| 1955, Johnny Cash played two shows at Arkansas High School, in Swifton, Elvis Presley opened the show. |
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| 1961, The Beatles played at the Palais Ballroom in Aldershot to a crowd of just 18 people. The date had not been advertised, owing to the local newspaper's refusal to accept the promoter's cheque. After the show The Beatles became rowdy, getting themselves ordered out of town by the local police. |
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| 1966, Supergroup Cream released their debut studio album 'Fresh Cream' in the UK. The three piece of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker also released their second single 'I Feel Free' on the same day. |
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| 1967, The Doors appeared at the New Haven Arena, New Haven, Connecticut. Before the show a policeman found singer Jim Morrison making out with an 18 year-old girl in a backstage shower and after an argument the policeman sprays mace in Morrison’s face. Once on stage Morrison tells the story of the backstage episode and starts taunting the police who drag him off the stage and arrest him. The crowd riots leaving the venue in disarray and many are arrested. Later over 100 protestors gathered at the police station in demonstration and more arrests were made. |
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1968, Free appeared at the Marquee Club in London England. Other acts appearing at the club this month included Joe Cocker, The Who and Led Zeppelin.
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| 1978, Boney M had their second UK No.1 single with their version of the Harry Belafonte 1957 hit 'Mary's Boy Child'. On the list of the all-time best selling singles in the UK, Boney M. appear in fifth place (with 'Rivers of Babylon') and tenth place (with 'Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord'). The single sold almost 1.8 million copies. |
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1978, Chic started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Le Freak.' Nile Rodgers later stated that the song was devised during New Years Eve of 1977, as a result of him and bassist Bernard Edwards being refused entrance to Studio 54, in New York City, where they had been invited by Grace Jones, due to Jones's failure to notify the nightclub's staff. He said the lyrics of the refrain were originally "Fuck off!" rather than "Freak out!"
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| 1988, According to a poll released in the US, the music of Neil Diamond was favoured as the best background music for sex, Beethoven was the second choice and Luther Vandross was voted third. |
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| 1988, Michael Jackson played the first of nine sold-out nights on his Bad World Tour at the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan. |
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1989, Billy Joel started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Didn't Start The Fire'. Its lyrics are made up from rapid-fire brief allusions to over a hundred headline events between 1949 (Joel was born on May 9 of that year) and 1989, when the song was released on his album Storm Front.
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| 1990, Paula Abdul was taken to North Hollywood Medical Centre after being involved in a car crash in Los Angeles. |
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| 1991, During their Use Your Illusion Tour, Guns n' Roses played the first of three nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. |
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| 1992, George Harrison was the recipient of the first Century Award, presented by Tom Petty at the third Billboard Music Awards in Universal City, California. |
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| 1995, Darren Robinson, founder member of The Fat Boys died of a heart attack, weighing 450lb (204kg) at the time of his death. Also known as Buffy, The Human Beat Box, and DJ Doctor Nice. |
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| 1995, Michael Jackson scored his 6th solo UK No.1 single when 'Earth Song' started a 6-week run at the top of the charts. It gave Jackson the UK Christmas No.1 of 1995 and his best-selling UK single ever. The song kept the first single released by The Beatles in 25 years, 'Free as a Bird', off the No.1 position. |
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1997, Oasis played the first of three sold out nights at Wembley Arena, London, supported by Supergrass.
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| 2000, Sharon Corr of The Corrs called for the legalisation of cannabis, claiming that the drug has medicinal properties. Sharon said, 'Some people with certain conditions can get a brief reprieve from their symptoms through cannabis'. |
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2000, U2 made their first-ever appearance on the long-running NBC program 'Saturday Night Live.' The band played ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘Elevation.’
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| 2001, Channel 4 TV apologised to viewers after Madonna said 'motherfucker' during live UK TV coverage at The Tate Gallery, London. Madonna was presenting a prize to artist Martin Creed. A TV spokesman said that did have a bleeper system but they missed the offending word. |
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2001, Winners at The Smash Hits awards included Atomic Kitten, Best single for 'Whole Again', Westlife won Best band and Best album for 'World Of Our Own', and Blue won Best newcomer, Steps won Best live act, Shaggy won Best male act, Britney Spears won Best Female Act, Destiny's Child won Best R&B act, S Club 7's Rachel Stevens won Most Fanciable Female and Best Video went to Gorillaz, 'Clint Eastwood.'
