Bob Welch, guitarist and vocalist for Fleetwood Mac, is born, as is singer Gary Lewis. (1946)

Bill Berry, guitarist and vocalist for R.E.M., is born. (1958)

Another Rolling Stones concert and another riot is provoked. However, this time the show in Belfast, Northern Ireland is stopped after only 12 minutes. (1964)

A London Appeals Court throws out Keith Richard’s drug conviction of last month, describing the evidence against him as flimsy. At the same time, the court reduced Mick Jaggers sentence on a related conviction to conditional discharge with probation. Chief Justice Lord Parker admonishes Jagger to remember his responsibilities as a pop idol. (1967)

A Moscow police chief reports that thousands of Moscow telephone booths have been made inoperable by thieves who have stolen phone parts in order to convert their acoustic guitars to electric. (1969)

To fill a contractual obligation, the Rolling Stones hand over the disc, “C***sucker Blues” to Decca Records. They are now free to form Rolling Stones Records. (1970)

The second night of the Who’s first of two ’71 U.S. tours is marked with tragedy when a 22 year old security guard is stabbed at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium. (1971)

James Taylor’s “You’ve Got A Friend” hits #1 on the chart. (1971)

The group Chicago receives a gold record for its first number one album, “Chicago V.” One of the songs,”Saturday in the Park,” reaches number three in September. (1972)

Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper” and Orleans’ “Still The One” are released. (1976)

James Taylor plays a free concert in New York’s Central Park to help the city’s campaign to restore the park’s Sheep Meadow. (1979)

Elvis Presley makes his professional debut in Memphis. It’s his first concert to be advertised. (1954)

Remember the Power Ridge Rock Festival in Connecticut that was cancelled by local authorities? Over 30,000 people show up even though police have barricaded all roads leading up to the fesitval for two hours. Utilities to the site are cut off and the crowd parties on. Doctors report over 800 cases of bad drug reactions. (1970)

The Rolling Stones fire Allen Klein as their manager. (1970)

The Charlie Daniels Band, one of the U.S.’ popular exponents of Southern style boogie rock, earns it first gold record for “Fire on the Mountain.” (1975)

David Bowie plays the first show of his “Glass Spider” tour in Philadelphia. (1987)

Many Motown stars gathered for a memorial service for Mary Wells, who died of cancer at the age of 49. Smokey Robinson sang a medley of Wells’ hits. (1992)

REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neal Doughty is born. (1946)

Geddy Lee, bassist and vocals for Rush, was born (1953)

Bruce Springsteen’s wife, E Street Band guitarist and vocalist Patty Scialia celebrates a birthday. (1956)

The Isley Brothers record “Shout.” (1959)

Dick Clark premieres his summer stage show, the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. (1961)

After a four year hiatus, the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island reopens. Those getting thumbs-up from the crowd include Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary and Bob Dylan. (1963)

Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” is released. (1963)

The Beatles film “Help!” debuts at London’s Pavillion Theatre. Another sell-out crowd attends while critics are bemused. (1965)

Bob Dylan crashes his Triumph 55 motorcycle while riding near Woodstock, New York. He is sent to Middletown Hospital with several broken neck vertebrae, a concussion and cuts on his face and scalp. He remains in serious condition for a week suffering mild amnesia, paralysis and internal injuries for about a month. The rumor mill begins with Dylan in a coma, becoming a vegetable, never performing again, dodging the draft, passing on or lost his mind due to drug use. (1966)

The Temptations’ “You’re My Everything” is released. (1967)

The Byrds leave on their tour of South Africa without Gram Parsons. He refuses to set foot in a country where apartheid is official policy. (1968)

The Rolling Stones’ contract with Decca Records has expired and they’re talking about starting their own label. They inform their business manager, Allen Klein, that “neither he nor ABKCO Industries have any authority to negotiate recording contracts on their behalf.” (1970)

