Pick a Day

Music History Events: Memorable Concerts

December 25, 1964 The Zombies headline Murray the K's Big Holiday Show in New York City.

November 24, 1964 The Who, until recently The High Numbers, perform their first gig under the new name at London's Marquee Club, promising what the posters famously call "Maximum R&B."

November 8, 1964 Judy Garland and daughter Liza Minnelli perform together at the London Palladium, a performance recorded for American television and the LP Live At The London Palladium.

November 1, 1964 The Beach Boys begin their first UK tour with a show in London.

October 24, 1964 The T.A.M.I. show (Teenage Music International Show) concert is held in Santa Barbara, California, featuring Chuck Berry, The Supremes, The Beach Boys, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones, The Miracles, Jan & Dean, Lesley Gore and Gerry and the Pacemakers. The concert is released as a movie later in 1964.

October 19, 1964 The incredibly influential English concert called the "American Negro Blues Festival" kicks off, featuring Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Sonny Boy Williamson, among others. It is the first glimpse of these bluesmen for many upcoming British R&B and rock legends.

October 18, 1964 The Animals begin their first UK tour as headliners, playing the ABC Club in Manchester with supporting acts Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent, The Nashville Teens, and Tommy Tucker.

September 17, 1964 Charles Finley, who owns the Kansas City Athletics baseball team, pays The Beatles $150,000 to play a show at his Municipal Stadium. The Beatles add their version of "Kansas City" to the setlist, marking their only American performance of the song.

September 13, 1964 Murray The K's latest rock and roll show at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre ends after 10 days, featuring Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, The Shangri-Las, and Jay and the Americans.

September 4, 1964 The Animals play America for the first time with a show at New York's Paramount Theatre.

August 11, 1964 The Who, temporarily known as the High Numbers, take the stage at Harrow, England's Railway Hotel, but not before lead singer Roger Daltrey is involved in a fistfight with his father-in-law just outside.

June 4, 1964 The Beatles begin their first world tour, playing the K.B. Hallen Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. Session drummer Jimmy Nicol, wearing Ringo's suit, sits in for the ailing drummer for this and the next five dates.

June 1, 1964 The Rolling Stones make their first trip to the United States, arriving on British Airways Flight 505 for their first American tour.

April 17, 1964 Them (with Van Morrison) make their first concert appearance, at Belfast's Maritime Hotel.

February 17, 1964 The first Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass concert is held in Los Angeles.

February 12, 1964 The Beatles conclude their triumphant first American visit with two 25-minute shows at Carnegie Hall. The shows aren't recorded due to a dispute with the American Federation of Musicians union.

February 11, 1964 The Beatles play their first US concert, performing at the Washington Coliseum in Washington, DC. The setlist includes "I Saw Her Standing There," "All My Loving" and "Twist And Shout."

January 6, 1964 The Rolling Stones begin their first headlining UK tour. Opening act: The Ronettes.

November 8, 1963 Dick Clark begins his latest "Caravan of Stars" tour in Teaneck, New Jersey, featuring The Ronettes, Little Eva, Bobby Vee, Brian Hyland, and the Dovells.

November 7, 1963 The Beatles make their only visit to Ireland as a group, performing two shows in Dublin at the Adelphi Cinema.

November 4, 1963 When The Beatles play The Royal Variety Performance in London in front of an audience that includes the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, John Lennon says, "Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands. All the rest of you, rattle your jewelry."

November 1, 1963 The Beatles make their first appearance as a tour headliner at a show in Gloucestershire, England. On the set list: "I Saw Her Standing There," "From Me To You" and "All My Loving."

October 4, 1963 A 17-year-old Eric Clapton makes his first appearance with The Yardbirds at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England. He replaces their original guitarist Anthony "Top" Topham.

September 29, 1963 The Rolling Stones begin their first British tour at the New Victoria Theatre in London. They are the support act on a bill with the Everly Brothers and Bo Diddley.

May 18, 1963 Roy Orbison begins a UK tour in Slough, England, with The Beatles, whose song "From Me to You" is #1 in that territory.

March 11, 1963 The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers attract record company interest with a show at the Marquee Club in London. They later sign with HMV (a division of EMI) and change their name to Manfred Mann.

February 24, 1963 The Rolling Stones get their first steady gig at London's Station Hotel, performing on Sundays in the Crawdaddy room for a grand total of $67 a week.

February 2, 1963 The Beatles begin their first British tour at the Gaumont in Bradford. They're listed last on the bill, which includes The Honeys, The Kestrals, The Red Price Orchestra and 16-year-old Helen Shapiro.

October 12, 1962 Little Richard headlines a package bill at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, England, where he meets The Beatles for the first time, who are also on the bill.

October 8, 1962 Little Richard, who gave up show business to preach in 1957, returns to rock with a UK tour that also includes Sam Cooke and Billy Preston.