28 Sep 2019

September 2019 – The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part VII

by Tony Drew | posted in: History, Introduction, Observations | 0

Introduction

Welcome to the 1970s. Well kinda. Yep, here we are yet again, with the 7^th article in the current series of musical discovery, focusing on the delightful ‘Seventies’. As is often the case with monumental projects, the amount of work involved has been colossal and the amount of information has been considerable. The scale alone has meant that compressing it all into logical and manageable chunks has proved somewhat of a challenge. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it has been the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s that have proved to be the most eventful and remarkable. This month’s article focuses on the unpredictable 1970s as it follows on from the previous two tumultuous decades.

If you would like to (re)visit the first four parts (and over 300 years) of the story to‑date, you can do so here (each link opens a new browser tab):

In terms of this article as part of the overall series, the 1970s has, by far, more content than any other single decade. While it is inherently fascinating, it makes for quite a hefty read (over 300 facts this month)… so be prepared and apologies.

The Story of Modern Music Part VII 1970-1979

The so-called ‘golden era’ of music (1950s-1970s inclusive) was characterised by major seismic musical movements. The 1950s saw rock ‘n’ roll burst onto the scene, the 1960s saw the fan hysteria of the ‘British Invasion’ followed by heady idealism of hippie flower power full of peace & love, while the 1970s heralded a very different form of youth rebelliousness, veritably bristling with vigorous nihilistic punk attitude.

Gone was the positivity and optimism to be replaced with disaffection distrust and deeply seated urban angst. Instead of striving for some sort of wistful, unobtainable utopia, the desperate pursuit for a grimy dystopian anarchy became almost an end in itself. The zeitgeist of warts‑and‑all realism was striking back.

The 1970s would ultimately descend into gritty and chaotic demands for change without a clear idea of what outcome the disillusioned generation was rebelling for or against. In many respects, it didn’t matter as the alienated youth voice was seen as irrelevant to detached and remote institutions who weren’t listening and, worse, seemed not to care.

As social provocateur Malcolm McLaren proclaimed, “What matters is this: Being fearless of failure arms you to break the rules. In doing so, you may change the culture and just possibly, for a moment, change life itself.” He went on to comment, “I always said punk was an attitude. It was never about having a Mohican haircut or wearing a ripped T-shirt. It was all about destruction, and the creative potential within that.”

Civilisation wasn’t really breaking down of course and not everything was tainted by dismal doom and gloom. However, western societies were being tested and forced to adapt to a darker, more uncertain, complex and ambiguous new world.

Historical Context 1970-1979

The self-indulgent 1970s was described as the ‘Me Decade’ (coined by writer Tom Wolfe), with a move away from the model of social collectivism (communities) to individualism (self). To many, the ‘70s may well be remembered as a caricature of kitsch, a gaudy facsimile of 1960s’ sybaritic, exuberant excess. While not devoid of conflict and warfare, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, the world was slowly becoming accustomed to a period of extended and stable peace around the globe. Even the tension of the Cold War became a continuous mutual standoff. Progressive political, cultural and social change that began in the 1960s continued, including the emergence of the Women’s Liberation Movement, enabling greater social mobility for many. The ever‑more liberal ‘permissive society’ was well under way representing a crucial stage in that generation’s struggle for greater individual freedom and equality. Technology was developing at a rapid pace, providing much greater work, leisure and recreational opportunities for people in their everyday lives. However, a number of disruptive economic and political events began to destabilise a long period of post‑war economic expansion. Widespread social discontent and a rejection of a stagnant status quo resulted in widespread riots, protests, labour strikes, direct action and hints of anarchy, culminating in the UK with the infamous ‘winter of discontent’.

Year	Global Events
1970	Manned moon mission Apollo 13 narrowly avoided tragedy after an emergency in space, ultimately returning all 3 astronauts safely to Earth. After being signed in 1968, 43 nations ratified The Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, intended to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and promote co‑operation on the peaceful use of nuclear power.
1971	The phenomenally successful coffee empire, the Starbucks Corporation, was founded in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. The massive Aswan High Dam across the River Nile in Egypt was opened. The project had required moving the ancient Egyptian temples of Ramses at Abu Simbel (in 1964) above the rising waters of Lake Nasser.
1972	The first commercial video game, Pong was released by Atari. The classic gangster movie, ‘The Godfather’, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando was released. Britain imposed direct rule over Northern Ireland following the so‑called ‘Bloody Sunday’ massacre. A Palestinian terrorist group killed 11 Israeli Olympic team members and a German police officer at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. Apollo 17 became the last moon landing (to‑date) where humans have walked on the surface of the Moon.
1973	The United Kingdom joined the expanding European Economic Community (EEC). The seminal and controversial ‘horror’ movie about faith, ‘The Exorcist’ was released, directed by Willian Friedkin and starring Linda Blair. A global oil crisis was triggered by OPEC, the confederation of Arab oil producing nations, which imposed an embargo on oil exports to countries supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War, also known as the Arab-Israeli War. The famous Spanish artist and co‑founder of the Cubist movement, Pablo Picasso died at the age of 91.
1974	American President Richard Nixon resigned from office following the Watergate scandal, to be succeeded by Gerald Ford as the 38^th U.S. president. The popular 3-D combination puzzle Rubik’s Cube was invented by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture, Ernő Rubik. The ubiquitous Bar Code was introduced. It was notable because it was the first standardised method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form.
1975	America finally pulled out of the Vietnam War after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the formal reunification of north and south Vietnam. An historic joint American/Russian Apollo and Soyuz space mission took place in Earth orbit. It was the first time that spacecraft from different nations docked in space. Widely recognised as the first modern summer blockbuster film, ‘Jaws’ was released, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel by Peter Benchley published in 1974. American technology innovators, Bill Gates and Paul Allen co‑founded the Microsoft Corporation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1976	American technology entrepreneurs, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne co‑founded Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.) in California. The infamous ‘Son of Sam’ serial murders began in New York City, sparking the largest manhunt in the city’s history. The notorious killer, David Berkowitz, was finally arrested in 1977. Chinese communist leader, Chairman Mao Zedong died, effectively ending the decade‑long Chinese Cultural Revolution.
1977	South African activist and anti-apartheid campaigner Stephen Biko died while in police custody after violating an order to restrict his movements. The cinema phenomenon and start of a major film and merchandise franchise, Star Wars Episode 4 was released, directed by George Lucas.
1978	English woman Louise Brown, the world’s first test tube baby, was born after conception by in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF). The classic video game created by Tomohiro Nishikado, Space Invaders was released. The Camp David Accords signifying a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and Egypt was signed in Maryland in the U.S.A, leading to the Egypt‑Israel Peace Treaty of 1979.
1979	Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher became the UK’s first female Prime Minister. She was Prime Minister for nearly 12 years. Russia invaded the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, starting the Soviet‑Afghan war that would last until 1989. Revolutionary Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed Iran to be an Islamic Republic in the Middle East, starting decades of international isolation. The epic Vietnam war film, ‘Apocalypse Now’, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando was released. In Africa, the notorious Ugandan president and dictator Idi Amin was forced to leave the country into exile. The nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, America suffered a catastrophic meltdown.

Musical Genre Development 1970-1979

If the 1960s was memorable for its own musical revolutions, the 1970s was about to unleash its own rebellious step changes. The music of the 1970s can be categorised by bursts of creativity, using existing musical styles to come up with something relevant, new, raw and vital with something important to say. Perhaps more than any other decade, the 1970s produced greater musical diversity than any other before or since. Pop music continued to be commercially successful into the 1970s including artists like David Cassidy, The Osmonds, Abba, The Bay City Rollers and the Jackson 5.

Progressive rock, often abbreviated to ‘prog’, is a broad musical genre that grew largely from psychedelic rock and the British Canterbury Scene to achieve significant appeal in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Progressive rock can be characterised by long instrumental compositions influenced by fusing classical, jazz, rock and folk styles often complemented by elegiac, poetic lyrics. Prog music was usually only released by bands on LP albums rather than singles. Studio technology and instrumental proficiency were central to the artistic soundscapes used. Like most classical music, it was intended to be listened to, rather than danced to. To some critics, prog rock was seen as avant‑garde, pompous, overblown and boring, being not readily accessible to casual listeners. For some prog musicians, it was important to elevate music from largely populist to the status of art and included experimental arrangements to create debate and stimulate interpretation. This attitude was regarded by some as pretentious and elitist, pushing the genre into somewhat of a dead end niche. Prog rock reached its peak around 1973 and had largely been rejected by the rise of punk rock in the mid‑1970s. Early artists associated with prog rock include Procol Harum, Colosseum, Soft Machine, Barclay James Harvest, Caravan and Curved Air, paving the way for the progressive giants of the genre, including Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator, Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), as well as Pink Floyd and Mike Oldfield.

The underpinnings of heavy metal began in the late 1960s as hard rock explored new musical territories. Often cited as the pioneers of the genre were Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, all forming in 1968. Arguably, though, the first two, while clearly influencing metal, lean more towards hard rock and its successors. Even though many of the characteristics of metal had been used before, Black Sabbath are widely regarded as the true forefathers of today’s heavy metal. The sound of heavy metal took hard rock and laid on layers of thick, heavy distorted riffs using power chords, high volume levels, searing guitar solos, pounding drums and thundering bass. Vocals were often strong and bold and had a dark or satanic emphasis. During the formative 1970s, there were a few bands that adopted the metal tropes, including Judas Priest. By the end of the 1970s, a new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) was spearheaded by bands such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon and UFO. Although more rock than metal, Motörhead played their part in promoting heavy rock to audiences. The sub‑culture surrounding heavy metal grew alongside the music with fans branded as ‘headbangers’ with a dress code not unlike the rockers of the previous decade but taken further. By 1984 and the release of the mockumentary film ‘This Is Spinal Tap’, metal had reached a point of self‑parody. During the 1980s and beyond, metal gave birth to sub‑genres including hair metal (Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe), thrash metal (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth), groove metal (Pantera, Blackstone Cherry and White Zombie), industrial (Rammstein and Marilyn Manson), alternative metal (Alter Bridge, Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Deftones, Tool and Queensryche) and nu‑metal (Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Korn and Disturbed), amongst many others such as glam metal, progressive metal, black metal, doom metal, death metal, power metal, metalcore, Christian metal, etc. Possibly more than any other style of music, heavy metal has proliferated sub‑genres.

Glam rock is a relatively short‑lived offshoot of rock music that developed in the early 1970s, particularly in the UK. Glam rock’s heyday was roughly between 1970 and 1975. The music was tightly interwoven with flamboyant and colourful fashions, being performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, stark makeup and pronounced hairstyles. The impact of the symbolism was to blur the traditional gender stereotyping that was prevalent before 1970. The visuals often extended to custom instruments used by some artists. Although it may not appear obvious, glam rock influenced subsequent genres such as punk rock, new romantics, Goth rock and new wave that followed. Significant artists included Marc Bolan and T.Rex, David Bowie, Queen, Sweet, Slade, Elton John, Mud, Roxy Music and Gary Glitter. Although its impact was lower profile in the USA, artists such as Alice Cooper, New York Dolls and Iggy Pop adapted glam imagery for their own purposes.

