Portsmouth music scene

THE SEVENTIES


70

FRUSTRATED by the lack of a Third World War, the latent violence in men found a new outlet in international terrorism during the first half of the 'Seventies, as they found how vulnerable a modern society was trying to keep order over its teeming millions.
Airplanes were hijacked, celebrities kidnapped, and to add to the confusion there was an oil crisis, a trade recession and raging inflation. The headlines and escapism of Fifties rock'n'roll faded ever-distant while the optimism of the 'Sixties was quenched. In its place came a kind of neurotic frenzy typified in Britain b the glam-rock boom, in which rock musicians left over from the previous decade found ultimate success.
T. Rex was the first, an electrified version of the underground group raised on poetry and fairytales. Headed by a good-looking, curly-headed Marc Bolan, T. Rex horrified their old fans and delighted a new generation of careless teenyboppers.
Bolan was rivalled by a Wolverhampton group, Slade, who had begun their career with a skinhead image, This proved too aggressive and unfriendly and gradually they evolved into Friendly Neighbourhood Yobs , singing with coarse gutteral bellows over exaggerated rock backbeats. Slade capitalised on another facet of British society - the love of football. Along with Rod Stewart and the Faces, Slade got audiences to sing along in the kind of community fashion prevalent on the football terraces. The glam-rock stars wore make-up, put tinsel in their hair, and wore garish silks, satins and gold lame - the very kind of excesses that trendy underground rock had been laughing at for a decade.
But a new teenage audience had spilled forth from the primary schools and knew nothing about high rock fashion, taboos or in-jokes. They gleefully accepted Gary Glitter, another Sixties rocker (Paul Raven), who could scarcely believe his success as he danced podgily around the stage and exposed a hairy chest to delight the screaming hordes. Sweet, a decidedly tough bunch short on tempers, but stoutly resolute, bravely embarked on an orgy of ersatz camp. Jagger had been described accurately as "androgynous." Sweet looked like Androids from another planet.
Of the entire clam-camp-Glitter rock boom, one artist, emerged with integrity who made a genuine musical contribution and effected some social change. David Bowie had been a well-known rock business figure in London during the 'Sixties. He formed various bluesy bands, played at the legendary Marquee, recorded a remarkable solo album for Decca, and was generally regarded as likeable, promising and eccentric. In 1969 he hit with "Space Oddity," but then faded from the scene. His first brush with audiences, touring with an acoustic guitar and a Bob Dylan hair style, resulted in being jeered at by skinheads, which sent the delicate youth fleeing. Finally, he got his business and recording scene together in 1971 and released "The Man Who Sold The World." This was followed by such albums as "Ziggy Stardust" "Hunky Dory," "Aladdin Sane," and "Diamond Dogs," which helped forge Bowie into one of the most magnetic and remarkable of all rock idols.
His professed bisexuality acted as a rallying point for Gay Lib, although Bowie himself didn't have much time for such organised exhibitionism. He preferred to remain aloof, cosmic and prone to constant change of dress, image, and music. After announcing his retirement from rock he went to America to make movies, but returned to touring once more.
Another artist who had begun his career in the sixties, Bob Dylan, made a sensational return to active performing when he began a 40-concert tour of 21 American cities in 1974, and followed this up with more concerts in '76. THE Seventies were an age of rather mournful nostalgia for the past. Events had moved so rapidly it seemed a good time to stand still and cast a reflective eye over the golden age of rock and roll. There was a burst of nostalgic movies, while bands like Sha Na Na dedicated themselves to recreating old teen hits. In England, there were frequent attempts at rock'n'roll revivals and Chuck Berry gained undreamed of success and popularity with his concerts at a Wembley Rock Festival and at Lanchester Festival.
He even gained a pop single hit with "My-Ding-A-Ling." There were con- stant rumours of the Beatles re-forming, even while Paul McCartney pronounced himself sick of the subject and formed his own group, Wings, with his wife Linda, and while John Lennon was firmly exiled in New York with his wife Yoko Ono.
The Beatles had been through fire and brimstone in one closing stages of their career and seemed only too glad to put behind them memories of the Maharishi, meditation, Allan Klein, the rise and fall of Apple, the Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine and "Sgt Pepper." George Harrison hid behind his beard but released "All Things Must Pass" and organised the Concert For Bangladesh, with his old friend Bob Dylan making a rare 1971 appearance.
Ringo starred in a few movies and even got the occasional chart hit like "Back Off Boogaloo." John released a series of remarkable songs, including the tender "Imagine," hailed as a rock classic. The Beatles had broken up, but there was no stemming their output. Other artists who had seemingly shot their bolt in the 'Sixties and had retired to nurse their grievances and their health made return trips in the 'Seventies.
Eric Clapton, exhausted by years of touring with the Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Derek and the Dominos had tucked himself away in his country home for almost two years before forming a new band in 1974. Jack Bruce tried several combinations, playing with Tony Williams' Lifetime, Graham Bond (again), Mountain, West, Bruce & Laing and then in 1975 with his own band, featuring briefly ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and jazz pianist Carla Bley.
Ginger Baker had formed his high flying Airforce band on the demise of Blind Faith, then when they split (largely due to the size of the band and the temperature of the musicians), he went to live in Nigeria, where he built his own studio.
Then Ginger came back in 1975 with a new band, the Baker Gurvitz Army. THE early Seventies saw the rise in popularity of the supergroups: Yes, ELP and Genesis, and most of all Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page formed the group after the demise of the Yardbirds in 1968. During '69 the band toured America and released its first album for Atlantic. It was an immediate success in the States and then Britain. With the golden-haired vocalist Robert Plant as their stand-out front man, a powerhouse drummer in John Bonham and Jimmy Page's own guitar showmanship, the group - completed by John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards - was an unbeatable combination. They broke attendance records around the world, sold albums by the million and created some of the exciting heavy rock of the decade.
The sheer brutal power of Zeppelin's music led to the birth of "heavy metal rock", typified by such bands as Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath and America's Grand Funk Railroad. They had none of the subtlety of earlier groups like Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service or even the Grateful Dead. But "heavy metal" appealed to the mass of kids who liked to get their heads down and shaking, while fortified with either "uppers" or "downers", and bottles of cheap wine and beer.
While the solo superstars - Rod Stewart, Elton John, Mick Dagger, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell - became the royalty of rock, their knights were the vast variety of groups of all schools that continued to spring up. Some, like Frank Zappa and his various bands, could not be put into any particular school. As a composer and guitarist, Zappa continued to experiment with the humorous, bizarre and sophisticated aspects of rock and satire. But there were bands who concentrated on earthy funkiness of boogie and blues - the Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers, Little Feat and Montrose.
