Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 17th March!
On the 17th March (Saint Patrick’s Day) 1978, the Irish Rock band U2 won a talent contest in Limerick and received £500 ($850). Two months later, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. recorded their first demo at Keystone Studios in Dublin, following by the release of the Ireland-only EP „Three„, which hit the stores on the 1st September 1979.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 19th February!
On the 19th February 1980, one of the most outstanding frontman in Rock passed away: AC/DC singer Ronald Belford „Bon“ Scott died after a heavy night’s drinking. He was found dead in the car of his friend Alistair Kinnear in East Dulwich, 67 Overhill Road, London (UK). Bon was 33 years old.
Alistair about this very sad and tragic night:
„The day before, we cruised in my car, a blue Renault 5, through London and attended several bars and discos. When we entered the club ‚Music Machine‘ it was appr. 1.30 a.m. and Bon was in a very good mood and had already some drinks. After two hours, he was completeley drunk and I took him to my car and we drove home. When we arrived at my place, it was 4 a.m. and I tried to wake him up. But he was in a very deep sleep. So I decided to leave him in the car sleeping. And I left him a note, that I am upstairs in my flat. When I woke up on the 19th February, Bon was not around. I watched outside my window and saw him still sleeping in my car. I walked downstairs and when I opened the car, Bon was lifeless and vomit was all around. I called the emergency doctor, who could not do anything for him anymore. Bon’s body was brought into the Kings Collage Hospital for an autopsy. It was too much boose for his body, it was out, it was finished.“
Bon Scott was – like Angus and Malcolm Young – born in Scotland (9th July 1946) and moved with his family to Australia in 1952. He started his music career in 1964 as the drummer and singer of The Spektors. In 1966, Bon founded the pop band The Valentines. After the break up in 1970, Scott started his new group Fraternity, a Progressive Rock formation. And in 1974, Bon replaced Dave Evans as the lead singer of AC/DC. „Highway to Hell“ (1979) is the last LP featuring Bon’s unique singing. After the tragic death, the Young brothers decided to go on and with new singer Brian Johnson the comeback album „Back in Black“ was recorded and released in July 1980. This LP is still the second best-selling album of all time, only behind Michael Jackson’s megaseller „Thriller„.
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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 13th March!
Happy birthday to Mr. Adam Charles Clayton, who was born on 13th March 1960 in Chinnor, Oxfordshire (UK)!
In 1965, Adam’s family moved to Ireland where they became friends with the Evans family and their sons Dik and Dave („The Edge“), who were also very interested in music. Little Adam took piano lessons and at the age of ten he started listening to rock operas, classical and popular music. Three years later he bought his first acoustic guitar and when Adam was fifteen years old, his parents gave him a bass as a present. Clayton changed to Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, where he crossed paths with singer Paul „Bono“ Hewson, drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and also with his boyhood friend Dave „The Edge“ Evans, who became a guitarist. In 1976 the quartet founded with Edge’s brother Dik, Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin the band „Feedback“. Shortly after that, Martin and McCormick left the group and in 1977 the name was changed into „The Hype“. In March 1978, Dik Evans quit and the new band U2 was born.
After winning a talent show, the group recorded their first demo tape. One year later, in September 1979, the Ireland-only EP „Three“ was released and in February 1980 the single „Another Day“ hit the Irish market. U2 were signed by Island Records one month later and in May the international single „11 O’Clock Tick Tock“ was released.The debut album „Boy“ followed in October and the outtake „I Will Follow“ became a hit in the USA. In 1981 the second LP „October“ and in February 1983 the third album „War„, featuring the hits „New Year’s Day“ and „Sunday Bloody Sunday„, hit the stores. The LP went No. 1 in the UK and the fanbase became bigger and bigger. In 1984, „The Unforgettable Fire“ charted in the UK and USA and songs like „Bad“ and „Pride (In the Name of Love)“ became further hits. With the legandary album „The Joshua Tree“ (1987), U2 became superstars. The first two singles „With or Without You“ and „I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For“ charted worldwide.
Until now, U2 have realeased 13 studio albums, selling more than 150 million records worldwide. And they won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band.
On the 17th February 1975, the AC/DC debut “High Voltage” was released in Australia. It’s still a collector’s item because the international version of this album is completely different, which features only the two songs “She’s got Balls” and “Little Lover”. Four more tracks were available later for the fans outside Australia on the EP “’74Jailbreak” in 1984. There you can find the rarities “You ain’t got a hold on me”, “Show Business”, “Soul Stripper” and the cover “Baby, please don’t go“. At least, the last two tunes from the Australian version of “High Voltage, the tunes “Stick around” and “Love Song”, were finally released on the international compilation “Backtracks” (2009).
All eight songs were recorded in November 1974 at the Albert Studios in Sydney, Australia. Produced by Vanda & Young (Harry Vanda and the older brother of Angus und Malcolm, George Young). The duo was a member of the successful popband The Easybeats and they were also the main songwriters for their big hit “Friday on My Mind” (1966).
On the 19th February 1980, one of the most outstanding frontman in Rock passed away: 
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