March 10th: The Biggest Music Headlines
Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories, and events for March 10 throughout music history
The Sex Pistols Ink Record Deal Outside Buckingham Palace
In 1977, The Sex Pistols signed with A&M Records, following their controversial departure from EMI over their bad behavior. While the punk pioneers privately inked the contract one day earlier, the label held a press conference outside Buckingham Palace where they took part in a public signing ceremony. Afterward, the band celebrated with a boozy party at the label’s offices where all kinds of mayhem ensued, including bassist Johnny Rotten verbally abusing staff and Sid Vicious smashing a toilet bowl and cutting his foot open. Two days later, the band got in a fight in a club that saw Rotten threatening the life of a record executive, and on March 16th, A&M terminated their contract with the band, paying them a £75,000 settlement fee.
In 2009, tickets for a Las Vegas concert by Sir Paul McCartney sold out in seven seconds. The ex-Beatle was playing a one-off show, marking the April 19 launch of the 4,000-capacity New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Tickets were priced at $750 and sold at a rate of almost 600 a second.
In 1958, Simon & Garfunkel, who were both fifteen years old and still in high school, released “Our Song,” the second of two singles via Big Records under the name Tom and Jerry. Alluding to his interest in math, Garfunkel called himself Tom Graph while Simon adopted the surname of a former girlfriend, calling himself Jerry Landis.
In 1979, disco queen Gloria Gaynor topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Will Survive.” A female empowerment anthem welded to a disco beat, the tune began life as the B-side to a single called “Substitute” before a DJ flipped the record over and exposed it to a wider audience. It also went to No.1 in the UK and won a Grammy in 1980 for Best Disco Recording.
In 1960, the trade paper Record Retailer published the UK’s first-ever EP and LP charts. Topping the EP charts was Cliff Richard & The Shadows’ “Expresso Bongo” while The Explosive Freddy Cannon was the top-selling LP.
In 2017, Sister Sledge’s Joni Sledge, the second eldest of the Philadelphia group, died at the age of 60. The sisters began recording in 1971 but didn’t make a breakthrough until 1979 when they hooked up with Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards who masterminded their blockbuster album, We Are Family.
Looking for more things that happened on this day in music?
Keep scrolling for all of the headlines for March 10.
BORN ON MARCH 10:
1940: Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean)
1947: Tom Scholz (Boston)
1955: Bunny DeBarge (DeBarge)
1963: Rick Rubin (Producer)
1964: Neneh Cherry
1966: Edie Brickell
1971: Timbaland
1983: Carrie Underwood
1987: Emeli Sandé
Looking for more artists born on this day?
Keep scrolling for all of our March 10 birthdays.
What to find another day?
March 10th
10
Mar
2024
Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer Karl Wallinger died age 66. He was a member of The Waterboys, (1985 album 'This Is The Sea'). Wallinger quit the band in 1986 and formed World Party, the song 'Ship of Fools', was a Top 40 hit in the United States in 1987, 'Way Down Now', (1990) reached No.1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The 1990 World Party album Goodbye Jumbo was voted "album of the year" by Q magazine and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Wallinger-penned 'She's the One' from World Party's fourth studio album, Egyptology (1997) was later covered by Robbie Williams and became a UK No.1 hit single.
|
10
Mar
2023
Miley Cyrus released her eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation. The album was supported by three singles. The lead single, 'Flowers', set several streaming and chart records and spent eight weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Cyrus' second No.1 in the country, and topped the charts in 36 other countries. 'River' and 'Jaded' followed as subsequent singles in March and April 2023. The album officially debuted at No. 1 in ten countries and was in the top 5 of seventeen official charts.
|
10
Mar
2021
Mariah Carey filed for a trademark application for the phrase "Queen Of Christmas." The trademark would have given her the legal right to stop others from using the title on music and merchandise but the application was denied by the US Patent and Trademark Office the following year. Carey's company Lotion LLC applied for the yuletide trademark leading to another singer, Elizabeth Chan, putting in a legal challenge in August 2021, in an attempt to block her from obtaining the registration.
|
10
Mar
2019
American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Asa Brebner died age 65. He was a member of The Modern Lovers led by Jonathan Richman. They are best know for their 1976 hit ‘Roadrunner’ which Rolling Stone ranked it Number 274 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
|
10
Mar
2017
American singer–songwriter, actress and producer Joni Sledge died from natural causes age 60. She was best known as a founding member of Sister Sledge, who were best known for their hits 'We Are Family' and 'He's The Greatest Dancer'.
|
10
Mar
2010
Pink Floyd won a court battle with EMI that prevented the record company from selling single downloads and ringtones on the Internet from the group's albums. Pink Floyd's back catalogue was second only in sales to The Beatles.
