The Beatles - Timeline
...s the climax to the film A Hard Day’s Night. 28th March - Radio Caroline, Britain’s first pirate broadcasting station began transmitting from the Channel just outside British waters. 12th April – The Beatles filmed a scene for the film A Hard Day’s Night at London’s Marylebone Station. They were shown being chased by hundreds of screaming fans. 3rd June – Ringo collapsed with a 103-degree fever and subsequently missed the start of a World tour. 4th June – The Beatles, with drummer Jimmy Nicol standing in for Ringo, played Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens. 5th-6th June – The Beatles played three shows in Amsterdam. 10th June – The Beatles played two shows in Hong Kong. 12th June – The Beatles, still with Jimmy Nicol, arrived in Adelaide, Australia. Ringo joined the boys later that day. 16th June – Ringo returned to the stage joining the group for a second show in Melbourne. 18th-20th June – The Beatles played two shows in Sydney. 29th June – The Beatles played Brisbane. 6th July – The World premier of A Hard Day’s Night was held in London. The Beatles attended, along with Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden. 10th July – The Beatles attended the Liverpool premier of A Hard Day’s Night. 23rd July – The Beatles played Stockholm. 29th July - The Beatles played Stockholm for a second time. 2nd August – The film A Hard Day’s Night went on general release in England. 19th August - The Beatles played San Francisco. 20th August - The Beatles played Las Vegas. 21st August - The Beatles played Seattle. 22nd August - The Beatles played Vancouver. 23rd August - The Beatles played The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Capitol recorded the concert for a live album. The concert sold out so fast that even Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin could not get tickets. 21st September – The Beatles returned to England. 9th October – On John’s 24th Birthday, The Beatles began a short tour of Britain starting in Bradford. Early December - When Ringo had to have his tonsils removed, his Liverpool sweetheart Mary (Maureen) Cox came to London to nurse him. They had met back in the Cavern days when she had been a student hairdresser. When she discovered that she was pregnant, their marriage was quickly arranged. 4th December – The fourth Parlophone album, ‘Beatles for Sale’, was released. 15th December - The fourth Capitol album, ‘Beatles ’65’, was released. 1965 – 1st February - P J Proby, the US rock singer, was banned by ABC Theatres and the BBC after he had deliberately split his trousers during his act. It had happened accidentally while playing south London the previous week. The mainly female audience and the tabloids, who claimed Proby’s act was obscene, went wild. It was the beginning of the end for this flamboyant performer who years later ended up as a shepherd on the Yorkshire Dales. 8th February - Cigarette advertisements were to be banned from British television, it was announced by Health Minister Kenneth Robinson. 11th February - Ringo married, Maureen Cox. Their love endured the manifestations of Beatlemania, his move to London, the seemingly endless rounds of tours, and the fact that their romance had to be kept secret from the fans. 21st February – Malcolm X was shot dead in New York City. 22nd February – The Beatles left London to travel to the Bahamas to begin work on their second feature film. The working title was Eight Arms to Hold You. 12th March – The Beatles left The Bahamas to film in the Austrian Tyrol. 22nd March – The Beatles returned to London and begun recording songs for the films soundtrack. 4th April – Lennon-McCartney wrote the song Help! 12th May – Filming was completed on Eight Arms to Hold You. Post production began. June – The films working title was changed to Help! 12th June – Queen Elizabeth II honoured The Beatles with MBE’s at Buckingham Palace. Minutes before accepting their awards they had smoked marijuana in the toilets of the palace. 20th June – The Beatles began a European tour at the Palais des Sports in Paris. 3rd July – The European tour ended at the Bullring in Barcelona, Spain. 19th July – The single Help! was released. 29th July – The film Help! had its World premier in London. 6th August – The LP Help! was released by Parlophone. 13th August - The LP Help! was released by Capitol. ?? The Beatles played at Shea Stadium in New York, in front of a record 55,000 people. Nobody had played for so many people before. 21st August – The Beatles arrived at the airport in Minneapolis, met by 4000 fans. They later earned $2575 a minute for a brief concert. 22nd August – In the early hours of the morning, the Minneapolis Vice Squad burst in on Paul and a girl, who happened to be a fan club president; they had been informed she was not yet 16. That evening, The Beatles played a concert in Portland. 27th August – The Beatles met Elvis at his home in Bel Air. The meeting lasted 3 hours. They chatted and played music together. 13th September – Zak Starkey was born to Ringo & Maureen. Capitol released ‘Yesterday’ as a single in the United States. 9th October – John’s 25th Birthday. 12th October – At EMI’s St. John’s Wood Studio, The Beatles began recording the album Rubber Soul. 3rd September - Rubber Soul was released in Britain. 6th December - Rubber Soul was released in America. 24th December - In America Rubber Soul was certified as a gold record after selling over 250,000 copies. 1965 - George Harrison met and became a pupil of Ravi Shankar, a noted Indian sitar player and composer. George began to pursue Indian-based spiritual values and this eastern influence soon permeated The Beatles music during their final years together. 1966 – 28th February - The Cavern Club was forced into liquidation. 4th March – John Lennon, in an interview with Maureen Cleve of London’s Evening Standard, stated that the popularity of The Beatles had now exceeded that of Christianity. 8th March - 8.30pm - Ronnie Kray, notorious East End gangster, flanked by two Glaswegian ‘hard men’, walked into the Blind Beggar Pub in Whitechapel Road. Kray, brandishing a 9mm Mauser automatic, shot rival gangster, George Cornell, through the head. This crime was to lead to the eventual imprisonment of the Kray twins. 12th April - Jan Berry of the group Jan and Dean was severely injured when his Corvette crashed into a truck in Los Angeles, California. 1st June - George Harrison was impressed by Ravi Shankar's concert in London. 10th June – Friday - The Beatles song Paperback Writer is released in the U.K. The same day, they record Rain, the first to use reverse tapes. The Mamas & Papas won a gold record for Monday, Monday. 11th June – Saturday - The French & German media mistakenly report the death of The Who’s Roger Daltrey. Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones peaked at #1 in the US. Sloop John B by The Beach Boys hit #1 in UK. Janis Joplin played her very first gig in San Francisco. 