America unleased new sophistication with New York's Steely Dan, whose technical ability and song-writing was in direct contrast to New York's rather tatty and weak-kneed, attempt at glam-rock typified by the New York Dolls (the most celebrated of a sorry bunch). None of the new American bands could match the British groups in terms of solid stage performance and unity of pur- pose. Even Steely Dan proved disorganised and mercurial on their visit to Britain, capable of brilliance or mediocrity. But then British groups like Yes, for all their scholarly dedication could not equal the frightening, horror rock devised by Alice Cooper, a beer drinking transvestite with a penchant for killing chickens on stage, a pet snake and a pair of holed stockings.
Alice Cooper was one of America's greatest rock attractions in the Seventies, eclipsing all the hard rockers from Black Oak Arkansas to Grand Funk. Railroad.
The process of rock criticism in newspapers and periodicals became ever more difficult and usually resolved itself into a petulant permanent huff, denigrating everything that moved for fear of the author being caught out liking something that might prove unfashionable in the future. THOSE who sickened of the Rock Machine and its failure to turn them on any more turned to jazz, the neglected art form, which had become almost obliterated in the Sixties.
But jazz was not dead, and in the Seventies was becoming healthier. Although many of the founding fathers were gone, Duke and Louis among them, there was a burgeoning of jazz-rock, the "if you can't beat 'em join 'em' spirit, typified by jazzmen's use of electronic keyboards and rock drum beats. There was a re-kindling of interest in swing style big bands, and jazz-rock big bands, like Chicago, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Buddy Rich, the drummers' idol, formed a brash, noisy but exciting big band which achieved remarkable popularity at the height of the hippy year of '67 and continued to tour thereafter. The jazz-rock bands included Weather Report, 11th House and the remarkable Mahavishnu Orchestra, led by John McLaughlin and featuring drummer Billy Cobham. McLaughlin, a British guitarist, had played with Graham Bond and Georgie Fame in the mid-Sixties, then became a part of the Free Jazz Movement, playing in Europe, before joining up with Miles Davis.
The Mahavishnu Orchestra was based on John's new philosophy of life inspired by the teachings of his guru Sri ChinMoy. The band was almost over-whelming in its power and instrumental proficiency, although historically it followed a lead set by Tony Williams' Lifetime. Electricity and jazz had met up in the Sixties, with the employment of keyboard player Joe Zawinul in the Cannonball Adderley Sextet. By the Seventies there were many groups improvising and yet employing the modern instruments and rhythmic attack, like Chick Corea's Return To Forever, Billy Cobham's Band, Nucleus, Isotope. Progressive rock was entirely eclipsed by the jazzrock bands. A European movement began where serious, studious young men brought classical training to bear on their instrumental approach to rock.
In Germany came Can, Kraftwerk and Amon Duul. In Italy emerged PFM, from France came Magma, while Finland produced Wigwam. In Britain, until its recent demise, Robert Fripp kept the King Crimson flag flying, and all kinds of new directions were explored by composer Mike Oldfield, who scored extraordinary chart success with "Tubular Bells" and "Hergest Ridge," albums of his own instrumental compositions land performance. Pink Floyd remained synonymous with under-ground experiment, and their "Dark Side Of The Moon" stayed in the best-selling lists for two years.
Apart from jazz-rock, and ,progressive rock, there was free form jazz, which had its origins in the mid-Sixties , when musicians followed the route charted by tenorist John Coltrane and altoist Ornette Coleman. Free jazz aroused anguish and even hatred among older jazz fans and musicians, and certainly alienated potential audiences by its overthrow of all concepts of rhythm, harmony, chord structure, and melody The concept of total freedom in playing led to some beautiful chance performances and the emergence of musicians of undoubted skill, fire and conviction, in America, Britain and Europe. The saxophonist Albert Ayler, who was to die in mysterious circumstances in New York in the late Sixties (his body was found in a river), played with Cecil Taylor in New York and recorded for ESP-Disk with Sunny Murray.
He was a member of the Jazz Composers' Guild, and became regarded as the Charlie Parker of free music. Other giants of what was also to be referred to as simply the New Music were Eric Dolphy, Don Cherry, Anthony Braxton and, in Europe, drummer John Stevens, founder of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, guitarist Derek Bailey, and saxists Evan Parker and Trevor Watts. Jamaican born altoist, the !ate Joe Harriott had also pioneered a freer approach to jazz improvisation in the early Sixties. Elements of free jazz, rock and classical music have all been drawn together in different fashions to varying degrees by the experimental musicians of the Seventies.
Some classical influences were employed in less sophisticated fashion but with great popular success by artists like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord. With the emergence of free jazz, it might have seemed older forms of the music were doomed to extinction, but in the Seventies there was still a solid following for big bands (Glenn Miller's band suddenly received a wholly unexpected boost at the beginning of 1976), traditional jazz was as strong as ever in the grass roots local jazz clubs, while contemporary jazz of all kinds thrived A at London's Ronnie Scott I Club.
AND what was the effect of all these years of change and upheaval, experiment and progress? Well contemporary pop music, despite its teenage manifestations like David Cassidy, the Osmonds, the Bay City Rollers, Roxy Music, Queen, and Mud, is firmly established as the music of the people of all ages. Even TV police recruitment commercials have the flavour of the "Theme From Shaft," while a huge range of ages appreciate the music of the Who and "Tommy."
From teenyboppers. to young marrieds and pensioners, pop music has become an all-embracing supplier of excitement, escape, romanticism and fantasy. It can be an intellectual study for some, or an excuse for a drunken punch-up for others. Students pore over the significance of pop art and Bryan Ferry's place in the history of art colleges. Heavy Sunday newspaper columnists marvel at the drawing power of artists like Elton John and the life-style of jet-setting Rod Stewart.
Kids jive in the aisles to the reggae of Bob Marley and the Wailers, or scream their heads off at the Rollers. Rock critics castigate upstarts like Steve Harley and smile upon a Bruce Springsteen who has all the right qualifications for the Rock Hall of Fame. Pop fans queue up for Kenny and Alvin Stardust. While in lonely bedsitters, romantics sigh over the songs of Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, John Denver, Leo Sayer and Joni Mitchell.
Never has there been so much music for so many. Elton John bestrides the white rock and. roll and middle of the road audience like a colossus, while the cross breeding of influences continue, as black music gets more "white" with the introduction of the Philly Sound pioneered by producers and record bosses Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who have brought upon us Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, the Mays, and the Three Degrees, selling records by the million. And of course white music gets more "black," whether played by the Average White Band or the Muscle Shoals Rhythm section. The great watershed of rock has not entirely devoured its original lifegiving streams. While the bluesmen have largely died away, country music remains a hugely popular farce in America and Britain, with its stars like Johnny Cash, and more modern additions such as Tammy Wynette, still feeding the pop mainstream with either raw country or its orff-shoots, country rock, like the Eagles and Flying Burrito Brothers.
If rock itself seemed to turn sour and lose its direction during the Seventies, then popular music in its many disguises and forms can only continue to expand and astound, as long as there are people to play, and People to listen.

