Today marks the anniversary of the release of Beggar's Banquet in 1968. It was the last full Stones album recorded with Brian Jones, who showed up only occasionally for sessions and often wanting to play instruments other than guitar (sitar on Street Fighting Man, harmonica on Dear Doctor and Prodigal Son, Mellotron on Jigsaw Puzzle and Stray Cat Blues). The following year on December 6th, the Stones headlined the ill fated Altamont Speedway concert near San Francisco. And on 12/6/1970, Gimme Shelter, the remarkable film documenting that concert, had its premier in New York City.

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on December 6 include...

 

1947 Savoy Brown's Kim Simmons born.

1956 R.E.M.’s Peter Buck born.

1956 Guitar legend Randy Rhoads born.

1961 Brian Epstein offers to manage the Beatles, a deal won’t be struck for almost another year.

1967 Otis Redding records Dock of The Bay.  He would lose his life in a plane crash just four days later taking him to Madison =, Wisconsin, where Redding was scheduled to do a concert at The Factory, a club near the University of Wisconsin campus.

1977 Jackson Browne releases Running On Empty.

1988 Roy Orbison dies of heart attack.

1993 Eagles reunite for first time in 13 years for video shoot.

1999 Rock Hall Of Fame announces Eric Clapton. Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, the Lovin' Spoonful, and Earth, Wind and Fire as 2000 inductees.

2003 Elvis Costello and Diana Krall marry.

2005 Queen guitarist Brian May awarded Commander of the Order of British Empire by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

2009 Bruce Springsteen receives Kennedy Center Award in DC.

2015 Indianapolis Colts owner pays over $2 million for drum kit used in more than 200 performances by Ringo Starr.