November 11th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for November 11 throughout music history

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The Beatles Finish ‘Rubber Soul’

On November 11, 1965, The Beatles wrapped recording for their sixth album, Rubber Soul. That final, whirlwind day in the studio found the band recording two new songs: “You Won’t See Me” and “Girl,” and revisiting an older track, which became “Wait.” Hitting stores less than a month later, Rubber Soul was met with wide critical acclaim and record-breaking sales. Marking a creative turning point in the band’s career, the highly influential album found the Fab Four maturing as artists – experimenting with complex melodies and arrangements and turning increasingly inward with their lyricism.

In 1978, David Bowie played his first show in Australia at the Adelaide Oval. The show kicked off an eight-date run (which also included stops in New Zealand) around Low and Heroes.

In 1972, 24-year-old bassist Berry Oakley, a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, was killed in a motorcycle accident. In a horrific coincidence, the crash took place in the same intersection where bandmate Duane Allman was killed just one year earlier.

In 1978, The Cars’ “My Best Friend’s Girl” became the first commercially-released picture disc single. The song, which appeared on the group’s self-titled debut, was a Top 40 hit in the US and a No.3 hit in the UK.

In 2011, Black Sabbath fans rejoiced when all four original band members announced a reunion album and extensive world tour. The resulting LP, 13 was released in 2013.

In 2004, the first UK Music Hall of Fame ceremony took place, with Robbie Williams, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Michael Jackson, and Cliff Richard as the inaugural inductees. Fans were asked to vote on artists who best represented each of the earlier five decades.

In 1954, Bill Haley & His Comets scored their first Top Ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Shake Rattle and Roll.” The song, penned by Jesse Stone (credited as “Charles Calhoun”) was originally recorded earlier that year by bluesman Big Joe Turner (who topped the R&B chart).

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Keep scrolling for all of the headlines for November 11.

BORN ON NOVEMBER 11:

1940: John Bahler (vocalist)
1945: Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge)
1946: Cris Dreja (The Yardbirds)
1953: Andy Partridge (XTC)
1957: Mike Mesaros (The Smithereens)
1986: Jon Batiste

Looking for more artists born on this day?
Keep scrolling for all of our November 11 birthdays.