bowie

1970

JANUARY: Bonzo Dog Band split up after four years Steve Ellis leaves Love Affair King Crimson loses saxist tan McDonald and drummer Mike Giles. Rolf Harris number one with " Two Little Boys " Roland Kirk plays London Festival Hall with Manfred Mann, and Julie Driscoll with Keith Tippets Band Melody Maker says Moody Blues will be group of the Seventies Carl Wayne quits Move to go solo Blue Mink hit with Melting Pot " Mitch Mitchell joins the Jack Bruce Band. Blood, Sweat & Tears make huge impact in America.
FEBRUARY: Decimalisation threatens to increase price of albums-to nearly £2. Herb Alpert disbands Tijuana Brass Nice perform concerts and record with classical American conductor Joseph Eger King of Swing, clarinettist Benny Goodman, plays concerts with British all-star band Jack Bruce featured in BBC documentary film Rope Ladder To The Moon Simon & Garfunkel release " Bridge Over Troubled Water " LP.
MARCH: Lee Marvin hits with "Wand'rin Star "British pressing of Bob Dylan bootleg " The Great White Wonder " is banned New group Juicy Lucy features steel guitarist Glen " Fernando " Campbell Marc Bolan goes to watch Bert Weedon play with Marty Wilde 'Tommy Bruce and Joe Brown at Roundhouse Rock Revival Show in London David Bowie plays concerts with new group " Hype " featuring Mick Ronson on guitar and Tony Visconti on bass Grateful Dead release " Live Dead " album Black Magic new craze among groups, led by Black Sabbath and Black Widow. Frank Zappa releases " Hot Rats " album Tamla Motown star Tammi Terrell dies aged 24 Yes play concert with strings at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young release " Deja Vu " album.
APRIL: Creedence Clearwater Revival play Royal Albert Hall " Bridge Over Troubled Water " by Simon & Gar- funkel No 1 Singer Roy Warner arrested in San F an- Harper arrested In San Fran-cisco for trespassing Drummer Spencer Dryden quits Jefferson Airplane Drummers Ginger Baker and Phil Seamen duet in Airforce concert at London's Lyceum Huge country and western festival held at Empire Pool, Wembley Spooky Tooth split . 1970 Pop Proms held at London's Roundhouse with Traffic, Mott the Hoople, If, T. Rex, Elton John and Johnny Winter Keith Emerson admits Nice have split and reveals plans for new group, featuring ex-King Crimson bassist Greg Lake. They are still looking for a drummer Blade support Yes at the Marquee Peter Green plans to quit Fleetwood Mac Tom Jones mania rages in America Taj Mahal, Johnny Winter, Santana and It's A Beautiful Day star in Sounds Of The Seventies concert Paul McCartney releases McCartney " album.
MAY: Frank Sinatra plays London's Festival Hall with Count Baste Orchestra. Leonard Cohen plays the Royal Albert Hall Ten Years After grow in importance and popularity . Reading Pop Festival, held on the local football pitch, abandoned after cloudburst floods Fleetwood Mac. Chicken Shack Lead guitrist Peter Banks quits Yes and is replaced by Steve Howe of Bodast Chicago blues pianist Otis Sperm dies Eric Clapton records in London with Howlin' Wolf and Rolling Stones Duke Ellington's great alto saxist Johnny Hodges dies US drummer Louis Bellson records with British band Film Woodstock premiered in Britain Groundhogs release " Thank Christ For The Bomb " LP New Jazz Orchestra plays concert tour with Colosseum Carl Palmer joins Keith Emerson and Greg Lake and completes ELP.
JUNE: Led Zeppelin Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Canned Heat, Pink Floyd, Steppenwolf, the Byrds, Moody Blues, Flock, Santana, Dr. John, Hot Tuna among colossal bill at Bath Festival. Tickets - 50 shillings, in advance Mungo Jerry hit with In The Summertime Uriah Heep, heavy group, launch slogan " Very 'eavy, very 'umble " Organist Rick Wakeman joins the Strawbs. Dick Morrissey and Terry Smith form jazz-rock band If Eric Clapton records solo album Status Quo re-launch.
JULY: Jefferson Airplane cut d short appearance at Bath festival in heavy rain and plan free concert in London. Led Zeppelin hailed as hit of festival with five encores in front of 150,000 fans Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice announce plans for double album called " Jesus Christ Superstar " Hippies complain locals sold bread at two shillings a slice after Bath Festival Free hit with " All Right Now " Tyrannosaurus Rex release " T. Rex " album, and Play London's Lyceum Isaac Hayes acclaimed for his " The Isaac Hayes Movement " album, his second Deejay Kenny Everett sacked by BBC, partly over comments in Melody Maker about Radio One.
AUGUST: Mammoth line-up of American and British talent at third Isle Of Wight Rock Festival. Three days of music include Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Tiny Tim, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Ten Years After, the Who, Doors, Donovan, Miles Davis, Chicago and Jethro Tull ELP cut first album After attempts to suppress it, National Jazz Federation hold their festival at Plumpton Rolling Stones clash with business manager Allen Klein Dave Clark Five break up after seven yeas Black Sabbath release " Paranoid " single.
SEPTEMBER: Joni Mitchell hailed as star of Isle Of Wight Festival - T. Rex release " Ride A White Swan " single Maggie Bell of Stone The Crows hailed as great new British girl singer Pianist composer Keith Tippett launches 44-piece jazz orchestra Hawkwind complain they don't get many bookings, for being too progressive A1 " Blind Owl " Wilson, guitarist with Canned Heat, dies. American guitarist Duane Allman joins Derek and the Dominos, Eric Clayton's new band Death of Jimi Hendrix shocks music world.
OCTOBER: Elton John hailed as " underground superstar " Death of Janis Joplin once again shocks music world, soon after Hendrix's death Rory Gallagher, Irish blues guitarist, splits up Taste.
NOVEMBER: Buddy Rich slams rock music and the drum battle between Elvin Jones and Ginger Baker Billy Connolly splits from Humblebums Jim Morrison, lead singer with Doors, released on bail, pending appeal against convictions for indecent exposure and profane language at a Miami concert MGM Records president Mike Curb announces a " ban " on drug-taking groups Keith Tippett debuts Centipede, a 50-piece band US promoter Bill Graham says he is sick of being called "a capitalist pig " Steve Howe of Yes hailed as new guitar hero Grand Funk Railroad cause " fantastic scenes " in America.
DECEMBER: George Harrison releases triple album " All Things Must Pass " Revolutionary jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler dies Much-publicised drum battle at Lyceum between Ginger Baker and Elvin Jones is cancelled because of Musicians Union interference and is re-planned for February. Slade complain of skinhead image Monty Python's Flying Circus release album as show gets top TV rating, and is a cult among rock fans " Jazz is fighting for its life," reveal top critics " Ride A White Swan ' hits No 3 in Melody Maker chart, as Bolan mania breaks. His audience changes from underground freaks to teenyboppers The Rolling Stones' Altamont movie, Gimme Shelter. opens in New York. London Wainwright hailed as " The new Dylan "

