Today in rock history 22nd February

1963 – The Beatles form their Northern Music Publishing Company. Their single “Please Please Me” spends its first week at No. 1 on the U.K. charts. 1967 – The Beatles record the piano chord used on “A Day in the Life.” David Crosby pops by Abbey Road studios for a visit. 1968 – Genesis release their debut single, “The Silent Sun.” 1969 – Oz magazine reviews Led Zeppelin’s first album. Writer Felix Dennis says the debut “defies immediate classification or description, simply it’s so obviously a turning point in rock music that only time proves capable of shifting it into eventual perspective.” 1969 – The Beatles begin their sessions for Abbey Road with a take of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” 1977 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “New Kid in Town,” Eagles. The single, the first release from the album “Hotel California,” 1978 – The Police appear as blondes in an advertisement for Wrigley’s chewing gum and decide to keep the look. 1979 – Rolling Stone reports that Journey have entered into a sponsorship deal with Budweiser in one of the first instances of what will soon become standard music industry practice. 1993 – Iron Maiden’s air-raid siren, Bruce Dickinson, announces that he’s leaving the group in order to pursue a solo career. He returns to the fold in 1999. 1999 – Jimmy Chamberlin announces that he has rejoined the Smashing Pumpkins, 3 1/2 years after being ousted from the group for his involvement in the fatal drug overdose of keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin. 2005 – Blink-182 announce they’re going on “indefinite hiatus” (i.e., they’re not speaking to each other until someone offers them enough money to do so). 2005 – Korn announce that guitarist and founding member Brian “Head” Welch has rededicated his life to Christianity and left the band. 2011 – Gregg Rolie of Santana/Journey fame releases solo EP.