1968: The Jeff Beck Group makes their U.S. debut at NYC’s Fillmore East. The group’s lead singer, a young Rod Stewart, becomes an overnight sensation.

1958: On this day, Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California was proud to graduate one Frank Zappa.

1972: Ronnie Spector escapes from the Alhambra, California mansion of her husband, legendary composer and producer Phil Spector. Ronnie, most famous as the leader singer of the Ronettes, says she had been held there as a virtual prisoner since the day she married Phil in 1968.

Barefoot at the time, she crashed out through the glass of a back door at the mansion, severely cutting her feet.

Does it need to be mentioned that she filed for divorce several days later?

2002: Paul McCartney gets married for the second time. His bride is a former model and activist for the disabled, Heather Mills at St. Salvator Church in Glaslough, Ireland.

Ringo Starr, Elton John, David Gilmour and Chrissie Hynde are among the guests in attendance.

This one didn't do as well as the first for Sir Paul. The British public especially disliked his bride. The couple would divorce just 6 years later.

In the recording studio on this day:

1958: Elvis Presley (“A Fool Such as I”)

1964: Rolling Stones (“It’s All Over Now”)

1967: Monkees (“Pleasant Valley Sunday”)

1968: The Beatles (“Revolution No. 9”)

1989: The Doobie Brothers reunite for their first tour in 8 years. It’s also the first in 14 years to feature the most famous line-up of band members (from the years 1972-1975).

1969: Stating that he “no longer sees eye to eye” with the rest of the group, Brian Jones announces he’s leaving the Rolling Stones. In reality, the group fired him a short time earlier because of worsening drug use. He will be dead in less than a month.

1972: The Fifties rock ‘n’ roll revival is taken up another notch when the Broadway musical Grease opens at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York.

Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show) and Adrienne Barbeau (Maude) are the original Danny and Rizzo while Alan Paul (later to join the Manhattan Transfer) is in the cast as Teen Angel (“Beauty School Dropout” is his big number).

1962: The Beatles audition for EMI Records in London at the not yet famous Abbey Road studios. They perform three of their own compositions, “Love Me Do,” P.S. I Love You,” and “Ask Me Why,” as well as the old, old standard “Besame Mucho.”

While not assigned to produce the session, George Martin is called in to give a listen. He is not impressed with either the band’s look or their musical ability, but he likes their cheeky attitude. So he decides to give them a shot, as long as they can find a new drummer. And so Pete Best’s days as a Beatle are numbered.

1975: While Pink Floyd are recording their album Wish You Were Here, written about the group’s founder, Syd Barrett, whose sanity succumbed to an excess of LSD, the man himself wanders into their Abbey Road studio.

No one notices that Barrett is actually there and so, after a few minutes, he leaves as quietly as he entered.