188 Classic Rock

July 3rd 1957, Born on this day, Laura Branigan, US singer, (1984 US No.4 & UK No.5 single 'Self Control'). Died of a brain aneurysm 26th Aug 2004.

July 3rd 1960, Born on this day, Vince Clarke, keyboards, Depeche Mode, (1981 UK No.8 single 'Just Can't Get Enough',) Yazoo, (1982 UK No.2 single 'Only You'), Erasure, (1992 UK No.1 single 'Abba-Esque EP', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).

July 3rd 1971, American singer, songwriter and poet, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as a heart attack. He co-wrote some of the group's biggest hits, including ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Love...

July 3rd 1969, Brian Jones drowned while under the influence of drugs and alcohol after taking a midnight swim in his pool, aged 27. His body was found at the bottom of the pool by his Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin. The coroner's report stated "Death...

July 3rd 1973, After 182 Ziggy Stardust concert performances, David Bowie announced he was about to retire from live performing, although it eventually transpires that Ziggy Stardust the stage persona is being retired and not Bowie himself. Only his guitarist...

July 2nd 1966, Frank Sinatra went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Strangers In The Night'. The song was taken from the film 'A Man Could Get Killed'.

July 2nd 1956, Elvis Presley recorded 'Hound Dog' at RCA Studios, New York. Take 31 being the version they released. This was the first time The Jordanaires worked with Presley. The single sold over 10 million copies globally, became his best-selling...

July 2nd 1969, Working on tracks for the Abbey Road album, Paul McCartney recorded ‘Her Majesty’. Then Paul, George, and Ringo record 15 takes of ‘Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight’. John Lennon was absent, in hospital in Golspie, Scotland, following...

July 2nd 1979, Sony introduced the Walkman, the first portable audio cassette player. Over the next 30 years they sold over 385 million Walkmans in cassette, CD, mini-disc and digital file versions, and were the market leaders until the arrival of Apple's...

July 2nd 1969, Bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell quit The Jimi Hendrix Experience after completing the three-day Denver Pop Festival. Hendrix and drummer Mitch Mitchell would later team with bassist Billy Cox to form the short-lived Gypsy...