Entertainment

On this day in music, December 31, 1970, Paul McCartney filed a suit against the rest of The Beatles to dissolve their partnership. His reasons for doing so included the fact that the band was no longer performing together, as well as his bandmates’ choice to appoint business manager Allen Klein (without McCartney’s consent). The Beatles’ breakup had already been in motion, however, with John Lennon privately announcing his departure in 1969. The band made their final recordings together in August 1969, while the split was legally formalized in 1974.

In 2015, singer Natalie Cole died at the age of 65. The daughter of Nat King Cole, Natalie rose to fame in the mid-70s with hits like “This Will Be” and “Our Love,” but she found her greatest success with the 1991 album, Unforgettable… with Love. The album, which featured a virtual duet with her late father, sold more than seven million copies and earned the artist seven Grammy Awards.

In 1966, The Monkees began a seven-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with the Neil Diamond-penned song, “I’m A Believer.”

In 1963, The Kinks made their live debut, playing a gig at the Lotus House Restaurant in London.

In 1961, The Beach Boys made their live debut using their now-famous name when they appeared at Long Beach Civic Auditorium in Southern California.

In 1973, AC/DC made their live debut, appearing at Chequers Bar in Sydney, Australia.

In 1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen suffered severe injuries in a car accident outside of Sheffield, England. While Allen lost his left arm in the accident, he remained the group’s drummer.

In 1982, legendary New York City venue Max’s Kansas City closed its doors. The club became an in-the-know gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists, politicians, and more in the 60s and 70s.

In 1996, Paul McCartney officially became Sir Paul McCartney after he was listed in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

In 1999, The Manic Street Preachers performed for 57,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The Guinness Book of Records confirmed that the concert set a new record as the biggest indoor show ever staged in Europe.

BORN ON DECEMBER 31

1930: Odetta
1942: Andy Summers (The Police)
1943: John Denver
1947: Burton Cummings (The Guess Who)
1948: Donna Summer
1951: ​​Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)
1960: Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
1963: Scott Ian (Anthrax)
1972: Joey McIntrye (New Kids On The Block)
1977: Psy

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On this day in music, December 30, 2002, a funeral for singer, guitarist, and co-founder of The Clash, Joe Strummer, took place in London. With the seminal punk band, Strummer scored three Top Ten albums in the UK, including 1978’s Give ’Em Enough Rope, 1979’s London Calling, and 1982’s Combat Rock, which peaked at No.2. Additionally, when their 1982 hit “Should I Stay or Should I Go” was re-released in 1991, the song reached the top of the UK singles chart. Strummer was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside his band members, in 2003.

In 2009, singer-songwriter Neil Young was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, the country’s second-highest civilian honor. His fellow honorees included director Ivan Reitman, hockey player Mario Lemieux, and musician Burton Cummings.

In 1967, The Beatles scored their 15th No.1 hit in the US with “Hello Goodbye.” The song also topped the charts in the UK, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia, among other territories.

In 1999, George Harrison and his wife, Olivia, were attacked by a knife-wielding intruder in their home. Police deemed the terrifying event as a clear attack on the former Beatle, rather than a botched robbery.

In 1999, during the Queen’s Millennium Honours list, former Slade singer Noddy Holder was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) and guitarist Mark Knopfler was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire).

In 1969, Peter Tork quit The Monkees, citing exhaustion from the band’s rigorous schedule, as well as creative differences.

In 1968, during their first North American tour, supporting Vanilla Fudge, Led Zeppelin (advertised as Len Zefflin) appeared at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA.

