On This Day in Music History – March 4

 On this day in 1966, John Lennon made a controversial statement, saying “We’re more popular than Jesus now.” This caused outrage, and some people even burned Beatles records. In 1986, Richard Manuel, the talented singer and pianist of The Band, sadly passed away.

This date also marks the release of some iconic albums. In 1973, The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd was released in the US, becoming one of the greatest albums ever. Many classic songs also topped the charts on March 4, including “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles (1964), “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson (1983), and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (1993).

Several famous musicians were born on this day, including Bobby Womack (1944), Jason Newsted of Metallica (1963), and Bonnie Tyler (1951). Sadly, we also lost music legends like Keith Flint of The Prodigy (2019) and Patsy Cline (1963).

Major Events in Music History (March 4)

1. John Lennon’s Controversial Comment (1966) – John Lennon of The Beatles said, “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” in an interview. This caused outrage, and some people burned Beatles records.
2. Richard Manuel of The Band Passed Away (1986) – Richard Manuel, singer and pianist of The Band, died at 42. He was a key member of the legendary rock group.
3. The Rolling Stones Sign a Big Contract (1977) – The Rolling Stones signed a $14 million contract with CBS Records, one of the biggest deals in music at the time.
4. The Rolling Stones Return to British TV (1967) – The Rolling Stones appeared on British television again after being banned for their song “Let’s Spend the Night Together.”
5. Kurt Cobain’s Overdose in Rome (1994) – Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain overdosed on prescription drugs in Rome. He survived, but it was a warning sign of his struggles.
6. Pink Floyd Releases The Dark Side of the Moon in the US (1973) – One of the greatest albums ever, The Dark Side of the Moon, was released in the US. It stayed on the charts for over 700 weeks.
7. The Beatles Win Three Grammy Awards (1996) – The Beatles won three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Performance for “Free as a Bird”, a song completed after John Lennon’s death.
8. The Monkees Perform Their Last Show with Peter Tork (1968) – The Monkees played their last concert with Peter Tork before he left the band.
9. Frank Zappa Testifies Against Censorship (1982) – Musician Frank Zappa testified in court, arguing against music censorship and defending artistic freedom.
10. Keith Flint of The Prodigy Passed Away (2019) – Keith Flint, the lead singer of The Prodigy, died at 49. His song “Firestarter” helped define electronic music in the 1990s.
11. Elvis Presley Returns from the Army (1960) – Elvis Presley finished his military service and returned to the US. His fans welcomed him as a hero.
12. ABBA Releases Waterloo (1974) – ABBA released Waterloo, the song that won them the Eurovision Song Contest and made them famous worldwide.
13. Prince Wins an Oscar (1986) – Prince won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for Purple Rain, his hit movie and album.
14. Glenn Hughes Joins Deep Purple on Stage (2001) – Glenn Hughes, a former member of Deep Purple, reunited with the band on stage for a special performance.
15. First Rock & Roll Song Recorded? (1951) – Some historians believe “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, recorded on this day, was the first rock & roll song.
16. Dido’s No Angel Breaks Records (2002) – Dido’s album No Angel became the best-selling album by a British female artist at the time.
17. Katy Perry Breaks Billboard Records (2012) – Katy Perry’s album Teenage Dream became the first by a female artist to have five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
18. Madonna’s Rescue Me Makes Billboard History (1991) – Madonna’s song Rescue Me became the highest-debuting song by a female artist on the Billboard charts at the time.
19. Take That Scores Another No. 1 Hit (2007) – Take That reached No. 1 on the UK charts with “Shine”, proving their comeback was a success.
20. AC/DC Replaces Brian Johnson with Axl Rose (2016) – AC/DC announced that Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses would replace Brian Johnson as the band’s lead singer due to Johnson’s hearing issues.