Reggae emanated from Jamaica in the late 1960s and significantly became popular internationally during the 1970s. Reggae evolved from ska and a transitional form between ska and reggae called rocksteady. Reggae is distinctive in that it has a 4/4 rhythm with the drum marking the 3^rd beat of the bar with a guitar or keyboard staccato ‘skank’ on the 2^nd and 4^th (off) beats of the bar. Reggae is also often associated with strong and heavy rhythmic bass lines, sometimes complemented by horn arrangements. Reggae is often but not exclusively connected to Rastafarianism which also features strongly in many reggae songs, as does the use of marijuana. Roots reggae refers to its African roots and the black diaspora. Jamaican record producers also played a strong part in moulding the sound of reggae and developed a complete sub‑genre known as ‘versions’ or dub reggae that used production techniques to remove vocals and remix instrumental elements of drum, bass and guitar. Dub reggae was often played on loud PA sound systems. Key producers include Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, King Tubby, Mad Professor and Scientist. Reggae has been successfully exported worldwide, although the UK remains a key consumer market. One of the major artists who not only popularised commercial reggae globally but also acted as an ambassador for Jamaica was Bob Marley who, with his band, The Wailers became an international icon. Other major artists also include Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals, Burning Spear, Augustus Pablo, Horace Andy, I‑Roy, U‑Roy, The Abyssinians, Black Uhuru, Sly & Robbie, The Upsetters, Desmond Decker, Jimmy Cliff, Johnny Nash, Third World, Gregory Isaacs and many others. British reggae artists include Aswad, Steel Pulse, Linton Kwesi Johnson and UB40. After Bob Marley’s death, the genre diversified into other forms, such as dancehall and ragga.

The origins of rap and hip hop music derived from vocal a cappella rapping and African American urban street music originating in New York house and block parties in the Bronx during the early 1970s. The largely vernacular spoken rhyming lyrics were backed by rhythmic percussive soul, funk and disco beats of the period. The sub‑culture expanded by the late 1970s to include MCing, DJ scratching, sampling and beatboxing frequently using drum machines. Also associated with rapping were break dancing, urban graffiti art and aggressive gangland/gun culture. The broader cultural definition has become widely known as hip hop, which is the current common categorisation. Early practitioners included Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, the Sugarhill Gang and Afrika Bambaataa. The genre spread widely during the ‘golden age of hip hop’ from the 1980s up to the early 1990s spawning many sub‑genres, often associated with the region or country. For instance, there was intense rivalry between U.S. West Coast and East Coast hip hop during the 1990s, coining the term ‘gangsta rap’. Hip hop became massively influential in many other mainstream musical genres who adapted the rhyming lyrical style and sparse percussive beats. Despite a decline in the mid‑2000s, hip hop is now a global phenomenon with numerous offshoots and diverse styles. While its origins are African American, a few white artists have been successful including the Beastie Boys and Eminem. There are way too many hip hop artists to mention all of them. However, they include Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Ice‑T, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, N.W.A., The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, OutKast, Jay‑Z and Kanye West among many others.

Like other musical forms, funk and disco adapted from previous genres, becoming mainstream during the 1970s. Funk emerged from African American communities and mixed soul, jazz and R&B. Funk is recognisable by have an addictively danceable groove. Funk focused on a strong first beat of the bar and was driven by strong insistent bass and drum rhythms. Funk artists included James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, Parliament/Funkadelic, Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire and Kool & The Gang. Later, artists like Rick James and Prince would adopt funk as a key ingredient in their dance‑fused arrangements. Funk tends to be more musically complex than its sister genre, disco. Disco originated in America and rapidly spread to the UK. It is associated with urban nightclubs and DJs mixing dance records through loud sound systems to audiences in clubs and discothèques. Discos also used complex light and strobes to emphasise the beat. Disco is a heavily produced bass and drum‑driven 4/4 rhythm, often using electronic instruments to add syncopation. Disco’s core rationale was music to dance to, so disco dancing became very popular. Culturally, disco is also associated with fashion, drug use and promiscuity. Disco artists included Gloria Gaynor, The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, The Village People, Sylvester and Chic. Disco was hugely influential on later dance genres such as house, techno, drum ‘n’ bass and rave. Like many other broad genres, funk and disco have diversified into many other related sub‑genres over the years.

Widespread social dissatisfaction and a rejection of established musical forms on both sides of the Atlantic during the mid‑1970s led to the emergence of punk rock. Loud, brash, nihilistic and stripped‑back arrangements performed mainly on guitar, bass and drums were used to support often angry and alienated anti‑establishment lyrics. The result was short, sharp bursts of controversial and provocative music. The emergence of punk in America is associated with artists such as Television, Patti Smith and Ramones, building on the work of proto‑punk bands like Velvet Underground, New York Dolls and Iggy & The Stooges. Meanwhile a parallel evolution in the UK was epitomised by bands such as Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Buzzcocks, Sham 69 and The Ruts. As with many other music‑related sub‑cultures, punk led to distinctive fashions (Vivienne Westwood), art (Jamie Reid) and agressive attitudes. The anarchic punk movement spread rapidly and by 1977 was pervasive in many westernised countries. As popularity increased and punk sensibilities were adopted by the commercial mainstream, the essential ethos of punk imploded and was overtaken by the music business machinery that, ironically, was punk’s original anathema. The demise of chaotic punk rock principles led to post‑punk sub‑genres that expanded its appeal beyond the original audience, including artists like Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Ian Dury, The Cure and The Sisters Of Mercy. Punk in its purest form could not and did not last long. However, it was very influential in subsequent styles such as new wave, new romantic, emo and Goth sub‑genres. Live music venues were very important for audiences to experience the visceral nature of punk rock first hand, including CBGBs in New York and the Marquee in London. Punk saw a revival in the 1990s with bands like Green Day, Blink‑182 and The Offspring but it was far more commercial and lacking the authenticity of the original.

