valentine's day EAR FARM Rock History Lesson: Leap Day AND March 1st

valentine's day Following up on our first Rock History Lesson a few months back, we thought it would be interesting to crack open the cadaver of yet another day of the calendar year and see what rock goodies lie within. In doing so, we've decided to up the ante as well, featuring TWO days in music history this time around. Why two? For starters, Leap Day is at a distinct disadvantage to the other 365 days; there's like 25% as much of a chance that anything rocking happened on it. I think it deserves our sympathies. Also, you just know a day is worth noting when McDonalds gives away free breakfast burritos to commemorate it.

Okay, so why March 1st too? Well, there are broader considerations to keep in mind here, namely the fact that tomorrow is my birthday and I like to know what kind of company I'm keeping in the grand scheme of things. So, (once again) without further ado, here's a very loose guide to today, Leap Day, and tomorrow, March 1st, in ROCK:

February 29th - The Rarest Day in Rock?

1792 - Composer Gioacchino Antonio Rossini was born. Little did he know that 215 years later, his grave would be the setting for a Chuck Klosterman and Frosty the Snowman-themed 8+.

1972 - John Lennon's US immigration visa expires, starting a three-and-a-half year battle to remain in the country. A battle waged mostly naked. And in bed.

1972 - Saul Williams is born

1976 - Ja Rule is born. His physical stature and views on homosexuality would make sense if Leap Days actually made people mature 4 times as slowly.

1980 - Police discover a file containing Buddy Holly's glasses and a watch owned by The Big Bopper that were found in the wreckage of their plane crash in 1959.

That's it? Kind of a letdown, Leap Day. Is it possible free McSkillet Burritos are the most notable thing going on here? No need to dwell further, on to the next day in history, which just happens to be....

March 1st - I'm Completely Biased

1927 - Harry Belafonte is born.

1944 - Roger Daltrey is born. Despite his many assurances, he's been fooled many times since.

1958 - Buddy Holly begins his only British tour. To ensure stereotypes of bad dental health in the UK would persevere stateside, his front teeth would get knocked out before a British television appearance. Ouch.

1964 - The Beatles start working on A Hard Day's Night, their very first film, while also holding the top two spots on Billboard's Hot 100 with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You".

1968 - Johnny Cash and June Carter get married. Their honeymoon plans involve a stop in Reno with vague talk of renting firearms and befriending a drifter.

1969 - Jim Morrison is arrested for exposing himself during a Doors concert in Miami.

1982 - Pete Townshend, Stevie Nicks, Mick Jagger, Adam Ant, Pat Benatar, the Police and David Bowie kick off the “I Want My MTV” advertising campaign. A two-year old Mike asks for cable for his birthday and nudges closer to the TV set.

1991 - Oliver Stone's The Doors premieres. Jeez, Frank Whaley just represents in these EF History Lessons, doesn't he?

1994 - Aretha Franklin receives a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award. Beyonce watches on with a cold stare, carefully enunciating the words "Queen of Soul" and "Tina Turner" together in the same sentence.

Ta da, that's just about all folks. To those history buffs and steel-trap minded brethren, anything else? Happy Leap Day....

valentine's day EAR FARM Rock History Lesson: 8 January

valentine's day The insatiable quest to forecast and anoint the next next big thing lying just ahead of ahead of the curve has at times yielded....how can I put it....questionable results? Life is not always a race, and sometimes it's best to have some perspective with your hyperbole. You'll not only find that that nifty beat from the new Wu-Tang song was pretty darn good in its original state, but also that your history and social studies teachers were going blue in the face extolling history's riches for good reason.

For example, take a cursory stroll through Google and Wikipedia searches and faster than you can say "Bon Iver" you'll find a treasure trove of cool shit that's gone down on this very day throughout rock and roll's sordid history. So, without further ado, here's a very loose guide to today, January 8th, in ROCK:

1935 - Elvis Aaron Presley is born. No pelvis would ever again be immune.

1946 - Robby Krieger is born. Unfortunately, I will always picture Frank Whaley when hearing his name, thanks Oliver Stone.

1947 - David Bowie is born. Are you recognizing yet how rocking January 8th is?

1957 - Bill Hailey and His Comets start the first ever rock and roll tour of Australia, playing two sold-out shows in Sydney. So you can blame them for Silverchair.

1966 - The Beatles' Rubber Soul starts its six-week reign atop the US album charts.

1967 - R. Kelly is born, a solid 18 years before the 1997 object of his......affection

1974 - Kiss is signed to Casablanca Records.

1975 - Tickets for Led Zeppelin's three-night residency at Madison Square Garden - 60,000 tickets in all - sell out in a record four hours.

1979 - Rush is named Canada's official "Ambassadors of Music" by the Canadian government. A young Matt Tyson practices pronouncing "out" as "oot" in front of the mirror.

1991 - Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark dies at the age of 31 after accidentally mixing prescription drugs and alcohol.

2000 - U.K. police foil plot to kidnap Posh Spice whilst hubbie Beckham was off playing soccer.

2001 - Karen Jane McNeil is arrested for stalking Axl Rose outside his house. She claims he was communicating with her telepathically. I think I'm siding with her.

Any novice historians in the house? Errors or omissions? Love of Frank Whaley? Speak!