12th June – Sunday – The Dave Clark Five set a record as they appeared for 12th time on The Ed Sullivan Show. 14th June – Tuesday - The author, Andy Beech, was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire. 15th June – In America, Capitol released the LP Yesterday and Today. The album covered featured a tasteless photograph of The Beatles in butcher smocks, against a grey background, covered with meat and various pieces of toy dolls to resemble cut up bodies. 16th June - The LP ‘Yesterday and Today’ was recalled because of the controversial cover. 17th June – Friday - Peter Green joined John Mayall's Bluebreakers. 23rd June – The Beatles left for Germany on the first leg of what would be their last tour. 24th June – – Friday – The Beatles played at Circus Krone, Munich. A Bombay to New York Air India flight crashed into Mont Blanc, Switzerland, killing 117. This was an auspicious day as it marked the day the period of relative peace following World War II exceeded that following World War I. 25th June – In the US, The Beatles' Paperback Writer single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks. 26th June – The Beatles played, for the last time, in their old haunt of Hamburg. 30th June-2nd July – The Beatles did three nights at The Budokan, martial arts stadium, in Tokyo, Japan. 4th July – The Beatles played a single concert in Manila, The Philippines. Their stay in this devoutly Catholic country was rocked by protests about John’s comments on Christianity in his interview on 4th March. He was adamant he had been quoted out of context. 23rd July - The Cavern Club in Liverpool reopens. 29th July - Bob Dylan was severely injured in a motorcycle accident near his home in Woodstock, New York. 30th July - England beat West Germany 4-2 for football's 8th World Cup in London. 31st July - Alabamans burn Beatle products due to John Lennon's anti-Jesus remark The same day, Charles Whitman wounds 46 & kills 5 at the University of Texas. 3rd August - Comedian Lenny Bruce died from a morphine overdose. 5th August – Revolver was released in the U.K. 8th August – Revolver was released in the U.S. 12th August – In Chicago, John made a public apology for his “bigger than Jesus” comment. 29th August - The Beatles played at Candelstick Park in San Fransisco. Who was to know it would be their last official gig to paying customers ever. On the way from the stadium, George said, “Well, that’s it. I’m not a Beatle anymore.” 9th September - John Lennon meets Yoko Ono at an avante-garde art exposition. 10th September - The Beatles' Revolver album goes No.1 and stays No.1 for 6 weeks. 12th September – Beatle copies The Monkees, premier on NBC. 9th October – John’s 26th Birthday. 21st October – 144, mostly children, die as a coal waste landslide engulfs a school in South Wales. 23rd December - Britains music TV show, Ready Steady Go, airs for the last time. 31st December – The Monkee's ‘I'm a Believer’ hits No.1 (U.S.??) & stays there for 7 weeks. 1967 – 3rd January - Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys is indicted for draft evasion. 13th January - The Rolling Stones appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. 14th January - 20,000 attend The Human Be-In, in San Francisco. 27th January – The Beatles sign a 9 year world-wide contract with EMI records. On the same day, Apollo 1 catches fire and kills astronauts Grissom, White & Chaffee. 28th January - The Rolling Stones release Let's Spend the Night Together. 31st January – The BBC first aired the single ‘Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever’. 2nd February - Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever was first aired in America. 5th February - The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour premiers on CBS (later ABC, NBC). 12th February - Keith Richards, Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithful were all busted for drugs. 25th March – The Who & Cream make their U.S. debut at Murray the K's Easter Show. 30th March – The Beatles, with Ringo on lead vocals, recorded (I Get By) With a Little Help From My Friends. That same day, the cover picture of the Sgt. Pepper's album is photographed. 31st March – In London, Jimi Hendrix burns his guitar for the first time. 4th April – In San Francisco, Paul attended a Jefferson Airplane rehearsal in their mansion on Fulton Street, next to Golden Gate Park. 19th April – The Beatles signed a contract to stay together for 10 years (they don't!) 1st May - Priscilla & Elvis Presley were married. 10th May - Keith Richards, Brian Jones & Mick Jagger were arrested on drug charges. 15th May - Paul McCartney meets his future wife Linda Eastman for the first time. 20th May – The BBC bans The Beatle's A Day in the Life because of drug references. 25th May - John Lennon took delivery of his psychedelically painted Rolls Royce. 1st June – The exceptional album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. The ‘Summer of Love’ had begun. 9th June - The Monkees appear at the Hollywood Bowl. 19th June - Paul McCartney admitted on TV that he had tried LSD. 23rd June - John Entwistle of the rock group The Who married Alison Wise. 25th June – 400,000,000 watch The Beatles Our World TV special. 28th June - George Harrison is fined for speeding. 29th June - Actress Jayne Mansfield and Sam Brody died when their car hit the back of a mosquito abatement truck that was spraying the road late at night. Mansfield, Brody, and three of her children were on the way from a performance in Biloxi to a talk show appearance in New Orleans. 29th June - Keith Richards is sentenced to 1 year in prison on a drugs charge. 3rd July – ITV’s News at Ten premieres on English TV. 7th July – The single All You Need Is Love is released in the U.K. 17th July – The single All You Need Is Love is released in the U.S. On the same day, The Monkees perform at Forest Hills New York, Jimi Hendrix is the opening act. 22nd July - Jimi Hendrix quit as opening act on The Monkees' tour. 24th July – The Beatles sign a petition in The Times to legalize marijuana. 8th August – George was in San Francisco, walking in Golden Gate Park with his acoustic guitar, when he was recognised by some fans. He gave them an impromptu performance. 19th August - Jason Starkey, son of Ringo & Maureen, was born. 25th August – The Beatles went to stay in Bangor, Wales, for a lecture by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. 26th August – In his London home, Brian Epstein took an overdose of Carbitol, a drug to aid sleep. 27th August – Brian was found dead. 29th August – The funeral of Brian Epstein was held. 11th-13th September – The ‘bus’ footage for the film Magical Mystery Tour was shot in Cornwall. 25th September – The Beatles began recording The Fool on the Hill at Abbey Road. 28th September – Frank Zappa’s daughter, Moon Unit Zappa, was born. 2nd October - Members of The Grateful Dead were arrested by narcotic agents. 7th October – The Beatles turn down $1 million offer for a New York concert by Sid Berstein. 9th October – Che Guevara was executed in Bolivia. It was John’s 27th Birthday. 11th October – The Yoko Plus Me art exhibit opens in London (the ‘Me’ is John Lennon). 17th October – A memorial service for Brian Epstein was held at the New London Synagogue. 