26 AUGUST
In Music History
1994 Scottish singer/songwriter Frankie Miller suffers a brain hemorrhage while in New York, lapsing into a five-month coma that eventually forces him into physical therapy to regain his motor skills.
1994 Hole play the Reading Festival in England, their first concert following two tragedies: the suicide of Kurt Cobain (husband of Hole frontwoman Courtney Love) in April, and the death of their bass player, Kristen Pfaff, from a heroin overdose in June. Pfaff's replacement is Melissa Auf der Maur.
1993 Apple Records wins the bidding for a rare recording of the Beatles playing "Kansas City" and "Some Other Guy" at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1962, paying £16,000 for the acetate disc.
1983 The film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, starring David Bowie, opens in New York City.
1981 The mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Marion Dewar, declares today "Paul Anka Day" in honor of its Paul Anka.
1981 Folk singer Lee Hays (bass vocalist for The Weavers) dies from diabetic cardiovascular disease at age 67 in Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York. Hays penned a farewell poem wishing for his ashes to be mixed with his compost pile. That wish was fulfilled.
1980 Cheap Trick bass player Tom Peterson leaves the group, citing burnout. He returns for their 1988 Lap Of Luxury album, featuring their comeback song "The Flame."
1978 The Canada Jam festival goes down in the Great White North (Bowmanville, Ontario), with The Doobie Brothers, The Village People, Triumph, and Kansas on the bill.
1977 Kiss play the first of three nights at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The shows are compiled for their Alive II album, released in October.
1974 As part of As part of Women's Equality Day, the National Organization of Women give Paul Anka their "Keep Her In Her Place" award for his song "(You're) Having My Baby."
1973 10cc make their stage debut at the Palace Lido on England's Isle of Man.
1973 Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers record "Mellow My Mind," "Speakin' Out," "World on a String," "Tired Eyes," and "Tonight's the Night." All five recordings are included on the final cut of Tonight's the Night.
1973 At the Hilton in Las Vegas, Bobby Darin plays his final concert. The singer dies on December 20.
1972 Looking Glass' "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" hits #1, where it will stay for one week.
1972 Nilsson's novelty song "Coconut" peaks at #8 on the US pop chart, where it will stay for one week.
Isle Of Wight Is Bigger Than Woodstock
1970The five-day Isle of Wight festival kicks off in England, boasting a very impressive lineup, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Donovan, Jethro Tull, Miles Davis, Emerson, Lake And Palmer, The Doors, The Who, Spirit, The Moody Blues, Chicago, Procol Harum, Sly and the Family Stone, Free, and in his last concert appearance in England, Jimi Hendrix.
Read more26 AUGUST
Featured Events
2007 The Rolling Stones wrap up their A Bigger Bang tour at the O2 Arena in London. The tour lasted two years and sets a new record with a gross of $558 million.
2006 Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud?" drops out of the Hot 100 after just eight weeks, establishing a new record for the shortest stay on the chart for a #1 hit. A little perspective: "London Bridge" by Fergie is the 2006 #1 with the next-fewest weeks on the chart, with 21.
1995 Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" hits #1 in the US after being used in the movie Batman Forever. "I owe my career to Joel Schumacher," Seal says, referring to the film's director.
1978 Frankie Valli's "Grease," the title track to the blockbuster film, hits #1 in America.
1976 Steven Tyler of Aerosmith appears on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Annie Leibovitz took the photo, which shows the frontman haggard and bleary after just two hours sleep. Leibovitz got the shot by showing up at his hotel at 6 a.m.
1967 Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe" hits #1 in America for the first of four weeks. The song looks at how quickly we move on to the next thing, as Billie Joe's demise quickly becomes old news.
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