April 10th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for April 10 throughout music history

Photo by Andrew Maclear/Redferns

Paul McCartney Leaves The Beatles

On this day in music, April 10, 1970, Paul McCartney revealed in a press statement that he had quit The Beatles. “I have no future plans to record or appear with The Beatles again, or to write any music with John,” he stated. His shock departure from the groundbreaking Liverpudlian group came seven days before the singer-songwriter launched his solo career with his debut album, McCartney. His former songwriting partner John Lennon, who had left the band in late 1969 but kept his decision under wraps to aid the band’s business ventures, was scathing when asked by a journalist to comment. “Paul hasn’t left. I sacked him,” he snapped.

In 2019, Billie Eilish stormed to the top of the UK chart with her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Just 17 at the time, the Los Angeles-born singer-songwriter became the youngest female solo artist to reach the No.1 spot in the UK. The multi-platinum album topped the charts in ten countries across the globe and also won a Grammy in the Album Of The Year category.

In 1976, ex-Humble Pie guitarist Peter Frampton topped the US albums chart with Frampton Comes Alive, which sold over six million copies to become the best-selling LP of the year. It spent 97 weeks on the Billboard 200 and remains one of the best-selling live albums of all time.

In 1985, Madonna kicked off her first North American tour with a three-night engagement at Seattle’s Paramount Theater. The Beastie Boys served as the opening act for the 40-date run (dubbed “The Virgin Tour”).

In 2003, Little Eva, the singer who topped the US singles chart with “The Loco-Motion” in 1962, died at the age of 59. Born Eva Narcissus Boyd in North Carolina, she moved to New York and became the babysitter for the husband-and-wife songwriting team, Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The pair, who were aware of her talents, wrote “The Loco-Motion” especially for her.

In 2005, the final episode of the reality show The Osbournes was broadcast in the UK. During the peak of its three-year run on MTV, the program attracted eight million viewers. Ozzy Osbourne was bemused by its US popularity. “I suppose Americans get a kick out of watching a crazy Brit family like us make complete fools of ourselves every week,” he mused.

In 1982, Iron Maiden topped the UK albums chart for the first time with The Number of the Beast. The British metal band’s third LP also marked their first to go platinum in the US.

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BORN ON APRIL 10:

1947: Bunny Wailer (The Wailers)
1948: Fred Smith (Television)
1957: Steven Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs)
1959: Katrina Leskanich (Katrina And The Waves)
1963: Mark Oliver Everett aka “E” (Eels)
1964: Alan “Reni” Wren (The Stone Roses)
1970: Mike Mushok (Staind)
1970: Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest)
1979: Sophie Ellis Bextor
1983: Andrew Dost (Fun)

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Keep scrolling for all of our April 10 birthdays.

