Chas Newby, Beatle Bassist For Two Weeks
Today in 1960, Chas Newby of Liverpool got a temp job that would he could dine out on for the rest of his life: for two weeks, he played bass for the Beatles.
Pink Floyd’s Inflatable Pig Once Got Loose Over London
Today in 1976, Pink Floyd was trying to take a photo of an inflatable pig flying over a power plant for one of its iconic album covers… only the situation literally got out of hand.
Clyde Stubblefield, Music’s Original Funky Drummer
Today in 1969, at a session for soul and funk icon James Brown, drummer Clyde Stubblefield laid down what's probably the most sampled beat of all time.
The Black Dog That Helped Inspire Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog”
Today in 1971, the release of the fourth Led Zeppelin album. The opening track, "Black Dog," still gets played and shared today, and it got its name from a very unusual visitor to the studio.
Could Smart Tech And Music Playlists Help People Stay Sober?
There’s a new experiment underway that’s going to see whether music playlists and some stress-sensing technology can help people who are trying to stay sober.
In Post-War Yugoslavia, Mariachi Music Was A Huge Hit
For Mexican Independence Day, the story of how Mexican music and movies found fans in a place you might not expect: post-war Yugoslavia.
The Grateful Dead Once Jammed With Live Crickets
Today in 1975, a famous concert by the Grateful Dead at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. And if you look closely at the credits, you’ll see a peculiar listing that reads “Mickey Hart - percussion and crickets.”
When The “Kenneth, What Is The Frequency” Guy Attacked Dan Rather And Inspired An R.E.M. Song
In 1986 a guy mugged one of the most famous people in TV news, all the while shouting “Kenneth, what is the frequency?” And that's only the beginning of the story.
Willie Nelson Once Recorded An Album To Pay Back Taxes To The IRS
Today in 1933 the birthday of Willie Nelson, a country music legend who once put out an album so that he could send royalties to the IRS to pay some overdue taxes.
Florence Price Finally Takes Her Place On The List Of Great Composers
Today in 1887 (or, by some accounts, 1888), the birthday of a composer who’s really only now getting the acclaim she deserves: Florence Price.