Notable Birthdays in Music (March 4)

1. Bobby Womack (1944) – American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Famous for songs like “Across 110th Street” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.”
2. Jason Newsted (1963) – Former bassist of Metallica. Played on legendary albums like “…And Justice for All” and “The Black Album.”
3. Chris Rea (1951) – British singer and songwriter known for “Driving Home for Christmas” and “The Road to Hell.”
4. Miriam Makeba (1932) – South African singer and activist known as “Mama Africa.” Famous for “Pata Pata” and fighting against apartheid.
5. Shakin’ Stevens (1948) – British rock and roll singer with hits like “This Ole House” and “Merry Christmas Everyone.”
6. Evan Dando (1967) – Singer and guitarist of The Lemonheads, known for “It’s a Shame About Ray” and “Mrs. Robinson.”
7. Eric Allandale (1936) – Trombonist and songwriter for The Foundations, famous for “Build Me Up Buttercup.”
8. Obie Trice (1977) – American rapper and former Shady Records artist known for “Got Some Teeth.”
9. Kenny Dalglish (1951) – Although famous as a footballer, he inspired many sports anthems and music tributes.
10. Fergal Lawler (1971) – Drummer of The Cranberries, known for “Zombie” and “Linger.”
11. Patricia Rozario (1951) – Indian opera singer known for her contributions to Western classical music.
12. Armand Van Helden (1970) – American DJ and music producer famous for “You Don’t Know Me” and “My My My.”
13. John Speedy Keen (1945) – Musician and songwriter, best known for writing “Something in the Air” for Thunderclap Newman.
14. James Arthur (1988) – British singer and X Factor winner, famous for “Impossible” and “Say You Won’t Let Go.”
15. Josh Evans (1971) – American record producer and musician who worked with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
16. Bonnie Tyler (1951) – Welsh singer with a powerful voice, known for “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero.”
17. Ronn Moss (1952) – Member of Player, best known for the hit song “Baby Come Back.”
18. Kenny Robinson (1958) – Canadian comedian and musician known for blending humor with music.
19. Jim Clark (1936) – Influenced music culture through Formula 1 racing anthems and sports music themes.
20. Eleanor McEvoy (1967) – Irish singer-songwriter, known for “Only A Woman’s Heart.”

Music Legends We Lost (March 4)

1. Richard Manuel (1986) – Singer and pianist of The Band. He was a key member of the group, known for songs like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”
2. Keith Flint (2019) – Lead singer of The Prodigy. His song “Firestarter” helped shape electronic music in the 1990s.
3. Patsy Cline (1963) – Country music legend who died in a plane crash at 30. Famous for “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces.”
4. John Candy (1994) – Though mainly an actor, he influenced comedy music and soundtracks, leaving a mark on entertainment.
5. Dottie West (1991) – Country music singer and songwriter. She was a pioneer for women in country music.
6. Ronnie Bond (1992) – Drummer of The Troggs, the band behind “Wild Thing” and “Love Is All Around.”
7. Glenn Miller (1944, missing declared lost) – Big band leader known for “In the Mood.” His plane disappeared during WWII.
8. Toto Cutugno (2023) – Italian singer-songwriter, famous for “L’Italiano.”
9. Claude François (1978) – French singer, known for “Comme d’habitude,” which became “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.
10. Sergei Rachmaninoff (1943, near this date) – Russian composer and pianist whose music influenced many later artists.
11. Maxis Kaye (2004) – Little-known blues musician who played with legends in the 1960s and 1970s.
12. T-Bone Walker (1975) – Blues guitarist who helped shape rock and roll with his electric guitar style.
13. John Belushi (1982) – Comedian and musician, part of The Blues Brothers, known for mixing comedy with blues music.
14. Jeff Healey (2008) – Blind Canadian blues-rock guitarist, known for “Angel Eyes.”
15. Mark Linkous (2010) – Leader of the indie band Sparklehorse. Known for his unique, haunting sound.
16. Paul Mauriat (2006) – French orchestra leader, famous for “Love Is Blue.”
17. Gary Moore (2011) – Guitarist from Thin Lizzy and solo artist, known for “Still Got the Blues.”
18. Ronnie Montrose (2012) – Guitarist and founder of Montrose, a major influence on hard rock.
19. Alban Berg (1935, near this date) – Classical composer whose work influenced modern orchestral music.
20. Leonard Rosenman (2008) – Film composer who worked on soundtracks for classic movies.

