Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 31st December!
AC/DC (1973/1974)
On the 31st December 1973 a historic perfomance happened in Sydney, Australia: AC/DC played their very first live show at the Chequers Bar!
Beside Malcolm and Angus Young, the line-up consisted of bassist and saxophone player Larry Van Kriedt, vocalist Dave Evans and Colin Burgess on drums. AC/DC was booked for several shows in the first week of 1974 and the band had to play at least three sets every evening.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 30th December!
Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull)
Happy birthday to drummer Clive William Bunker, who was born on the 30th December 1946 in Luton, Bedfordshire (UK). Clive was the original drummer in Jethro Tull and a member from 1968 until 1971. With the band, he recorded the first four classic studio albums „This Was“ (1968), „Stand Up“ (1969), „Benefit“ (1970) and „Aqualung“ (1971).
Clive Bunker began playing in a band called „The Warriors“ in the sixties. Later he formed with guitarist Mick Abrahams the band McGregor’s Engine, before both founded in 1967 with Ian Anderson and Glenn CornickJethro Tull. Shortly after the release of the LP „Aqualung“, Clive Bunker decided to leave the band, get married and spend more time with his wife. Barriemore Barlow, a school friend of frontman Ian Anderson, took over his place.
Clive about his decision: „I had always told Ian, ‚If I find the right lady, I’ll be gone,‘ and I did just that. That was just at the start of their world touring in 1972, and I wouldn’t have been back in England for ages at a time. So I thought that I might as well end it then. Besides, Barrie was always in the background anyway, so I knew I wasn’t going to put them in a difficult situation. You must understand that back then, we didn’t have any time off; it was non-stop work, and I wanted to spend time with my wife.“
Interesting note: Doane Perry, who became the new Jethro Tull drummer in 1984, was taught one of his first drum lessons ever by Clive Bunker! I did an interview with Doane and he talks about this historic meeting – you can stream the conversation here (the topic starts at appr. 19:10 min)!
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 29th December!
Happy birthday to Marianne Evelyn Faithfull, who was born on the 29th December 1946 in Hampstead, London (UK). Marianne is working as a singer, songwriter and actress over six decades now. She became very well known during her relationship with Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones (1966 until 1970).
In 1964 Marianne Faithfull startet her singing career and became quickly part of the Swinging London scene. At a party she met the Stones manager and producer Andrew Loog Oldham, who produced Marianne’s first single „As Tears Go By“ (released in June 1964), which was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The song became a hit and cracked the top ten UK chart.
Shortly after that, not only her relationship with the Stones frontman began – she also started taking drugs. Faithfull had a huge influence to Jagger’s songwriting – like the tracks „Wild Horses“ and „I Got the Blues“ from the masterpiece LP „Sticky Fingers“ (released in 1971). On this album is also the song „Sister Morphine„, which she co-wrote with Jagger. In May 1970 the relationship came to an end and Marianne Faithfull vanished more and more from the scene. Five years later her solo album „Dreamin‘ My Dreams“ was released and it peaked the Irish album chart. With the follow-up „Broken English“ (1979) she had a great comeback.
In the eighties, the albums „Dangerous Acquaintances“ (1981), „A Child’s Adventure“ (1983) and „Strange Weather“ (1987) hit the market. In 1990 the live recording „Blazing Away“ was released. Alanna Nash from the „Stereo Review“ wrote about it: „Faithfull’s gritty alto is a cracked and halting rasp, the voice of a woman who’s been to hell and back on the excursion fare which, of course, she has.“
Seven years later, her unique voice was featured on the Metallica song „The Memory Remains“ from their album „ReLoad „. And in 1998, the compilation „A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology“, featuring songs all over the last decades and some unreleased tracks, was released. Also in the 2000s the British singer recorded several albums – like „Before the Poison“ (2005), for which she coloborated with other artitst like PJ Harvey, Nick Cave and Damon Albarn.
Marianne Faithfull worked also as a successful actress: So she was nominated as „Best Actress“ (European Film Awards) for her role in „Irina Palm“ (2007).
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 28th December!
Freddie King (3rd September 1934 – 28th December 1976)
On the 28th December 1976, Blues guitarist Freddie King died at the age of 42. Heart trouble and ulcers caused the death of the outstanding musician, who is often mentioned as one of the „Three Kings“ of Blues – beside Albert and B.B. King.
In 1960, Freddie King was signed to the label Federal Records and on the 26th August his debut single „Have You Ever Loved a Woman“ backed with „You’ve Got to Love Her with a Feeling“ was released. Also during these sessions, the instrumental „Hide Away“ was recorded, which reached one year later No. 5 on the R&B Charts and No. 29 on the Pop Singles Charts in the USA.
