HOME PAGE
GIG LISTINGS
MUSICIANS
STOP PRESS BANDS
      WEBSITES/CONTACTS
VENUE DETAILS

For everything:  riffsonline@gmail.com                                                  WorkingPB: https://proxybay.ch   or go to   https://www.avoidcensorship.org   for all available PB sites      Hide your ip address for FREE here
NEWS . . NEWS . . NEWS . . NEWS
Riffs welcomes constant info on gigs, line-up changes and general band associated news.
(Please note that the further down the page, the older the News) 



You can't beat quality pie
The Three Tuns Gateshead hosts its 14th International Pie Festival between 2nd May and 6th May.
Over 2000 pies, 100 varieties including Veggie and Vegan options all served with creamy mash, mushy peas and our special house gravy £3.50.
Live music from Prism Pink Floyd, The Grumpies, Wham Bam Thank You Mam, The Russ Tippins Trio and The Beetles.


--------------------------------------------


'Probably one of the most entertaining
nights I’d had this year'

It was grab-a-granny night down in Houghton Sports & Social on 20th April with a 60s tribute band called FAB gracing the stage (No, I’d never heard of them either). It had been a scorching day so the wife and I headed down there early to re-hydrate ourselves and the car park was filling rapidly. Walking through the doors at 7.30 we got one of the last tables available, clearly some people knew something we didn’t. Bearing in mind we’re both over 60, our presence lowered the average age of the crowd which rather put me off, but I was thirsty and I’d paid my entrance money, so sod it – we stayed.
The band gave a nod to the appearance of the bands of the 60s era with suits, and even ties in the first set, the Hofner violin bass a salute to Paul McCartney and the numerous Beatles tracks scattered through the set. Now the band weren’t the best musicians or singers I’ve heard (but I’ve heard a LOT worse) but they grabbed the crowd by the scruff of the neck and shook them all night long. Any empty space was filled with folk on their feet and dancing almost from the off, tracks from The Beatles, Roy Orbison, The Searchers, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies and Gerry and the Pacemakers with the obligatory Ferry across the Mersey. It was probably one of the most entertaining nights I’d had this year.
If you’re looking for a band to span a big age group or just for a fun party, I can’t recommend these guys highly enough. [PS, my photos turned out crap. I nicked this shot from the band’s Facebook page, I can’t credit the photographer by name, so please excuse the liberty].
The Seaham Silverback

-------------------------------------------------------------------------



CROOKFEST 2019 - MAY 5
Crookfest is a annual may bank holiday rock music festival held in the County Durham market town of Crook with a variety rock styles performed by cover/tribute bands across 3 stages inside large marquees. The event takes place on Sunday 5th May 2019 in the Millfield ground home of Crook Town AFC from noon untill 11pm along with food and beer stalls a-plenty.

www.crookfest.co.uk


Rock Bands... Coda a Tribute to Led Zeppelin, AC/DC-GB, Mane Attraction, Circa69, Tubesnake, Edenthorn.
Punk Reggae Ska... The Marley Experience, The Sex Pistols Experience, Skapones, Panic Report, The Me Mes, The Anarchists. 
Indie Mod 80-90s... Revolver, ZEN, The Baggy Mondays, Deeper Season, The Thieves, Collaborators.

Crook Town AFC  Durham  Tickets £15 @ www.crookfest.co.uk


--------------------------------------------

Tempest in Houghton
I must confess I’ve never been a big fan of artists who use backing tracks -  with the exception of Russ Tippins -  they all seemed to lack the spontaneity of a full line up. So when some friends recommended I go see a duet called Tempest featuring a guy on guitar with backing tracks and a lass on vocals I was hesitant to say the least. I couldn’t have been more wrong; Kaz & Ritchie are 2 of the nicest people you could want to meet and deliver a widely varied set that has never failed to impress.
We went to see Tempest at Houghton Sports & Social club 30th March where a decent crowd were treated to a great night with tracks from Patti Smith, Chris Rea, AC/DC, Blondie & Fleetwood Mac among others. For me, the highlight of the evening was their rendition of the Cranberries “Promises” which emphasised Kaz’s vocals as being the most powerful I’ve heard of any performer of either sex in the North East circuit – not a credit I give lightly and without some thought. In any band, the singer tends to be the focal point of the band and a singer as good as Tempest’s holds the attention, but it shouldn’t detract from Ritchie on guitar who played a storming set as well as taking the vocal lead a couple of times.
The sound was spot on, the band mixed with the audience before, during and after the show, the set list was excellent, having a girl on vocals gives a flexibility that a male based band cannot achieve, I cannot recommend Tempest highly enough, if you get a chance to see them, take it with both hands.
The Seaham Silverback.


-------------------------------------------------------------
Just heard, courtesy of Alan Fizzyfish, that the Ship Inn, Richmond has closed - whether temp or permanent is unknown -  so any bands with a gig there will need to look elsewhere.
---------------------------------------------------------------

The Glendale Rock nights are going down really well, the place was packed and there was a good friendly atmosphere in the place. I’d guess there was 80-ish in, punters were coming in late and leaving as there were no more seats, so the solution is going to be get there early if you intend to go to a gig there. I’ve been following Lock n Load for a couple of years, I first saw them at beer festival since when the line-up has gone through a couple of changes. Dave, the current singer was originally on drums and they had a girl on vocals with legs up to her armpits, I’ve got to say she was easier on the eye than Dave, but Dave’s vocals suit the current set list down to a tee.
Kicking off with “Tie your mother down” they ran through tracks from Whitesnake, AC/DC, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top and Zeppelin in the first set alone. Journey’s “Separate ways” was always going to stretch the old vocal chords and we’ve all heard it murdered on numerous occasions but the band pulled it off like it was another day in the office.
Now I’m regularly accused of being proper OCD about the sound, balance and levels but I couldn’t find fault with any of that from the word go, I was much impressed with the guitar sound in particular that captured Brian May’s tone for the opening Queen number, to Billy Gibbons choppy fuzz, Bryan Adams jangly intro on “Run to you” and Gary Moore’s mournful sustain on “Still got the blues”. All from 1 guitar. Respect.
The band are a mix of ages, so some of the set was written before they were born; now as an aging rocker I applaud this tribute to the music I love, but feel slightly sad that little of any musical value seems to have risen to the top for young bands to play. The second set picked up where the first had finished with a bit of Bon Jovi then the band threw in “Nellie the elephant” to a rapturous greeting before some more Whitesnake, AC/DC, Billy Idol and G&R before finishing the night with “The Hunter” – always gonna go down well in Houghton. A cracking night all round, the band were happy, everybody I spoke to had a great time and the club sold lots of beer. Next up “The Force” on 29th of this month.
The Seaham SIlverback


----------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Hutchinson from South Shields has recently re-joined CLASSIC CLAPTON on keyboards & backing vocals.
He was a member of Animals 2 for 6 years during the 1990s alongside original members Hilton Valentine & John Steel.
Currently he performs with heritage band Animals 3 and also UK Legends. He previously played with Classic Clapton from 2003 - 2005.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like there is yet another change of management and booking agent at The Maggie Bank and all bands booked by the previous team are once again cancelled. If bands think they are playing there they should get in touch with the pub to clarify the situation.

---------------------------------------------------------------
I AIN'T AFRAID OF NO GHOSTS
That little birdie that told Riffs what a crackin' gig awaited anyone partaking of ghostly goings-on at the Glendale last Friday has, we are cock-a-hoop to say, put his money where his mouth is [or should we say 'beak']. He not only popped in to said establishment with some mates but was good enough to write a quick appraisal of the gig and sent it in to Riffs. So, without further ado . . .
'Last Friday we went to see The Ghost Band at Houghton Glendale WMC. For me this was a much anticipated gig, I’d seen them at Philadelphia beer festival last year playing a brief set and I was much impressed by their choice of Blues/Rock and the level of musicianship. Last night built on that first impression as the band ran through tracks from Hendrix, Gary Moore, Jeff Healey, Tom Petty, John Mayall and Free among others. The guys I’d brought with me hadn’t seen the band before and were captivated by the whole show. In fact the entire evening should have been videoed and distributed to all bands in the region; 3 guys who aren’t exactly in the first flush of youth had all their gear brought in, connected and checked in 20 minutes.
The sound check took literally 5 – 10 minutes and was spot on throughout the night. A far cry from other bands I’ve seen recently who spent 75 minutes on a sound check and the sound was shite when they’d done, it took the “sound engineer” all the first set to get it somewhere near, even walking around with an iPad. What’s the point of all those hours of practice if you sound like you’re playing inside a spin dryer? I’m sure we’ve all sat through 45 minutes of fretboard masturbation turned up to 11. Watch the Ghost Band and see how it’s done.
Climbing off my high horse, I can recommend the Ghost Band to anyone who appreciates good music played well with the minimum distraction and gobshitery between numbers.'
The Seaham Silverback.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Just heard from Stormy Phil that the Ship Inn at Benton is now closed.

-------------------------------------------------------------


NURSES TO WALK THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
As someone who has seen first-hand the absolutely wonderful and caring work our beloved Nurses do (and the amount of piss that Hunt Jeremy takes) I have no hesitation in giving a big shout out to the Valentines Night gig at The Alexandra in Grangetown, Sunderland.

The palliative care nurses working in St Benedicts Hospice in Sunderland are walking the Great Wall of China - yes, they are going to walk along the Great Wall of China!!) to raise funds for St Benedicts Hospice Charity.

Tickets are £6 available from The Alex, the Hospice or just turn up on the night and splash cash on the door. Please pop along and help these wonderful people - oh, nearly forgot - there's a jam-packed evening of live music too!!!
The Wolcott Band
Exit Left
Joanne Wallace
Steve Ayther


----------------------------------------------------------------
GHOSTS AT THE GLENDALE
A little birdie tells Riffs what a cracking little venue Glendale Social Club in Houghton le Spring is, and what a great night it should be this Friday when The Ghost Band take to the stage. Birdie Dave goes on to say: 'The club have bands on every 2nd & 4th Friday of the month. Normally no cover charge, cheap beer and a nice clean club with loads of free parking. It’s on the bus route too for those who use public transport although I’m not sure what time the local buses stop running. I’m just an interested punter and have nothing to do with the club, but I like to encourage and support anyone who is prepared to get stuck in.'


