September 25

Births

1946: Bryan MacLean (Guitar & Vocals for Love)

1955: Steve Severin (Bass for Siouxsie and the Banshees)

1961: Heather Locklear

1968: Will Smith (Rapper- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince)

1970: Dean Ween (Michael "Mickey" Melchiondo, Jr) (Guitar for Ween)

1974: Richie Edwards (Bass for The Darkness)

1974: Daniel Kessler (Guitar for Interpol)

1980: T.I. (Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.) (Rapper)

Events

1956: Elvis Presley's upcoming single, "Love Me Tender," becomes the first 45 to reach one million in pre-orders.

1964: The Temptations begin recording ’My Girl’ which went on to be their first US number one and the first of fifteen US Top Ten hits.

1965: The Beatles cartoon series premiered on ABC TV in the US. The first story was titled 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' and had the group exploring the ocean floor in a diving bell where they met a lovesick octopus.

1970: The Partridge Family's self-titled TV show debuts on ABC.

1975: While performing "Lonely Teardrops" onstage at the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, NJ during a Dick Clark oldies revue, Jackie Wilson collapses from a heart attack, bashing his head on the stage and lapsing into a come from which he will remain until his death in 1983.

1980: John Bonham, drummer with Led Zeppelin, died at age 32 after a heavy drinking session. ‘Bonzo’ was found dead at guitarists Jimmy Page's house of what was described as asphyxiation, after inhaling his own vomit after excessive vodka consumption (40 shots in 4 hours).

1981: An infamous Rolling Stones concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA, is recorded for use in the upcoming flop concert pic Let's Spend The Night Together.

1990: The mayor of Macon, GA, renames Mercer University Drive "Little Richard Penniman Boulevard" in honor of its native son.

1990: Drummer Dave Grohl auditioned for Nirvana and was instantly given the job. Grohl’s last band Scream had recently split-up.

1992: Two fans were stabbed and 20 arrests were made after trouble broke out at a Ozzy Osbourne gig in Oklahoma City. The sale of alcohol at the concert was blamed for the incident.

1993: A Patsy Cline commemorative stamp is issued by the United States Postal Service.

1993 Country singer Sara Evans marries Craig Schelske in Boonesboro, Missouri.

1995: Courtney Love was given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, fined $1,000 and ordered to attend a anger management course after being found guilty of assaulting Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna.

1995: Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" became only the second single to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first artist to accomplish this feat was Michael Jackson with "You Are Not Alone."

1998: Johnny Cash suffers a relapse of pneumonia and is admitted to a Nashville, TN hospital, just one year after nearly dying from the disease.

2000: Ozzy Osbourne formally requested that Black Sabbath be removed from the nomination list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Calling the inclusion "meaningless", Osbourne went on to say "Let's face it. Black Sabbath have never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine."

2001: The first worldwide broadcast of a satellite radio station takes place as XM Radio takes the air.

2011: The New York Post reported that Sly Stone was living in a van, parked in the notoriously rough Los Angeles neighborhood of Crenshaw. The 68-year-old was quoted as saying "I like my small camper. I just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving."

September 24

Births

1936: Jim Henson (Muppets)

1941: Linda McCartney (Keyboards for Wings)

1942: Gerry Marsden (Vocals & Guitar for Gerry and the Pacemakers)

1952: Mark Sandman (Singer & Bass for Morphine)

1965: Sean McNabb (Bass for Quiet Riot & Great White)

1969: Shawn "Clown" Crahan (Percussion for Slipknot)

1971: Peter Salisbury (Drums for The Verve)

Events

1942: Bandleader Glenn Miller makes his last radio broadcast on CBS' Moonlight Serenade program before leaving to enlist in the Army.

1955: Judy Garland makes her television debut on CBS' variety show Ford Star Jubilee, breaking all previous ratings records.

1957: Legendary DJ Alan Freed debuts his fourth movie, Mister Rock And Roll, at New York City's Paramount Theatre. The film, named after Freed's nickname, features Alan playing himself and also several musical performances by Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Brook Benton, LaVern Baker, Ferlin Husky, Lionel Hampton, and, for some reason, former middleweight boxing champion Rocky Graziano.

1966: En route from New York to London with his new manager, Chas Chandler, the guitarist formerly known as Jimmy James decides to change his name to Jimi Hendrix. Upon arrival, Jimi ends up in a jam session with British bluesman Zoot Money, witnessed by Andy Summers, later the guitarist for the Police.

1967: The Beatles film the (in)famous "Your Mother Should Know" dance segment of their film Magical Mystery Tour at the West Malling Air Force Station in Kent, England. Paul wears a black carnation when the group runs out of red ones, creating more "clues" for the "Paul is Dead" theorists.

1967: Traffic made their live debut when they appeared at Saville Theatre in London, featuring Steve Winwood.