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2003, Ozzy Osbourne was admitted to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire after being injured in a quad bike accident at his UK home. The 55 year-old singer broke his collarbone, eight ribs and a vertebra in his neck. News of Osbourne's accident reached the House of Commons, where the government sent a goodwill message.
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| 2005, Joss Stone, Lemar and Ms. Dynamite backed by the African Children's Choir and 1,200 school children set a new world record for the most children singing simultaneously. The ‘Big Sing’ was held at The Royal Albert Hall, London. The singers led a performance of ‘Lean On Me’ which was broadcast to more than half a million people. |
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| 2005, A man charged with stealing more than $300,000 worth of Elvis Presley's jewelry from the Elvis-A-Rama museum appeared in a Las Vegas court. 30 year old Eliab Aguilar was arrested on November 3rd after police said he approached a retired Elvis impersonator and offered to sell him several items including Presley's 1953 class ring from Humes High School worth $32,000, a 41 carat ruby and diamond ring worth $77,000 and a gold-plated Smith & Wesson .38 special. |
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| 2006, Mariah Carey threatened legal action against porn star Mary Carey in an attempt to stop her trademarking her similar-sounding stage name. The singer believed fans could get the two performers confused if the adult film actress Mary Carey's trademark application was successful. |
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| 2010, Eric Clapton announced he was to sell off part of his extensive guitar collection to raise money for his Crossroads rehab Centre in Antigua. Highlights of the sale would include a guitar Clapton played at the Cream reunion shows in 2005, estimated to sell for more than £13,000. The sale to be held by Bonhams in New York would also feature a vast collection of amps and speakers, including a pair of Marshall speaker cabinets. |
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| December 9th: Born on this day |
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| 1932, Born on this day, Junior Wells, US blues singer, harmonica player. Worked with Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, toured with The Rolling Stones in 1970. He died on 5th January 1998. |
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| 1941, Born on this day, Sam Strain, The O'Jays, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Love Train'). |
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| 1943, Born on this day, John Traynor, Jay and the Americans, (1969 US No.6 single 'This Magic Moment plus nine other US Top 30 hits). Left the group after their 1962 hit, 'She Cried'. He was replaced by new lead singer David Blatt, who began calling himself Jay Black. |
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| 1944, Born on this day, Neil Innes, vocals, guitar, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, 1968 UK No.5 single 'I'm The Urban Spaceman'. Composed music for Monty Python's Flying Circus wrote and performed The Rutles a TV spoof on The Beatles. |
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| 1946, Born on this day, Walter 'Clyde' Orange, drums, vocals, The Commodores, (1978 UK & US No.1 single 'Three Times A Lady'). |
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| 1950, Born on this day, Joan Armatrading, singer, songwriter, (1983 UK No.11 single 'Drop The Pilot'). |
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| 1954, Born on this day, Jack Sonni, guitarist, Dire Straits. |
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1957, Born on this day, Donny Osmond, singer, (1971 US No.1 single with ‘Go Away Little Girl’, a 1972 UK No.1 single with ‘Puppy Love’ plus seven other UK Top 40 singles). As part of The Osmonds he enjoyed a 1971 US No.1 single with ‘One Bad Apple’, and the 1974 UK No.1 single with ‘Love Me For A Reason’.
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| 1958, Born on this day, Nick Seymour, bass, Crowded House, (1992 UK No.7 single 'Weather With You'). |
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| 1964, Born on this day, Paul H. Landers, rhythm-guitarist, Rammstein. |
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| 1968, Born on this day, Brian Bell, Weezer, (1995 UK No.12 single, 'Buddy Holly'). |
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| 1969, Born on this day, Jakob Dylan, guitar, vocals, The Wallflowers, (1997 US No.3 album, 'Bringing Down The Horse'). |
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| 1970, Born on this day, Zak Foley, EMF, (1990 UK No.3 & 1991 US No.1 single 'Unbelievable'). Died 31st December 2001 aged 31. |
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| 1971, Born on this day, Geoff Barrow, Portishead, (1995 UK No.13 single 'Glory Box'). |
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| 1972, Born on this day, Frank Wright III, 'Tre Cool', drums, Green Day, (1995 UK No.7 single 'Basket Case'). |
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| 1978, Born on this day, Chris Wolstenholme, bass, Muse, (2003 UK No.1 album ‘Absolution’, 2003 UK No.8 single, ‘Time Is Running Out’). |