----------------------------------------------------------------
CONSPIRACY TO ROCK

If you like your rock of the hard and heavy variety check out Conspiracy Theory; a new band making inroads into the north east rock and metal scene. If you’re a bit tired of seeing too many rock bands playing the same old stuff, CT’s intention is to do the songs that no-one else does. And that doesn’t mean obscure material you’ve never heard of, if you’re into rock and metal you’ll know everything they do. From Rainbow to Dio, Whitesnake to Purple, Maiden to Priest, Uriah Heep to Rush or the guitar greats such as Schenker or Moore, you won’t forget them in a hurry. With stellar musicianship from highly experienced players having cut their teeth in bands such as PowerAge, Ministry of Rock, Black Rose and On The Rocks you’re bound to have a night to remember. You can catch them at Trillians, Newcastle on Friday 22nd February, The Penny Gill, Spennymoor Sunday 3rd March, Acklam Steelies Club, Middlesbrough Saturday 9th March or the Big Jug, Durham on Friday 15th March.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOYS IN ACTION . . .
One of the most enjoyable things I like to do is to announce the birth of a new band, and if they are a Rock band with pedigree then space on Riffs is a must. So without further ado let me announce . . .
STARZ, who are a new rock covers band and include three of the north east's top musicians who have decided to play some songs that were a little different from 'the usual stuff'. The band features members from bands such as Pistoleros, Bryan Adams Experience, Black Rose (not the TL one), The Paul Rodgers Story, Stoneheart, American Girl to name a few and are all well known throughout the north east for putting on a great show. The set list includes classic and modern punk rock (Sex Pistols/Green Day etc), glam rock (T Rex / Bowie etc), heavy rock (Motley Crue / Marilyn Manson etc) soft rock (Van Halen / The Cult etc) pop (Dead or Alive / Kinks etc) plus plenty of great songs for those that want to dance and some surprises including rock versions of songs by Gary Numan and the Bee Gees.
The band start gigging this month and you can check them out here -
Sunday 13th - Vigilant Inn, South Shields (7pm)
Saturday 19th - Holey Molies, Skelton, Teesside
Sunday 20th - Times Inn, Seaham
Thursday 31st - Osbournes, Yarm
The full list of all Starz gigs are on Riffs Gig Listings page, but for more info about the band go to http:www.starzrock.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------



Riding On The Crest Of The New Wave fitted no-one better than Lene Lovich who this year is celebrating the 40th anniversary of ‘Stateless’, her debut album, featuring cult hit 'Lucky Number' by touring the UK in March 2019 and is set to appear at Newcastle Riverside on the 8th of March. The song was originally a 'b' side to 'I Think We're Alone Now' but was reissued as an 'a' side by Stiff in '79. Before joining Stiff Records (The Damned, Devo, Ian Dury, etc), her early work included performing in cabaret clubs as a London go-go dancer, voice-over work recording screams for Hammer Film Productions, and being the lyricist for French disco artist Marc Cerrone (including penning the sci-fi dance hit ‘Supernature’). Riffs has no further details regarding the gig as yet.....
Now let's see if I can still fit into my old 'If It Ain't Stiff . . .' t-shirt....

--------------------------------------------------------------
Just had a heads up regarding The Magnesia Bank in North Shields; it appears the booking of the bands is now being undertaken by someone anew; and the usual confusion has ensued, so it is most advisable that any band who thinks they have a booking at that venue to double check asap.

-------------------------------------------------------------
One of the top AC/DC tribute bands that are on offer to the good people of the North-East is surely Livewire. They are getting a great reputation for their annual shindig at Blackhall Colliery Community Centre in Hartlepool and they have just announced this year's gig - Saturday, Feb 23. It is a stunning venue with two bars and easy free parking. The band have purposely kept the price the same as last year and also hope to keep the same 300 capacity. Tickets on sale now £15 from ents24.com  or  07841 033579. The pic above is from last year's gig at the Centre.

-------------------------------------------------
It's always a breath of fresh air to hear what other people think of the bands that we have featured, not only in our very own Riffs reviews, but also regularly in our listings. And one of the great stalwarts of the Rock brigade is the good ol' trusted and reliable Rock Solid. Good friend of Riffs Dave Fulton was kind enough to pen his thoughts on the gig by that very band on Boxing Day so, without further ado, here is said review:

If it’s Boxing Day, then Rock Solid must be playing in Houghton. In a tradition that started in the old Buffs club in Houghton (now a Wetherspoons) probably 12 years ago or more, the Solids have played to broadly the same crowd of fans of proper Rock in a friendly setting; this year in Houghton Sport & Social club. Originally advertised as a civilised alternative to turkey sandwiches with the in-laws it continues to draw a good crowd and this year was no exception. Kicking off with “Tie your mother down” and running through a compendium of 70s & 80s hard Rock, the band played new stuff by Saxon & Maiden along with perennial favourites by Priest, Rainbow, Ozzy, Purple and AC/DC. Playing as tight as I’ve heard them, this was no nonsense Rock with well-balanced sound and an easy rapport with their audience. How many times have you gone to listen to a band and they throw something into the set and you think to yourself “Lord, it’s years since I heard this” then you go home and dig out the vinyl or raid the Pirate Bay and re-acquaint yourself with the stuff? Saxon’s “Frozen Rainbow” did that for me, and Priest’s cover of “Diamonds & Rust” was another. How fortunate we are to have such a back catalogue of classic music to listen to, and bands like Rock Solid who dig them out, rehearse them and serve them up for our continued delight. Long may it continue; catch the Solids again on Good Friday, 19th April in Houghton Sports & Social.
Dave

(we have used an old pic of Rock Solid so many many apologies to the band if the line up has in any way changed)
-----------------------------------------------------
Coming to the Hartlepool Supporters Club on Saturday Jan 5 is The Sean Webster Band and our very own local lad Russ Tippins. Russ is a legend around the North-East - and no doubt further afield - with his ability to coax Metal mayhem from his guitar one minute and soulful soothings the next. He can fit into a Rock crowd with ease and yet his intimate acoustic evenings are a joy to behold. Worth the ticket price alone in our opinion; but for those who would like to know a bit more about the headliners, here are a few snippets of what has been said about the Sean Webster Band;
"The resultant impression I am left with is a really superb album that manages to effortlessly straddle the divide between Blues and high quality AOR, interspersed with splashes of Soul and Country."
NIGEL FOSTER - The Blues Foundation
"Loving the album. I'll play loads of tracks on my radio show over the coming weeks."
PAUL LONG - Blues and Roots Connections
"If you like a bit of bluesy soulfulness, delivered with conviction and great musicianship, Leave Your Heart At Door will surely fit the bill. Just keep the Kleenex handy". 
IAIN CAMERON - Blues Enthused
" I had a lovely day with this Sean, such a breath of fresh air "
JON ASTLEY - Close To The Edge Mastering

Tickets £15 / 17 from ents24
---------------------------------------

This Machine are back on the map with a new website, Facebook page and also a new addition to their line up.
Recently joining the band is Paul Richardson, some of you may know him from Black Rose, Slip of the Tongue, Destroyer and also doing a mean Eddie Van Hailen in top tribute band Van Hailen UK. 
Paul joins the familiar line up of Norman, Tony, Le Sequel and the Hamster of Doom to make This Machine a 5 piece again. Check out their revamped Facebook and website (featuring blogs, videos and everything else) at
www.thismachinerock.com 
www.facebòok.com/thismachinerocks
To get a taste of the new line up then watch the band live  HERE
Last few gigs of the year are
14th Dec  Peterlee Central Club 
15th Dec  The Turbinia, Newton Aycliffe 
22nd Dec  The Fat Ox, Whitley Bay (special Christmas Show)
28th Dec  The market Tavern, Bedlington
30th Dec  The Queens Head, Cullercoats

-------------------------------------------------------------
Very late change for tonight (Friday 7th) at the Blacksmiths Arms, Gosforth High Street as The Whole Hog were unable to make the gig so facilitated their replacement, who are Skullduggery who will take their place.

----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next review to be uploaded that was done back in 2008 will be - hopefully - The Kicks



--------------------------------------------------------------
'Ere's one for ya; this review from back in 2008 (I think!) is of Wild Rumours and was penned by Riffs' Val . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------




Don't know who these guys are - any idea anyone?

--------------------------------------------

Michelle Davies from Usworth and Washington Gardeners Club has contacted Riffs with gratitude not only for our support, but also for the support of all you local lads and lasses who gave so generously - the club raised a mighty £1600 in aid of Help For Heroes recently. Well done all you Usworth and Washington peeps!!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------

Neon Nights.

-----------------------------------------------

ALICE COOPER'S NIGHTMARE:
Alice in Sunderland The Mad Coopers Tea Party; Sunday November 18th 3.00pm

The Alexandra Grangetown Sunderland, Tickets £10.

A unique opportunity to join the band up close and personal; we will be performing all the Cooper greats with all the usual theatrics and then join us for tea.....err Cooper style :-)

There will be restricted tickets sales available but you can pre book with the band through our FB page and limited tickets available from The Alexandra and St Benedicts.

So please come and join us supporting St Benedicts.




------------------------------------------------------------
If you can stop laughing long enough . . . anybody have an idea of who this band is?
------------------------------------------------------
yeah, I know this is not music-related but . . . this is horrific, horrific stuff......

Dozens of heavily-armed hunters rode into a national park in Cameroon, butchered over 600 majestic elephants, then hacked off their faces for their tusks. Poachers have annihilated half of central Africa’s last elephants. And no one's been able to stop them.
Until now!
Brave investigators have gone undercover in poaching rings in ten African countries, and already more than 2,000 traffickers have been jailed!
It’s awe-inspiring stuff, and it’s won awards, but many funders are wary of going head-to-head with organised crime. We may be the best community to scale this extraordinary operation, fast.
Four elephants are killed an hour -- it’s a race against time before we lose these gentle giants forever. But if we each give now, this team can expand to more countries, lock up more kingpins and complicit officials -- and we can ramp up campaigning to protect these beautiful creatures and all of our vulnerable natural world.
Please log in to - Avaaz.org and give a few quid.
If you wish to donate immediately (as Riffs did) then go direct to the donation page
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/hunt_the_hunters_redux_loc

------------------------------------------------------------
Another review from 2008 here, this one at The Three Tuns in Gateshead featuring punk stalwarts The Janitors - courtesy of Riffs' Val.



------------------------------------------------------------






------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------

                       

-------------------------------------------------------------
MEGA ROCK SATURDAY AT THE QUEEN VIC
Shame we were told about this gig only today (Monday) as we could have given you much more info than the poster. However, we can't. Oh, we do know it's for charity - but not which one! It was only thanks to Paul from Millennium that we have this info. And it's for this Saturday (13th) from 1pm till midnight.
NB: If you are putting on a gig that includes Rock or Metal and you would like publicity then tell us about it well in advance and we will do just that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We now host a review of Last Minute, written in July of - we think - 2008. We are reasonably sure the band is still gigging to this day (please get in touch lads if you are).
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just heard from Alan Fizzyfish concerning The Royal in Stanley, seems they are all at sixes and sevens with their booking diary - best double check if you reckon you have a gig with them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, don't know about anyone else, but I've had a good ol' earful of Zeppelin this month (Zeptember) - and I mean that in a good way - cos I don't think there was a track up to Presence that I have not only not listened to, but re-downloaded in FLAC format. I realised initially listening to Motorhead by Motorhead off Motorhead that Mp3 just doesn't do it - not on 11 with quality digital headphones it certainly doesn't and I understand, I believe, I do sort of get the impression, that dear ol' Lemmy would sort of appreciate me hurtin mesel like, not far off pain. Tinnitus is the price for all that Rock and Metal; and I wouldn't change a damn thing. But back to Zep. Great band, and poor Plant has had some bad times in his life (yeah, and some good times). That first album, just don't get sick of it, every time I listen it's like the first time. Recorded for less than sixpence, and the lads were positively gushing with enthusiasm and skill. Those first few albums were truly inspirational and I just don't see how I could have enjoyed my youth without them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
The brilliant Baz Warne fails at Elvis impression
Well, being a lazy scrote of late I have not added any reviews from way back, and as more than a few people (wonder how many 'more' is, first off you need to guess how many a 'few' is, then guage how many 'more' is, then add them. I guess) have said they liked them, even though one person said "I don't see the point in hosting reviews from all those years ago". But, when you think about it, everything is in the past - it just depends how far back you want to go.  Mmmm, anyway, this review (from Queen of cleavage) is of the always-brilliant Baz Warne.....Not too sure the date but I guess could be 2008.....



---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, credit where credit is due and we have just heard of another bunch of selfless musicians who are giving of their time - and of course, most importantly, skills - to support a very much needed local charity. When the lads found out the Activity Den in Stanley was in dire need of some help, it didn't take long for them to step forward with the unanimous shout "Here we are - and we're ready to Rock". So it is that The Straits UK are giving of their best on Friday October 19 at the Angel Inn, Durham. Some local support would be, to say the least, most appreciated . . . Oh, and if you are in a generous mood, there will be donations on the door.; please, don't be an old stinge.


-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Upon us all a little rain must fall"
"Just a big big thank you from me and the boys from Big River for running our FOC Charity Fundraiser ad. The day was a great success and we raised over £1500 for Prostate Cancer UK. We had some great performers and a vast array of volunteers to make the day the success it was.
We are hoping to make it an annual event so once again thanks guys".

----------------------------------------------------
SO WHAT TIME IS YOUR BAND DUE ON - REALLY?
Call me a finnicky fuckpig, but if your gig intends to start around nine, please (and I don't really mean that 'please') do not list your gig as starting any earlier. It really boils my piss. Geddit?
Harks back to the night I was really really poorly (oh yes, we're talking proper Man Flu here) but I also really really (there just has to be another word for 'really', there really must) wanted to see the band. They advertised an 8.30pm start time so, being a punctual little twat, I got there dead on 8.30pm. Forego the usual JD and bought a very week orange and lemonade (eat your heart out Lemmy) and anticipated an iminent appearance . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . till at 9pm the band took to the stage (a full eight hours later by my flu-powered watch). So you can see why now it gets on my proverbial tits when a band or venue basically lies about what time the band is due on stage just to, presumably, get the punters to buy more drinks. Don't get me wrong, I can't STOP you doing it - but at Riffs (and of course at no other avenue in my life) I am in charge. So just see where it gets you. Oh, and while I'm on can we have a big cheer . . . well, I'm waiting . . . for Paul Tuns in Gateshead who has no qualms about being totally honest (does anyone remember honesty? - another dying virtue) and advertises his bands starting at 9.15.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Mick from Overdrive has contacted Riffs with the following info:
'Looks like The Royal in Stanley have gone to last Saturday of the month for bands. Just been in touch on FB so would advise any bands booked there to do the same. Heard a few stories so this might clear things up. New management there so would be good to keep this venue going.'

----------------------------------------------------------
Riffs has just received an update to the Borderland gig on Sat Oct 13:
Please note admission to this event is by ADVANCE TICKETs ONLY. Anyone interested in booking tickets please contact David Snaith on 07789 774027 NO LATER than Weds 10th Oct. The venue has specified that no tickets can be available on the door. Many thanks for your understanding.
No doubt by now those Borderland guys will be saying: "where's our fuckin' advert you promised you lying Riffs shits?" And, y'know, I wouldn't blame them, but you gotta believe, ya just gotta believe that I am pretty busy and I do take my time over some ads to get it right (well, what I consider right anyway) and, after a few days, and with the picture Borderland supplied, the ad is now unveiled today -  ta-dah.......... [always have some rock blasting in my headphones when on my pootah, and just finishishing this ad for Borderland's charity gig while listening to . . . Bowie's 'Heroes' - now how apt is that?!!]. Here's the ad.....
Mind you, looking at that oh-so-sweet cutie in the pic, I just can't imagine her saying "fuckin'".
Although . . .
------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Riffs is just getting a sniff of a very interesting Queen tribute appearing at the Benedictine Social Club Cramlington on Friday 9th Nov.
They are going under the name Qween and include some very accomplished musicians.
Tickets not yet on sale but we understand them to be around the six pound mark.
More as we get it . . . tap, tap, tap, tap,.............









-------------------------------------------------------
BORDERLAND IS NOT A UFO TRIBUTE
Funny ol' day. Feel pissed on these painkillers, can hardly type properly and am missing out gigs. Shit, roll on op. Anyway, time to embarrass those Borderland chaps cos have just typed in to October listings not one but TWO charity gigs they are undertaking that month. Well done guys - wish there was something we can give you - hey shit man there is - a boxed advert free of charge for one whole month for whatever gig you want is totally yours. That do ya?!! (hope so cos we have fuck all else).

------------------------------------------
And if ya wanna hear some Zep then Stormy Monday (pic) on the 20th and 28th at the Black Bull Morpeth and the Star Inn Newcastle respectively should do you proud.

-------------------------------------------------------------

DANCING DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
Well, it's Zeptember and, along with Planet Rock, we are celebrating in the way which only we can: Every band that plays any Zep songs in their set will be allowed to have their gig listing highlighted in the special Zeptember colour (I know, we couldn't believe it ourselves!). But, as Riffs psychic abilities are absolute zero, you must let us know what Zep tracks you play and then we will highlight your gig............And you may have noticed that the month - Zeptember if we haven't already mentioned it - culminates in a mega double bill with AC/DC GB along with Dizzy Lizzy. Just a tenner at Shildon Civic Hall. And not sure why we mentioned that cos it's nothing to do with Zep. Could be these strong painkillers which have a weird side-effect of making one feel very very drunk.

-------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to 'Gerry' who points out our pics on the Index page are of Rattlesnake Road and features a good pal of his playing Bass and singing. His name is Stu Burlison and he is currently playing bass with the fabulous George Shovlin’ and the Radars he is also bassist / vocalist in Skullduggery along with Fred Purvis. Stu is very well known and has also played with top bands Messenger, Brass Alley and Under the Radar.

ROCK n ROLL TRAIN STEAMS INTO SHILDON

Fans of AC/DC and Thin Lizzy are in line for a special night when two of the countries best tribute bands play at Shildon Civic Hall on Saturday 29th September.
AC/DC GB and DIZZY LIZZY will take to the stage to perform all the well known classic tracks these two great rock bands have recorded over the years.
DIZZY LIZZY, who hail from Birmingham, have been praised by none other than Phil Lynott's own mum, Philomena, saying “these boys are the closest tribute to playing my sons music!” Enough said!
From Rosalie and The Boys are Back in Town, to Waiting for an Alibi and Emmerald, DIZZY LIZZY bring the iconic twin guitar harmony sound of Thin Lizzy back to life and deliver a performance the great man himself would be proud of.
AC/DC GB, from the North East of England themselves, are highly regarded as one of the most authentic tributes to the legendary Aussie rockers “AC/DC” around. Years of dedication and their meticulous attention to detail have ensured their shows are as close to a real DC gig as it is possible to get.
From the rasping vocals of Jono, to the neck wringing, duck walking energy of Angus; the wall of Marshalls, to the replica cannons..........be prepared for an outstanding night of hard hitting rock!
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK.......WE SALUTE YOU!!
Tickets £10 on the night.    Doors open 19:00hrs.        Show 19:45hrs
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DIPTON MUSIC FESTIVAL

One day Music festival outside in the car park of The New Plough Dipton on Sunday 26th August from 1pm through until 9.30ish the line up as follows;

Scott Kiers 1.10pm to 2..00pm 50mins
Sofi Johnson                   2.05pm to 2.55pm 50mins
Blue Diamond Duo          3.05pm to 4.05pm 60 mins
Fire Lady Luck Band       4.25pm to 5.40pm 75mins
White Feathers duo        5.55pm to 6.55pm 60 mins
The Pretty Weeds Band  7.30pm to 8.50pm 80mins

Here is a link to the New Plough facebook page      https://www.facebook.com/TheNewPlough/
CHANGES AFOOT AT GATESHEAD'S
MOST ROCKIN' PUB
If you are planning on going to the Three Tuns in Gateshead this weekend - and shame on you if you are not! - then please double check our Listings page as there have been a couple of changes.
We are bang up to date as we get all our info straight from Paul Tuns so be assured what you see on our Listings page is defo what is on.





--------------------------------------------------

ROCK SOLID RELEASE PROMO VIDEO
Great to hear from those solid rocksters featured on our Index page. By way of an update, the band is still going strong and coincidentally have just produced a short promo video filmed at ‘The Office’ now the Queen Vic.This is the link and Riffs urges you - and any other wannabee North-East Rock bands - to check them out on this stunning video - HERE
They are currently taking bookings for 2019, but people can see them over the next few weeks at the following venues:
Sunday 19th Aug - The Crook Hotel, (4pm)
Saturday 25th Aug - The Pelaw Inn
Sunday 26th Aug - The Mallard, Seaham (6pm)
Friday 31st Aug - The Penny Gill, Spennymoor
Saturday 1st September- The Mill House, Crook

Of course all of these dates are in Riffs Listings page.

------------------------------------------------------------






---------------------------------------------------

HAT-TRICK FOR FLYING Vs AT ASHCON 2018
 

-------------------------------------------------------

NEWS JUST IN . . . Rising Sun in Crawcrook has been taken over and cancelled all bands,
------------------------------------------------------------
Just heard that The Market Tavern in Chester le Street has cancelled all bands. Dave from Rockers FM tells us: 'I have received a text from the management of the Market Tavern in Chester le street that the new company no longer will have bands on. We were booked to play there this Friday so presumably all bands forthwith will receive the same message.  Cheers Dave'

---------------------------------------------------------------
ROCK AND METAL OVERLOAD AT HARTLEPOOL
I know only too well the lack of heavy Rock and Metal bands that play at the clubs - and often you have to suffer bingo between the bands - yes, believe it!!

So how cockahoop are we here at Riffs to be able to shout about a Heavy Metal and Rock gig at Hartlepool Supporters Club coming up Saturday Sep 16. It features heavier than hell tribute BLAKK SABBATH, supporting Newcastle-based RIFF RAFF.

A nice big stage - just gagging at the bit to hold up those Marshall stacks. And what an intro do Blakk Sabbath have!!!

The lads know how to tease and that long intro just shows how much thought these lads have put into their live show. Just check out this youtube video: HERE.

Tickets are just £8 / £10 available from ents24 (soz, but you'll need to pay that dreaded 'booking fee'!!)

FACTOID: At the end of the song ‘A Day In The Life’ on The Beatles Sgt Pepper’s album there is an ultrasonic whistle which can be heard only by dogs..