1971

JANUARY: Conservative government Post Office Minister Christopher Chataway says he wants BBC Radio One's 247 metres medium wavelength for local commercial radio. Labour MPs fight move Eccentrically dressed singer Gilbert O'Sullivan breaks through. Singer Sandy Denny splits up Fotheringay Guitarists Stan Webb disbands Chicken Shack after four years Paul McCartney winds up the Beetles. Airforce break up.
FEBRUARY: Led Zeppelin announce plans to play small clubs, including the Marquee Ginger Baker finally battles with Elvin Jones at London's Lyceum. Result - a truce , Laura Nyro makes first appearance in Britain, also Linda Ronstadt Ike and Tina Turner bring " most exciting stage act ever," to Britain British dance band leader Harry Roy dies. Rolling Stones announce plans to quit Britain to live on Continent Jazz benefit concert held in London for trumpeter Buck Clayton who cannot play again George Harrison No 1 album with " All Things Must Pass," and No 1 single with " My Sweet Lord " Frank Zappa starts filming 200 Motels. Rod Stewart and Faces conquer America. British jazz alto saxist Derek Humble dies aged 40 Georgic Fame and Alan Price team up.
MARCH: " Jesus Christ Superstar album huge hit in America Baritone player John Surman voted top musician in British section of Melody Maker jazz poll US group Iron Butterfly split after European tour with Yes Jamaican flautist and saxist Harold McNair dies - Velvet Underground album " Loaded " hailed in Melody Maker as " most important pop record issued in years " Elton John's Festival Hall, London, concert rated " A milestone in his career " " Ireland unites under Zeppelin," says Melody Maker Welsh group Man gain a following Rolling Stones take out ad warning the public against Decca album release " Stone Age," saying " It is, in our opinion, below the standard we try to keep up ". Stan Webb says he's " over the moon " with a new version of Chicken Shack.
APRIL: Rolling Stones in row at Marquee Club with owner Harold Pendleton during TV Filming. Keith Richard seen to aim guitar at his head Rory Gallagher forms new group. Ban on Black Sabbath, at Royal Albert Hall lifted British " bootleggers " fined in Magistrates' Court. Ragtime revival starts in Los Angeles. Government Bill threatens pop festivals Grateful Dead play vast " Dance Marathon " all-night session in New York.
MAY: US promoter Bill Graham announces Fillmores East and West will close British jazzband leader Ken Colyer says he is quitting Funkadelic soul group run into trouble with British promoters because of sexy act . First Garden Party held at London's Crystal Palace featuring the Faces, Floyd. Jefferson Airplane grow into Jefferson Starship Melody Maker raves over new girl singer Carly Simon Weather Report hit in the States Free split Mick Jagger marries Blanca in France. Alice Cooper breaks through. Eric Clapton breaks up Derek And The Dominos after " a row in the studios."
JUNE: Genesis play breakthrough concert at London's Lyceum Osibisa launched in America Riots break out at American Jethro Tull concerts Blues giant B. B. King records in London with Ringo Starr Glastonbury Fayre features last fling of British underground John Lennon, Frank Zappa and Yoko jam in New York British bassist and composer Graham Collier wins press prize at Montreux Jazz Festival Carole King hailed as international superstar Sweet hit with ' Co Co.'
JULY: Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands invites Elvis Presley to play a charity concert for the World Wildlife Fund. No dice Bootlegging of top rock bands reaches epidemic proportions Sha Na Na revive golden oldies from rock 'n' roll Jazz giant Louis Armstrong dies at Corona, New York, aged 71, two days after his birthday Newport Jazz Festival closed after fans riot and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Melody Maker says that "rumours of Jim Morrison's death in Paris are exaggerated," but then admits that the rumours were true. Morrison was found dead in his bath in a Paris apartment on July 3, but his passing was kept secret for several days. Funeral of jazz trumpeter Charlie Shavers Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Leon Russell hold historic concert in aid of stricken Bangla Desh at New York's Madison Square Gardens.
AUGUST: Paul McCartney forms own group with wife Linda called Wings T. Rex - No 1 with " Get It on " - booed at Weeley Festival on Bank Holiday, Hells Angels fight with tough South London catering men Rick Wakeman quits Strawbs and replaces organist Tony Kaye in Yes. A fourth Isle Of Wight Pop Festival is cancelled.
SEPTEMBER: Drummer Robert Wyatt quits Soft Machine Who headline charity concert at London's Oval cricket ground in aid of Bangla Desh Black Sabbath break through as " Britain's answer to Grand Funk " Emerson, Lake and Palmer take most top positions in Melody Maker Poll BBC TV replaces Disco 2 series with new show, The Old Grey Whistle Test.
OCTOBER: Jack Bruce Band goes on the road with Graham Bond and Chris Spedding Deep Purple cause riots at London's Royal Albert Hall Rod Stewart tops singles chart with " Maggie May " Melody Maker review says Gilbert O'Sullivan is " only genuine new talent of the Seventies " Who plan to open new London venue, the Rainbow Theatre.
NOVEMBER: Drummer Jon Hiseman splits up his group Colosseum. His guitarist Clem Clempson replaces Peter Frampton in Humble Pie Top US jazz stars in Melody Maker Jazz Weekend in London include Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis Guitarist Duane Allman killed in motorcycle accident near his home in Macon, Georgia Scots group Nazareth launched at Soho strip club Wings are launched at a London ballroom Bootleg album sales cost record industry f100 million a year. Record companies band together on international level to fight bootleggers.
DECEMBER: John Lennon raps Paul McCartney's comments about Apple, Allan Klein and other controversial subjects Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson and Kenny Clare play a drum battle at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall World's Greatest Jazzband plays Britain.

