What Happened Today In Music

February 28th

1966 - The Beatles

Police were called after over a 100 music fans barricaded themselves inside Liverpool's Cavern Club to protest at the clubs closure. The club had run up debts of over £10,000. The Beatlesmade a total of 292 appearances at The Cavern Club, their final performance at the club was on 3 August 1963. 

1970 - David Bowie

Billed as David Bowie's New Electric Band (so new they haven't got a name yet), played at the Basildon Arts Lab experimental music club at the Basildon Arts Centre in Essex, England. Also on the bill were High Tide, Overson and Iron Butterfly.

1970 - Peter Green

In an interview with the New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. The following year Green confronted his accountant with a gun after he sent him an unwanted royalty check. The guitarist went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum and was committed to a mental hospital in 1973. He re- launched his career in the 90s.

1970 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin played a gig in Copenhagen as The Nobs after Eva Von Zeppelin a relative of the airship designer threatened to sue if the family name was used in Denmark. 

1970 - Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel started a six week run at the top of the US singles chart with 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', also No.1 in the UK in March the same year. It became one of the most performed songs of the twentieth century, with over 50 artists, among them Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, covering the song.

1974 - Bobby Bloom

Singer songwriter Bobby Bloom shot himself dead in the head at his Hollywood apartment aged 28. Bloom had the 1970 US No.8 & UK No.3 single 'Montego Bay'.

1976 - Paul Simon

Paul Simon's 'Still Crazy After All These Years' was named Best Pop Vocal Performance and Album Of The Year at the 18th annual Grammy Awards. In his acceptance speech, Simon told the audience "I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year."

1977 - Ray Charles

Ray Charles was attacked onstage by a man who tried to strangle him with a microphone cord. The man was a member of a group called Project Heavy, a community program for disadvantaged youths. They promised that the matter would be handled within the organization and no charges were laid.

1981 - Eddie Rabbitt

Country music star Eddie Rabbitt crossed over to the Pop chart to score a US No.1 hit with 'I Love a Rainy Night'. He had earlier written the Elvis Presley smash 'Kentucky Rain' before having a No.5 hit with 'Drivin' My Life Away'. Although it sounds like he made up a stage name, his real name is Edward Thomas Rabbitt.

1983 - Bono

U2 released their third studio album War. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album has come to be regarded as U2's first overtly political album, in part because of songs like 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and 'New Year's Day.' War became the band's first No.1 album in the UK (knocking Michael Jackson's Thriller from the top of the charts). The boy on the cover of the album is Peter Rowen (the brother of Bono's friend, Guggi from The Virgin Prunes).

1984 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson won a record seven Grammy awards including: Album of the year for Thriller; Record of the year and Best rock vocal performance for 'Beat It'; Best pop vocal performance, Best R&B performance and Best R&B song for 'Billie Jean', and Best Recording For Children for E.T The Extra Terrestrial.

1985 - David Byron

David Byron, singer with Uriah Heep died from an epileptic fit and liver disease aged 38. Byron was the original singer of the English band between 1969 and 1976 and gained a reputation with his operatic vocals and harmonies as one of the best rock vocalists and frontmen in the world.

1986 - George Michael

George Michael announced that Wham! would officially split during the summer. Wham became one of the most successful pop acts of the 1980s, selling more than 30 million records worldwide from 1982 to 1986. The singles 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go', 'Everything She Wants' and 'Careless Whisper', all topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US.

1987 - The Beatles

The first five The Beatles albums, Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale and Help! were released on Compact disc. Capitol Records decided to release the original UK mixes of the Beatles albums, (the first four CDs were released in mono). This marked the first time that many of these mono mixes were available in the US.

1989 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan recorded the first sessions for the Oh Mercy album at The Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana. What became Dylan's 26th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1989 was produced by Daniel Lanois.

1994 - Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton played his 100th performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, in aid of the 'Children In Crisis', charity.

1996 - Alanis Morissette

Grammy award winners included Alanis Morissette who won album of the year for Jagged Little Pill, best female rock vocal & best song for 'You Oughta Know', Nirvana's 'Unplugged won best alternative album and Coolio best rap performance with 'Gangsta's Paradise.'

1997 - Suge Knight

Death Row Records boss Marion 'Suge' Knight was sentenced to nine years in prison for violating his probation for a 1995 assault conviction. Under US law, Knight would not be allowed to run Death Row Records while in prison.

2005 - Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis, drummer with The Searchers died aged 63 after a long illness. The searchers scored the 1964 UK No.1 single 'Needles And Pins', and the 1964 US No.3 single 'Love Potion Number Nine'.

2006 - Kanye West

Two stewards were shot during a concert by rapper Kanye West at the NEC in Birmingham, England. Police said the shootings took place after people who tried to gain entrance without tickets were escorted from the arena. A man, who had no ticket, entered the foyer and was ejected, he then returned and shot at the stewards, one was in a serious condition after being shot in the face.

2008 - Boy George

Boy George pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning a male escort by chaining him to a wall. The singer and DJ was also accused of assaulting Audun Carlsen during the alleged incident on 28 April 2007. He was released on bail until a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in November.

2008 - Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys won three prizes, including best British band at this year's NME Awards held at the O2 in London. The band's single 'Fluorescent Adolescent' won them best track and they won best video for 'Teddy Picker'. Best album went to Klaxons for Myths of the Near Future while Kate Nash won best solo artist. Muse were presented with the best live band award and US group The Killers took best international act. The Manic Street Preachers, who performed at the ceremony, were awarded the NME's Godlike Genius honour and Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty was voted hero of the year. Britney Spears's Blackout was voted worst album and The Hoosiers were named worst band.