17th November - Beatles Ltd. & Apple Music Ltd. swap names. 22nd November - The BBC unofficially bans I am the Walrus by The Beatles. 5th December – The Beatles clothing store Apple on 94 Baker Street, London, opens. 8th December – The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour album is released in U.K. 10th December - Rock 'n roll singer Otis Redding (26) and four members of his Bar-Kays band were killed when their Beechcraft H18 plane crashed in icy Lake Monoma near Madison, Wisconsin, on a foggy night. Redding is best known for his hit, ‘Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay’, which was released after his death. Redding had recorded the song just three days earlier. 11th December - The Beatles' Apple Music signs its first group, Grapefruit. 25th December - Paul and Jane Asher announced their engagement. 26th December – BBC TV premiered the 54 minute long film Magical Mystery Tour, not in colour but black & white. It was critically panned. 1968 - Yoko Ono divorced Tony Cox. 1968 – Heather Mills was born, the first child of John and Beatrice Mills. 4th January - Leo Fender sells Fender Guitars for $13 million. 12th January – The Beatles Film Production Ltd. changes its name to Apple Film Production Ltd. 1st February - Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley is born. 16th February – John & Cynthia Lennon, George and his wife Pattie, with her sister Jenny Boyd, left London and flew to be with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at his retreat in Rishikesh, India. 19th February – Ringo and his wife Maureen, went with Paul and his fiancée Jane Asher to join the others in India. They all had arranged to stay for two months of intensive meditation. However, they soon became disillusioned. Ringo and Maureen left after two weeks. They described the experience as being, “like summer camp with over spiced food.” 29th February – The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band wins a Grammy. 4th March - Patsy Kensit is born. 13th March – The Beatles release Lady Madonna in the U.K. 26th March – Paul and Jane Asher left the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and India. John & George, and their respective entourage, left at the end of April. 2nd April – The Beatles form Python Music Ltd. 4th April – Sniper James Earl Ray, in Memphis, Tennessee killed Black Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. 11th May – Paul & John flew to New York with Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor to promote Apple Corps in America. 15th May - Paul McCartney & John Lennon appear on The Johnny Carson Show to promote Apple records; Joe Garagiola is the substitute host. 15th or 17th May?? – George & Ringo, with their wives, attended the premier of Wonderwall, at the Cannes Fim Festival. 21st May - Paul McCartney & Jane Asher attended an Andy Williams concert. 23rd May – The Beatles opened their 2nd Apple Boutique at 161 New Kings Road, London. 24th May - Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithfull were arrested for drug possession. 5th June – Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot, alledgedly, by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan in Los Angeles. He died the next day. 15th June - John Lennon & Yoko Ono plant an acorn at Coventry Cathedral. 1st July - John Lennon's first full art exhibition entitled You Are Here, opens. 5th July - John Lennon sold his psychedelic painted Rolls-Royce. 7th July - The Yardbirds disband. 17th July – All The Beatles, except Ringo, attended the premier of the animated film Yellow Submarine. 30th July – Paul announced the closure of the Apple Boutique on Baker Street in London. 15th August – Paul recorded ‘Rocky Racoon’ using only George Martin on piano for accompaniment. 22nd August – Cynthia Lennon filed for a divorce from John. 23rd August - Ringo temporarily quits The Beatles over a disagreement. 31st August - Private Eye magazine reports that a John Lennon & Yoko Ono album will have a picture of them nude on the cover. 9th October – John’s 28th Birthday. 10th October - George Harrison forms Singsong Ltd. 18th October - John Lennon & Yoko One were fined for marijuana possession. 24th October - Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithful busted for pot, released on bail. 25th October - Yoko Ono announces she is having John Lennon's baby. 31st October - Linda Eastman moves to U.K. permanently. 8th November – Cynthia Lennon was granted her divorce. She was alone in court; John was at the bedside of Yoko Ono, who was having major problems in her pregnancy with his baby. 11th November - John Lennon & Yoko Ono appear nude on cover of 2 Virgins" album. 12th or 21st ?? November – Yoko Ono miscarried their baby in Queen Charlotte’s Hospital. 22nd November – In the U.K., The Beatles released their album simply called The Beatles. It will always be known as The White Album. 25th November - The White Album was released in America. 28th November - John Lennon is fined for unauthorized drug possession. 29th November - John & Yoko release their 1st album Two Virgins in UK 1969 - The Beatles made Let It Be. 1969 – 1st January - Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond series, dies at 80. 3rd January - John Lennon's "2 Virgins" album declared pornographic in New Jersey. 17th January – The Beatles release ‘Yellow Submarine’ album in UK. 22nd January - Billy Preston becomes ‘the 5th Beatle’. The same day, Judy Garland, singer/actress (Wizard of Oz), dies at 48 of an overdose. 30th January – The Beatles performed publicly together for the final time on the roof of Apple Corps. 7th February - George Harrison has his tonsils removed 17th February - Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash record an album, which is never released. 25th February – The Beatles begin recording for the ‘Abbey Road’ album. 1st March - Jim Morrison arrested for exposing himself at Dinner Key Auditorium. 2nd March - John & Yoko gave an avant-garde musical performance at Lady Mitchell Hall in Cambridge. 11th March – Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman announced they would be married the very next day. Paul had to convince a jeweller to open his shop after hours so he could purchase a ring. 12th March - Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman were married at Marylebone Register Office. Paul’s brother Mike was the best man. 120 joints were found at George & Patti Harrison's home. 20th March – John Lennon married Yoko Ono on Gibraltar during a half-day visit. They later flew to Amsterdam. 25th March - John & Yoko stage their first bed-in for peace in Amsterdam. “Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton, talking in our bed for a week. The newspapers said, say what're you doing in bed, I said we're only trying to get us some peace.” ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ End of March - Dressed entirely in white, John & Yoko, premiered their experimental film, ‘Rape’, in Vienna, Austria. “Made a lightning trip to Vienna, eating choc'late cake in a bag. The newspapers said, she's' gone to his head, they look just like two Gurus in drag. Christ! You know it ain't easy, you know how hard it can be. The way things are going, they're going to crucify me.” ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ 31st March - George Harrison & Patti Boyd are fined for illegal drugs. 22nd April - The Beatles recorded the song ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’. In the lyrics, John had chronicled his whirlwind last few weeks with Yoko. It was released five weeks later with George Harrison's ‘Old Brown Shoe’ on the flip side. ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ was the last song that the four Beatles would record specifically for release as a single. On the same day, John changed his middle name from Winston to Ono on the roof of the Apple building. 9th May - John & Yoko released their second documentary album, a sequel to ‘Two Virgins’, which was entitled ‘Unfinished Music 2: Life With the Lions’. Side two had been recorded in Queen Charlotte Hospital in November 1968 immediately prior to Yoko's miscarriage, while side one had been recorded at an avant garde musical performance they had given at Lady Mitchell Hall in Cambridge on 2nd March 1969. The album was released on Apple's “spoken word speciality” label, ‘Zapple,’ with the serial number #01. A second album on Apple's short-lived ‘Zapple’ subsidiary, released on the same dates as ‘Life With the Lions’, was George Harrison's ‘Electronic Sound’, also recorded between November and March. Like the John & Yoko album, it carried a ‘Zapple’ serial #02 in the United Kingdom and a Capitol serial number in the United States. 24th May - John & Yoko formed Bag Productions to publish records. The reference to the ‘bag’ alluded to their unusual practice in Vienna of conducting press conferences from inside a large bag. 26th May - ‘Unfinished Music 2: Life With the Lions’ was released in the United States. In the States the album was also identified as a ‘Zapple’ album, but it carried a Capitol records serial number. Although Capitol had refused to distribute John & Yoko’s earlier album due to its risqué cover photo, apparently even the presence of one track on the album, entitled ‘Two Minutes of Silence’ (which was exactly that), failed to put them off the chance of a Beatles-related product. John & Yoko's plan to take their own ‘magical mystery tour’ to the United States was derailed when John was denied an American visa because of a minor drug arrest in England. As an alternative, they flew to Quebec, Canada, taking with them Yoko's 6 year-old daughter, Kyoko Cox. They staged a second 10 day ‘Bed-In’ in room 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, which coincided with the release of the above album in the United States. It was also during the Montreal ‘Bed-In’ that ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ was released. 1st June - Still under the sheets in the midst of their ‘Bed-In’ in Canada, John & Yoko recorded - along with a chorus of onlookers - their first single, ‘Give Peace a Chance’, which was written by John, although credited to Lennon-McCartney for legal reasons. Released worldwide a month later, the single was credited as having been recorded by The Plastic Ono Band, the name John would assign to designate the many bands that he would perform or record with in the upcoming years. This name was used regardless of the specific personnel in the band, as John, and occasionally Yoko, were its only permanent members. 2nd July – Brian Jones, of The Rolling Stones, was found dead in his swimming pool. 20th July – Paul’s long-time girlfriend and fiancée, actress Jane Asher, appeared on television and revealed they had split up. The same day, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. 26th July - Mick Jagger celebrated his 26th birthday with the release of his group's album, ‘Beggar’s Banquet’. The album would feature the first time Jagger’s guitar playing was used on any of the Stone’s records. 27th July – Lennon-McCartney put the finishing touches to Hey Jude. 28th July – The Beatles did a photo shoot, not unusual for them, but one photograph would later become eerie in respect that John laid down as if dead in the street while Paul, George and Ringo crouched over his body. The photograph was taken unofficially by Tom Murray, an assistant to the official photographer Don McCullin. 29th July – The Beatles recorded Hey Jude as a single. 15th August - The legendary Woodstock Music and Arts Fair opened on a dairy farm in upstate New York. Performers included Janis Joplin, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez and Jefferson Airplane, playing to 400,000 people over three days. In that time, two babies were born and three people died. September - Ringo was hospitalised again because of intestinal complaints. 12th September – John received a phone call from John Brower and Ken Walker, producers of the Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival, a rock festival scheduled for the following day at the city's Varsity Stadium. John said he'd play if he was able to get a band together. It would be The Plastic Ono Band, not The Beatles. Through George Harrison, John was able to contact Eric Clapton. Clapton had previously worked with The Beatles themselves on ‘The White Album’ sessions. With Clapton onboard, Lennon lined up the rest of the band, which included ‘Revolver’ cover artist from the Hamburg days, Klaus Voorman, on bass. 13th September – The Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival. The Plastic Ono Band arrived on stage just after Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry had finished their sets. 9th October – John’s 29th Birthday. 1970 – Paul McCartney released his second solo LP, Ram. His second LP of the year, Wild Life, was not as successful, but was the first album by his newly created band called Wings. 13th March - Susan Wallace, an English schoolgirl, became the first 18-year-old eligible to vote. She cast her vote in a by-election at Bridgwater, Somerset. 9th April - Paul McCartney issued a writ in the High Court to dissolve The Beatles’ business partnership. 9th October – John’s 30th Birthday. 11th November - Lee Parkin Starkey was born to Ringo & Maureen. December - The Beatles officially split up. 1971 – 15th February - Britain went decimal. Out went old pennies and half crowns. April – Ringo released ‘It Don't Come Easy’/’Early 1971’, the first of string of hit singles. That year he also completed acting roles in two other films, ‘Blindman’, and Frank Zappa's ‘200 Motels’. 1st August - George Harrison staged a massive all star benefit concert in New York to raise money for Bangladesh. Artistically, The Concert for Bangladesh was a huge success, although neither Paul or John performed, Ringo did join George at the Madison Square Garden event. September - Ringo co-formed the design company, Ringo Or Robin Ltd. for which Ringo along with partner Robin Cruikshank designed art-deco style furniture. This venture was to last until 1976. 9th October – John’s 31st Birthday. 