This week in . . .
1979 - The Police made their debut on Top Of The Pops performing 'Roxanne'. The single which was taken from their album Outlandos d'Amour was written from the point-of-view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute.

1980 - Stranglers singer, guitarist Hugh Cornwell was released from a London prison after serving six weeks for possession of drugs.

1990 - The Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix played at the Woodstock festival was auctioned off for a record $295,000. His two-hour set at the 1969 festival became the longest of his career.

2007 - During The Rolling Stones current world tour, aides to George Bush were told they couldn’t book a luxury five star hotel suite because Mick Jagger had already booked it. Jagger had splashed out £3,600 a night for the suite at the five-star Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Austria, in advance of the band's appearance there. Prior to the attempted booking, US Secret Service agents had already vetted the hotel, but to no avail.

2007 - American singer Bobby "Boris" Pickett died of leukaemia at the age of 69. Scored the Halloween anthem 'The Monster Mash' in 1962. The song had been banned by The BBC in the UK, deemed offensive and wasn't a hit until 1973. It was a spoof on the dance crazes popular at the time, including the Twist and the Mashed Potato.

1966 - 'Wild Thing' by The Troggs (who were originally called The Troglodytes) was released in the U.S. on both the Atco and Fontana labels. The song went on to reach No.1. Fronted by Reg Presley, 'Wild Thing' became a major influence on garage rock and punk rock.

1972 - Deep Purple scored their second UK No.1 album with Machine Head. The album which features 'Smoke on the Water' and 'Highway Star', is often cited as a major influence in the early development of the heavy metal music genre and commercially, it was Deep Purple's most successful album.

1977 - The Jam released their first single 'In The City', which peaked at No. 40 in the UK charts. The English punk rock/mod revival formed in Woking, fronted by Paul Weller, achieved 17 other Top 40 hits including four UK No.1s.

Week commencing April 15
1957 - Goldband Records released 'Puppy Love' by a 13-year old Dolly Parton in the US, a song that was recorded two years earlier when she was just eleven years old. The song didn't chart (later to be a hit for Donny Osmond).

1968 - Deep Purple made their live debut at a gig in Tastrup, Denmark. Formerly known as Roundabout, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore suggested a new name: Deep Purple, named after his grandmother's favourite song (which had been a hit for Peter De Rose), after his grandmother had repeatedly asked if they would be performing the song.

1979 - Lighting director Billy Duffy was killed in an accident during a Kate Bush concert in Southampton. 21-year old Duffy fell twenty feet through an open trap door on the stage. Kate Bush held a benefit concert on 12th May with Peter Gabriel and Steve Harley at London's Hammersmith Odeon for his family.

1981 - John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to drug possession charges; the sentence was suspended after 30 days. Phillips started touring the US lecturing against the dangers of taking drugs.

1991 - Steve Marriott leader of Small Faces and Humble Pie, died in a fire at his home in Essex. His work became a major influence for many 90s bands. Small Faces had the 1967 UK No.3 & US No.16 single 'Itchycoo Park', plus 1968 No.1 UK album 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake', Humble Pie, 1969 UK No.4 single 'Natural Born Bugie'. As a child actor he played parts in Dixon of Dock Green and The Artful Dodger in Oliver.

1992 - 'A Concert For Life' took place at Wembley Stadium as a tribute to Queen singer Freddie Mercury and for aids awareness. Acts appearing included; Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), David Bowie, Mick Ronson, James Hetfield, George Michael, Seal, Paul Young, Annie Lennox, Lisa Stansfield, Robert Plant, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen, Axl Rose and Slash.

2001 - A memorial concert for former Small Faces and Humble Pie front man Steve Marriott took place at the London Astoria with Peter Frampton, Midge Ure, Chris Farlowe and Humble Pie.

1964 - The Rolling Stones first album was released in the UK, it went to No.1 two weeks later and stayed on the chart for 40 weeks, with 11 weeks at No.1. The American edition of the LP, with a slightly different track list, came out on London Records on 30 May 1964, subtitled England's Newest Hit Makers, which later became its official title.

1970 - The Led Zeppelin single 'Whole Lotta Love' was certified Gold in the US after selling over a million copies. The single had peaked at No. 4 on the US singles chart. In the UK, Atlantic Records had expected to issue the edited version themselves, and pressed initial copies for release on 5th December 1969. However, band manager Peter Grant was adamant that the band maintain a 'no-singles' approach to marketing their recorded music in the UK, and he halted the release.

1972 - The Electric Light Orchestra made their debut at The Fox and Greyhound in Croydon. ELO were formed to accommodate former Move members Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. Wood departed following the band's debut record (and soon after formed Wizard), Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album.

1996 - KISS appeared in full make-up at the 38th Grammy Awards, where they announced a reunion tour. It would mark the first time all four members had appeared together in over fifteen years.

1999 - Skip Spence, an original member of Jefferson Airplane and founding member of Moby Grape, died of lung cancer in a San Francisco hospital aged 52. He had battled schizophrenia and alcoholism.

1967 - Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck all appeared at the The Odeon, Blackpool, tickets cost 5 and 10 shillings.

1975 - Former Allman Brothers tour manager John Herring was sentenced to 75 years jail for drug trafficking.

1978 - Television were forced to postpone their gig at Bristol's Colston Hall after the 40 foot truck carrying their equipment was involved in a crash killing the driver.

2001 - Punk pioneer Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman) singer of the Ramones died after losing a long battle with lymphatic cancer aged 49. On November 30, 2003, a block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place.

Week commencing April 8
1954 - Bill Haley recorded 'Rock Around the Clock' at Pythian Temple studios in New York City. Considered by many to be the song that put rock and roll on the map around the world. The song was used over the opening titles for the film 'Blackboard Jungle', and went on to be a world-wide No.1 and the biggest selling pop single with sales over 25 million. Written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, 'Rock Around The Clock' was first recorded by Italian-American band Sonny Dae and His Knights.

1957 - The 'King of Skiffle' Lonnie Donegan was at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Cumberland Gap.' The Scottish musician was a former member of Chris Barber's Jazz Band.

1966 - Jan Berry (Jan and Dean) was almost killed when he crashed his car into a parked truck a short distance from Dead Man's Curve in Los Angeles. Berry was partially paralysed and suffered brain damage but was able to walk again after extensive therapy.

1967 - Mick Jagger was punched in the face by an airport official during a row at Le Bourget Airport in France. Jagger lost his temper after The Stones were being searched for drugs resulting in them missing their flight.

1968 - Pink Floyd released their fourth single 'It Would Be So Nice', written by Richard Wright with Roger Waters' 'Julia Dream' on the B-side. Pink Floyd were on tour in Europe on this day, and played their second night at the Piper Club, in Rome.

1975 - During an interview with Playboy Magazine, David Bowie announced his second career retirement, saying 'I've rocked my roll. It's a boring dead end, there will be no more rock 'n' roll records from me. The last thing I want to be is some useless f—ing rock singer.'

2016 - A US court ruled that Led Zeppelin founders Robert Plant and Jimmy Page must face trial in a copyright row over the song 'Stairway to Heaven'. The copyright infringement action had been brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, who played on the same bill as Led Zeppelin in the 1960s, and claimed he should be given a writing credit on the track.

1969 - Bob Dylan released his ninth studio album Nashville Skyline, which embraced country music. With liner notes by Johnny Cash (who also appeared on the record), at the time of release it was dismissed by some critics as lightweight, but included 'Lay, Lady, Lay', a major hit single for Dylan. The album also gave Dylan his fourth UK No.1 album.

1973 - Newly signed to EMI Records, Queen played a showcase gig for their new record label at the The Marquee London.

1983 - David Bowie was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the title track from his latest album 'Let's Dance', his fourth UK No.1 and featuring blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. The song introduced Bowie to a new, younger audience oblivious to his former career in the 1970s and was a US No.1 hit, Bowie’s first single to reach number one on both sides of the Atlantic.

1988 - Dave Prater of soul duo Sam & Dave was killed when his car left the road and hit a tree in Syracuse, Georgia, on his way to his mother's house in Ocilla. He was 50. Recorded for Stax Records from 1965 - 1968, hits included 'Soul Man' and 'Hold On, I'm Coming.'

1991 - Record producer Martin Hannett died. He worked with many Manchester acts including The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Magazine as well as U2 and The Psychedelic Furs.

2004 - Motley Crue singer Vince Neil pleaded no contest to battery charges after accusations that he assaulted a sex worker at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch (a legal, licensed brothel in Mound House, Nevada), by grabbing the woman around the throat and throwing her against a wall. Neil was sentenced to a 30-day jail suspension, 60 days anger management, and was fined $1,000.

2009 - Bay City Rollers manager Tam Paton died in the bath at his Edinburgh home of a suspected heart attack. The 70-year-old, who had suffered two previous heart attacks and a stroke in recent years, was found dead in his luxury mansion. Paton had made millions through the success of the band in the 1970s, but was a far more controversial figure in recent years. He was convicted of sex offences against two boys aged 16 and 17 in 1982, and was convicted of drug dealing in 2004 after £26,000 worth of cannabis was found at his home, but was cleared on appeal.

Week commencing April 1
FACTOID: After seeing Marvin Gaye’s collection of pornography, writer David Ritz suggested that Gaye needed some "sexual healing". The two later collaborated on some lyrics which went into the hit song, but Ritz was not given any writing credit. After Gaye died, Ritz successfully sued.

1961 - The Marcels started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Rodgers and Heart song 'Blue Moon', also a No.1 in the UK.

1964 - Bob Dylan made his first appearance on the UK charts with 'The Times They Are A-Changin''. Dylan wrote the song as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change for the time. In January 1984, a young Steve Jobs recited the second verse of 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' in his opening of the 1984 Apple shareholders meeting, where he famously unveiled the Macintosh computer for the first time.

1971 - The Temptations scored their second US No.1 with 'Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)'. The track is considered one of the Temptations' signature songs, and is notable for recalling the sound of the group's 1960s recordings. It is also the final Temptations single to feature founding members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.

1975 - Steve Miller was charged with setting fire to the clothes of a friend, Benita Diorio. When police arrived at Miller's house, Diorio was putting out the flames, Miller then got into a fight with some of the policemen and was charged with resisting arrest.

1976 - A then-unknown Sex Pistols opened for The 101ers at The Nashville Rooms in London. The 101ers were a pub rock band, notable as being the band that Joe Strummer left to join The Clash.

2003 - Stax records songwriter Homer Banks died aged 61. Wrote 'I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down', recorded by Sam & Dave and a UK hit for Elvis Costello. Rod Stewart, The Emotions, Isaac Hayes, Millie Jackson and Johnny Taylor all covered his songs.

2006 - Founder member and original drummer for The Wonder Stuff, Martin Gilks died aged 41, after losing control of his motorbike in London. Gilks was voted the best drummer on the planet in an NME poll in 1989.