2008 - Jimi Hendrix

Drummer Buddy Miles, who played with Jimi Hendrix in his last regular group, Band of Gypsys, died aged 60 at his home in Austin, Texas after struggling with a long-term illness. Born George Allen Miles in Omaha, Nebraska, Buddy's nickname was a tribute to his idol, jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Rich also played with The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters and Barry White. In the 1980s, he achieved a certain amount of notoriety in the US as the vocalist on the celebrated claymation California Raisins commercials.

2010 - Tom 

Tom "Bone" Wolk, who played bass for nearly 30 years with Daryl Hall and John Oates died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 58. He had also recorded with Carly Simon, Jellyfish, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin and Billy Joel over the course of his career.

2016 - Adele

Adele was at No.1 on the UK and US album chart with her third studio album 25. The album was a massive commercial success, debuting at No.1 in more than 25 markets. 25 received the BRIT Award for British Album of the Year and also won the 2017 Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album. 

2019 - André Previn

German-American pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor André Previn died at home in Manhattan at the age of 89. He is best known for arranging and composing Hollywood film scores for over 50 films over his entire career. He won four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. 

Born Today In Music

February 28th

1927 - Don Helms

Don Helms, steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player in Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys. Helms was a featured musician on over 100 Hank Williams recordings and went on to play on many classic country hits, including Patsy Cline's 'Walking After Midnight,' and Loretta Lynn’s 'Blue Kentucky Girl.' He died on August 11, 2008.

1941 - Marty Sanders

Marty Sanders, from Jay and the Americans, who had the 1962 hit with 'She Cried' and the 1969 US No.6 single 'This Magic Moment'.

1942 - Brian Jones

Brian Jones, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of The Rolling Stones. Originally the leader of the group, Jones placed an advertisement in Jazz News of 2 May 1962 inviting musicians to audition for a new R&B group. Jones came up with the name the Rollin' Stones while on the phone with a venue owner, who asked 'What are you called?' Jones saw a copy of The Best Of Muddy Waters lying on the floor - and track one was Rollin' Stone Blues. Jones died on July 3rd 1969, after drowning in his swimming pool.

1942 - Joe South

Joe South, American singer, songwriter who had the 1969 US No.12 & UK No.6 single 'Games People Play'. South started his career in July 1958 with the novelty hit ‘The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor’. He wrote ‘Rose Garden’, which was first released by Billy Joe Royal in 1967 and later became a 1970 hit for country music singer Lynn Anderson. South worked with Bob Dylan, (Blonde on Blonde), Simon And Garfunkel, (Sounds of Silence) and Aretha Franklin, (‘Chain of Fools’). He died of heart failure on 5 Sept 2012 aged 72.

1943 - Donnie Iris

Donnie Iris, guitarist with Wild Cherry who had the 1976 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Play That Funky Music'.

1945 - Ronnie Rosman

Ronnie Rosman, from American rock band, Tommy James & The Shondells who had the 1966 US No.1 single 'Hanky Panky', the 1968 UK No.1 single 'Mony Mony' and the hit 'I Think We're Alone Now'.

1948 - Geoff Nicholls

British musician and keyboardist, and longtime member of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Geoff Nicholls. He died on 28 January 2017 aged 68. Until his death, Nicholls played keyboards with former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin, in his band Tony Martin's Headless Cross.

1952 - Eddie Manion

Eddie Manion, American saxophonist from the Jersey Shore group Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. As a session musician, he has recorded and toured, with, among others, Bruce Springsteenand the E Street Band, Diana Ross, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bon Jovi, Willy DeVille, Dave Edmunds, Little Steven, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, The Allman Brothers Band and Graham Parker. 

1957 - Cindy Wilson

Cindy Wilson, singer and founding member with American new wave rock band The B-52's who had the 1990 UK No.2 & US No.3 single 'Love Shack'. She sang with the Ramones in the early 1980s on the song ‘Chop Suey’, with Kate Pierson and Debbie Harry. 

1957 - Ian Stanley

Ian Stanley, keyboards, with Tears For Fears who had the 1985 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' and played a key role in the making of their multi-platinum selling second album Songs from the Big Chair.

1957 - Phil Gould

British drummer, songwriter and singer Phil Gould from Level 42, who had the 1986 UK No.3 & US No.12 single 'Lessons In Love' & 19 other UK Top 40 hits.

1967 - Marcus Lillington

Marcus Lillington, guitars, keyboards with British group Breathe, who scored the 1997 US No. 2 single 'Hands To Heaven', (kept from the summit by 'Roll with It' by Steve Winwood). The song became a UK top 5 hit the following year. 

1971 - Nigel Godrich

Nigel Godrich, Grammy Award-winning UK recording engineer and record producer. Best known for his work with Radiohead. He is a member of Atoms for Peace (with Yorke) and Ultraísta. Other acts Godrich has worked with include Beck, Paul McCartney, U2, R.E.M., Pavement and Roger Waters.

1977 - Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean, American country music singer, who has scored six No.1 singles on the country charts including the duet ‘Don't You Wanna Stay’ with Kelly Clarkson, and the 2011 US County No.1 single 'Dirt Road Anthem'.

1986 - Alex Tanas

Alex Tanas, musician, drummer, singer and songwriter from Canadian reggae fusion band Magic! who had the 2014 US and UK No.1 hit single ‘Rude’, from their 2014 US Top 10 album Don't Kill the Magic. 

1994 - Jake Bugg

English singer and songwriter Jake Bugg, (born Jake Edwin Kennedy). His self-titled debut album, largely co-written with songwriters Iain Archer, Matt Prime and Crispin Hunt, was released in late 2012 and reached No.1 on the UK Albums Chart.