1962, The Tornadoes started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Telstar'. Produced and written by Joe Meek, it was the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. Also a No.1 in the UK.

1962, during his first visit to the UK Bob Dylan performed at the Singers Club in London, the singer songwriter's second UK gig.

1963, The Dave Clark Five scored their only US No.1 single with 'Over And Over', a No.5 in the UK.

1963, The Beatles appeared at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool. This appearance was the second concert-only preview of their ‘The Beatles' Christmas Show’, which would open in London in two days.

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Who, Keith West and Tomorrow, Eric Burdon & The Animals, 1984 (featuring future Queen guitarist Brian May) and Soft Machine all appeared at The Olympia, London at an all night festival 'Christmas On Earth Continued'.

1972, Little Jimmy Osmond was at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.' At nine years eight months of age it made him the youngest person to have a No.1 record, also the biggest seller of 1972.

1973, Elton John started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', it also had a eight week run at No.1 on the US chart.

1973, Stephen Stills loses a paternity suit brought against him by Harriet B. Tunis. Stills' defense team had tried to discredit Tunis' case by asking the jury, "How can you believe a witness who works in the record business?"

1978, The Who announce that the Faces' Kenny Jones will be drafted as a replacement for their late drummer Keith Moon.

1978, Todd Rundgren sues the British Musicians Union after they call a stop to a radio concert he was due to give.

1979, Rupert Holmes started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Escape, (The Pina Colada Song). His only US No.1 solo hit, a No.23 hit in the UK.

1979, The Pretenders appeared at the Marquee Club, London

1981, At a rock & roll memorabilia auction in London, a stage suit worn by John Lennon sold for £2,300, a letter from Paul McCartney to a fan sold for £2,200 and a Perspex sculpture of John & Yoko was bought by singer Kate Bush for £4,200.

1982, Bob Dylan drops in on Frank Zappa, plays him a dozen songs and asks the freak to produce his next album.

1991, Rush, featuring the big screen debut of Gregg Allman as a villainous drug dealer, opens nationwide. Leonard Maltin calls the flick "unconvincing." Eric Clapton contributes the soundtrack.

2002, Joe Strummer, the Clash's fiery frontman, dies of heart failure after walking his dog around his hometown of Broomfield, England. He was 50.

Birthdays.....

1944, Barry Jenkins (Animals)

1946, Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)

1949, Robin Gibb (Bee Gees)

1949, Maurice Gibb (Bee-Gees)