HC's Rock Rewind - February 12 - 25

HC's Rock Rewind

A look back at the past two weeks in Rock History

by Team HC

Week of February 12th - 18th

The second week in February has been marked by a tons of memorable rock events. The Beatles released one of pop music’s greatest 45-rpm records, The Who recorded (in the opinion of many) rock’s greatest live album, and The Clash kicked off their first U.S. tour. A spate of classic LPs was released as well, including landmark records by Rush, Neil Young, and the Allman Brothers Band. Read on for a look back at other significant moments that shaped rock and roll during this historically eventful week.

Events

1961 – Frank Sinatra launched Reprise Records, the first wholly artist-owned record label.

1964 – The Beatles wrap up their initial trip to the U.S. with two 25-minute shows at Carnegie Hall.

1962 – Ray Charles records “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”

1967 – The Beatles release the double-A-sided single, “Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane,” in the U.S.

1969 – Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People” begins a four-week run in the Number One spot on the U.S. singles chart.

1970 – The Who stage a concert at Leeds University in England. The show is recorded and released as Live at Leeds, widely considered one of the greatest live rock albums in history.

1972 – Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” tops the U.S. singles chart.

1973 – Free perform their final show. Singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke subsequently co-found the supergroup, Bad Company, with Mick Ralphs and Boz Burrell.

1974 – The “Cher” variety show premieres on CBS. Guests on the first show include Elton John, Bette Midler, and comedian Flip Wilson.

1975 – Linda Ronstadt’s Heart Like a Wheel album tops the U.S. albums chart.

1977 – The Police record their first single, “Fall Out,” in London.

1977 – The B-52’s stage their first live performance, performing at a Valentine’s Day party in Athens, Georgia.

1977 – Sid Vicious replaces bassist Glen Matlock in the Sex Pistols.

1978 – Dire Straits begin recording their debut album.

1979 – The Clash kick off their first U.S. tour, performing at the Palladium in New York City.

1992 – Singer Vince Neil is kicked out of Mötley Crüe. He returns to the band in 1997.

1993 – The Faces reunite for the annual BRIT awards, with Bill Wyman filling in for original bassist Ronnie Lane. Lane passes away in 1997 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.

1997 – David Bowie is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2001 – Peter Frampton is bestowed the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award.

2004 – Led Zeppelin are honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the annual Grammy ceremony.

2007 – Sting confirms that The Police are reuniting for a world tour.

Releases

1965 – The Rolling Stones:  Now!

1967 – John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers:  A Hard Road

1969 – The Monkees:  Instant Replay

1970 – Black Sabbath:  Black Sabbath (U.K. release)

1972 – The Allman Brothers Band:  Eat a Peach

1972 – Neil Young:  Harvest

1974 – Deep Purple:  Burn

1974 – Kiss:  Kiss

1975 – T.Rex:  Bolan’s Zip Gun

1976 – Heart:  Dreamboat Annie

1977 – The Kinks:  Sleepwalker

1977 – America:  Harbor

1980 – Warren Zevon:  Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School

1980 – Elvis Costello:  Get Happy!!

1981 – Rush:  Moving Pictures

1981 – Eric Clapton:  Another Ticket

1982 – XTC:  English Settlement

1984 – Laurie Anderson:  Mister Heartbreak

1984 – Thompson Twins:  Into the Gap

1986 – Jackson Browne:  Lives in the Balance

1990 – The Cramps:  Stay Sick!

1993 – Lynyrd Skynyrd:  The Last Rebel

1994 – Pavement:  Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

1995 – Slash’s Snakepit:  It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere

1995 – Belly: King

1996 – Gin Blossoms:  Congratulations I’m Sorry

1999 – XTC:  Apple Venus Volume 1

2000 – The Cure:  Bloodflowers

2006 – Toto:  Falling in Between

2011 – Radiohead:  The King of Limbs

Deaths

Nat King Cole – Feb. 15, 1965

Little Walter – Feb. 15, 1968

Mike Bloomfield – Feb. 15, 1981

Thelonius Monk – Feb. 17, 1982

Bob Stinson (The Replacements) – Feb. 17, 1995

Denny Cordell – Feb. 17, 1995

Brownie McGee – Feb. 16, 1996

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Feb. 12, 2000

Oliver – Feb. 12, 2000

Waylon Jennings – Feb. 13, 2002

Doug Fieger (The Knack) – Feb. 14, 2010

Bob Casale (Devo) – Feb. 17, 2014

Lesley Gore – Feb. 15, 2015

Vanity – Feb. 15, 2016

Al Jarreau – Feb. 12, 2017

Births

Otis Blackwell – Feb. 16, 1931

Yoko Ono – Feb. 18, 1933

Sonny Bono – Feb. 16, 1935

Magic Sam – Feb. 14, 1937

Ray Manzarek – Feb. 12, 1939

Bobby Hart – Feb. 18, 1939

Gene Pitney – Feb. 17, 1940

Brian Holland – Feb. 15, 1941

Peter Tork – Feb. 13, 1942

Glyn Johns – Feb. 15, 1942

Eric Anderson – Feb. 14, 1943

Tim Buckley – Feb. 14, 1947

Steve Hackett – Feb. 12, 1950

Peter Gabriel – Feb. 13, 1950

Rickey Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – Feb. 17, 1950

Michael McDonald – Feb. 12, 1952

Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy) – Feb. 12, 1956

Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order) – Feb. 13, 1956

Henry Rollins – Feb. 13, 1961

Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) – Feb. 16, 1961

Rob Thomas – Feb. 14, 1972

Billie Joe Armstrong – Feb. 17, 1972

Week of February  19th - 25th

From the release of Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti to the birth of George Harrison to the sad passing of AC/DC's Bon Scott, this week is jam-packed with music nostalgia, both good and tragic. Read on for some major events, historic record releases and births and deaths taking place Feb. 19 through 25.

Events 

1964 - A young Billy Joel joins his first rock group, a U.K. cover band called the Echoes.

1969 - The Beatles start recording "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."

1973 - The Byrds perform their final concert in Passaic, New Jersey.

1974 - Kiss appear on TV for the first time on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.

1974 - The first annual American Music Awards is broadcast on ABC.

1975 - "Johnny Cash Day" is officially declared for February 20 in Los Angeles.

1989 - Jethro Tull win the first Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance over Metallica. For real.

1990 - Paul McCartney is honored at the 32nd annual Grammy Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

1992 – Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love of Hole are married at a ceremony in Hawaii.

1995 –  Pamela Anderson of "Baywatch" marries Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.

1998 - Elton John is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Releases  

John Lennon, Instant Karma!, 1970

Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti, 1975

George Harrison, Self-titled album, 1979

Alabama, Mountain Music, 1982

Mick Jagger, She's the Boss, 1985

Radiohead, Pablo Honey, 1993

Joey Ramone, Don't Worry About Me, 2002 

Deaths

Bon Scott (AC/DC), February 19, 1980

Grandpa Jones, February 19, 1988

Kelly Groucutt of (Electric Light Orchestra), February 19, 2009

Papa John Creach (Jefferson Airplane/Starship), February 21, 1994

Andy Warhol (former manager of The Velvet Underground and designer for The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers album cover), February 21, 1987

Howie Epstein (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), February 23, 2003

Melvin "Blue" Franklin (The Temptations), February 23, 1995

Johnnie Ray, February 24, 1990

Births

Smokey Robinson is born William Robinson Jr., February 19, 1940

Tony Iommi, February 19, 1948

Francis Buchholz (Scorpions), February 19, 1954

Jeff Daniels, February 19, 1955

Seal, real name Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, February 19, 1963

John Geils (The J. Geils Band), February 20, 1946

Walter Becker (Steely Dan), February 20, 1950

Randy California (Spirit), February 20, 1951

Jon Brant (Cheap Trick), February 20, 1955

Ian Brown (The Stone Roses), February 20, 1963

Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), February 20, 1967

David Geffen, February 21, 1943

Vince Welnick (The Tubes, Grateful Dead), February 21, 1951

Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), February 21, 1949

Mark McLaughlin (Mark Arm), February 21, 1962

James Blunt, February 22, 1974

Rusty Young (Poco, Buffalo Springfield), February 23, 1946

Steve Priest (Sweet), February 23, 1950

Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), February 23, 1952

Howard Jones, February 23, 1955

Michael Wilton (Queensryche), February 23, 1962

George Thorogood, February 24, 1950

Dennis Diken (The Smithereens), February 24, 1957

George Harrison, February 25, 1943

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