1972

JANUARY: Pop giants of the year are Marc Bolan, Rod Stewart and Keith Emerson. Says Rod Stewart to Melody Maker: " I'm bloody sure I could start a riot. If I told them (fans) to stamp on the cops, they would ". Jeff Beck rehearses a new band. Rory Gallagher plays. Belfast at height of "The Troubles " Pete Sinfield quits King Crimson. Isaac Hayes mysteriously cancels European tour. , New Seekers hit with " I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing ". Says Melody Maker: " Possibly David Bowie could be the biggest thing to come out of Britain this year". 'A new group is setting America alight, The Mahavishnu Orchestra featuring British guitarist John McLaughlin. Start of Bowie-mania. Quadraphonic sound is the latest recording technique ,. Bassist Jack Bruce joins US group Mountain.
FEBRUARY: Plan for multi- racial group Osibisa to play in south Africa to black audiences thwarted by Musicians' Union. Cat Stevens hits with ""Teaser And The Firecat " album. Don McLean tops American chart with " American Pie ". Singer Smokey Robinson quits the Miracles after 14 years. New band formed - Roxy Music Power cuts and national fuel crisis hit rock concerts. Groups use mobile generators. " I have the ability 'to think like a thief," rock's controversial manager Allan Klein tells Melody Maker. Boom in reggae music from West Indies. Trumpeter Lee Morgan shot dead during a gig at Slug's Club in New York.
MARCH: Yes conquer America on first sell-out tour. John Mayall augments band with US jazzmen - Protests raised at Government's Night Assemblies Bill. aimed directly at pop festivals. London's Rainbow Theatre closes after five rnonths. A 24-year-old labourer is jailed for a year after pushing Frank Zappa off stage at the Rainbow in December 1971, when Zappa fell into the orchestra pit and suffered fractures, cuts and bruises. Top American stars Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Quincy Jones give bene fit concert in Los Angeles for black militant Angela Davis. New teenybop star emerges in America - David Cassidy.
APRIL: BBC Radio Jazz Club bans avant garde music. Grand Funk Railroad on verge of split. Manager Terry Knight sues the group. , Melody Maker says triple album " Escalator Over The Hill," by Carla Bley and Paul Haines is "one of the finest achievements of the age ". Avant garde player Ornette Coleman premieres new composition with 86 piece orchestra at London's Royal Albert Hall. Strawbs lose their folk image, as they lilt with " Grave New World."
MAY: Hawkwind robbed of £8,000 worth of equipment - band on verge of splitting. Bickershaw Festival features Grateful Dead, Dr. John, Country Joe and Donovan. Pop Festivals reprieved when Night Assemblies Bill is sunk. Founder member of Stone The Crows, guitarist Les Harvey, is killed when electrocuted on stage. Bluesman Rev Gary Davis dies. Jazz veteran Gerry Mulligan records a rock album. Plans to re-open London's Rainbow Theatre. Also plans to open sundown rock venues at London cinemas announced. Great Western Express hold Spring Bank Holiday festival with huge bilI including Faces.
JUNE: Top three positions in chart held by (1) T. Rex with " Metal Guru," (2) Elton John with " Rocket Man," and (3) David Cassidy with " Could It Be Forever " As David Bowie tours, he announces release of new album "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" Listen and Lloyd Watson win the first Melody Maker National Rock/Folk Contest at London's Roundhouse Stones kick off marathon "back to the roots," American tour , " I'd really dig to play Britain," says Elvis Presley at press conference. He doesn't , Jimmy McCulloch replaces the late Les Harvey as Stone The Crows' lead guitarist Blues singer Jimmy Rushing dies in New York - Dave Greenslade plans new band, Greenslade Lindisfarne hit with " Fog On The Tyne " album. R&B singer Clyde McPhatter dies in New York.
JULY: Mystery over future of ELO and the Move. Wishbone Ash robbed of all their equipment in America. Say Led Zeppelin: "We are getting incredible reactions in America and nobody back home cares about us ". Donny Osmond No 1 with " Puppy Love ". Roy Wood quits ELO and hands it over to Jeff Lynne. Singer Suzi Quatro arrives from States in London and signs with Mickie Most. Yes drummer Bill Bruford quits to join King Crimson. Is replaced by Alan White. Gary Glitter hits with " Rock And Roll Part It ". Bluesman Fred McDowell dies in Memphis.
AUGUST: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Bill Haley in huge Rock 'n' Roll Show at London's Wembley Stadium. Little Richard is booed off. Ex-Vanilla Fudge men Tim Bogert (bass) and Carmine Appice (drums) join up with Jeff Beck in new superproup. Jazz clarinettist Mezz Mezzrow dies 4n Paris. Chick Corea forms -new group Return To Forever. LP prices jump.
SEPTEMBER: Mrs Mary Whitehouse, of National Viewers and Listeners Association, protests at Alice Cooper's " School's Out " single. Peter Frampton forms new band Frampton's Camel. Jazz tenorist Don Byas dies in Amsterdam . Singer Sandy Denny disbands. Yes premiere their new album " Close To The Edge " at Crystal Palace garden party - Also billed are Lindisfarne and Mahavishnu Orchestra with new drum star Billy Cobham. Emerson, Lake and Palmer play Melody Maker Pollwinners' concert at the Oval Cricket Ground, London.
OCTOBER: Black Sabbath saythey will quit touring America due to exhaustion. Melody Maker sponsors visit of Newport Jazz Festival giants to London featuring Jimmy Smith and Art Blakey, but concerts are a flop BBC reject a Bowie film for Top Of The Pops. Sweet say they are tired of being dismissed as a " teenybop band ". David Bowie arrives in New York and causes sensation. 'Great British jazz drummer Phil Seamen dies. Curtis Mayfield tops American charts with " Superfly " album. New group 10cc formed. Melody Maker reports on new American group, Sparks. Jackson 5 and the Osmonds arrive in Britain to scenes of fan hysteria. Creedence Clearwater Revival split.
NOVEMBER: London's Royal Albert Hall ban an orchestral version of the Who's " Tommy". Spooky Tooth re-form. Juicy Lucy split. Rick Wakeman completes work on first solo album ' The Six Wives of Henry VIII" New York Dolls' drummer Billy Murcia dies in London aged 18.
DECEMBER: Billy Connolly releases solo album. Chuck Berry number one with " My Ding-A-Ling ' Bob 'Dylan starts work on film appearance in Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid. , Jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham dies in New York. Marc Bolan and Ringo Starr film Born To Boogie. Eric Clapton announces a comeback concert. Melody Maker names " Ziggy Stardust " album of the year. Jazz singer Bobby Green dies.

