March 8th – 14th This Week in Rock
This Week’s Trivia Question Answer
Paul McCartney is knighted by the Queen on March 11, 1997.
March 8th – 14th – Born This Week:
3/8/1946 – Randy Meisner (bass, Eagles)
3/8/1957 – Clive Burr (drums, Iron Maiden)
3/09/1936 – Mickey Gilley (American country singer, Urban Cowboy)
3/9/1942 – John Cale (composer, singer-songwriter -Velvet Underground)
3/9/1942 – Gary Walker (The Standells, The Walker Brothers)
3/10/1947 – Tom Sholz (Rock guitarist/keyboardist – Boston)
3/10/1953 – Ronnie Earl (American blues guitarist – The Broadcasters)
3/10/1955 – Gary Louris (American singer-songwriter, musician – Jayhawks)
3/10/1963 – Jeff Ament (American musician – Pearl Jam)
3/11/1974 – Adam Wakeman (keys, Ozzy Osbourne)
3/11/1964 – Vinnie Paul (American drummer – Pantera)
3/12/1917 – Leonard Chess (Record Mogul, Chess Records)
3/12/1948 – James Taylor (Rock Singer-Songwriter)
3/12/1949 – Bill Payne (piano, Little Feat)
3/12/1949 – Mike Gibbins (drums, Badfinger)
3/12/1956 – Steve Harris (bass, Iron Maiden)
3/12/1969 – Graham Coxon (guitar, Blur)
3/13/1960 – Adam Clayton (bass, U2)
3/14/1933 – Quincy Jones (A Legend)
3/14/1943 – Jim Pons (bassist – Turtles, Mothers of Invention)
March 8th – 14th – Died This Week:
3/8/1973 – Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, The Grateful Dead)
3/8/2016 – George Martin (Beatles’ Producer)
3/09/1993 – Bob Crosby (American jazz singer, bandleader Bobcats)
3/10/1989 – Doc Green (American singer – The Drifters)
3/10/1997 – La Vern Baker (American singer)
3/11/1986 – Sonny Terry (Piedmont Blues Musician)
3/11/2016 – Keith Emerson (keys, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer)
3/12/1955 – Charlie Parker (Jazz Saxophonist)
3/12/2012 – Michael Hossack (drums, The Doobie Brothers)
3/12/2013 – Clive Burr (drums, Iron Maiden)
3/13/1985 – Robert “Bob” Shad (American producer, label owner Big Brother & Holding Co.)
3/14/1991 – Doc Pomus (American blues singer and songwriter)
MUSIC RECORDINGS & RELEASES
3/12/1967 – The Velvet Underground Releases The Velvet Underground and Nico
3/12/1971 – The Allman Brothers’ record “Live At Fillmore East” on May 12th and May 13th.
3/13/1967 – The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” hits #1.
3/13/1968 – The Byrd’s Greatest Hits goes gold.
3/13/1976 – The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) hits #1.
3/13/1980 – Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon goes platinum.
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
On March 8, 1969, The Small Faces broke up. Steve Marriott, vocalist, first announced that he was leaving the band. The rest of the band formed The Faces.
On March 8, 1973, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, keyboardist for the Grateful Dead and blues connoisseur, tragically died at the age of 27 from alcohol poisoning.
Paul McCartney is knighted by the Queen on March 11, 1997.
On March 12, 2007, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., Van Halen, The Ronettes, and Patti Smith.
On March 12, 1958, Billie Holiday is sentenced to one year of probation for heroin possession by a Philadelphia court. She pleads guilty to the charge.
On March 12, 1969, Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman. On that same day, the police busts George Harrison, and his wife for possession of marijuana. No other members of the Beatles attended their wedding, but at least George had a good excuse.
On March 12, 1974, John Lennon and Harry Nilsson get drunk and thrown out of a Smothers Brothers comedy show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. At the same time, they’re accused of causing a disturbance during the show. The press calls Nilsson a bad influence on Lennon. Later, Nilsson comments, “It ruined my reputation for 10 years. Get one Beatle drunk and look what happens.”
On March 12, 2003, The Rolling Stones are about to embark on their first tour of China. However, the Chinese government bans the Stones from playing a list of songs that they find controversial. The tracks include classics like “Honky Tonk Women,” “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and “Brown Sugar.” Guys, censorship is bad, especially in rock and roll.
On March 13, 1965, Eric Clapton quits The Yardbirds over his fears that they are becoming too commercial and veering away from the R&B and blues rock that he loves. For his next endeavor, he joins up with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for their legendary collaborative album known in blues rock lore as the “Beano” album.
On March 13, 2006, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted Blondie, Miles Davis, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath and The Sex Pistols. Bunch o’ punks that they were, The Sex Pistols did not attend the ceremony and rejected the induction. Furthermore, Tommy Iommi almost wasn’t allowed to bring his awards home to England because of the security is concern that it could be used as a weapon.
Eric Clapton goes to the hospital with a near-fatal ulcer and cancels the rest of his 47 tour dates on March 14, 1981.
On March 14, 1998, Johnny Cash won the Grammy for Best Country Album. After a few weeks, his record company puts a full-page ad in Billboard magazine with an old photo of Cash extending his middle finger obscenely. The ad reads, “American Recordings and Johnny Cash would like to acknowledge the Nashville music establishment and country radio for your support.”
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