ANNIVERSARIES
2007-Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones announces a deal worth more than seven-million dollars to write his autobiography.
2006-Billy Joel and Bryan Adams stage a free show in front of thousands of people outside the Colosseum in Rome.
1981-Journey releases its seventh album, Escape. It will become the band's biggest selling, and only chart-topping, album.
1980-John Lennon discusses plans for a comeback album with producer Jack Douglas. Recording will begin on Double Fantasy a few days later.
1976-Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" and Orleans' "Still the One" both debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated this day.
1971-The Rolling Stones documentary Gimme Shelter, which focuses on their disastrous Altamont, California concert, opens in London.
1971-The second night of The Who's U-S tour is marked by tragedy when a 22-year-old security guard is stabbed to death at New York's Forest Hills Stadium.
1970-To fulfill a contractual obligation, The Rolling Stones hand over the disc C***sucker Blues to Decca Records, freeing them to form Rolling Stones Records.
1967-A London Appeals Court throws out Keith Richards' drug conviction, describing the evidence against him as flimsy, and reduces Mick Jagger's sentence on a related conviction to probation.
1965-The Byrds' version of Bob Dylan's "Mister Tambourine Man" begins its second week at number-one in England.
1964-Rioting ends a Rolling Stones concert in Belfast, Northern Ireland after 12 minutes.
BIRTHDAYS
Phil McCormack -
Molly Hatchet singer-harmonica player. Born 1960.
Hugh McDowell -
Ex-Electric Light Orchestra/ex-ELO Part II cellist. Born 1953.
Ahmet Ertegun-Died in 2006
The Turkish-born son of a diplomat was a songwriter, producer and co-founder of Atlantic Records. He helped make stars of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, The Drifters, Bobby Darin and many others. He worked closely with Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Along with Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, Ertegun created the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He died December 14th, 2006, following a fall backstage at a Rolling Stones concert. He was 83. Born 1923.
