April 24
1970
Grace Slick went to the same preppy all girl’s school as Tricia Nixon, and the president’s daughter decides to have an alumni tea party at the White House. Not realizing who Grace Slick is she sends an invite and gets an RSVP with a ”plus one”, Abbie Hoffman! They planned to spike the party punch with LSD but never get that far.
1975
Another member of the 27 club. Badfinger’s Pete Ham committed suicide in his Surrey home. Ham co-wrote “Without You” with bandmate Tom Evans, another victim of suicide. Frustration with his career and finances led him to hang himself.
1976
They came that close! Paul McCartney and John Lennon were at the Dakota in New York City with their wives watching Saturday Night Live. Producer Loren Michaels repeated his offer for a bottom dollar fee if the Beatles would reunite. Lennon and McCartney thought maybe we could get a cab and…..nah. Too tired! It would be the last time they were together.
1992
Michael Jackson and his production company get sued for seven million dollars by the Cleveland Orchestra. Jackson allegedly used 67 seconds from the orchestra’s recording of Beethoven’s “Symphony Number Nine” on his “Dangerous” album without giving the proper credit or compensation.
2003
Dixie Chicks are doing damage control after Natalie Maines’ statement regarding the Iraq war though Maines says she stands by it. The they even appear naked (sort of), with private parts covered, on the cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine. They are covered with slogans such as “Traitors”, “Dixie Sluts”, “Proud Americans”, “Hero”, “Free Speech”, and “Brave” printed all over their bodies.
