Happy Saturday! Today we're diving into some legendary tales, including Johnny Marr's choice for the ultimate Beatles album and a heartbreaking look back at Syd Barrett's reunion with Pink Floyd. Plus, Jimmy Page reveals the Led Zeppelin track written specifically to spite a Beatle, and we explore the similar struggles Paul McCartney faced with Linda…
Have a Rockin Day,
Hippy Pete
TODAY IN CLASSIC ROCK
1966: Pink Floyd performed their first major concert at London's Royal Albert Hall for the Oxfam benefit show titled "You're Joking?" The band, still fronted by Syd Barrett, shared the stage with comedy acts in this early milestone performance.
1968: The Rolling Stones began filming their legendary Rock and Roll Circus at InterTel Studios in Wembley, London. Filming started December 11 and continued until 5 a.m. on December 12. The spectacular event featured The Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, and a supergroup called The Dirty Mac with John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell. This was Brian Jones' final appearance with the Stones. The film remained unreleased for 28 years.
1970: The Doors played their final concert with Jim Morrison at The Warehouse in New Orleans. Four days after his 27th birthday, Morrison gave a chaotic performance that ended with him smashing his microphone stand through the stage floor. Members of the band Kansas appeared onstage, and Morrison handed out sparklers during "Light My Fire." "The End" was the last song Morrison ever sang with The Doors on stage.
1980: The Clash released their ambitious fourth studio album Sandinista! in the UK. The groundbreaking triple album contained 36 tracks and crossed multiple genres including reggae, jazz, gospel, rockabilly, folk, dub, rhythm and blues, calypso, disco, and rap. The band took a pay cut on royalties to keep the price affordable for fans.
1985: Ian Stewart, co-founding member and longtime keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, died of a heart attack at age 47 while waiting in his doctor's office in London. Though removed from the official lineup by manager Andrew Loog Oldham in 1963 for not fitting the band's image, Stewart remained as road manager and session pianist for 23 years. Keith Richards called the Stones "his band," and Stewart was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
1915: Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. "Ol' Blue Eyes" became one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, selling over 150 million records worldwide.
1943: Dickey Betts, guitarist and co-founder of The Allman Brothers Band, was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. Betts wrote and sang the band's hit "Ramblin' Man" and formed one of rock's finest guitar partnerships with Duane Allman.
1940: Dionne Warwick was born in East Orange, New Jersey. The Grammy-winning singer became one of the most-charted vocalists of all time, with 56 singles making the Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998.
2012: The historic 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief took place at Madison Square Garden. The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, Billy Joel, and Paul McCartney headlined the benefit, which raised over $50 million. Paul McCartney closed the show joined by surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear for their first performance together in 18 years.
