Today in rock history 24th April

1945 - Doug Clifford-drummer for Credence Clearwater Revival is born 1947 - Glenn Cornick-bassist for Jethro Tull is born this day. 1954 - Jack Blades-bassist for Night Ranger and Damn Yankees is born this happy day. 1961 – Bob Dylan earns a $50 session fee playing harmonica on Harry Belafonte’s “Midnight Special.” 1963 – Born on this day, Billy Gould, Faith No More. 1965 – The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride” goes to No. 1 on the U.K. chart. Manager Brian Epstein writes to Melody Maker to point out that Paul McCartney performs the lead guitar on the record. 1967 – Born on this day, Shannon Larkin, drummer, Ugly Kid Joe. 1967 – Born on this day, Patty Schemel, Hole. 1968 – The Beatles new company Apple Records turned down the offer to sign new artist David Bowie. 1968 – Born on this day, Aaron Comess, drums, The Spin Doctors. 1969 – Paul McCartney publicly denies rumours that he is dead. 1970 – Grace Slick and Abbie Hoffman leave a White House party without having dosed young Tricia Nixon with LSD as planned. The Jefferson Airplane singer was invited to the bash by Tricia, and took along the outlaw Hoffman as her date. Hoffman was turned away at the gate. Slick went with him. 1971 – Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘4 Way Street.’ 1974 – David Bowie releases Diamond Dogs. 1975 – Badfinger’s Pete Ham commits suicide by hanging himself in his London garage. 1975 – While on tour in Florida, Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan quit the New York Dolls. 1976 – The British pop paper Sounds features a two-page spread on promising newcomers the Sex Pistols. 1976 – Led Zeppelin scored their sixth UK No.1 album with ‘Presence’, also No.1 in the US. 1976 – Paul and Linda McCartney spent the evening with John Lennon at his New York Dakota apartment and watched Saturday Night Live on TV. Producer of the show Lorne Michaels made an offer on air asking The Beatles to turn up and play three songs live. Lennon and McCartney thought about taking a cab to the studio, but decided they were too tired. This was the last time Lennon and McCartney were together. 1989 – Tom Petty releases his first solo album, Full Moon Fever. 1990 – While preparing Roger Waters’ ambitious production of The Wall at the Berlin Wall, workers discover an unexploded bomb from the World War II era. 1992 – In Switzerland, David Bowie marries his second wife, Iman. 1993 – Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young unite for the sixth edition of Farm Aid. This year it’s held in Ames, Iowa. 1998 – Douglas Springsteen, the mill hand and ex-prison guard who inspired his son Bruce’s songs “Adam Raised a Cain,” “Independence Day,” “My Hometown,” “Mansion on the Hill” and “My Father’s House” dies in Belmont, Calif. 2002 - A judge rules that Courtney Love will not have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation as part of her legal struggle with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic over control of Nirvana’s recordings. 2003 – The White Stripes perform their cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. 2007 – Aides to George Bush were told they couldn’t book a luxury five star hotel suite because Mick Jagger had already booked it during The Rolling Stones current world tour. 2013 – 3 Doors Down cancels tour due to bassist Robert Todd Harrell’s arrest.