1962 - The Beatles played their first professional gig outside of Liverpool at The Oasis Club in Manchester. The first song in their set was their cover of "Hippy Hippy Shake".
1973 - NBC debuts The Midnight Special rock variety show, its response to ABC's popular In Concert series. The first host: Helen Reddy. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The program's theme song, a traditional folk song called "Midnight Special", was performed by Johnny Rivers. Ike and Tina Turner, Curtis Mayfield, Don Mclean, The Byrds, and George Carlin were on the first episode.
1976 - Genesis released 'A Trick Of The Tail', their seventh studio album and the first to feature drummer Phil Collins as full-time lead vocalist following the departure of original vocalist Peter Gabriel. After auditioning over 400 vocalists, which saw Collins teaching the potential lead singers the songs, the band decided that Collins should be the new vocalist.
1979 - Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in New York City. There had been a party to celebrate Vicious' release on $50,000 bail pending his trial for the murder of his former girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, the previous October. At the party Vicious scored at the party and later died of an overdose.
2011 - The White Stripes split up after six albums, ending their run as one of the most successful rock duos. In a statement on the group's website, frontman Jack White and drummer Meg White write, "The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health. It's for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way." (Photo by Getty Images)
2014 - Electro-industrial band Skinny Puppy sent the U.S. government an invoice after finding out their music was used as torture device in Guantanamo Bay. Despite the band's aggressive sound, they said they had never envisioned their music being used in such a way. "Because we make unsettling music, we can see it being used in a weird way," singer Kevin "Evin" Key said. "But [this] doesn't sit right with us."
2020 - Czech-born American musician, filmmaker, record producer and singer-songwriter Ivan Kral died at age 71. He played bass with Blondie, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop. His songs have been recorded by such artists as U2, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, Simple Minds and John Waite, among others. Birthdays:
Graham Nash is 80.
Robert DeLeo, bassist with Stone Temple Pilots, is 56.
John Spence, original member of No Doubt, was born today in 1969.
Ben Mize of Counting Crows is 51.
On this Day In Music History is sourced from History.com, This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.