Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 14th February!
On the 14th February 1970, The Who recorded their legendary show in Leeds. The band performed at the local University. „Live At Leeds“ was released three months later on the 16th May 1970 and it’s still considered as one of the best live albums ever.
Beside the outstanding recording, the packaging was also a real eyecatcher. Issued as a bootleg LP, the gatefold sleeve housed a package with12 facsimiles of various memorabilia. Also two photos, a poster and handwritten notes was enclosed.
Welcomte to my Music Diary – today for the 7th February!
On the 7th February 1969, The Who recorded one of their signature songs at Morgan Studio’s in London, UK: „Pinball Wizard„, which was produced by Kit Lambert. Written by guitarist Pete Townshend, this track was also featured on the legendary Rock opera double album „Tommy„. Released on the 7th March, the single reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 19 in the USA.
For the flip side, The Who recorded an instrumental called „Dogs (Part Two)“, which was written by drummer Keith Moon.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 20th January!
Ian Hill (Judas Priest)
Happy birthday to Judas Priest bassist Ian Frank Hill, who was born on the 20th January 1951 in West Bromwich (UK)!
Taught by his father, who played in local Jazz bands, Ian Hill learned how to play the double bass. At the age of 19, Ian founded with guitarist Kenny “K.K.” Downing the band Judas Priest. Singer Rob Halford and second guitarist Glenn Tipton joined later. And with drummer John Hinch the debut album “Rocka Rolla“ (1974) was recorded. The LP was anything but a success. With the follow-up “Sad Wings of Destiny” (1976) the group became better known. Classic tracks like “Victim of Changes“, “The Ripper” and “Dreamer Deceiver” should get a fix place on future setlists. The special Judas Priest sound, with two guitars and Halford’s unique voice, has been refined over the years. Due to albums like “Sin After Sin” (1977), „Stained Class“, “Killing Machine” (both 1978) and “British Steel” (1980) the band is conisdered as the pioneer of British Heavy Metal.
Ian Hill has only three songwriting credits („Winter“ and „Caviar and Meths“ – both featured on „Rocka Rolla“ and „Invader“ from „Stained Class“). After the departing of K.K. Downing in 2011, Ian Hill is the sole constant founding member of Judas Priest.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 15th January!
On the 15th January 1965, the very first single by The Who was released in the UK. „I can’t explain“ (with „Bald Headed Woman“ on the flip side). The song, written by guitarist Pete Townshend, went on No. 8 on the UK chart. The recording session was produced by Shel Talmy and beside The Who, some guest appearences are featured on the single: The British vocal trio The Ivy League and Perry Ford on piano can be also heard on „I can’t explain“. It was also the rumour, that Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page added some rhythm guitar parts, but this is still not really proved.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 20th November!
Keith Moon (The Who)
On the 20th November 1973 the Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed during a concert at the Cow Palace in Dale City, near to San Francisco. After approximately one hour, Moon began to falter during „Won’t Get Fooled Again„, slumped over his drum kit and passed finally out. He was carried offstage by the roadies.
Backstage the drummer received a special treatment and meanwhile guitarist Pete Townshend asked the crowd: „Can anybody play the drums? I mean somebody good!“ Scot Halpin, also a drummer, and his friend Mike Danese watched the scene, while Danese told the security staff, that the 19 years old Scot can play. Bill Graham, the concert promoter, asked: „Can you do it?“. After Halpin’s „Yes“, he filled in for Keith and played. After a Brandy he started while Townshend instructed him: „I’m going to lead you. I’m going to cue you.“ So the Who had a new member for three songs. They played the Blues standards Smokestack Lightning“ and „Spoonful“ before going into the Who song „Naked Eye„. So after approximately thirty minutes of absence, Keith Moon came back on stage to finish the show.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 25th October!
GlennTipton (Judas Priest)
Glenn Tipton was born on the 25th October 1948 in Blackeath, West Midlands (UK). Before becoming the guitarist of the legendary Heavy Metal band Judas Priest, Glenn attended Olive Hill Primary School at the age of five. And as a young boy he was taugt to play the piano by his mother.
At the age of 19, Tipton began to play the guitar – his first instrument was a Hofner acoustic. Later he changed to a Rickenbacker before he could afford a Fender Stratocaster.This one was stolen and he replaced it with a black axe of the same type. Later he also bought a Gibson SG.
