19 MARCH
Featured Events
2010 The Runaways, about the pioneering all-girl rock band, hits theaters. The film, which focuses on group member Joan Jett (played by Kristen Stewart), is a huge flop.More
2000 The New York Mets release Garth Brooks, who is participating in spring training with the team. The country star gets the boot after going 0-17 at the plate.
1990 Andrew Wood, lead singer of Mother Love Bone, dies of a heroin overdose at age 24. Members of the band go on to form Pearl Jam.More
1988 Michael Jackson begins construction on his 2,800-acre ranch and private amusement park in Santa Barbara, California, which he names "Neverland" after a fantasy location in his favorite book, Peter Pan, a place where children never grow up.
1982 Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist Randy Rhoads dies when he takes a plane ride with a pilot who tries to buzz Ozzy's tour bus. When the wing hits the bus, the plane crashes into a nearby house, killing Rhoads, the pilot, and the tour costume designer/hairdresser.
1919 Jazz music plays throughout New Orleans after a serial killer threatens to murder anyone not listening to it.More
19 MARCH
In Music History
2024 Dr. Dre gets a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Eminem, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent join him at the ceremony.
2016 I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It by The 1975 goes to #1 in the US, becoming the album with the longest title to hit the top spot.
2013 Floyd "Buddy" McRae, the last surviving original member of The Chords, dies at age 85.
2011 Archie "Aashid" Himons, formerly known as Little Archie, dies of complications from diabetes and vascular disease at age 68.
2010 Justin Bieber, who turned 16 three weeks earlier, releases his debut album, My World 2.0, with the hit "Baby." The album debuts at #1, setting the stage for a massive tour and 3D concert film, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.
2007 Soul singer-songwriter Luther Ingram dies of heart failure at age 69.
2005 At the 46664 festival in George, South Africa honoring Nelson Mandella, Queen perform with Paul Rodgers on vocals. Billed as "Queen + Paul Rodgers," they begin a tour nine days later, marking a return to action for the band, which has played sporadically with various guest vocalists since the death of Freddie Mercury in 1991, but has not toured.
2002 Soul jazz organist Big John Patton dies of complications from diabetes at age 66.
2001 Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Queen, Ritchie Valens, Solomon Burke, Steely Dan and The Flamingos are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
1997 Gabrielle's ex-boyfriend (and the mother of her child), Tony Antoniou, is sentenced to life in prison for murdering his stepfather. Gabrielle was called as a witness at the trial.
1996 Barenaked Ladies release their third studio album, Born On A Pirate Ship.
1993 Jeff Ward (drummer for several bands, including Low Pop Suicide and Nine Inch Nails) commits suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning at age 30.
1988 At the Community World Theater in Tacoma, Washington, Nirvana uses the name Nirvana for the very first time. They'd previously gone by Skid Row, Ted Ed Fred, Pen Cap Chew, and Bliss.
1984 Backstage after the Duran Duran show at Madison Square Garden, producer Nile Rodgers introduces the band to a young artist he's working with: Madonna.
1980 In proceedings against the doctor who supplied the prescription drugs that killed Elvis Presley, Elvis' autopsy is entered as evidence. Dr. George Nichopoulos, who was known as "Dr. Nick" is eventually found guilty of overprescribing the drugs.
Tommy The Movie Premieres In America
1975The movie version of The Who's rock opera Tommy premieres in America.
Oscar-winning director Ken Russell's movie adaptation of The Who's rock opera concept album Tommy is released. The movie is a great commercial and critical success: Star Ann-Margret and Who guitarist Pete Townshend are both nominated for Academy Awards. The lead role is played by Who singer Roger Daltrey, with the other members of the band also appearing in cameos, most notably Keith Moon as Tommy's abusive Uncle Ernie. Other stars appearing in the adaptation include Ken Russell stalwart Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson, and musicians Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and Elton John - who only agreed to appear if he could keep his character's giant platform boots. Tommy tells the story of a "deaf, dumb and blind kid" who discovers a talent for playing pinball. The story covers several decades of his life: from the moment Tommy is afflicted after seeing his father kill his mother's lover; to his rise as a pinball superstar; his rebirth as a cult leader; right through to his eventual downfall. Entirely told in song, the movie features re-recorded versions of the original album's songs, with the actors themselves taking over vocal duties - including those who are not natural singers, such as Oliver Reed (whose only song was cut from his appearance in the musical Oliver! due to producers' concerns over his voice). The running order of the original record is reshuffled, and some new songs are written especially for the film. To accommodate, the movie's original soundtrack recording is released as a double LP, reaching #2 in on the US Albums chart. Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard," only released as a promotional single in the US, becomes a big hit in the UK.
Categories
©2024 Songfacts®, LLC
Comments
send your comment