1965 - The Beatles "Help!" b/w "I'm Down" single was released. John Lennon has described this time of his life as his "fat Elvis period." In a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone, Lennon said this is one of his favorite Beatles records, because, "I meant it - it's real." He added: "The lyric is as good now as it was then. It is no different, and it makes me feel secure to know that I was that aware of myself then. It was just me singing 'Help' and I meant it."
Paul McCartney helped Lennon write the song, but did not realize it was actually Lennon calling for help until years later.
1980 - David Bowie begins his run as The Elephant Man here in Denver. The show does well, and Bowie takes the lead in the Broadway production later that year. Bowie reportedly used his training as a mime to fully convey John Merrick’s (The Elephant Man) physical disabilities, by contorting his body to show deformities. The Denver Post called his performance," superb." (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
1985- Joan Jett called up-and-coming heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson before his fight with Larry Sims, which Tyson won handily. The superstitious Tyson insisted on getting a call from Jett before every fight, which he did until breaking tradition for his bout against Buster Douglas on February 11, 1990 - Tyson's first loss.
1995 - Clueless debuts in theaters. a modern take on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. The soundtrack includes the Counting Crows cover of the Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost in You," recorded in KBCO Studio C, but receives no credit. Hollywood, right?
Birthdays:
George Frayne, Commander Cody is 77.
Bernie Leadon, guitarist for Eagles, is 74.
Brian May, guitarist for Queen, is 74. He also earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, London, in 2007.
Keith Godchaux, keyboardist for The Grateful Dead, was born today in 1948. He passed away in 1980.
Allen Collins, guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, was born today in 1952. He passed away in 1990.
Kevin Haskins, drummer for Bauhaus, Tones on Tail and Love & Rockets is 61.
Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.