1977: Just a month or so after his untimely death, the first national Elvis Presley convention takes place in Memphis.

1980: The mixing of the forthcoming John and Yoko album Double Fantasy moved from the Hit Factory in New York City to Record Plant East. During this session, John Lennon gave one of last ever interviews to Lisa Robinson from 97-FM in Buffalo.

1988: After allegedly breaking into an insurance class being held in a building he owns and waving a gun around, demanding to know who used his bathroom, James Brown becomes involved in a hour-long, two-state car chase with police in Augusta, GA, who were tipped off that Brown was behaving erratically and armed. Driving over six miles in his pickup truck after authorities shoot out his two front tires, Brown is arrested and charged with illegal possession of drugs and firearms, simple assault, carrying a deadly weapon in public, resisting arrest, and seven misdemeanors. He is released from jail after serving two years of a five-year sentence.

1988: Bobby McFerrin started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Worry Be Happy', the first a-cappella record to be a No.1.  The song would go on to win Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

1989: Prince made an appearance on the 15-year anniversary of Saturday Night Live.

1991: Nirvana’s album ‘Nevermind’ was released in America, entering the chart at No. 144 on its first week, peaking at No.1 in January 1992.  It went on to sell over 30M copies.

1991: The album "The Low End Theory" was released by A Tribe Called Quest.

1993: Following his recent arrest for drunk driving, John Denver is ordered to perform a benefit concert for victims of the same.

1993: Guns N' Roses reached a settlement with their former drummer Steven Adler. Adler had been kicked out of the band for not kicking his heroin habit.

1995: The Charlatans were arrested by 24-armed police after a flight to New York. The band were accused of trying to disrupt the planes flight path, passengers complained of the group being drunk, spitting and interfering with in flight TV sets.

1997: Barry Loukaitis was convicted of shooting and killing two pupils and a teacher at a school in Washington. His defence team claimed he had copied scenes from Pearl Jam's video 'Jeremy'. 

September 21

Births

1934: Leonard Cohen (Singer / Songwriter)

1947: Don Felder (Lead Guitar for The Eagles)

1954: Philthy Animal (Phil Taylor) (Drummer for Motorhead)

1967: Faith Hill (Country Singer)

1967: Tyler Stewart (Drums for Barenaked Ladies)

1968: Trugoy (David Jude) (Rapper in De La Soul)

1972: David Silveria (Drums for Korn)

1972: Liam Gallagher (Vocals for Oasis & Beady Eye)

Events

1957: Elvis Presley's longtime guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black leave the King's band, dissatisfied over being denied pay raises by manager Colonel Tom Parker. Drummer D.J. Fontana stays on.

1962: A year and a half before the Beatles break in America, the Springfields' "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" becomes the first British song to reach the top 20 in the US. Later, member Dusty Springfield would have several more solo hits of her own.

1965: Having signed with Beatles manager Brian Epstein, the Moody Blues play their first major gig, as part of the manager's "Evening of Popular Music" at Royal Albert Hall in London. Other acts include Manfred Mann, the Kinks, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames.

1968: Janis Joplin announces her upcoming departure from her band Big Brother and the Holding Company, which observant listeners had decried as too amateurish for her talents.

1968: Deep Purple made No.4 on the US singles chart with their debut single 'Hush'.

1972: ABC-TV debuted "In Concert." Alice Cooper appeared in the first episode.

1974: Barry White went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby', the singers first and only US solo chart topper.

1980: Bob Marley, who had refused treatment for a spreading melanoma due to his religious beliefs, collapses while jogging in New York's Central Park and is hospitalized. Two nights later her performs the next date on his North American tour, the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, but it sadly proves to be his last.

1980: Elton John leaves longtime label MCA and signs with David Geffen's new label for a six-year contract.

1986: The National Inquirer Magazine featured a picture of Michael Jackson in an oxygen chamber with a story claiming that Jackson had a bizarre plan to live until he was 150 years old.

1987: Jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius died from injuries sustained in a fight. Pastorius was trying to enter the Midnight Bottle Club in Wilton Manors, Florida, (where he'd been banned), and became involved in a fight with a bouncer, Pastorius fell into a coma and was put on life support on September 11th. He was 36 years old.

1989: The Bangles issued a press statement confirming that the group were splitting. They reformed in 2000.

1990: The Internal Revenue Service places liens totalling $16.7 million on Willie Nelson's property to guarantee that he pays $6.5 million in back taxes.

1991: Status Quo set a world record when they play four separate British arenas in one 11-hour period.

1992: 'Yes Please' by The Happy Mondays, became the last release on Manchester label Factory records.

1999: While being searched at London's Heathrow Airport, Diana Ross allegedly assaults the security guard in question and is detained for five hours.

2001: All major television networks in the US simultaneously air the all-star benefit concert America: A Tribute To Heroes, the proceeds (in excess of $128 million) of which will go to victims of the infamous 9/11 attacks and their families. Performing guests include Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, and Willie Nelson.

