history

7 May 1983 – PAUL WELLER Introduces THE STYLE COUNCIL

Posted on by JL

7 May 2025

Modfather PAUL WELLER broke up The Jam (1972-1982), one of the British punk rock bands to form soul pop act THE STYLE COUNCIL with Dexy Midnight Runners/Merton Parka‘s keyboardist Mike Talbot.

Weller introduced his new project at an anti-nuclear benefit
gig in London on 7 May 1983, today 42 years ago.

They released 5 albums and had 7 Top-10 hits
in the UK. They were also pretty successful in
Australia and New Zealand during the 1980s.

– SPEAK LIKE A CHILD –
Debut single

– SHOUT TO THE TOP –
Stand-alone hit single from 1984

Story – All Albums

2 May 1980 – 45 Years Ago IAN CURTIS Played His Last Gig With JOY DIVISION

Posted on by JL

2 May 2025

Legendary Joy Division frontman/lyricist IAN CURTIS – mentally
and psychically suffering from epilepsy and depression – committed
suicide on 18 May 1980.

16 days before that fateful day he played his final gig
with the band at Birmingham University, England.

R.I.P.

1 May 1977 – THE CLASH Start Their WHITE RIOT Tour

Posted on by JL

1 May 2025

The last gang in town THE CLASH released their
iconic debut single WHITE RIOT on 18 March 1977.

With ‘White Riot‘ the late, great Strummer wanted to encourage also white people who
felt abused and oppressed by the government to come out and protest. ‘White Riot‘ only reached #38 at the time it came out but earned his classic status over the following decades.

On May 1st 1977, today 48 years ago, the band started their White Riot tour at
Civic Hall, Guildford, England with support from other legendary bands Buzzcocks ,
The Jam and The Slits.

White riot – I want to riot
White riot – a riot of my own
White riot – I want to riot
White riot – a riot of my own

THE CLASH: Story – All Albums

30 April 1976 – Wild Party Animal KEITH MOON Did It Again

Posted on by JL

30 April 2025

The Who’s legendary drummer KEITH MOON was great at three things.

One, hitting his gear like a madman. Two, non-stop partying. Three, thrashing hotel rooms.

To do that last thing he was very inventive. On 30 April 1976, this day 49 years ago he paid nine cab drivers to block-off both ends of a New York street so he could throw the contents of his hotel room out of the window. Crazy, just crazy.

But fate would hit the at times self-destructive star.

In mid-1978, Moon moved into a flat in Mayfair, London renting from Harry Nilsson.
Singer Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas had died there four years earlier, at the
age of 32. Nilsson was concerned about Moon getting in, believing it was cursed.

Moon, alcoholic by then, died in September that year of an overdose of
medication to battle his drink problems. Like Mama Cass he was only 32.

Story

28 April 2003 – This Day 22 Years Ago APPLE Launched The iTUNES STORE

Posted on by JL

28 April 2025

American technology company and multinational
corporation APPLE launched the iTunes Store.

The first legal music download service on the Internet. Back then, it was only available to Mac users. Customers could download any music they wanted for just 99 cents per song, without subscription fees.

Apple also offered groundbreaking personal use rights, including burning songs onto an unlimited number of CDs for personal use and playing songs on up to three Macintosh computers.

27 April 1996 – First Of Two Massive OASIS Concerts At Manchester’s Maine Road Football Stadium

Posted on by JL

27 April 2025

After the release of their 2nd blockbuster LP What’s The Story (Morning Glory)
back in 1995, OASIS stormed towards world fame faster than a supersonic jet.

Two king-sized concerts – 26 & 27 April 1996 – that stood out of the tour that followed were the ones at the football stadium named Maine Road in Moss Side, Manchester where their beloved Manchester City played.

And back again.

20 April 1968 – First DEEP PURPLE Gig Today 57 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

20 April 2025

This day, 57 years ago British hard rock legends DEEP PURPLE
played their very first gig. They did it in Tastrup, Denmark.

On their way to the gig they changed their original band name from Roundabout
to Deep Purple, which was the title of guitarist Richie Blackmore grandmothers’
favorite song at the time.

Later in the year, they scored their first hit with a cover of Billy Joe Royal song Hush.

Not done yet.


Original members, singer Ian Gillan, drummer Ian
Paice and bassist Roger Glover still in the line-up.

Story – All Albums

18 April 1985 – 40 Years Ago Today WHAM! Was The First-Ever Western Pop Act Having An LP Released In CHINA

Posted on by JL

18 April 2025

Former massively adored duo WHAM! – the late George Michael and
Andrew Ridgeley was the first Western pop act who released an album
in China, 40 years ago today. It happened with their 2nd LP MAKE IT BIG.

It featured their gigantic hit WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO.
More than 1,1 billion streams on Spotify.

15 April 1967 – FRANK And Daughter NANCY SINATRA Said Somethin’ Stupid 58 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

15 April 2025

Father and daughter SINATRA scored a No 1 hit in the US
58 years ago today, on 15 April 1967 with SOMETHIN’ STUPID.

Also #1 in the US, Canada, South Africa and
several other countries around the globe.

The classic cracker was written by American folk singer-songwriter
C. Carson Parks.  He recorded it with his wife Gaile Foote, shortly
after Frank and Nancy covered it and the rest is history.

NANCY SINATRA: FACEBOOK

14 April 1975 – RONNIE WOOD Presented As The New ROLLING STONES Guitarist 50 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

14 April 2025


No solo albums anymore, Ronnie

After Brian Jones drowned in his pool in July 1969, The Rolling Stones replaced him with the young guitar wizard Mick Taylor who played at the time with blues hero John Mayall (who passed away last year, aged 90).

In 1975 Taylor left.

The search for a new 6-string man started once again. Rumours spread names such as Jimmy Page, Steve Marriott, Jeff Beck and Chris Spedding. But it was former Faces riff-roaster Ronnie Wood (aged 77 now) who was presented as the Rolling Stones‘ new guitarist on
14 April 1975, today 50 years ago.

The first LP Wood played on (3 songs) was, Black And Blue from 1976.