ROCKinsights Members

Forgot Password

Not a Member? Sign up here!

Noteworthy Then

12/19/1944 Ten Years After's Alvin Lee born

 

Ten Years After’s Alvin Lee born Graham Anthony Barnes was born in Nottingham. England on this day in 1944. The future lead singer/guitarist took up the instrument at 13 and formed what would be the core of his band just three years later. The group's first few albums established a decent fan base in the States, but their electrifying performance of  I'm Going Home at the original Woodstock festival created something of a sensation.  The expectation that he would deliver an equally incendiary version of the song at every subsequent concert ended up leaving Lee feeling stylistically hemmed in.  The success of I'd Love to Change the World eased that pressure some, but Lee ultimately disbanded the group and went solo, producing several solid albums. The highlight was In Flight, a double live album recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London and released in 1974.

 

Lee died in Spain at 68 after undergoing a routine procedure to address atrial arrhythmia.

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on December 19 include...

1944 Lovin' Spoonful guitarist Zal Yanovsky born.

1957 Loverboy's Doug Johnson born.

1969 Mick Jagger pays fine for marijuana possession in Marlborough, England.

1969 Beatles release their 7th annual Christmas record.

1975 Rolling Stones make Ron Wood a full time member.

1993 Michael Clarke of the Byrds dies of liver failure at 47.

1994 Aerosmith closes tour at Mama Kin Club in Boston.

1997 B.B. King performs for the Pope at the Vatican.

2001 Stone Temple Pilot's Scott Weiland pleads guilty on a domestic battery charge.

2009 Austin, TX announces city will honor Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Townes Van Zandt at new Austin Music Memorial.

2022 Robert Plant and Alison Krauss release Raise The Roof...