2004: Cat Stevens, known as Yusuf Islam since the late Seventies, is stopped from entering the US after his name is erroneously found on a terrorism watch list.

2007: Snoop Dogg was sentenced to three years probation and 160 hours of community service after pleading guilty to carrying a collapsible baton. The rapper was arrested in September 2006 after the baton was found in his bag at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. In April 2007 he was given five years probation and 800 hours community service after pleading no contest to gun and drug charges in a Californian court.

September 20

Births

1948: Chuck and John Panozzo (Bass and Drums for Styx)

1957: Alannah Currie (Vocals & Sax for The Thompson Twins)

1960: Dave Hemmingway (Lead Vocals for The Housemartins)

1960: Robert Wiggins (Cowboy Rapper in Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five)

1966: Nuno Bettencourt (Guitar & Singer / Songwriter for Extreme)

1967: Gunnar & Matthew Nelson (Vocalists for Nelson)

1968: Ben Shepherd (Bass for Soundgarden)

1979: Rick Woolstenhulme (Guitar for Lifehouse)

Events

1955: Tennessee Ernie Ford records the Merle Travis-written "Sixteen Tons" at the Capitol Recording Studio on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.

1966: George Harrison went to India for his first visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

1969: During a meeting in London between John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Lennon announced he was leaving The Beatles.

1969: Blind Faith started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with their self-titled debut album. The only release from the Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker & Rick Grech line-up also reached No.1 in the US. The only UK gig was in Hyde Park, London on 7th Jun 1969.

1970: Jim Morrison of The Doors was acquitted on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, but was found guilty of exposing himself during a concert at The Dinner Key Auditorium in Coconut Grove a year and a half earlier. At his trial at the Dade County Courthouse in Miami, Judge Goodman sentenced Morrison to six months hard labor and a $500 fine for public exposure and sixty days hard labor for profanity. The sentence was appealed, but Morrison was never brought to trial, as he would die in Paris France on July 3, 1971.

1971: Peter Frampton quit Humble Pie to follow a solo career.

1972: Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested for the second time in four weeks for possession of cannabis this time at their Scottish farmhouse in Campbeltown.

1973: On his way to perform his second concert of the day, US singer / songwriter Jim Croce was killed with five others when his chartered aircraft hit a tree on take off in Louisiana.  He was 30 years old.

1973: A day after Gram Parsons died, his body is stolen during transfer at the Los Angeles International Airport, then taken to Joshua Tree, where it is burned, in accordance with his request. Road manager Phil Kaufman is among two charged with the crime.

1973: The Sunset Strip's legendary Roxy club opens in Los Angeles with a performance by Neil Young and his band Crazy Horse. The opening acts were Elton John, Carole King and Jackson Browne.

1975: 'Fame' gave David Bowie his first No.1 in the US, the song was co-written with John Lennon.

1975: The Bay City Rollers made their US TV debut when they appeared on the 'Saturday Night Variety Show' with host Howard Cosell.

1976: The Captain and Tennille musical variety show premiered on ABC TV in the US.

1980: Kate Bush scored her first UK No.1 album with 'Never For Ever.' It was the first ever album by a British female solo artist to top the UK album chart as well as being the first album by any female solo artist to enter the chart at No.1.

1980: Queen started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Game', the group's only US No.1 album.

1982: A seriously ill Karen Carpenter, now weighing only 77 pounds due to her anorexia, is admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and fed intravenously in order to get her weight back to normal.

1993: Just back from a tour of Japan, keyboard player with The Charlatans Rob Collins was out with an old friend. They stopped at a liquor store and his friend went in, half-jokingly saying he could rob the place. When he came out with a loud bang, Collins stupidly picked him up. The police arrested the pair the next day and charged them both with attempted robbery and possession of a firearm (it was a replica gun).

1994: The Dave Matthews Band released ‘Under the Table and Dreaming’, the album featured their first commercial hits ‘What Would You Say,’ ‘Satellite,’ and ‘Ants Marching.’ The album was dedicated to Matthews' older sister Anne, who was killed by her husband in 1994 in a murder-suicide.

1994: The Temptations are awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7060 Hollywood Blvd.

2002: Lynchburg, Virginia, names a street after hometown boy Phil Vassar when he performs in the city. Lynchburg also proclaims Phil Vassar Day, and presents him with a key to the city.

2003: Nelly Furtado gave birth to a daughter, Nevis, at a hospital in Toronto, Canada.

2005: Canadian JD Fortune, beat two other finalists to become the new lead singer with INXS after a worldwide search to replace the late Michael Hutchence. INXS held auditions in six continents as part of a reality TV series.

2007: Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones was admitted to hospital when he was injured during an altercation with a member of a club's security team. The band had gone to a west London club after appearing at the Vodafone Live Music Awards.