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April 10th

On this day in music

10 Apr 2019 Billie Eilish was at No.1 on the UK chart with her debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? It made Eilish the youngest female solo act to chart at No.1 in the UK. At the 2020 Grammy Awards, it won Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, while 'Bad Guy' from the album won Record of the Year.
10 Apr 2015 All Time Low were at No.1 on the UK album chart with their sixth studio album Future Hearts. The American rock band also reach No.2 in the US, giving them their highest placing on the US album chart to date.
10 Apr 2013 Kate Bush received her CBE for services to music from the Queen at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, England. The singer-songwriter, who was catapulted to fame in 1978 when Wuthering Heights topped the charts, said she was 'incredibly thrilled'. The 54-year-old dedicated the award to her family and joked that it would have pride of place at the top of her Christmas tree.
10 Apr 2007 The former home of Johnny Cash burnt to the ground. Cash and his wife June Carter used the base in Tennessee to write many of their songs, and to entertain fans and US presidents. Part of Cash's famous late-period video 'Hurt' was shot inside the house, 20 miles north-east of country music capital Nashville. After the couple's deaths in 2003, the home in Henderson was bought by Bee Gee Barry Gibb who was preparing to refurbish the property when fire struck - within a few hours, only the stone chimneys remained of the building.
10 Apr 2006 Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin announced they had named their second child, a boy, Moses Martin. The couple also had a daughter named Apple.
10 Apr 2005 The final episode of The Osbournes was aired on MTV in the UK. The show reached a peak audience of eight million at it's height during a three year run. Ozzy Osbourne was at a loss to explain its popularity, saying, 'I suppose Americans get a kick out of watching a crazy Brit family like us make complete fools of ourselves every week.'
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10 Apr 2003 American singer Little Eva died in Kinston, North Carolina, aged 59. She had the 1962 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'The Loco-Motion'. Eva was working as a babysitter for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin who asked her to record the song they'd just written. 'The Loco-Motion' was also a hit for Grand Funk Railroad in 1974 (US No.1) and for Kylie Minogue in 1988 (US No.3).
10 Apr 2003 Former Oak Ridge Boys member Noel Fox died at a Nashville hospital following a series of strokes aged 63. Fox sang with the Oak Ridge boys until 1972, and later became a music business executive.
10 Apr 2001 Bruce Springsteen won a court battle to keep the rights to his early songs. Ronald Winter of Masquerade Music had released the album 'Before The Fame' was found to be in breach of copyright. Springsteen was awarded more than £2m damages.
10 Apr 2001 Sean Puffy Combs was stopped by police in Golden Beach, Miami who informed him that his driving license was suspended. Combs was not arrested because he claimed he was unaware of the suspension, but he was cited for the traffic violation.
10 Apr 2001 Eminem was given 2 years probation and fined £1,800 and £3,600 costs after admitting carrying a concealed weapon. The charges followed an incident outside a club in Warren, Michigan last June when Eminem 'pistol whipped' John Guerra after he saw him kissing his wife.
10 Apr 1999 A charity tribute concert for the late Linda McCartney was held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Among the performers were Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, George Michael, Elvis Costello and Sinead O’Connor.
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10 Apr 1994 Over 5,000 fans attended a US public memorial service for Kurt Cobain at Seattle Flag Pavilion.
10 Apr 1990 Tom Waits took Doritos Chips to court for using a 'Waits', sound-alike on radio ads. The jury awarded him $2.475 million in punitive damages, Waits comments after the case, 'now by law I have what I always felt I had...a distinctive voice.'
10 Apr 1986 American singer-songwriter and lyricist Linda Creed died of breast cancer at the age of 37. In the 70's she teamed up with songwriter-producer Thom Bell and co-wrote hits for the Stylistics, including 'You Are Everything', 'Betcha by Golly, Wow' and 'You Make Me Feel Brand New'. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 26, Creed kept on working. Whitny Houston recorded her song 'The Greatest Love of All' for her 1985 self-titled debut album.
10 Apr 1985 Madonna kicked off her very first North American tour by playing the first of three nights at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington. The Beastie Boys opened for Madonna on this 40-date Virgin Tour.
10 Apr 1984 Nate Nelson, lead vocalist for The Flamingos on their 1959 hit 'I Only Have Eyes For You', died of heart disease aged 52, a day after his wife had made a plea to his fans to find a heart for her ailing husband.
10 Apr 1982 Iron Maiden scored their first UK No.1 album with The Number Of The Beast. The bands third studio album saw the debut of vocalist Bruce Dickinson and the final appearance of the late drummer Clive Burr. This was their first album to reach No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart, and be certified platinum in the US.
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10 Apr 1976 Peter Frampton went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Frampton Comes Alive', one of the biggest selling 'live' albums in rock history. It was the best-selling album of 1976, selling over 6 million copies in the US. Frampton Comes Alive! was voted Album of the year in the 1976 Rolling Stone readers poll. It stayed on the chart for 97 weeks.
10 Apr 1970 27 year-old Paul McCartney issued a press statement, announcing that The Beatles had split, (one week before the release of his solo album). McCartney said, 'I have no future plans to record or appear with The Beatles again, or to write any music with John'. John Lennon, who had kept his much-earlier decision to leave The Beatles quiet for the sake of the others, was furious. When a reporter called Lennon to comment upon McCartney's resignation, Lennon said, 'Paul hasn't left. I sacked him'.
10 Apr 1970 Jim Morrison was dragged off stage by keyboardist Ray Manzarek during a Doors concert in Boston, after Morrison asked the audience, 'Would you like to see my genitals?'. Theater management quickly switched off the power. Morrison had been arrested in Miami a year earlier for 'lewd and lascivious behavior' during a performance.
10 Apr 1970 Elton John released his self titled second studio album which included his breakthrough single 'Your Song'. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year the following year.
10 Apr 1967 Marvin Gaye recorded his version of 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. The song was first recorded by The Miracles and had also been a million seller in 1967 for Gladys Knight and the Pips.
10 Apr 1965 British acts started a run of seven weeks at the top of the US charts when Freddie and the Dreamers went to No.1 with 'I'm Telling You Now', followed by Wayne Fontana's 'Game Of Love', Herman's Hermits 'Mr's Brown' and The Beatles 'Ticket To Ride.'
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10 Apr 1965 A British school in Wrexham, North Wales, asked parents to please keep children in school uniform and not to send them to school in 'corduroy trousers', like the ones worn by The Rolling Stones.
10 Apr 1962 The Beatles former bass player Stuart Sutcliffe died, (original bassist for eighteen months - January 1960 - June 1961). Sutcliff had stayed in Hamburg Germany after leaving the group. He died of a brain haemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital, aged 22.