2015 - Bob Burns, the American drummer who was in the original line-up of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd died in a car crash in Georgia when his car struck a mailbox and a tree with the front of the vehicle. Burns was the only occupant of the car and was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He appeared on the band's 'Sweet Home Alabama,' 'Gimme Three Steps' and 'Free Bird.'

1965 - The Who recorded an appearance for Top Of The Pops at the Manchester television studio. The band then played a gig supporting Donovan at The Town Hall, Wembley, with Rod Stewart and the Soul Agents appearing on the bill.

1966 - Pye Records released David Bowie's first solo single, 'Do Anything You Say'. Despite featuring Bowie’s backing band at the time, The Buzz, the single was to be the first simply credited to David Bowie (which failed to chart). Bowie had previously recorded as David Jones and The Lower Third.

1966 - The Troggs recorded 'Wild Thing' at Regent Sound Studio in London. The song went on to be a No.1 US and No.2 UK hit in June the following year. The track was recorded in one complete take (take two).

1969 - The Beach Boys announced they were suing their record label Capitol for $2m in unpaid royalties.

1970 - Earls Court in London received over one million postal ticket applications for The Rolling Stones forthcoming six concerts as part of the group's European tour.

1976 - Making their live debut in the UK, AC/DC played at The Red Cow in Hammersmith, London.

1976 - The Buzzcocks played their debut live gig when the appeared at Bolton Institute Of Technology. The power was turned off after three numbers.

1985 - David Lee Roth quit Van Halen shortly after releasing his version of The Beach Boys 'California Girls' (which featured Carl Wilson on background vocals). He was replaced by Sammy Hagar later in the year.

2015 - Cynthia Lennon, first wife of The Beatles' John Lennon died at her home in Spain following a short battle with cancer. At the height of The Beatles' early success she was, at the insistence of the band's management, kept in the background so their legions of female fans were not aware of her existence. The couple divorced in 1968 after Cynthia discovered her husband's affair with Yoko Ono.

Week commencing March 25
1949 - RCA Victor introduced the 45rpm single record, which had been in development since 1940. The 7-inch disc was designed to compete with the Long Playing record introduced by Columbia a year earlier. Both formats offered better fidelity and longer playing time than the 78rpm record that was currently in use. Advertisements for new record players boasted that with 45rpm records, the listener could hear up to ten records with speedy, silent, hardly noticeable changes.

1958 - Chuck Berry's rock 'n' roll classic 'Johnny B. Goode' single was released. It entered the US charts six weeks later and peaked at No.8 on the chart. The song's original lyrics referred to Johnny as a 'colored boy', but Berry later acknowledged that he changed it to 'country boy' to ensure radio play.

1967 - Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar live on stage for the first time when he was appearing at The Astoria in London. It was the first night of a 24-date tour with The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdink. The Fender Stratocaster burned on stage by Hendrix sold for £280,000 at a 2008 London auction of rock memorabilia.

1976 - Led Zeppelin released Presence, their seventh studio album, on their own Swan Song Records in the UK. Presence has now been certified 3 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 3 million copies.

1995 - Jimmy Page escaped being knifed when a fan rushed the stage at a Page and Plant gig at Auburn Hills, Michigan. The fan was stopped by two security guards who he knifed instead. After his arrest he told police that he wanted to kill Jimmy Page because of the Satanic music he was playing.

2011 - Australian band Men at Work lost an appeal against a ruling which found their 1983 hit single 'Down Under' was partly copied from a folk song. Australia's Federal Court upheld the decision which stated part of the song's melody came from the tune Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree. Record label EMI argued the writers did not plagiarise because the inclusion of two bars from the tune was a tribute.

1964 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Andrew Oldham attended a Decca launch party at the Ex-Serviceman’s Club, Windsor, for Oldham's protégé singer Adrienne Posta, whose debut single, 'Shang-A-Doo-Lang' was being released. Also at the party was 17 year-old Marianne Faithfull, with her boyfriend John Dunbar. This was the first time Mick Jagger met Marianne.

1966 - During a UK tour, Roy Orbison fell off a motorbike while scrambling at Hawkstone Park, Birmingham fracturing his foot. He played the remaining dates sat on a stool and walking on crutches.

1971 - Bruce Springsteen & Friendly Enemies opened for The Allman Brothers Band at the Sunshine In, Asbury Park in New Jersey, tickets cost $4.00. Springsteen had just disbanded his group Steel Mill and within a few weeks would form Dr Zoom & The Sonic Boom with Steve Van Zandt.

2000 - Singer, songwriter, poet and actor, Ian Dury died aged 57 after a long battle with cancer. Dury had been disabled by polio as a child, formed Kilburn and the High Roads during the 70s. His first album New Boots And Panties became a punk classic spending 90 weeks on the UK chart.

2008 - An inquest in Leeds heard the husband of UK singer Corinne Bailey Rae died from a suspected overdose. The body of saxophonist Jason Rae, 31, was found in a flat in the Hyde Park area of Leeds. A 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs was bailed pending further inquiries.

1965 - Bobby Vee, Dusty Springfield, The Searchers, Heinz and The Zombies all appeared at The Odeon Cinema, Stockton-on-Tees.

1967 - The Turtles started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Happy Together'. The song was written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, former members of a band known as The Magicians. The song had been rejected a dozen times before it was offered to the Turtles, and the demo acetate was worn out.

1967 - The Who and Cream made their U.S. concert debut at RKO 58th Street Theatre, New York City as part of a rock & roll extravaganza promoted by DJ Murray the K.

1967 - Pink Floyd played three gigs in 24 hours. The appeared at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, then the New Yorker Discotheque in Swindon and then played at the Shoreline Club in Bognor Regis (in the early hours 26 March).

1978 - Bill Kenny, lead singer of The Ink Spots died. Had the UK No.10 single 'Melody Of Love.' 'The Gypsy' was their biggest chart success, staying at the No.1 position on the US chart for 13 weeks.

1995 - Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder was rescued after a riptide carried him 250 feet offshore in New Zealand.

2002 - The seven-year mystery of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards took a grisly twist when human feet were found near where he vanished in 1995.

2005 - Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne were forced to flee their Buckinghamshire mansion after a blaze broke out as they slept. Ozzy and his wife were roused by a fire alarm and ran to safety in the garden, rescuing their pets as they escaped.

Week commencing March 18
1971 - Led Zeppelin appeared at the Boat Club, Nottingham, on their 'Back To The Clubs' tour. This was the first tour which saw Zeppelin performing 'Stairway To Heaven', 'Black Dog' and 'Going To California'. Zeppelin opened the set with 'Immigrant Song' and 'Heartbreaker'. This small club on the banks of the River Trent had also seen performances by Elton John, Black Sabbath, Sex Pistols and Rod Stewart.

1976 - After a David Bowie concert at the Community War Memorial arena in Rochester, New York, Iggy Pop and David Bowie were involved in a drug bust at their hotel room where the police found 182 grams (a little over 6.4 ounces) of marijuana. The pair spent the rest of the night in the Monroe County Jail and were released at about 7am on $2,000 bond each.

1980 - Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers was sent to Pentonville Prison after losing his appeal against a drugs conviction.

2016 - A rare Beatles record found in the loft of Les Maguire - the keyboardist in fellow Liverpool act, Gerry and the Pacemakers sold for £77,500 at auction. The 10-inch acetate of 'Till There Was You' and 'Hello Little Girl' from 1962 was described as 'a Holy Grail item'. It was the first Beatles disc to be cut before the band broke into the national charts.

Week commencing March 11

1968 - The posthumously released Otis Redding single '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay' started a five week run at No.1 on the US chart (a No.3 hit the UK). Otis was killed in a plane crash on 10th December 1967 three days after recording the song. 'Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay', became the first posthumous No.1 single in US chart history and sold over four million copies worldwide.

1970 - Motown singer Tammi Terrell died of a brain tumour at the age of 24. She had collapsed onstage on October 14, 1967 into Marvin Gaye's arms during a concert in Hampton, Virginia. Initially Terrell recorded solo, but from 1967 onwards she recorded a series of duets with Marvin Gaye, including the 1967 US No.5 'Your Precious Love' and the 1968, ‘Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing’. Marvin Gaye reacted to her death by taking a four year hiatus from concert performance and went into self-isolation.

1977 - Paper Lace were at No.1 on the singles chart with the anti-war pop song 'Billy Don't Be A Hero,' the group's only No.1. Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods scored a US No.1 with their version of the song.

1977 - After being with the label for just six days the Sex Pistols were fired from A&M due to pressure from other label artists and its Los Angeles head office. 25,000 copies of 'God Save The Queen' were pressed and the band made £75,000 from the deal.

2010 - A rare Led Zeppelin recording from the group's 1971 gig at St Matthew's Baths Hall in Ipswich, was unearthed at a car boot sale. The bootleg copy of the audio from the group's gig on November 16th 1971 was picked up for just 'two or three pounds' by music fan Vic Kemp who said 'I was going through a stand of CDs at the car boot at Portman Road and the guy who was selling them said, 'You might be interested in this. It must have been recorded by someone standing at the front with a microphone. You can hear Robert Plant talking to the audience quite clearly.'

2015 - Andy Fraser songwriter and bass guitarist with Free died of a heart attack caused by Atherosclerosis in California aged 62. The London-born musician became a founding member of the group when he was just 15 and went on to write most of the material with lead singer Paul Rodgers, including Free's 1970 hit 'All Right Now', 'My Brother Jake' and 'The Stealer'. Fraser also penned 'Every Kinda People', a hit for Robert Palmer as well as songs for Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, Rod Stewart and Paul Young.

1956 - The Dream Weavers were at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Its Almost Tomorrow'. The Miami based studio band's only chart hit in the UK, thus condemning The Dream Weavers to the One Hit Wonder tag.

1965 - Tom Jones was at No.1 on the singles chart with 'It's Not Unusual.' The Welsh singer's first of 16 Top 40 hits during the 60s. Written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, the song was first offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded a demo for Shaw, and when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones's delivery that she declined the song and recommended that Jones release it himself.

1970 - Deja Vu, the first album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (and the second by the trio configuration of Crosby, Stills and Nash), was released. It topped the pop album chart for one week and spawned three US Top 40 singles: 'Teach Your Children', 'Our House', and 'Woodstock'.

1971 - Jim Morrison of The Doors arrived in Paris booking into The Hotel George's. The following week he moved into an apartment at 17 Rue Beautreillis in Paris. Morrison lived in Paris until his death on July 3rd 1971 (two years to the day after the death of the Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, and approximately nine months after the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin).

1972 - Neil Young went to No.1 on the US & UK album chart with his fourth studio album 'Harvest.' The album featured the US No.1 hit single 'Heart Of Gold.'

1975 - The Original Soundtrack, the third album by 10cc was released. It featured the world wide, multi million selling single 'I'm Not in Love' notable for its innovative and distinctive backing track, composed mostly of the band's multitracked vocals. The song was the band's breakthrough hit worldwide, reaching No.1 in Ireland and Canada and No.2 in the US, as well as reaching the top ten in Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.