Musical Facts 1970-1979

Day	Month	Year	Music Fact
26	January	1970	American folk rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel released their 5^th and final classic studio album, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
3	February	1970	Multi-talented American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, solo artist and member of rock super group The Winery Dogs, Richie Kotzen was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.
13	February	1970	English heavy metal legends Black Sabbath released their classic, game-changing self-titled debut album, ‘Black Sabbath’ in the UK (NB. appropriately on Friday 13^th).
14	February	1970	English rock band The Who performed a concert at Leeds University. The show was recorded and released as the band’s first official live album, ‘Live At Leeds’.
5	March	1970	American guitarist, former member of rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and solo artist, John Frusciante was born in New York City.
9	March	1970	After changing their name from Earth, English heavy metal rock band Black Sabbath performed their debut live concert at the Roundhouse in London.
22	March	1970	Marc Bolan and Tyrannosaurus Rex released their last studio album before transforming into glam rockers T.Rex, ‘A Beard of Stars’.
10	April	1970	English singer, songwriter and bass guitarist, Paul McCartney issued a press statement that he was leaving The Beatles, signalling the band’s break up.
21	April	1970	American Chicago blues guitarist Earl Hooker died of complications from tuberculosis in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 40.
1	May	1970	English guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and former member of indie rock band Suede, Bernard Butler was born in London.
3	May	1970	English rock band The Who released their classic live album, ‘Live At Leeds in the UK.
8	May	1970	Legendary English pop/rock band The Beatles released what would be the group’s 12^th and final studio album, ‘Let It Be’, after the band split up.
3	June	1970	British heavy rock band Deep Purple released their classic breakout studio album, ‘Deep Purple in Rock’ in the UK.
5	June	1970	English heavy rock band Deep Purple released their breakthrough hit single ‘Black Night’ in the UK.
6	June	1970	American rhythm guitarist and co-founder of Nu-Metal rock band Korn, James Shaffer (a.k.a. Munky) was born in Bakersfield, California.
8	July	1970	Innovative and massively talented American alternative rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer, Beck was born in Los Angeles, California.
18	July	1970	London hosted the third Free Concert held in Hyde Park featuring Pink Floyd, Roy Harper, Kevin Ayers, and the Edgar Broughton Band.
14	August	1970	English psychedelic space rock band Hawkwind released their debut studio album, the eponymous, ‘Hawkwind’.
23	August	1970	American singer, songwriter and guitarist Lou Reed performed his final live concert appearance with The Velvet Underground (bar reunions) at Max’s Kansas City rock club in Manhattan, New York City.
26	August	1970	The famous Isle of Wight Festival began at Afton Down, attracting between 600,000 and 700,000 attendees, the largest open air music festival of its kind. Tickets for the weekend cost £3.
28	August	1970	Well over half a million people attended the 3^rd day of the UK’s famous Isle of Wight Festival to see artists including Taste, Chicago, Family and Procol Harum.
29	August	1970	The 4th day of the massive Isle of Wight Festival continued starring Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Ten Years After, ELP, The Doors, The Who and Sly & The Family Stone.
30	August	1970	The 5^th and final day of the gigantic Isle of Wight Festival took place starring Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen and Richie Havens.
4	September	1970	English rock group The Rolling Stones released their classic live album, ‘Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out’ in the UK.
6	September	1970	Legendary American rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix played his final live concert at the Isle of Fehmarn in Germany.
11	September	1970	American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Jimi Hendrix gave his final interview for the UK weekly music magazine New Musical Express (NME).
12	September	1970	London hosted the fourth Free Concert held in Hyde Park (the 2^nd that year) featuring Canned Heat, Eric Burdon and War, John Sebastian, Michael Chapman, Stoneground and others.
18	September	1970	Legendary American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, Jimi Hendrix died tragically of asphyxia in his London flat at the age of 27.
18	September	1970	Pioneering English heavy metal rock band, Black Sabbath released their classic sophomore studio album, ‘Paranoid’ in the UK.
19	September	1970	The very first Glastonbury Pop, Folk & Blues Festival took place at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, UK, attended by approximately 1,700 people.
19	September	1970	Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist Neil Young released his classic 3^rd studio album, ‘After The Gold Rush’.
1	October	1970	American guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s funeral service took place at Dunlap Baptist Church in his hometown of Seattle before he was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Renton, also in Seattle.
2	October	1970	English glam rock band Marc Bolan and T.Rex released their classic breakout hit single ‘Ride A White Swan’ in the UK.
2	October	1970	English progressive rock band, Pink Floyd released their 4^th studio album, ‘Atom Heart Mother’ in the UK.
4	October	1970	Respected American rock, soul and blues singer Janis Joplin was found dead following an accidental heroin overdose in Los Angeles, California at the age of 27.
5	October	1970	English heavy rock band Led Zeppelin released their classic 3^rd studio album, ‘Led Zeppelin III’ in the UK.
10	October	1970	English heavy metal rock band, Black Sabbath had their classic 2^nd studio album, ‘Paranoid’ reach No. 1 in the UK album chart.
23	October	1970	The Jimi Hendrix Experience released the song ‘Voodoo Child (Slight Return)’ shortly after the guitarist’s untimely death. It reached number 1 in the UK singles chart.
23	October	1970	English progressive rock band Genesis released their breakout studio album, ‘Trespass’ in the UK.
1	November	1970	Legendary American psychedelic rock band Grateful Dead released their classic 5^th studio album, ‘American Beauty’.
4	November	1970	English singer and songwriter David Bowie released his classic 3^rd studio album, ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ in the UK.
6	November	1970	Emerging American rock band Aerosmith made their debut live appearance in the gymnasium at what was Nipmuc Regional High School (now Miscoe Hill Middle School) in Mendon, Massachusetts.
9	November	1970	American blues/rock guitarist, singer and member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band along with hubby, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
15	November	1970	American alternative rock band, The Velvet Underground released their 4^th and possibly most commercial studio album, ‘Loaded’.
27	November	1970	Former member of English rock band The Beatles, George Harrison released his hugely successful solo triple studio album, ‘All Things Must Pass’ in the UK.
11	December	1970	English singer, songwriter and guitarist, Marc Bolan and T.Rex released the first post-Tyrannosaurus Rex studio album, ‘T.Rex’ in the UK.
11	December	1970	English singer and songwriter John Lennon released his post-Beatles solo album, ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ in the UK.
12	December	1970	American rock band, The Doors played their final live concert with singer Jim Morrison at the Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.
16	January	1971	American blues rock band, ZZ Top, released their debut studio album, ‘ZZ Top’s First Album’ in the UK.
17	March	1971	Renowned Canadian singer, songwriter and poet, Leonard Cohen released his classic 3^rd studio album, ‘Songs of Love and Hate’ in the UK.
19	March	1971	English progressive rock band Jethro Tull released their classic 4^th studio album, ‘Aqualung’ in the UK.
16	April	1971	English blues rock band The Rolling Stones released their huge hit single, ‘Brown Sugar’, taken from the album, ‘Sticky Fingers’.
23	April	1971	The Rolling Stones released what was probably their career peak 9^th studio album, ‘Sticky Fingers’.
29	April	1971	American rock band, The Doors released their massive 6^th studio album, ‘L.A. Woman’, including the classic single, ‘Riders On The Storm’, recorded shortly before singer, Jim Morrison’s death.
22	June	1971	The second Glastonbury Festival took place in Pilton, Somerset, UK, attended by c.12,000 fans. Artists included Hawkwind, Traffic, David Bowie, Joan Baez, Fairport Convention, Quintessence and Melanie.
2	July	1971	English glam rock group T.Rex, led by the late Marc Bolan, released their classic hit single ‘Get It On’.
3	July	1971	American singer, poet and member of rock band The Doors, Jim Morrison died from reported heart failure at an apartment in Paris, France at the age of 27.
6	July	1971	American jazz trumpeter and singer, Louis Armstrong died of a heart attack in a New York hospital at the age of 69.
31	July	1971	American guitarist known for his work with heavy rock bands Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, as well as a solo artist, John Lowery (a.k.a. John 5) was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
25	August	1971	English rock band, The Who, released their 5^th studio album, ‘Who’s Next’ in the UK.
9	September	1971	English singer, songwriter, guitarist and former Beatle, John Lennon released his career-defining solo studio album, ‘Imagine’ in the UK.
15	September	1971	English heavy rock band, Deep Purple released their flaming hot 5^th studio album, ‘Fireball’ in the UK.
21	September	1971	UK broadcaster, the BBC aired their highly regarded long-running contemporary music TV programme, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ for the first time.
8	October	1971	English psychedelic space rock band Hawkwind, released their 2^nd studio album ‘In Search Of Space’ in the UK.
29	October	1971	American guitarist and co-founder of rock band The Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman died tragically in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia at the age of 24.
30	October	1971	English former member of The Beatles, John Lennon had his classic solo studio album, ‘Imagine’ reach number 1 in the UK album chart.
1	November	1971	The classic hit single ‘Jeepster’ was released, performed by English glam rock pioneer Marc Bolan and T.Rex, reaching No. 2 in the UK singles chart.
1	November	1971	British guitarist, singer and songwriter John Martyn released his classic 3^rd solo album ‘Bless The Weather’ in the UK.
5	November	1971	Supremely versatile English lead guitarist with alternative rock band Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood was born in Oxford.
8	November	1971	English hard rock band Led Zeppelin released their classic multi-million-selling 4^th studio album, ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ in the UK, which included the track, ‘Stairway To Heaven’.
12	November	1971	English progressive rock band Genesis released their ambitious 3^rd studio album, ‘Nursery Cryme’ in the UK.
13	November	1971	English progressive rock band Pink Floyd released their outstanding 6^th studio album, ‘Meddle’ in the UK.
4	December	1971	The Montreux Casino in Switzerland, built in 1881, burnt down during a Frank Zappa gig, inspiring Deep Purple’s classic rock song, ‘Smoke On The Water’.
17	December	1971	Legendary English rock singer, songwriter and actor, David Bowie released his classic 4^th studio album, ‘Hunky Dory’ in the UK.
27	December	1971	Remarkable English guitarist with The Aristocrats and noted guitar teacher, Guthrie Govan was born in Chelmsford, Essex.
21	January	1972	English glam rockers Marc Bolan with T.Rex released the classic hit single ‘Telegram Sam’ in the UK.
10	February	1972	English glam rock singer David Bowie made his debut live appearance as his legendary alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust at the Toby Jug pub in London.
17	February	1972	American singer, songwriter, guitarist, front man and co‑founder of pop punk rock band Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong was born in Oakland, California.
25	February	1972	English singer, songwriter and guitarist, Nick Drake, released his sublime 3^rd and final studio album, ‘Pink Moon’.
25	February	1972	Legendary Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist, Neil Young, released his classic 4^th studio album, ‘Harvest’.
3	March	1972	English progressive rock band Jethro Tull released their classic 5^th studio album, ‘Thick As A Brick’ in the UK.
25	March	1972	English heavy rock band Deep Purple released their classic 6^th studio album, ‘Machine Head’ in the UK, which included the track, ‘Smoke On The Water’.
29	April	1972	English hard rock band Wishbone Ash released their career-defining classic 3^rd studio album, ‘Argus’.
5	May	1972	English glam rockers, Marc Bolan and T.Rex released their classic hit single ‘Metal Guru’ in the UK.
12	May	1972	English rock band, The Rolling Stones released their massive 10^th studio double album, ‘Exile On Main Street’.
6	June	1972	English glam rock singer and songwriter, David Bowie released his classic 5^th studio album, ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’.
3	July	1972	American country blues guitarist, Mississippi Fred McDowell died from cancer in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 66.
23	July	1972	British glam rock band, Marc Bolan and T.Rex released their classic studio album ‘The Slider’ in the UK.
8	September	1972	British glam rock star Marc Bolan and his band T.Rex released the classic hit single ‘Children Of The Revolution’.
11	October	1972	Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana with his band released their classic 4^th studio album, ‘Caravanserai’.
17	October	1972	American rapper and hip-hop artist, Eminem was born as Marshall Bruce Mathers III, a.k.a. ‘Slim Shady’ in St. Joseph, Missouri.
10	December	1972	British singer, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of alternative rock band Placebo, Brian Molko was born in Brussels, Belgium.
5	January	1973	American rock band, Aerosmith, released their eponymous debut studio album, ‘Aerosmith’.
5	January	1973	American singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen released his debut studio album, ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.’.
30	January	1973	After changing their name to KISS, the American rock band made their debut live performance in Queens, New York.
1	February	1973	British singer, songwriter and guitarist, John Martyn released his classic 4^th solo studio album, the sublime and career-defining, ‘Solid Air’.
7	February	1973	American proto punk rock band Iggy The Stooges released their hugely influential 3^rd studio album, ‘Raw Power’.
8	February	1973	Max Yasgur, who owned the New York dairy farm on which the legendary Woodstock Festival was held in August 1969, died from a heart attack in Florida at the age of 53.
23	February	1973	English pop/rock band Slade released their classic hit single, ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’ in the UK.
2	March	1973	British glam rockers, Marc Bolan and T.Rex released their classic hit single ‘20^th Century Boy’ in the UK.
