Today in 1963, high school student Neil Young and his band, the Squires, recorded in a Winnipeg studio a surf instrumental:

Today in 1965, the Beatles asked for  …

The number one single — really — today in 1966:

Today in 1979, Iran’s new ruler, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, banned rock and roll, an event that inspired a British band:

Birthdays start with Cleveland Dunkin of the Penguins:

Dino Danelli played the drums for the Young Rascals:

Blair Thornton played guitar for Bachman–Turner Overdrive:

Ian Thomas was a one-hit wonder in this country and a bigger act in the Great White North:

Janis Siegel (who we once saw in a Lawrence University concert) sang for the Manhattan Transfer:

Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore:

Who is Saul Hudson? Slash of Guns N Roses:

Sam Waters of Color Me Badd: