On This Day

May 18th

1964 - The Rolling Stones

A riot broke out in Hamilton, Scotland during a Rolling Stones UK tour when over 4,000 fans with forged tickets gate-crashed the bands gig at the Chantingall Hotel.

1966 - Bruce Springsteen

The Castiles (with Bruce Springsteen on vocals), made their first recordings at Mr Music Inc in Brick Town, New Jersey. They cut two Springsteen songs, ‘Baby I’ and ‘That’s What You Get’. The songs were cut directly to disc, of which seven or eight test pressings of the studio takes were made.

1966 - Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson

During his 1966 world tour, Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson from The Band were filmed singing several songs in a hotel room in Glasgow, Scotland, the footage turning up in the film Eat The Document. The film was originally commissioned for the ABC television series Stage '66, but after Dylan edited the film himself ABC rejected it as 'incomprehensible for a mainstream audience'.

1967 - The Beatles

The Beatles were selected to represent the UK for the first-ever global-wide satellite broadcast. The group agreed to be shown in the studio recording a song written especially for the occasion, scheduled for June 25. John Lennon wrote ‘All You Need is Love’ which was thought to sum up the 1967 'summer of love' and The Beatles' sympathies. With the satellite broadcast being broadcast to many non-English-speaking countries, the BBC asked The Beatles to 'keep it simple'.

1967 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd started recording their forthcoming single 'See Emily Play' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London. Syd Barrett was inspired to write See Emily Play, by the ‘looning about’ of the early Pink Floyd fan Emily Young, (who is now a renowned sculptor). Guitarist David Gilmour, playing gigs in France with his own band in that period, visited Floyd in the studio during a trip to London.

1968 - Miami Pop

The first Miami Pop event took place with an estimated 100,000 people attending the concert, which was promoted by Richard O'Barry & Michael Lang (later famous as the promoter of Woodstock). Bands featured at the festival included Steppenwolf, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Mothers of Invention, Blue Cheer, Chuck Berry, The Blues Image, Pacific Gas and Electric, Three Dog Night and the Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

1974 - Ray Stevens

Ray Stevens started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the novelty song 'The Streak' which capitalized on the then popular craze of streaking. Also No.1 in the UK.

1975 - Tammy Wynette

Five times married US country singer, Tammy Wynette was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Stand By Your Man.' Originally released as a single in 1968 in the USA. It proved to be the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music.

1980 - Ian Curtis

Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis hanged himself in the kitchen of his house in Macclesfield, England at the age of 23. Curtis had the Iggy Pop album 'The Idiot', playing on his stereo and left a note that said, 'At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I just can't cope anymore.' Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up 'Closer' in 1980.

1985 - Simple Minds

Simple Minds were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't You Forget About Me', (a No. 7 hit in the UK). Written by Keith Forsey (who won an Oscar for "Flashdance... What a Feeling") and Steve Schiff (guitarist and songwriter from the Nina Hagen band), the track was featured in the 1985 American teen drama film The Breakfast Club.

1993 - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson released Janet. The album’s first week sales of 350,000 was the highest for a female artist at that time. The album went on to sell over 14 million copies worldwide. It’s one of only seven albums to have Six Top Ten Hits in the Billboard Hot 100 charts. 

1997 - Robbie Williams

Blur won pop music's equivalent of the FA Cup, the Music Industry Soccer Six. The band's win at Fulham's FC's ground Craven Cottage saw them beating off competition from Robbie Williams, My Life Story and The Prodigy.

2000 - Madonna

Madonna's boyfriend Guy Ritchie was arrested after attacking a fan outside the superstar's London home. Ritchie was said to have kicked and punched a male fan after the couple returned home from a night out.

2004 - Clint Warwick

Clint Warwick the original bass player with The Moody Blues died from liver disease at the age of 63. Clint left the band in 1966 after playing on their only number one hit, 'Go Now'.

2008 - Ting Tings

Ting Tings scored their first UK No.1 single with 'That's Not My Name'. Taken from the Manchester duo's debut studio album 'We Started Nothing'.

2011 - The Beatles

John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for the 1967 Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' sold for $237,132 (£145,644) at an auction in the US. The sale of the sheet, which featured the song's third verse and the opening words to 'She's Leaving Home', took place at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Both songs feature on the 1967 album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was speculated the song was about the drug LSD, however, The Beatles denied this, with Lennon saying the inspiration had come from a picture his son Julian had drawn of a classmate named Lucy Vodden - who died of the immune system disease Lupus in 2009.

2017 - The Killers

It was announced that The Killers' 'Mr Brightside' was the most-streamed song released before 2010 in the UK. The 2004 single was streamed 26 million times last year, beating any other song released before 2010, according to music industry body the BPI.

2017 - Chris Cornell

American musician, singer and songwriter Chris Cornell died suddenly in Detroit after performing at a show with Soundgarden. Cornell was known for his role as one of the architects of the 1990s grunge movement, and for his near four octave vocal range as well as his powerful vocal belting technique. He released four solo studio albums as well as working with Audioslave and Temple of the Dog.

Born On This Day

May 18th

1911 - Joe Turner

Joe Turner, (best known as Big Joe Turner), US blues songwriter. He wrote 'Shake Rattle and Roll', 'Sweet Sixteen'. Turner died on 23rd November 1985 at the age of 74 of heart failure, having suffered the earlier effects of arthritis, a stroke and diabetes and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

1912 - Perry Como

American singer and television personality Perry Como, who had the 1957 US No.1 single 'Round And Round' and the 1958 UK No.1 single 'Magic Moments'). Como has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in radio, television, and music. He died on 12th May 2001 age 88.

1942 - Albert Hammond

Albert Hammond, Gibraltarian singer, songwriter, and record producer. In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group the Family Dogg, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969. As a solo artist he scored the 1972 US No.5 single 'It Never Rains In Southern California', and the 1973 UK No.19 single 'Free Electric Band'. Other hits Hammond has written with collaborator Mike Hazlewood include "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Gimme Dat Ding" for the Pipkins and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit for the Hollies.

1946 - George Alexander

George Alexander, from American rock bandThe Flamin Groovies who had the 1976 album 'Shake Some Action. In addition to the band's role in the advancement of power pop, the Flamin' Groovies have also been called one of the forerunners of punk rock.

1949 - Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman, English keyboardist, songwriter, television and radio presenter. As a session musician his early sessions included playing on "Space Oddity", for David Bowie and songs by Junior's Eyes, T. Rex, Elton John, and Cat Stevens. Wakeman became a member of Strawbs and then the classic line-up in Yes. As a solo artist he scored the 1974 UK No.1 album 'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth'.

1949 - William Wallace

William Wallace from Canadian rock band Guess Who who had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.19 single 'American Woman'.

1950 - Mark Mothersbaugh

Born on this day Mark Mothersbaugh, co-founder of the new wave band Devo. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games.

1952 - George Strait

American country music singer, songwriter, actor George Strait. His 1992 album Pure Country spent 40 weeks on the US chart. He has the second most No.1 country hits among any artist in any musical genre in history, totalling 53 No.1 hit songs. Only Conway Twitty has more, with 55. Strait has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

1953 - Butch Tavares

Butch Tavares, from American R&B, funk, and soul group Tavares, who had the 1976 UK No.4 and US No.15 single 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel'.

1954 - Wreckless Eric

Wreckless Eric (Eric Goulden), English singer, songwriter and Stiff Records artist who had the 1978 UK airplay hit 'Whole Wide World'.

1956 - Jim Moginie

Jim Moginie founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter with Midnight Oil. Moginie has worked with many notable musicians from Australia and New Zealand, including Silverchair, Sarah Blasko, End of Fashion, Neil Murray, Kasey Chambers and Neil Finn.

1957 - Michael Cretu

Romanian-German musician and produce Michael Cretu who as Enigma had the 1991 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'Sadness Part 1'. Enigma has sold over 70 million worldwide.

1958 - Toyah

Toyah, (Victoria Wilcox), English singer and actress, who scored the 80s hits 'It's a Mystery', 'Thunder in the Mountains' and 'I Want to Be Free'. Toyah has released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films. Willcox married Robert Fripp of King Crimson in 1986.

1961 - Hugh Whittaker

Hugh Whittaker, from English alternative rock band The Housemartins. The group's a cappella cover version of 'Caravan of Love' (originally by Isley-Jasper-Isley) was a UK No.1 single in December 1986.

1961 - Russell Senior

Russell Senior, guitarist with English rock band Pulp, who had the 1995 UK No.2 single 'Common People'. He quit the band in January 1997. Pulp were regarded among the Britpop "big four", along with Oasis, Blur and Suede.

1967 - Martin Duffy,

English keyboardist Martin Duffy, who originally played in Felt and currently plays with Primal Scream. Duffy also played with The Charlatans following the death of founder-member Rob Collins.

1969 - Martika

Martika, American singer-songwriter and actress. Her biggest hit was 'Toy Soldiers' which peaked at No.1 for two weeks in the US in mid 1989.

1975 - Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson, Hawaii born singer, songwriter, surfer who scored the 2006 UK No.1 album 'In Between Dreams', and the 2006 US & Australian No.1 album ‘Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George'. He is also known for organizing an annual event, the Kōkua Festival.