Today’s current #1 song: Closer, Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
MUSIC NEWS
2010 : Eddie Fisher, one of the biggest pop stars of the ’50s, dies of complications from hip surgery in Berkeley, California at age 82.
2007: Britney Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence after she was accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park on 6 August. The owner of the car filed an accident report on 9 August at the North Hollywood Community Police Station. The city attorney’s office did not know whether Ms Spears’ car had been damaged, nor did he know the extent of damage to the other car.
2007: The Game was given a conditional discharge at Manhattan’s Criminal Court after being charged with impersonating a police officer. Police said the star told a cab driver he was an undercover officer, ordering him to run several red lights. The rapper (real name Jayceon Taylor), claimed the cab driver noticed they were being followed and asked who was in the car, He said he told the driver they were the hip-hop police, and the driver decided on his own to run the red lights.
2004: Britney Spears admitted she had not married Kevin Federline, saying she had not yet sent off their marriage licence and until they did, they were not married in the eyes of Californian law.
2001: ‘A Tribute to Heroes’ was aired commercial-free on most of the major US TV networks. The live program was organised to raise money following the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and New York’s World Trade Center. Neil Young, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, U2, Limp Bizkit, Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam all performed. Manning the telephones to take pledges were celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Robin Williams, Meg Ryan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kurt Russell, Adam Sandler and many more.
1997: Elton John releases “Candle in the Wind 1997”, a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales in the US
1991: Bryan Adams made chart history when ‘(Everything I Do), I Do It For You’, had its twelfth consecutive week as the UK No.1 single.
1990: The N.W.A. EP 100 Miles and Runnin’ (their first release without Ice Cube, who left the group several months earlier to pursue a successful solo career) debuts at #27 on the Billboard 200 chart.
1990: Nirvana played their biggest gig to date when they appeared at the Motor Sports International Garage in Seattle. Drummer Dave Grohl who would audition for the band in a few days time was in the audience of 15,000 people.
1990: Garth Brooks album ‘No Fences’ entered the US album chart. It went on to become the biggest selling country album of all time and sold over 13m copies in the first five years of release.
1983: Born on this day, Will Farquarson, bass and guitar with Bastille who won a Brit award and had a No.1 U.K. album with Bad Blood.
1985: The first Farm Aid benefit concert was held before a crowd of 80,000 people at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, the event had been spurred on by Bob Dylan’s comments at Live Aid earlier in that year that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers. The star studded line-up of country stars included: Alabama, Hoyt Axton, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels Band, John Denver, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Rogers.
1984: Former lead singer of the Babies, John Waite went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Missing You’.
1981: American composer Harry Warren died aged 88. He wrote over 800 songs including ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’, (a hit for The Flamingos and Art Garfunkel), ‘You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby’, ‘Jeepers Creepers’, ‘That’s Amore’ and ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’. Warren’s songs have been featured in over 300 films.
1980 : Geffen Records is formed.
1973: The Rolling Stones scored their eighth UK No.1 album when ‘Goats Head Soup’ started a two-week run at the top of the charts. Also a US No.1.
1972: David Bowie kicked off the North American leg of his Ziggy Stardust world tour at the Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio.
1958: After receiving special permission from the US Army, Elvis Presley gave one last press conference at the Military Ocean Terminal in Brooklyn. He then joined the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on the USS General Randall for a voyage to Bremerhaven, Germany.
1958: Born on this day, Joan Jett, American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer. Founding member of The Runaways and with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts scored the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’. She is also known as the Godmother of Punk.
1953: Born on this day, Richard Fairbrass, singer, Right Said Fred, (1991 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘I’m Too Sexy’, 1993 UK No.1 album ‘Up’).
1951: Born on this day, David Coverdale, English rock singer with Whitesnake who scored the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single ‘Here I Go Again’). Coverdale was the lead singer of Deep Purple from late 1973 to 15 March 1976.
