February 12th

2007: The Police held a press conference at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood to announce their reunion tour. The group also held a public rehearsal.

2000: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins died in Paris after surgery to treat an aneurysm. He was 70 years old.

1994: Alice in Chains made history as their EP Jar of Flies became the first EP top the Billboard 200 album chart.

1981: Rush released Moving Pictures which went on to become their most commercially successful album in the U.S. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 album chart the following month & sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone.

1970: John Lennon performed Instant Karma! on a pre-taped appearance on the U.K.’s Top of the Pops, which made Lennon the first Beatle to appear on the show since 1966.

1968: Jimi Hendrix made his live debut in his birthplace of Seattle at the Seattle Arena. Hendrix also received the key to the city & received an honorary diploma from Garfield High School, where he dropped out at 16 years old.

The Mamas & the Papas’ John & Michelle Phillips became parents as their only child, daughter Chynna was born.

Birthdays:
Ray Manzarek-keyboardist for The Doors born in 1939
Joe Schermie-bassist for Three Dog Night born in 1946
Stanley Knight-guitarist for Black Oak Arkansas born in 1949
Steve Hackett-guitarist for Genesis born in 1950
Gil Moore-drummer for Triumph born in 1951
Michael McDonald-singer for The Doobie Brothers born in 1952