In 1960, Decca Records in Britain destroyed 25,000 copies of the song “Tell Laura I Love Her” by Ray Peterson. The company said the song was “too tasteless and vulgar for the English sensibility.”
In 1970, singer Bessie Smith finally received a marker for her grave in Philadelphia, 33 years after her death. Janis Joplin cited Smith as one of her influences and bought the marker for the grave.
In 1975, singer Hank Williams Jr. suffered severe head injuries when he fell while mountain climbing in Montana. He returned to performing months later.
In 1982, singer Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship married Sara Kendrick in San Francisco.
In 1986, singer David Crosby was paroled from a Texas prison. He had been serving time for drug and weapons charges.
In 1992, Metallica singer James Hetfield was injured by a stage explosion at a concert in Montreal. At that same show, Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose lost his voice and cut short their set. Fans rioted when the concert ended early.
In 1996, singer Mel Torme (tor-MAY’) was hospitalized after a stroke that left his left side weakened and affected his speech.
In 1999, violence broke out for the second night in a row in the parking lot outside a Dave Matthews Band concert in Hartford, Connecticut. Police say people outside the show threw bottles and rocks.
In 2001, actor Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were divorced after eleven years of marriage.
In 2004, a bus driver for the Dave Matthews Band dumped human waste from the bus into the Chicago River and onto a tour boat carrying more than 100 passengers. The band later settled with the state of Illinois, and the driver plead guilty to reckless conduct and pollution charges.
