Work began on the what was originally planned to be a television special documenting the recording of the Beatles 12th studio album on this day in 1969.  When the broadcast got nixed, the group shifted gears, electing to make it a film instead. Lacking narration and other embellishments, much of the raw footage in the Let It Be film captures the working dynamic of the band at a time when tensions were rising between members but includes only a couple of scenes in which they're at odds. The closing segment of the movie features footage filmed on Januay 30th when the group and Billy Preston performed their impromptu concert on the roof of the studio, doing five songs before police intercede due to complaints that the crowd gatherd on the streets below was disrupting the lunch break business of restaurants and shops in the neighborhood.

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on January 2 include...

 

1926 First issue of Melody Maker magazine goes on sale.

1946 Ten Years Afters keyboard player Chick Churchill born.

1968 New Jersey authorities seize shipment of John Lennon, Yoko Ono Two Virgins albums over naked cover photo. Albums are repackaged in brown paper wrap.

1968 Led Zeppelin opens a four night run at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Hollywood with Alice Cooper opening.

1975 Allman Brothers Band gets "Outstanding Community Organization" award from Georgia.

1975 Judge orders Immigration Department to let John Lennon and his lawyers review files kept on him.

1976 Dennis Wilson  of the Beach Boys arrested with unlicensed 38 handgun.

1979 Sex Pistol Sid Vicious murder trial opens - he dies before verdict.

1985 Ronnie Wood marries Jo Woodin. Keith Richards, Bill Wyman,Charlie Watts, Jeff Beck, Ringo Starr and Rod Stewart attend the ceremony.

1997 Spirit's Randy California drowns saving son in surf off Hawaii.

2012 Iron Butterfly's Larry Reinhardt dies at 63 of liver disease.