This Day In Music - May 2nd

May 2nd: On this Day

(from thisdayinmusic.com)

2005, Eric Clapton joined former Cream members drummer Ginger Baker and bass player Jack Bruce for the first of 4 nights at London's Royal Albert Hall 36 years after they had split up. Tickets were changing hands for more than £500 on eBay and fans had flown over from the USA to witness the reunion, which Clapton aged 60, is said to have agreed to because of the failing health of the other former members of the band.

2004, D-12 were at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘D12 World.’

2004, Total Guitar magazine's readers voted Guns N' Roses' anthem ‘Sweet Child O' Mine’ as the greatest guitar riff ever ahead of Nirvana's grunge anthem ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. Led Zeppelin's ‘Whole Lotta Love’ came third, followed by Deep Purple's ‘Smoke On The Water’. Total Guitar editor Scott Rowley said: "To a new generation of guitarists, Guns N' Roses are more thrilling than the Sex Pistols."

1999, Sinead O'Connor made her first performance since her ordination as Mother Bernadette when she appeared on Irish television's 'Late Late Show'.

1999, St Vicent and the Grenadines issued a *NSYNC postage stamp in honour of the boy band.

1998, Boyzone went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All That I Need'.

1992, little known UK duo Nirvana filed a suit against the American band of the same name claiming that they had been using the name since 1968. The dispute was settled out of court in the British bands favour.

1992, The Cure scored their first UK No.1 album with 'Wish', their 15th album release, featuring the top 10 single 'Friday I'm In Love'.

1991, Appearing at The Marquee Club, London, Extreme.

1991, The video for the R.E.M. song 'Losing My Religion', was banned in Ireland because its religious imagery was seen as unfit for broadcast.

1989, A security guard alerted the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walked into Zales Jewellers, California. Three squad cars arrived and police detained the man, who turned out to be Michael Jackson in disguise.

1987, Cutting Crew started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with '(I Just), Died In Your Arms', a No.4 hit in the UK.

1983, Spandau Ballet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'True', the groups only No.1.

1981, Scottish singer Sheena Easton started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Morning Train (9 to 5)'. The title of the song was changed to avoid any confusion with the Dolly Parton hit '9 to 5', in the same year.

1981, The Beat kicked off a 17-date UK tour at Cardiff Sophia Gardens. Tickets £3.50 reduced to £2.50 on production of a unemployment dole card.

1980, Joy Division played what would be their last gig with Ian Curtis when they appeared at Birmingham University. Curtis committed suicide two weeks later.

1978, Appearing at The Band On The Wall, Manchester, The Fall and Slaughter And The Dogs and at London's Hackney, The Clash, The Tom Robinson Band and X-Ray Spec.

1972, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.

1970, one hit wonder Norman Greenbaum was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spirit In The Sky.' Also a No.1 hit for Doctor and the Medics in 1986 and Gareth Gates in 2003.

1967, Appearing at The Adelphi Theatre, Dublin, The Beach Boys, Helen Shapiro, Simon Dupree And The Big Sound and Terry Reid with Peter Jay's Jaywalkers.

1964, The Rolling Stones self-titled debut album started a 12-week run at No.1 on the UK charts.

1963, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'From Me To You', the groups first No.1 and the first of eleven consecutive No.1's.

1957, Elvis Presley recorded the Leiber and Stoller song 'Jailhouse Rock.'

May 2nd: Born on this day

1969, Born on this day, Ben Leach, The Farm, (1990 UK No.4 single 'All Together Now').

1967, Born on this day, David McAlmont, singer, (1995 UK No.8 with Bernard Butler, 'Yes.')

1961, Born on this day, Dr Robert, The Blow Monkeys, (1987 UK No.5 single 'It Doesn't Have To Be This Way').

1955, Born on this day, Jo Callis, Human League, (1981 UK No.1 & 1982 US No.1 single 'Don't You Want Me' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1954, Born on this day, Prescott Niles, The Knack, (1979 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'My Sharona').

1950, Born on this day, Lou Gramm, vocals, Foreigner, (1985 UK & US No.1 single 'I Want To Know What Love Is').

1946, Born on this day, Bob Henrit, drums, Argent, 1972 UK No.5 single 'Hold Your Head Up'), also a member of The Kinks.

1946, Born on this day, Lesley Gore, singer, (1963 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'It's My Party').

1945, Born on this day, Goldy McJohn, Steppenwolf, (1968 US No.2 and 1969 UK No.30 single 'Born To Be Wild').

1945, Born on this day, Randy Cain, The Delfonics, (1968 US No.4 & 1971 UK No.19 single 'La- La Means I Love You').

1936, Born on this day, Engelbert Humperdinck, singer, (1967 UK No.1 and US No. 4 single 'Release Me', plus 12 other UK Top 40 hits).

1935, Born on this day, Link Wray, guitarist, (1958 US No.16 single 'Rumble'). Wray was credited with inventing 'fuzz' guitar after punching a whole in a speaker giving him a distorted sound. Wray died on 5th Nov 2005 aged 76.

1904, Born on this day, Bing Crosby, US singer who recorded an estimated 2,600 songs in his lifetime including ‘White Christmas’, which was written by Irving Berlin. Crosby had 317 other hits in the USA. Died of a heart attack on a golf course in Madrid, Spain, on October 14, 1977.