1972 - George Harrison released his second boxed triple LP, which was a recording of the benefit concert. The proceeds from this release were supposed to benefit its cause, but the US revenue insisted on tax revenues from the release, which caused a delay in the money reaching Bangladesh. 1972 – Ringo had yet another hit single, ‘Back off Boogaloo’. 1972 - Ringo stepped behind the camera to direct ‘Born to Boogie’, a film about the band T. Rex. He also began work on his much acclaimed role in ‘That'll Be The Day’. Dabbling further into the world of films, Ringo not only acted in but also produced ‘Son of Dracula’ co-starring Harry Nilsson. The movie premiered in Atlanta in 1974 and was soon forgotten. 1972 – 8th February - The Albert Hall management cancelled a Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention concert because of the ‘obscene lyrics’ of one of their songs. Fans demonstrated outside the hall. 17th February - The British parliament voted to join the European Common Market. 9th October – John’s 32nd Birthday. 1972 - Wings released 3 singles, two banned by the BBC. The first is Give Ireland Back to the Irish which was banned because of its political content. The second was Mary had a Little Lamb which was not banned because no one would take it seriously. The third, entitled Hi Hi/C Moon was banned for being sexually suggestive. 1973 - Ringo bought Tittenhurst Park from John Lennon and moved his family into the twenty-six room mansion. The recording studio that John had installed was duly named Startling Studio and opened for hire. Ringo also started Wobble Music Ltd., a music publishing company. He also contributed some drum work to George's ‘Living in the Material World’ which was released that year. With George Harrison and John Lennon, he filed suit against manager Alan Klein. 1973 - Wings released 3 albums, of which ‘My Love’ and ‘Red Rose Speedway’ both reached No.1. 1973 – 8th March - Paul was charged with growing pot on his farm in Scotland. June - Paul's theme to the James Bond movie ‘Live and Let Die’ was in the top ten. Two members' left wings and the remaining three recorded ‘Band on the Run’ in Nigeria. It exceeded 6 million sales. 14th July - Byrds guitarist Clarence White (29) was killed by a drunk driver who hit him while he was loading music equipment into a van. He was co-inventor of the Parsons-White string bender for guitars. 6th August - Stevie Wonder was almost killed when he was hit by a log that smashed through the windshield of the car he was riding in. His cousin, who was driving the car on a back road in South Carolina, swerved around a logging truck to pass it but instead hit the truck and dislodged the log that hit Wonder. With a broken skull and severe brain contusion, Wonder was comatose for almost a day but eventually made a full recovery, except for losing his sense of smell. Autumn - Ringo's hit single ‘Photograph’ was released. 9th October – John’s 33rd Birthday. November – Ringo released his most critically acclaimed album, titled simply ‘Ringo’ All three of his former Beatle mates contributed tracks and performed on the album. John and George were present during the recording of ‘I Am the Greatest’ making ‘Ringo’ the closest thing to a Beatles reunion that the world would have for a long time. December – Ringo released the song ‘You're Sixteen’. 1974 – Early February – Ringo released the single ‘Oh My My’/’Step Lightly’. 10th February - Music producer Phil Spector was severely injured in a car accident. 10th March - A Japanese soldier was discovered on Lubang Island in the Philippines. He still believed the World War II was being fought, and was waiting to be relieved by his own forces. 13th March - The Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris was opened. 24th July - Overweight singer Cass Elliot, formally with the popular singing group The Mamas and The Papas, died at the age of 33, in London, England. Although popular rumours claimed that the talented woman had choked to death while eating a ham sandwich, the official autopsy stated that Elliot's death was due to a heart attack brought about by her overweight condition. She passed away in the same London flat where singer Keith Moon would die four years later. 9th October – John’s 34th Birthday. November – Ringo released the single ‘Only You’ and the album ‘Goodnight Vienna’. Like ‘Ringo’ it contained tracks contributed by all three of his Beatle buddies. Along with Jim Keltner and Keith Moon, Ringo played drums on Harry Nilsson's John Lennon produced ‘Pussy Cats’ made during the time of John's famous ‘lost weekend’. Ringo and Maureen’s marriage was on the rocks by this time and Ringo, always ready for a good time and a good drink, threw himself happily into the party hardy atmosphere. Ringo's short-lived Reckongrade Ltd. production company came into being during the year. Once again Harry Nilsson and Ringo teamed up for the film ‘Harry and Ringo's Night Out’, a project that never was released. Ringo also contributed drum tracks to George Harrison's ‘Dark Horse’ album which was released during the year. 1974 - The discovery of the earliest remains of a human was Lucy, a.k.a. Dinknesh - literally “you are lovely” She was a person of small stature, an intrepid walker who came down from the trees some three million years ago in the Afar region of eastern Ethiopia. An American - French team of physical anthropologists led by Donald C. Johanson found 40% of her skeleton in 1974, and named her Lucy after the Beatles song, ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’. Her Ethiopian descendants prefer to call her Dinknesh. 1975 - Wings recorded Venus and Mars. 1975 - April - Ringo started a record company called Ring O Records. None of it's artists made a dint large enough to matter in the music business. February – Ringo released ‘The No No Song’/ ‘Snookeroo’. June - Ringo released ‘Goodnight Vienna’/’Oo-Wee’. July - The divorce of Ringo & Maureen came as a shock to many. After his divorce, Ringo with girlfriend Nancy Andrews in tow, seemed more interested in his new jet setting lifestyle than in business, music, or acting despite his cameo appearance as the Pope in Ken Russell's film ‘Lisztomania’. 4th August - Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin and his wife Maureen were involved in a serious car accident on the Greek Island of Rhodes. His wife Maureen was hospitalised for several weeks and Robert suffered a smashed ankle and elbow, which took almost two years to fully heal. 9th October – 0200 - Sean Taro Ono Lennon was born to Yoko Ono & John Lennon on John’s 35th Birthday. He was 8 lbs. 10oz. “I feel higher than the Empire State Building!” - John on the birth of Sean. November - Ringo released ‘Blast From Your Past’, a greatest hits compilation album. By the end of 1975, Ringo had officially moved to Monte Carlo for tax purposes, although he seemed to split his time between there and Los Angeles. 1976 – Wings released Wings over America and Wings at the Speed of Sound. 1976 – 5th January - Mal Evans died tragically in Los Angeles in a misunderstanding with the police because he had a gun. 11th February - John Curry became the first Briton to win a gold medal for men’s figure skating. Spring - Ringo signed with Polydor in England and Atlantic in the United States. 