Rock and Metal History, a day like today May 24
1963: The Beatles recorded the first of their very own BBC radio program, "Pop Go the Beatles". The theme song for the program was a version of "Pop Goes the Weasel". The Beatles' guests for this first show were the Lorne Gibson Trio.
1968: The Rolling Stones released the single 'Jumpin Jack Flash' in the UK, the track gave them their seventh UK No.1 hit. Keith Richards has stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house, where they were awoken one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack – that's jumpin' Jack."
1969: The Who peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their hit: Pinball Wizard. This marked the fourth top forty single for The Who, in the United States
1970: Peter Green played his last gig with Fleetwood Mac when they appeared at the Bath Festival, Somerset, England.
1982: Jefferson Starship, the Grateful Dead, Boz Scaggs, and Country Joe McDonald play San Francisco’s Moscone Center to raise money for the Vietnam Veterans Project.
1986: AC/DC released the album Who Made Who.
1988: R.E.M. began recording tracks for the album Green at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.
1991: Guns N' Roses played the first show on their 192-date Use Your Illusion world Tour at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin.
1998: Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell proclaimed it "Van Halen Day" in the city.
1999: Queen front man Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991, was honoured on a new set of millennium stamps issued by the Royal Mail. Mercury, who featured on the 19p stamp, was a keen stamp collector, and his collection was bought by the Post Office in 1993. The stamp marked his contribution to the Live Aid charity concert in 1985, and caused controversy by featuring a small portion of Queen’s drummer, Roger Taylor, in the background - UK stamps by tradition only carry pictures of living persons who are members of the Royal Family.
2005: Rock act Motley Crue files suit against NBC, arguing the network violated the group’s free speech rights and hurt its concert and album sales.
Born on this day
1941: Robert Zimmerman, (Bob Dylan) US folk singer, songwriter. Released over 40 albums since 1964, major influence on The Beatlesand The Rolling Stones during the 60's. Biggest hit is 1965 US No.2 single 'Like A Rolling Stone', 1969 UK No.5 single 'Lay Lady Lay', 1964 UK No.1 album 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'. 2006 album 'Modern Times' entered the US chart at No.1. Also a member of The Traveling Wilburys.
1947: Born on this day, Albert Bouchard, drummer, guitarist, songwriter, Blue Oyster Cult, (1976 US No. 12 and 1978 UK No.16 single 'Don't Fear The Reaper').
