1970: The Who take the stage at Leeds University in England. It will prove to be one of the legendary live concerts in rock history. A condensed version of the show becomes the band’s follow-up to their break-through album, “Tommy,” cementing the Who’s reputation as one of rock’s best live acts. In the CD era, the entire show is finally made available to the public.

1961: Frank Sinatra announces the formation of his own record label. Sinatra vows the label will NEVER sign any rock & roll acts. Among the acts who will eventually record for Reprise: Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Electric Prunes, Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, Kinks, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and the Beach Boys.

1967: British police raid the Sussex home of Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards. To no one’s surprise, various “substances of a suspicious nature” are found. Richards and visiting friends Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful are all arrested.

The entire raid sparks a great deal of controversy, not because of the alleged drugs, but because many are convinced the raid was done at the behest of Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, in retaliation for a lawsuit against the tabloid filed by Jagger.

1967: Due to increasing criticism about being a “manufactured” rock band, the Monkees announce that they will play their own instruments on future releases. While Mickey, Davy, Michael and Peter do gain more control over their records, session musicians will still lend a helping hand.

1974: Legendary (and now infamous) record producer Phil Spector is seriously burned in a car crash while driving from L.A. to Phoenix. He requires extensive plastic surgery which only increases his already serious reclusiveness.

1964: On this night at 8 PM (Eastern), every Baby Boomer worthy of the name remembers where they were and what they were doing. We were tuned in to CBS to watch the Beatles make their American television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. Performing 3 songs at the start of the show and 3 songs at the end, the Fab Four help Sullivan pull in 73 million viewers, a record at the time and still one of the highest rated shows of all time.

New York police report that not a single hubcap was stolen during the hour (also apparently a record).

Unnoticed at the time, a young Davy Jones (later to become part of the Monkees) appears on the same show as part of the Broadway cast of Oliver! where he leads the cast in singing “I’d Do Anything.”

1963: Barry Gordy signs his latest group to the Motown label. The Four Tops receive a whopping $400 as a signing bonus.

1964: The British invasion officially began on this day when the Beatles arrived at New York’s JFK airport to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. 3,000 screaming fans are there to greet them and the cheeky press conference they hold at the airport instantly wins over the American press.

1987: Sonny Bono announces he’s entering politics and will run for mayor of Palm Springs, California. As he spent several years as a national laughingstock on the old Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, becoming a politician is really not that much of a change.

1962: When drummer Pete Best falls ill, the Beatles ask Ringo Starr if he can fill in at a lunchtime date at the Cavern Club and an evening show in Southport. Ringo agrees and performs live with John, Paul and George for the first time. Eventually, Best will regret being sick that day.