The Beatles were never known for having wild concerts. (Other than their fans, that is.) Today in 1960, the Beatles played their first of 48 appearances at the Indra Club in Hamburg, West Germany. The Indra Club’s owner asked the Beatles to put on a “mach shau.” The Beatles responded by reportedly screaming, shouting, leaping around the stage, and playing lying on the floor of the club. John Lennon reportedly made a stage appearance wearing only his underwear, and also wore a toilet seat around his neck on stage. As they say, Sei vorsichtig mit deinen Wünschen.

Four years later, the council of Glasgow, Scotland, required that men who had Beatles haircuts would have to wear swimming caps in city pools, because men’s hair was clogging the pool filters.

Today in 1968, the Doors had their only number one album, “Waiting for the Sun”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai5RzZ6D0bg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_-HqcNum7M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZSP4yo8Fvw

Today in 1974, this 1½-hit wonder had the number one song in Britain:

(What do I mean by “1½-hit wonder?” The Three Degrees sang at the end of MFSB’s instrumental hit “The Sound of Philadelphia,” another great late Motown song.)

Birthdays today start with John Seiter of Spanky and Our Gang:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OsfzU_XRas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUi-2QC3c2Q

Gary Talley played guitar for the Box Tops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQaUs5J2wdI%5D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzJQ4288J7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqkCotxAueM

Boston drummer Sib Hashian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz5PjwUX8fA

Kevin Rowlands sang for one-hit wonder Dexy’s Midnight Runners (hey, that rhymes):

Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Gos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9nqCM8Ito8

Drummer Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes:

Colin Moulding of XTC: