Today in rock history 11th December

1946 – Tony Brown, who has played bass for stars like Bob Dylan and John Martyn, is born in Greensboro, N.C. 1957 – Jerry Lee Lewis marries his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown. 1958 – Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx is born in Seattle. 1964 – Justin Currie, leader of Scottish rockers Del Amitri, is born. 1966 – Beatles manager Brian Epstein tries to sign Little Richard after promoting two of the wild rocker’s London concerts. Richard declines the offer. 1967 – Jethro Tull are formed. 1967 – The Beatles partnership Apple Music signs its first act, Grapefruit. 1968 – The Rolling Stones begin taping their Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus TV special in England, as their album Beggar’s Banquet debuts in the British album charts at No. 3. Guests include the Who, Eric Clapton, Jethro Tull and John Lennon appearing as the Dirty Mac Band. 1969 – The Magic Christian, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, receives its premiere at a Royal Command Performance in London. Outside the cinema, John Lennon and Yoko Ono parade with placards reading “Britain Murdered Hanratty,” referring to a man many believe was wrongly executed for murder in 1962. 1971 – Blood Sweat & Tears singer David Clayton Thomas appears in a spot on Canadian TV supporting the Save the Seals Campaign. 1972 – Genesis make their American live debut with a show at Massachusetts’ Brandeis University. 1976 – Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley was nearly electrocuted during a concert in Florida when he touched a short-circuited light. The guitarist was carried from the stage but returned 10 minutes later to finish the show. 1988 – Days after the death of the great Roy Orbison, Don Henley, Tom Petty, and Graham Nash perform a concert in his honour at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. 2002 – The hobbled Guns N’ Roses North American tour suffers a final blow as promoter Clear Channel Entertainment confirms it is canceling the remaining dates with which it is affiliated. A handful of shows being worked by other promoters are also axed. 2002 – David Lee Roth sues Van Halen, alleging his old band didn’t include him in a 1996 renegotiation of their contract with Warner Bros. 2003 – MTV gives viewers a glimpse into the holiday season at the home of Ozzy Osbourne and his family with “The Osbourne Family Christmas Special.” 2003 – The RIAA certifies AC/DC’s Back In Black as the world’s second-best-selling album of all time, behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller. 2010 – Pearl Jam will be celebrating their twentieth anniversary with a new live album titled Live on Ten Legs.