Merry Christmas! (Also a good day for drummers)

1959: 18-year old apprentice electrician, Richard Starkey gets his first real set of drums for Christmas. Shortly thereafter he changes his name to Ringo Starr and becomes an important fixture of Liverpool’s emerging rock scene.

1966: 16-year old Canadian kid Robbie Bachman gets his first drum kit. Three years later, brother Randy Bachmann asks him to join Randy’s new band Bachmann-Turner Overdrive.

Make sure you listen to “The Little Drummer Boy” today!

Two rock ‘n’ roll classics were recorded in this day.

1958: Bobby Darin is in the studio laying down vocals for his classic version of “Beyond the Sea."

1966: Tommy James and his band the Shondells record “I Think We’re Alone Now,” the first of an impressive run of Sixties’ hits. (Tommy had yet to get the memo about Beatles' haircuts being mandatory for rock stars.)

1964: Following up their first appearance on ABC's Shindig! (performing "Little Saint Nick," "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Papa Oom Mow Mow," and "Monster Mash"), the Beach Boys board a flight from Los Angeles to a concert in Houston. During the flight group leader, Brian Wilson suffers a nervous breakdown. In the immediate aftermath, Brian retires from touring with the band. Prominent L.A. session guitar player, Glen Campbell (who had already been playing on many of the Beach Boys records) takes his place on stage. Campbell is eventually replaced by permanent member Bruce Johnston.

1979: An all-star benefit performance, the Concerts for the People of Kampuchea premieres at London's Hammersmith Odeon. Topping the bill are organizer Paul McCartney, the Who, Queen, and an all-star "Rockestra."

1970: Elvis Presley visits the White House to have President Nixon make him an honorary deputy of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Presley pledges his unwavering help in fighting the war on drugs.

At the time, the irony of this moment is lost on all of us.

1975: A former member of the James Gang and already a successful solo artist, Joe Walsh joins the Eagles, replacing Bernie Leadon, who left after the band decided to pursue a more rock-based sound.

Good decision, as their first album with Walsh and more rock, Hotel California, goes on to become the best-selling LP in the group’s long, mega-successful career.

1955: Carl Perkins records "Blue Suede Shoes", a song that he wrote after seeing a young man get angry at his date for scuffing his shoes. Even though today Elvis Presley's version is better known today, his cover only made it to # 20 on the Billboard Top 100. Perkins' original went to # 2 and stayed on the chart for 17 weeks.

1975: Bruce Springsteen performs his first concert in the UK at London's Hammersmith Odeon. Springsteen is so upset at the hype arranged by his label (Columbia) that he rips down posters in the lobby that proclaim: "Finally, London is ready for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.” Critics also resent the hype and pan the show.

Fast forward to 2006 when the concert is finally released as both a CD and a DVD. The release quickly wipes away the common misperception that the show had been a flop (the band performs 3 encores) and remains the only official release of a complete concert from the Boss’ early days.

1969: The man who shot to stardom almost overnight on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, Tiny Tim marries Miss Vicki Budinger in a live ceremony on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson . The program is watched by 40 million people, earning the second largest ratings of any show up to that time. The couple lived apart during the marriage and split seven years later.

It’s been a great day for break-ups in rock.

1974: Mick Taylor, who replaced founding member Brian Jones, announces he's leaving the Rolling Stones. He'll be replaced by a former member of the (Small) Faces, guitarist Ron Wood.

1974: Glitter rockers, Mott the Hoople call it quits.

1983: And the Who officially break up (again). Like past break-ups, this one doesn’t last either.