HC's Rock Rewind: February 27 - March 12

HC's Rock Rewind

A look back at the past two weeks in Rock History

by Team HC

February 27th - March 5th

From the release of Metallica’s Master of Puppets to the birth of Jon Bon Jovi, the end of February into early February is brimming with rock ‘n’ roll landmarks. Keep reading for some major events, historic record releases and births and deaths taking place February 27 through March 5.

Events

1941 – The world’s debut commercial FM radio station starts broadcasting on March 1, 1941. It’s Nashville's W47NV.

1964 – The Beatles start shooting their first feature film, A Hard Day's Night.

1974 – Queen starts their first tour as headliners with a gig at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

1978 – Van Halen kick off their first U.S. tour in Chicago. They’re opening for Journey.

1981 – U2 launch off on their first major U.S. tour with two stints at a Washington, D.C., club called The Bayou.

1984 – This is Spinal Tap debuts in movie theaters on March 2.

1988 – U2 score their first Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Performance by Rock Duo or Group with Vocal for The Joshua Tree. The honors happen on March 2, 1988.

1991 – “Curtis Mayfield Day” is made official in Los Angeles.

2002 – MTV debuts its new reality television show, The Osbournes.

Births

Neal Schon – February 27, 1954

Adrian Smith – February 27, 1957

Josh Groban, February 27, 1981

Brian Jones – February 28, 1942

Ian Brown – February 28, 1966

Jason Aldean – February 28, 1977

Roger Daltrey, March 1, 1944

Glenn Miller, March 1, 1904

Rob Affuso, March 1, 1963

Ryan Peake, March 1, 1973

Lou Reed, March 2, 1943

Rory Gallagher, March 2, 1948

Eddie Money, March 2, 1949

Karen Carpenter, March 2, 1950

Mark Evans, March 2, 1956

Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi), March 2, 1962

Chris Martin, March 2, 1977

Terence “Snowy” White, March 3, 1948

Junior Parker, March 3, 1927

Bobby Womack, March 4, 1944

Chris Squire, March 4, 1948

Shakin’ Stevens, March 4, 1948

Jason Newsted, March 4, 1963

Evan Dando, March 4, 1967

Fergal Lawlor (The Cranberries) March 4, 1971

Andy Gibb, March 5, 1958

John Frusciante, March 5, 1970

Deaths

Richard Street, February 27, 2013

Frankie Lymon, February 28, 1968

Bobby Bloom, February 28, 1974

David Byron, February 28, 1985

Chris Curtis, February 28, 2005

Buddy Miles, February 28, 2008

Tom “T-Bone” Wolk, February 28, 2010

Mike Smith, February 29, 2008

Davy Jones, February 29, 2012

Frank Smith, March 1, 1991

Dusty Springfield, March 2, 1999

Hank Ballard, March 2, 2003

Jeff Healey, March 2, 2008

Ronnie Montrose, March 3, 2012

Richard Manuel, March 4, 1986

Glenn Hughes, March 4, 2001

John McGeoch, March 5, 2004

Releases

Frank Sinatra, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, 1946

The Yardbirds, For Your Love, 1965

Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, 1973

Tom Waits, Closing Time, 1973

Metallica, Master of Puppets, 1986

Bad Religion, The Gray Race, 1996

Bruce Springsteen, Hammersmith Odeon London 1975, 2006

Nine Inch Nails, Ghosts I-IV, 2008

Gorillaz, Plastic Beach, 2010

Weeks March 6 - March 12

This week in rock music history was marked by abundance of significant events. One of rock greatest heavy metal bands staged their first concert, a flamboyant British singer became a wax figure, and one of the Beatles was honored with knighthood. A trove of classic albums was released as well, including landmark records by Queen, U2 and Nine Inch Nails. Read on for a look back at other noteworthy moments that shaped rock and roll during this historically eventful week.

Events

1965 – The Temptations become the first male Motown act to score a Number One hit on the U.S. singles chart, with the Smokey Robinson-written song, “My Girl.”

1967 – Music publisher Dick James announces that 446 different versions of The Beatles’ “Yesterday” have been recorded thus far.

1968 – Bob Dylan begins a 10-week run atop the U.K. charts with his John Wesley Harding album. The LP tops out at Number Two on the U.S. charts.

1969 – Steve Marriott leaves the Small Faces to form Humble Pie. The remaining members of Small Faces recruit Rod Stewart and Ron Wood into the band, rechristening themselves as Faces.

1969 – Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman. That evening, following a lunchtime wedding reception, McCartney goes to Abbey Road Studios to work.

1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” becomes the first of five CCR singles to reach the Number Two spot on the charts while falling short of Number One.

1970 – David Bowie releases “The Prettiest Star” in the U.K. as the follow-up single to “Space Oddity.” Marc Bolan plays lead guitar on this version. Later, on Bowie’s 1973 Aladdin Sane album, Mick Ronson handles guitar on a remake.

1970 – Under their new name, Black Sabbath, the band formerly known as Earth stage their debut concert at London’s The Roundhouse.