1978 - Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell album began a 416-week run on the UK chart. The album went on to become one of the most influential and iconic albums of all time and its songs have remained classic rock staples.

1978 - The debut single from Kate Bush, 'Wuthering Heights' a song inspired by the Emily Bronte novel, started a four-week run at No.1 on the singles chart. EMI had originally chosen another track, 'James and the Cold Gun' as the lead single, but Bush was determined that 'Wuthering Heights' would be the first release from the album.

2002 - Iron Maiden's tour manager criticised people who were arrested for trying to gatecrash a concert in Bogota. Colombian police arrested more than 100 people after stones were thrown hours before the group were due to perform. In a statement posted on the band's website, Rod Smallwood said: 'We abhor the inane behaviour of a small minority of people outside.' Riot police fired tear gas canisters at those who tried to enter the concert without tickets.

2016 - English musician Keith Emerson died in Santa Monica, California, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after he had become 'depressed, nervous and anxious' because nerve damage in his hands had hampered his playing. Emerson found his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s and was a founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), one of the early progressive rock supergroups.

Week commencing March 4
1970 - David Bowie released the single 'The Prettiest Star' in the UK as a follow-up single to 'Space Oddity'. The track featured Marc Bolan on guitar, with whom Bowie would spend the next few years as a rival for the crown of the king of glam rock. Despite receiving good reviews, the single reportedly sold fewer than 800 copies, a major disappointment on the back of the success of 'Space Oddity'.

1971 - Mungo Jerry were at No.1 on the UK singles chat with 'Baby Jump', the group's second and final No.1.

1971 - Led Zeppelin appeared at the National Boxing Stadium, Dublin, the group's first show in Dublin, where they played 'Stairway To Heaven' live for only the second time.

1973 - Slade scored their fourth UK No.1 single with 'Cum On Feel The Noize', the first single to enter the charts at No.1 since The Beatles 'Get Back' in 1969. Elton John had the No.1 album with 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player'.

2010 - Mark Linkous, frontman with US band Sparklehorse committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart outside a friend's house in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1996 Linkous 'died' for two minutes after ingesting a mix of Valium and antidepressants while supporting Radiohead on tour in the UK. He recovered, but the incident left him paralysed after lying unconscious for 14 hours, with circulation to his legs cut off. He suffered a heart attack when doctors tried to straighten the limbs, having surgery seven times to save his legs.

2013 - English guitarist, singer, Alvin Lee died age 68. Lee's performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 was captured on film in the documentary of the event, and his 'lightning-fast' playing helped catapult him to stardom. Ten Years After were known for tracks such as 'I'm Going Home', 'Hear Me Calling', 'I'd Love to Change the World' and 'Love Like a Man'.

2016 - Lana Rae Meisner, the wife of former Eagles' bassist Randy Meisner, died after she accidentally shot herself while looking for something in a closet. Although the couple had a history of domestic incidents, police immediately cleared Randy of any wrongdoing.

Week commencing February 25
1958 - Buddy Holly played the first of 25 dates on his only UK tour at the Trocadero, Elephant & Castle, London. Also on the bill was Gary Miller, The Tanner Sisters, Des O'Connor, The Montanas, Ronnie Keene & His Orchestra.

1968 - Elton John's first single 'I've Been Loving You' was released on the Phillips label, with lyrics credited to Bernie Taupin (although John later admitted that he wrote the song by himself, giving Taupin credit as an effort to earn Taupin his first publishing royalties). The song didn't chart.

1969 - Jim Morrison of The Doors was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour after showing his penis to the audience during a show in Miami. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight months hard labour. Morrison died in Paris while the sentence was on appeal.

1973 - Pink Floyd released their eighth studio album The Dark Side of The Moon in the US. It remained in the US charts for 741 discontinuous weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history. After moving to the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Chart, the album notched up a further 759 weeks, and had reached a total of over 1,500 weeks on the combined charts by May 2006. With an estimated 45 million copies sold, it is Pink Floyd's most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums worldwide.

1979 - Joy Division appeared at The Hope & Anchor, Islington. Admission was 75p.

1994 - Nirvana played their final ever concert when they appeared at The Terminal Einz in Munich. The 3,000 capacity venue was a small airport hanger. The power went off during the show so they played an impromptu acoustic set including a version of The Cars 'My Best Friend's Girl.'

2016 - 76-year-old Ginger Baker posted on his blog that he had cancelled all of his scheduled shows for the year and was going into immediate retirement. The former drummer for Cream and Blind Faith revealed that his doctor had just diagnosed him with serious heart problems, causing him to announce all forthcoming shows.

1966 - Police were called after over a 100 music fans barricaded themselves inside Liverpool's Cavern Club to protest at the clubs closure. The club had run up debts of over £10,000. The Beatles made a total of 292 appearances at The Cavern Club, their final performance at the club was on 3 August 1963.

1970 - In an interview with the New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. The following year Green confronted his accountant with a gun after he sent him an unwanted royalty check. The guitarist went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum and was committed to a mental hospital in 1973. He re- launched his career in the 90s.

1970 - Led Zeppelin played a gig in Copenhagen as The Nobs after Eva Von Zeppelin a relative of the airship designer threatened to sue if the family name was used in Denmark.

1970 - Billed as David Bowie's New Electric Band (so new they haven't got a name yet), played at the Basildon Arts Lab experimental music club at the Basildon Arts Centre in Essex. Also on the bill were High Tide, Overson and Iron Butterfly.

1974 - Singer songwriter Bobby Bloom shot himself dead in the head at his Hollywood apartment aged 28. Bloom had the 1970 US No.8 & UK No.3 single 'Montego Bay'.

1985 - David Byron, singer with Uriah Heep, died aged 38 from an epileptic fit and liver disease caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. Byron was the original singer of the band between 1969 and 1976 and gained a reputation with his operatic vocals and harmonies as one of the best rock vocalists and frontmen in the world.

2008 - Drummer Buddy Miles, who played with Jimi Hendrix in his last regular group, Band of Gypsys, died aged 60 at his home in Austin, Texas after struggling with a long-term illness. Born George Allen Miles in Omaha, Nebraska, Buddy's nickname was a tribute to his idol, jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Rich also played with The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters and Barry White. In the 1980s he achieved a certain amount of notoriety in the US as the vocalist on the celebrated claymation California Raisins commercials.

1965, Jimmy Page released a solo single called 'She Just Satisfies'. Page played all the instruments on it except for the drums, and produced the track, as well as singing lead vocals.

1969, Peter Sarstedt started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Where Do You Go To My Lovely?' Some say the song was written about the Italian star Sophia Loren, but Peter Sarstedt has stated he wrote the song about a girl he fell madly in love with in Vienna in 1965, who later died in a hotel fire.

1979, During a court case between the Sex Pistols and their manager Malcolm McLaren it was revealed that only £30,000 was left of the £800,000 the band had earned.

2009, A 10-minute version of The Beatles 'Revolution 1' was leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what The White Album sessions must have been like. Only two copies of the take were made when the song was completed on June 4th, 1968. One copy left the studio with Lennon that day and the other remained behind. It was unclear which copy appeared on the bootleg, nor how anyone acquired it.

Week commencing February 18
1940, Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to 'This Land Is Your Land' in his room at the Hanover House Hotel in New York City. The song was brought back to life in the 1960s, when several artists of the new folk movement, including Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio, Trini Lopez, Jay and the Americans, and The New Christy Minstrels all recorded versions, inspired by its political message.

1974, Suzi Quatro was at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Devil Gate Drive', the singers second UK No.1 and fourth No.1 for the songs writers Chinn & Chapman.

1976, AC/DC shot the video clip for "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" for the Australian music television program Countdown. It featured the band's then-current lineup, along with members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band, on the back of a flat-bed truck travelling on Swanston Street in Melbourne. In May 2001, Australasian Performing Rights Association celebrated its 75th anniversary by naming the Best Australian Songs of all time, as decided by a 100-member industry panel. "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was ranked as the ninth song on the list.

1995, American singer Melvin Franklin of The Temptations died of a brain seizure aged 52. Had the 1971 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' UK No.2 in 1992. In 1978 Franklin was shot in the hand and the leg when trying to stop a man from stealing his car.

2010, London's Abbey Road Studios was made a listed building, protecting it from plans to radically alter it. Culture Minister Margaret Hodge listed the studios on the advice of English Heritage saying it had "produced some of the very best music in the world". The Beatles used Abbey Road for 90% of their recordings. The studio was origanally named EMI Studios, they changed the name to Abbey Road Studios in 1970 because of The Beatles album.

1967, Pink Floyd continued working on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn at Abbey Road Studios, London. The Beatles were also working at Abbey Road, recording the giant piano chord for the end of 'A Day In The Life' for their Sgt. Peppers album.

1970, Appearing at The Roundhouse Spring Festival in Camden, David Bowie and the Hype (their first live performance of the new band), along with Bachdenkel, Groundhog and Caravan.

1975, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel had their only UK No.1 single with 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me). Singer Steve Harley said the lyrics were vindictively directed at the former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him.

1981, One Hit Wonder Joe Dolce was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Shaddap You Face,' famously keeping the legendary Ultravox song, Vienna, off the UK No.1 slot. 'Shaddap You Face' was Number 1 in 11 countries with over 35 different foreign language cover versions, selling over 4 million copies.

1992, The NME printed their writers' all time best debut albums; at No.1, Patti Smith, 'Horses', No.2, Joy Division, 'Unknown Pleasures', No.3, MC5, 'Kick Out The Jams, No.4, The Jesus and Mary Chain, 'Psychocandy' and No.5, Television, 'Marquee Moon.

2004, The Sex Pistols 'Anarchy in the UK' was named the most influential record of the 1970s in poll compiled by Q magazine. Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was voted into second place and Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' was third, T Rex 'Get It On' was fourth and Special AKA's 'Gangsters' came fifth.

1959, 16 year old Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut when he played a show at the Temple De Hirsch Sinai synagogue in Seattle.

1972, Chicory Tip were at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Son Of My Father.' Written by Giorgio Moroder, it was the first UK number one single to prominently feature a synthesizer, in this case a Moog synthesizer.

2003, 100 people died after pyrotechnics ignited a club during a gig by Great White in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Great White guitarist Ty Longley was also killed in the accident. Two brothers who owned the club were charged, along with the former tour manager with involuntary manslaughter. Foam soundproofing material at the edge of the stage set alight and the blaze spread quickly in the one-storey wooden building as fans all tried to escape through the same exit. Great White began a tour in July 2003 to raise money for the survivors and families of victims.

2008, A 1976 Rolling Stones album bought for £2 at a car boot sale sold for £4,000 at an auction. The 'Black and Blue' LP was signed by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul and Linda McCartney and George Harrison as well as members of the Rolling Stones. The seller obtained the album after haggling the cost down from £3.

1968, American blues musician Little Walter (Marion Walter Jacobs) died in his sleep aged 37 from injuries incurred in a fight while taking a break from a performance at a nightclub in Chicago. Joining Muddy Waters' band in 1948, he was the first harmonica player to amplify his harp (on the 1951 ‘She Moves Me’) giving it a distorted echoing sound.

