May 10

Births

1899: Fred Astaire (Singer)

1909: Mother Maybelle Carter (Country Singer in Carter Family)

1946: Dave Mason (Singer & Guitar for Traffic & Solo)

1946: Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch) (Singer)

1947: Jay Ferguson (Lead Vocals & Percussion for Spirit & Solo)

1952: Sly Dunbar (Reggae Drummer in Sly & Robbie)

1957: Sid Vicious (John Ritchie) (Bass & Vocals for The Sex Pistols)

1957: Karl Hyde (Vocals & Guitar for Underworld)

1960: Bono (Paul Hewson) (Vocals & Guitar for U2)

1967: Young MC (Marvin Young) Rapper

1968: Richard Patrick (Guitarist for Filter & Nine Inch Nails)

1980: Jason Dalyrimple (Singer in Soul For Real)

Events

1960: A group from Liverpool named the Beatals (sic) changes its name to the Silver Beatles after local scenester Brian Casser declares the first name ridiculous. The five-piece -- which at this point includes Stu Sutcliffe on bass and Tommy Moore on drums) audition to become singer Billy Fury's backing group. Though they don't get the main gig, they do score a gig backing up fellow Liverpudlian Tommy Quickly on a Scottish tour.

1963: The Rolling Stones make their first recordings for Decca Records, including the Chuck Berry cover "Come On," but all are rejected by the label as "dreadful."

1964: Dusty Springfield makes her television debut on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show, singing "I Only Want To Be With You."

1966: Struggling singer Janis Joplin, back home in her native Texas, is invited back out to San Francisco by her friend Chet Helms, who invites her to audition with a group he's managing called Big Brother and the Holding Company.

1967: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards appeared at Chichester Crown Court, Sussex, charged with being in possession of drugs, they elect to go to trial pleading not guilty and were both granted $180 bail.

1968: Reacting to alleged abuse of audience members by policemen, Jim Morrison incites a riot at a Doors concert at the Chicago Coliseum.

1969: Tricia Nixon, daughter of the US President, invites The Temptations and the Turtles to perform at a White House ball. For some reason, Turtles guitarist Mark Volman keeps falling off the stage; rumors persist later that he and the band had prepared for the gig by snorting cocaine off of Abraham Lincoln's desk.

1974: Led Zeppelin launches its new record label, Swan Song, with a swank dinner at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles that quickly devolves into a food fight.

1977: Adam And The Ants made their live debut when they played at the ICA, London.

1983: Metallica began recording their debut album "Kill 'Em All" in New York. They finished on May 27, 1983.

1985: All girl group The Go-Go's announced they were breaking up. The members went on to enjoy solo success, (Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin) and the group reformed in the late 90's.

1986: Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married TV star Heather Locklear in a courtyard in Santa Barbara California with five hundred guests. Tommy wore a white leather tuxedo.

1986: The Pet Shop Boys went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'West End Girls', the duo's first US No.1.

1991: Rapper Bushwick Bill (Geto Boys) lost his right eye after being shot by his girlfriend.

1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur began serving a 15-day county jail term for attacking director Allen Hughes on a video set.

1994: Barbra Striesand begins her 1st concert tour in 30 years.

1994: Willie Nelson is found by police in Hewitt, Texas, asleep at the side of a road. He's arrested on drug charges when they discover the butt from a doobie in his ashtray.

1999: American singer, songwriter poet, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack aged 57. Wrote, 'A Boy Named Sue' for Johnny Cash (which Silverstein won a Grammy for in 1970) and many songs for Dr Hook including 'Sylvia's Mother' and 'The Cover of the Rolling Stone.'

2000: Bobby Brown was arrested at Newark airport, New Jersey for breaking his probation order. He had been wanted in Florida since 1999 when his probation officer reported that a urine test proved positive for cocaine use.

2003: Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) was given an honorary doctorate degree in music by the Berkley College of Music.

2004: Glen Campbell is sentenced to 10 days in a jail after he pleads guilty to driving under the influence (and leaving the scene of the ensuing car wreck) the previous November in Phoenix.

2005: Singer Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum in a low-key ceremony on a beach in Mexico near the singer's home on the luxurious Costa Careyes.

2007: Pink Floyd's original members gather for the first time since 1980 to perform a concert at Barbican Centre, in London, a tribute to their recently deceased ex-frontman Syd Barrett.

2007: US hip-hop artist Akon apologized after footage of him dancing provocatively on stage with a teenage girl was posted on the internet. It led to telecommunications company Verizon pulling out as a sponsor of his US tour with Gwen Stefani. The incident took place on 12 April in Trinidad, where Akon was performing at a nightclub. It was later reported that the girl was just 14. In a statement Akon said he didn't know the girl was underage. He said: "I want to sincerely apologise for the embarrassment and any pain I've caused to the young woman who joined me on stage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert.” 

May 6

Births

1945: Bob Seger (Guitar and Singer)

1950: Robbie McIntosh (Drummer for Average White Band)

1951: Davey Johnstone (Guitar for The Elton John Band)

1960: John Flansburgh (Guitar & Vocals for They Might Be Giants)

1964: Tony Scalzo (Singer & Guitarist for Fastball)

1966: David Narcizo (Drums for Throwing Muses)

1967: Mark Bryan (Guitar for Hootie & The Blowfish)

1968: Lætitia Sadier (Singer in Stereolab)

1971: Chris Shiflett (Guitar for Foo Fighters)

Events

1957: Chuck Berry recorded "Rock And Roll Music".

1965: While preparing to go to sleep in his hotel room while on tour in Clearwater, FL, the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards fools around with his new Gibson "fuzz box" amp and discovers a new guitar riff, one he likes so much he starts his tape recorder and plays it over and over until he falls asleep. When he awakens the next day, he finds a tape full of one guitar riff and about twenty minutes of snoring; bringing the riff to Mick Jagger at the hotel pool, the two begin composing their breakthrough hit, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

1965: Marianne Faithfull marries her second husband, artist John Dunbar, at the registry office in Cambridge, England. Within six months she will be living with Mick Jagger, who had written her hit song "As Tears Go By."

1965: James Brown recorded "I Got You (I Feel Good)".

1973: Paul Simon begins his first tour as a solo artist, performing at Music Hall in Boston at a show that would be recorded for his upcoming album Live Rhymin'.

1977: The Boomtown Rats played their first gig in England when they appeared at Studio 51, London.

1977: Dolly Parton made her New York singing debut.

1978: At the United Nations, the Bee Gees announce an upcoming series of concerts to benefit the UNICEF organization.

1978: The soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever started an 18 week run at No.1 on the US. The album, which features seven Bee Gee songs, went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide.

1982: Tom Paton, manager of the Bay City Rollers, is convicted of the counts of "conducting (himself) in a shamelessly indecent manner" with teen boys. He is sentenced to three years in prison.

1984: Tina Turner releases the soon-to-be-smash single "What's Love Got To Do With It?" marking the beginning of one of the greatest comebacks in music history.

1984: Fictional group Spinal Tap played a gig at New York's CBGB's.

1993: The IRS raids Jerry Lee Lewis' ranch home in Nesbit, MS, and hauls away his belongings in an attempt to make up for what it says are $1.6 million in back taxes.

1994: Pearl Jam filed a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department against Ticketmaster. The charge was the company had a monopoly on the concert ticket business.

1996: Metallic began two days of recording for the video "Until It Sleeps."

1997: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame holds its twelfth annual induction ceremonies, for the first time in Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Hall itself. The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson, The Bee Gees, The Young Rascals, Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, and Parliament-Funkadelic are all inducted. Mitchell decides not to accept her award in person after having just publicly reconciled with the daughter she gave up for adoption three decades earlier.

2002: Albany State University in Georgia awards hometown boy Ray Charles an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy.

2002: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen was voted the UK's favorite single of all time in a poll by the Guinness Hit Singles book. 'Imagine' by John Lennon was voted in at No.2 and 'Hey Jude', The Beatles No.3, 'Dancing Queen' by Abba was fourth and Madonna 'Like A Prayer' was in fifth place.

2002: American songwriter and producer Otis Blackwell died from a heart attack. He wrote the classic songs ‘All Shook Up’, ‘Return To Sender’, ‘Don't Be Cruel’, ‘Great Balls Of Fire’ and ‘Fever.’ Over the years, Blackwell's songs have sold more than 185 million copies.

2005: In Augusta, GA, a statue of James Brown was unveiled. The bronze lifesize statue was to commemorate Brown's musical accomplishments.

2005: US coffee shop chain Starbucks banned the sale of Bruce Springsteen's latest album Devils and Dust over concerns about its adult content. The retailer - which stocked CDs at its branches in the US - said it would be promoting other albums instead.

2006: The Go-Betweens singer & songwriter Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane, Australia, aged 48 from a heart attack.

2008: Cher returns to the stage with the first of 200 planned shows at the Las Vegas Coliseum, marking her final three-year retirement tour. (Only 78 shows would be performed.)

