to come out. Its a pretty intense musical journey, really, says GN’R keyboardist Dizzy Reed. Everyone that is in the band, or was in the band at some point — cause there, you know, theres been a few guys who have come and gone even since the old band — has contributed, and because of that I think it really takes you to some interesting musical places. When you add Axl and guitars, of course, though, it kinda glues it all together.” 2008: In a related story, soft drink manufacturer Dr Pepper makes good on its offer to send a free can of the beverage to everyone in America (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) when Chinese Democracy is released. We never thought this day would come, says Dr Pepper VP of marketing Tony Jacobs. But now that its here all we can say is: The Dr Peppers on us. Fans go to Dr Pepper to receive a coupon redeemable for a 20-oz. Dr Pepper. 2008: Founding Black Sabbath/Heaven And Hell guitarist Tony Iommi gets a spot on the Walk of Stars in his hometown of Birmingham, England. Iommi follows Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, who was the first person to receive the honor the previous year. Its so nice being recognized in your hometown, says Iommi. 2008: Yes donates $10 from every ticket sold for their concert in Albany, NY, to the Stride Adaptive Sports organization. The proceeds go toward the fourth annual Wounded Warrior Snowsports Event, which provides an adaptive snowboarding and skiing vacation for injured U.S. soldiers and their families. We are glad to do what we can to support the officers and soldiers who have sacrificed so much to defend their country, says a Yes statement. 2008: The Vaticans newspaper, LOsservatore Romano, ‘forgives’ John Lennons controversial ‘66 statement about The Beatles being more popular than Christ as a youthful joke. The article maintains that Lennons comment after many years sounds only like a boast by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success. 2009: The Rolling Stones re-release Wild Horses as a digital package, following Susan Boyles performance of the song on the X Factor the night before. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Wild Horses is on the Stones ‘71 album, Sticky Fingers. Boyles version is the opening track from the middle-aged Scottish singing sensation’s debut album, I Dreamed A Dream. Wild Horses has been more notably covered by Neil Young, Guns N Roses and Sheryl Crow. 2010: The Beatles sell more than 450,000 albums and 2 million individual songs worldwide in the first week that the groups music is available on iTunes. The best-selling album in the U.S. is “Abbey Road,” and the best-selling song is George Harrison’s Here Comes the Sun which is on the album. Releases: 1964: The Beatles, I Feel Fine b/w Shes A Woman.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 18:00:46 +0000
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