1972 – Neil Young’s Harvest album knocks Don McLean’s American Pie off the top spot on the U.S. album chart. The McLean LP had occupied the Number One slot for seven weeks.

1973 – Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize” becomes the first single since The Beatles’ “Get Back” to enter the U.K. Singles chart at Number One.

1974 – Bad Company perform their first live gig, staging a show in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

1976 – Elton John becomes the first rock and roll act since The Beatles to be immortalized as a wax figure at Madame Tussauds in London.

1981 – Jimmy Page performs on-stage for the first time since Led Zeppelin called it quits, joining Jeff Beck at a London show for a set of encores.

1984 – After spending a year with Black Sabbath, former Deep Purple lead singer decides to leave the band.

1985 – The single “We are the World” is released. Co-written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, the song features some of the music industry’s biggest talents—including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Ray Charles, among many others. Proceeds from sales go toward battling famine in Africa.

1992 – Prince wins the “Heritage” award for lifetime achievement at the annual Soul Train Music Awards.

1997 -- Paul McCartney is knighted by Elizabeth II.

2001 -- Eric Singer replaces Peter Criss as the drummer for Kiss during the band’s “farewell” tour in Japan.

2013 – Bob Dylan is voted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, making him the first rock musician to be so honored.

Releases

1967 – The Velvet Underground & Nico:  The Velvet Underground & Nico

1969 – Genesis:  From Genesis to Revelation

1970 – Mountain:  Climbing!  

1970 -- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young:  Déjà Vu                      

1972 – Thin Lizzy:  Shades of a Blue Orphanage

1972 – Jethro Tull:  Thick as a Brick

1974 – Queen:  Queen II

1974 – Chicago:  Chicago VII

1975 – Alice Cooper:  Welcome to My Nightmare

1975 – David Bowie: Young Americans

1976 – Slade:  Nobody's Fools

1977 – T.Rex:  Dandy in the Underworld

1980 – Billy Joel:  Glass Houses

1981 – Joe Walsh:  There Goes the Neighborhood

1983 – Quiet Riot:  Metal Health

1985 – Eric Clapton:  Behind the Sun

1987 – U2:  The Joshua Tree

1988 – The Beatles:  Past Masters

1989 – Julian Lennon:  Mr. Jordan

1990 – Robyn Hitchcock:  Eye 

1991 – R.E.M:  Out of Time

1993 – Lenny Kravitz:  Are You Gonna Go My Way

1994 – Elvis Costello:  Brutal Youth

1994 -- Nine Inch Nails:  The Downward Spiral         

1994 – Sam Phillips:  Martinis and Bikinis

1994 – Soundgarden:  Superunknown

1996 -- Kiss:  Kiss Unplugged

1998 – Eric Clapton:  Pilgrim

1998 – Motörhead:  Snake Bite Love            

1999 – Silverchair:  Neon Ballroom

1999 – Wilco:  Summerteeth

2001 – Aerosmith:  Just Push Play

2001 – Gary Moore:  Back to the Blues

2006 – David Gilmour:  On an Island

2006 – Neko Case:  Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

2006 – Donald Fagen:  Morph the Cat

Deaths

Charlie Parker – March 12, 1955

Richard Manuel (The Band) – March 6, 1986

Andy Gibb – March 10, 1988

Lavern Baker – March 10, 1997

Michael “Smitty” Smith (Paul Revere and the Raiders) – March 6, 2001

Danny Joe Brown (Molly Hatchet) – March 9, 2005

Brad Delp (Boston) – March 9, 2007

Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) – March 6, 2010

Micky Jones (Man) – March 10, 2010

Mike Starr (Alice in Chains) – March 8, 2011

Michael Hossack (Doobie Brothers) – March 12, 2012

Alvin Lee – March 6, 2013

Peter Banks (Yes, Flash) – March 7, 2013

Lew Soloff (Blood, Sweat and Tears) – March 8, 2015

Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night) – March 11, 2015

George Martin – March 8, 2016

Keith Emerson – March 11, 2016

Births

Leonard Chess – March 12, 1917

Ornette Coleman – March 9, 1930

John Cale – March 9, 1942

Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere & the Raiders) – March 9, 1942

Hugh Grundy (The Zombies) – March 6, 1945

Arthur Lee (Love) – March 7, 1945

Mickey Dolenz – March 8, 1945

Robin Trower – March 9, 1945

David Gilmour – March 6, 1946

Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum) – March 7, 1946

Peter Wolf – March 7, 1946

Randy Meisner – March 8, 1946

Kiki Dee – March 6, 1947

Carole Bayer Sager – March 8, 1947

Tom Scholz – March 10, 1947

George Kooymans (Golden Earring) – March 11, 1948

James Taylor – March 12, 1948

Dave Lambert (The Strawbs) – March 8, 1949

Mike Gibbins (Badfinger) – March 12, 1949

Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) – March 12, 1956

Gary Numan – March 8, 1958

Martin Fry (ABC) – March 9, 1958

Bruce Watson (Big Country) – March 11, 1961

Rick Rubin – March 10, 1963

Edie Brickell – March 10, 1966

Pete Doherty – March 12, 1979

Carrie Underwood – March 10, 1983

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