20 July 2005 - James Doohan, 'Scotty' [Montgomery Scott of 'Star Trek'], born on 03 March 1920, passes away on the day Apollo 11 landed on the Moon [36 years earlier].

13 October 1965 - The Who record ‘My Generation’ at Pye Studios, Marble Arch, London. It made No.2 on the singles chart, kept off the No.1 position by The Seekers’ ‘The Carnival is Over’.

06 December 1988 - Roy Orbison, singer, died

05 January 1998 - Sonny Bono (Sonny and Cher, later a Congressman) dies skiing at 62

11 January 1963 - First disco 'Whisky-a-go-go' opened in Los Angeles

27 January 1879 - Thomas Edison patented the first electric lamp

31 January 1976 - 'Mamma Mia' by Abba was the No. 1 single in the UK

02 February 1979 - Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in New York City.

05 Feb 1924 - BBC time signal 'pips' broadcast from Greenwich.

07 February 1964 - The Beatles land at New York’s JFK Airport for their maiden visit to the USA; Pan Am flight PA101 arrival caused riotous scenes as they touched down.

06 February 1945 - Bob Marley born (died 11 May 1981)

10 February 1942 - First gold disc awarded to Glenn Miller for ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’

20 February 2005 - Literary legend Dr Hunter S. Thompson, the inventor of ‘gonzo’ style of journalism, killed himself at his Aspen, Colorado, home. The 67-year-old author of books such as 'Hells Angels' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' [made into a film with Johnny Depp in 1998] was an unpredictable character whose life was fuelled by numerous drug and alcohol binges.

21 February 1961 - The Beatles made their first appearance at The Cavern Club, Liverpool and would do so 291 times more.

21 February 1933 - Nina Simone born (died 21 April 2003) .

24 February 1943 - George Harrison born (died 29 November 2001).

26 February 1932 - Johnny Cash born (12 September 2003).

28 February 1942 - Brian Jones born (died 03 July 1969).

23 March 1961 - Elvis Presley's 'Wooden Heart' tops the hit-parade.

29 March 1886 - 'Brain Tonic' first went on sale; later became known as Coca Cola.

02 April 1964 - The Beatles reach Number One with ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.

10 April 1849 - the safety pin patented in the USA ~ Punk milestone!

11 April 1965 - Performing at the New Musical Express [NME] poll winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool [later W/Arena] were: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Freddie And The Dreamers, The Animals, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Moody Blues, Them, Cilla Black, The Seekers and Donovan.

17 April 1955 - Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks born as Peter McNeish.

24 April 1968 - 'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong is the UK's Top of the Pops!

17 May 2005 - Kylie Minogue diagnosed with a breast cancer that caused cancellation of her homeland and Asian tours, plus the Glastonbury Festival headlining spot.

24 May 1941 - Bob Dylan born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 64-year-old struggled for cash in 1958 and ended up playing piano in a Colorado strip joint called The Gilded Garter. After he was denied payment, he helped himself to $20 from the till and fled. Dylan later remembered hearing future folk star Judy Collins sing at the same venue.

06 June 1962 - The first Beatles recording session took place at Abbey Road Studios in London. They recorded four tracks, one of which was ‘Love Me Do’ and they each received payment for the session of £7.10.

01 July 1945 - Debbie Harry, of Blondie, born in Miami, Florida.

04 July - Independence Day: After a decade of economic conflict with Britain, the 13 American colonies answered King George III's flat refusal of political reform with a call for revolution. On 04 July 1776, over a year after the first volleys of the war were fired at Lexington, Massachusetts, the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. Seven years later, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris with Britain, the United States formally became a free and independent nation.

07/07/2005 - London on alert: with London being targeted today with four bomb blasts - the Tube network between Russell Square and King's Cross, between Aldgate and Liverpool Street, and at Edgware Road station, plus bus explosion at Tavistock Place - it has been announced that today's shows are OFF.

Of the shows taking place tonight only Queens Of The Stone Age [Somerset House] and Blue [Wembley Arena] are yet to confirm; The Prodigy [Brixton Academy], SUM 41 (Astoria) and Nate James [Shepherds Bush Empire] are all called off.

08 July 2005 - Aftermath: Queen have postponed tonight's concert [Friday) for seven days [15 July]. REM, due to appear on the same Hyde Park stage tomorrow night, have rescheduled their show for Saturday, 16 July. [See News for more info.]

18 July 1953 - Truck driver Elvis Presley made his first-ever recording when he paid $4 (£2.35) at the Memphis Recording Service. He sang two songs, 'My Happiness' and 'That’s When Your Heartaches Begin'.

20 July 2005 - James Doohan, 'Scotty' [Montgomery Scott of 'Star Trek'], born on 03 March 1920, passes away on the day Apollo 11 landed on the Moon [36 years earlier].