1973

JANUARY: Death announced of Jamaican-born altoist Joe Harriott (44). Folk group Pentangle split. Little Jimmy Osmond hits with " Long Haired Lover From Liverpool ". Pete Townshend helps Eric Clapton make a comeback show at London's Rainbow Theatre. New group Gryphon blend 13th century music with rock , Bette Midler tipped for stardom. David Bowie number one with "Jean Genie". Jazz trombonist Wilbur de Paris dies in New York. Stevie Wonder releases "Talking Book" album to rave reviews. Gospel singer Clara Ward dies in Los Angeles.
FEBRUARY: Audience lead singer Howard Werth suggested as replacement for Jim Morrison in Doors. Two of London's Sundown Theatres, at Brixton and Mile End, close as "there are not enough big name groups for us to keep running." Liverpool's Cavern Club also due to close. Tributes pour in to legendary trombonist Kid Dry who died in Honolulu. Dutch rock group Focus hit with four records L in album and singles chart. Pete Townshend of the Who tells of "the curse of 'Tommy ' ". British drummer Jackie Dougan killed in Australia. Emerson, Lake and Palmer set up own label Manticore. Gamble and Huff hit with Philly Sound, as albums by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and the O'Jays are released.
MARCH: 5,000 Rolling Stones fans riot in Adelaide, Australia. Pink Floyd launch new album, "Dark Side Of The Moon," at London Planetarium. Elton John tops British and American album charts. Pickpockets stab policeman outside Rainbow Theatre London as James Brown plays concerts. Mike Jeffrey, ex-manager of the Animals and Jimi Hendrix, dies. Trumpeter Miles Davis arrested and charged with possesing drugs and a dangerous weapon. Osmonds arrive in London. Fan hysteria causes national concern. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, organist with the Grateful Dead, dies aged 27. Rock music takes over from movies as major Hollywood industry.
APRIL: John Lennon appeals against US deportation order. Management contract between Allan Klein and three Beatles, excluding Paul McCartney, expires and is not renewed. Melody Maker previews Bruce Springsteen, the Waiters and the Average White Band Diana Ross plays Billie Holiday in new movie Lady Sings The Blues "Up in Manchester 10 cc are laying down tomorrow's pop classics," says Melody Maker. Writer George Melly returns to singing. Says Rod Stewart: "Our new album is a disgrace, a bloody mess."
MAY: Melody Maker investigates new phenomenon Pub Rock and spotlights Bees Make Honey. Elton John launches own label. Rocket Records. David Bowie starts "farewell" British tour. London's Marquee Club celebrates 15th anniversary. Liza Minnelli arrives in London for show. Sensational Alex Harvey Band make debut. Lindisfarne re-form. Neighbours threaten Crystal Palace Garden Parties with complaints. Ronnie Lane quits the Faces to pursue solo career.
JUNE: Suzi Quatro hits with "Can The Can" and is hailed as a female Bolan. Japanese bass player Tetsu Yamauchi replaces Ronnie Lane in the Faces. Clarinettist and band leader Sid Phillips dies aged 65. Jazz trombonist J. C. Higginbotham dies in New York. Lou Reed hits with " A Walk On The Wild Side " President of CBS Records Clive Davis fired after allegations of "misappropriation of funds". Marc Bolan says: " Glam rock is dead!" Jazz tenor sax star Tubby Hayes dies in London, aged 38. The Strawbs split. Mike Oldfield launches "Tubular Bells" album and concert, destined for three year run of success. Ian Gillan says he's quitting Deep Purple. Carpenters release "Now And Then" album.
JULY: Slade mania as group top chart with "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me. Jack Bruce pulls out of West Bruce and Laing. Eno quits Roxy Music and plans group called Loane And The Little Girls. Ray Davies says he is quitting the Kinks at White City Concert. Family plan to split. New band Steely Dan cause interest in America. Rain, mud and Hells Angels make Buxton Festival a washout. New group queen hailed as "Britain's New York Dolls."
AUGUST: Band, Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead play to 600,000 at Watkins Glen Festival, New York. Uriah Heep fans pelt Sensational Alex Harvey band at London Music Festival, Deejay Pete Drummond storms off stage. Jazzman Eddie Condon dies aged 67. 200,000 dollars stolen from Led Zeppelin in hotel safe raid in New York. Eddie Jobson joins Roxy Music. Isle of Man jazz festival cancelled after fire destroys Summerland ballroom. Japanese bassist Tetsu Yamauchi refused work permit or membership of Musicians Union to play with Faces. Alan Price stars in new film 'O Lucky Man'. Barry White new soul superstar. New British singer launched - Leo Sayer. Jethro Tull announce retirement because of "abuse heaped on their show," the controversial " Passion Play. Carpenters head nostalgia boom with " Yesterday Once More". Neil Young says he wants. to play small clubs again.
SEPTEMBER: Lou Reed, Jeff Beck, James Taylor play at Melody Maker-sponsored Crystal Palace Garden Party show. That'll star David Essex hits in That'll Be The Day, and Godspell and enters chart with "Rock On". Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson held-up by gunmen in New York. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen make waves with new album " Country Casanova ". New Orleans clarinettist Albert Nicholas dies. Rolling Stones play historic concerts at Empire Pool, Wembley Bryan Ferry releases A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall ". David Bowie and Yes sweep the board in Melody Maker Pop Poll results. American tenor sax giant Ben Webster, ex-Byrd Gram Parsons and singer Jim Croce all die.
OCTOBER: Drag singer Wayne County signed by Tony DeFries to Bowie's management company, MainMan. Rick Wakeman plans solo concert. Japanese bassist Tetsu joins Musicians Union. New group Cockney Rebel release " Sebastian" single. Commercial radio launched in Bri- tain World plastic and vinyl shortage hits record industry. Sister Rosetta Tharpe, US gospel singer, dies. Girl injured as wall collapses under fans welcoming Osmonds to Heathrow Airport N. Gene Krupa, world's most famous drummer, dies.
NOVEMBER: Pink Floyd and Soft Machine play benefit concert for crippled Robert Wyatt, ex-Softs drummer. Ex-Nice men Brian Davison and Lee Jackson form new band Refugee with Swiss organist Patrick Moraz. Who walk off stage during British tour in row with sound and light man. Ronnie Lane forms Slim Chance band, and releases "How Come" single. Save The Rainbow campaign started as theatre is threatened with demolition.
DECEMBER: Energy crisis hits rock. Former Shadows bass guitarist John Rostill found dead at his home aged 31. New York Dolls arrive in London. Petrol shortage hits British groups. Bob Marley and the Wailers cancel British tour owing to snow and return to Jamaica. Alvin Stardust hits with "My Coo-Ca-Choo". "Tammy," the Who's rock opera, staged as a musical by Lou Reizner at London's Rainbow. Riot breaks out at Mott The Hoople concert at Odeon, Hammersmith. Mahavishnu Orchestra split as drummer Billy Cobham hits with "Spectrum" album. Singer Bobby Darin dies.

