26 MARCH
In Music History
1987 Elton John admits that his marriage to Renate Blauel is in trouble, releasing a statement (through his publicist) that reads: "In order to put an end to further speculation, Elton and Renate jointly wish it to be known that they have for many months lived apart whilst each of them has been considering the future of their marriage." The couple married on Valentine's Day, 1984; their divorce is finalized on November 17, 1988.
1980 John Poulos (drummer for The Buckinghams) dies of drug-related heart failure less than a week before this 33rd birthday.
1976 David Keuning (lead guitarist for The Killers) is born in Pella, Iowa.
1976 Blues singer Duster Bennett dies in a car accident at age 29 after falling asleep at the wheel.
1975 The movie version of Tommy premieres in London.
1973 Noël Coward dies of heart failure at age 73.
1971 Emerson, Lake & Palmer play their adaptation of Mussorgsky's classical piece "Pictures At An Exhibition" at Newcastle City Hall in England. The performance is released as a live album later that year.
1970 The Woodstock movie premieres in Hollywood.
1970 Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary is arrested in Washington, DC for taking "immoral liberties" with a 14-year-old girl (he pleads guilty and spends three months in jail).
1969 Pat Boone guest stars on the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
1968 Alt rock guitarist James Iha (of The Smashing Pumpkins) is born in Chicago, Illinois.
1968 Kenny Chesney is born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is raised in nearby Luttrell.
1966 The Strangeurs, featuring future Aerosmith frontman Steven Tallarico (later Steven Tyler), open for The Byrds at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. The Strangeurs arrange for girls to sit in the front row and scream for them, but it's hardly necessary as the crowd goes nuts during their set, where they play six songs instead of their allotted two.
1964 Former Beatles drummer Pete Best appears on the game show I've Got A Secret.
1964 Barbra Streisand opens on Broadway in Funny Girl, two months after landing her first Top 10 hit with the show's number "People." More
Iconic Stones Logo Appears For First Time
1971The Rolling Stones' lips and tongue logo appears for the first time when it is used on VIP passes for their show at the Marquee Club in London.
Read more26 MARCH
Featured Events
1995 Eazy-E (Eric Wright) dies of AIDS-related complications at age 31.More
1994 Modern rock rules as Soundgarden's Superunknown is the #1 album in America, with Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral at #2. Those looking for something less intense can find it at #3, with the Ace of Base album The Sign.
1987 Nike begins airing a commercial using the Beatles song "Revolution," marking the first time an original version of a Beatles song is used in an ad.More
1983 Thanks to heavy rotation on MTV, Duran Duran have their first American hit when "Hungry Like The Wolf" hits #3 on the Hot 100.More
1977 "Rich Girl" hits #1 in America, giving Hall & Oates their first of six chart-toppers on the Hot 100.
1977 The Clash release their first single, making an immediate political statement with "White Riot." It is released only in the UK and not available in America until two years later.
1966 After 14 years on TV (and ten years on radio before that), the last episode of The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet, which made Rick Nelson a household name, airs on ABC.
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