This Week In Rock: July 15 – July 21
The answer to this week’s Question:
Bob Marley and the Wailers play a historic concert at Lyceum Theater in London July 17, 1975. They recorded the “Live (Bob Marley & the Wailers album). To this day, the live recording remains one of Marley’s most famous live performances.
Be sure to check back each week to see what happens next on “This Week In Rock!”
BORN THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
Washboard Sam – July 15,1910 (blues singer/washboard player)
Linda Ronstadt –July 15, 1946 (country singer)
Peter Banks – July 15, 1947 (guitar, Yes)
Artimus Pyle – July 15, 1948 (drums, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Jason Bonham – July 15, 1966 (drums, Black Country Communion)
Stewart Copeland – July 16, 1952 (drums, police)
Denise LaSalle – July 16, 1939 (Blues Singer)
“Peppermint” Harris – July 17, 1925 (jump blues guitarist)
Ron Asheton – July 17, 1948 (guitar, Iggy Pop and the Stooges)
Terence “Geezer” Butler – July 17, 1949 (bass, Black Sabbath)
Screamin Jay Hawkins – July 18, 1929 (Pioneer of shock rock)
Ian Stewart – July 18, 1938 (keyboards, The Rolling Stones)
Danny McCullock – July 18, 1945 (guitar, The Animals)
Buster Benton – July 19, 1932 (guitar, Willie Dixon)
Bernie Leadon – July 19, 1947 (guitar, The Eagles)
Brian May – July 19, 1947 (guitar, Queen)
Keith Godchaux – July 19, 1947 (keyboards, The Grateful Dead)
Allen Collins – July 19, 1952 (guitar, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
John Lodge (bass, Moody Blues)
Carlos Santana – July 20, 1947 (guitar, Santana)
Paul Cook – July 20, 1956 (drums, Sex Pistols)
Chris Cornell –July 20, 1964 (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Temple of The Dog)
Floyd Jones – July 21, 1917 (guitar, electric blues)
Cat Stevens – July 21, 1948 (British singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist)
DIED THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
Paul Young – July 15, 2000 (Mike + The Mechanics)
Harry Chapin – July 16, 1981 (Folk Vocalist)
Johnny Winter – July 16, 2014 (musician, singer, songwriter & producer)
Celia Cruz – July 16, 2003 (Cuban Musician and Singer)
Billie Holiday – July 17, 1959 (Jazz Singer)
John Coltrane – July 17, 1967 (jazz saxophonist and composer)
Long John Baldry –July 21, 1941 (blues singer & voice actor, Elton John, Rod Stewart)
MUSIC RELEASES AND TOP OF THE CHARTS
Elton John’s Honky Chateau hits #1 – July 15th, 1972
The Rolling Stones’ Some Girls hits #1 – July 15th, 1978
The Who, “I’m Free” was released – July 16th, 1966
Jefferson Starship’s “Modern Time” awarded gold – July 16th, 1981
The Beatles, “All You Need Is Love” was released – July 17th, 1967
“Chicago 16” enters Hot 200 – July 17, 1982
The Beatles, “Help!” was released – July 19th, 1965
Genesis’ “Invisible Touch” hits #1 – July 19, 1986
Bob Dylan, “Like A Rolling Stone” was released – July 20th, 1965
Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction was released – July 21, 1987
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
The Doors and Jefferson airplane play two shows each, an afternoon set and an evening set, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. – July 15, 1967
Sly and the Family Stone, The Kinks, Canned Heat, and the Edgar Winter Group perform at The Great Western Express Festival in London – July 15, 1973
Bob Dylan plays what is supposedly his largest gig ever in England at the Blackbushe Aerodome, with special guest Eric Clapton. Over 200,000 people attended the gig. Bob Dylan played a 34-song set featuring classics like “Shelter from the Storm,” “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” “I Shall Be Released,” “Masters of War,” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’” – July 15, 1978
Columbia Records announce they are dropping Johnny Cash – July 15, 1986
Eric Clapton forms the band Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker – July 16, 1966
The Beatles work on recordings of two George Harrison penned tunes, “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun.” The two songs are generally considered two of George’s masterpieces, impressing all of The Beatles as well as producer George Martin. Harrison was inspired to write “Here Comes the Sun” while wandering around in Eric Clapton’s garden – July 16, 1969
Pink Floyd record a show at the BBC Paris Cinema in London. The show was broadcast on the John Peel show on July 19, 1970. The relatively early Floyd show contains tunes like “Careful With That Axe, Eugene,” and “Atom Heart Mother” July 16, 1970
Jazz legend and occasional blues singer Billie Holidays passes away too young at age 43 from cirrhosis of the liver at a New York City hospital – July 17, 1959
Another jazz icon, saxophonist John Coltrane, passes away from liver cancer on Long Island at age 40. Coltrane was one of the most innovative players of the jazz idiom, playing with other greats like Miles Davis and experimenting with forms including hard bop, modal jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Many consider his greatest work to be the song cycle album A Love Supreme. He would be an influence on plenty of rock guitarists in addition to those in the jazz tradition – July 17, 1967
Bob Marley and the Wailers play a historic concert at Lyceum Theater in London July 17, 1975
Great blues player Gary Moore leaves the band Thin Lizzy – July 17, 1979
The Rolling Stones have their first hit on the American charts with their cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” – July 18th, 1964
London’s Abbey Road Studios is open to public as a tourist attraction – July 18, 1983
The first ever Lollapalooza music festival is held in North America – July 18, 1991
Billboard magazine publishes their first combined record sales chart, ranking the hits of all major labels. Sitting atop the ten entries is Tommy Dorsey’s “I’ll Never Smile Again,” lead vocals by Frank Sinatra – July 20th, 1940
British paper Mersey Beat announces that the Beatles — or rather, the Beat Brothers, as they were then known — have just signed their first recording contract. Not with Capitol, but with famed German producer Bert Kaempfert – July 20th, 1961
Roger Waters performs the album The Wall at the Berlin Wall. Over 200,000 attended – July 21, 1990
That’s all for This Week in Rock History. Be sure to check back next week for the latest Rock history tidbits!