1974

JANUARY: Leo Sayer predicted as the star of '74. 20 million ticket applications received for Bob Dylan's 21-city tour of America Judy Collins plays "farewell" concerts in New York Chicken Shack split Rick Wakeman gives solo concert at London's Royal Festival Hall featuring his orchestral work "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth " Mick Ronson David Bowie's guitarist, launches solo career with single Love Me Tender." AIIman Brothers cancel British tour.
FEBRUARY: Mud No. 1 with "Tiger Feet'' John Denver tops US album chart. Drummer Billy Cobham says split Mahavishnu Orchestra "ended in total fiasco." Guitarist John McLaughlin says: ''It was natural evolution" Doobie Brothers tour Britiain Alan Stivell triumphs at Midem. French music festival. Japanese percussionist and composer Stomu Yamash'ta tours Britain with East Wind. Bruce Springsteen gains popularity in America Eno releases first solo album "Here Comes The Warm Jets". Old British rockers Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Heinz return for a rock package show. Carpenters slam rock groups.
MARCH: Musicians Union cleared in High Court of trying to prevent a Gary Glitter tour of Rhodesia Mick Ronson flops at Rainbow Theatre solo concert. "He wasn't ready for big hype," is Melody Maker verdict Wombles, TV children's characters, hit with "The Wombling Song" George Harrison announces plans to tour Wings hit with "Jet" single Vinegar Joe break up and Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer go solo. British bandleader Cyril Stapleton dies Chick Corea's Return To Forever make first British tour Queen hit with Seven Seas Of Rhye " and riots break out on their Scottish tour Bad Company make sensational debut, featuring members of Free and Mott the Hoople King Crimson release " Stories And Bible Black album Bay City Rollers hit after two years' absence with "Remember" as lead singer Nobby Clark quits to go solo.
APRIL: Cat Stevens plagued by pirate ticket touts and programme sellers on his British tour British singer Cleo Laine, wife of jazzman Johnny Dankworth, sells out on American tour Herbie Hancock hailed as hottest jazz artist in America, as he hits with "Head Hunters" album Emerson, Lake & Palmer play Wembley Empire Pool, their last appearance for some 18 months New group Sparks make waves Yes play Paris, which causes a riot.
MAY: Mahavishnu Orchestra re-formed with string and brass sections British folk rock group Steeleye Span write a traditional mummers' play Tom Scott and the LA Express back Joni Mitchell Ragtime boom headed by Joshua Rifkin Ronnie Lane launches. " Passion Show " tour in circus tent Pioneer British jazz and rock musician Graham Bond killed when he falls in front of a tube train at Finsbury Park Led Zeppelin launch SwanSong label Leo Sayer drops his "clown" look George Harrison launches own Dark Horse label Who, Lou Reed, Humble Pie, Bad Company play Charlton football ground, London Duke Ellington's tenor sax soloist since 1950, Paul Gonsalves, dies Steely Dan play debut British concert in Manchester.
JUNE: Death of Duke Ellington announced. The world's greatest jazz composer and bandleader dies in New York aged TS after an illness lasting several months. Duke's musical career spanned more than 50 years. His famous orchestra continues under leader- ship of son Mercer Steely Dan cancel British tour because of illness. Girl fan suffers fatal heart attack at David Cassidy concert in London New British groups emerge: Starry Eyed And Laughing and G. T. Moore and His Reggae Guitars Cockney Rebel tour with special guests, Be-Bop Deluxe Rick Wakeman quits Yes as his current solo album tops chart Eric Clapton band starts American tour with girl singer Yvonne Elliman Druid and Jonathon Coudrille win the Melody Maker's National Rock/Folk Contest at London's Roundhouse. Cockney Rebel and Sparks hailed as new pop supergroups Alice Cooper's mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut razed to ground by fire.
JULY: Chapman Whitney, Gong, Kevin Ayers and Nico play free concert in London's Hyde Park Latest New York bands: Stilettos, Another Pretty Face, Television, Wayne County and Teenage Lust Dizzy Gillespie stars at Newport Jazz Festival in New York Allman Brothers Band, Van Morrison, Doobie Brothers and Tim Buckley play a " Bucolic Frolic "at Knebworth Park, Herts New York Dolls pull out of poorly attended Rock Proms at London's Olympia Georgic Fame re-forms the Blue Flames and records for Island Ronnie Wood of the Faces plays solo concert at London's Kilburn State with Rod Stewart guesting Drummer Billy Cobham feuds with Buddy Rich and Alphonse Mouzon Rick Wakeman performs "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" at Crystal Palace Garden Party Van Morrison booed at Montreux Jazz Festival, Sonny Rollins makes sensational appearance, plus Larry Coryell and 11th House Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance split up Cockney Rebel split.
AUGUST Guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter quits Steely Dan Mama Cass Elliot dies in London. Rising stars - the Alex Harvey Band Scots singer and comedian Billy Connolly becomes Scottish superstar, "and threatens England " Orchestral version of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" planned London holds "Festival Of Real Music" featuring the Pub Rock bands. Mick Jogger says the books about him were "fiction" and he doesn't want to see another Santana drummer Michael Shrieve quits the band Singer Andy Fairweather Low makes a comeback Refugee split up and organist Patrick Moraz joins Yes, replacing Rick Wakeman Tenor player Gene Ammons dies aged 49, and bluesman Lightnin' Slim, 59 Be-bop Deluxe split up then re-form George Harrison launches new group Splinter.
SEPTEMBER: Row over police brutality in clearing Windsor Free Festival site of campers Roger McGuinn, Toots & The Maytals and Roy Harper play free concert in London's Hyde Park 20,000 jazz fans attend a three-day Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Festival in Davenport, Iowa Robert Wyatt plays solo concert at London's Theatre Royal with Mike Oldfield, Julie Tippets and others Grateful Dead play three days at London's Alexandra Palace Guitarist Ariel Bender quits Mott The Hoople Melody Maker predicts Sailor for stardom Crosby, Stills. Nosh & Young, Joni Mitchell and The Band play Wembley Stadium Satirical band the Tubes become popular in San Francisco Trod trombonist Chris Barber celebrates 25 years as a bandleader Bad Company sweep the board in Melody Maker Pop poll results Ex-Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson joins Mott The Hoople Guitarist Robert Fripp breaks up King Crimson.
OCTOBER: Singer Maggie Bell starts first British solo tour Robbie McKintosh, drummer with the Average White Band, dies after given a fatal drugs overdose at a Los Angeles party Buddy Rich tours Britain with a small group, featuring Teddy Wilson Black trio Labelle gain following in New York Singer David Clayton-Thomas rejoins Blood, Sweat & Tears Supertramp tour, performing their "Crime Of The Century" album Genesis scrap their British tour as guitarist Steve Hackett severs tendon in his hand and is unable to play Incredible String Band breaks up Actor Peter Sellers plays ukelele for Steeleye Span Soul artists saturate pop chart. George Harrison begins first American tour since the Beatles.
NOVEMBER: Queen hit with "Killer Queen" George Harrison meets the press in Beverly Hills and says: "It's all a fantasy, putting the Beatles back together". Wild party held in London's Chiselhurst Caves for launch of Pretty Things' "Silk Torpedo" album on new Led Zeppelin label. David Essex movie Stardust a smash hit. Jethro Tull make triumphant British tour comeback. Drifters and Crystals back in chart. Sparks plan to quit Britain for a year. Jethro Tull play London's Rainbow and the Pink Floyd play Empire Pool, Wembley. Ginger Baker launches new band, the Baker Gurvitz Army.
DECEMBER: John Lennon jams with Elton John on stage at New York's Madison Square Gardens, singing "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds". Disco Tex hits with "Get Dancing". Eric Clapton plays at London's Odeon Hammersmith. Faces and Elton John both give London Christmas concerts. Hawkwind sell out on British tour. Lynyrd Skynyrd a sell-out at London's Rainbow Mott The Hoople split.

