1966: Janis Joplin arrives in San Francisco to accept an invitation to join a new rock band, Big Brother and the Holding Company as their lead vocalist.

1964: Just days before the start of an already booked world concert tour, Ringo Starr collapses from acute tonsillitis and is rushed to a hospital. The Beatles scramble to find a replacement, settling on sessions drummer Jimmy Nicol.

Nicol is in turn rushed into rehearsal with the band. When he’s constantly asked how it’s going on tour, Nicol always replies “It’s getting better.” That eventually inspires Paul to pen a song that finds its way onto the Sgt. Pepper album.

Nicol continues to live the high life after he leaves the band and is forced to declare bankruptcy in 1965. Eventually, he gets back on his feet and goes into real estate (or property investment as it’s known in the UK). He is still around today.

1964: The Rolling Stones play their first live gig in America. Not quite as glamorous as the Beatles, the band plays at a high school in Lynn, Massachusetts.

They also make their U.S. television debut on The Les Crane Show.

1972: Pink Floyd enters the Abbey Road studios in London to begin recording the album “Dark Side of the Moon.”

1956: Buddy Holly went to the movies. He attends a showing of the John Wayne Western The Searchers at the State Theatre in Lubbock, Texas. Twice during the film, Wayne sarcastically remarks, “That’ll be the day.”

Holly goes home and writes a song around that phrase that will lift him out of obscurity to his first taste of rock ‘n’ roll fame.

1972: Bryan Ferry and his band Roxy Music make their stage debut in Lincolnshire, England, at the Great Western Express Festival.

1973: The Byrds disband when their leader Roger McGuinn performs his first solo concert in New York.

1958: Buddy Holly receives his draft notice from the Lubbock, Texas draft board. Unlike Elvis, Holly is refused induction when his notoriously poor eyesight causes him to flunk the vision test.

1989: The Beach Boys begin a national tour with Chicago. The tour is historic because Brain Wilson appears at several dates, marking his first concerts with his old band since 1975

1972: British glam rockers Mott the Hoople, frustrated by their lack of success, contemplate breaking up.

David Bowie offers two of his newest compositions to the band. They pass on “Suffragette City,” but decide to record “All the Young Dudes.” When the song is released, success finally comes their way.