This Day in Music: December 18th
12.18.2011
Brought to you by ThisDayinMusic.com.
Born on this day:
1897, Fletcher Henderson, jazz pianist, bandleader, composer
1933, Lonnie Brooks, blues singer, guitarist
1938, Chas Chandler, bass, The Animals
1943, Keith Richards, guitar, vocals, The Rolling Stones1950, Randy Castillo, drums, Ozzy Osbourne
1953, Elliot Easton, guitar, The Cars
1958, Geordie Walker, guitar, Killing Joke
1965, Mick Collins, guitar, vocals, The Gories, The Dirtbombs
1970, DMX, rapper
1970, Cowboy Troy, rapper
1972, DJ Lethal, House of Pain, Limp Bizkit
1980, Christina Aguilera, singer
1961, The Tokens started a three-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”; it reached #11 in the U.K.
1966, Tara Browne was killed when driving at high speed in his Lotus Elan after it collided with a parked lorry in South Kensington, London. A close friend of The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, his death was immortalized in The Beatles’ song “A Day in the Life” after John Lennon read a report on the coroner’s verdict on Browne’s death.1971, Jerry Lee Lewis and his wife Myra, whom he married when she was 13, divorced, as he prepared to marry 29-year-old Karen Elizabeth Gunn Pate.
1972, Bob Dylan starting filming his role in the film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
1979, Joy Division played what would be their only gig in Paris when the appeared at Les Bains Club.
1983, American guitarist Jimmy Nolan died of a heart attack in Atlanta, Georgia, at age 47. Known for his distinctive “chicken scratch” lead guitar playing, he worked with James Brown from 1965 until his death.
1988, Mike Peters of The Alarm was rushed to hospital after having his eyes burned by spotlights during a gig in Chester, causing the remaining dates on their U.K. tour to be cancelled.
1999, The Spice Girls unveiled their waxwork lookalikes at Madame Tussaud’s, London. Each model cost £35,000 to make.
2000, U.K. singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico when a speedboat hit her. MacColl was 41.
2004, A guitar played by George Harrison and John Lennon sold for $570,000 at auction in New York. The Gibson SG guitar was used by Harrison from 1966 to 1969, including the recording of Revolver, and by Lennon during the “White Album” sessions. Other items sold in the Christies auction included a letter by Kurt Cobain, which fetched $19,400, and a school book report by Britney Spears.
2005, “Fairytale of New York” was voted the favorite Christmas song ever in a VH1 poll. The song by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl took the top spot, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” was voted into second place and Wham’s “Last Christmas” came third.
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