27th July - John Lennon won formal permission to remain in the United States as a permanent resident and would be eligible for United States citizenship in five years. 5th September - Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd was seriously injured in a car accident in Jacksonville, Florida. September – Ringo released the album ‘Ringo's Rotogravure’ but failed to reach anywhere near the popularity of ‘Ringo’ or even ‘Goodnight Vienna’. The singles, ‘A Dose of Rock and Roll’/’Crying’ and ‘Hey Baby’/’Lady Gaye’ did not fare much better. ‘Rotogravure’ marked the beginning of a slump period in Ringo's career. 9th October – John’s 36th Birthday. 1976 - The courts ruled that George’s ‘My Sweet Lord’ plagiarised ‘He’s So Fine’, a 1963 hit by The Chiffons. 1977 – Elvis died. His death, a subject of some controversy, has been officially attributed to heart failure. It was more likely the result of his chronic overuse of prescription barbiturates. 1977 - Ringo provided the voice of ‘Scouse the Mouse’ for the animated special and album of the same name. ‘Ringo the Fourth’ and it's singles ‘Wings’/’Just A Dream’ and ‘Drowning In a Sea of Love’ were released in the late summer and fall of 1977. The album's dismal sales caused Atlantic to pass Ringo over to Portrait Records for which he managed to record the LP ‘Bad Boy’ and it's accompanying single, ‘Lipstick Traces’/’Old Time Relovin'’ in April of the following year. 1977 - 17th September - Marc Bolan, lead singer of T-Rex, was killed in a car accident in London. 9th October – John’s 37th Birthday. 1978 - In late 1978, when Ringo had grown tired of the business meetings and dwindling profits, the Ring O Records company was dissolved. 1978 - Ringo played a European movie director in Mae West's final film, ‘Sextette’. In addition, he participated in The Band's last concert and film, ‘The Last Waltz’, and also appeared briefly in The Who's ‘The Kids are All Right’. 1978 – 1st March - Charlie Chaplin’s coffin was stolen from a Swiss cemetery three months after burial. It was later found ten miles away on 17th May 1978. 31st March - Red Rum won The Grand National for the third consecutive year and was retired. 26th April - Ringo's television special, which was designed to help promote ‘Bad Boy’ and in which George Harrison made a brief appearance, was shown on NBC, in America. 29th June - Rocker Peter Frampton was seriously injured in a car accident in the Bahamas. July – Ringo’s single ‘Heart On My Sleeve’/’Who Needs a Heart’ was released. 7th September – Keith Moon died of an overdose of sleeping pills. The drummer for The Who, ‘Moon the Loon’, in his lifetime, destroyed more drum kits than most musicians have the opportunity to play on. An obvious inspiration for the muppet drummer Animal, Moon's wild and zany side kept him in constant trouble and The Who in constant financial turmoil. He was replaced in The Who's lineup by Kenny Jones. October – George Harrison’s son, Dhani, was born. 9th October – John’s 38th Birthday. 1979 - George Harrison founded Handmade Films, producing Monty Python's ‘Life of Brian’ and ‘Time Bandits’. 1979 – 1st February - Liverpool gravediggers called off their strike, which resulted in a long queue of coffins awaiting burial. The same day, Trevor Francis (24), became the first £1m footballer in England, signing for Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest. April - Ringo collapsed with severe intestinal problems stemming from his childhood bout of peritonitis. Near death, he was rushed to a Monte Carlo hospital where doctor's removed several feet of intestine. 19th May - Ringo had recovered enough to join Paul McCartney and George Harrison at an impromptu jam session to celebrate Eric Clapton's marriage to Pattie Boyd Harrison. 9th October – John’s 39th Birthday. 28th November - Ringo's streak of bad luck continued when a fire destroyed his Los Angeles home. He escaped unhurt, but much of his collection of Beatle memorabilia was destroyed. 1980 – Paul McCartney was arrested in Tokyo for possession of marijuana and spent some time in prison. His second solo album was released that same year entitled McCartney II. 1980 - February - Ringo began work on the movie ‘Caveman’. It was while filming in Mexico that he met and fell in love with co-star Barbara Bach, an American model and actress best known for her part in the James Bond movie ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. 19th May - In England, Ringo & Barbara Bach, survived a serious car crash. July - Paul and Ringo began work on Ringo's album ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’. 23rd July - Keith Godchaux (32) of The Grateful Dead died as the result of injuries sustained in a car crash two days earlier. 9th October – John’s 40th Birthday. Mid November - Ringo visited John who gave him four songs for use on the still unfinished ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ album. The two made plans to record together… but this would never happen. 8th December - John was murdered. 9th December Ringo & Barbara and flew to New York to comfort Yoko. 1981 - February - Ringo joined Paul in Montserrat to contribute some drum tracks that would appear on Paul's album ‘Tug of War’. 27thApril - George & Olivia Harrison and Paul & Linda McCartney were among the guests at the wedding of Ringo & Barbara. Once again the three reunited during a jam session at the party that followed. 1st October - Issue #353 of Rolling Stone Magazine had Yoko on the cover with photos of Yoko and Sean inside. Yoko told Barbara Graustark, “John's death made Sean and me very strong. Sean won't just be all right, but beautiful.” Yoko also told Graustark, (Sean, after John's death) “was being a tough guy to protect me. He would come into the room and say, ‘Don't cry, Mommy. Daddy’s not the only man around.’ And he'd start clowning. Later, my assistants would tell me that when he went back to his room he would start crying.” 7th December - Yoko granted an interview to Ray Coleman of The Daily Express and answered the question, “Does Sean know your music and is he musical?” “Yes, he knows most of John's songs, and he memorizes lines, and to mine too, interestingly. He's very artistic. I'm not trying to push him to do anything in that direction. He just does things on his own. We'll see the way it goes.” 1982 - January - ‘Private Property’/’Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses’, yet another single from the ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ album, debuted. In order to promote the three songs he had contributed to that album, Paul McCartney suggested that Ringo take the lead in an eleven minute movie featuring the songs. February - ‘The Cooler’, with Ringo, Barbara, Paul, and Linda was filmed and shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Also in February, Ringo, with Joe Walsh a as producer, began work on what would be his ninth solo album, ‘Old Wave’. 