16	March	1973	English progressive rock group Pink Floyd released their career pinnacle 8^th studio album, ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ in the UK.
23	March	1973	English progressive rock band King Crimson released their 5^th studio album, ‘Larks’ Tongues in Aspic’.
28	March	1973	British heavy rock band Led Zeppelin released their 5^th studio album, ‘Houses Of The Holy’ in the UK.
12	April	1973	English glam rock singer, David Bowie released his milestone classic 6^th studio album, ‘Aladdin Sane’ in the UK.
13	April	1973	Jamaican Reggae legends, Bob Marley & The Wailers released their classic 4^th studio album ‘Catch A Fire’ in the UK.
17	May	1973	American singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor and founder of rock bands Queens Of The Stone Age and Eagles Of Death Metal, Josh Homme was born in Joshua Tree, California.
25	May	1973	Richard Branson’s Virgin Records label was launched, marked by the release of Mike Oldfield’s seminal studio album, ‘Tubular Bells’.
18	June	1973	American folk rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, Ray LaMontagne was born in New Hampshire.
22	June	1973	English glam rock singer David Bowie released his classic hit single, ‘Life On Mars?’, with ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ on the B-side.
3	July	1973	English glam rock star David Bowie announced that his iconic on-stage persona, Ziggy Stardust was to retire (not Bowie himself, as was widely reported in the press).
13	July	1973	English rock/pop band Queen released their great debut studio album in the UK, the eponymous ‘Queen’.
15	July	1973	American bluegrass and country rock guitarist, a member of rock band The Byrds and an accomplished session musician, Clarence White died in a car accident in Palmdale, California at the age of 29.
26	July	1973	American southern blues/rock power trio ZZ Top released their critically acclaimed 3^rd studio album, ‘Tres Hombres’.
6	August	1973	Influential American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist Memphis Minnie (real name Lizzie Douglas) died from a stroke in a nursing home in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 76.
13	August	1973	American southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd released their storming debut album, ‘(pronounced ‘lĕh-‘nérd ‘skin-‘nérd)’, featuring their career-defining signature song, ‘Freebird’.
11	September	1973	American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, Bruce Springsteen released his sophomore studio album, ‘The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle’.
19	September	1973	American guitarist with country rock band The Byrds, Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose in Joshua Tree, California at the age of 26.
20	September	1973	American folk/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, Jim Croce died tragically along with 5 others in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana at the age of 30.
1	October	1973	British singer, songwriter and guitarist John Martyn released his remarkable change of direction 5^th studio album, ‘Inside Out’ in the UK.
9	October	1973	Influential American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe died from a stroke in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 58.
12	October	1973	English progressive rock band Genesis released their classic 5^th studio album, ‘Selling England By The Pound’.
19	October	1973	Jamaican reggae legends (Bob Marley &) The Wailers released their classic studio album, ‘Burnin’’ in the UK.
19	October	1973	English singer and songwriter David Bowie released his 7^th studio album comprising cover songs, ‘Pin Ups’ in the UK.
26	October	1973	English rock band, The Who, released their classic 6^th studio double album; the rock opera and ode to the UK’s mod movement, ‘Quadrophenia’.
11	November	1973	Legendary Irish blues/rock guitarist, Rory Gallagher, released his 4^th studio album, ‘Tattoo’ in the UK.
1	December	1973	English heavy metal band Black Sabbath released their 5^th studio album, ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’.
5	December	1973	English former member of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Wings released his 5^th and most successful ‘solo’ studio album, ‘Band On The Run’ in the UK.
10	December	1973	The legendary New York alternative, punk and New Wave music venue at 315 Bowery, Manhattan, CBGB & OMFUG, was opened by club owner Hilly Kristal.
31	December	1973	Australian heavy rock band AC/DC made their debut live performance at a local bar in Sydney, Australia.
17	January	1974	Legendary American guitarist, singer and songwriter Bob Dylan released the studio album recorded with The Band, ‘Planet Waves’.
15	February	1974	British hard rock band, Deep Purple released their classic 8^th studio album, ‘Burn’ in the UK.
20	February	1974	American jazz rock band Steely Dan released their critically well-received and commercially successful classic 3^rd studio album, ‘Pretzel Logic’.
8	March	1974	English rock band, Queen released their classic 2^nd studio album, ‘Queen II’ in the UK.
15	April	1974	American southern rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd released their classic breakout 2^nd studio album ‘Second Helping’.
17	April	1974	Swedish guitarist, singer and songwriter with progressive death metal rock band Opeth, Mikael Åkerfeldt was born in Stockholm.
18	April	1974	Accomplished American guitarist, singer and songwriter with rock bands Creed, Alter Bridge and as a solo artist, Mark Tremonti was born in Detroit, Michigan.
24	April	1974	English glam rock legend, David Bowie released his classic 8^th studio album, ‘Diamond Dogs’ in the UK.
1	June	1974	Talented Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, activist and actress Alanis Morissette was born in Ottawa, Ontario.
15	June	1974	English rock super group Bad Company released their self‑titled debut studio album, ‘Bad Company’ in the UK.
1	July	1974	English blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Eric Clapton released his classic 2^nd studio album, ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’.
21	July	1974	Highly acclaimed Irish blues/rock guitarist Rory Gallagher released his hugely successful live album, ‘Irish Tour ‘74’.
29	July	1974	Perennial Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist Neil Young released his classic 5^th studio album, ‘On The Beach’.
16	August	1974	American punk rock band Ramones played their first live concert at the legendary CBGB & OMFUG music venue in New York City.
6	September	1974	English space rock band, Hawkwind, released their classic 4^th studio album, ‘Hall of the Mountain Grill’.
14	September	1974	English guitarist, singer and songwriter Eric Clapton released his cover of Bob Marley’s ‘I Shot The Sherriff’ as a single, which reached number 1 in the U.S.
6	October	1974	English progressive rock band King Crimson released their 7^th studio album, ‘Red’.
12	October	1974	American punk rock band Blondie made their first appearance at the legendary CBGB & OMFUG music venue in New York City.
25	October	1974	Jamaican reggae legends, Bob Marley & The Wailers released their studio album, ‘Natty Dread’ in the UK, the first Wailers’ album to bear Marley’s name in the title.
29	October	1974	Hugely impressive American blues/rock guitarist, Eric Gales was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
8	November	1974	English rock band Queen moved in a more commercial direction and released their successful 3^rd studio album, ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ in the UK.
18	November	1974	English progressive rock band Genesis released their 6^th studio double concept album, and their final LP with singer Peter Gabriel, ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’.
25	November	1974	English singer, songwriter and guitarist, Nick Drake died from a drug overdose at his home in Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire at the age of 26.
28	November	1974	English former Beatle, John Lennon made his final live appearance, joining Elton John on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
16	December	1974	After 5 years as a member of The Rolling Stones, English guitarist, Mick Taylor announced that he was leaving the band.
17	January	1975	English former member of The Beatles John Lennon released his classic solo covers album, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ in the UK.
18	January	1975	American jazz, blues and country rock guitarist, Johnny Hiland was born, growing up in Maine.
20	January	1975	Legendary American guitarist, singer and songwriter, Bob Dylan released his renaissance studio album, ‘Blood On The Tracks’ in the UK.
24	January	1975	Influential and pioneering British singer, songwriter and guitarist John Martyn released his 6^th studio album, ‘Sunday’s Child’.
7	February	1975	American guitarist and member of nu-metal band Limp Bizkit and Black Light Burns, Wes Borland was born in Richmond, Virginia.
17	February	1975	Australian hard rock band, AC/DC released their debut studio album, ‘High Voltage’.
24	February	1975	English heavy rock band, Led Zeppelin released their epic 6^th studio double album, ‘Physical Graffiti’.
7	March	1975	English singer, songwriter and true rock legend, David Bowie released his change of direction classic 9^th studio album, the soul-oriented ‘Young Americans’ in the UK.
11	March	1975	English pop/art/rock band 10cc released their hugely successful 3^rd studio album, ‘The Original Soundtrack’ in the UK.
16	March	1975	American blues legend, Aaron Thibeaux ‘T-Bone’ Walker died from pneumonia following a stroke in Los Angeles, California at the age of 64.
17	March	1975	English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as member of hard rock band The Darkness, Justin Hawkins was born in Chertsey, Surrey.
29	March	1975	Experimental virtuoso English rock guitarist, Jeff Beck released his seminal and commercially successful 2^nd solo album, ‘Blow By Blow’ in the UK.
2	April	1975	English super group Bad Company released their classic sophomore studio album, ‘Straight Shooter’.
8	April	1975	American hard rock band Aerosmith released one of their most successful records, their 3^rd studio album, ‘Toys In The Attic’, including the hit track, ‘Walk This Way’.
9	May	1975	English space rock perennials, Hawkwind, released their 5^th studio album ‘Warrior On The Edge Of Time’ in the UK.
23	May	1975	English pop/rock band 10cc released their superbly written and produced massive hit single, ‘I’m Not In Love’.
20	June	1975	Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist Neil Young released his classic 6^th studio album, ‘Tonight’s The Night’.
23	June	1975	Hugely talented Scottish multi-genre singer, songwriter and guitarist, KT Tunstall was born in Edinburgh.
29	June	1975	Influential American singer, songwriter and guitarist Tim Buckley died from a drug overdose in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 28.
9	July	1975	Mercurial American singer, songwriter and flamboyant guitarist with The White Stripes, The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs, as well as solo artist, Jack White was born in Detroit, Michigan.
11	July	1975	British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled 10^th studio album, ‘Fleetwood Mac’.
17	July	1975	Jamaican reggae icons, Bob Marley And The Wailers performed the first of 2 live concerts at London’s Lyceum. The concerts were recorded for the classic live album, ‘Live!’
25	July	1975	English singer and songwriter, David Bowie released his hit single, ‘Fame’, co-written with Carlos Alomar and with backing vocals by John Lennon. It was reportedly a jibe at Bowie’s artist management.
16	August	1975	English singer and songwriter Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving Genesis, the progressive rock band he co‑founded.
25	August	1975	American rock icon Bruce Springsteen released his massively successful 3^rd studio album, ‘Born To Run’.
1	September	1975	British singer, songwriter and guitarist John Martyn released his masterful live concert album, ‘Live At Leeds’.
5	September	1975	English progressive rock band Jethro Tull released their 8^th studio album, ‘Minstrel In The Gallery’ in the UK (8 September in the U.S.).
12	September	1975	English progressive rock band, Pink Floyd released their massive classic 7^th studio album, ‘Wish You Were Here’.
23	October	1975	English singer and songwriter, Elton John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6915 Hollywood Boulevard.
6	November	1975	British punk rock band, Sex Pistols made their debut live performance as a support act in the Common Room of Saint Martin’s School Of Art at Charing Cross Road in central London.
10	November	1975	Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist, Neil Young with his band Crazy Horse released the classic 7^th studio album, ‘Zuma’.
2	December	1975	English pop/rock band Queen released their 4^th studio album, ‘A Night At The Opera’, including the massive hit single ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
5	December	1975	Jamaican reggae legends Bob Marley And The Wailers released their classic live album, ‘Live!’ recorded at London’s Lyceum Theatre on 17 & 18 July 1975.
13	December	1975	American punk rock singer, beat poet and political activist, Patti Smith released her classic anti‑establishment debut studio album, ‘Horses’, produced by John Cale.
13	December	1975	American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and co‑founder of pop punk rock band Blink-182, Tom DeLonge was born in Poway, California.
20	December	1975	American guitarist Joe Walsh joined the country rock band Eagles, replacing former band guitarist Bernie Leadon.
5	January	1976	Renowned American guitarist, singer and songwriter, Bob Dylan released his classic mid-career studio album, ‘Desire’ in the UK.
10	January	1976	American blues legend Howlin’ Wolf died from complications of kidney surgery in Hines, Illinois at the age of 65.
23	January	1976	Legendary English rock singer and songwriter, David Bowie released his classic 10^th studio album, ‘Station To Station’.
9	March	1976	Country music legend Johnny Cash received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6320 Hollywood Boulevard.
18	March	1976	The classic sci-fi film ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’, directed by Nicolas Roeg and starring English singer David Bowie was released in the UK.
19	March	1976	English guitarist with rock band Free, Paul Kossoff died from a drug-related heart attack on a flight from Los Angeles to New York City at the age of 25.
21	March	1976	Guitar pioneer, innovator and entrepreneur, Adolph Rickenbacker died from cancer in Orange County, California at the age of 89.
23	March	1976	English heavy metal band Judas Priest released their classic sophomore studio album, ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’.
26	March	1976	Irish rock group, Thin Lizzy released their breakout classic 6^th studio album, ‘Jailbreak’.
28	March	1976	American guitarist with rock group The Killers, Dave Keuning was born in Pella, Iowa.
31	March	1976	Legendary English heavy rock band Led Zeppelin released their 7^th studio album, ‘Presence’.
3	April	1976	British pop group Brotherhood Of Man won the 21^st Eurovision Song Contest with, ‘Save Your Kisses for Me’.
23	April	1976	American punk rock band, Ramones released their eponymous debut studio album, ‘Ramones’.
30	April	1976	Jamaican reggae legends, Bob Marley & The Wailers released their commercially successful studio album, ‘Rastaman Vibration’.
