This Day in Music: December 8th

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Born on this day:

1942, Bobby Elliott, drums, The Hollies
1943, Jim Morrison, vocals, The Doors
1957, Phil Collen, guitar, Def Leppard
1959, Paul Rutherford, vocals, Frankie Goes To Hollywood

1963, Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped at gunpoint from a hotel in Lake Tahoe. He was released two days later after his father paid out the $240,000 ransom demanded by the kidnappers, who were later captured, and sentenced to long prison terms. In order to communicate with the kidnappers via a payphone the senior Sinatra carried a roll of dimes with him throughout this ordeal, which became a lifetime habit, he is said to have been buried with a roll of dimes.

1965, The Rolling Stones recorded their ninth U.K. single “19th Nervous Breakdown’” at RCA studios in Hollywood, California.

1968, singer and guitarist Graham Nash left The Hollies and started work with David Crosby and Stephen Stills who went on to form Crosby Stills and Nash.

1969, on trial in Canada on drug possession charges, Jimi Hendrix told a Toronto court that he had only smoked pot four times in his life, snorted cocaine twice and took LSD no more than five times. Telling the jury that he had now outgrown drugs. They found the guitarist not guilty.

1977, four people were arrested after a riot broke out when Blondie didn't arrive for a gig in Brisbane. Over 1,000 Australian fans had waited over an hour for the group to appear on stage, but the gig was cancelled due to singer Debbie Harry being unwell.

1973, Roxy Music had their first U.K. #1 album when Stranded went to the top for one week. The sleeve featured Playboy's Playmate of The Year, model Marilyn Cole.

1980, John Lennon was shot five times by 25 year old Mark Chapman outside the Dakota building in New York City where John and Yoko lived. Chapman had been stalking Lennon for days outside the Dakota apartments and asked for an autograph as Lennon walked through the courtyard. As he signed a piece of paper Chapman fired. Lennon was pronounced dead from a massive loss of blood at 11.30pm. For more on this story see This Day in Music Spotlight.

1984, Frankie Goes To Hollywood were at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with “The Power Of Love',” the group's third #1 of the year and final U.K. #1. This made them the first group since Gerry And The Pacemakers to have a U.K. #1 with their first three singles.

2004, former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell was one of five people killed after a man stormed the stage during a Damageplan show at the Alrosa Villa Club in Columbus. Nathan Gale, aged 25, began firing at the band and crowd, was then shot and killed by a police officer that arrived shortly after the first shots were fired.

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