This day in music history

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

1969, Jimi Hendrix was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents.

1977, The BBC announced a ban on the new Sex Pistols single 'God Save The Queen' saying its, "in gross bad taste". And the IBA issued a warning to all radio stations saying the playing the single would be in breach of Section 4:1:A of the Broadcasting act. The single reached No.2 on the UK chart.

1980, Lipps Inc went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Funkytown', a UK No.2 hit.

1980, Paul McCartney went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'McCartney II'.

1980, The Theme From M*A*S*H* (Suicide Is Painless), by Mash was at No.1 on the UK singles chart, 10 years after it was first recorded after being championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Noel Edmonds. Mike Altman the son of the original film's director, Robert Altman, was 14 years old when he composed the song's lyrics.

1982, R.E.M. signed a five-album deal with I.R.S. Records, an independent label based in California.

1986, Peter Gabriel scored his second solo UK No.1 album with 'So' featuring the singles 'Sledgehammer' and a duet with Kate Bush 'Don't Give Up'.

1998, Geri Halliwell announced she had quit The Spice Girls saying "This is because of differences between us. I am sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best."

1998, Simply Red went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Blue', their fifth consecutive No.1 album.

2000, US soul singer Johnnie Taylor died of a heart attack in a Texas hospital shortly after his 62nd birthday. Taylor had been a member of The Highway QCs and The Five Echoes and in 1957 Taylor replaced Sam Cooke in The Soul Stirrers. He scored the 1976 US No.1 ‘Disco Lady.’

1938, Born on this day, Peter Yarrow, Peter Paul and Mary, (1969 US No.1 & 1970 UK No.1 single 'Leaving On A Jet Plane').

1948, Born on this day, John Bonham, drummer with Led Zeppelin, who had the 1969 US No.4 single Whole Lotta Love. The bands fourth album released in 1971 featuring the rock classic Stairway To Heaven, has sold over 37 million copies. Bonham died on September 25th 1980 after choking on his own vomit.

1952, Born on this day, Karl Bartos, Kraftwerk, (1975 US No.25 single 'Autobahn',
1982 UK No.1 single 'Computer Love / The Model').

1963, Born on this day, Wendy Smith, guitar, vocals, Prefab Sprout, (1988 UKNo.7 single with 'The King Of Rock 'N' Roll').

1964, Born on this day, MC Darryl 'D' McDaniels, Run-DMC. (1986 UK No.8 single with Aerosmith 'Walk This Way', 1998 UK No.1 single 'It's Like That').

1965, Born on this day, Steve White, drums, The Style Council, (1983 UK No.3 single 'Long Hot Summer' plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles).