On This Date In Music

1954 - The Chordettes' "Mr. Sandman" hits No. 1 in America.

 

1960 - The Crickets released the single 'I Fought the Law' on Coral Records. Written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets.

1965 - The Byrds started a three week run at No. 1 on the US singles chart with 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' the group's second No. 1. Mr. Tambourine Man being their first No. 1.

1971 - Led Zeppelin released the Four Symbols album, otherwise known as Led Zeppelin IV. Featuring the 8-minute track 'Stairway To Heaven', the album stayed on the US chart for one week short of five years, selling over 23 million copies in the US alone.

 

1971 - During a Frank Zappa concert, the Montreux Casino in Switzerland catches fire when someone fires a flare gun, inspiring Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water." Deep Purple are there to record their album Machine Head the following day, but end up using the Grand Hotel and including the song as a last-minute addition.

 

1975 - Kiss earn their first Gold album with Alive!

1980 - Two months after the tragic death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin made the decision to break up. The surviving members decided that it was not right to tamper with their legacy by bringing someone else in to play drums. In a statement, the band explained their decision: "We wish it to be known, that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." They never fully re-form, but do play some memorial shows with Jason Bonham filling in for his father.