3	May	1976	American hard rock band, Aerosmith, released their 4^th studio album, ‘Rocks’.
4	July	1976	British punk rock band The Clash made their live concert debut supporting the Sex Pistols at the Black Swan pub (known to locals as ‘The Mucky Duck’) in Sheffield, England.
27	July	1976	English singer, songwriter, guitarist and former member of The Beatles, John Lennon, finally had his application for permanent American residency approved by the U.S. Government.
31	July	1976	American hard rock band, Blue Öyster Cult released their signature tune and huge commercial hit, the classic single, ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’.
29	August	1976	Exemplary American blues guitarist and singer, Jimmy Reed died from respiratory failure in Oakland, California at the age of 50.
13	September	1976	American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released their great live double album ‘One More From The Road’ in the US.
7	October	1976	Following an appeal hearing, English former member of The Beatles, John Lennon had his permanent residency of the USA confirmed.
8	October	1976	American jazz fusion pioneer and bass guitarist Stanley Clarke released his ground breaking studio album ‘School Days’.
22	October	1976	Influential American poet, singer, songwriter, artist and activist Patti Smith released her 2^nd studio album, ‘Radio Ethiopia’.
24	October	1976	Legendary Irish guitarist, Rory Gallagher, released his classic 6^th studio album, ‘Calling Card’.
25	November	1976	Canadian/American rock group, The Band, played their final concert in San Francisco, California, ‘The Last Waltz’, documented by filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
26	November	1976	English punk rock pioneers, Sex Pistols released their controversial debut single, ‘Anarchy In The UK’ on EMI Records.
2	December	1976	The photoshoot for the iconic album cover to Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’ (released in 1977) took place at Battersea Power Station in London, complete with giant inflatable pig.
3	December	1976	Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley was wounded when gunmen shot him, his wife and manager at his home in Kingston. The incident was widely thought to be a politically motivated act.
5	December	1976	French electronic musician Jean Michel Jarre released his milestone 3^rd studio album Oxygène in France.
8	December	1976	American country rock band Eagles released their top‑selling and career-defining classic 5^th studio album, ‘Hotel California’.
12	December	1976	English guitarist with hard rock bands The Darkness and Stone Gods, Dan Hawkins was born in Chertsey, Surrey.
28	December	1976	American blues guitar legend, Freddie King died of complications from ulcers and acute pancreatitis in Texas at the age of 42.
14	January	1977	English rock singer David Bowie released his 11^th studio album and the first part of his highly acclaimed ‘Berlin Trilogy’, ‘Low’ in the UK.
23	January	1977	Highly acclaimed English progressive rock band, Pink Floyd, released their 10^th studio album, ‘Animals’, in the UK.
4	February	1977	Anglo-American rock band, Fleetwood Mac released their massive career-topping 11^th studio album, ‘Rumours’ in the US.
26	February	1977	American delta blues guitarist and singer Booker T. Washington ‘Bukka’ White died from cancer in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 67 or 70 (age disputed).
2	March	1977	English singer, songwriter, co-founder and front man of band Coldplay, Chris Martin was born in Exeter, Devon.
10	March	1977	English punk rock band Sex Pistols controversially ‘signed’ a short-lived recording contract with A&M Records outside Buckingham Palace in London.
21	March	1977	Australian hard blues/rock band, AC/DC, released their 4^th studio album, ‘Let There Be Rock’.
8	April	1977	English punk rock band, The Clash released their classic eponymous debut studio album, ‘The Clash’. Often considered to be one of the finest British punk albums.
8	May	1977	Great American blues rock guitar maestro, Joe Bonamassa was born in New Hartford, New York.
27	May	1977	In the same year as Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, British punk pioneers Sex Pistols released their controversial 2nd single, ‘God Save The Queen’ in the UK.
31	May	1977	The BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority banned the Sex Pistols’ controversial single, ‘God Save The Queen’ from being played on UK radio for being “in gross bad taste”.
3	June	1977	Jamaican reggae icons Bob Marley & The Wailers released their career-defining massively successful 9^th studio album, ‘Exodus’.
12	June	1977	Talented American blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd was born in Shreveport Louisiana.
15	June	1977	English punk rock band Sex Pistols infamously performed ‘Anarchy In The UK’ aboard a party boat on the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament in London.
20	June	1977	Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist Neil Young released his 8^th studio album, ‘American Stars ‘n Bars’.
30	June	1977	Marvel Comics published the first comic book with characters loosely based on members of the American rock band KISS.
2	July	1977	British punk rock pioneers Sex Pistols released their controversial 3^rd single, ‘Pretty Vacant’ in the UK.
16	August	1977	American rock ‘n’ roll legend, Elvis Presley died from a drug-related heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 42.
18	August	1977	The funeral of American singing legend, Elvis Presley took place at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
11	September	1977	Welsh guitarist and co-founder of rock band Coldplay, Jonny Buckland was born in London.
16	September	1977	Flamboyant English glam rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Marc Bolan of Tyrannosaurus Rex and later T.Rex died tragically in a car accident in London at the age of 29.
16	September	1977	American alternative rock band, Talking Heads, released their remarkable debut studio album, ‘Talking Heads: 77’.
23	September	1977	English singer and songwriter David Bowie released the single ‘Heroes’, which would become one of his greatest signature songs.
24	September	1977	English heavy rock band Motörhead released their debut studio album, the self-titled ‘Motörhead’ in the UK.
30	September	1977	English post-punk and new wave singer, songwriter and actor, Ian Dury released his debut studio album with The Blockheads, ‘New Boots And Panties!!’ in the UK.
30	September	1977	Fiery American blues/rock guitarist and member of Supersonic Blues Machine, Lance Lopez was born in Galveston, Texas.
7	October	1977	English guitarist Steve Hackett left progressive rock band Genesis to pursue a successful solo career.
12	October	1977	American singer, songwriter and guitarist Bruce Springsteen released his 4^th studio album, ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’.
14	October	1977	English singer and songwriter David Bowie released his 12^th studio album, ‘Heroes’, the 2^nd part of his famed ‘Berlin Trilogy’.
16	October	1977	Award-winning American blues/rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer John Mayer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
17	October	1977	American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released their 5^th studio album, ‘Street Survivors’, just days before the band’s tragic plane crash.
20	October	1977	Several members of American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, including singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, singer Cassie Gaines were among those tragically killed and injured in a plane crash near Gillsburgh, Mississippi.
21	October	1977	American rock band, Meat Loaf, released their best‑selling debut studio album, ‘Bat Out Of Hell’.
28	October	1977	English punk rock band, Sex Pistols released their controversial debut (and currently only) studio album, ‘Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols’.
4	November	1977	American punk rock pioneers, Ramones released their definitive 3^rd studio album, ‘Rocket To Russia’.
4	November	1977	British guitarist, singer and songwriter John Martyn released his classic 7^th solo studio album, ‘One World’ in the UK.
25	November	1977	English blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Eric Clapton released his classic 5^th studio album, ‘Slowhand’.
1	December	1977	American guitarist, producer and founding member of nu-metal rock band Linkin Park, Brad Delson was born in Agoura, California.
25	January	1978	After changing their name from Warsaw to Joy Division, the post-punk rock band made their first live performance in Manchester, UK.
6	February	1978	Influential Dutch/American guitarist, Eddie Van Halen released the eponymous debut studio album that launched the band’s career ‘Van Halen’.
10	February	1978	English heavy metal band Judas Priest released their classic 4^th studio album, ‘Stained Class’.
3	March	1978	American punk rock singer, poet, activist and artist, Patti Smith released her classic 3^rd studio album, ‘Easter’.
23	March	1978	Jamaican reggae legends, Bob Marley & The Wailers released their 9^th studio album and follow up to the massive ‘Exodus’, ‘Kaya’.
5	April	1978	English new romantic and pop/rock band Duran Duran performed their debut live concert at Birmingham Polytechnic.
15	May	1978	Antipodean heavy rock band, AC/DC released their storming 5^th studio album, ‘Powerage’.
19	May	1978	British rock band, Dire Straits released their breakout debut single, ‘Sultans of Swing’ in the UK.
2	June	1978	Irish rock band, Thin Lizzy released their massive live double album, ‘Live And Dangerous’ in the UK.
9	June	1978	Mercurial English guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of rock band Muse, Matt Bellamy was born in Cambridge.
7	July	1978	American indie rock band, Talking Heads, released their 2^nd studio album, ‘More Songs About Buildings and Food’.
7	September	1978	English drummer with rock band The Who, Keith Moon, died of a drug overdose in London at the age of 31.
12	October	1978	English bass guitarist with the Sex Pistols, John Ritchie (a.k.a. Sid Vicious) was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City.
30	October	1978	American punk rock band Blondie released their single ‘Hanging On The Telephone’, their first Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart.
2	November	1978	English post-punk rock band The Police released their astounding debut studio album, ‘Outlandos d’Amour’ in the UK.
11	November	1978	The first commercially available vinyl 7” single picture disc was released by the Elektra label, featuring The Cars, ‘My Best Friend’s Girl’.
23	November	1978	American singer, songwriter, artist and occasional guitarist with rock bands, The Kills and The Dead Weather, Alison Mosshart was born in Vero Beach, Florida.
2	January	1979	The trial of English bass guitarist with Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious, started in New York. He was accused of murdering his American girlfriend, Nancy Spungen in 1978.
31	January	1979	American virtuoso jazz guitarist Grant Green died of a heart attack while on the road in New York City at the age of 43.
2	February	1979	English bass guitarist of Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious (John Ritchie) died from a heroin overdose in New York City at the age of 21.
7	February	1979	American guitarist, singer and songwriter Stephen Stills became the first major rock artist to record tracks using digital studio equipment at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, California.
3	March	1979	American guitarist, singer and songwriter, Frank Zappa released his highly successful and humorous part studio, part live double album, ‘Sheik Yerbouti’.
12	March	1979	English singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of indie rock bands The Libertines and Babyshambles, Pete Doherty was born in Hexham, Northumberland.
24	March	1979	English rock band, Motörhead hit the mainstream with the release of their classic 2nd studio album, ‘Overkill’.
8	May	1979	English indie rock giants The Cure released their debut studio album, ‘Three Imaginary Boys’ in the UK.
14	May	1979	Great American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and member of blues rock band The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach was born in Akron, Ohio.
18	May	1979	Legendary English rock singer and songwriter David Bowie released his 13^th studio album and the third part of his ‘Berlin Trilogy’, ‘Lodger’.
8	June	1979	American guitarist, songwriter, member of rock band The Allman Brothers Band and founder of The Derek Trucks Band, Derek Trucks was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
15	June	1979	English post-punk band Joy Division released their impressive debut studio album, ‘Unknown Pleasures’.
20	June	1979	English guitarist, singer, songwriter, former member of indie rock band Ash and then solo artist, Charlotte Hatherley was born in London.
29	June	1979	American singer, songwriter and guitarist with Little Feat, Lowell George died from a cocaine-related heart attack in Arlington, Virginia at the age of 34.
1	July	1979	Japanese technology company Sony launched the first Walkman portable media player, capable of playing Compact Cassettes while on the move.
27	July	1979	Australian hard rock band AC/DC released their classic 6th studio album, ‘Highway To Hell’.
3	August	1979	American alternative rock band Talking Heads released their classic 3^rd studio album, ‘Fear Of Music’, produced by Brian Eno.
11	August	1979	English hard rock band Led Zeppelin played their final UK concert with their original line up at Knebworth Festival in Hertfordshire.
12	August	1979	American pop singer and songwriter Michael Jackson released his 5^th studio album, ‘Off The Wall’, marking his status as a global superstar.
15	August	1979	English heavy rock band Led Zeppelin released their last album with their original group line up, ‘In Through The Out Door’.
24	August	1979	American guitarist Peter Frampton received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6819 Hollywood Boulevard.
17	September	1979	American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer Frank Zappa released his studio album, ‘Joe’s Garage Act I’. The first of 3 ‘parts’.
29	September	1979	English post-punk rock trio The Police had their first UK No.1 hit single with, ‘Message In A Bottle’, the band’s 3^rd Top 20 hit.
2	October	1979	Jamaican reggae legends, Bob Marley & The Wailers released their studio album, ‘Survival’ in the UK.
2	October	1979	English post-punk rock band The Police released their massively commercial chart-topping 2^nd studio album, ‘Reggatta de Blanc’ in the UK.
7	October	1979	English post-punk rock band Joy Division released their debut single ‘Transmission’ on Factory Records in the UK.
19	October	1979	Anglo-American rock group Fleetwood Mac released their divisive, experimental 12^th studio album, ‘Tusk’ amidst reports of the band’s excess.
27	October	1979	English rock band Motörhead released their strong 3^rd studio album, ‘Bomber’ in the UK, with the classic line up of Lemmy, Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor.
19	November	1979	American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer Frank Zappa released his classic studio double album, ‘Joe’s Garage Acts II & III’.
30	November	1979	English progressive rock band, Pink Floyd released their epic 11^th studio double concept album, ‘The Wall’. Estimated worldwide sales are around 30 million copies.
14	December	1979	English punk rock band, The Clash released their mighty 3^rd studio double album, ‘London Calling’ in the UK.

