Ahead of Black Sabbath's forthcoming big Birmingham gig, the British police force in the West Midlands named seven Sprocker puppies Ozzy, Toni, Geezer and Billie in their honour. The other three names, on the same theme, were Sabbath, Wizard and Sharon.

English multi-instrumentalist Mo Foster died from liver and bile duct cancer at the age of 78. As a session musician Foster played on over 350 recordings including artists as varied as: Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Meat Loaf and Ringo Starr.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton married at Shelton's ranch in Oklahoma. They met in 2014 when they were judges on the TV show The Voice and started dating a year later. In 2020, their duets 'Nobody But You' and 'Happy Anywhere' both reached No. 1 on the Billboard US Country Airplay chart. Stefani was previously married to Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale, the couple divorced in April 2016.

Singer Tony Hadley said he had left 1980s group Spandau Ballet, and "will not be performing" with them in the future. In an oddly-worded statement, the star said: "I am required to state that I am no longer a member of the band". He did not indicate why he was leaving, but blamed "circumstances beyond my control".

Kiss announced that they were set to release a guitar size book containing unseen photographs from their 40-year career. The limited edition called Monster would have a $4,299 price tag and at 3 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide, was reported to be the largest music book ever published.

Kylie Minogue received an OBE for services to music from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace, England. Earlier this year, she was also presented with the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for her "contribution to the enrichment of French culture".

Pete Doherty escaped jail after a judge decided to defer sentencing him for drugs offences on condition he went into rehab. Doherty pleaded guilty to possessing crack cocaine and heroin at West London Magistrates' Court. He was warned by Judge Davinder Lachhar that he would go into custody if he failed to take up a place he was offered on a detox programme.

David Crosby was fined $5,000 (£2,745) by a US court after admitting attempted criminal possession of a weapon. It followed his arrest in New York in March when a gun, knife and marijuana were found in his luggage.

Three diners at a newly opened Britney Spears owned restaurant suffered food poisoning. The three students who had eaten wild striped bass at the New York restaurant made official complaints and vowed never to eat there again.

Session violinist Bobby Valentino serenaded a High Court judge during a copyright battle worth an estimated £100,000. The case was over the rights to The Bluebells version of Young At Heart. Valentino’s case hinged on convincing the judge that he, rather than the song's co Robert Hodgens, had composed the song’s distinctive violin part and that the violin part made a significant enough difference to the song to be considered an original contribution. Valentino was paid a session fee of £75. Valentino won his case as joint owner of the song.

American singer, songwriter Johnny Russell died aged 61. He wrote 'Act Naturally' covered by The Beatles and Buck Owens. Jim Reeves, Jerry Garcia, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt had all covered his songs.

Harvard professor Ronald Ferguson accused the culture of hip-hop and rap music of stalling academic progress among young American blacks. He claimed time spent learning intricate rhyming lyrics detracted from reading.

U2 crew member Greg Carroll was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dublin while running an errand for Bono. The song 'One Tree Hill' on the bands Joshua Tree album is dedicated to Carroll.

After a record breaking jump from No.33 on the UK singles charts, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible started a two week run at No.1 with his version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein song 'Happy Talk' from the 1949 musical South Pacific.

Lead singer from Three Dog Night Chuck Negron was arrested at his Louisville hotel room on the opening night of the bands tour and charged with possession of cocaine.

After 182 Ziggy Stardust concert performances, David Bowie announced he was about to retire from live performing, although it eventually transpires that the stage persona is being retired and not Bowie himself. Only his guitarist Mick Ronson knew about the announcement, which came as a complete shock not only to the audience but the rest of Bowie's band and crew.

Laurens Hammond the inventor of the Hammond organ died aged 73. Many rock artists including Procol Harum, Keith Emerson, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Allman Brothers Band and the Faces featured the sound of the Hammond. He also invented a silent spring-driven clock and during the second world war he helped design guided missile systems.

Blues singer, guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell died of cancer aged 68. The Rolling Stones covered his 'You Got To Move' on their Sticky Fingers album. He coached Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar technique.

American singer, songwriter and poet, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as a heart attack. He co-wrote some of the group's biggest hits, including ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Love Me Two Times’, and ‘Love Her Madly.’ On the 25th anniversary of his death an estimated 15,000 fans gathered at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France to pay their respects.

Brian Jones drowned while under the influence of drugs and alcohol after taking a midnight swim in his pool, aged 27. His body was found at the bottom of the pool by his Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin. The coroner's report stated "Death by misadventure", and noted his liver and heart were heavily enlarged by drug and alcohol abuse. Jones was one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones and in the early 60’s used the name "Elmo Lewis."

At an impromptu gathering at Joni Mitchell's house in Lookout Mountain, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash played together for the very first time. The trio went on to form Crosby, Stills and Nash.

