This Day in Music
On this day in music, February 5, 1962, Ringo Starr made his first live appearance with The Beatles, filling in for drummer Pete Best, who was ill. The band played two shows that day: a lunchtime set at Liverpool’s Cavern Club and another in the evening at Southport’s Kingsway Club. Starr, who was playing regularly with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at the time, officially joined The Beatles in August 1962, completing the Fab Four’s famous line-up.
In 1972, less than two years after Simon & Garfunkel split, Paul Simon released his first solo single, “Mother and Child Reunion.” The title of the song, which led Simon’s self-titled debut, was inspired by a chicken-and-egg dish of the same name from a Chinese restaurant menu. The reggae-influenced track peaked at No.4 in the US, No.5 in the UK, and No.1 in South Africa.
In 1983, Def Leppard’s third album, Pyromania began a 92-week run on the Billboard charts. Although it failed to ever reach the top spot, it sold over six million copies in the US alone. 21 years later, the record received a rare Diamond certification by the RIAA.
In 1971, Black Sabbath began recording their third album, Master of Reality, in London. Cited by many as the foundation for stoner rock, the record featured a darker sound (due in part to guitarist Tommy Iommi down-tuning his instrument) that later influenced the likes of Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Soundgarden.
In 1962, Ray Charles kicked off sessions for Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music at New York City’s Capitol Studios. The landmark album, which marked a departure from the rhythm and blues that Charles had previously been known for, achieved broad critical and commercial success.
In 1957, Bill Haley arrived on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner in Southampton, England, where he was about to make history as the first American rock artist to tour the UK. Upon his arrival, Haley and his band, the Comets, were greeted by a crowd of about 5,000 fans. The group kicked off their tour the following day with a show at London’s Dominion Theatre.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 5
1929: Hal Blaine (Wrecking Crew)
1942: Corey Wells (Three Dog Night)
1944: Al Kooper
1964: Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses)
1968: Chris Baron (Spin Doctors)
1969: Bobby Brown
