This Day in Music
On this day in music, January 12, 1969, Led Zeppelin released their self-titled debut in the UK. Featuring a mix of blues covers and hard-rocking originals (including “Good Times Bad Times” and “Communication Breakdown”), the album was recorded in a mere 36 hours, not long after the band had formed. Initially called The New Yardbirds (an offshoot of the legendary blues-rock band), the group was forced to change their name. “Led Zeppelin” jokingly referred to the band’s chances at success, but their album proved otherwise, spending more than a year on the UK chart (where it peaked at No.6), and landing in the Top Ten in the US, Australia, Spain, and beyond.
In 2003, founding Bee Gees member Maurice Gibb unexpectedly passed away at the age of 53, following complications from surgery. With a seemingly endless stream of hits like “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “Massachusetts,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and “Stayin’ Alive,” Gibb and his brothers made a deep cultural impact during their lengthy career together.
In 2002, memories of the late R&B star Aaliyah continued to shine bright when her posthumous single, “More Than A Woman,” topped the UK pop chart. The singer was killed in a plane crash months earlier, while she was en route to shoot a video for her hit, “Rock The Boat.”
In 1977, The Police held their first rehearsal at drummer Stewart Copeland’s London flat, with Henri Padovani on guitar. The band would release their debut single, “Fall Out” (their only recording featuring Padovani, before he was replaced by Andy Summers) in May.
In 1974, The Steve Miller Band scored their first No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “The Joker.”
In 1964, as their fame continued to grow, The Beatles appeared on the British TV show, Sunday Night At The London Palladium. Their five-song set included such hits as “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Twist and Shout,” and “All My Loving.”
BORN ON JANUARY 12
1926: Ray Price
1946: George Duke
1951: Chris Bell (Big Star)
1954: Felipe Rose (Village People)
1968: Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan)
1970: Zach de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine)
1974: Mel C (Spice Girls)
1993: Zayn Malik (One Direction)
