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1961, The Everly Brothers started active service for the 8th Battalion Marine Corps Reserves, working as artillerymen.

1969, John Lennon returned his MBE to The Queen on the grounds of the UK’s involvement in the Nigeria Biafra war, America in Vietnam, and against his latest single ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts.

1974, UK singer, songwriter Nick Drake died in his sleep aged 26 of an overdose of tryptasol an anti-depressant drug. Drake signed to Island Records when he was twenty years old, recorded the classic 1972 album Pink Moon. In 2000, Volkswagen featured the title track from Pink Moon in a television advertisement, and within a month Drake had sold more records than he had in the previous thirty years.

1976, The Band made their final performance; ‘The Last Waltz’ the show also featured Joni Mitchell, Dr John, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton and others. Martin Scorsese filmed the event.

1984, the cream of the British pop world gathered at S.A.R.M. Studios, London to record the historic ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ The single, which was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, featured Paul Young, Bono, Boy George, Sting and George Michael. It went on to sell over three million copies in the UK, becoming the bestselling record ever, and raised over £8 million ($13.6 million) worldwide.

1995, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke blacked out halfway through a show in Munich, Germany, suffering from exhaustion.

2000, a burglar broke into Alice Cooper‘s home and made off with over $6000 worth of clothes, shoes and cameras belonging to the singers daughter. The good’s were all lifted from Cooper’s house in Paradise Valley, along with four of the star’s gold discs.

2003, Michael Jackson launched a website to defend himself following allegations of sexual abuse of a 12-year old boy. The singer posted a message saying the charges were based on ‘a big lie’ and he wanted to end ‘this horrible time’ by proving they were false in court.

2003, Glen Campbell was arrested in Phoenix Arizona with a blood alcohol level of .20 after his BMW struck a Toyota Camry. He was charged with ‘extreme’ drunk driving, hit and run, and assaulting a police officer. A police officer reported that while in custody, Campbell hummed his hit ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ repeatedly.

2003, Meat Loaf underwent heart surgery in a London hospital after being diagnosed with a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat. The 52-year-old singer had collapsed on November 17th as he performed at London’s Wembley Arena.

2007, Kevin Dubrow, the frontman with metal band Quiet Riot, was found dead in his Las Vegas home at the age of 52. Their 1983 release Metal Health was the first metal album to top the US charts. The band’s biggest hit was ‘Cum on Feel the Noize’, a cover of the Slade song which they are said to have grudgingly recorded in just one take.

2008, the legal dispute over a music contract between Michael Jackson and an Arab sheik, ended with an “amicable settlement.” Jackson had been due to fly in to the UK to give evidence at the High Court before an agreement in principle was reached. The King of Bahrain’s son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, was suing Jackson for £4.7m, claiming he reneged on a music contract.

Born on this day

1940, Percy Sledge, soul singer

1950, Jocelyn Brown, singer

1959, Steve Rothery, guitar, Marillion

1968, Tunde, singer, Lighthouse Family