Throwback Thursday: This Week in History

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

1942: Glenn Wallichs launched Capitol Records in the US. The label became home to such artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Glen Campbell, Steve Miller, Dr. Hook, Bob Seger, Tina Turner, Heart and countless others. Wallichs was the man who invented the art of record promotion by sending copies of new releases to disc jockeys. 1962: Owen Gray’s ‘Twist Baby’ became the first single released on UK based Island Records. The label became home to Free, Traffic, Jethro Tull, Bob Marley and U2. 1970: The Kinks Ray Davies was forced to make a 6,000 mile round trip from New York to London to record one word in a song. Davies had to change the word ‘Coca- Cola’ to ‘Cherry Cola’ on the bands forthcoming single ‘Lola’ due to an advertising ban at BBC Radio. 1975: The Rolling Stones became the first rock band to receive royalties for sales of their records in Russia. 1976: Wings set a new world record when they performed in front of 67,100 fans in Seattle, the largest attendance for an indoor crowd. 1977: Alice Cooper’s boa constrictor, a co-star of his live act suffered a fatal bite from a rat it was being fed for breakfast. Cooper held auditions for a replacement and a snake named ‘Angel’ got the gig. 1984: Wham! had their first UK No.1 with ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.’ Written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo. Inspiration for the song was a scribbled note left by his Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley for Andrew’s parents, originally intended to read “wake me up before you go” but with “up” accidentally written twice, so Ridgeley wrote “go” twice on purpose. 1984: Bruce Springsteen released the album, ‘Born In The USA’, which became the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen’s most successful album ever). The album produced a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles (tied with Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814). 1989: Rolling Stone Bill Wyman secretly married 19-year-old Mandy Smith. Wyman’s 28-year-old son was best man. All other four Stones attended. The marriage lasted 17 months.   1993: Kurt Cobain was arrested after a dispute at his house in Seattle; the disagreementallegedly concerned the Nirvana’s guitarist’s collection of firearms. 1995: Stone Roses guitarist John Squire smashed his collarbone in a cycling accident causing the band to pull out of major gigs. 1999: Junior Braithwaite from Bob Marley and the Wailers was shot dead aged 46. Braithwaite was one of the founders of, and the first lead singer of The Wailers. ****** 2005: Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Don’t Believe The Truth’ the bands sixth UK No.1 album. 2006: Red Hot Chili Peppers were at No.1 on the UK and US album charts with Stadium Arcadium the bands ninth studio album.  

THIS WEEKEND IN HISTORY

1964: During their first ever US tour The Rolling Stones were booed off stage at a gig inSan Antonio, Texas. Some performing Monkeys who had been the act on before the Stones were brought back on stage for another performance. 1987: Michael Jackson announced that he was breaking all ties with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jackson had been raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and would don disguises and go door to door with the Watchtower message in cities where he was performing. 1995: Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood was admitted to hospital after his ear wasleaking blood. The problem was diagnosed as his arm movement from continuous guitar playing. 1998: Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller and Martin Carr from The Boo Radleys were all involved in a fight at Dingwalls, Camden in London.