🎸CLASSIC ROCK: McCartney Gets Emotional | Keith Richards Special Day | The Guess Who's Name Origin

What's Happenin' Classic Rock Fans?,

Today's Classic Rock Newsletter has Keith Richard’s special day, Paul McCartney getting emotional, The Guess Who's name origin revealed, Ritchie Blackmore's nerve-wracking night in front of legends, and a new Brenda Lee documentary taking us back to rock's wild early days. Buckle up for a journey through time with some of our favorite rock icons!

🤔 Rock Trivia Question: 

Which legendary drummer directed a documentary about glam rock pioneers T. Rex, featuring footage of an impromptu jam session with Elton John?

📰 Classic Rock News

💿 Sir Paul McCartney is tugging at our heartstrings, folks! The Beatles legend is back on UK soil for his first gigs since 2022, and he's got a special treat for us. Performing the final Beatles track, "Now And Then," is hitting him right in the feels. It's a "John song," he says, making it feel like he's singing with his old mate again.
Discover why this Beatles swan song is so emotional for Paul

💿 Ever wonder how The Guess Who got their quirky name? Well, buckle up, because Randy Bachman is taking us on a trip down memory lane! This isn't just any old band name story - it's a tale of mistaken identity, happy accidents, and rock 'n' roll destiny.
Watch Randy Bachman reveal The Guess Who's name origin

💿 Picture this: It's the swinging '60s, and Ritchie Blackmore is shredding on stage with Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison in the audience. Talk about pressure! Our future Deep Purple axeman was still finding his groove, but man, what a night to cut your teeth. This was before Blackmore became the guitar god we know and love, just soaking up inspiration from the best in the biz.
Relive the night that shaped Ritchie Blackmore's legendary career

💿 Get ready to rock around the clock with Brenda Lee! This pint-sized powerhouse is taking us back to the wild early days of rock 'n' roll in a new PBS documentary. From sharing stages with Elvis to hanging with The Beatles, Brenda's seen it all. She's dishing out the good stuff about an era when music was raw, real, and all about the love of the game.
Experience the birth of rock 'n' roll through Brenda Lee's eyes

📅 On This Day in Rock History

1961: The Tokens reached #1 on the Billboard charts with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Originally written by Solomon Linda as "Mbube" in 1939, the English version became a massive hit. The song's success continued decades later, earning an estimated $15 million for its use in Disney's The Lion King.
Experience the timeless magic of The Tokens' iconic hit

1962: The Beatles began their final run of concerts at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany. This 12-night stint would later result in the release of a live album in 1977. Despite poor sound quality, it provides a rare glimpse into the band's early club performances before they achieved global fame.
Travel back in time to The Beatles' raw Hamburg days

1964: Funeral services for Sam Cooke were held in Chicago. The event drew such massive crowds that fans broke glass doors at the A.R. Leak Funeral Home. The chaos was so intense that fellow soul legend James Brown had to leave when fans surrounded his limo.
Watch the Sam Cooke Story Documentary

1971: T. Rex scored their first UK No.1 album with "Electric Warrior". This landmark release, featuring hits like "Get It On" and "Jeepster", became the year's biggest seller in the UK and essentially kicked off the glam rock craze in Britain.
Hear this podcast on T. Rex's glam rock masterpiece

1982: Hall and Oates began a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Maneater". This achievement made them the most successful duo in rock history, surpassing The Everly Brothers. The song also reached No.6 in the UK, solidifying their international appeal.
Groove to Hall and Oates' irresistible hit

1983: Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones married model Patti Hansen in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Mick Jagger served as best man at the ceremony. This union marked a new chapter in Richards' life, leading to two daughters and a lasting partnership.
See what Keith Richards & Patti did for their 39th Anniversary

1991: Gilbert O'Sullivan won a landmark court case against rapper Biz Markie for unauthorized sampling of his 1972 hit "Alone Again (Naturally)". This decision revolutionized the music industry, particularly hip-hop, by requiring pre-approval for all music sampling from copyright owners.
Explore the song at the center of a music industry shake-up

2003: Michael Jackson was formally charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent. This case would dominate headlines for months, culminating in a high-profile trial where Jackson was ultimately acquitted on all counts in June 2005.
Revisit the controversial case in this Documentary

2004: A Gibson SG guitar used by both George Harrison and John Lennon during the recording of The Beatles' "Revolver" and "White Album" sold for £294,000 ($570,000) at a New York auction. This instrument's value reflects its significance in rock history.
See the legendary guitar that shaped Beatles history

2023: Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones celebrated his 80th birthday, defying expectations and continuing to rock. Once voted "most likely to die" by music magazines, Richards' longevity and continued musical output with the Stones' recent album "Hackney Diamonds" showcase his enduring influence on rock 'n' roll.
Join the celebration of Keith Richards' incredible journey

🎂 Rock Star Birthdays

Keith Richards, is turning 81 today, is best known as the guitarist and co-founder of The Rolling Stones. He's renowned for iconic riffs in songs like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". He claims to have written "Satisfaction" while sleeping, recording the ideas on a tape recorder next to his bed.
Experience the Satisfaction of Keith's legendary guitar work

Alex Ligertwood, 78, is best known as the lead vocalist of Santana, famous for songs like "Winning", "Hold On", and "All I Ever Wanted". Ligertwood provided his unique sound on 12 albums with Santana, earning Gold Records for four of those efforts.
Witness Alex's powerful vocals in action

Elliot Easton, 71, is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the band The Cars, known for hits like "Just What I Needed" and "Shake It Up". Easton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of The Cars.
Watch The Cars on Midnight Special

Sam Andrew, who would have been 83 in 2023, was a founding member and guitarist of Big Brother and the Holding Company, known for helping launch Janis Joplin's career. Andrew had his own band at age 17 while living in Okinawa and hosted a weekly TV show there.
Relive the magic of Sam's collaboration with Janis

🕊️ Remembering a Legend:

Jimmy Nolen, guitarist for James Brown, died at age 49 in 1983. Known as the inventor of the "chicken scratch" guitar style, Nolen's innovative playing was crucial to the development of funk music. His rhythmic, percussive approach influenced countless guitarists and shaped the sound of funk and soul.
Experience the funky genius of Jimmy Nolen's guitar work

Kirsty MacColl, British singer-songwriter, tragically died at age 41 in 2000. Best known for her duet with The Pogues on "Fairytale of New York," MacColl had a successful solo career and was admired for her witty lyrics. She died heroically while saving her son from an oncoming powerboat in Mexico, pushing him out of the way but unable to save herself.
Relive the magic of Kirsty MacColl's unforgettable Christmas duet

🤔 Trivia Answer: 

Ringo Starr directed the T. Rex documentary "Born to Boogie" in 1972. The film was credited as “An Apple Film”, which meant something different in 1972!
Watch Ringo's T Rex Documentary

Have a Rockin' Day!
Hippy Pete