On 21st July 1987 the long awaited Guns N‘ Roses debut „Appetite for Destruction“ hit the stores. The LP became a mega seller and sold over 30 million times worldwide.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 24th January!
On the 24th January 1962, manager Brian Epstein signed a contract with The Beatles. The management deal was time-limited for five years and gave Epstein 10 – 15 % of their income. Interestingly, Epstein didn’t sign this first contract: „Well, if they ever want to tear it up, they can hold me but I can’t hold them“. After that, Brian Epstein formed his own management company „NEMS Enterprises“. And on the 1st October 1962, the deal was renewed (including a three years publishing contract signed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) and gave the manager 15 unitl 25 % of revenues, depending on Epstein’s help to increase the band’s earnings.
Four days later, the first single by The Beatles was released: „Love Me Do„, backed by „P.S. I Love You„, reached No. 17 on the UK chart and marked the beginning of an outstanding career of one of the most successful pop bands in history.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 8th December!
On the 8th December 1980 (Monday), John Lennon was murdered. Mark Chapman shot the musician four times outside the Dakota building in New York City.
John Lennon and Mark Chapman (8th December 1980)
Before Lennon and Ono were going go the Record Plant Studio, Chapman asked John for an autograph and the musician signed the cover of „Double Fantasy„. Then the ex-Beatle headed to the taxi.
John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono returned appr. at 10.50 pm to their aparrtment at the Dakota building where Chapman already waited. Then the tragedy happened: Chapman shot Lennon four times in the back. The British musician was taken to the emergency room of nearby Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11.07 pm. The massive loss of blood caused the tragic death of the former Beatles member. John Lennon died at the age of 40 years.
Yoko Ono issued a statement the next day:
„There is no funeral for John“, ending it with the words, „John loved and prayed for the human race. Please pray the same for him.“
Murder Mark Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. He still remains in prison – all his paroles (eight times) have been denied.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 30th November!
On the 30th November 1982 the most successful album until today was released: Michael Jackson’s „Thriller„. The LP spent 190 weeks on the UK chart and became the biggest selling pop album of all time. Until today „Thriller“ was sold over 50 million times worldwide. Also all seven singles outtakes charted, including the legendary hits „Beat it“ and „Billie Jean„. The pop milestone was produced by Quincy Jones with a production budget of $750,000. „Thriller“ received eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including for „Album of the Year„.
Also the video of the title song was game-changing in those days and became a classic of pop videos.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 29th November!
George Harrison (25th February 1943 – 29th November 2001)
On the 29th November 2001, George Harrison died at the age of 58 years of lung cancer. The Beatles guitarist passed away in Los Angeles. Born on the 25th February 1943 in Liverpool, the very young Harrision joined at the age of 15 a band called The Quarrymen in 1958, which became in 1960 The Beatles. Beside the many hits, which were composed mainly by John Lennon und Paul McCartney, also George Harrision wrote some classics like „While My Guitar Gently Weeps“ (1968), „Here Comes the Sun“ and „Something“ (both 1969). After the break-up in 1970, George Harrison concentrated more on his solo career. After his two albums „Wonderwall Music“ (1968) and „Electronic Sound “ (1969) his third effort „All Things must Pass“ (3-LP-Set) marked his first solo work after the official end of The Beatles. This triple set features also the hit „My Sweet Lord“ (released in November 1970). In 1971 George Harrison organised the charity event „Concert for Bangladesh„, which took place on the 1st August 1971 at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Beside his music career, George Harrison worked also as a film producer. In 1978 he co-founded „HandMade Films„, which produced the classic „Monty Pyhton’s Life of Brian“ (1979).
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 19th November!
Happy birthday to drummer Matt Sorum, who was born on the 19th Novermber 1960 in Mission Viejo, California! Sorum is well known as the drummer of Guns N‘ Roses, with whom he recorded three studio albums. Before joining the Hardrock legends he worked with The Cult and Y Kant Tori Read (a project fronted by Tori Amos).
In 1990 Slash was looking for a new drummer and a replacement for Steven Adler. The Guns N’Roses guitarst saw Matt playing on the Cult tour, supporting the fourth studio album „Sonic Temple„. Slash was very impressed and asked Sorum, if he would like to join. So soon later he became the new drummer in the Gunners line-up and stayed for seven years. His powerful drumming can be heard on the three LPs „Use Your Illusion I„, „Use Your Illusion II“ (both 1991) and „The Spaghetti Incident?“ (1993).
