Monday, December 5, 2011

This Day in Music: December 5th

Brought to you by ThisDayinMusic.com.

Born on this day:
1912, Sonny Boy Williamson, harmonica player, singer
1932, Little Richard, singer, pianist
1938, J.J. Cale, guitarist, singer-songwriter
1952, Andy Kim, singer
1965, Johnny Rzeznik, vocals, guitar, Goo Goo Dolls

1965, The Beatles played their last ever show in their hometown of Liverpool when they appeared at The Liverpool Empire during the group’s final UK tour. Only 5,100 tickets were available, but there were 40,000 applications for tickets. The group also had the U.K. #1 single with “We Can Work it Out”/“Day Tripper.”

1968, The release of The Rolling Stones’ new album Beggar’s Banquet was celebrated at a party in London. A food fight with custard pie was the highlight of the event that went on without an ill Keith Richards. For more on this story, see This Day in Music Spotlight.

1970, “Amazing Grace” by Judy Collins entered the U.K. singles chart for the first of eight times; it spent a total of 67 weeks on the chart never making the #1 position.

1987, The Jesus and Mary Chain were banned from appearing on a U.S. music TV show after complaints of blasphemy when the group’s name was flashed across the screen. The CBS show asked the band to be called JAMC but the group didn’t agree.

1992, Whitney Houston started a 10-week run at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with “I Will Always Love You.” The longest-ever run at #1 for a female artist the Dolly Parton-penned song was taken from the Bodyguard soundtrack.

1993, Co-founder of the Gin Blossoms Doug Hopkins died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds at age 32. The guitarist and songwriter was in a detox unit of Phoenix’s St. Luke’s Hospital when he snuck out and bought a .38 caliber pistol. The next day Hopkins committed suicide.

2006, Beatles lyrics handwritten by Sir Paul McCartney to an early version of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” sold for $192,000 at an auction in New York. A guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix fetched $168,000, a notebook containing lyrics written by Bob Marley sold for $72,000 and a poem penned by Doors frontman Jim Morrison made $49,000 at the Christie's sale.


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John Lennon’s Boring To-Do List for Sale

The life of a rock star seems glamorous, right? Apparently, not always. Judging by the to-do list from late Beatle John Lennon that’s going up for auction on GottaHaveRockandRoll.com, being in the biggest rock band in the world doesn’t make life much more exciting than the average Joe.

Lennon’s to-do list consists of the same kinds of rituals that fill the lives of a lot of people. Among Lennon’s list of tasks – dated for May 22 with an unknown year – is meeting with the “HBO guy,” making sure “both cars have full gas tanks” and fixing the hook on the bathroom door. Going through the note, you get the absolute idea that Lennon, really, was just a normal guy.

The near-illegible note has a starting bid of $3,000 and is expected to pull in over $4,000, according to various sources. Last month, Lennon’s tooth went on auction, and a Canadian dentist paid a whopping $31,000, for the delightfully decaying tine.


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This Day in Music: December 4th

Special thanks to ThisDayinMusic.com.

Born on this day:

1942, Chris Hillman, bass, vocals, The Byrds
1944, Dennis Wilson, drums, vocals, The Beach Boys
1951, Gary Rossington, guitar, Lynyrd Skynyrd
1969, Jay-Z, rapper

1956, the so-called “Million Dollar Quartet” jam session took place at Sun Studios in Memphis with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. (For more on this story, see the This Day in Music Spotlight.)

1965, The Byrds started a three-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Turn! Turn! Turn!” — the group's second #1. Unlike their first chart topper, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” the entire band was allowed to play on the recording, instead of studio musicians.

1971, Led Zeppelin started a two-week run at #1 on the U.K. chart with the band’s fourth album. Featuring the 8-minute track “Stairway to Heaven,” the album stayed on the U.S. chart for one week short of five years, selling over 11 million copies.

1976, workers at EMI records went on strike, refusing to package the Sex Pistols single “Anarchy in the U.K.”

1979, U2 appeared at The Hope and Anchor, Islington, London.

