August 3 – 9th – This Week In Rock
This Week In Rock Trivia Answer – August 3 – 9th
Stevie Wonder signs largest contract for single artist in history $13 million for 7 albums in 7 years – August 5, 1975
August 3 – 9th – Born This Week in Rock
Tony Bennett – August 3, 1926 (jazz singer)
John York – August 3, 1946 (bass, The Byrds)
Lee Rocker – August 3, 1961 (bass, Stray Cats)
James Hetfield – August 3, 1963 (singer, Metallica)
Happy Birthday Louie Armstrong!
Louis Armstrong – August 4, 1901 (jazz trumpeter)
Larry Knechtel – August 4, 1940 (piano, Wrecking Crew)
Greg Leskiw – August 5, 1947 (guitar, Guess Who)
Andy Warhol – August 6, 1928 (producer, manager, album designer, The Velvet Underground)
Allan Holdsworth – August 6, 1946 (jazz fusion guitarist)
Happy Birthday Anton Fig!
Anton Fig – August 8, 1952 (drums, Kiss, Joe Bonamassa, and David Letterman Band)
The Edge – August 8, 1961 (guitar, U2)
Died This Week in Rock History
Little Milton – August 4, 2005 (blues guitarist)
Luther Perkins – August 5, 1968 (guitarist for Johnny Cash)
Jeff Porcaro – August 5, 1992 (drums/session musician, Toto
Randy Hobbs – August 5, 1993 (bass, The McCoy’s, Edgar Winter Group)
George Duke – August 5, 2013 (jazz/funk keyboardist)
Marshall Grant – August 7, 2011 (bassist for Johnny Cash)
Calvin “Fuzz” Jones – August 9, 2010 (blues bassist and vocalist)
Jerry Garcia – August 9, 1995 (vocalist and lead guitarist, The Grateful Dead)
Music Releases and Top of the Charts
Beach Boys release “Surfer Girl” – August 3, 1963
Bad Company’s Bad Company hits #1 – August 3, 1974
Beach Boys Release their 27th LP – August 3, 1992
Pink Floyd releases The Piper at the Gates of Dawn – August 4, 1967
Stevie Nicks Releases “Bella Donna”
Stevie Nicks releases first solo album “Bella Donna” – August 6, 1981
The Beatles’ Help! LP hits #1 – August 7, 1965
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention release Just Another Band from L.A. – August 7, 1970
The Beatles, “Eleanor Rigby” b/w “Yellow Submarine” releases August 8, 1966
Beatles Release Revolver – August 8, 1966
Eric Clapton’s 461 Ocean Boulevard LP is certified gold – August 8, 1974
Sly and the Family Stone, “Hot Fun In The Summertime” releases – August 9, 1969
This week in rock History
The Beatles, who have played nearly 300 shows there in a span of 2 years, play their last gig as a headliner at the Cavern Club in Liverpool – August 3, 1963
The first day of The Newport Pop Festival in Costa Mesa, California is held. Over 100,000 people attend. Featured artists at the event include Alice Cooper, Canned Heat, Country Joe and the Fish, James Cotton Blues Band, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Steppenwolf – August 3, 1968
Queen’s Brian May completes his Ph. D dissertation, which he had put aside 36 years prior to join the band Queen. He was a candidate for a Ph. D in astrophysics and studied “zodiacal dust clouds”. We don’t really know what that is, because we do not have Ph.D.’s in astrophysics – August 3, 2007
The Rollin’ Stones play their first show at the Ealing Jazz Club in London. The band would play there weekly for another 21 weeks – August 4, 1962
The Newport Pop Festival is Held
The second day of The Newport Pop Festival in Costa Mesa, California is held. Featured artists on Day 2 include The Animals, The Grateful Dead, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and The Byrds” August 4, 1968
Kim Fowley forms the first all-female hard-rock band, The Runaways, which featured Joan Jett, future Bangle Michael Steele, and Lita Ford – August 5, 1975
Stevie Wonder signs largest contract for single artist in history $13 million for 7 albums in 7 years – August 5, 1975
Rod Stewart makes his TV debut on BBC – August 6, 1964
Johnny Winter, Paul Simon, Janis Joplin, and Steppenwolf perform at the Concert for Peace at Shea Stadium – August 6, 1970
Ramones Play Final Show!
Ramones play their final show in Hollywood – August 6, 1996
Christine Perfect, who is married to bass player John McVie, joins her husband’s band, Fleetwood Mac. While she’s the first female member of the group, she won’t be the last! On August 7, 1970
The band Yes are given their own day in Philadelphia – August 7, 2002
Abbey Road’s cover photo is taken August 8, 1969
As iconic blues singer Bessie Smith is buried without a headstone after her death. Janis Joplin, a big fan of Smith purchases one for the late vocalist – August 8, 1970
Eric Clapton’s “461 Ocean Boulevard” earns him a Gold record on August 8, 1974
Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan on August 9, 1962
Bob Dylan & Joan Baez Perform Together!
For the first time ever, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez play live together. The momentous occasion occurs at the Newport Folk Festival. The song for the duet is “With God on Our Side”. A match made in musical heaven if ever there is one on August 9, 1964.
Blues in the White House! Muddy Waters performs for President Carter’s administration. Muddy Waters true American greatness – August 9, 1978
Queen gave their last performance as a band with Freddy Mercury at the Knebworth Park Festival in England – August 9, 1986
KISS reunites for an episode of MTV Unplugged. The original lineup of KISS hasn’t played together since 1980, 15 years prior. The performance is without makeup and goes so well that the original lineup decides to keep going as a band. Consequently, new members Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer are out on August 9, 1995.
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