During that time, Freddie toured with Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and James Brown. The two LPs for Atlantic Records „Freddie King Is a Blues Master“ (1969) and „My Feeling for the Blues“ (1970) hit the stores, before Freddie King recorded the classic song „Goin‘ Down“ (1971), which was written by Leon Russell and Don Nix.
The LP „Burglar“ (1974) features guest appearances of Eric Clapton, George Terry, drummer Jamie Oldaker and bassist Carl Radle. After the release of „Larger Than Life“ (1975), King began suffering stomack ulcers. Complications from that sickness and an acute pancreatitis led to death. Freddie King died on the 28th December 1976 at the age of only 42 years.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 27th December!
Happy birthday to Mr. Winfield Scott „Scotty“ Moore III, who was born on the 27th December 1931 in Tennessee (USA)! Scotty became very well known as the guitarist for The King of Rock’n’Roll, Mr. Elvis Presley!
Moore’s first group was Doug Poindexter & the Starlite Wranglers, before he played his first Sun Studio sessions with Elvis Presley in 1954. His unique playing can be heard on classics like „Blue Suede Shoes„, „Heartbreak Hotel„, „Mystery Train„, „That’s All Right (Mama)„, „Hound Dog“ and „Jailhouse Rock„. When Moore’s solo album „The Guitar That Changed the World“ was released in 1964 on Epic Records, Sam Phillips from Sun Records was very upset and Scotty Moore was sacked. Scotty played his last show with Elvis on „Elvis NBC TV-Special“ in 1968, which is better known under the moniker „68 Comeback Special„.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 26th December!
On the 26th December 1981, the AC/DC album „For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)“ reached the top position on the US chart. The LP stayed there for two more weeks. After the sucessful comeback with „Back in Black“ (1980), featuring the new frontman Brian Johnson, who replaced the deceased Bon Scott, this release marks the fist No. 1 album in the AC/DC history.
The ten new songs were recorded in Paris from May until September 1981 and it was the third and final produced AC/DC album by Robert John „Mutt“ Lange, who also worked on the milestones „Highway to Hell“ (1979) and „Back in Black“ (1980). Early spanish vinyl releases of „For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)“ have a slightly different cover art wortk: On these editions, the colours are reveresed (gold canon on black background).
„For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)“ is the eight studio album by the band and it was sold over 4 million times in the USA. Singles outtake were the title track and „Let’s get it up„. These both releases feature several live tracks from 1981 on the flip sides.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 25th December!
David Noel Redding (25th December 1945 – 11th May 2003)
On the 25th December 1945, David Noel Redding was born in Folkestone, UK. Redding became in 1966 the bass player for Hendrix‘ band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. At the age of 9 years, David Noel started playing violin, mandolin and guitar. Before joining Jimi Hendrix as the bassist, he played guitar for The Strangers, The Lonely Ones, Neil Landon & The Burnettes and The Loving Kind. In 1969 he left the Jimi Hendrix Experience. His bass lines can be heard on the masterpieces „Are You Experienced„, „Axis: Bold as Love“ (both 1967) and „Electric Ladyland“ (1968).
In 1972 Noel Redding moved to Ireland and formed The Noel Redding Band with Eric Bell from Thin Lizzy, Dave Clarke, Les Sampson and Robbie Walsh.They recorded two studio albums and broke up in 1976. Redding kept up recording and touring over the years. On the 11th May 2003 Noel Redding passed away at the age of 57. He was found dead in his home in Clonakilty. It was reported that Redding died from „shock haemorrhage due to oesophageal varices in reaction to cirrhosis of the liver“.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 24th December!
A fuckin‘ merry Xmas and a POWERFUL happy birthday to Mr. Ian Fraser Kilmister, who is far better known under his nickname Lemmy! The English Rock musician, singer and bass player was born on the 24th December 1945 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (England). Lemmy is frontman and founder of the Heavy Metal group Motörhead.
When Lemmy and his family moved to North Wales, he started to show interest in Rock’n’Roll music. During that time he was already nicknamed „Lemmy“ and attended the Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones school in Amlwich. After leaving school he began to play guitar with several local bands. In 1965 Lemmy joined a Rock’n’Roll band called The Rockin‘ Vickers. Two years later, he got a job as a roadie for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and in 1968 a studio working with Sam Gopal by recording the album „Escalator“ followed. In 1972 Lemmy became bassist and vocalist for the London Space Rock group Hawkwind. And shortly after that, the song „Silver Machine“ reached No. 3 in the UK chart. After three years, Lemmy was sacked because of being arrested at the Canadian/US border on drug possession charged including five days in jail.
