Music History

Just for fun, here are some music events that happened on February 29.

Why do we have to endure an extra day in February every four years? Wouldn’t it be better if we got, oh, let’s say, a July 32nd instead? All in favour, raise your hands.

Because a leap year day shows up only 25 times a century, that leaves just 25 times for there to be some kind of music history to be made on this day. Here are a few.

1960: The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago.

1968: The Beatles won album of the year, best artwork, and best-recorded album for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band at the Grammys.

1972: John Lennon’s immigration visa expired. He spent the next three-and-a-half-years fighting deportation.

1976: Jay Rule was born.

1976: ABC broadcast the movie The Sound of Music for the first time. It was released in 1965.

1977: There was a fight between members of the metropolitan police boxing team and two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The Skynyrd guys were knocked out cold.

1980: The glasses that Buddy Holly was wearing when he died in that plane crash in 1959 were found in a police file in Mason, Iowa. They also found The Big Bopper’s wristwatch.

1992: U2 started the North American leg of their Zoo TV Tour in Lakeland, Florida.

2000: Eric Clapton lost his license for six months for going 45 mph in a 30mph zone in Surrey, UK. (Harsh!) He was also fine $570.

2000: Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 38.

2000: The city of Autlan de Navarro in Mexico announced plans to build a monument dedicated to Carlos Santana.

2012: Davy Jones, the lead singer of The Monkees died at 66 of a massive heart attack in his sleep.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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2 thoughts on “Just for fun, here are some music events that happened on February 29.

  • Do some research: Davy Jones did NOT pass in his sleep. He had been out riding his horses and became ill after his ride.

    Reply
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd event was Jan 29, 1977 (confirmed from their Facebook page). 1977 was not a leap year, could not be Feb 29 in that year.

    Reply

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