Today in Acoustic-Rock History

1967 – The Beatles go see the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at University College. At a press conference, the Maharishi, with the Beatles seated next to him, gives strong and sincere answers to the press’ sarcastic and sometime silly questions. The Beatles announce they have given up drugs as Paul McCartney explains, “It was an experience we went through. We don’t need it anymore. We’re finding different ways to get there.”

1968 – Apple Corps releases its first products: five singles including the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” backed by “Revolution.” It becomes the band’s biggest hit.

1970 – Duane Allman starts recording as a member of Eric Clapton’s new band, Derek & the Dominoes. A double album is finished in less than 10 days. Clapton calls Allman “the catalyst” of the whole project.

1970 – Jimi Hendrix makes his last ever public performance at the Isle of Wright Pop Festival.

1977 – The Pretenders play their first public gig.

1979 – Phil Collins joins Peter Gabriel onstage at the Redding Festival for a version of the Genesis classic, “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.”

1989 – Don Henley’s “The End of the Innocence” peaks at #8 on the singles chart.

1989 – Ringo Starr wins a court order to prevent a record producer from releasing material Starr considers to be of inferior quality due to the impaired state he was in when it was recorded.

1990 – Randy Newman wins an Emmy for composing music for “Cop Rock.”