On This Day:
In 1960 Elvis Presley had a six week run at number one on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight.’
In 1967 The Beatles recorded their last fan club record as a group. ‘Christmas Time Is Here Again!’
In 1968 John Lennon pled guilty to a charge of cannabis possession in a British court. He was fined 375-dollars.
In 1974 John Lennon joined Elton John for a concert in New York’s Madison Square Garden. They performed Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” along with Beatles songs “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” It was Lennon’s last stage appearance. Lennon also reunited with wife Yoko Ono after a year’s separation.
In 1983 Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, Rolling Stones Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman, and Faces Kenny Jones and Ronnie Lane performed a concert to raise money for research into multiple sclerosis. They came together for ARMS Charity Concert for Multiple Sclerosis at the Royal Albert Hall.
In 1987 R.E.M. were on the Top 10 U.S. singles chart with ‘The One I Love.’ This was the band’s first time making the charts.
In 1991 Nirvana was asked to lip-sync “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” for a performance with BBC TV. Cobain protested by singing an octave lower, and changing lyrics.
In 2000 Highlights from Government Mule guitarist Warren Haynes’ annual holiday benefit “Christmas Jam” were released as the CD “Wintertime Blues – The Benefit Concert.” Money raised from the album went to Habitat for Humanity.
David Bowie beat The Beatles and Radiohead in a survey that asked Americans to name their biggest musical influence. Bowie was crowned the musician’s musician.
In 2002 Bon Jovi performed at halftime during the Detroit Lions-New England Patriots Thanksgiving Day football game.
In 2004 Metallica played their ast show on the 137-date ‘Madly in Anger with the World Tour’ in California. It became the fourth highest grossing tour, making over 60-million-dollars in ticket sales.
In 2005 Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Sex Pistols, Blondie, and Miles Davis were named as inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2006.
Elton John’s musical “Billy Elliot” won the award for Best Musical at the British Evening Standard Theatre Awards.
In 2006 Guns N’ Roses cancelled a concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin because frontman Axl Rose was battling an ear infection and strep throat.
In 2007 Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artemus Pyle was arrested again in Florida because state records indicated he still hadn’t adequately registered as a sex offender. The law allowed authorities to arrest the rocker every 48 hours until he registers. He had been arrested a week earlier for not registering. At that time Pyle denied the allegations against him, claiming the police, quote, “got it wrong.” Pyle’s sex offender status stemmed from a guilty plea in 1993 to charges relating to sexual misconduct with a minor.
In 2011 The musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” which features music from U2’s Bono and the Edge, marked its first anniversary following a record-setting week at the box office during which the show raked in more than two-million dollars — the most ever in a seven-day span for New York’s Foxwood Theatre.
In 2013 Fall Out Boy, Goo Goo Dolls, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were among the performers at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jett, who’s a vegetarian and animal rights supporter, was originally slated to appear on the South Dakota float. Those plans changed after ranchers objected to the rocker representing their state.
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