Tailpiece

That’s more than enough for now! Looking at the list of artists, it is a veritable roll call of modern music. Just contrast the albums that started and ended the decade to see how much irreversible change had occurred in just 10 years. For many, the 1970s was the last decade to witness truly fundamental changes in musical and social paradigms. While not being strictly true, it was always going to be a tough task to sustain the energy and innovation of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s into subsequent decades. However, this didn’t stop existing and emerging artists trying to break the constraints of predictability. So, the 1980s was to prove a different kettle of fish altogether and that is what the story seeks to explore in the next article. Are you with me? Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “Nobody should have to play a secondary character in their own life”

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28 Jul 2019

July 2019 – The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part V

by Tony Drew | posted in: History, Introduction, Observations | 0

Introduction

Okeydokey guitar and music fans out there. If you are reading this 5^th part of the series of articles, I hope you know the routine by now, so I won’t bore you with any further preamble and we can get on with the latest episode.

If you would like to (re)visit the first four parts (covering 300 years) of the story to‑date, you can do so here (each link opens a new browser tab):

Before we delve in to the Fifties, I was asked a very good question following the last article, which was…

Question(s): “A young Elvis Presley sang ‘Old Shep’ in a talent contest… he came 2nd. I would dearly like to know who beat the future ‘King’ of rock and roll. Do you happen to know if it was a fellow pop star?”

Answer: Many reports say that the young Elvis came 2^nd. However, in a later interview, Presley said that he came 5^th. The photograph of the prize giving presentation suggests that Presley may be correct in his recollection as three others are holding prizes while the young Presley, standing on the far right of the photo below wearing glasses, is standing empty-handed. The winners, as far as anyone knows, did not go on to become famous.

This also raises the point of illustrating the facts. I actually have some interesting images for each and every fact listed in these articles. While a picture can convey many words, to add that many photos, each publication would become humongous to wade through. I know people like to see pictures, rather than read volumes of sometimes repetitive narrative. On this occasion, it is probably better not to illustrate each fact. Apologies to all the picture loving people out there.

Once again, so much happened in the course of the 1950s that the decade demands a discrete article to itself. Let’s go…

The Story of Modern Music Part V 1950-1959

For many people, the birth of rock ‘n’ roll heralded a whole new era of popular music. So, as we get to the 1950s, this article will cover what was going on in the world that enabled such a musical revolution to take place and the fundamental cultural changes that went along with it. The world would never be the same again. It is worth remembering that, at the time, not everyone was excited about change and many conservative traditionalists fiercely rejected and resisted such a rebellious and irreversible transformation.

Historical Context 1950-1959

For most developed economies, the 1950s was a period of slow recovery from the severe consequences of WWII. However, the world was not without conflict and warfare in many other regions including in Asia, Africa and South America. The Cold War continued to fester, fuelled by intense competition between the democratic United States and communism Soviet Russia. The bitter rivalry included reciprocal nuclear weapons testing, military escalation and the start of the ‘space race’. The McCarthy ‘witch hunts’ of communist subversive and treasonous American citizens fuelled bitter political conspiracy and widespread public paranoia. The threat of mutually assured destruction maintained a fragile stalemate between west and east. By the end of the decade, as employment and income levels began to improve, individual freedoms and opportunities would lead to a paradigm shift in civilised countries including radical social, political, technological and cultural change that would set the dynamic scene for following decades.

Year	Global Events
1950	The Korean War started between the communist North supported by Russia and China, and the capitalist South supported by America – the war lasted until 1953 when the Korean Demilitarized Zone was implemented to separate North and South.
1951	The precursor to the European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), was formed when six countries signed the Treaty of Paris.
1952	British monarch, King George VI died and Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom. Republican politician and army general Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected 34^th President of the U.S.A.
1953	New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. One of the first films to depict youthful rebellion and which would become a reflection on American social tensions, ‘The Wild One’ was released, directed by Laslo Benedek and starring Marlon Brando. The scientific paper describing the double-helix structure of DNA was authored by Britain Francis Crick and American James Watson.
1954	The term rock ‘n’ roll was coined by DJ Alan Freed and the associated teen culture became hugely popular, particularly in America and Britain. British athlete Roger Bannister becomes the first man to run the four minute mile.
1955	Renowned German physicist Albert Einstein died in Princeton, New Jersey, America in 1955 at the age of 76. The Warsaw Pact defence treaty between Russia and seven neighbouring Eastern Bloc states was signed during the ‘Cold War’ standoff. The classic film drama of teen alienation, ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ was released, directed by Nicholas Ray and starring James Dean. The phenomenally successful MacDonald’s fast food chain was established in America by Ray Kroc. The Vietnam War between the Communist North and the Capitalist South started, which lasted until 1975.
1956	The Suez Crisis erupted following Egyptian nationalisation of the Suez Canal, creating conflict in the Middle East.
1957	Russia launched the Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite into space, effectively triggering the space race. The European Economic Community (EEC) was established when six countries signed the Treaty of Rome.
1958	The American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was set up in Washington D.C.
1959	Marxist leader Fidel Castro established the long‑standing communist dictatorship in Cuba after overthrowing the Batista regime. The British Motor Corporation launched the revolutionary and hugely successful small family car, the Mini, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis. The original model stayed in production until 2000. Alaska and Hawaii formally become an integral part of the United States of America.

Musical Genre Development 1950-1959

The 1950s was a decade of innovation that saw the massive explosion of musical creativity across many genres, fusing influences and generating many new musical styles. Arguably, it was during the 1950s that modern music ‘grew up’ and any suggestions that the popular music crazes of the time were ephemeral ‘fads’ were finally dispelled. Country music remained popular with artists such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams at the forefront of a revival.

Possibly not a genre in itself but easy listening music became popular in the 1950s and lasted until the 1970s. A form of middle‑of‑the‑road (MOR) music, it found popularity on radio and then extended into various styles of background music, elevator music or ‘muzak’. Easy listening music was often instrumental or vocal interpretations of past popular music standards, rather than anything new in its own right. Some major artists tapped into the appeal, including Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Herp Alpert, The Carpenters and Richard Clayderman.

In the post‑war years, modernistic music, broadly also encompassing experimental and avant‑garde music was being explored by many composers wishing to push boundaries either within existing traditions or by introducing original elements outside prevailing styles. The aim of many composers was to break rules, reject established conventions and challenge audiences in a creative, if frequently alienating, way. Practitioners included Arnold Schoenberg and John Cage.

During the 1950s rhythm and blues music, often shortened to R&B, became popular, being a more upbeat form of blues music. R&B emanated from mainly African‑American music that was widespread during the late 1940s. Record companies promoted R&B toward predominantly urban African American audiences. R&B’s popularity was based on a fusing many influences such as jazz, blues, country and gospel to create strongly rhythmic, beat‑based songs. R&B would, in turn, influence the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll and soul of the late 1950s and 1960s. In response to other influences, R&B changed to include other styles such as doo‑wop. Famous R&B artists of the time included Ray Charles, The Drifters, Sam Cooke, The Platters and the Coasters.

By the mid‑1950s, the cultural clash of blues, jazz and country combined to create a new phenomenon in the United States, rock ‘n’ roll, a phrase popularised by radio disc jockey Alan Freed in 1954. Bill Haley (And His Comets) is often credited as the catalyst although many other artists were instrumental in creating the new youth musical revolution, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Rockabilly was a very close relation to rock ‘n’ roll at the time popularised by artists such as Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent. Classic rock ‘n’ roll is essentially based on a backbeat dance rhythm performed on electric guitar, bass, and drums, replacing the piano and saxophone as lead instruments. The cultural importance of rock ‘n’ roll cannot be underestimated and its impact went far beyond just a musical genre, influencing lifestyle, film & TV, art, fashion, attitudes, and language. Although its roots can be traced back to the 1930s, it was in the 1950s that rock ‘n’ roll began to pervade modern society, coming as it did at a time of immense post‑war technological, economic, social and political change. On the back of radio coverage, the 45rpm single record would provide a massive boost to sales of rock ‘n’ roll songs to America’s urban counterculture youth. Rock ‘n’ roll began to decline by the early 1960s as other forms of popular music began to dilute its impact.

Musical Facts 1950-1959

During the Fifties, many more household names that we take for granted today came into the world. Modern music began the transition from the traditional forms to more contemporary genres. As younger artists born in the 1930s and 1940s began to create the ‘new’ music, the shift in the balance of ‘facts’ from births, through achievements, to deaths are just beginning to become apparent.

