1949, RCA Records issued the first ever 45rpm single, the invention of this size record made jukeboxes possible. |
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1963, 17 year-old Neil Young performed his first professional date at a country club in Winnipeg. |
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1964, The Beatles started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', the first US No.1 by a UK act since The Tornadoes 'Telstar' in 1962 and the first of three consecutive No.1's from the group.
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1965, P.J. Proby split his pants during his first number at the ABC, Luton; the manager stopped the show and gave everyone in the audience a refund. The incident caused a ban on Proby's performance in UK halls and TV. |
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1967, During a UK tour The Jimi Hendrix Experience played at The Cellar Club, South Shields.
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1967, At Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles started work on a new song 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. It wasn't until The Beatles had recorded the song that Paul McCartney had the idea to make the song the thematic pivot for their forthcoming album.
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1967, Pink Floyd spent the day recording parts for the Syd Barrett songs 'Arnold Layne' and 'Candy And A Current Bun' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London. Floyd also turned professional on this day after signing a deal with EMI Records. |
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1968, The Who kicked off their third North American tour at the Civic Auditorium San Jose, California
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1969, Tommy James and the Shondells started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Crimson And Clover', the group's second and last No.1. Billy Idol had a 1987 US No.1 with 'Mony Mony' a No.3 hit for Tommy James in 1968.
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1972, Chuck Berry had his first UK No.1 single with a live recording of a song he'd been playing live for over 20 years 'My Ding-a-Ling'. UK public morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse attempted to have the song banned due to its innuendo-laden lyrics. The Average White Band members guitarist Onnie McIntyre and drummer Robbie McIntosh played on the single.
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1975, Neil Sedaka had his second US No.1 single with 'Laughter In The Rain', over 12 years after his last chart topper 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do'. |
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1975, Pilot were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'January', the Scottish group's only No.1. The song was a No.1 hit in Australia for eight weeks. |
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1986, Music publisher Dick James died of a heart attack aged 65. Worked with many UK 60's acts including The Beatles. James signed Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin as unknown artists in 1967 and was the founder of the DJM record label. |
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1986, Diana Ross married Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Naess in Geneva, Stevie Wonder performed at the reception. The couple divorced in 2000. |
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1989, Paul Robi from The Platters died of cancer. UK & US No.1 single 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. Robi left The Platters in the early 60's being replaced by Nate Nelson from the Flamingos. |
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1992, George Michael and Elton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', also a No.1 in the UK. All proceeds from the single went to Aids charities. |
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1995, Richey Edwards guitarist with the Manic Street Preachers vanished leaving no clues to his whereabouts. He left The Embassy Hotel in London at 7am, leaving behind his packed suitcase. His car was found on the Severn Bridge outside Bristol, England sixteen days later. Edwards has never been found, despite constant searching, and in November 2008 he was declared officially dead.
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1997, Blur went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Beetlebum'. The song's title is said to be a stab at Liam Gallagher, lead singer of Oasis, for his over-idolisation of The Beatles.
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1997, Boy George was beaten up by two bouncers after trying to jump the queue outside The Ministry Of Sound in London where George had been a guest DJ.
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1999, Four hundred people were injured at an Australian concert by Marilyn Manson when he stormed off stage after being bombarded with missiles and abuse at the show in Perth. One of Manson's guitar technicians needed treatment for cuts to his head. |
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2001, A collection of Sir Elton John's private photos on display at a museum in Atlanta were withdrawn. The exhibition, which included snaps of nude men, was said to be too explicit, some school trips to the museum had been cancelled.
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2002, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club made their UK live debut when they appeared at Liverpool University. |
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2002, The father of S Club 7's Paul Cattermole was jailed for nearly three years for sex acts with two 14 year-old girl fans of the group. Gerald Cattermole, 50 had been warned by police not to get involved with fans who often visited his house.
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2004, LMC vs U2 started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Take Me To The Clouds Above.' Based on the guitar riff from U2's classic song 'With Or Without You'. |
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2005, Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'It's Now Or Never', the singers 21st No.1, first released in 1960. |
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2008, US space agency Nasa announced that 'Across the Universe' by the Beatles was to become the first song ever to be beamed directly into space. The track would be transmitted through the Deep Space Network - a network of antennas - on the 40th anniversary of the song being recorded, being aimed at the North Star, Polaris, 431 light-years from Earth. In a message to NASA, Sir Paul McCartney said the project was an "amazing" feat. "Well done, Nasa," he added. "Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul."
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2009, Lily Allen started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Fear', the singers second UK No.1. |
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2009, Bruce Springsteen started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Working on a Dream' his 16th studio album. |
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February 1st: Born on this day |
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1934, Born on this day, Bob Shane from The Kingston Trio who had the 1958 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'Tom Dooley' plus nine other US Top 40 hits. |
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1937, Born on this day, Don Everly, guitarist, singer with The Everly Brothers who had the 1958 UK & US No.1 single 'All I Have To Do Is Dream' plus over 25 other UK hit singles.
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1937, Born on this day, Ray Sawyer, singer, songwriter with Dr Hook who had the 1972 US No.5 & UK No.2 single 'Sylvia's Mother' plus 9 other US Top 40 hits. |
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1938, Born on this day, Jimmy Carl Black, drummer who worked with Frank Zappa on his 1970 UK No.9 album 'Hot Rats'. Black died on 1st Nov 2008.
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1939, Born on this day, Joe Sample, keyboards with The Crusaders who had the 1979 UK No.5 single 'Street Life'. |
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1947, Born on this day, Normie Rowe, singer, biggest solo star of Australian pop in the Sixties, who in 1965 had the Australian No.1 single ‘Que Sera Sera’ which spent 11 weeks at the top of the charts. |
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1948, Born on this day, Rick James, US singer who scored the 1981 US No.3 album 'Street Songs', and the 1981 US No 16 single 'Super Freak part 1'. James was found dead at his Los Angeles home on 6th August 2004. |
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1954, Born on this day, Mike Campbell, guitarist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who had the 1977 single 'American Girl', the 1989 UK No.28 single 'I Won't Back Down', and the 1991 UK No.3 album 'Into The Great Wide Open'. Campbell has also worked with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, Roger McGuinn, Tracy Chapman, Warren Zevon, George Harrison and Stevie Nicks.
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1957, Born on this day, Dennis Brown, reggae singer, who had the 1979 UK No.14 single 'Money In My Pocket'. He died on July 1st 1999. |
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1968, Born on this day, Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis. Also known as the "Princess of Rock and Roll." Married Michael Jackson in 1994, and separated on 10th December 1995. She was also married to actor Nicolas Cage. Lisa Marie had the UK No.16 single 'Lights Out'. |
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1969, Born on this day, Patrick Wilson, drummer with American alternative rock band Weezer who had the 1995 UK No.12 single, 'Buddy Holly'. |
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1971, Born on this day, Ron Welty, drummer with The Offspring who had the 1999 UK No.1 & US No. 59 single 'Pretty Fly, (For A White Guy)', and the 1999 US No.6 & UK No.10 album 'Americana'. |
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1975, Born on this day, Big Boi, (Antoine Patton), Outkast, US rapper who had the 2001 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Ms Jackson' and the 2004 US No.1 single 'Hey Ya'. |