BORN ON DECEMBER 30

1928: Bo Diddley
1937: Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul and Mary)
1942: Mike Nesmith (The Monkees)
1945: Davy Jones (The Monkees)
1946: Patti Smith
1947: Jeff Lynne (ELO)
1969: Jay Kay (Jamaroquai)
1978: Tyrese
1982: Wesley Schultz (The Lumineers)
1986: Ellie Goulding
1995: V (Kim Tae-hyung) (BTS)
1995: Jimin (Park Ji-min) (BTS)

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On this day in music, December 29, 1956, Elvis Presley made chart history by having ten simultaneous singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 (then called the “Top 100”) – an astonishing feat then and now. At the end of the year, Billboard reported that the rock‘n’roll star had placed more songs in the US Top 100 than any other artist since records were first charted. Among them were the No.1 hits “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Love Me Tender.”

In 2012, Adele’s 21 overtook Oasis’ (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to become the UK’s fourth biggest selling album of all-time. The feat also gave Adele the best-selling album of all time by a solo artist in the UK, while 21’s 23-week run atop the UK album chart is the longest by a female solo artist. In the US, it became the best-performing Billboard 200 album of all time, holding the No.1 spot for 24 weeks, longer than any other album since 1985 and the longest by a female solo artist in chart history.

In 1966, at London’s Abbey Road Studios, Paul McCartney began work on a new song, “Penny Lane.” When it came to the sound of the tune, McCartney found inspiration from the Beach Boys’ new album, Pet Sounds . The lyrics, meanwhile, referenced the Beatles’ Liverpool roots.

In 1967, Dave Mason quit Traffic, citing creative differences. A founding member of the band, Mason rejoined halfway through sessions for Traffic’s 1968 self-titled LP, after which he once again left to pursue solo opportunities.

In 1984, supergroup Band Aid topped the UK chart with their benefit single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Across the Atlantic, in a rather interesting dichotomy, Madonna had the No.1 song with “Like a Virgin.”

In 1980, American singer-songwriter Tim Hardin died at the age of 39. The folk and blues artist wrote a number of songs that became famous in the hands of other artists, including “If I Were a Carpenter” and “Reason to Believe.”

BORN ON DECEMBER 29

1941: Ray Thomas (The Moody Blues)
1942: Rick Danko (The Band)
1946: Marianne Faithfull
1961: Mark Day (Happy Mondays)
1961: Jim Reid (The Jesus and Mary Chain)
1966: Bryan Holland (The Offspring)

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On this day in music, December 26, 1970, George Harrison began a four-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “My Sweet Lord,” making him the first Beatle to score a No.1 hit as a solo artist in the US. The tender ballad, which appeared on Harrison’s broadly acclaimed album, All Things Must Pass, gave the “Quiet Beatle” similar bragging rights in the UK, where it topped the charts for five weeks and became the biggest-selling single of 1971.

In 1999, soul star Curtis Mayfield died at the age of 57. After rising to fame as a member of The Impressions, Mayfield embarked on a highly successful solo career, highlighted by his most celebrated release, the 1972 soundtrack for Super Fly. A double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Mayfield won a Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.

In 1976, The Sex Pistols recorded “God Save The Queen” at Wessex Studios in London. The controversial song, which was released during Queen Elizabeth II’s 1977 Silver Jubilee, flew to No.2 on the UK pop chart.

In 1979, Pink Floyd’s The Wall began a 15-week run at the top of the US album chart.

In 2007, Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black was named the biggest-selling album of the year in the UK. Today, it remains one of the territory’s best-selling albums of all time.

In 1967, BBC1 celebrated Boxing Day by airing The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour in black and white. Less than two weeks later, the film aired in color on BBC2. While the soundtrack was well-received, the film fared decidedly less well with the public and the press.

In 1979, the first in a series of benefit concerts was held at London’s Hammersmith Odeon for the People of Kampuchea (Cambodia). Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello, and Wings were among the start-studded acts who performed.

In 1981, AC/DC began a three-week run at the top of the Billboard 200 with their seminal album, For Those About To Rock We Salute You.

In 1968, Led Zeppelin embarked on their first North American tour, supporting Vanilla Fudge and Spirit.

