What Happened Today In Music

August 18th

2020 - Jack Sherman

Jack Sherman died age 64 of a heart attack at his home in Savannah, Georgia. He is best known as the second guitarist to have joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, in between Hillel Slovak’s departure and return. He played on their debut album, and co-wrote much of their second album, Freaky Styley. He went on to collaborate with musicians such as Bob Dylan, George Clinton and Feargal Sharkey.

2014 - Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran's album X notched up eight weeks at No.1 on the UK chart, becoming the joint longest chart-topper by a male solo artist. The last man to achieve the feat was James Blunt for his 2005 collection Back to Bedlam.

2012 - Scott McKenzie

American singer and songwrite Scott McKenzie died aged 73. He was best known for his 1967 hit single and generational anthem, 'San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)'. He also joined a new version of The Mamas & the Papas and co-wrote "Kokomo" (1988), a No.1 single for The Beach Boys.

2010 - Sex Pistols

French beauty brand Etat Libre D'Orange announced that they have teamed up with the Sex Pistols to bottle the scent of the Punk era by launching the band's first fragrance. Company executives said "to wear this scent, you must resist tradition, fight conformity, and disregard aromatic conventions."

2008 - Pervis Jackson

Soul singer Pervis Jackson died of cancer. Was a member of The Spinners (Also known as The Motown Spinners and The Detroit Spinners). Had the 1980 UK No.1 & US No.2 single 'Working My Way Back To You'.

2006 - Justin Hawkins

Justin Hawkins the lead singer of The Darkness checked himself into the Priory rehabilitation clinic suffering from exhaustion after three years of non-stop work.

2006 - Elvis Presley

US film-maker Adam Muskiewicz set up elviswanted.com as part of a documentary exploring the myth that the singer was still alive and offered a $3m (£1.59m) reward for anybody who found Elvis Presley alive. The film was due for release in August 2007, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Presley's death.

2006 - Pete Doherty

Babyshambles front man Pete Doherty appeared at Thames Magistrates court in London to face seven charges of drug possession.

2005 - Kanye West

Kanye West called for an end to homophobia in the hip-hop community during an MTV interview saying ‘hip-hop was always about speaking your mind and about breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people. Not just hip-hop, but America just discriminates, I wanna just, to come on TV and just tell my rappers, just tell my friends, 'Yo, stop it'."

2003 - Tony Jackson

Tony Jackson bass player with The Searchers died of cirrhosis of the liver. The Searchers had the 1964 UK No.1 & US No.13 single 'Needles And Pins'.

1992 - Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain became a father when his wife Courtney Love gave birth to a daughter, Frances Bean Cobain.

1991 - Rick Griffith

Rick Griffin, died after being forced off the road by a van he was attempting to pass on his Harley Heritage Softail motorbike. One of his best known album covers was for the Grateful Dead's 'Aoxomoa' LP, and the legendary "Flying Eyeball" poster he designed for a series of concerts in San Francisco featuring the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Albert King and John Mayall.

1991 - Noel Gallagher

Sweet Jesus appeared at the Boardwalk, Manchester. Support act was The Rain (later to become Oasis) minus Noel Gallagher who had yet to join his brothers band.

1986 - Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi released their third studio album, Slippery When Wet, which peaked at No.1 on the US charts, going on to sell over 28 million copies worldwide. The set featured two US chart toppers, 'You Give Love A Bad Name' and 'Livin’ On A Prayer'.

1984 - George Michael

George Michael was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his first solo single 'Careless Whisper.' It made George the first person to reach No.1 as a solo artist and a member of a band in the same year. It gave Epic records UK their first UK million seller and the song was No.1 in nearly 25 countries, selling over six million copies worldwide.

1983 - Joan Jett

The Police plus Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and R.E.M. (their biggest gig to date) all appeared at Shea Stadium, New York City.

1982 - George Harrison

The City of Liverpool named four Streets after the fab four: John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, George Harrison Close and Ringo Starr Drive.

1979 - Chic

Chic went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Good Times', the group's second US No.1, a No.5 hit in the UK.

1979 - Nick Lowe

British singer, songwriter, producer Nick Lowe married Johnny Cash's stepdaughter Carlene Carter in Los Angeles. The couple are now divorced.

1977 - Elvis Presley

Two Missouri girls were killed and a third was critically injured when a car being driven by an 18-year-old Memphis teen swerved into a crowd of over 2,000 mourners standing in front of Graceland's music gate at about 4am. The driver was charged with drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of second degree murder.

1977 - The Police

The Police made their live debut as a three-piece band when they played at Rebecca's Birmingham, England. The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and are generally regarded as one of the first New Wave groups to achieve mainstream success, playing a style of rock that was influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz.

1976 - Marvin Gaye

'Variety' reported that Marvin Gaye faced two consecutive five day prison terms in Los Angeles county jail for contempt of court after failing to pay alimony and child support.

1973 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross scored her second US No.1 single with 'Touch Me In The Morning'. The song marked a turning point in her career, coming immediately after her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in her acting debut, Lady Sings the Blues.

1969 - Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger was accidentally shot in the hand during filming of Ned Kelly in Australia. The film was dogged by problems: Jagger's girlfriend of the time, Marianne Faithfull, had gone to Australia to play the lead female role (Ned's sister, Maggie), but the Jagger-Faithfull relationship was breaking up, and she took an overdose of sleeping tablets soon after arrival in Sydney resulting in being hospitalised in a coma, and pulling out of the film.

