Rock and Metal History , a day like today April 20
1966: During a 12 hour session at Abbey Road studios in London The Beatles worked on a new John Lennon song 'And Your Bird Can Sing', and a new George Harrison song 'Taxman'.
1968: Deep Purple play their first live show in Jastrup in Denmark.Deep Purple made their live debut at a gig in Tastrup, Denmark. Formally known as Roundabout, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore suggested a new name: Deep Purple, named after his grandmother's favourite song (which had been a hit for Peter De Rose), after his grandmother had repeatedly asked if they would be performing the song.
1970: The New York Times reported that Catholic and Protestant youth group's had adopted The Beatles 'Yellow Submarine' as a religious symbol.
Creedence Clearwater Revival released one of many classic double-sided hits: "Up Around The Bend"...
1974: Paul McCartney releases Band on the Run single in the US
1985: Dire Straits hit UK chart with So Far Away
The charity record 'We Are The World' by USA For Africa was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. The US artists' answer to Band Aid had an all-star cast including Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Paul Simon plus the composer's of the track, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.
1992: 'A Concert For Life' took place at Wembley Stadium as a tribute to Queen singer Freddie Mercury and for aids awareness. Acts appearing included; Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), David Bowie, Mick Ronson, James Hetfield, George Michael, Seal, Paul Young, Annie Lennox, Lisa Stansfield, Robert Plant, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen, Axl Rose and Slash.
Metallica released the power ballad "Nothing Else Matters"
1993: Aerosmith released 'Get A Grip' their 11th studio album which became their best selling album to date with sales over 20m. The album which featured the hits: 'Livin' On The Edge' and 'Crazy' also featured guests Don Henley and Lenny Kravitz.
1995: Oasis and the Verve performed at the Bataclan Club in Paris, France.
1999: The Rolling Stones finished off their No Security tour at San Jose Arena in San Jose, California.
2002: In the dispute over who owned the rights to Nirvana's recordings former members Dave Grohl and Kirst Novoselic asked a Seattle Court to prove that Courtney Love was mentally stable. They told the court that Love was 'irrational, mercurial, self-centred, unmanageable, inconsistent and unpredictable.' They also claimed a contract was invalid because Love was 'stoned' at the time.
2012: Bert Weedon, whose Play in a Day guitar guide set some of the biggest names in rock and roll on the road to greatness, died, aged 91. Play in a Day, released in 1957, sold over two million copies and helped inspire a generation of budding musicians including Eric Clapton, Brian May of Queen and the late John Lennon.
2003: Godsmack reached #1 on the Album chart with Faceless.
Born on this day
1945: Jimmy Winston, organ, Small Faces, (left in Nov 1965).
1967: Mike Portnoy, co-founder, backing vocalist, drummer and co-producer of Dream Theater, was born in Long Beach, New York.