BORN ON DECEMBER 26

1935: Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir (The Four Tops)
1939: Phil Spector
1953: Henning Schmitz (Kraftwerk)
1963: Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
1966: Jay Farrar (Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt)
1971: Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars)

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On this day in music, December 23, 1964, after several years of mounting pressure, Brian Wilson suffered a panic attack while on tour with The Beach Boys. The event was a life-changing one for Wilson, who made the difficult decision to step away from performing live with his band. While he was replaced temporarily by Glen Campbell, Wilson would remain a vital part of the group’s songwriting and production (leading to such revolutionary albums as The Beach Boys Today!, Sumer Days (And Summer Nights!!), and Pet Sounds.

In 2007, The Police were named the highest-earning touring group of the past year. The run of dates was particularly special – not only celebrating 30 years since the band’s inception, but also marking the reunited trio’s first tour in 24 years. At the time, the 151-date global run became the third highest-grossing tour of all time, with profits reaching over $360 million.

In 2002, Sir Paul McCartney was granted his own coat of arms by the College of Arms, the English heraldic body formed in 1484. The motto on McCartney’s coat reads, “Ecce Cor Meum,” Latin for “Behold My Heart,” which served as the title of his 2006 classical album.

In 1962, during his first visit to the UK, Bob Dylan gave an impromptu performance at the King and Queen pub in London’s West End. While attending a folk night at the pub’s upstairs room, Dylan was recognized by several audience members, who insisted that he perform a few songs.

In 1966, the final episode of the popular UK TV show Ready Steady Go! aired, featuring a star-studded line-up of special guests, including Mick Jagger, The Who, Eric Burdon, and The Spencer Davis Group, among several others.

BORN ON DECEMBER 23

1935: Esther Phillips
1941: Tim Hardin
1949: Adrian Belew
1949: Ariel Bender (Mott the Hoople)
1958: Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
1964: Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
1974: Montsho Eshe (Arrested Development)

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On this day in music, December 22, 1984, Madonna scored her first No.1 hit in the US with “Like A Virgin.” Produced by Nile Rogers (co-founder of the disco group, Chic), the song held the top spot for six weeks and became a global phenomenon, landing at No.1 in Canada and Australia and peaking in the Top Five across Europe. “Like a Virgin” also served as the title track and first single from Madonna’s sophomore album, though Rodgers (who produced nearly every song on the LP) pushed for “Material Girl” to lead the record. The song would become a signature hit for Madge and a cultural touchstone of the 80s.

In 1973, Elton John began a two-week run at the top of the UK album chart with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The LP became a sensation, thanks to such enduring hits as “Candle In The Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and the title track.

In 2002, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of The Clash, Joe Strummer, died at the age of 50. With the innovative political punk-rock band, Strummer released a variety of highly-influential titles, including 1979’s London Calling and 1982’s Combat Rock.

In 2014, Joe Cocker died at the age of 70. Ranked as one of the greatest singers of all time by the likes of MOJO and Rolling Stone, the British artist was beloved for his gritty vocals and expressive performances.

In 1967, Pink Floyd played their last major show with Syd Barrett at The Olympia in London. The star-studded event, dubbed Christmas on Earth Continued, also featured performances by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Eric Burdon and The Animals, and Soft Machine, among others.

In 1972, nine-year-old Little Jimmy Osmond became the youngest person to have a No.1 hit in the UK with his single, “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.”

In 2010, North London’s Abbey Road zebra crossing (made famous by its appearance on the Beatles’ Abbey Road LP cover) was officially recognized for its “cultural and historical importance” and given Grade II status by the UK government.

BORN ON DECEMBER 22

1944: Barry Jenkins (The Animals)
1948: Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)
1949: Robin and Maurice Gibb (The Bee Gees)
1968: Richard James Edwards (Manic Street Preachers)
1972: Vanessa Paradis
1989: Jordin Sparks
1993: Meghan Trainor

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