Today in rock history: On this date in 1974, former Beatle John Lennon made his final concert appearance. Lennon joined the top pop star of the day, Elton John, onstage at one of Elton’s record-breaking shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. As payment for a lost bet, it was decided that Lennon would join Elton for a few numbers at the arena. As the story goes, Elton bet Lennon that “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” a single from Lennon’s 1974 album Walls and Bridges would make it all the way to No. 1 on Billboard sales charts in America. Lennon was, at the time, the only Beatle who hadn’t scored a No. 1 solo hit. The song did make it to No. 1, and Lennon made good on the wager by joining Elton onstage where he performed the single, a version of the Beatles classic “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and a fiery version of “I Saw Her Standing There.” Sadly, this was the last time John Lennon performed live in front of an audience (he was shot dead in 1980).
Today in rock history: On this date in 1972, American singer/songwriter Carly Simon released her breakthrough third album, No Secrets. Containing "You're So Vain" — one of the best-known and most played hits on early '70s AM pop radio stations — the album became Carly’s highest-charting and most successful record and spent five consecutive weeks at the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s pop albums charts (“You’re So Vain” was also a chart topper that spent three weeks at the top spot). Making guest appearances on the album were Paul and Linda McCartney, Little Feat’s Lowell George, keyboardist Nicky Hopkins and Mick Jagger, who supplies backing vocals on the album’s biggest hit.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1980, leading British mod revivalist-rock and roll band The Jam released its fifth (and what many of its fans consider to be its finest) album, Sound Affects. Featuring a title and cover artwork that nods towards 1960s records containing a variety of sound effects, the record has been regarded as the favorite of Paul Weller, the group’s chief songwriter and vocalist. Hits in the band’s native England were plentiful, including “Start!” and “That’s Entertainment,” the latter of which is commonly regarded as the finest moment of The Jam's short, but integral existence. Rising as high as No. 2 on British album sales charts, Sound Affects is, for many, the quintessential Jam record and has been credited with influencing the Britpop movement that would arrive in Great Britain several years later.
Today in rock history: On this date in 2001, the “New York Steel” benefit concert took place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The show was hosted by heavy metal DJ Eddie Trunk and New York Mets all-star catcher Mike Piazza. The show was booked to raise funds for families of those lost in the 9/11 attacks that happened only a few months before the show. The concert raised more than $90,000 and featured acts like Overkill, Anthrax, former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and a reformed Twisted Sister which, at the time, hadn’t performed together in nearly 15 years at the time. Funds raised were donated to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.
This article appears in Nov 22-29, 2018.