American musician Gary Rossington died at his home in Milton, Georgia age 71. He is best known as a founder of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd who had the 1974 US No. 8 single 'Sweet Home Alabama' the 1977 US No. 5 album Street Survivors and the 1982 UK No.21 single 'Freebird'. He was also the longest-surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins.

Ed Sheeran was at No.1 on the UK album chart with his third studio album ÷ (pronounced ‘divide’). All the tracks on the album reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart in the week of the album's release, due to heavy streaming. The dominance of its tracks on the UK chart led to calls for change on how the singles chart was compiled. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Sony admitted that a number of Michael Jackson tracks had been stolen after its website was hacked. The singer, who died in June 2009 at the age of 50, had recorded unreleased duets with artists ranging from the late Freddie Mercury and Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am.

61 year-old Charles Mulchrone's teenage love for The Beatles paid dividends when he sold his old autograph book at Sheppard's auction house, Durrow, for 1,300 euros. It contained the signatures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono when the couple stayed at a hotel in Mulranny in the summer of 1968. Charles plucked up the courage to approach them and got their signatures, he said they were.

Lou Pearlman, the man behind boy bands NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys was set to plead guilty to a $300m (£152m) fraud scheme. The music mogul admitted to a court in Florida of running scams that defrauded investors and major banks for more than 20 years. The charges carried a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $1m (£506,000) fine.

Records by the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon were chosen for preservation by the US Library of Congress. The Stones ’(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ and Paul Simon's Graceland album entered the National Recordings Registry, which preserves historic works for future generations. Other recordings chosen this year included Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'Be My Baby' by The Ronettes, 'A Change Is Gonna Come' by Sam Cooke and the eponymous album The Velvet Underground and Nico.

Corinne Bailey Rae went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album 'Corinne Bailey Rae.' Rae became only the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at No.1 on the UK chart.

A commemorative plaque for the The Jimi Hendrix Experience was unveiled in Loisin-sous-Lens. Hendrix had appeared at The Twenty Club when it opened in 1967. It was his first European tour where he was totally unknown. Club owner Rikki Stein stated: 'The place was packed and at the end of ’Wild Thing’, his first number, there was total silence. The entire audience just stood there, open-mouthed. They’d never seen or heard anything like it in their life'.

UK guitarist John McGeoch died in his sleep aged 49. He had been a member of Magazine, who had the 1978 UK No.41 single 'Shot By Both Sides', and also worked with Siouxsie And The Banshees, Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd.

The first episode of Osbourne's TV Show was aired on MTV in the US. Focusing on the madman and his family (his wife Sharon, and two of their three children). Oblivious to the camera, they bicker, squabble, curse and hang out backstage at Ozzy shows.

Former rap artist MC Hammer became a preacher at the Jubilee Christian Centre in San Jose. Hammer had been declared bankrupt in 1996 after squandering his $50 million (£29.4 million) fortune.

Madonna went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with her version of the Don McLean 1972 hit 'American Pie'. It was her 50th UK hit and the singers ninth UK No.1 and taken from the soundtrack to the 2000 film The Next Best Thing.

Viv Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band was killed in a house fire. The English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, and poet is best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.

Grace Slick was arrested for pointing a shotgun at police in her Tiburon, home in California. The singer was later sentenced to 200 hours of community service and three month's worth of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

R.E.M. cleaned up in The Rolling Stone Music Awards winning Album of the year, for 'Out Of Time', Artist of the year, Best single for 'Losing My Religion', Best video for 'Losing My Religion' and Best band, Best guitarist and Best songwriter awards.

Michael Jackson started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Billie Jean', his fourth solo US No.1, also No.1 in the UK. And on this day Jacksons album Thriller went to No.1 for the first time on the UK album chart, it went on to become the biggest selling album of all time with sales over 65 million.

Actor and singer John Belushi died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin. Belushi was one of the original cast members on US TV's Saturday Night Live, played Joliet 'Jake' Blues in The Blues Brothers and also appeared in the film Animal House. His tombstone reads "I may be gone, but rock n roll lives on."

Barbra Streisand started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Love Theme From A Star Is Born’, her second US No.1. It made No.3 in the UK. The Eagles were at No.2 with ‘New Kid In Town’ and The Steve Miller Band was at No.3 with ‘Fly Like An Eagle’.

Rod Stewart met Swedish actress, Britt Ekland at a party in Los Angeles, the couple went on to have a high profile love affair.

The former US manager of Jimi Hendrix Michael Jeffrey was one of 68 people killed in a plane crash in France. Jeffery was en-route to a court appearance in London related to Hendrix.

Led Zeppelin started a 12-date 'Thank You' tour for British fans, appearing at the clubs from their early days and charging the same admission prices as in 1968. The first show was at The Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland where they played songs from their upcoming fourth album, including the first public performances of 'Black Dog', 'Stairway To Heaven', 'Going To California' and 'Rock And Roll'.

Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, The Ryan Brothers and Lee Dorsey all appeared at the Saville Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England. Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles leased the theatre in 1965, presenting both plays and music shows. The venue became notorious for its Sunday night concerts.

The Rolling Stones kicked off their fifth UK tour at The Regal Theatre, Edmonton, London. A 14-date package tour with The Hollies, The Konrads and Dave Berry and the Cruisers.

The Mannish Boys released their second single 'I Pity The Fool', featuring a young David Bowie. Produced by Shel Talmy, (who was also producing the early singles and albums by The Who and The Kinks). Jimmy Page was Talmy's regular session musician and played the guitar solo on 'I Pity the Fool'.

Country singers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. They were travelling to Nashville after appearing at a benefit concert for the widow of Kansas City disc jockey 'Cactus' Jack Call, who had died in a car crash. On 7 March, country singer Jack Anglin was killed in a car crash on his way to Cline's funeral. Cline was the first country singer to cross over as a pop artist.

The Beatles recorded what would be their third single 'From Me to You' just five days after John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song. Originally planned as the B-side of the record, it was switched to the A-side during the recording session, with 'Thank You Girl' demoted to the B-side.

Frank Sinatra released his tenth studio album Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (the first album ever to top the UK Albums Chart). Sinatra aficionados often rank it his best album and many music critics consider it one of the greatest albums of its era. The original cover had Sinatra facing away from the young couple, but in 1957 Capitol altered the cover with a new image of Sinatra facing the couple.

Elvis Presley made his TV debut when he appeared on the weekend show 'Louisiana Hayride' on KWKH TV, broadcast from Shreveport Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana.

America learns of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's death when Air Force Staff Sergeant Johnny Cash intercepted a coded message from Russia. Cash enlisted in 1950 after he turned 18 and was assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile of the US Air Force Security Service at Landsberg, West Germany, where he proved his skill as a Morse Code operator.

Russell Leetch, bassist with English rock band The Editors, who had the 2007 UK No.1 album An End Has a Start and earned the band a Brit Awards nomination for best British Band.

John Frusciante, guitarist with Red Hot Chili Peppers who had the 1992 UK No.26 single with ‘Under The Bridge’, the 1991 US No.3 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik and a 2002 UK No.1 album By The Way.

Bertrand Cantat, French musician and former frontman of rock band Noir Désir. In 2003, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing his actress girlfriend during a fight after a violent row in a Lithuanian hotel.

Identical twin brothers, Craig and Charlie Reid from the Scottish band The Proclaimers, who had the 1987 UK No.3 single 'Letter From America', 1988 UK No.6 album 'Sunshine Over Leith' as well as the 2007 UK No.1 single with the Comic Relief charity hit 'I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).'

English singer and songwriter Andy Gibb the younger brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, of The Bee Gees. Through the early 1980s, he released eight singles which reached the Top 20 of the US Hot 100, three of which went to No.1, 'I Just Want to Be Your Everything' (1977), '(Love Is) Thicker Than Water' (1977), and 'Shadow Dancing' (1978). Gibb would later struggle with drug addiction and depression. He died on 10 March 1988, five days after his 30th birthday.

Mark E. Smith, singer from Manchester post-punk band The Fall. Smith formed the Fall in 1976 and was the only constant member of the band. He was known for his tempestuous relationship with his bandmates, and frequently fired them – there have been 66 different members over the years. Smith died on 24 January 2018 aged 60 after a long illness with lung and kidney cancer.

Teena Marie, US singer who had the 1980 UK No. 6 single 'Behind The Groove'. In 2004, while Teena Marie was sleeping in a hotel room, a large picture frame fell and struck her on the head. The blow caused a serious concussion that would result in momentary seizures for the rest of her life. Marie died on December 26th 2010.

Alan Clark, English musician who was the first and main keyboardist for the rock band Dire Straits. In 1983 he played on Bob Dylan's album Infidels and toured and recorded extensively with Eric Clapton. Clark has also played and recorded with other artists, including the Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Lou Reed, Prefab Sprout, Robert Cray, Al Green, Van Morrison, Roger Daltrey, George Harrison, Elton John, Phil Collins.

English singer and actress Elaine Page, best known for her work in musical theatre. Paige played Eva Perón in the first production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita in 1978 which for this role won the Laurence Olivier Award for Performance of the Year in a musical. She had the 1985 UK No.1 single with Barbara Dickson from the musical Chess 'I Know Him So Well'.

Guyanese-British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eddy Grant. With The Equals (one of the United Kingdom's first racially mixed pop groups), he had the 1968 UK No.1 single 'Baby Come Back', and as a solo artist scored the 1982 UK No.1 single 'I Don't Wanna Dance'. His 1983 single 'Electric Avenue' earned him a Grammy Award nomination and Grant is also well known for the anti-apartheid 1988 song 'Gimme Hope Jo'anna'.

Northern Irish singer Clodagh Rodgers, best known for her UK hit single 'Jack in the Box'. Rodgers became a television star and, in 1970, she was asked to represent the UK in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. As a Roman Catholic female from Northern Ireland, she received death threats from the IRA, who regarded her as a traitor, as a result of her appearing for the UK. Rodgers died at her home in Cobham, Surrey, on 18 April 2025, at the age of 78.

Canadian musician Richard Bell best known as the pianist for Janis Joplin and her Full Tilt Boogie Band. He was also a keyboardist with The Band during the 1990s. He also worked with Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt and Joe Walsh. Bell died after a long battle with multiple myeloma on 15 June 2007.

Johnny Jenkins, American left-handed blues guitarist, who helped launch the career of Otis Redding. His flamboyant style of guitar playing also influenced Jimi Hendrix. In 1970, Jenkins released the album Ton-Ton Macoute! The opening track, a cover of Dr. John's 'I Walk on Guilded Splinters' has been sampled by numerous musicians, including Beck (Loser), and Oasis (Go Let It Out). Several tracks on Ton-Ton Macoute! featured Duane Allman. He died on 26 June 2006.

American rock and roll singer and songwriter Paul Evans who was most prominent in the 1950s and 1960s. As a performer with The Curls he scored the 1959 hit 'Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat' which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

American blues singer-songwriter and pianist Tommy Tucker who scored the 1964 US No.11 hit 'Hi Heel Sneakers'. Tucker left the music industry in the late 1960s, taking a position as a real estate agent in New Jersey. He died on 22 January 1982 aged 48, after being overcome by poisonous fumes while he was renovating the floors of his New York City home.