thebuzzr Independent Music Coverage

October 7, 1986 

The Police release their final single, “Don’t Stand So Close To Me ’86,” and then call it a career. They had hoped to reunite and record another album but injury and conflict lead to Stewart Copeland declaring they can no longer work together.

October 8, 2008 

Foo Fighters make a villain out of John McCain after the GOP candidate uses “My Hero” without permission. “‘My Hero’ was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song,” Dave Grohl writes in a statement.

October 9, 1940 

John Winston Lennon is born in Liverpool, England. The “Winston” comes from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill – John would later add “Ono” to his middle name in honor of Yoko.

October 10, 1972 

James Brown alienates much of his audience by meeting with President Richard Nixon in the White House and endorsing him in his bid for re-election.

October 11, 1975 

Saturday Night – a title later changed to Saturday Night Live – makes its debut on NBC. Music is a big part of the show, and the first episode features two musical guests performing two songs each: Janis Ian doing “At Seventeen” and “In the Winter,” and Billy Preston playing “Nothing from Nothing” and “Fancy Lady.”

October 12, 1997 

John Denver, an avid amateur pilot who loves flying experimental aircraft, dies at 53 when the plane he is flying crashes into the Pacific Ocean.

October 13, 1941 

Paul Simon is born in Newark, New Jersey. He meets his longtime music partner, Art Garfunkel, when they both perform in a school production of Alice in Wonderland for their sixth grade graduation. They would become Simon & Garfunkel.

October 14, 2006 

Opening for Rascal Flatts at Madison Square Garden, Eric Church goes off-kilter, playing a little “Crazy Train” and staying on stage past his allotted time. He is kicked off the tour and replaced by a talented newcomer named Taylor Swift.