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)
The Litchfield Area Recreation Center now has about 370 memberships. With many of those being family memberships, the total number of people represented is about 960.
LARC Director Owen Boerma says they recently became a part of the Silver Sneakers network so many seniors have been able to get involved at the LARC through their Medicare plan. He says the City Council approved a program in which people may use the walking track through the end of March for a one-time $50 fee which gives them an opportunity to try it out, and then hopefully, they’ll eventually purchase a membership. The walking track is nearly one-eighth of a mile, so 8 laps equals nearly one mile.
Boerma say the LARC also has a fitness center with weights and various machines like treadmills and they offer fitness classes. He says they also have two meeting rooms which can be rented for $30 per hour and they offer a party package in which you can use the rooms along with access to the field house.
Boerma says the field house includes four basketball courts and they are also being used for pickle ball. He says they’ve already hosted basketball and pickle ball tournaments at the LARC. He says they have gift certificates available if you want to give someone a one-day pass or perhaps a one-month membership so they can try out the facility, and they love giving people tours. For more information, call 320-221-8226 or go to litchfieldrecreationcenter.com.
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)
The 2026 Litchfield Rescue Squad calendars are still available for sale. The sweepstakes drawing will be held on January 6th and then the winners are announced each week throughout the year.
Litchfield Rescue Squad Captain Chris Guggemos says the calendars are available for $20 each at Litchfield Building Center, KLFD, Miller Automotive, Ramsey Printing, Mid Country Bank, Sure Stay, Insurance Solutions and from any current Litchfield Rescue Squad member. He says the proceeds from this fundraiser help them purchase equipment beyond normal budget items that they would ask for from the Litchfield City Council.
Litchfield Rescue Squad Chief Blake Tangen says they’ve been able to purchase items like the LUCAS devices with proceeds from their calendar sales. He says the Rescue Squad mostly responds to medical and lift assists calls, and also accidents, search and rescue calls, sporting event stand-bys and more and they now have a full roster of 30 members, but people are still welcome to apply.
Tangen says applications are available at City Hall for potential Litchfield Rescue Squad members and also on their Facebook page. He says when you purchase a sweepstakes calendar, you have 246 chances of winning back your $20, twelve chances to win $100 and three chances to win $300 on April 15th, during Watercade and on September 11th.