October 31 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Erik Griffiths (1940) The Quarrymen lead guitarist/co-founder (died 2005) age 64 – pancreatic cancer

Russ Ballard (1945) Argent lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Hold Your Head Up”] and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter [“Voices”]

Rik Kenton (1945) Roxy Music bassist

Bob Siebenberg (1949) Supertramp drummer [current]

Tony Bowers (1952) Simply Red bassist/co-founder

Bernard Edwards (1952) Chic bassist/songwriter/singer/co-founder (died 1996) age 43 – pneumonia

Larry Mullen Jr. (1961) U2 drummer/songwriter/co-founder [current]

Johnny Marr [born John Maher] (1963) The Smiths lead guitarist/songwriter/co-founder

Mikkey Dee [born Micael Delaoglou] (1963) Mötorhead and Scorpions drummer [current]

Darryl Worley (1964) country singer/guitarist

Annabella Lwin [born Myant Aye] (1966) Bow Wow Wow lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“I Want Candy”]

Ad-Rock [born Adam Horovitz] (1966) Beastie Boys rapper/songwriter/guitarist

Jon Wurster (1966) Superchunk drummer

Vanilla Ice [born Robbie Van Winkle] (1967) rapper/singer/multi-instrumentalist [“Ice Ice Baby”/”Play That Funky Music”]

Adam Schlesinger (1967) Fountains of Wayne bassist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/composer/co-founder [“Stacy’s Mom”] (died 2020) age 52 – COVID-19 complications

Malin “Linn” Berggren (1970) Ace of Base singer/co-founder [“The Sign”/”All That She Wants”/”Don’t Turn Around”]

Johnny Moeller (1970) Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist [current]

Rogers Stevens (1970) Blind Melon lead guitarist/co-founder [current] [“No Rain”]

Roger Lima [born Rogério Manganelli] (1973) Less Than Jake bassist/co-lead singer/co-founder [current]

Frank Iero (1981) My Chemical Romance rhythm guitarist

CHARTS

In 1964, “Baby Love” by The Supremes hits No. 1 – 4 weeks (second 12 No. 1 singles)

NEW RELEASES

(Singles)

1967, “Spooky,” The Classic IV

1975, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen

1984, “Like a Virgin,” “Madonna

1986, “Living on a Prayer,” Bon Jovi

1994, “Creep,” TLC

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 1965, lead singer Wayne Fontana announces he is leaving The Mindbenders

In 1967, The Stooges make their live concert debut at a Halloween Party in Detroit.

In 1991, Spinal Tap announces that they are reuniting.

NOTEWORTHY

In 1959, the Quarrymen decide to change their name to Johnny and the Moon Dogs. The band, which currently included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, would eventually change their name to The Beatles and change popular music forever.

In 1990, during a gig in Seattle, Washington, singer Billy Idol dumped 600 dead fish into the dressing room of another band on the bill, Faith No More. The band responded by walking onto the stage during Idol’s set completely naked.