June 11th: On this Day In Music History

1949, Hank Williams made his debut at the 'Grand Ole Opry' in Nashville and received an  unprecedented total of six encores.

1960, Drummer Tommy Moore makes the fateful decision to quit The Beatles and return  to his job of driving a forklift at Garston bottle works. He would briefly be replaced by Norman Chapman, who was called into National Service after just three gigs. After going drummerless and mostly jobless for a few weeks, the band would hire Pete Best on August 12th,  only one day before they were to go to Hamburg to play a string of club dates.

1962, The Beatles recorded a BBC radio program, "Here We Go", at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester, in front of a studio audience composed largely of loyal Cavern fans. This was  the last recording on which Pete Best played drums.

1966, The Rolling Stones started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Paint It Black',  the group's third US No.1 single. Also a No.1 in the UK 1966, European radio stations mistakenly report that The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey is dead.  Actually, it was guitarist Pete Townshend who had been injured in a car accident a few days earlier. 1967, Printed in this week's music weekly Melody Maker's ad's pages, 'Freaky lead guitarist, bass and drummer wanted for Marc Bolan's new group. Also any other astral flyers like with car's amplification and that which never grows in window boxes, phone Wimbledon 0697.' 1968, Working at Abbey Road studios in London on The White Album, John Lennon worked on  'Revolution 9' in studio 3, while Paul McCartney recorded 'Blackbird' in studio 2. 1969, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Ballad Of John and Yoko' the group's  17th UK No.1. Only two Beatles played on the track, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. 1976, AC/DC appeared at Glasgow City Hall, Scotland, on the first night of their Lock Up Your Daughters 19 date UK tour. 1977, Joe Strummer and Topper Headon were detained overnight in prison in Newcastle upon Tyne having  failed to appear at Morpeth Magistrates on May 21st. Both Clash members were to answer a charge relating to the theft of a Holiday Inn pillowcase. They were both fined £100 ($170). 1977, As Britain celebrated the Queen's Silver Jubilee, The Sex Pistols reached No. 2 in the singles chart with  'God Save The Queen'. 1977, KC and the Sunshine Band became only the second group after The Jackson Five to achieve four US  No.1's when 'I'm Your Boogie Man' went to the top of the charts. 1978, The Top ten posters for sale in this weeks NME included Deborah Harry, Olivia Newton-John, Saturday  Night Fever, Cheryl Ladd in hot pants, Yes live and Genesis, all priced at £1.10. 1980, Echo and the Bunnymen played the first night of a 19-date tour at The Trinity Hall, Bristol. The bands first full UK tour. 1983, Drummer Alex Van Halen married Valeri Kendall in Los Angeles, California. Brother Eddie Van Halen was best man. 1988, Nelson Mandellas 70th birthday tribute took place at Wembley Stadium, London, featuring Whitney Houston,  Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Eric Clapton, UB40, The Eurythmics and Simple Minds. The event was broadcast live on BBC 2 to 40 different countries with an estimated audience of 1 billion. 1997, Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall received a Master of Science Degree at UMIST, Manchester for his fund-raising   work following an IRA bombing in the city the previous year. 2000, Aaliyah went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Try Again'. It became the first "airplay-only" song to reach  No.1 on the US singles chart (no points from a commercial single release). 2000, On this weeks Top 3 US album chart; Eminem, 'The Marshall Mathers LP' at No.1. Kid Rock, 'The History Of Rock'  at No.2 and Britney Spears, 'Oops!...I Did It Again' at No.3. 2001, Sir Paul McCartney married Heather Mills at St Salvator Church, Ireland. Guests included Ringo Starr, David Gilmour,  Jools Holland and Chrissie Hynde. Heather walked down the aisle clutching a bouquet of 11 'McCartney' roses. 2001, Depeche Mode played the first date on their Exciter world tour at the Pepsi Arena in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. 2003, Adam Ant was arrested after going berserk and stripping off in a London cafe. The former 1980's pop star had thrown  stones at neighbour's homes smashing windows before going to the nearby cafe. 2004, Courtney Love surrendered to US police after allegedly assaulting a woman at the home of her former manager and ex-boyfriend. Ms Love was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. She was later released on bail. The charges related  to an incident on 25 April 2004, when Ms Love allegedly assaulted a woman with a bottle and a torch at the LA home of Jim Barber. 2005, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin founding member and guitarist, was awarded an OBE in the Queen of England's Birthday  Honours list and Queen guitarist and founding member Brian May was awarded a CBE. 2006, Sandi Thom went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Smile ... It Confuses People' the Scottish singer, songwriters  debut album which featured the hit 'I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker, (with flowers in My Hair'). 2006, Nelly Furtado was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Maneater', the Canadian's first No.1 hit five years after  her first hit 'I'm Like A Bird'. 2008, The American Federation of Musicians filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of American Idol, claiming musicians  were underpaid because the show's live music was re-recorded for re-runs. The union filed the suit seeking unspecified damages in the US District Court in Los Angeles, alleging that American Idol Productions Inc. and its subsidiary Tick Tock Productions Inc. violated a collective bargaining agreement. 2008, The American Federation of Musicians filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of American Idol, claiming musicians were underpaid because the show's live music was re-recorded for reruns. The union filed the suit seeking unspecified damages in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleging that American Idol Productions Inc. and its subsidiary Tick Tock Productions Inc. violated a collective bargaining agreement. 2009, Peter Doherty was released on £50,000 bail to await trial accused of driving dangerously after a gig. The Babyshambles frontman was stopped after police saw a car being driven erratically in Gloucester. The 30-year-old appeared at  Stroud Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and to having no driving licence or insurance. June 11th: Born on this day 1940, Born on this day, Joseph DiNicola, Joey and the Starlighters. (1962 US No.1 single 'Peppermint Twist, Part 1'). Jimi Hendrix was a member of the band during 1964. 1946, Born on this day, John Lawton, Uriah Heep, (1975 UK No.7 album 'Return To Fantasy'). 1947, Born on this day, Glenn Leonard, vocals, The Temptations, (1971 UK No.8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' UK No.2 in 1992). 1948, Born on this day, Alan Skipper, drums, The Pretty Things, (1964 UK No.10 single 'Don't Bring Me Down'). 1949, Born on this day, Frank Beard, drums, ZZ Top, (1984 US No.8 & 1985 UK No.16 single 'Legs'). 1951, Born on this day, Lynsey De Paul, UK singer, songwriter, (1972 UK No.5 single 'Sugar Me'). Became the first  woman to win an Ivor Novello song-writing award. 1960, Born on this day, Nick Hallam, DJ, producer, co founder of Gee Street Records, Stereo MC's, (1992 UK No.12  single 'Step It Up'). 1961, Born on this day, Robert Birch, vocals, Stereo MC's, (1992 UK No.12 single 'Step It Up').

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