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November 11th

On this day in music

11 Nov 2023 An iconic leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the 1980s sold at auction for £250,000 ($306,000). The black-and-white garment, worn by the late singer in a Pepsi advert was among more than 200 pieces of music memorabilia sold in London, UK. Other sales included the George Michael La Rocka jacket he wore while duetting alongside Aretha Franklin in 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)' which sold for £93,750 ($115,000) and an Amy Winehouse beehive hairpiece sold for £18,750 ($22,900).
11 Nov 2021 English musician, songwriter, and poet Graeme Edge died of metastatic cancer age 80. Best known as the co-founder and drummer of the Moody Blues that scored the successful singles ‘Go Now’, ‘Nights in White Satin’, ‘Tuesday Afternoon’, ‘Question’, ‘Gemini Dream’, ‘The Voice’ and ‘Your Wildest Dreams’.
11 Nov 2016 The first day of an auction of art owned by David Bowie took £24.3m ($30.7m), more than double the pre-sale estimate. The 47 artworks sold at Sotheby's in London, England had been valued at between £8.1m ($10.2m) and £11.7m ($14.8m). The most expensive lot was Jean-Michel Basquiat's Air Power, which went for £7.1m ($9m).
11 Nov 2015 Phil Taylor better known as "Philthy Animal" Taylor and drummer with Motorhead died aged 61. He was in the classic mark IV Motörhead line-up of Lemmy, Taylor, and Fast Eddie Clarke who recorded ten studio albums and the live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith.
11 Nov 2014 Big Bank Hank (Henry Lee Jackson), from The Sugarhill Gang died aged 58 from kidney complications due to cancer. The Sugarhill Gang were the first hip hop act to have a hit with the cross-over single 'Rapper's Delight' in the pop charts in 1979.
11 Nov 2014 A collection of dresses and outfits worn by Madonna during her career in music and film helped a celebrity auction raise $3.2m (£2m). The highest lot was a jacket from Desperately Seeking Susan, which fetched $252,000, while a gown from her Material Girl video reached $73,125. Other lots which attracted the bidders were a pair of John Lennon's spectacles which sold for $25,000 (£15,751) and a ring worn by Elvis Presley for $57,600 (£36,291).
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11 Nov 2011 In 2011, Black Sabbath fans rejoiced when all four original band members announced a reunion album and extensive world tour. The resulting LP, 13 was released in 2013.
11 Nov 2009 David Gilmour received an honorary doctorate from the Anglia Ruskin University, England. Gilmour had attended Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, now part of Anglia Ruskin University, which has campuses in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire and Chelmsford, Essex.
11 Nov 2009 During the 43rd Annual CMA Awards Taylor Swift became the youngest person to ever win Entertainer of the Year. Swift also took home Best Female Vocalist and Album and Music Video of the Year. The event was aired live on the ABC Television Network before a sold-out crowd at the Sommet Center in Downtown Nashville.
11 Nov 2004 Coldplay fan Sarah Sainsbury wrote to the band asking for their autographs so she could sell them to raise funds at her school charity. Coldplay sent her a triple platinum disc worth over £4,000.
11 Nov 2004 Liza Minnelli's former bodyguard accused the singer of forcing him to have sex with her in order to keep his job, court documents revealed. M'hammed Soumayah was suing Minnelli for $100m damages, saying she made "many repeated attempts" to compel him into sex and he "eventually succumbed".
11 Nov 2004 Robbie Williams, The Rolling Stones and Queen were inducted into the UK's first music Hall of Fame at a ceremony in London. One act had been chosen by TV viewers of a Channel 4 program to represent each decade since the 1950s. Williams represented the 1990s, Michael Jackson the 1980s, Queen the 1970s, the Rolling Stones the 1960s, and Cliff Richard the 1950s.
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11 Nov 1999 Britney Spears won four MTV Awards; Best Female Singer, Best Pop Act, Best Song, '...Baby One More Time', Best Breakthrough Artist. Best Rock Act went to The Offspring, Best Male Act, Will Smith and Bono won the Free Your Mind award.
11 Nov 1998 Irish singer Paddy Clancy of the Clancy Brothers died aged 76, he wrote the classic Irish songs 'Wild Mountain Thyme' and 'Carrickfergus.'
11 Nov 1990 Ted Albert the founder of Albert Productions died from a heart attack aged 53. His Australian based company helped launch the careers of The Easybeats, John Paul Young, The Angels, Rose Tattoo and AC/DC. In recognition of his contribution to the music industry, the Australasian Performing Right Association established the annual "Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music".
11 Nov 1990 A 21 year-old AC/DC fan died after being attacked outside the Brendan Byrne Arena in New Jersey where the band were playing a gig that night.
11 Nov 1989 Chris Rea started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Road To Hell.' The iconic album cover features art by the English artist, Adrian Chesterman who was also responsible for creating cover art for, amongst others, Motörhead for their 1979 'Bomber' album.
11 Nov 1989 Lisa Stansfield was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Around The World'. The British singers debut solo single was a No.1 hit in 11 other countries and a No.3 hit in the US.
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11 Nov 1986 Pink Floyd issued a press statement stating that they intend to continue using the name without Roger Waters and were recording their next album.
11 Nov 1983 Mick Jagger appeared on the UK TV show The Tube to defend the video to The Rolling Stones latest single 'Undercover Of The Night' which had been banned by the Independent Broadcasting Authority. The Tube aired the video, minus the scene where Mick was shot through the head. The single peaked at No.8 on the UK chart.
11 Nov 1982 Prince kicked off his 87-date '1999' North American tour at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
11 Nov 1978 David Bowie played the first night of his 8-date Low / Heroes tour of Australia and New Zealand at The Oval in Adelaide. This was Bowies first ever show in Australia.
11 Nov 1978 Donna Summer started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with her version of Jimmy Webb's 'MacArther Park', also a hit for actor Richard Harris in 1968, (made No.5 in the UK). Also on this day Summer went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Live And More'.
11 Nov 1978 The Cars released 'My Best Friend's Girl', the first picture-disc single commercially available, which went on to be a No.3 hit on the UK charts and top 40 in the US.
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11 Nov 1973 Thirty US radio stations broadcasted a 'live' Mott The Hoople concert. In reality it was the band recorded in the studio with the applause dubbed in.
11 Nov 1972 The Allman Brothers Band bass player Berry Oakley was killed when his motorcycle hit a bus at the same intersection as former band member Duane Allman, who had died a year earlier. Oakley was 24 years old.
11 Nov 1972 Gilbert O'Sullivan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Clair', the singers first of two UK No.1's. The Irish singer songwriter would dress as a 1920s worker in flat cap, braces and baggy trousers.
11 Nov 1971 BBC TV's Top Of The Pops celebrated its 400th show. The UK chart show was presented by Tony Blackburn with guests; Tom Jones, Dana, John Kongos, Cher, Slade, Cilla Black, The Piglets, Clodagh Rodgers and The Newbeats.
11 Nov 1969 The FBI in Phoenix, Arizona arrested Jim Morrison for drunk and disorderly conduct aboard a plane. The Doors singer who was on his way to a Rolling Stones concert with actor Tom Baker had been drinking and annoying the stewardesses. The pair spent the night in jail and were released on $2,500 bail.
11 Nov 1965 The final recording session for The Beatles Rubber Soul album took place, at Abbey Road, London. They needed three new songs to finish the album so an old song ‘Wait’ was pulled off the shelf and the group recorded two new songs from start to finish. Paul's ‘You Won't See Me’ and John's ‘Girl’, the basic tracks for both songs being completed in two takes. Rubber Soul was completed, and finished copies of the album were in the shops by December 3 in the UK and December 6 in the US.
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11 Nov 1957 Elvis Presley appeared at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, this was Presley’s last concert of the 50’s. Presley served in the United States Army between March 1958 and March 1960 and at the time of his draft he was one of the most well-known names in the world of entertainment.
11 Nov 1954 Bill Haley scored his first US Top ten single with 'Shake Rattle And Roll'. He had dropped his cowboy image about a year and a half earlier, while renaming The Saddlemen to Bill Haley and His Comets. The song became the theme song for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ was originally made popular by Big Joe Turner.