The Equals were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Baby Come Back'. The group's only UK No.1. The song was first released in 1966 but did not chart. The song was covered by and became a No.1 hit for Pato Banton in 1994, (with Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40).

A private party was held at the Speakeasy Club in London, England for The Monkees. Guests included: John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, Lulu and all the members from Manfred Mann, The Who and Procol Harum.

Shane Lynch, vocals, Boyzone, who have had 21 UK hit singles, including 6 UK No.1 singles. Their breakthrough hit was their second single and cover version of the classic Osmonds hit, 'Love Me for a Reason', which peaked at No.2 on the UK Singles Chart.

Javier Weyler, drummer from Welsh rock band, Stereophonics, who replaced Richard Cable in 2003. Their 1999 UK No.1 album, Performance and Cocktails spent 97 weeks on the UK chart.

Kevin Hearn, keyboards, guitar, accordion, with Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies who scored the 1998 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'One Week'. The group has sold over 15 million records including albums and singles, and were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March of 2018.

Martyn Walsh, bassist from English alternative rock band Inspiral Carpets who had the 1990 UK No.14 single 'This Is How It Feels'.

English synthpop musician and songwriter Vince Clarke, who with Depeche Mode had the 1981 UK No.8 single 'Just Can't Get Enough'. With Yazoo the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Only You', and with Erasure, the 1992 UK No.1 single 'Abba-Esque EP'. Clarke was also a member of The Assembly.

British guitarist and keyboardist Mike Corby, The Babys who had two hits on the US chart, 'Isn't It Time' (1977) and 'Everytime I Think of You' (1979).

Neil Clark, guitarist from British pop band Lloyd Cole And The Commotions who had the 1985 UK hit single 'Brand New Friend'. Between 1984 and 1989, the band scored four Top 20 albums and five Top 40 singles in the UK.

American singer Laura Branigan who had the 1982 US No.2 & UK No.6 hit ‘Gloria,’ which stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks, then a record for a female artist, peaking at No. 2. Branigan also scored the 1984 US No.4 & UK No.5 single 'Self Control'. She died in her sleep of a brain aneurysm on 26th Aug 2004 aged 52.

English musician Andy Fraser. He joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers when he ws 15 years old. He joined Free when he was aged 16 and co-wrote the band's 1970 UK No.2 & US No.4 single ‘All Right Now'. He wrote hits for Robert Palmer, ('Every Kinda People'), Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, Rod Stewart and Paul Young. He died of a heart attack on 16 March 2015 at his home in California.

Johnnie Wilder, singer from funk, disco band Heatwave who scored the 1977 UK No.2 single 'Boogie Nights' and the hits 'The Groove Line', and 'Always and Forever'.

Hilly Michaels, American musician who was best known for playing drums with Sparks in the 1970s. Then a New York-based session drummer, he performed on Sparks' 1976 album Big Beat. Michaels released two solo albums in the early 1980s, Calling All Girls (1980) and Lumia (1981). Later, Michaels played with artists such as The Cherry Vanilla Band, The Hunter/Ronson Band, Dan Hartman, John Mellencamp, Marianne Faithfull, and Ronnie Wood. He died on November 15, 2025.

Paul Barrere, guitar, Little Feat, who scored two Top 40 albums during the 70s, best known songs, 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Sailin Shoes'. Barrere later played with Phil Lesh and Friends and also toured with Bob Dylan. He died on 26 October 2019 age 71.

English musician Top Topham best known as a blues guitarist and also for being the first lead guitarist of The Yardbirds. Topham left the band before they achieved mainstream popularity and was replaced by Eric Clapton. Topham died on 23 January 2023, at the age of 75.

Victor Unitt, from English psychedelic rock group Edgar Broughton Band who had the 1970 UK hit single 'Out Demons Out'.

Judith Durham, singer from Australian folk-influenced pop quartet The Seekers who scored the 1965 UK No.1 single 'I'll Never Find Another You'. They were the first Australian group to achieve major chart and sales success in the UK and the US and sold over 50 million records worldwide. Durham died in Melbourne, Australia on 5 August 2022, at age 79.

Fontella Bass, US female singer, pianist, who had the 1965 US No.4 and UK No.11 single 'Rescue Me'. Bass died on 26th Dec 2012 of complications following a heart attack aged 72.

Tommy Tedesco, American session guitarist. Described by Guitar Player magazine as the most recorded guitarist in history recording with The Beach Boys, Everly Brothers, The Supremes, The Monkees, The Association, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, Cher, and Nancy and Frank Sinatra. He died on 10th Nov 1997.

David Lynch, from American vocal group The Platters who had the 1959 UK & US No.1 single 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1955 and 1967. Lynch died of cancer on 2nd January 1981.