This Day in Rock & Roll History for January 8

The "King" Elvis Presley is born. (1935)

Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger is born. (1946)

David Bowie is born. (1947)

Bill Haley, who previously rejected in invitation to tour Australia because some of his Comets were averse to flying, begins a two-week tour down under in Newcastle. Sharing the bill are Lavern Baker and Joe Turner. (1957)

On his twenty-second birthday, Elvis Presley takes the army pre-induction exam in Memphis and passes. (1957)

The final episode of "Shindig!" featuring the Kinks and the Who is broadcast on ABC-TV. The show had premiered in September 1964 and from 1965 had aired twice weekly, on Thursday and Saturday evenings. (1966)

Yoko Ono releases "Approximately Infinite University" as a two record set because say says, "I figured if George Harrison can put out a triple album, then I can put out a double album." Although the disc doesn't do especailly well, it's generally better accepted than her earlier avant-garde work. (1973)

Kiss give a special dress rehearsal after being signed to Casablanca Records. A Rolling Stone magazine correspondent reports, "the group plays very heavy, loud and ultimately monotonous rock in the Black Sabbath tradition...A sure crowd pleaser. The crowds of kiddies, that is." (1974)

"The Early Beatles" turns gold nine years after its release and nearly four years since the group's disbanding. (1974)

Three Led Zeppelin concerts and Madison Square Garden sell out it a record four hours. The Garden box-office has to call other ticket outlets to help handle the extraordinary demand (60,000 tickets). (1975)

Canadian rock band Rush is named the country's official "Ambassadors of Music" by the Canadian government. (1979)

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