1965 - Colorado Governor John A. Love declared a Rolling Stones day throughout the State as The Stones appeared at The Denver Coliseum during a North American tour. It was their debut in the Mile High City.
In his review of the show, Rocky Mountain News' Thomas MacCluskey noted his disappointment in the Coliseum's acoustics, complaining of "din caused by endless reverberations in the rafters"—this despite the Rolling Stones' "impressive array of amplifiers."
MacCluskey didn't have much to say about the Stones' music, except that it was "solidly presented" with "little effort to recognize the audience, which obviously adored them." (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)
1975 - Neil Young records "Like a Hurricane" at his Broken Arrow Ranch in Woodside, California. This song of intense desire has become one of Young's classics. Rock critic Dave Marsh described the song as "an eight-minute tour de force of electric guitar feedback and extended metaphor (Smokey Robinson meets Jimi Hendrix on Bob Dylan's old block)."
2001 -George Harrison died at the age 58. Nicknamed "the Quiet Beatle" at the height of Beatlemania, George Harrison did indeed seem somewhat reserved compared to the other members of the Fab Four. Harrison's measured, considered persona was reflected in his music, particularly his clean, composed lead guitar parts but also in his earliest songs for the Beatles where he didn't seem to waste a line.
His songwriting style spliced Dylanesque introspection with his natural pop grace, while also developing a unique slide guitar technique that owed nothing to the blues.
Harrison was a man of many interests and passions - such as Hindu mythology, Transcendental Meditation, Indian classical music, founding Dark Horse Records and co-founding HandMade Films. When he passed away, his ashes were scattered in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India, in a private ceremony according to Hindu tradition.
His last words were reported to have been, "Love one another."
2004 - Green Day release "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." The title comes from a painting by Gottfried Helnwein depicting James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, and Elvis Presley at a corner bar.
The song is about the recognition that the American Dream can let you down.
Birthdays:
Merle Travis, inventor of the first solid body electric guitar, was born today in 1917.
John Mayall, the godfather of the British blues, is 89. A generation older than most of his sidemen, Mayall was a mentor; his bands were both a lab and finishing school for iconic musicians - Eric Clapton Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Jack Bruce, and Peter Green
Denny Doherty of The Mamas & The Papas was born on this day in 1940.
Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals, is 80.
Barry Goudreau, guitarist for Boston, is 71.
On This Day In Music History was sourced from Denver Library, Classic Bands, Allmusic, This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.