Notable Albums Released (March 4)

1. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) – One of the greatest albums of all time, featuring songs like “Money” and “Time.”
2. Bob Dylan – Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964) – A folk album where Dylan moved toward more personal and poetic lyrics.
3. The Rolling Stones – Aftermath (1966, UK Release) – The first Stones album with all original songs, including “Paint It Black.”
4. Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989) – A bold pop album with hits like “Like a Prayer” and “Express Yourself.”
5. David Bowie – Diamond Dogs (1974) – A dark, futuristic concept album inspired by George Orwell’s 1984.
6. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) – A legendary album featuring “Candle in the Wind” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
7. U2 – War (1983) – The album that made U2 stars, with songs like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day.”
8. The Beatles – Beatles for Sale (1964) – A mix of rock, pop, and country influences with songs like “Eight Days a Week.”
9. Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy (1973) – A classic rock album featuring “D’yer Mak’er” and “No Quarter.”
10. Bruce Springsteen – The River (1980) – A double album mixing rock anthems with emotional ballads like “Hungry Heart.”
11. Michael Jackson – Dangerous (1991) – A huge success with hits like “Black or White” and “Remember the Time.”
12. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977) – One of the best-selling albums ever, featuring “Go Your Own Way” and “Dreams.”
13. Prince – 1999 (1982) – A groundbreaking album with “Little Red Corvette” and “1999.”
14. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966) – One of the most influential albums, featuring “God Only Knows.”
15. Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) – A Britpop classic with “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”
16. Queen – A Night at the Opera (1975) – The album that gave us “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
17. The Clash – London Calling (1979) – A punk rock classic featuring “Train in Vain” and “London Calling.”
18. Green Day – Dookie (1994) – A defining pop-punk album with “Basket Case” and “When I Come Around.”
19. Taylor Swift – Fearless (2008) – The album that made her a superstar, featuring “Love Story.”
20. Nirvana – Nevermind (1991) – An album that changed music forever, featuring “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Chart-Topping Hits (March 4)

1. The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand (1964, US No. 1) – One of the biggest hits of the 1960s, marking Beatlemania’s takeover in the US.
2. Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970, US No. 1) – A powerful ballad that became a worldwide hit.
3. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (1983, US No. 1) – One of his most famous songs, helping make Thriller the best-selling album ever.
4. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You (1993, US No. 1) – This song stayed at No. 1 for 14 weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
5. Elton John – Candle in the Wind 1997 (1997, UK No. 1) – A tribute to Princess Diana, it became the best-selling single ever.
6. Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989, US No. 1) – A controversial hit that mixed pop and gospel music.
7. Prince – When Doves Cry (1984, US No. 1) – A unique song with no bassline, making it stand out in music history.
8. ABBA – Dancing Queen (1977, US No. 1) – Their biggest hit worldwide, loved by generations.
9. The Rolling Stones – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965, US No. 1) – One of the greatest rock songs ever recorded.
10. The Police – Every Breath You Take (1983, US No. 1) – A song often mistaken as romantic but actually about obsession.
11. TLC – Waterfalls (1995, US No. 1) – A song with a strong message about social issues, becoming a huge hit.
12. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (1976, UK No. 1) – One of the most unique and famous rock songs in history.
13. Adele – Rolling in the Deep (2011, US No. 1) – A powerful breakup song that made her a global superstar.
14. Rihanna – Umbrella (2007, UK No. 1) – This song, featuring Jay-Z, launched Rihanna into superstardom.
15. Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On (1998, US No. 1) – The theme song of Titanic became one of the most famous ballads ever.
16. Ed Sheeran – Shape of You (2017, US & UK No. 1) – A record-breaking pop hit that stayed on the charts for months.
17. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk (2015, US & UK No. 1) – One of the biggest dance hits of the decade.
18. Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way (1999, UK No. 1) – One of the most iconic boy band songs ever.
19. Mariah Carey – We Belong Together (2005, US No. 1) – A massive comeback hit for Mariah, staying No. 1 for 14 weeks.
20. Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008, US No. 1) – A hit that became famous for its dance moves and empowering lyrics.