April 21st: Many of Today's Anniversaries

Anniversaries:

Pioneering Rock, Blues, and Country Guitarist Lonnie Mack Dead at 74 (2016)

Credit: Alligator Records

Mack, who is credited with launching the "era of modern rock guitar", died of natural causes in a hospital near his home in rural Tennessee. By bringing the guitar to the forefront of his work, he influenced then-future rock musicians to incorporate a lead guitar into their work.

AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Pleads Guilty Following Alleged Threat to Kill (2015)

Rudd plead guilty to a charge of a threat to kill, as well as charges for possession of marijuana and meth. He was reportedly unhappy about the launch party for his solo album, Head Job, and offered an associate significant payment to have one of many employees he fired "taken out". This payment would include $153,000 (£100,000), a motorcycle, and either one of his cars or a house.

Doris Richards, Mother of Rolling Stone Keith Richards Loses Battle with Cancer at 91 (2007)

Doris Richards, who bought son Keith Richards his first guitar when he was 15, died at age 91 following her battle with cancer. She, along with her father, helped to cultivate Keith's passion for music, which was instilled at an early age.

Folk Singer Sandy Denny Dead at 31 Following Collapse (1978)

Denny, who was known not only for her own work, but also as the only vocalist to appear as a guest on a Led Zeppelin record, was on vacation with her parents in Cornwall, England when she fell down a staircase. That event helped lead to her demise a month later when she collapsed at a friend's house and died in the hospital four days later due to a mid-brain hemorrhage. She appeared on "Battle of Evermore".

Warner Communications Boycotted Due to Rolling Stones Advertisement Campaign (1976)

Women Against Violence Against Women called for a boycott on all Warner Communications records after The Rolling Stones' advertisement for Black and Blue came out. It depicted model Anita Russell, who was not only bruised but tied up, underneath a phrase that read, "I'm Black and Blue from the Rolling Stones - and I love it!"

Janis Joplin Makes Her First Appearance in London (1969)

Janis Joplin appeared at The Royal Albert Hall in London for the very first time. It also served as her only headline solo concert in England. The show would become one of the most exciting events to happen in that hall during the countercultural era, and would boast the most exciting crowd the hall had seen since 1965.

Birthdays:

Nicole "Nickey" Barclay (1951-)

Nickey Barclay was a member of Fanny, one of the first all-female rock groups from the early '70s. She served as the band's pianist and organist, and also collaborated with musicians such as Barbara Streisand, Keith Moon, and Joe Cocker.

John Weider (1947-)

John Weider is best known as the former guitarist for Eric Burdon &The Animals (in which Eric Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins were the only original members left), as well as the former bassist of Family. He has played in several other bands as well, including Steve Marriott and the Moments, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.