18th March - Singer Teddy Pendergrass severed his spinal cord in a car accident and became paralysed from the waist down. June - Sean appeared with Yoko at the BMI Awards Dinner at the Plaza Hotel. They received a special cumulative award pin recognizing John's 62 BMI awards over the past two decades. A picture of Yoko and Sean at the dinner appeared in the New York Daily News and Billboard. 23rd June - Ringo drummed on Paul's ‘Take It Away’ video. Later in the year Ringo and Barbara agreed to take part in Paul's, ‘Give My Regards To Broadstreet’. August - Sean appeared with Yoko onstage at an Elton John concert at Madison Square Garden. 14th September - Princess Grace of Monaco (52) died in a car crash. 13th December - Yoko and Sean appeared on the cover of People magazine. Yoko was wearing a fuzzy white sweater, her arms around Sean who was standing in front of her wearing a red jacket. The title was, “Yoko & Sean: Two years later, a poignant look at the lives of Lennon's widow and son” Inside, there was a photo of Yoko and Sean at their dining room table, a photo of Sean playing a video game on his bed, a large toy giraffe leaning against the wall. The interviewer was David Sheff, who had done the John and Yoko Playboy interview just two years before. Yoko described the situation after John's death, as Sean tried to comfort her. “Don't cry, Mommy, everything's going to be all right.” He told her his Dad was in heaven and he would point to a crack on the ceiling and say, “That's Daddy. He's watching over us.” Other times, though, Yoko said she could hear Sean crying in his room, “I want my Daddy, I want my Daddy here.” 1983 – 1st February - British Independent Television’s breakfast time station, TV-am began broadcasting. 8th February - The Derby winner Shergar was kidnapped in Ireland and a £2 million ransom was demanded. The horse was never seen again. 26th February - Irishman Pat Jennings became the first footballer to take part in 1,000 first-class matches in the English league. 13th September - In a newspaper article, Yoko said, “It was time to get out of New York. Much too hard on Sean. We have been looking at various places, but this is it. Sean fell in love with San Francisco immediately.” 1984 – 23rd January – Monday - Yoko made a phone call from France, where was visiting friends, to Polydor promotions executive, Joe Beddington. Yoko said, “I want to come to Liverpool.” The stunned Beddington later said, "That started the busiest 24 hours I have ever had.” Beddington coordinated the visit, arranged the limos and the aircraft and accompanied Yoko and Sean throughout the trip. “She just felt the time was right for Sean to see the place, and that was it.” Beddington said, “There was no fixed plan, really. She knew some of the things she wanted to see, and we took it from there.” 24th January – Yoko’s Liverpool trip began as their plane touched down at Manchester Airport at 0920, and, possibly inspired by the Paul and Linda’s dope bust just a short time earlier, Yoko's luggage was gone through by customs agents for over half-an-hour. Sean was puzzled by the search, and didn't seem to know what the customs people were looking for. With the search finally over, Yoko's entourage of seven people, including what were described as “two muscular minders” headed for the waiting limousines. The media were bounced out of the way and other departing passengers knocked on the ground. “Hey buddy, butt out,” said one of the bodyguards, sending a photographer spinning and his lens cap sprawling across the foyer. Since John's death, Yoko never travelled without the two bodyguards. Yoko had not asked for special VIP treatment at the airport, which meant she had to run the gauntlet of waiting press to the fleet of cars waiting to whisk her away to Liverpool. As the media scrum moved steadily towards the door, Yoko briefly said she was glad to be here in John's home before repeatedly asking would people “please stop pushing.” Their first stop in Liverpool was Strawberry Field, the Salvation Army home for underprivileged children. When Yoko and Sean arrived, the 25 children and staff were working normally. According to The Daily Mirror, Sean “literally leapt for joy” when he saw Strawberry Field in Allerton. Yoko had told him all about it. Sean presented the staff with a colour picture of his Mum and Dad signed, “with love” and then Yoko and Sean joined the staff in a prayer for John. Brigadier Branwell Derbyshire, a spokesman at Strawberry Field said, “We prayed that Sean would grow up to see the world through the eyes of a child.” Later, Yoko and Sean went back to Strawberry Field for a second visit, quietly and inconspicuously, after the press had left the scene. As Yoko and Sean toured the city, groups of people gathered on street corners, sharing their excitement with the Lennons. Next stop was Menlove Avenue where John lived and was raised by his legendary Aunt Mimi Smith. At Menlove, Sean was given a Cavern Club badge bearing the Cavern logo and Yoko ruffled Sean's hair and said it was his day, not hers. The Liverpool Echo said, “He knew it was his day, too. His bright eyes darted to and fro at every stop along the long and winding roads of Liverpool. Looking every bit like an impish John Lennon, Sean proudly fixed the badge to his lapel.” Next they went past Penny Lane and Quarry Bank Comprehensive to the college where John studied art. After a tour of the classrooms, Yoko persuaded Sean to try fish and chips for the first time. College staff sent out for them. The traditional British meal was served up in a newspaper. Charles Metcalfe, head of the fashion and textile department at the college said, “He thought they were just great.” Yoko was given a copy of John's college report for 1958-1960, which showed he failed both his intermediate examinations. On it, his teacher remarked, “Give up your guitar, otherwise you will never pass your exams.” Another stop on the whirlwind tour was the Mersey River and when Sean pleaded for a ferry trip across it, Yoko reportedly put her foot down saying, “No, it's far too cold.” At the Pier Head, Yoko smiled and looked up at the Liver Birds, pointing them out to Sean. They also visited the Atlantic Tower Hotel near the ferry terminal where Sean gasped at an 8-foot statue of his father holding a guitar that was on display in the foyer. The main stop on the tour was a visit with Aunt Mimi. The Liverpool Echo reported that Mimi's sister, Anne, with whom Mimi was living due to a serious heart condition, was as surprised as anyone by Yoko and Sean's visit, and was not even sure if they would visit Mimi. Mimi Smith, the woman who brought up John Lennon as her own son, has been staying at her sister's house for more than a year. Illness forced Aunt Mimi to move back up to Liverpool from her home in Poole, Dorset. She had an operation which left her with a heart condition and she hadn't been well enough yet to return to living on her own. Yoko was determined to keep the visit with Aunt Mimi private. Aunt Anne later described it this way, “It was just like seeing John walk through that door again. He is just like John, with the same mannerisms and everything - it's amazing.” Yoko and Sean spent the afternoon with the two aunts who were so important in John's life. Aunt