Led Zeppelin, in the middle of a very successful U.S. tour, are the victims of one of the largest cash thefts in New York City. $180,000 is taken from the band’s deposit box at the Drake Hotel. The money is mostly cash receipts from the first of two night at Madison Square Garden. (1973)

Mama Cass Elliot, a one-time member of the Mama’s & Papa’s, dies in London. A postmortem the following day shows she died as a result of choking on a sandwich and from inhaling her own vomit. It’s later revealed that she suffered a heart attack. She was 32. (1974)

Eric Clapton begins his first tour of Britain in five years. He stays three weeks, starting off at Hempstead’s Pavillion Theatre. (1976)

Earth, Wind & Fire enter the soul chart with their version of the Beatles “Got to Get You into My Life,” from the “Sgt. Pepper” soundtrack. It makes it to number one for a week in September. (1978)

Kenny Loggins “Whenever I Call You Friend” is released. (1978)

David Bowie makes his theatrical debut as the title role in “The Elephant Man.” Bowie will leave the Denver production and take the lead role in the New York production on Broadway. The critical reaction was favorable. (1980)

Richard Wright, keyboardist for Pink Floyd, is born. (1945)

Simon Kirke, drummer for Bad Company and Free, is born (1949)

Jerry Lee Lewis makes his television debut on “The Steve Allen Show.” Lewis is booked for two more appearances. (1957)

Billboard reports on a claim from the Esso Research Center “…tuning in rock & roll music on a car radio can cost a motorist money,” because the rhythm can cause a driver to unconsciously jiggle the gas pedal, thus wasting fuel. (1958)

Tommy Roe’s “Sheila” enters the Hot 100 at #93. It will top the charts by September 1. (1962)

Mick Jagger makes his acting debut in the title role of “Ned Kelly.” The film opens today. (1970)

One of the largest rock festivals of all time is held at the Watkins Glen raceway. More than 600,000 show up for one day of music with the Grateful Dead, the Band and the Allman Brothers. (1973)

Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re An American Band” is released. (1973)

Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle” goes gold, on its way to platinum. The album features huge hits as the title track (which makes it to number two), “Rock’n Me” (goes number one later in the year), “Jet Airliner” (#8 in 1977) and “Take the Money and Run” (#11 this month). (1976)

Ted Nugent, Journey, Aerosmith and Thin Lizzy headline the World Series of Rock at Cleveland Stadium. (1979)

The Beatles sue Nike and Capitol Records over the use of “Revolution” in shoe commercials. (1987)

10,000 Maniacs play their last show with lead singer Natalie Merchant. Merchant leaves the group to pursue a solo career. (1993)

Jimi Hendrix’ father James Al Hendrix wins back the rights to his son’s name, likeness, image and music after a number of compaines had profited from them over the years. (1995)

Singer Marguerite Ganser Dorste of the Shangri-Las dies of breast cancer. She was 48. (1996)

Pete Townshend plays at the Supper Club in New York to showcase his upcoming album, Pete Townshend Live: A Benefit For Maryville Academy. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder joins Townshend on stage to perform a number of songs including “Magic Bus,” “Heart To Hang Onto” and the Pearl Jam classic, “Better Man.” (1999)

Ever since Ringo Starr vowed, on a well-known cover of Buck Owens’s hit “Act Naturally,” that he’d become “the biggest fool to ever hit the big time,” the renowned rock ’n’ roll drummer has done all right for himself. As a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist, Mr. Starr has sold more than a few records, won some Grammy Awards and even had a minor planet named for him. But on Wednesday Mr. Starr will reach a very special milestone: he turns 70 years old.

As you’d expect, he plans to mark the occasion with a little help from his friends, and anyone else he can round up. Finding himself in New York on the big day, he is celebrating with a private event in the morning at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square; Hard Rock International is honoring the day at locations around the world. (Details are at ringostarr.com.)

In the evening he will perform a concert at Radio City Music Hall with his All Starr Band, which includes Edgar Winter, Gary Wright and Rick Derringer.