history

QUEEN ELIZABETH Honored THE BEATLES With ‘MBE’ Medal Today 60 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

26 October 2025

Queen Elizabeth II honored The Beatles with their MBE‘s medals
(Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) – at Buckingham Palace.

According to an account by John Lennon the group smoked marijuana in one of the palace bathrooms to calm their nerves. Many former recipients gave their MBE’s back in protest, to which John Lennon responded: “Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war, for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I’d say we deserve ours more.”

GEORGE MICHAEL Bought JOHN LENNON’s ‘Imagine’ Piano 25 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

22 October 2025

25 years ago today John Lennon‘s memorable white Steinway
piano that he played in the classic Imagine video clip in 1971
was auctioned.

The late great George Michael won the auction.

He paid £1.45m (1.940.591 US dollars). Michael said: “I know that when my
fingers touch the keys of that Steinway, I will feel truly blessed. And parting
with my money has never been much of a problem, just ask my accountant.”

Other bidders included Robbie Williams and the Oasis brothers.

FARM AID – First Edition Was Held 40 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

22 September 2025

On 22 September 1985, today 40 years ago the first edition
of FARM AID was held at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL.

The star-studded event featured performances by big names such as
Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, B.B. King,
Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Neil Young.

The inspiration behind Farm Aid came a few months earlier at the Live Aid concert,
during which Bob Dylan spoke about the crisis facing family farmers – many of whom
were in danger of losing their farms due to massive mortgage debts.

The impassioned speech inspired fellow singer-songwriters Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young to organize the now long-running annual benefit concert. Roughly 80,000 music fans attended and raised over $9 million for US family farmers.

FULL CONCERT

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL – First Edition Today 55 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

19 September 2025


Founder Michael Eavis, aged 89 now

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL (named in full The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts), is a five-day music event that’s one of the most well-known festivals,
all around the world. It’s held at a farm in the town and parish of Glastonbury in Pilton, Somerset, England.

The first edition was held on 19th September 1970, today 55 years ago.
It was attended by 1,500 people. Admission was £1, which included free
camping and free milk.

Co-creator Micheal Eavis hosts Glasto for years now on his farm.
He paved the way for his daughter Emily who’s in charge now.

“When I set out on this crazy, hippy trip, little did I know that this roller coaster would run.
But now I have to pinch myself every morning when I wake up to the excitement of another
day heading up a team of the most creative artists anywhere in the world.”

Inspired by seeing a concert of Led Zeppelin, Eavis decided to organize a music and arts festival on his large farm fields. It happened in 1969 and was billed as Bath Festival Of Blues.

At its very origin a series of cultural events were held in summer, from 1914 to 1926, founded by English socialist composer Rutland Boughton and his librettist Lawrence Buckley. Apart from the founding of a national theater, they envisaged a summer school and music festival based on utopian principles. With strong Arthurian connections and historic and prehistoric associations, Glastonbury was chosen to host the events.

2025 Lineup

Festival Website

LED ZEPPELIN Released Their First Ever Single In The UK This Day In 1987

Posted on by JL

8 September 2025


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During the heydays of their career, LED ZEPPELIN didn’t release singles in
the UK. They sporadically did in the US, Canada, Japan and other countries
outside of England.

Their infamous manager Peter Grant thought
the band would sell more albums without singles.

Then finally on 8 September 1987, 29 years after the band first formed, their timeless signature rocker WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, came out as a single. The first ever in their home country. The track recorded in 1969 and featured on their 2nd LP was issued to promote their re-issued back catalogue.

You need coolin’, baby, I’m not foolin’,
I’m gonna send you back to schoolin’,
Way down inside honey, you need it,
I’m gonna give you my love,
I’m gonna give you my love.

LED ZEP: Discography

24 August 1981 – JOHN LENNON Killer Gets 20-Year Jail Sentence

Posted on by JL

24 August 2025

On 8 December 1980, the then 25-year-old Texan Mark Chapman killed John Lennon in cold blood with 5 shots in his back, at the entrance of the Dakota building in New York where John and Yoko lived.

On 24 August 1981 he was given a 20-year jail sentence. Over the next few months, Chapman would claim many times to have been beaten by fellow inmates, some of
whom allegedly tried to kill him.

More than a dozen psychologists and psychiatrists interviewed Chapman in the six months prior to his trial. They conducted a battery of standard diagnostic procedures and more than 200 hours of clinical interviews. All six defense experts concluded that Chapman was psychotic; five diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, while the sixth felt that his symptoms were more consistent with manic depression.

Chapman is still in prison. His 14th parole hearing was
scheduled for this month. But no news about it, so far.

Chapman in a 1992 interview with the former
American TV and radio host legend Larry King.

23 August 1970 – THE VELVET UNDERGROUND Played Their Final Gig 55 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

23 August 2025

Andy Warhol‘s brainchild THE VELVET UNDERGROUND played their final gig
on 23 August 1970, today 55 years ago, at New York‘s legendary nightclub
Max’s Kansas City.

By then, original members Nico and John Cale had left.

Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and Mo Tucker were the only founding members left
and were joined by Doug Yule (Cale‘s substitute), and his brother/drummer Billy
Yule who replaced Mo Tucker, for a short time, because she was a young mother
at the time of the band’s last concerts.

Warhol‘s associate Brigid Polk recorded the show (and some previous nights
at the same club too) on a mono portable cassette recorder. These tapes would
lead to an album, named Live At Max’s Kansas City. It was originally released
in 1972 and re-issued in 2016. Have a listen below, sounds like recorded in
a garage. Mind you, a great VU document.

Reed worked as a typist for his father for the next two years, at $40 per week.


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All Albums

HISTORY – This Day 50 Years Ago PETER GABRIEL Left Prog Rock Band GENESIS

Posted on by JL

16 August 2025

PETER GABRIEL (75 now) was the theatrical frontman of British art-prog
rockers GENESIS for 8 years. He left in 1975, after recording 6 LPs with
the band.

He released his first self-titled solo debut LP in 1977, which featured his
first big hit Solsbury Hill (more than 341 million streams on Spotify).

Two years ago he launched his most recent and 10th album, called i/o.


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Bio – All Albums

11 August 1956 – ELVIS Releases Record-Breaking (Double) Single ‘DON’T BE CRUEL / HOUND DOG

Posted on by JL

Back in time

11 August 2025

The immortal King hit the No.1 spot in the US with his double
single DON’T BE CRUEL / HOUND DOG this day 69 years ago,
on 11 August 1956.

The pair of songs remained at the top seat for a record-breaking 11 weeks.
Presley would hold the record until he was surpassed in 1992, by soul band
Boyz II Men’s sugary tearjerker End Of The Road.

DON’T BE CRUEL

HOUND DOG

BOYZ II MEN

6 August 1970 – Start Of 10th National Jazz, Blues and Pop 4-Day Festival In SUSSEX ENGLAND 45 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

6 August 2025

It was the precursor to the Reading Rock Festival,
now named Reading Leeds Festival.

It featured acts/bands such as Family, Groundhogs, Cat Stevens, Deep Purple,
Fat Mattress, Yes, Caravan, The Strawbs, Black Sabbath, Wild Angles, Wishbone
Ash and Daddy Longlegs. More info/details here.

2025
22 & 23 August