Day	Month	Year	Music Fact
5	January	1950	American guitarist, producer, photographer and co‑founder of punk/new wave/pop band Blondie, Chris Stein was born in Brooklyn, New York.
12	February	1950	English guitarist, former member of progressive rock band Genesis and now a successful solo artist, Steve Hackett was born in London.
13	February	1950	English solo singer, songwriter and ex-member of progressive rock band Genesis, Peter Gabriel was born in Chobham, Surrey.
19	February	1950	English singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of rock group Wishbone Ash, Andy Powell was born in London.
20	February	1950	American bassist, guitarist, songwriter and co‑founder of jazz rock band Steely Dan, Walter Becker (1950-2017, 67) was born in New York City.
24	February	1950	American singer, songwriter, guitarist and perennial rocker George Thorogood was born in Wilmington, Delaware.
22	April	1950	English born American singer, songwriter and guitarist, Peter Frampton was born 1950 in Bromley, Kent.
13	May	1950	Legendary American soul singer, songwriter, keyboard player and producer, Stevie Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
13	May	1950	English guitarist, singer, songwriter and member of Anglo‑American rock group Fleetwood Mac from 1968 to 1972, Danny Kirwan (1950-2018, 68) was born in London.
3	June	1950	Pioneering American singer, songwriter, bass guitarist and actor, Suzi Quatro was born in Detroit, Michigan.
18	July	1950	English business entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin empire including Virgin Records and Virgin record stores, Richard Branson was born in London
2	August	1950	English guitarist and singer, best known for his work with rock band Wishbone Ash, Ted Turner was born in Sheldon, Birmingham.
30	August	1950	English guitarist with, amongst others, Whitesnake and Snafu, Micky Moody was born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire.
10	September	1950	American guitarist, singer, songwriter and member of rock band Aerosmith, Joe Perry was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
14	September	1950	Great English guitarist and co-founder off blues/rock band Free, Paul Kossoff (1950-1976, 25) was born in London.
2	October	1950	English guitarist, bass guitarist and founding member of progressive rock bands Genesis and Mike + The Mechanics, Mike Rutherford was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
5	October	1950	Great English guitarist and one-time member of rock band Motörhead, ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke (1950-2018, 67) was born in London.
20	October	1950	Legendary American singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and bandleader of The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty (1950-2017, 66) was born in Gainesville, Florida.
22	November	1950	American guitarist, actor and member of Bruce Springsteen’s E. Street Band, Steven Van Zandt was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts.
22	November	1950	American bass guitarist and co-founder of post-punk alternative rock bands Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, Tina Weymouth was born in Coronado, California.
9	December	1950	Award-winning British singer, songwriter and guitarist, Joan Armatrading was born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts in the Caribbean.
31	January	1951	English guitarist, producer and former member of art rock bands Roxy Music, 801 and Quiet Sun, Phil Manzanera was born in London.
1	February	1951	Great American blues guitarist and skilled slide guitarist, Sonny Landreth was born in Canton, Mississippi.
4	March	1951	Highly accomplished English pop, rock and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, Chris Rea was born in Middlesbrough.
6	March	1951	Terrific American blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, Walter Trout was born in Ocean City, New Jersey.
17	March	1951	American guitarist, best known as co-lead guitarist with rock bands Thin Lizzy and more recently, Black Star Riders, Scott Gorham was born in Glendale California.
20	March	1951	American blues/rock guitarist, singer, bandmate and older brother of the late Stevie Ray, Jimmie Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas.
27	April	1951	American guitarist, songwriter, co-founder and former member of hard rock group, KISS, nicknamed ‘Spaceman’, Ace Frehley was born in The Bronx, New York City.
7	May	1951	Formidable Puerto Rican/American rock guitarist, who frequently played with David Bowie and James Brown, Carlos Alomar was born in Ponce.
7	May	1951	Prolific English guitarist and former member of heavy rock band Whitesnake, Bernie Marsden was born in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire.
21	June	1951	American rock guitarist, often seen as sideman to ‘The Boss’, as well as a solo artist, Nils Lofgren was born in Chicago, Illinois.
30	June	1951	Amazing American jazz fusion bass guitarist, composer and founding member of Return to Forever, Stanley Clarke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2	August	1951	English guitarist and member of psychedelic progressive rock band Gong and founder of electronic dance band System 7, Steve Hillage was born in London.
19	August	1951	Retired English bass guitarist for the rock/pop band Queen, John Deacon was born in Leicester.
21	August	1951	English bass guitarist, solo artist, one time member of hard rock band Deep Purple and currently with super group Black Country Communion, Glenn Hughes was born in Cannock, Staffordshire.
7	September	1951	American singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of post‑punk rock/pop group The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde was born in Akron, Ohio.
18	September	1951	American punk rock pioneer, bass guitarist and member of the Ramones, Dee Dee Ramone (1951-2002, 50) was born in Fort Lee, Virginia.
2	October	1951	English singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, actor, ex‑member of rock band The Police and successful solo artist, Gordon Sumner CBE, a.k.a. Sting, was born in Wallsend, Northumberland.
3	October	1951	Award-winning American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Keb’ Mo’ was born in Los Angeles, California.
26	October	1951	Flamboyant American bass guitarist and singer with funk/soul artists James Brown and Funkadelic/Parliament, the illustrious Bootsy Collins was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1	December	1951	Influential virtuoso American jazz bass guitarist who worked with Weather Report, Pat Metheny and Joni Mitchell, as well as a solo artist, the incomparable Jaco Pastorius (1951-1987, 35) was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
4	December	1951	American guitarist and founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Rossington was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
16	December	1951	Influential American jazz, blues and rock guitarist Robben Ford was born in Woodlake, California.
26	December	1951	Talented American jazz/rock guitarist who has collaborated with many great musicians over the course of his career, John Scofield was born in Dayton, Ohio.
11	January	1952	American contemporary jazz session and solo guitarist, Lee Ritenour was born in Los Angeles, California.
20	January	1952	American guitarist, singer, songwriter, artist and long‑term member of iconic rock band KISS, nicknamed ‘The Starchild’, Paul Stanley was born in New York City.
7	March	1952	The influential and popular weekly music magazine, The New Musical Express (NME), was launched in the UK.
7	March	1952	American guitarist (as well as bassist and drummer), singer, songwriter and member of funk band The Isley Brothers, Ernie Isley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
17	March	1952	Irish guitarist and member of heavy rock bands Gillan and Ozzy Osbourne, Bernie Tormé (1952-2019, 66) was born in Dublin.
2	April	1952	American bass guitarist with southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Leon Wilkeson (1952-2001, 49) was born in Newport, Rhode Island.
4	April	1952	Legendary Northern Irish blues and rock guitarist extraordinaire, Gary Moore (1952-2011, 58) was born in Belfast.
14	May	1952	Scottish/American singer, songwriter, guitarist founder of alternative rock band Talking Heads and solo artist, David Byrne, was born in Dumbarton, Scotland.
15	July	1952	American guitarist, singer, songwriter and member of proto punk rock band New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders (John Genzale, 1952-1991, 38) was born in Queens, New York.
19	July	1952	American guitarist and member of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allen Collins (1952-1990, 37) was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
21	August	1952	Hugely influential English guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and co-founder of punk rock bands The Clash and The Mescaleros, the great Joe Strummer (1952-2002, 50) was born in Ankara, Turkey.
19	September	1952	Legendary American guitarist, songwriter, producer and co‑founder of funk/disco/dance band Chic, Nile Rodgers was born in New York.
1	October	1952	Great American rock guitarist and sideman extraordinaire, Earl Slick was born in Brooklyn, New York.
8	November	1952	The UK’s first ever popular music singles chart was introduced by The New Musical Express (NME) magazine. At Number 1 was Al Martino with ‘Here In My Heart’.
14	November	1952	Versatile and prolific American guitarist and songwriter, Johnny A (a.k.a. John Antonopoulos) was born in Malden, Massachusetts.
1	January	1953	American country singer, songwriter and guitarist, Hank Williams died of drug and alcohol-related heart failure in Oak Hill, West Virginia at the age of 29.
6	January	1953	Scottish-born guitarist and co-founder of Australian rock band AC/DC, Malcolm Young (1953-2017, 64) was born in Glasgow.
10	January	1953	American jazz guitarist who has played with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Billy Cobham and Miles Davis, as well a successful solo artist, Mike Stern was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
20	February	1953	American guitarist and co-founder of psychobilly rock band, The Cramps, Poison Ivy (Kristy Wallace) was born in San Bernardino, California.
19	March	1953	American bass player who has played with many great musicians and has a successful solo career, Billy Sheehan was born in Buffalo, New York.
28	April	1953	American bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of alternative rock band Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon was born in Rochester, New York.
5	May	1953	Highly respected English folk singer, songwriter and guitarist, Martin Simpson was born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
15	May	1953	English multi-instrumentalist, composer and talented guitarist, the man behind ‘Tubular Bells’ in 1973, Mike Oldfield was born in Reading, Berkshire.
16	May	1953	Mercurial Belgian-born French gypsy jazz guitarist and composer, Django Reinhardt died from a brain haemorrhage in Fontainebleau, France at the age of 43.
29	July	1953	Influential Canadian singer, songwriter and bass guitarist with rock band Rush, Geddy Lee was born in North York, Ontario.
1	August	1953	Award-winning American blues guitarist, singer and band leader, Robert Cray was born in Columbus, Georgia.
27	August	1953	Hugely influential Canadian guitarist and co-founder of rock group Rush, Alex Lifeson was born in Toronto, Ontario.
27	September	1953	Great Jamaican reggae riddim ‘n’ dub bass guitarist and producer, Robbie Shakespeare, best known as half of Sly & Robbie was born in Kingston.
18	December	1953	American guitarist and singer, well known for his work with The Cars up to 1988, Elliott Easton was born in Brooklyn, New York.
27	February	1954	American guitarist and member of rock groups Santana, Journey and Bad English, Neal Schon was born in Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
16	March	1954	American singer, songwriter, guitarist and core member of the rock band Heart, Nancy Wilson was born in San Francisco, California.
12	April	1954	Canadian guitarist and singer who has collaborated with many artists over the years and is bandleader of the Pat Travers Band, Pat Travers was born in Toronto, Ontario.
10	May	1954	American rock ‘n’ roll pioneers, Bill Haley And His Comets originally released ‘(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock’. The world wasn’t ready yet and it didn’t hit the charts until 1955.
12	July	1954	19‑year old American singer, Elvis Presley left his job and signed his first recording contract with producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
19	July	1954	American record label, Sun Records released the debut single by aspiring American rock ‘n’ roll singer, Elvis Presley, ‘That’s All Right’.
22	July	1954	Virtuoso American jazz fusion/Latin rock guitarist Al Di Meola was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.
28	July	1954	Multi-talented American guitarist and member of hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994, Steve Morse was born in Hamilton, Ohio.
12	August	1954	Influential American virtuoso progressive jazz fusion guitarist, Pat Metheny was born in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
17	August	1954	Award-winning American virtuoso instrumental rock guitarist Eric Johnson was born in Austin, Texas.
25	August	1954	English punk, pop and alternative rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer, Declan MacManus (a.k.a. Elvis Costello) was born in London.
3	October	1954	Legendary American blues/rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954‑1990, 35) was born in Dallas, Texas.
1	December	1954	Australian-born British guitarist, singer and songwriter with punk rock band The Slits, Viv Albertine was born in Sydney.
18	December	1954	German guitarist, known for his work with Scorpions and the innovator behind the Sky Guitar, Uli Jon Roth was born in Düsseldorf.
7	January	1955	The classic hit song, ‘Rock Around The Clock’ was re‑released by Bill Haley & His Comets, entering the UK singles chart. Rock ‘n’ roll had truly arrived.
10	January	1955	German guitarist, best known as a member of rock bands Scorpions and UFO, as well as a successful solo career with his own band, Michael Schenker was born in Sarstedt.
24	January	1955	English pianist, singer, songwriter, bandleader, TV presenter and former member of Squeeze, Jools Holland was born in London.
26	January	1955	Dutch/American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Eddie Van Halen was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
5	March	1955	American singer Elvis Presley made his American television debut on the KWKH TV show ‘Louisiana Hayride’ broadcast from Shreveport, Louisiana.
31	March	1955	Australian guitarist and co-founder of hard rock band AC/DC, Angus Young was born in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