1966 - Manfred Mann

Paul Jones left Manfred Mann just as ‘Pretty Flamingo’ was climbing the US charts. He was replaced by singer Mike D’Abo, who would take over lead vocals on the bands next hit, ‘The Mighty Quinn,’ a song written by Bob Dylan.

1964 - The Beatles

Over 9,000 frenzied fans met The Beatles as they arrived in San Francisco, to begin an American tour. The Beatles were driven into a protective fence enclosure so that photographers could take pictures. As the 9,000 fans pressed against the fencing, it gave way, with The Beatles managing to get out split-seconds before it came crashing down.

1962 - Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr made his debut with The Beatles at the horticultural society Dance, Birkenhead, England, having had a two-hour rehearsal in preparation. This was the first appearance of The Beatles as the world would come to know them: John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Born Today In Music

August 18th

1983 - Mika

Mika, (Mica Penniman), UK singer, (2007 UK No.1 single 'Grace Kelly' and 2007 UK No.1 album 'Life in Cartoon Motion').

1977 - Régine Chassagne

Canadian multi-instrumentalist and singer, Régine Chassagne, founding member of Arcade Fire. (She is married to co-founder Win Butler). Had the 2005 album Funeral, and 2017 US No.1 album Everything Now.

1971 - Richard James

Richard James, Aphex Twin (1993 UK No.32 single 'On').

1969 - Erik Schrody

Erik Schrody, Irish-American rapper and singer-songwriter, House Of Pain, (1993 UK No.3 single 'Jump Around'). Member of Everlast, (1999 UK No. 34 single 'What It's Like').

1967 - Dan Peters

Dan Peters, drummer with American alternative rock band Mudhoney. Their early releases on the Sub Pop label were massively influential on the Seattle music scene.

1967 - Tracy Tracy

Tracy Tracy, The Primitives, (1988 UK No.5 single 'Crash').

1960 - Stuart Matthewman

English songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer Stuart Matthewman. He gained worldwide fame as the guitarist/saxophonist of the English band Sade. Stuart is also a member of Sweetback, and was one half of Twin Danger. He appeared on all of Sade's tours and albums: Diamond Life, Promise, Stronger Than Pride, Love Deluxe, Lovers Rock, and Soldier of Love all of which went triple platinum in the US. 

1957 - Ron Strykert

Ron Strykert, Men At Work, (1983 UK and US No.1 single 'Down Under').

1956 - Tony Garnier

Tony Garnier American bassist, best known as an accompanist to Bob Dylan, with whom he has played since 1989. He is Dylan's longest-running sideman and was also a long-time sideman for David Johansen in his Buster Poindexter persona, and was also briefly a member of the Saturday Night Live house band.

1953 - Marvin Isley

Marvin Isley from American group The Isley Brothers who first came to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, 'Shout', and then the 1962 hit 'Twist and Shout. The Isley Brothers also scored the hits 'This Old Heart Of Mine', 'Summer Breeze' and 'Harvest for the World'. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40. Marvin Isley died from complications of diabetes on June 6, 2010.

1952 - Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze, actor, singer, (1988 US No.3 & UK No.17 single with Wendy Fraser, 'She's Like The Wind'). Swayze died from pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009.

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1951 - John Rees

John Rees, Men At Work, (1983 UK & US No.1 single 'Down Under').

1950 - Dennis Elliott

Dennis Elliott, drummer with English-American rock band Foreigner, who scored the 1985 UK & US No.1 single 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. They are one of the world's best-selling bands of all time with worldwide sales of more than 80 million records.

1949 - Nigel Griggs

Nigel Griggs bassist from New Zealand group Split Enz who had the 1980 UK No.12 single 'I Got You'. Split Enz had ten albums (including seven studio albums) reach the top ten of the Official New Zealand Music Chart.

1949 - Greg Leisz

American musician, songwriter and producer Greg Leisz. His playing has appeared throughout the years on many recordings including Alison Krauss, Beck, Black Crowes, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Haim, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell. 

1945 - Sarah Dash

American singer and actress Sarah Dash, who with Labelle had the 1975 US No.1 & UK No.17, single 'Lady Marmalade'. She worked as a singer, session musician, and sideman for The Rolling Stones, and Keith Richards. Dash died unexpectedly on 20 September 2021 at the age of 76. 

1945 - Barbara Harris

Barbara Harris, singer, The Toys, 1965 US No. 2 & UK No.5 single 'A Lover's Concerto').

1944 - Carl Wayne

Carl Wayne, singer, with British rock band The Move who had the 1969 UK No.1 single 'Blackberry Way' and hits with 'I Can Hear The Grass Grow', 'Flowers in the Rain' and 'Fire Brigade'. Wayne died of cancer on 31st Aug 2004.

1939 - Maxine Brown

American soul and R&B singer Maxine Brown. She recorded a string of sizable hits for Wand Records in the mid 60s. Among these were the Carole King/Gerry Goffin songs 'Oh No Not My Baby'. 

1930 - Johnny Preston

American pop singer Johnny Preston, best known for his 1960 US & UK No.1 single 'Running Bear'. Preston died of heart failure on 4 March 4 2011.