1980, Prince played the first night on his 31-date Dirty Mind North American tour at Shea’s in Buffalo, New York. After being told by his managers he couldn't wear spandex pants without any underwear, Prince began performing in a long trench coat, black high-heeled boots and leggings, and bikini brief trunks.

1988, Roy Orbison played his final ever gig when he appeared in Cleveland, Ohio. Orbison died of a heart attack two days later.

1993, Multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer, Frank Zappa died of prostate cancer. Zappa recorded many albums with The Mothers of Invention and solo, including the 1969 album, Hot Rats, and 1974 album, Apostrophe. Zappa also recorded one of the first concept albums, Freak Out! He married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, in 1967. The couple had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen.

2006, Yahoo! revealed that Britney Spears was the most searched for term of 2006 with more online searches done about Spears than any other topic or person. Female celebrities dominated the top 10 overall search list, with Shakira at #3, Jessica Simpson at #4 and Paris Hilton at #5.


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No Marr Driving for Johnny

Former Smiths man and guitar guru Johnny Marr has been banned from driving. According to the Daily Mirror in England, the king of the jangly guitar was caught speeding at 72 miles per hour in a 40 miles per hour zone.

Marr had been speeding through Manchester in his Audi A5 back in April when he was pulled over by police.

His lawyer, Gwyn Lewis, appeared in court on Marr’s behalf, saying, “It was something he deeply regrets and it is the first time he has been banned from the roads.”


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Live Wire: Music on Television Dec. 5-11

Just because MTV doesn’t play music anymore doesn’t mean there’s not tons of live music on television these days. Consider our weekly feature “Live Wire,” your guide to performances, concerts and rock star appearances on the tube. All times are ET.

Live Wire Spotlight – Metal Evolution: New Wave of British Heavy Metal (11 p.m. Saturday, VH1 Classic)

In the latest installment of VH1 Classic’s Metal Evolution documentary series, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal is explored. So get ready for plenty of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Diamond Head and, if you’re lucky, Tygers of Pan Tang.

Monday, December 5

The View (11 a.m., ABC): Paul Anka

Conan (11 p.m., TBS): Yelawolf

The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35 p.m., CBS): Ryan Adams

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35 p.m., NBC): Alison Krauss and Union Station

Jimmy Kimmel Live (12 a.m., ABC): Jack’s Mannequin

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35 a.m., NBC): Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa

Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35 a.m., NBC): Weezer

Tuesday, December 6

The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35 p.m., CBS): 50 Cent

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35 p.m., NBC): Taio Cruz

Jimmy Kimmel Live (12 a.m., ABC): T-Pain

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:35 a.m., CBS): Black Dub

Wednesday, December 7

The Ellen DeGeneres Show (check local listings, syndicated): Lenny Kravitz

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35 p.m., NBC): Neil Diamond

Jimmy Kimmel Live (12 a.m., ABC): Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:35 a.m., CBS): Trace Adkins

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35 a.m., NBC): Method Man

Thursday, December 8

Conan (11 p.m., TBS): Blink-182

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35 p.m., NBC): Blake Shelton

Jimmy Kimmel Live (12 a.m., ABC): Chevelle

Friday, December 9

The Ellen DeGeneres Show (check local listings, syndicated): Lady Gaga

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35 a.m., NBC): Aretha Franklin

Saturday, December 10

Behind the Music Remastered (10 p.m., VH1 Classic): Pat Benatar

Metal Evolution (11 p.m., VH1 Classic): New Wave of British Heavy Metal

Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m., NBC): Robyn

That Metal Show (12 a.m., VH1 Classic): Marilyn Manson, Biff Byford (Saxon)

Austin City Limits (check local listings, PBS): Patti Griffin and Friends (rerun)


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Bruce Springsteen Named SXSW Keynote Speaker

Bruce Springsteen will give the keynote address at the 2012 South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX, according to Stereogum. The Boss will speak at the Austin Convention Center on March 15. Former keynote speakers include Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Robert Plant, Smokey Robinson and Bob Geldof.

Next year is shaping up to be a big one for Springsteen. He’s already announced that he’ll be taking the E Street Band out on tour in North America and Europe for the first time since the death of saxophone player Clarence Clemons. U.K. dates in June and July are already confirmed. He also is finishing work on a new album with the E Streeters.


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