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 9th November!
Rolling Stone – Number One (9th November 1967)
On the 9th November 1967, the first issue of the Rolling Stone Magazine was published in San Francisco and sold for 25 Cents. On the cover is a picture of John Lennon, while acting for the film „How I won the War“ (directed by Richard Lester). The moniker „Rolling Stone“ was a compilation of the three things: The famous Muddy Waters song, Bob Dylan’s first Rock’n’Roll record and – of course – The Rolling Stones. The magazine was founded by Jann Wenner, who is still the editor-in-chief, and music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The total circulation in 2012 was over 1.4 millions only for the US market. Over the years the Rolling Stone was also published all over the world and in different languages.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 7th November!
On the 7th November 1991, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin announced his leaving from Guns N’ Roses. The founding member of the American Hardrock band was replaced by Gilby Clarke, who filled in for the „Use Your Illusion„-worldtour.
Izzy Stradlin, his real name is Jeffrey Dean Isbell, justified his quitting of a combination of Axl Rose’s personal behaviour and the difficulties of being around with the band in general. In an interview with „Rolling Stone„, he later recalled: „Once I quit drugs, I couldn’t help looking around and asking myself, ‚Is this all there is?‘ I was just tired of it; I needed to get out.“
Izzy played his last show with Guns N’Roses on the 31st August 1991 at the Wembley Stadium in London, UK.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 31st October!
On 31st October 1996, guitarist Slash announced that he has left the Hardrock band Guns N‘ Roses.
In his book „Slash“ (2007) he remembers his historic decision:
„After working to make that band all that it could be for the better part of my life, saying good-bye to the institution I helped build was as alien as being launched into space. But once I’d done it, a weight was lifted from my shoulders and the lead was out of my shoes. It was like decompressing after a deepwater dive. The day I made my decision, I woke up early and called the powers that be to deliver the news, and went back to sleep. I don’t remember anything else of theat day aside from the fact that when I woke up again I was refreshed. I felt as if I’d just slept for a week.“
Slash was the lead guitarist in Guns N‘ Roses from June 1985 until October 1996. So after eleven years he was leaving one of the most successful rockbands in the world and started working on his solo career and other projects like Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver.
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Since his teens Chuck Berry was playing the Blues and in 1953 he was performing with Johnnie Johnson’s trio. And he developed his very own style – a fresh mixture of Country and Rhythm & Blues. In 1955 Berry travelled to Chicago where he met his idol Muddy Waters. On 21st May the first Chuck Berry Single was recorded for the legendary Chess Records label – an adaption of „Ida Red“ called „Maybellene„. And this was the big start of his carreer: Over one million copies were sold and the single went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard’s Rhythm and Blues charts. One year later „Roll Over Beethoven“ was released and from 1957 until 1959 more hits followed: Singles like „School Days,“ „Rock and Roll Music,“ „Sweet Little Sixteen“ and „Johnny B. Goode“ entered the top ten. Chuck Berry became a real superstar but his career was stopped in 1959: In December, Berry was arrested because of transporting a 14-year-old girl over state lines (Mann Act). Two trials happened and finaly Berry was served one and one half years in prison from February 1962 to October 1963. Before going into jail, Chuck Berry’s single „Come On“ hit the shops. In the meantime many British bands discovered Berry’s music and acts like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones recorded cover versions.
After beeing released from prison, Chuck Berry returned into the studio and recorded more classics like „No Particular Place to Go„, „You Never Can Tell“ and „Nadine„. And in 1964 he did a successful tour through the UK. Between 1966 and 1969 five albums were released. And on the LP „From St. Louie to Frisco“ (1968) the song „My Tambourine“ is featured, which became later with different lyrics the hit „“My Ding-a-Ling“ (1972). In the seventies, Chuck Berry toured a lot all around the world. Also in the eighties he performed tremendously – appr. 100 concerts per year. And his last studio album „Rock it“ came out in 1979. Until present Chuck Berry concentrates on concerts instead of recording new songs.
On the 24th January 1962, manager 
![1980_john_lennon_shot[1]](https://melomaneblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1980_john_lennon_shot1.jpg?w=584)
On the 7th November 1991, rhythm guitarist 
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