Pick a Day

15 FEBRUARY

In Music History

1974 Tomi Petteri Putaansuu, better known as Mr. Lordi, the lead vocalist of Lordi, is born in Rovaniemi, Finland.

1972 The US government's new anti-piracy laws are enacted, a response to widespread bootlegging of major artists.

1971 The Who debut a new rock opera called Lifehouse at the Young Vic Theatre in London. The project is shelved after a short run of shows, but some of the songs, including "Bab O' Riley," "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Behind Blue Eyes, become Who standards after being included on the album Who's Next.

1970 After a Sly & the Family Stone concert runs hours late and causes over a thousand dollars in damages, the Daughters of the American Revolution impose a ban against any further rock concerts at the venue, Washington D.C.'s Constitution Hall.

1969 Sly & the Family Stone land their first #1 hit when "Everyday People" tops the Hot 100 for the first of four weeks. The song's message: we're all essentially the same, no matter what we look like. Of the seven members in the group, two are white and five are black.

1968 John Lennon and George Harrison of The Beatles depart for India to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Later joined by Paul and Ringo, they write some songs for the White Album during the retreat.

1968 Blues musician Little Walter dies at age 37 in his sleep, presumably from coronary thrombosis.

1967 The first anti-bootlegging recording laws are enacted.

1967 Music students at Chicago's DePaul University form a seven-piece rock ensemble called The Big Thing. Later, they would change their name to Chicago Transit Authority, and then, simply, Chicago.

1965 Nat King Cole dies of lung cancer at age 45.

1965 The Beatles release "Eight Days a Week." The title was originally going to be used for their movie that became Help!

1964 Sam Cooke announces a major reduction in his touring schedule, made so that he can concentrate on the day-to-day activities of his two new record labels, Sar and Derby.

1961 Jackie Wilson is shot in Manhattan. The following issue of Melody Maker carries the front page headline Girl Fan Shoots Jackie Wilson, but controversy over the incident persists in spite of Wilson's claim that this is what really happened.

1961 The Marcels record "Blue Moon."

1960 Mikey Craig (bassist for Culture Club) is born in England.