On this day in 1967, the Grateful Dead released its self-titled debut album. Although the band would go on to become notorious for long jams, six of the nine songs on the album clocked-in at under 3 minutes. Four tracks would have been longer, but Warner Brothers insisted they be shortened. The recording process was unfamiliar and uncomfortable for the band, which had to travel to LA to record it because San Francisco studio's were lagging behind in quality studio equipment. They were also working with a producer who had engineered for the Rolling Stones and Jefferson Airplane, but to that point had little experience as a producer.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on March 17 include....
1941 Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane/Starship is born.
1944 John Sebastian is born.
1951 Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham is born
1966 The Who's Keith Moon marries Kim Kerrigan.
1967 Jimi Hendrix Experience releases Purple Haze in the UK.
1968 Mick Jagger joins a Vietnam War protest in London that inspires Street Fighting Man.
1971 Peter Gabriel marries Jill Moore.
1968 U2 wins a talent contest in Dublin that nets the band $850 and an audition for CBS Records.
1979 Bad Company releases Desolation Angels.
1979 Talking Heads appear on American bandstand.
1990 Traffic, Family, Blind Faith member Ric Grech dies of kidney and liver failure at 43.
1998 Van Halen releases Van Halen III.
1998 Scott Weiland releases 12 Bar Blues.
2003 Mark Knopfler breaks six ribs and collarbone in motorcycle accident.
2004 Ray Davies of the Kinks awarded CBE at Buckingham Palace.
2008 Heather Mills lands a $47 million dollar divorce settlement from Paul McCartney on the 8th anniversary of the day Paul had announced they were a couple..
2010 Alex Chilton of Box Tops and Big Star dies of a heart attack.
2013 Historical marker placed at 94 Baker Street, site of the Apple Boutique,
2014 L' Wren Scott, Mick Jagger's lover, commits suicide in New York Apartment. Stones postpone tour....
2017 Jack Irons drums with Pearl Jam on Shine On You Crazy Diamond during Key Arena concert in Seattle.
2023 U2 releases Songs of Surrender.
2024 Little Feat releases Sam's Place.