Anne said the visit went very well and that Mimi was thrilled. She went on, “Yoko also brought a copy of the latest record and autographed it for my son, Michael. Mimi is so much more cheerful now. I think the visit has done her good. She will remember today for a long time.” Mimi was quoted as saying, “Sean is like John in every way…looks and manner, and he has got John's sense of humour. As long as he keeps away from music, he will be all right.” (A familiar-sounding piece of advice from Aunt Mimi!) Yoko said of the visit, “It was beautiful to meet her again. I had a lovely day - it was really beautiful. I'm glad that I came back here, and I'm glad I showed Liverpool to Sean.” On the way back from the visit with Mimi, their car broke down, but it didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the two visitors from America. While Yoko and company sat stranded on the curb, a woman appeared from a nearby house with steaming hot tea to keep them warm. Later, Yoko caught a quick hour's nap at the Adelphi Hotel and while she slept, the hotel foyer was besieged by the press, the curious and the concerned, and even the puzzled remnants of a business convention. 14th February - Britain’s Torvill & Dean skated their way to a Gold at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, getting maximum points for artistic expression. 29th February - John Francome rode his 1,000th National Hunt winner at Worcester. He ended his career the following year with a record 1,138 winners. 30th March - Peter Yarrall, 59 stone (826 lb/374.73 kg), who suffered from a glandular disorder, died in his flat in London’s East Ham. Ten firemen took five hours to demolish the bedroom and winch his body to the street using a crane. 1st April - US singer Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father during a violent row, on the eve of his 45th birthday. 4th July - Ringo drummed with The Beach Boys in Washington DC and that evening in Miami. 27th July - Film actor James Mason died at the age of 75. Though he never won an Academy Award, the handsome, highly-acclaimed character actor received Britain's highest film honour, the Golden Seal. His film career spanned nearly five decades. Mason's list of film credits include A Star is Born, North by Northwest, Lolita, Fire Over England, The Prisoner of Zenda, Madame Bovary, The Fall of the Roman Empire and Heaven Can Wait. 31st December - Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard lost his left arm in a car accident in England on New Year's Eve. 1985 – Live Aid 1985 – 10th August – In the US, ‘Like a Virgin’, by Madonna became the first solo album by a female artist to be certified for selling five million copies. 7th October - Little Richard fell asleep at the wheel and ran into a telephone pole in West Hollywood, California. He was seriously injured but recovered. 1986 – The author, Andy Beech, along with best friend Glen Devy, visited Liverpool for the first time. They stay the night in a house in Upton Green, across the road from a former home of George Harrison. ??? Check with Glen?? 1986 – 18 year old Heather Mills marries photographer Alfie Karmal. 1986 – 4th January - Phil Lynott (34) of Thin Lizzy, died from pneumonia and heart failure due to years of drug abuse. 12th January - Singer Luther Vandross was injured when his Mercedes Benz went out of control and crashed on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Because his passenger was killed in the crash, Vandross was charged with vehicular manslaughter. Pleading to a lesser charge, he was ordered to perform a benefit concert. 18th January - Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead totalled his car when he crashed into a guardrail near Mill Valley, California. He was unhurt. 4th March - Eddie Shah’s Today newspaper became the first national daily to carry colour pictures in Britain. 3rd July - Teddy Pendergrass, who had been paralysed from the waist down as the result of a 1982 car accident, was injured again when his specially adapted van crashed into a utility pole in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1987 - 6th March - The Herald of Free Enterprise ferry capsized just outside Zeebrugge harbour. She had set out with her bow doors open allowing water to pour in. Over 200 passengers were drowned. 1988 – The Beatles released Past Masters Volume One and Two. 1988 – 11th February - At the Winter Olympics in Calgary, English ski-jumper and plasterer Eddie Edwards, who had stayed at a mental home in Finland while training, became the surprise sensation of the Games. This bespectacled yet fearless contestant came last, but won all the headlines and the nickname ‘The Eagle’. 11th March - The Bank of England pound note, first introduced on 12th March 1797, ceased to be legal tender in Britain at midnight. When the deadline for returning old notes was reached, it was estimated that some 70 million were still outstanding. “We have no idea where they are - perhaps they are with collectors,” a Bank spokesman said. 29th March - Ian Botham plus elephants began a fund-raising trek across the Alps in Hannibal’s footsteps. On the same day, he learned his contract with Queensland Cricket Association had been cancelled because of his behaviour. It still had two years to run. Lloyd Honeyghan became the first British boxer to regain a world title since Ted ‘Kid’ Lewis, 71 years before. Honeyghan knocked out Jorgé Vaca of Mexico in the third round at the Wembley Arena, London. 30th March - A former paratrooper bit off the ear of his sister’s boyfriend after an ‘unprovoked attack’ following a heavy drinking session, an Exeter court was told. The attacker laughed as he bit off half of the left ear, chewed and swallowed it in front of the victim and said “Yum, yum.” At the police station, the accused had said, “His nose was next.” 9th April – Singer Dave Prater (50) of Sam & Dave died in a car accident. Their biggest hit was ‘Soul Man’. 1989 – 6th February - Sky Television’s satellite service was launched by Rupert Murdoch. 30th March - US actor Kurt Russell proposed marriage to actress Goldie Hawn on stage at the Oscar award ceremony which was televised to 1.5 billion people in 91 countries. She was not amused. 1st April - Despite threats of non-payment and other protests, the Community Charge or Poll Tax was introduced in Scotland. 14th June - Pete de Freitas, drummer with Echo & the Bunnymen, was killed in a motorcycle accident. 1990 – 11th February - After more than 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela, the world’s most famous political prisoner, walked to freedom from a prison near Cape Town, watched by millions on television throughout the world. 20th March - Gloria Estefan of the Miami Sound Machine fractured a vertebra when a tractor crashed into her tour bus near Scranton, Pennnsylvania. Other members of the band were also injured in the incident. 20th November - Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stones guitarist, broke both his legs in a car accident in Swindon, England. His wife and two children also were slightly injured. 9th December - Singer and dancer Paula Ab...