2009: A former publicist for Michael Jackson was suing the singer for $44m for his alleged failure to pay her for her services. Raymone Bain said Mr Jackson had agreed to give her 10% of any business deals arranged with her assistance. Ms Bain acted as Mr Jackson's publicist during his 2005 trial for child abuse.

May 5

Births

1898: Blind Willie McTell (Blues Artist)

1934: Johnnie Taylor (R&B Singer)

1942: Tammy Wynette (Country singer)

1948: Bill Ward (Drums for Black Sabbath)

1959: Ian McCulloch (Lead Vocals for Echo And The Bunnymen)

1959: Steve Stevens (Guitar for Billy Idol)

1963: James LaBrie (Singer for Dream Theater)

1966: Shawn Drover (Drummer for Megadeth)

1981: Craig David (Singer)

1981: Jesse Colburn (Guitarist for Avril Lavigne)

1988: Adele (Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) (Pop Singer)

1989: Chris Brown (R&B Singer)

Events

1891: The Music Hall (later Carnegie Hall) had its grand opening with its first public performance. The first performer was Pyotr Llych Tchaikovsky.

1900 : "The Billboard" (later called "Billboard") began weekly publication instead of monthly after six years of publication.

1956: Elvis Presley scored his first US No.1 single and album when 'Heartbreak Hotel' went to the top of the charts. His debut album also went to No.1 making it the first Rock & Roll album to go to #1 on the Billboard charts.

1962: The Shirelles started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Soldier Boy', it made No.23 in the UK.

1962: The soundtrack to West Side Story went to No.1 on the US album chart. It went on to spend a total of 54 weeks at the No.1 position.

1963: On a recommendation by George Harrison, Dick Rowe Head of A&R at Decca records (and the man who turned down The Beatles), went to see The Rolling Stones play at Crawdaddy Club, London. The band was signed to the label within a week.

1968: Buffalo Springfield split up. Richie Fury formed Poco and Stephen Stills teamed up with David Crosby and Graham Nash in Crosby Stills & Nash.

1968: Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" was released.

1969: Stevie Wonder met President Nixon at the White House.

1972: Blind blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis died of a heart attack aged 76. His unique finger-picking style influenced many other artists.

1973: David Bowie scored his first UK No.1 album when 'Aladdin Sane' started a five-week run at the top, featuring the single 'Drive In Saturday'.

1974: The band Television appeared at CBGB's in New York City, supported by the Stillettoes (later to become Blondie, who were playing their first show at CBGB).

1984: Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr married Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde in a horse drawn carriage in Central Park, New York City.

1984: Duran Duran were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Reflex', the group's second and last No.1. The song which was taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger was also a US No.1.

1986: It was announced that Cleveland, Ohio, had been chosen as the city where the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame would be built.

1987: Over 130 girls fainted during a gig by Curiosity Killed The Cat in Liverpool, England.

1990: The John Lennon tribute concert was held at the Pier Head Arena in Merseyside, featuring Lenny Kravitz, Al Green, Joe Cocker, The Christians, Kylie Minogue, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Deacon Blue, Lou Reed, Joe Walsh and Wet Wet Wet. 

1990: At his wedding reception, drummer Jason Bonham plays a set with his dad's old bandmates in Led Zeppelin, sparking yet more reunion rumors that do not come to pass.

1992: Radiohead released 'The Drill EP', their first record in the UK.

1995: Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler was arrested on a felony count of possession of heroin, as well as two misdemeanour drug charges.

1996: Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan received both a public apology and a donation of  $12,750 to the Warchild charity from The Sport newspaper after they ran a story claiming she had performed a gig in Hamburg without wearing any underwear.

1997: Management company Ignition sent emails to over 100 Oasis unofficial websites threatening legal action over their alleged unlawful breach of copyright over Oasis music featured on the sites.

1997: Texas Governor George W. Bush declares today ZZ Top Day.

1997: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have their first baby, Gracie Katherine McGraw.

1998: The Michigan state legislature introduced a bill that would limit concert attendance by minors under the age of 18.

1999: Garth Brooks was named artist of the decade at the 34 annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

2000: Rod Stewart had a one-hour throat operation at Cedar Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles to remove a growth on his thyroid. The growth turns out to be benign.

2002: Two disc jockeys from Denver's KRFX-FM, Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax, stopped a live radio interview with Detroit rocker Ted Nugent after he used derogatory racial terms for Asians and Blacks. The station received dozens of complaints.

2005: Justin Timberlake underwent an operation at Los Angeles' Cedars Sinai Hospital to remove nodules from his throat.

2011: Bryan Adams became a first-time father at the age of 51.  The Mother of their baby is Alicia Grimaldi, a long-time employee who helps run Adams' charitable efforts.