Back in the UK he founded with guitarist Larry Wallis (former member of the Pink Fairies, Steve Took’s Shagrat and UFO) and drummer Lucas Fox his own band called „Bastard“, which was renamed very soon into Motörhead (the title of the last song Lemmy had written for Hawkwind). Personal changes followed: Guitarist „Fast“ Eddie Clarke and drummer Phil „Philthy Animal“ Taylor took the places of Wallis and Fox. With this legendary line-up the success for Motörhead has begun. In 1977 the self-titled album was released and with the follow-ups „Overkill„, „Bomber“ (both 1979) and the classic album „Ace of Spades“ (1980) Motörhead became one of the most successful Heavy Metal bands. Until today, Motörhead have released over 20 studio albums and 10 live recordings – by selling over 30 million LPs worldwide.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 23rd December!
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Happy birthday to Mr. Edward Louis Severson III, who is better known as Eddie Vedder! Eddie was born on the 23th December 1964 in Evanston (close to Chicago – Illinois) and he became and is still the frontman of the legendary Grunge band Pearl Jam. Beside that, he is doing also some solo stuff and various projects like his fantastic recording of the amazing soundtrack „Into the Wild“ (2007).
In the seventies he moved with his family to San Diego (California) and on his 12th birthday (1976) he received a guitar from his mother. So beside surfing, Eddie started to play music. Dropped out of high school, he moved to Chicago and changed his name into Vedder (his mother’s maiden name). In the eighties Eddie Vedder earned his high school GED and moved back to San Diego (1984). Beside his day jobs he started to record demo tapes. Four years later Eddie became the vocalist of the band Bad Radio. In 1990 Vedder left the band and crossed the paths of drummer Jack Irons, who became a close friend over the years. Irons handed him a demo tape from a group located in Seattle, which was looking for a singer. While listening to the music, Vedder wrote the lyrics for three new songs, recorded his singing and sent the tape back to Seattle. These tracks became later the Pearl Jam classics „Alive„, „Once“ and „Footsteps„.
Eddie Vedder get invited by Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, who were very impressed by his singing. At that time both were working with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell on the band project Temple of the Dog. During the recording sessions for the self-titled album, Eddie and Chris did a duet for the song „Hunger Strike„. After that, the band Mookie Blaylock (featuring Eddie Vedder on vocals, Stone Gossard on guitar, bassist Jeff Ament, Mike McCready on second guitar and drummer Dave Krusen) was founded. On the 22nd October 1990 the first concert happened in Seattle at the Off Romp Café.
Shortly after this, the band changed the name into Pearl Jam and the quintet was signed to Epic Records. In March 1991 the Grunge Rockers started to record the epic debut album “Ten“. This LP was released on the 27th August 1991 and sold over 13 million times in the USA until today and marks the most successful album in Pearl Jam’s history.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 21st December!
Happy birthday to Frank Vincent Zappa, who was born on the 21st December 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland! The American musician was one of the most innovative and outstanding artists in rock history, who recorded over 60 albums of nearly all kind of music from Rock to Jazz up to Avant-Garde, Classical and contemporary music.
In 1966 his first album “Freak Out!” with The Mothers of Invention was released. With this double LP set, Frank Zappa became very fast the new and radical voice in the music scene. The follow-ups “Absolutely Free”, “Lumpy Gravy” (both 1967) and “We’re Only in It for the Money” (1968) proved his innovative and fresh style of mixing all kinds of music. With “Uncle Meat“ (1969) Zappa and his group went another step further into Avant-Garde, before Frank recorded his first solo album “Hot Rats” (featuring guest vocals Captain Beefheart on “Willie the Pimp”). This LP is still considered as one of the first Jazz-Rock-Fusion recordings ever. In the seventies Frank Zappa entered the charts with the milestones “Over-Nite Sensation” (1973), “Apostrophe” (1974), “One Size Fits All” (1975), “Sheik Yerbouti” (1978 – feat. the hit single “Bobby Brown„) and the trilogy “Joe’s Garage” (1979). Also in the eighties the multi-instrumentalist recorded further albums and in November 1993 the orchestral music piece “The Yellow Shark“, which was recorded live in Europe one year before, hit the stores. Only one month later, Frank Zappa passed away. He died on the 4th December 1993 from prostate cancer at the age of 53.
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„For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)“ is the eight studio album by the band and it was sold over 4 million times in the USA. Singles outtake were the 
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