1975

JANUARY: Melody Maker predicts stardom for Supertramp. Status Quo win huge following for their earthy R&B. Pub rock groups star on Naughty Rhythms Tour. Pasadena Roof Orchestra revive Twenties dance music. American reports say concerts slump and less new talent appearing. Economic recession hits rock business. Warner Brothers Music Show hits London featuring the Doobies, Tower Of Power, Little Feat, Graham Central Station. Montrose and Bonaroo. Elvis Presley celebrates 40th birthday. Rolling Stones seek new guitarist as Mick Taylor quits to form new Jack Bruce Band with Carla Bley. Ken Russell's new film Tommy previewed.
FEBRUARY: Rainbow Theatre due to close down again. Lindisfarne split Ginger Baker starts comeback tour in Europe Ex-jazzman Donald Byrd wins success in America with funk music. Humble Pie on verge of split. Captain Beefheart missing in America, British tour scrapped. John Holt, Rupie Edwards and Ken Boothe hailed as reggae superstars. Anthony Braxton and Derek Bailey record an historic duo album in London. Ticket touts plague Hawkwind's British tour. R&8 pioneer saxist Louis Jordan dies in Los Angeles aged 66. Folk singer Al Stewart quits Britain to live in America. After "Hendrix copyist" controversy, Robin Trower gets rave reviews.
MARCH: Massive campaign to launch Moody Blues Justin Hayward and John Lodge as solo artists. Kojak star Telly Savalas hits with "If". Average White Band hit with " Pick Up The Pieces" and announce plans to quit Britain for America. Giant nine-hour rock show closes London's Rainbow Theatre. Peter Gabriel freaks Paris audience with split image projection of himself on stage with Genesis. Suzi Quatro, Arrows Cozy Powell tour flops. T. Rex split. Mick Ronson and ]an Hunter tour as Hunter-Ronson. Chieftains, Irish traditional group, play sell-out concert at London's Albert Hall. British jazz band leader and clarinettist Sandy Brown, and bluesman T. Bone Walker die.
APRIL: Rick Wakeman announces plans for rock show on ice Roy Harper forms new band with Bill Bruford on drums and Chris Spedding, guitar. Wild ticket rush for forthcoming Zeppelin dates. Bob Dylan jams with Neil Young in San Francisco. Elton John splits up his band. Guitarist Steve Miller arrested in San Francisco and charged with allegedly burning his girlfriend's jewellery and wardrobe. Velvet Underground star John Cale resurfaces and plays in Paris, his first tour in eight years.
MAY: Ozark Mountain Dare-devils big hit in America Tammy Wynette hits with "Stand By Your Man," a reissue. Peter Ham, guitarist, singer and songwriter with Badfinger, dies. Bachman Turner Overdrive make debut British tour. Bay City Roller-mania sweeping Scotland. Yes, Seals And Crofts and Ace play London's Queens Park Rangers football ground but Barry White flops at Aston Villa football ground. Led Zeppelin play concerts at London Earls Court, and feature a laser beam and giant video screen. Scientists investigate level of noise at pop concerts.
JUNE: David Bowie starts work on film The Man Who Fell To Earth. John Cale, Billy Cobham and Jack Bruce Band play Crystal Palace Garden Party. Rick Wakeman plays ice concert at Empire Pool. Repertory theatres begin playing Pete Townshend's " Tommy ". Inflation pushes up cost of records. Former general secretary of the British Musicians' Union, Hardie Ratcliffe, dies. Guitarist Richie Blackmore quits Deep Purple, is later replaced by Tommy Bolin. Musicians Union urge the closure of commercial radio in Britain. Beach Boys steal show from Elton John at giant Wembley Stadium concert, with the Eagles. Joe Walsh, Stackridge and Rufus.
JULY: Man play concert at Cardiff Castle. Marty Marsala, Chicago trumpet player, dies aged 66. Session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan plans own band. Pink Floyd, Steve Miller Band, Captain Beefheart, Roy Harper play Knebworth Festival. Payola scandal rocks America. Deaf School and Ivan Chandler win Melody Maker National Rock/Folk Contest. Todd Rundgren, American producer composer, says "Rock is dead". New American group Aerosmith tipped for stardom. Rory Gal- lagher triumphs at Montreux Festival. Jon Hiseman re-forms Colosseum Ss. Bob Marley hailed as reggae's first superstar. Three members of Dublin's Miami Showband killed in Irish troubles.
AUGUST: Jazz alto saxist and bandleader Cannonball Adderley dies. Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant seriously injured in car crash in Greece. Peter Gabriel quits Genesis. Singer Paul Rodgers hurt in fight at Orange Festival, France. Thin Lizzy, Yes and Robin Trower triumph at Reading Festival. Watchfield Free Festival peaceful but dull after national press hysteria.
SEPTEMBER: Monkees re-form and play in Los Angeles. Fender Sound House music store in London destroyed by fire. Bruce Springsteen releases " Born To Run " album, and is critically acclaimed. Drummer Alphonse Mouzon quits 11th House group. Yes, Genesis, Camel, Robert Plant, Joni Mitchell sweep board of Melody Maker Pop Poll.
OCTOBER: Chuck Berry plays to an audience of 40 people at a New York concert. The promoter loses 15,000 dollars on his first promotion. Rumours circulate that Rod Stewart will quit the Faces. David Essex in new outburst of teen hysteria. Rock stars become British tax exiles. John Lennon wins fight against deportation order from United States.
NOVEMBER: Steve Howe and Chris Squire of Yes release solo albums. Bob Dylan leads remarkable Rolling Thunder revue across America, playing clubs and universities with Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Rambling Jack Elliott, David Blue and Mick Ronson. Walker Brothers re-form. Roger Daltrey stars in new Ken Russell film Lisztomania based on life of Franz Liszt. Hunter-Ronson split. Count Basie Orchestra plays London Palladium with Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan.
DECEMBER: Pasadena Roof Orchestra get riotous reception in Hamburg. Roland Kirk ill in New York after a stroke leaves him partially paralysed. Rod Stewart quits the Faces to go solo. John Lennon is free to travel outside US after long court battle.


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