Tipton’s first band was called „Shave Em‘ Dry“ – the named changed into „Merlin“ and „Flying Hat Band„. And in April 1974 he joined Judas Priest during the recording sessions for the debut album „Rocka Rolla„. The band was founded by Kenny „K.K.“ Downing (Guitar) and Ian Hill (Bass). The line up that time was completed by Rob Halford (Vocals) and John Hinch (Drums). The title track was the single outtake in August 1974 – the album followed one month later. Judas Priest toured then through Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. The LP was a flop and also the concerts were not really successful. In November and December 1975 the next album „Sad Wings of Destiny“ was recorded and released on 23rd March 1976. Especially the tracks „Victim of Changes„, „The Ripper“ and „Dreamer Deceiver“ stood out and a great fanbase was created. And in 1977 with „Sin After Sin“ (released on the major label CBS and produced by Deep Purple’s Roger Glover) the band had found its very own sound and metal style which was refined over the years with classic albums like „Stained Class„, „Killing Machine“ (both1978) and „British Steel“ (1980).
In 1990 one of the most outstanding Heavy Metal releases ever, „Painkiller“ (1990), hit the market and this LP is still considered as one of miletstones of this genre.
After some changes in the line up (Rob Halford left the band in 1991 and returned twelve years later, K.K. Downing retired and was replaced by Richie Faulkner in 2011) the latest album „Redeemer of Souls“ (2014) hit the stores and Judas Priest are still touring all around the world.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 9th October!
On the 9th October 1944 Mr. John Alec Entwistle was born in in Chiswick, London. Nicknamed as „The Ox“ or „Thunderfingers“ the British bassist created with his rhythm mate Keith Moon on drums the unique and powerful sound for the legendary rockband The Who.
At the age of seven, John Entwistle started piano lessons, aged 11 he switched to the trumpet and French horn. Then he first met Pete Townshend and the two teenagers formed the Jazz band The Confederates. After only one gig this group was history and John decided to play the guitar and shortly after he switched again the instruement and learned to play the bass guitar. Then he crossed paths with Roger Daltrey in 1961, who asked him to join his band The Detours.
On Entwistle’s decision, Pete Townshend joined the line up with Doug Sandom on drums, who was replaced very soon by Keith Moon. The band name changed a lot – so they played some shows as The Who, renamed into The High Numbers in 1964, and finally decided to work as The Who again.
In 1965 the first Who single „I can’t explain“ was released, followed by „Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere“ and the big hit „My Generation„, which reached the second position in the UK charts. In December 1965 the album debut „My Generation“ hit the stores and remarked the beginning of the successful history of The Who.
On 27th June 2002, one day before the scheduled first show ot The Who’s US tour, John Entwistle died in Las Vegas at the age of 58 years at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in room 658. It was determined that Entwistle’s death was due to a heart attack induced by cocaine. As Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey said via the internet: „The Ox has left the building – we’ve lost another great friend. Thanks for your support and love. Pete and Roger.“
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 14th September!
Quadrophenia (UK Poster)
In 1979, the movie „Quadrophenia“ directed by Franc Roddam was officially released at the Toronto Film Festival. The film is based on The Who’s 1973 concept album which is focused on the English teenage perspective in 1964 and the Mod- and Rocker movement. The film follows the story of the young Mod Jimmy Cooper and his friends.
Welcome to my music diary again – today for the 7th September!
Keith Moon (23rd August 1946 – 7th September 1978)
In 1978 the music world lost one of the best drummers – Mr. Keith John Moon from the legendary rock band The Who. Moon died at the age of only 32 years (born on 23rd August 1946). His body was found in his flat in Mayfair, London. The police determined that there were 32 clomethiazole pills in Moon’s system. Six were digested, sufficient to cause his death – the other 26 were undigested when he died.
With John Entwistle on bass he created this very unique and powerful rhtyhmsound of The Who. Timeless records and masterpieces like “My Generation” (1965), “Tommy” (1969), “Live at Leeds” (1970) and “Who’s Next” (1971) features Moon’s outstanding and unique drumming.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 24th August!
In 1990, the british metal band Judas Priest was the subject of a civil lawsuit alleging their recording of the Spooky Tooth song „Better by you, better than me„, which was responsible for the suicide attempts of two young men in Reno, Nevada on the 23rd December 1985. The case was eventually dismissed. The cover version of the Spooky Tooth is on the Judas Priest release „Stained Class“ album.
![Judas_Priest_29230[1]](https://melomaneblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/judas_priest_292301.jpg)
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