|
10
Mar
2009
Tickets for a one-off gig by Sir Paul McCartney in Las Vegas sold out seven seconds after going on sale. The former Beatle was booked to perform at the opening of the New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on 19 April 2009 in-front of 4,000 fans. Tickets cost $750 each.
|
10
Mar
2005
A survey carried out by Music Choice concluded that 'Angels' by Robbie Williams was the song Britons would most like played at their funeral. Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' was second and Monty Python's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' was voted into third place.
|
10
Mar
2005
Michael Jackson arrived in a Santa Barbara court an hour late dressed in his pyjamas after being treated for a back injury. Jackson was attending the Santa Moria court for his child abuse trial.
|
10
Mar
2003
During a concert in London, England, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said that the band was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas" (referring to Maines' hometown of Lubbock and President Bush hailing from the same state). This was during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, the comment sparked intense controversy and outrage among Americans, including a large share of country music fans.
|
10
Mar
2000
Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde was arrested for leading an animal rights protest against the clothing firm Gap, who were accused of using leather from cows slaughtered 'illegally and cruelly'. The protest took place in a store in Manhattan.
|
10
Mar
1997
American rhythm and blues singer Lavern Baker died from coronary complications aged 57. Had the 1958 US No.6 single 'I Cried A Tear.'
|
10
Mar
1996
Alanis Morissette won Best Album for Jagged Little Pill, Best Female singer, Best Rock Album, Best songwriter and best single at the 25th Juno Awards held in Hamilton, Canada.
|
10
Mar
1995
Former Stone Roses' manager Gareth Evans' £10 million ($17 million) lawsuit with the band was settled out of court over alleged wrongful dismissal for an undisclosed sum.
|
10
Mar
1988
Younger brother of The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb died in hospital. His death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) followed a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.
|
10
Mar
1979
Gloria Gaynor started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Will Survive which was also a No.1 hit in the UK. The song was originally released as the B-side to a song first recorded by The Righteous Brothers called 'Substitute.'
|
10
Mar
1977
At 7am in the morning on a trestle table set up out-side Buckingham Palace, London, the Sex Pistols signed to A&M Records, (the real signing had taken place the day before). An after party was held at the offices of A&M records following the signing where the group set about reeking unforeseen havoc on the posh building, with Sid Vicious smashing a toilet and cutting his foot, trailing blood everywhere he went, while Rotten cursed and threatened every upscale executive in sight and guitarist Steve Jones getting it on with an unnamed fan in the restrooms.The contract lasted for six days.
|
10
Mar
1964
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded 'The Sounds Of Silence' as an acoustic duo. It wasn't until record company producers added electric guitar, bass and drums, without the knowledge of Paul and Art, that the song would become a hit in late 1965.
|
10
Mar
1962
Bruce Channel started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hey! Baby'. The song features a prominent riff from harmonica player Delbert McClinton, who while touring the UK in 1962 with The Beatles, McClinton met John Lennon and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on ‘Love Me Do’.
|
10
Mar
1960
UK trade paper Record Retailer published the UK's first ever EP (extended player) chart and LP chart. No. 1 EP was 'Expresso Bongo' by Cliff Richard & The Shadows and No.1 LP 'The Explosive Freddy Cannon.'
|
10
Mar
1958
Big Records released 'Our Song' by a teenage duo from Queens, New York, Tom and Jerry. The duo will become famous in the '60s under their real names, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
|
10
Mar
1956
RCA Records placed a half page advert in Billboard Magazine claiming that Elvis Presley was 'the new singing rage.'
|
10
Mar
1994
Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and record producer Bad Bunny, (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio). He is known as the "King of Latin Trap", throughout his career, Bad Bunny has earned three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, and thirteen Lo Nuestro Awards. He was crowned Artist of the Year by Apple Music in 2022.
|
10
Mar
1987
Emeli Sandé, Scottish singer, songwriter. Sandé has three UK No.1 singles with 'Read All About It' with Professor Green, 'Next to Me' and 'Beneath Your Beautiful'.
|
10
Mar
1983
Carrie Underwood, American pop country music singer, winner of the fourth season of American Idol. Her debut album 'Some Hearts' is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. In 2010, when Carrie garnered her second win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, she became the first female artist to win the award twice, and only the 7th female to take the award in the 40-year history of the ACM category, among Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, and the Dixie Chicks.
|
10
Mar
1977
Robin Thicke, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor and musician. His mother is American actress-singer Gloria Loring, who appeared on US daytime drama Days of Our Lives, and his father was Canadian actor Alan Thicke, who was known for his role on the TV sitcom Growing Pains. In the US, 'Blurred Lines' topped the Billboard Hot 100 for twelve consecutive weeks, becoming the longest running No.1 single of 2013 and of the 2010s decade. The song peaked at No.1 in 25 countries. Thicke has also written hits for Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Mary J. Blige.
|
10
Mar
1973
John Charles LeCompt, guitar, with American rock band Evanescence who had the 2003 UK No.1 & US No.5 single ‘Bring Me To Life’, and the 2003 UK No.1 & US No.3 album Fallen.
|
10
Mar
1971
Timothy Z. Mosley (Timbaland), R&B producer and rapper. With partner Magoo, he is a member of hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo. Produced hits for Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Utada Hikaru, Ludacris and The Pussycat Dolls.
|
10
Mar
1967
Susie Q, (Susie Banfield), from English rap duo Cookie Crew who had the 1988 UK No.5 single 'Rok Da House'.
|
10
Mar
1966
American singer-songwriter Edie Brickell best known for 1988's Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went to No. 4 on the Billboard Albums chart and featured the Top Ten single 'What I Am'. Brickell married Paul Simon in 1992.
|
10
Mar
1966
American drummer Dave Krusen best known for being the original drummer for Pearl Jam. Krusen was also a member of the bands Hovercraft, Unified Theory and Candlebox.
|
10
Mar
1964
Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper Neneh Cherry, who had the 1988 UK & US No.3 single 'Buffalo Stance' and a 1994 UK No.3 single '7 Seconds' with Youssou N'dour. Her musical career started in London in the early 1980s, where she performed in a number of punk and post-punk bands including the Slits and Rip Rig + Panic. Cherry has won two Brit Awards and an MTV Europe Music Award (with Youssou N'Dour). She has also been nominated for a Grammy Award.
|
10
Mar
1964
Patrick Kane from Scottish pop duo Hue and Cry. They scored the 1987 UK No.6 single 'Labour Of Love'.
|
10
Mar
1963
Jeff Ament, bassist for Pearl Jam who had the 1992 single 'Jeremy', have scored 5 US No.1 albums and have sold more than 85 million albums worldwide. One of the key bands in the grunge movement of the early 1990s they are considered one of the most influential bands of the decade.
|
10
Mar
1963
Jay "Rick" Rubin, American record producer and former co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin is the founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings.
|
10
Mar
1962
Gary Clark, guitarist from Scottish pop group Danny Wilson who had the 1988 UK No.3 single 'Mary's Prayer'. Clark become a successful songwriter for other artists including Natalie Imbruglia, Liz Phair, k.d. lang and former Spice Girls Melanie C and Emma Bunton.
|
10
Mar
1962
Eliot Lewis, American singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work with Average White Band (1989-2002) and Hall & Oates. Lewis is also an integral part of Live From Daryl's House.
|
10
Mar
1955
Bunny DeBarge singer from American family group DeBarge who had the 1983 US No.17 single 'All This Love', and the 1985 UK No.4 single 'Rhythm Of The Night'.
|
10
Mar
1954
English singer Tina Charles, who had the 1976 UK No.1 single 'I Love to Love, But My Baby Loves to Dance'. Charles began her career as a backing singer and session musician and recorded her first solo single in 1969 with a then-unknown Elton John playing piano. During the early 1970s, she supplied vocals for the Top of the Pops album series of cover versions of contemporary hits.
|
10
Mar
1950
Scottish drummer, Ted McKenna who has played with bands Tear Gas, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rory Gallagher, The Sensational Party Boys and The Michael Schenker Group. He also toured with Ian Gillan for a short period in 1990. McKenna died on 19 January 2019 at the age of 68, of a hemorrhage during a routine operation for a hernia.
|
10
Mar
1947
Tom Scholz, guitar, keyboards, Boston, (1977 UK No.23 single 'More Than A Feeling', 1986 US No.1 single 'Amanda'). Boston have sold more than 75 million records worldwide, including 31 million albums in the United States, of which 17 million were from their self-titled debut album and seven million were for their second album, Don't Look Back, making them one of the world's best-selling artists.
|
10
Mar
1945
Pete Nelson, from English pop group The Flowerpot Men who had the 1967 UK No.4 single and a Top 20 hit Continental Europe hit in the autumn of 1967, with 'Let's Go To San Francisco'. He died on 23 October 2005 after a short battle with cancer.
|
10
Mar
1943
Sam Cutler. He was the English tour manager for The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd and other acts. In 1969, he acted as master of ceremonies at The Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park London. Cutler died from cancer on 11 July 2023, at the age of 80.
|
10
Mar
1940
Dean Torrence, who with Jan and Dean had the 1963 US No.1 & UK No.26, single 'Surf City', co written by The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson). Jan and Dean were pioneers of the California Sound and vocal surf music styles. Other hits include, Subsequent top 10 hits included 'Drag City' , 'Dead Man's Curve' and 'The Little Old Lady from Pasadena.'
|