1977, Glen Matlock was fired as bass player from the Sex Pistols, being replaced by Sid Vicious. Matlock rejoined in the 90s when the Pistols reformed.

1981, American guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose aged 37. He was a member of the Paul Butterfield Band and Electric Flag and had played on Bob Dylan's album Highway 61 Revisited. Bloomfield's Telecaster guitar licks were featured on Dylan's ‘Like a Rolling Stone’, and he appeared onstage with Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan used Bloomfield and the Butterfield Band which marked Dylan's first use of an electric band in a live performance.

1991, Kelly Emberg the ex-girlfriend of Rod Stewart filed a $25 million (£14.7 million) palimony suit in Los Angeles. The couple lived together from 1985 to 1990. Rod Stewart later said: "Instead of getting married again, I'm going to find a woman I don't like and just give her a house."

2006, Winners at this year's Brit Awards included, James Blunt who won British male solo artist, British female solo artist went to KT Tunstall. Coldplay won Best British album for X&Y and Best British single for 'Speed of Sound.' Kaiser Chiefs won Best British group and Best British Live Act, British urban act went to Lemar, British breakthrough act was Arctic Monkeys, International breakthrough act was won by Jack Johnson. International male solo artist was Kanye West with Madonna winning International female solo artist. Green Day won International group and Best International album with American Idiot and Outstanding contribution to music went to Paul Weller.

1961, The Beatles performed at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool, and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool where they played a special Valentine's Day show. Paul McCartney sang Elvis Presley's 'Wooden Heart', wearing a wooden heart pinned to his coat, covered with satin and embroidered with the names "John", "Paul", "George", and "Pete". The heart was raffled off, and the winner also won a kiss from Paul.

1968, Manfred Mann were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Bob Dylan song 'The Mighty Quinn' which was also a No.10 hit in the US. Dylan recorded the song in 1967 during the Basement Tapes sessions, but did not release a version for another three years.

1970, The Who appeared at Leeds University. The show was recorded for the bands forthcoming 'Live At Leeds' album. Since its initial reception, Live at Leeds has been cited by several music critics as the best live rock recording of all time. The University of Leeds refectory has now been named a national landmark in the UK, commemorated with a blue plaque.

1989, English keyboardist Vincent Crane died aged 45 from a deliberate overdose of Anadin tablets. He was a member of The Crazy world of Arthur Brown, who had the 1968 UK No.1 and US No.12 single 'Fire' and Atomic Rooster (with drummer Carl Palmer later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Atomic Rooster enjoyed success in 1971 with two hit singles, ‘Tomorrow Night’ and ‘Devil's Answer’.

2002, Drummer and singer Mick Tucker with glam rock band Sweet died of leukaemia aged 54. Sweet had the 1973 No.1 single 'Blockbuster', plus 14 other top 40 singles. He was a founding member of the band Sweetshop in January 1968. "Sweetshop" was shortened to "The Sweet" later that same year..

2004, Dave Holland, former drummer with Judas Priest was jailed for eight years for indecent assault and the attempted rape of a 17-year old boy. The youth, who had learning difficulties, had been taking drum lessons from Holland.

2005, Kerrang! magazine announced the results of its readers’ poll for the best British rock albums ever. The Top 10 were: No.1, Black Sabbath’s Black Sabbath; No.2, Iron Maiden’s Number Of The Beast; No.3 Sex Pistols’ Never Mind The Bollock's, Here's The Sex Pistols; No. 4, Led Zeppelin IV; No.5, Black Sabbath’s Paranoid; No.6, Muse’s Absolution; No.7, The Clash's London Calling; No.8, Queen’s Sheer Heart Attack; No.9, Iron Maiden’s Iron Maiden and No.10, Manic Street Preachers’ The Holy Bible.

2010, American singer-songwriter-musician Doug Fieger died after a long battle with cancer. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of The Knack, and co-wrote 'My Sharona', the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, and was Capitol Records' fastest gold status debut single since the Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in 1964. When Fieger was 25, he met 17-year-old Sharona Alperin, who he wrote the song for, as well as later becoming Fieger's girlfriend for the next four years.

1940, Born on this day (Thursday), English comic musician Bob Kerr who was a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. He later joined The New Vaudeville Band, before forming his own Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band.

1945, Born on this day (Thursday), Vic Briggs, guitarist with The Animals, who had the 1964 UK & US No.1 single 'House Of The Rising Sun'.

1946, Born on this day (Thursday), Doug Simril, guitar, piano, with the Steve Miller Band, who had the 1974 US No.1 & 1990 UK No.1 single 'The Joker'. Also worked with Boz Scaggs.

1947, Born on this day (Thursday), Tim Buckley, singer, songwriter who recorded the 1972 album 'Greetings From LA'. His singer, songwriter son Jeff Buckley drowned while swimming in 1997. Tim himself died on June 29th 1975 of a heroin and morphine overdose.

1963, In less than ten hours, The Beatles record ten new songs for their first album plus four other tracks which would be the next two singles. John Lennon's vocal on The Isley Brothers 'Twist & Shout' was recorded in one take to complete the album.

1969, The Monkees set a new record when their second album, 'More Of The Monkees' jumped from No.122 to the top of the US chart. The album then stayed in pole position for eighteen weeks.

1972, Led Zeppelin scored their third US Top 20 hit single with 'Black Dog / Misty Mountain Hop', peaking at No.15, and taken from their fourth album. The song's title is a reference to a nameless black Labrador retriever that wandered around the Headley Grange studios during recording. Robert Plant recorded his vocal for the track in two takes.

1992, Motley Crue fired their singer Vince Neil when he turned up for rehearsals, claiming that he had lost his passion for the band and was now more involved with racing cars.

2012, Whitney Houston was found dead in suite 434 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, submerged in the bathtub. Beverly Hills paramedics arrived at approximately 3:30 p.m. and found the singer unresponsive and performed CPR. Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. Local police said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent." It was later ruled by the coroner to have been an "accidental drowning"

2014, Queen made UK chart history by becoming the first act to sell six million copies of an individual album. Their first Greatest Hits collection, which includes the hits 'We Will Rock You' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' had extended its lead after being Britain's highest-selling album for several years. The Official Charts Company said one in three British families now owned a copy of the 1981 compilation.

Week commencing February 11
1968, The Band Of Joy, featuring John Bonham and Robert Plant, made their first London appearance, supporting Edwin Starr at the The Marquee Club.

1975, Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the US chart with his 15th studio album Blood On The Tracks, his second US No.1 album. The album has become one of Dylan's all-time best-selling studio releases, with a double-platinum US certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.

1980, The divorce became final between David Bowie and his wife Angie. He won custody of their son Zowie (now known as Joe), Angie received a £30,000 settlement.

1990, Suffering from depression American singer songwriter Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds. He scored the 1961 UK and US No.1 single 'Runaway', plus nine US and 12 other UK Top 40 singles. In 1963, he became the first American to record a cover version of a song by the Beatles: his version of ‘From Me to You’ charted in the US before The Beatles' version. Shannon had been working with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne and was rumoured to be replacing Roy Orbison who had recently died, in the Traveling Wilburys supergroup.

2005, American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter Keith Knudson from with The Doobie Brothers died of pneumonia aged 56. The Doobie Brothers scored the 1979 US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes' and 1993 UK No.7 single 'Long Train Runnin.' He founded the band Southern Pacific with fellow Doobie Brother John McFee.

1946, Born on this day (Friday), Mexican drummer Adolpho De La Para with American band Canned Heat who had the 1970 UK No.2 & US No.26 single 'Let's Work Together'. He has also played with some of the greatest blues singers of our time including Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins and John Lee Hooker.

1946, Born on this day (Friday), Paul Wheatbread from Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, who had the 1968 UK No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Young Girl' as well as the hits 'Woman, Woman', 'Over You' and 'Lady Willpower.'

1959, Buddy Holly was buried in Lubbock, Texas. His tombstone reads "Holley", the correct spelling of his given surname and includes pictures of a guitar. On Feb 3rd 1959, after a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly chartered an airplane to travel to his next show in Moorhead, Minnesota. Soon after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and the pilot, an infamous milestone in rock history known as The Day the Music Died.

1959, New Orleans blues guitarist Guitar Slim died of pneumonia aged 32. Born Eddie Jones he is best known for the million-selling song ‘The Things That I Used to Do’. Slim had a major impact on rock and roll and experimented with distorted overtones on the electric guitar a full decade before Jimi Hendrix. He became known for his wild stage act and had an assistant who followed him around the audience with up to 350 feet of cord between his guitar and his amplifier, and occasionally rode on his assistant's shoulders or even took his guitar outside the club, bringing traffic to a stop. A full fifteen years before Angus and Bon.

1973, The Stooges released their third studio album Raw Power. The album gained a cult following in the years following its release and, like its predecessor (1970s Fun House), is generally considered an influential forerunner of punk rock. Kurt Cobain said on numerous times that Raw Power was his favorite album of all time.

2000, English guitarist and singer Dave Peverett died from kidney cancer aged 56. He had been a member of the English blues rock band Savoy Brown and Foghat who had the Seventies hit singles 'My Babe', and 'Slow Ride'.

2013, Music venues and fans criticised "heartless" touts and agencies selling tickets for guitarist Wilko Johnson's farewell tour at inflated prices. The former Dr Feelgood guitarist was suffering from terminal cancer and was playing a series of farewell dates in February and March. Originally tickets sold for £20, but were now being offered online at prices of £225.

1967, The Beatles filmed part of the promo clip for 'Penny Lane' around the Royal Theatre, Stratford, and walking up and down Angel Lane in London. Together with the video for 'Strawberry Fields Forever', this was one of the first examples of what later became known as a music video.

1967, The News Of The World reported that Mick Jagger had taken LSD at the Moody Blues' home in the UK. Jagger sued the paper for libel in an on-going feud between the News Of The World and The Stones.

1969, The Move were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blackberry Way', the group's only UK No.1 and the band's most successful single.

1970, David Bowie recorded four songs at the BBC Paris Cinema, London, for the John Peel Sunday Concert radio show. This was guitarists Mick Ronson's first appearance with Bowie who went on to work with Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars.

1971, Black Sabbath started recording what would be their third album, 'Master Of Reality' at Island Studios in London. Released in July of this year, it is sometimes noted as the first stoner rock album. Guitarist Tony Iommi decided to down tune his guitar down three semi-tones, Geezer Butler also down tuned his bass guitar to match Iommi. The result was a noticeably 'darker' sound that almost two decades later would prove hugely influential on at least three of the biggest grunge acts, namely Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, and Nirvana.

1972, T Rex were at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Telegram Sam', the group's third No.1 which was taken from their album The Slider. The song is also known for bringing the term "main man" into popular culture.

1976, American saxophonist Rudy Pompilli died of lung cancer aged 52. Although not a smoker himself, it is believed he contracted the disease through second hand smoke. With Bill Haley and his Comets, he had the 1955 UK & US No.1 single with 'Rock Around the Clock'. Pompilli released one solo album, Rudy's Rock: The Sax That Changed the World.

