This Day in Rock & Roll History for January 16

Elvis Presley's "Too Much" enters the pop chart. It will become the first of four chart toppers for Presley this year. (1957)

The Cavern Club opens in a former wine cellar on Matthew Street in Liverpool, England. The club will earn its landmark status in 1961 and 62' when the Beatles are its house band. (1957)

John Lennon's London Art gallery exhibit of erotic lithographs, Bag One, is closed by Scotland Yard and eight prints are confiscated as evidence of pornography. (1970)

The Who begins it first tour of Europe in four years with a performance of its rock opera "Tommy" at the theatre Champs Elysees in Paris. (1970)

Ross Bagdasarian, who had a bunch of hits "sung" by TV cartoon characters, the Chipmunks, dies at age 52. He did the voices for Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Under the name David Seville, he also recorded the Number One hit "Witch Doctor" in 1958. (1972)

Famed gospel singer Carla Ward dies after suffering her second stroke within several weeks. Aretha Franklin called Ward, "my inspiration." She was 48 years old. (1973)

Years of missed performances and sliding creativity catch up with Sly and the Family Stone when they begin an eight show six night stand at Radio City Music Hall and bomb at the box office. (1975)

Paul McCartney & Wings arrive in New Orleans to begin sessions for the album "Venus and Mars." The band records with Allen Toussaint at his Sea-Saint Studio; the LP will be released four months later. (1975)

The record set "Frampton Comes Alive!" is released and does extremely well. It goes gold in five weeks and platinum in less than three months, topping the charts for over two months. (1976)

Paul McCartney is jailed in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of marijuana. He will spend ten days behind bars before being kicked-out of the country by Japanese authorities. The remainder of his tour is canceled. (1980)

John Lennon releases "Woman" in the U.K. (1981)

Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove" becomes the longest running R&B Number One single in the past ten years, having held that position now for eight weeks. (1982)

The Rolling Stones go to Mexico City to shoot videos for "She Was Hot" and "Too Much Blood", two songs from their "Undercover" LP. (1984)

The Beastie Boys become the first act censored on "American Bandstand." (1987)

George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You" hits #1 on the chart. (1988)

The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies are held. Among those being inducted are The Byrds and Wilson Pickett. (1991)

Mick Jagger attends the Hollywood premiere of his flick "Freejack" at Mann's Chinese Theatre. (1992)

Jamaican authorities open fire on Jimmy Buffett's seaplane, mistaking it for a drug trafficker's plane. U2 singer Bono was with Buffett, but neither was hurt. (1996)

Warren Zevon, America, Jonny Lang and Delbert McClinton perform at the inaugural ball for former pro wrestler turned Minnesota governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura. America performs "Ventura Highway." (1999)

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