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Today in Music History: Happy birthday, Mick Jones

Mick Jones plays with Carbon/Silicon on The Current's stage at SXSW in 2008.
Mick Jones plays with Carbon/Silicon on The Current's stage at SXSW in 2008.Wikimedia Commons

June 26, 2019

Birthday Highlight:

Mick Jones is 64 today. Born in the Wandsworth district of London in 1955, Jones went on to play guitar in the Clash, after which his music career continued in bands like Big Audio Dynamite (and its subsequent incarnations Big Audio Dynamite II and Big Audio). More recently, Jones enjoyed success as part of Carbon/Silicon and as a touring member of the Gorillaz. Jones is also known for producing The Libertines' first two albums Up the Bracket and The Libertines. "I wanted to be in a band and play guitar. That was it for me," Jones told Gibson Backstage Pass magazine in 2006.

Also, Today In:

1961 - Gary U.S. Bonds started a two-week run at No. 1 on the US charts with 'Quarter To Three." This is often covered by Bruce Springsteen, who is a big fan.

1964 - The American version of The Beatles' third studio album A Hard Day's Night was released.

1965 - The Byrds went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with their version of Bob Dylan's "Mr Tambourine Man."

1974 - Cher divorced Sonny Bono after 10 years of marriage.

1977 - Elvis Presley made his last ever live stage appearance when he appeared at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

1999 - Pearl Jam's cover of "Last Kiss" went No. 2 in America, the band's highest-charting song.

2000 - Britney Spears hometown of Kentwood, La., announced that a new museum would include a section including fan mail, platinum records and genuine items of the singers clothing.

2012 - Hundreds of fans were forced to miss the Stone Roses' reunion concerts in Manchester, after websites took their money but failed to deliver tickets.

2015 - President Barack Obama sang "Amazing Grace" at the funeral for Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed along with eight others when a gunman opened fire during a Bible study at his church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Birthdays:

Elvis Presley's manager, Col. Tom Parker, was born on this day in 1910.

Chris Isaak is 63.

Colin Greenwood, bass player for Radiohead, is 50.

Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill is 40.

Ariana Grande is 26.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.