Today in rock history 10th January

1935 – Rockabilly performer Ronnie Hawkins, former employer of the Band, is born in Huntsville, Ark. 1945 – Roderick (Rod) Stewart is born in London. 1946 – Drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who has played with Journey and Jefferson Starship, is born in Liverpool. 1948 – Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is born in Passaic, N.J. 1953 – Pat Benatar (Pat Andrzejewski) is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. 1955 – Born on this day, Michael Schenker, German guitarist, formed The Scorpions, member of UFO. 1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fires” goes to No. 1. 1969 – George Harrison announces that he is leaving the Beatles. He later returns. 1971 – The trial over Paul McCartney’s move to dissolve the Beatles partnership begins today in London’s High Court. Ringo testifies, “Paul behaved like a spoilt child.” 1976 – Bluesman Howlin’ Wolf dies in a hospital near Chicago following brain surgery. 1978 – The litigation between Beatles, Apple, Allen Klein and ABKCO is declared settled in court. 1986 – Ted Nugent appears on TV’s “Miami Vice.” 1999 - The Moody Blue appeared on The Simpsons. 2000 – Longtime Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman announces his departure from the veteran heavy medal group. Friedman will be replaced by Al Pitrelli, who has previously played with Asia, Alice Cooper, and Savatage. 2000 – Melissa Etheridge ends speculation about the paternity of the children the rock star shares with partner Julie Cypher, when she announces that David Crosby is the children’s father. 2001 – Christians gather outside the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California to pray for the soul of Marilyn Manson, who is performing inside. They also distributed pizza, soda and cookies to gig-goers. 2003 – A haul of 500 Beatles tapes known as the ‘Get Back sessions’ stolen in the 1970’s were found after UK police cracked a major bootleg operation in London. 2004 – A Los Angeles court awards Courtney Love custody of her daughter Frances Bean Cobain. Frances was put in the care of Kurt Cobain’s mother following Love’s 2003 OD. 2005 – A woman was suing Gene Simmons from Kiss for slander, alleging a documentary made her out to be a “sex-addicted nymphomaniac”. Georgeann Walsh Ward, 53, of New York, said during a VH1 documentary her photo was flashed up as Simmons talked about his past sexual encounters. Ms Walsh Ward had dated Simmons for three years when he was a student. In the documentary, Simmons boasted of having sex with over 4,600 women. 2006 – The White Stripes postpone their Japanese tour after doctors tell Jack White not to speak or sing for at least 2 weeks. This is due to his Vocal chords being used too much from singing constantly. 2008 – Radiohead topped the US album charts with the physical release of ‘In Rainbows’, originally sold via the internet for a price chosen by fans.