Rolling Stones: Keith Richards has Rough Day

Today In Classic Rock History

In 1967
Pink Floyd had to cancel an appearance on ABC's "American Bandstand" when Syd Barrett refused to lip synch the song they were to perform. (he probably couldn't remember them, anyway)

In 1970
The Kinks' "Lola" peaked at number nine on the pop singles chart. (If only we knew what that was all about, THEN?)

Santana hit number one on the Billboard albums chart with "Abraxas." (which means skinning your knees by falling off your skateboard)

In 1973
Keith Richards was fined 500-dollars for four drug and three firearms offenses in London.

John Lennon sued the U.S. government to get it to admit the FBI was tapping his phone.

In 1976
John Lennon released the single "Imagine" backed with "Working Class Hero" in the UK.

In 1977
The Beatles album "Love Songs" was released. (And we all loved it)

In 1978
Keith Richards got lucky following his conviction on heroin possession charges in Canada.  He received a one-year suspended sentence, and the Rolling Stones had to play a benefit concert for the blind. (Seems like this day is not a good one, for Keith)

In 1980
Paul McCartney was recognized by the "Guinness Book of World Records" at the biggest-selling songwriter and recording artist to date. (And Paul celebrated with a tall, frosty Pint)

John Lennon released the single "(Just Like) Starting Over" in the UK. (John and Keith are competing for Today in History Champ)

In 1983
Stevie Nicks released the album "The Wild Heart." (And we heard she had a bit of that!)

In 1987
Fleetwood Mac's album "Rumors" spent its 397th week on the UK albums chart, taking the record for having the most weeks on the chart.

In 1988
John Fogerty was sued by Fantasy Records, who accused him of plagiarizing himself.  The company claimed that Fogerty's solo hit "The Old Man Down The Road" sounded too much like his Creedence hit "Run Through The Jungle." (I still cannot fathom how one could plagerize oneself)

New releases included Mike + The Mechanics' album "Living Years" and Keith Richards' single "Take It So Hard" from his solo album "Talk Is Cheap." (ha, Keith pulls into a tie with John)

In 1995
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band released the album "It's A Mystery."  It was the band's first studio album in four years. (It's a mystery as to why it took so long)

In 2002
Carlos Santana was among the performers at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Latin America.

In 2003
A Bruce Springsteen-Patti Scialfa remake of Scialfa's 1993 solo song "Love's Glory" was featured on the CBS drama "Joan of Arcadia."

In 2004
Neil Young hosted the second of his two annual Bridge School Benefit Concerts in Mountain View, California.  Paul McCartney was among the performers.

In 2005
Cream's Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker played the first of three reunion shows at Madison Square Garden in New York. (And I was not There? What A Jip!)

In 2006
New releases included the compilation "Butchering The Beatles," which included contributions from more than 50 rockers including Alice Cooper, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Styx's Tommy Shaw, Toto's Mike Porcaro and Steve Lukather, Kiss' Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer, Vanilla Fudge bassist Tim Bogert, and ex-Journey and Jefferson Starship drummer Aynsley Dunbar.

In 2007
The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night;" Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come;" "Pulp Fiction," which includes Dick Dale, Chuck Berry, Al Green, Kool & the Gang, and Dusty Springfield; and "The Graduate," featuring Simon & Garfunkel, made the top five of a "Vanity Fair" list of the Best Film Soundtracks of All Time.  Prince and the Revolution's "Purple Rain" topped the tally.

In 2008
Longtime Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia collaborator keyboardist Merl Saunders died from complications from a stroke he suffered six years earlier.  He was 74.

In 2010
Kiss' Gene Simmons fainted and cut his forehead at Los Angeles International Airport.  He was admitted to an Inglewood, California hospital, where he underwent tests and received treatment for dehydration.  Simmons was released two days later. (Maybe it was the hard rubber suit and makeup?)

:Metro Source Entertainment