Today in Acoustic-Rock History

1968 – John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives leave the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh, India two weeks before their study is complete. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney have already left. Later, all four Beatles will renounce their association with the Maharishi.

1975 – Al Stewart hits #30 in the US with “Modern Times.”

1978 – Over 40 rock & roll performers petition President Jimmy Carter to end America’s commitment to nuclear power. Some of the artists include Jackson Browne, the Doobie Brothers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Carly Simon, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and others. They get together later on and perform at “No Nukes”, the anti-nuclear benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.

1982 – Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, fresh from the success of their New York Central Park concert the year before, reunite for a European tour. The U.S. leg doesn’t go through due to renewed tensions between the duo.