Born on this day in music

10 Apr 1984 American singer-songwriter and actress Mandy Moore who had the 2000 UK No.6 single 'Candy'.
10 Apr 1983 American multi-instrumentalist, Andrew Dost from Fun. Fun's second album, Some Nights saw the band score their first No.1 hit single, 'We Are Young'.
10 Apr 1981 Liz McClarnon, singer who with Atomic Kitten had the 2000 UK No.1 single 'Whole Again'. McClarnon co-wrote several Atomic Kitten songs, including the UK Top 10 hits 'See Ya', 'I Want Your Love' and 'Someone like Me'.
10 Apr 1980 Bryce Dane Soderberg, bassist and singer, with American rock band Lifehouse who had the 2001 US No.10 & UK No.25 single 'Hanging By A Moment' from their debut studio album, No Name Face.
10 Apr 1979 Sophie Ellis Bextor, English singer, with theaudience who had the 2000 UK No.25 single 'If You Can't Do It When You're Young, When Can You Do It', the 2000 UK No.1 single with Spiller, 'Groovejet, If This Ain't Love'. As a solo artist Bextor scored the 2001 UK No.2 single 'Murder On The Dancefloor.
10 Apr 1970 1970, Q- Tip, US male rapper who had the 1997 UK No. 6 single 'Got 'Til It's Gone'. He embarked on his music career as part of the critically acclaimed East Coast hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest.
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10 Apr 1970 Mike Mushok, guitarist with American rock band Staind who had the 2001 US No.1 album, Break The Cycle.
10 Apr 1968 Kenediid Osman, bassist from English Britpop band Sleeper, who scored the 1996 UK No.10 single 'Sale Of The Century'.
10 Apr 1964 Alan 'Reni' Wren, English rock drummer with The Stone Roses who had the hit singles 'Sally Cinnamon' (1987) and 'Fool's Gold' (1989).
10 Apr 1963 Mark Oliver Everett, (known by the stage name E), lead singer, guitarist, and keyboardist with American rock band Eels. Since 1996, Eels has released eleven studio albums, seven of which charted in the Billboard 200.
10 Apr 1959 American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Brian Setzer, guitar, vocals, The Stray Cats who spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 1980s. They scored the 1980 UK No.9 single 'Runaway Boys', and the 1983 US No.3 single 'Stray Cat Strut'. He later worked with his swing revival band, the Brian Setzer Orchestra.
10 Apr 1959 Katrina Leskanich from British-American rock band Katrina And The Waves, best known for the 1985 hit 'Walking on Sunshine'. They also won the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Love Shine a Light'.
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10 Apr 1957 Steven Gustafson, from American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs that was founded in 1981. They achieved their greatest success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US.
10 Apr 1953 Terre Roche, singer, songwriter, The Roches, who has also worked with Paul Simon and Loudon Wainwright.
10 Apr 1950 Burke Shelley, bass guitarist, and vocalist from Welsh hard rock Budgie. They were one of the earliest heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts. Budgie had the 1971 single 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman'. He died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on 10 January 2022, aged 71.
10 Apr 1950 American guitarist and singer Eddie Hazel, who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic. They had the 1978 US No.16 album One Nation Under A Groove. He died on December 23, 1992, from internal bleeding and liver failure.
10 Apr 1950 Ernest Stewart, keyboards, with American disco and funk group KC and the Sunshine Band who had the 1975 US No.1 single 'That's The Way, I Like It', and the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Give It Up'. He died on 26th April 1997.
10 Apr 1948 Fred Smith, bassist with Television. The group's debut album, Marquee Moon, is often considered one of the defining releases of the punk era. He was the original bassist with Blondie until he replaced Richard Hell when Hell left Television in 1975.
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10 Apr 1947 Jamaican singer songwriter and percussionist Bunny Wailer, who was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the long-time standard-bearers of reggae music. He died on 2 March 2021 age 73.
10 Apr 1947 Karl Russell from American pop and soul trio The Hues Corporation, who scored the 1974, US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Rock The Boat' which sold over 2 million copies.
10 Apr 1936 Bobbie Smith from American rhythm and blues vocal group the Detroit Spinners who had the 1980 UK No.1 & US No.2 single 'Working My Way Back To You'. Smith died on 16th March 2013 in Orlando, Florida at the age of 76 due to complications from pneumonia and influenza.
10 Apr 1936 Ricky Valance, (born David Spencer), who became the first Welsh singer to score a UK No.1 with the 1960 single, 'Tell Laura I Love Her' which sold over a million copies. He died on 12 June 2020 at his home in Spain at the age of 84.
10 Apr 1932 Nate Nelson, The Flamingos, 1959 hit 'I Only Have Eyes For You'. Died of heart disease on April 10th 1984 aged 52, a day after his wife had made a plea to his fans to find a heart for her ailing husband.
10 Apr 1921 Sheb Wooley, actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty song and US No.1 'The Purple People Eater'. He died at the age of 82 in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 16, 2003.
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