13	April	1955	American bass guitarist with funk masters Brothers Johnson, Louis Johnson (1955-2015, 60) was born in Los Angeles, California.
31	May	1955	Australian virtuoso session musician and solo guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel was born in Muswellbrook, New South Wales.
26	June	1955	English guitarist and co-founder of punk rock band The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite, Mick Jones was born in London.
1	September	1955	English bass guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his work with punk rock band, The Jam from 1972 to 1982, Bruce Foxton was born in Woking, Surrey.
3	September	1955	English guitarist and ex-member of punk rock band Sex Pistols, Steve Jones was born in London.
12	November	1955	Hugely influential Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist, former member of Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, as well as a phenomenal solo artist, the incomparable Neil Young was born in Toronto, Ontario.
15	December	1955	English bass guitarist best known as a member of punk rock icons The Clash and more recently collaborating with Damon Albarn in The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Paul Simonon was born in Croydon.
4	January	1956	English singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and founding member of post-punk rock bands Joy Division and New Order, Bernard Sumner was born in Salford.
10	January	1956	The ‘King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’, Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA/Victor, including the classic hit single, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.
27	January	1956	Legendary American singer, Elvis Presley released his classic breakout single for RCA, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.
28	January	1956	American rock ‘n’ roll singer Elvis Presley made his first national television appearance in America on the CBS TV programme, the ‘Dorsey Brothers Stage Show’.
31	January	1956	English singer and member of punk rock bands Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd, John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten), was born in London.
3	February	1956	American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, artist and co-founder of alternative rock band Sonic Youth, Lee Ranaldo was born in Long Island, New York.
12	February	1956	Scottish guitarist and one-time member of rock bands Thin Lizzy and Motörhead, Brian Robertson was born in Clarkston.
13	February	1956	English bass guitarist, best known as member of post‑punk rock bands Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook was born in Salford.
18	February	1956	Renowned American master luthier, innovator, entrepreneur, guitar maker extraordinaire and founder of PRS Guitars since 1985, Paul Reed Smith was born in Stevensville, Maryland.
12	March	1956	English bass guitarist and founder of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, Steve Harris was born in Leytonstone, Essex.
23	March	1956	American singer Elvis Presley released his eponymous debut album, ‘Elvis Presley’, a milestone that heralded the unstoppable explosion of the rock ‘n’ roll era.
4	June	1956	American guitarist, songwriter and producer, known for playing with David Bowie, Tin Machine and indie rock band The Cure, Reeves Gabrels was born in New York City.
26	June	1956	American singer, songwriter, rock (‘n’ roll) guitarist and actor, Chris Isaak was born in Stockton, California.
15	July	1956	Influential American virtuoso instrumental rock guitarist, Joe ‘Satch’ Satriani was born in Westbury, New York.
27	August	1956	English bass guitarist, songwriter and original member of punk rock band Sex Pistols, Glen Matlock was born in London.
29	September	1956	The rock ‘n’ roll era had clearly arrived when Bill Haley & His Comets had 5 songs in the UK Singles Chart Top 30 including the all-time classic hit, ‘Rock Around The Clock’.
4	November	1956	English guitarist and co-founding member of rock band The Pretenders, James Honeyman-Scott (1956-1982, 25) was born in Hereford, Herefordshire.
6	December	1956	Hugely talented American heavy rock guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot, Randy Rhoads (1956-1982, 25) was born in Santa Monica, California.
6	December	1956	American guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of rock band R.E.M., Peter Buck was born in Berkeley, California.
23	December	1956	English guitarist, songwriter and long-term member of heavy metal rock band Iron Maiden, Dave Murray was born in London.
16	January	1957	The legendary Liverpool live music venue, The Cavern Club opened its doors for business. The Beatles appeared there an impressive total of 292 times.
27	January	1957	English guitarist with heavy rock bands Gillan and latterly Iron Maiden, Janick Gers was born in Hartlepool.
27	February	1957	English guitarist, songwriter and member of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, Adrian Smith was born in London.
17	March	1957	American singer, Elvis Presley bought the famous 23‑room Graceland mansion at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis, Tennessee for $102,500.
28	April	1957	English guitarist, composer, producer and member of Bristol‑based trip‑hop group Portishead, Adrian Utley was born in Northampton.
10	May	1957	English bass guitarist with the Sex Pistols, John Simon Ritchie, a.k.a. Sid Vicious (1957-1979, 21) was born in London.
27	May	1957	American rock ‘n’ roll band The Crickets, featuring the late Buddy Holly, released their debut hit single, ‘That’ll Be The Day’ in the US.
2	August	1957	American record producer Butch Vig was born. Vig has worked with many famous rock bands including Nirvana, Sonic Youth and The Smashing Pumpkins.
12	September	1957	Acclaimed German film composer and producer, Hans Zimmer was born in Frankfurt.
22	September	1957	Australian alternative/indie rock singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and band leader of The Bad Seeds, Nick Cave was born in Warracknabeal, Victoria.
24	September	1957	American rock ‘n’ roll legend Elvis Presley released his massively popular hit single ‘Jailhouse Rock’ in the U.S.
10	October	1957	American country music legend Johnny Cash released his debut studio album on Sun Records, ‘Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar!’
21	October	1957	American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, session musician and a founding member of rock band Toto, Steve Lukather was born in San Fernando Valley, California.
1	November	1957	Award-winning American country singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor, Lyle Lovett was born in Klein, Texas.
8	November	1957	English guitarist and artist best known as a member of the original line up of indie/alternative rock band The Cure, Porl (now Pearl) Thompson was born in Surrey.
8	December	1957	English guitarist and long-time member of heavy rock band Def Leppard – one half of ‘The Terror Twins’ – Phil Collen was born in London.
20	December	1957	American rock ‘n’ roll singer Elvis Presley was served with his U.S. Army draft notice while at his home at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
20	December	1957	English guitarist, protest singer, songwriter, charity founder and political activist, Billy Bragg was born in Barking, Essex.
21	February	1958	The very first ‘modernist’ Flying V guitar, designed by the legendary Ted McCarty, was shipped from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
24	March	1958	American rock ‘n’ roll singer Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army in Memphis, Tennessee.
27	March	1958	CBS Records announced the invention of the stereophonic record, ensuring that they were backwards compatible with the mono record players of the time.
31	March	1958	American rock ‘n’ roll legend, Chuck Berry released his all‑time classic hit single, ‘Johnny B. Goode’. 2 min. 30 sec. of pure magic.
19	April	1958	London’s (in)famous music venue, The Marquee Club first opened its doors at 165 Oxford Street, its original site before moving to 90 Wardour Street in 1964.
25	May	1958	The ‘modfather’ of post-punk rock, member of The Jam, The Style Council and solo artist, Paul Weller was born in Woking, Surrey.
7	June	1958	Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist, Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016, 57) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
8	July	1958	The Recording Industry Association of America awarded the first official ‘Gold’ album to the soundtrack of the hit film, ‘Oklahoma’.
9	July	1958	After leaving Sam Phillips at Sun Records, country music legend Johnny Cash signed a lucrative contract with Columbia Records, a successful association that lasted for three decades.
25	July	1958	American guitarist, singer and songwriter with alternative rock band Sonic Youth, Thurston Moore was born in Coral Gables, Florida.
7	August	1958	English singer and on-off-on member of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson was born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
14	August	1958	American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist, Big Bill Broonzy died from cancer in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 55 or 65, depending on who you believe.
16	August	1958	American singer, songwriter, actress and entrepreneur, Madonna Louise Ciccone, or as we know her, Madonna, was born in Bay City, Michigan.
29	August	1958	American singer, songwriter and member of the Jackson Five, as well as successful solo artist, nicknamed the ‘King of Pop’, Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.
19	September	1958	English/American rock guitarist, ex-member of The Runaways and successful solo artist, Lita Ford was born in London.
22	September	1958	American singer and US Army conscript Private Elvis Presley sailed on the USS Randall to Friedberg, Germany to serve in the 1^st Battalion, 32^nd Armor Regiment, 3^rd Armored Division.
22	September	1958	American rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, founding member of the Runaways and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Joan Jett was born in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
20	October	1958	English bass guitarist, singer and co-founder of jazz/funk/pop band Level 42, Mark King was born in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
28	October	1958	Scottish guitarist, composer and co-founder of indie/alternative rock band The Jesus And Mary Chain, William Reid was born in East Kilbride.
7	November	1958	American rockabilly/rock ‘n’ roll icon, Eddie Cochran had his first hit with the classic song, ‘Summertime Blues’. It reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.
11	December	1958	American bass guitarist, songwriter, producer and co‑founder of heavy rock band Mötley Crüe, Nikki Sixx (real name Frank Feranna, Jr.) was born in San Jose, California.
17	December	1958	American bass guitarist, singer, composer and founding member of alternative rock band R.E.M., Mike Mills was born in Orange County, California.
1	January	1959	American country music legend Johnny Cash performed his first live concert for inmates at the infamous San Quentin State Prison in California.
17	January	1959	American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actress and co‑founder of pop/rock band The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs was born in Los Angeles, California.
3	February	1959	American singer Buddy Holly and 3 others (including stars Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper) died tragically in a plane crash in Iowa. Holly was just 22 years old. ‘The Day the Music Died’.
7	February	1959	American blues guitarist, Eddie ‘Guitar Slim’ Jones died of pneumonia in New York City at the age of 32.
7	February	1959	The funeral of American rock & roll singer, songwriter and guitarist Buddy Holly took place in Lubbock, Texas.
10	April	1959	American rockabilly/swing guitarist, songwriter and bandleader of Stray Cats and the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Brian Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York.
21	April	1959	English, guitarist, singer, songwriter, co-founder and main inspiration behind indie rock icons The Cure, Robert Smith was born in Blackpool, Lancashire.
4	May	1959	The first Annual Grammy Awards was held in two venues simultaneously, in Beverly Hills, California and in New York City. Winners included Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Henry Mancini.
5	May	1959	American guitarist and songwriter, best known as guitarist for Billy Idol since the early 1980s, Steve Stevens was born in Brooklyn, New York.
22	May	1959	Controversial English singer, songwriter and former front man of indie rock band The Smiths, Steven Morrissey, was born in Davyhulme, Lancashire.
1	June	1959	The BBC broadcast the first celebrity music panel TV show ‘Juke Box Jury’ in the UK. Guests judged new record releases as a ‘hit’ or ‘miss’. It was hosted by presenter David Jacobs and ran until December 1967.
14	June	1959	American jazz fusion bass guitarist, famed for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York.
11	July	1959	American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and long‑term member of rock band Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
17	July	1959	Legendary American jazz singer Billie Holiday died of pulmonary oedema and heart failure caused by cirrhosis of the liver in New York at the age of 44.
29	July	1959	English guitarist, best known for playing with hard rock band Whitesnake, John Sykes was born in Reading, Berkshire.
19	August	1959	American country blues and ragtime guitarist and singer, Blind Willie McTell died from a stroke in Milledgeville, Georgia, at the age of 61.
16	October	1959	English guitarist and member of new wave/pop band Spandau Ballet, Gary Kemp was born in London.

Tailpiece

So… by the end of the 1950s, KABOOM! – Rock ‘n’ Roll had well and truly arrived and there was no going back. The significant influence of rock ‘n’ roll had set in motion further evolutionary strands that would continue to expand horizons in all sorts of different directions during a period of unprecedented creativity. New musical genres demanded technological developments in recording, distribution and consumption of music.

Things are only going to get even more interesting as we go forward. I hope you will return and see what happened in the 1960s and beyond. No cliff‑hanger required, just a touch of gentle encouragement to return here next month. In the meantime, I have plenty more vintage guitars that need some tender loving care, followed by some serious playing workouts. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “Exercise your right to be you or regret the denial of yourself.”

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Peter Frampton