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July 4, 2001 It was 20 years ago today ... or maybe a little longer. But if it happened in rock, you'll find it here in the Rock Clock, our daily diary of the births, deaths, and moments that changed music forever. 1776 John Hancock and the rest of the Continental Congress sign the Declaration of Independence. Without this, there's no Born in the U.S.A., no "American Woman," and no psychedelic crazies United States of America. So love it or leave it. 1900 Although jazz legend Louis Armstrong always claimed to have been born on this date, later scholarship established that his birthday was on August 4, 1901. 1938 It's going to be a lovely day. Because Bill Withers is born in Slab Fork, W.Va. 1943 Guitarist Alan Wilson of Canned Heat is born in Boston. 1944 Electric Flag bassist Harvey Brooks is born in New York. 1948 Guitarist Jeremy Spencer, who played with Fleetwood Mac before they moved to California, is born in Lancashire, England. 1956 Elvis Presley returns via train to Memphis from New York, where he appeared on The Steve Allen Show. He performs tonight at a charity concert for the Memphis Press-Scimitar's Milk Fund. 1958 Sax player Kirk Pengilly of INXS is born in Sydney. 1962 Chris Blackwell starts up Island Records, which would become the home of Bob Marley and U2, among others. 1964 The Rolling Stones appear on Juke Box Jury. The British TV program stretches its rules to accommodate the five judges - rather than the traditional four. However, the band's sulky demeanor creates plenty of press outrage the following day. According to today's issue of Billboard, the Beatles' summer North American tour is going to be a sellout. 1966 In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos pulls the Beatles' police protection after his wife claims the band snubbed her by not attending one of her parties. Later, an angry mob attacks the Fab Foursome. 1967 During the premiere of CBS's Spotlight summer variety show, you can see Tom Jones perform. 1969 The Kinks' Ray Davies is in Hollywood mixing the Turtles' final album, Turtle Soup. Grand Funk Railroad play the Atlanta Pop Festival, which is held in Hampton, Ga. A&R reps from Capitol Records like what they see and sign the band. 1971 The Main Ingredient singer Donald McPherson dies. He would later be replaced by Cuba Gooding, who sings on the band's biggest hit, "Everybody Plays the Fool." 1972 Willie Nelson holds his first annual July 4 picnic in Dripping Springs, Texas. 1974 Barry White marries Love Unlimited member Glodean James. 1976 Elton John and Kiki Dee release their No. 1 duet, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Paul Revere ("Kicks") gets married at the King's Island amusement park in Cincinnati. 1977 Nigel Harrison steps into Gary Valentine's boots as Blondie's bassist. 1980 The Beach Boys give a free concert in Miami to celebrate Independence Day, which attracts a 500,000-strong audience. 1982 In a year that has seen him bite the head off a bat and watch his guitarist Randy Rhoads die in a plane crash, metal madman Ozzy Osbourne marries his manager, Sharon Arden. Diana Ross opens her latest solo tour at New Jersey's Giants Stadium. Support comes from jazz person Miles Davis. 1983 Interior Secretary James Watt bans the Beach Boys from playing on Washington, D.C.'s Mall because, he says, the music attracts a "bad element." He must have been thinking of Mike Love. 1984 Ringo Starr joins the Beach Boys at their free July 4 concert in Miami. Cult singer/songwriter Jimmie Spheeris dies after being struck by a drunk driver. 1985 The Beach Boys finally hold their July 4 bash in Washington, D.C., where they're joined by Jimmy Page on "Lucille." 1986 Farm Aid II features appearances by Willie Nelson, the Beach Boys, and Julio Iglesias. The Austin concert raises $1.3 million for financially strapped farmers. 1987 Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead kick off a short tour together in Foxboro, Mass. The Dead encourage Dylan to reach deep into his back catalog and adopt the practice of not deciding on a set list before going on stage. Oh happy day, as Pet Shop Boys go to No. 1 in England with "It's a Sin." In New York, Keith Richards finishes the mixing for the Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll. In the Soviet Union, the Doobie Brothers, Santana, and Bonnie Raitt play the July 4th Disarmament Festival. And you still think capitalism is a good idea? 1990 2 Live Crew release their "Banned in the U.S.A." single. Bruce Springsteen approved the sample of his "Born in the U.S.A." It still sounds horrible. 1992 The Mamas & the Papas Papa John Phillips has a liver transplant in Los Angeles. The No. 1 record in the country is Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back." God bless America. 1995 The Ramones release Adios Amigos, swearing it will be their last album ever. 1999 VH1 airs "Weird Al" Yankovic's Behind the Music. VH1.com was out somewhere firing Roman candles at gophers. Outside of Dublin, Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams marries soccer player David "Becks" Beckham in a ceremony so expensive that some of the guests steal the silverware. 2000 A man dies after plunging 80 feet from the top of Ravens Stadium in Baltimore shortly before a Metallica concert. |
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