1998, American guitarist Tim Kelly from Slaughter was involved in a fatal car accident while traveling on Highway 96 in Arizona. Kelly's vehicle was hit head on when an 18 wheeler crossed the middle line. Kelly released four studio albums with Slaughter and two live albums.

2006, The Rolling Stones played three songs during the half-time show of The Super Bowl in Detroit. After the event, the Stones expressed their displeasure over having Mick Jagger's microphone turned down during the song "Start Me Up". The line "you make a dead man come" was cut short and a barnyard reference to "cocks" in the new song "Rough Justice" also disappeared.

Week commencing January 28
1959, 22 year old Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa; the pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed. Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tour bus. All three were travelling to Fargo, North Dakota, for the next show on their Winter Dance Party Tour which Holly had set - covering 24 cities in three weeks, to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets, last year.

1967, Producer Joe Meek shot his landlady Violet Shenton and then shot himself at his flat in London, Meek produced The Tornadoes hit 'Telstar', the first No.1 in the US by a British group. Meek was interested in spirituality and often attended séances.

1968, One Hit Wonders The Lemon Pipers went to No.7 on the singles chart with 'Green Tambourine'. The song has been credited as being one of the first bubblegum pop chart-toppers.

1970, Led Zeppelin II was in the Top 20 on both the UK & US album charts after peaking at No.1. The album went on to spend 138 weeks on the UK chart. The album is now recognised by writers and music critics as one of the greatest and most influential rock albums ever recorded.

1992, On their first Europe tour Pearl Jam played at The Esplanade Club in Southend to 300 people, the band's first ever UK show. The tour also took Pearl Jam to Norway, Sweden, Holland, France, Spain and Italy.

2010, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson joined a growing group of critics of Bob Geldof and U2 singer Bono over their very public charity work, saying they should stop lecturing audiences about charity work and instead do their good deeds in private. Johnson said "When I was a working man I didn't want to go to a concert for some bastard to talk down to me that I should be thinking of some kid in Africa. I'm sorry mate, do it yourself, spend some of your own money and get it done. It just makes me angry."

1935, Born on this day (Sunday), Johnny 'guitar' Watson, American blues guitarist, singer. His ferocious 'Space Guitar' single of 1954 pioneered guitar feedback and reverb. Watson died on 17th May 1996 while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. According to eyewitness reports, he collapsed mid-guitar solo. His last words were "ain't that a bitch".

1965, At the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, James Brown recorded 'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag', which will reach No.8 on the Billboard Pop chart and No.1 on the R&B chart the following August and later win a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.

1967, Pink Floyd spent the day recording parts for the Syd Barrett songs 'Arnold Layne' and 'Candy And A Current Bun' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea. Floyd also turned professional on this day after signing a deal with EMI Records.

1979, Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious was released on bail after attacking Todd Smith, singer Patti Smith's brother, at a Skafish concert. John Lydon has since stated that Mick Jagger stepped in and paid for the lawyers for Vicious.

1986, Music publisher Dick James died of a heart attack aged 65. Worked with many UK 60s acts including The Beatles. James signed Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin as unknown artists in 1967 and was the founder of the DJM record label.

1937, Born on this day (Friday), American singer, songwriter Don Everly, from The Everly Brothers who had the 1958 UK & US No.1 single 'All I Have To Do Is Dream'. Other hits include: 'Wake Up Little Susie,' 'Bird Dog,' 'Cathy's Clown,' 'Walk Right Back' and 'Crying in the Rain'. The music of the Everly Brothers influenced The Beatles who based the vocal arrangement of 'Please Please Me' on 'Cathy's Clown'.

1957, Decca Records announced that Bill Haley & His Comets 'Rock Around the Clock' had sold over a million copies in the UK, mostly on 10inch 78s. The version of 'Rock Around the Clock' that was used in the movie Blackboard Jungle differs from the hit single version. The difference is in the two solo breaks.

1967, The Beatles spent a second day at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, to complete filming for the 'Strawberry Fields Forever' promotional video. The film was shot in colour, for the benefit of the US market, since UK television was still broadcasting only in black and white. Taking time out from filming, John Lennon bought an 1843 poster from an antiques shop in Surrey which provided him with most the lyrics for the song 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite'.

1969, Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at The Fillmore East, New York City during the band's first North American tour. Porter's Popular Preachers opened the night, then Zeppelin took the stage. It is alleged that Zeppelin's show was so powerful and got such an enthusiastic audience that headliners Iron Butterfly refused to follow them.

1970, American blues musician Slim Harpo died of a heart attack while recording in London aged 46. His most successful and influential recordings included ‘I'm a King Bee’ (1957), ‘Rainin' In My Heart’ (1961), and ‘Baby Scratch My Back’ (1966). A master of the blues harmonica, his stage name was derived from the popular nickname for that instrument, the "harp". The Rolling Stones, Pretty Things, Yardbirds and Them all covered his songs.

2017, Singer, bassist, and songwriter John Wetton died in his sleep at his home in Bournemouth, from colon cancer. He rose to fame with bands Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash. After his period with King Crimson, Wetton formed UK, and later he was the frontman and principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia. Their biggest hit 'Heat of the Moment', reached No. 4 in the US in 1982.

1961, The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US chart when 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?' reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.

1970, Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).' The group's only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.

1973, After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as KISS at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.

1976, UK Music weekly Sounds readers Poll Winners included; best album 'A Night At The Opera', by Queen, best single 'Bohemian Rhapsody', by Queen, best band went to Queen, musician Mike Oldfield, female singer Maddy Prior, Steeleye, Span, new band Rainbow, bore of the year The Bay City Rollers.

1988, During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT Records it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits 'Relax' and 'Two Tribes'. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make the records.

1990, Unhappy with the re-issue of the bands early single 'Sally Cinnaman' The Stone Roses trashed their former record company Revolver FM's offices and threw paint over cars. The band were arrested and charged with criminal damage.

2013, Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated “Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men – and he’s pushing 70.”

2016, David Bowie left an estate valued at about $100m (£70m), according to his will which was filed in New York. Half would go to his widow, Iman, along with the home they shared in New York. The rest was shared between his son and daughter. Bowie's personal assistant, Corinne Schwab, was left $2m and another $1m went to a former nanny, Marion Skene.

Week commencing January 21
1956, Elvis Presley's single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis' first Gold record.

1962, The Beatles appeared at Aintree Institute in Aintree, Liverpool. The group had played here many times before but this was their last performance at the venue. Brian Epstein became infuriated when the promoter paid The Beatles' fee (£15 pounds) with handfuls of loose change. Epstein took this as an insult to the group, and made sure that The Beatles never played for that promoter (Brian Kelly) again.

1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded and mixed his new single 'Instant Karma!' all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios and arriving in stores only ten days later.

1973, 'Superstition' the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Talking Book album became his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1 hit. Jeff Beck created the original drum beat while in the studio with Wonder. After writing the song, Wonder offered it to Beck to record, but at the insistence of Berry Gordy, Wonder himself recorded it first. Beck was instead offered 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers', which he recorded on his Blow by Blow album in 1975.

1977, The Clash signed to CBS Records in the UK for £100,000.

1979, Ian Dury And The Blockheads were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick', their only UK chart topper. (spot the famous name interloper in the pic?)

1996, Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Spaceman', the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries.

1953, Eddie Fisher was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Outside Is Heaven'. The American singer and entertainer divorced his first wife, Debbie Reynolds to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, which gave him too much unwelcome publicity at the time. Eddie is father of actress Carrie Fisher who died in 2016.

1967, Pink Floyd spent the second of three days recording the Syd Barrett songs 'Arnold Layne' and 'Candy And A Current Bun' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea. 'Candy And A Current Bun' was first known as 'Let's Roll Another One' and contained the line 'I'm high - Don't try to spoil my fun', but it was decided that Syd Barrett should rewrite it without the drug references.

1970, James Sheppard, the lead singer from the Heartbeats and Shep and the Limelites, was found murdered in his car on the Long Island Expressway. The US singer had been beaten and robbed. The Limelites reached No.2 in the US in 1961 with 'Daddy's Home'.

1970, Led Zeppelin appeared at Leeds University. It was at this show when Zeppelin had a meeting with fine arts lecturer Zacron to discuss their ideas for the album sleeve of the band's next album, Led Zeppelin III. Zacron, born Richard Drew, had studied at Kingston College of Art with members of the Yardbirds.

1977, The Buzzcocks appeared at the Roxy, in London, supported by Chelsea. Also appearing at the venue over the last week; The Damned, The Boys, The Adverts, Slaughter And The Dogs and Squeeze.

2017, American drummer Butch Trucks from The Allman Brothers Band died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 69. He played in various groups before forming the 31st of February while at Florida State University in the mid 1960s. He joined the Allman Brothers Band in 1969. Their 1971 live release, At Fillmore East, represented an artistic and commercial breakthrough.

1966, George Harrison married Patti Boyd at Leatherhead Register Office in Surrey with Paul McCartney as Best man. George had first met Patti on the set of The Beatles movie 'A Hard Day's Night'. She left Harrison in the mid-'70s and started an affair with Harrison's friend Eric Clapton, who wrote the song "Layla" about her. The two married in May 1979, but split in 1988.

1968, Jimi Hendrix recorded his version of the Bob Dylan song 'All Along the Watchtower' at Olympic Studios in London. Rolling Stone Brian Jones (percussion) and Dave Mason from Traffic (twelve-string guitar) both played on the session. The track was released in the US as a single in 1968, peaking at No.20.

1972, Pink Floyd appeared at The Guildhall, Portsmouth. This was the first time that they were able to perform the whole of what became the The Dark Side of The Moon album in its entirety, the previous night's performance in Brighton having been halted for technical reasons.

1983, The Allman Brothers Band bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer age 34. He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley. His doctors believed that the disease was derived from exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service. Opposed to the war and to killing in general, Williams went AWOL frequently and wandered around the jungles of South Vietnam, occasionally returning to various units. He was given an honorable discharge in 1970.

1984, Soul singer Jackie Wilson died aged 49. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing a Dick Clark show at the Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29, 1975, falling head-first to the stage while singing 'Lonely Teardrops', and had remained in a coma until his death 8 years later. His 1957 single Reet Petite became a posthumous No.1 when re-issued in 1987 due in part to a new animated video made for the song, featuring a clay model of Wilson. Van Morrison wrote 'Jackie Wilson Said' which was covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners.

1997, American songwriter Irwin Levine died of kidney failure aged 58. He co-wrote, 'Knock Three Times' and 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon' both US & UK No.1s for Tony Orlando and Dawn in the early Seventies.

2003, David Palmer, former keyboard player for Jethro Tull changed his name to Dee Palmer after a successful sex change operation. Palmer was the keyboard player for Jethro Tull between 1969 and 1980. He played on all the Tull classics including 'Thick As A Brick' and 'Aqualung.'