Born on this day in music

11 Nov 1986 American singer, songwriter, musician, Jon Batiste. He has recorded and performed with various artists including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz and Ed Sheeran. Batiste has garnered five Grammy Awards from 14 nominations, including an 2022 Album of the Year win for his album We Are.
11 Nov 1974 Stephen Garrett (Static Major), American R&B singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer Also a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing in Lil Wayne's 2008 No.1 hit Lollipop. Garrett died on Feb 25th 2008 at his home in Louisville, Kentucky.
11 Nov 1973 American musician Jason White, lead guitarist. He was a touring member of Green Day from 1999 until 2012 and played lead guitar in the majority of their live shows. During late 2012 he became an official member of the band, with Green Day becoming a four-piece group.
11 Nov 1969 Gary Powell, drummer, from English rock band The Libertines, who had the 2004 UK No.1 album The Libertines. Played with the New York Dolls for their 2004 reunion shows, and Dirty Pretty Things.
11 Nov 1957 Mike Mesaros, US group, The Smithereens, (1988 US No.41 album 'Smithereens 11).
11 Nov 1957 Tony Gad, from British reggae group Aswad who had the 1988 UK No.1 single 'Don't Turn Around'. They are three-time Grammy Award nominees.
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11 Nov 1956 Ian Craig Marsh, keyboards with Heaven 17 who had the 1983 UK No.2 single 'Temptation'. And as a member of The Human League had the 1981 UK No.1 single 'Don't You Want Me'.
11 Nov 1953 Andy Partridge, singer, songwriter, guitarist, XTC, (1982 UK No.10 single 'Senses Working Overtime').
11 Nov 1952 Paul Cowsill, Tfrom American singing group The Cowsills, who had the 1967 US No.2 single 'The Rain, The Park & Other Things', and the 1969 US No.2 single the theme from 'Hair'. TV's Partridge Family was based on The Cowsills family.
11 Nov 1950 Jim Peterik, guitar, keyboards, vocals, Ides Of March, (1970 US No.2 single 'Vehicle), Survivor, (1982 US & UK No.1 single 'Eye Of The Tiger').
11 Nov 1947 Pat Daugherty from American Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, known for their 70s US No.1 radio hit single 'Jim Dandy To The Rescue'.
11 Nov 1946 Chip Hawkins, Tremeloes, (1963 UK No.1 single 'Do You Love Me', 1967 US No.11 single 'Silence Is Golden'). Father of singer & actor Chesney Hawkes.
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11 Nov 1946 English musician Chris Dreja, guitarist with The Yardbirds who had the 1965 UK No.3 & US No.6 single 'For Your Love'. The Yardbirds spawned such noteworthy musicians as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.
11 Nov 1945 Vince Martell, guitar, vocals, Vanilla Fudge, (1968 US No.6 single 'You Keep Me Hangin' On').
11 Nov 1940 American singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, John Bahler, (the elder brother of singer, Tom Bahler). Bahler and his brother Tom were vocalists in the Ron Hicklin Singers. Together with the Wrecking Crew, they are two of the most recorded singers in history, having appeared on hundreds of television show themes, movie soundtracks and top-40 hits of the 1960s through the 1980s.
11 Nov 1938 Roger Lavern, keyboards, The Tornadoes, (1962 UK & US No.1 single 'Telstar'). The first major hit from a UK act on the American chart.
11 Nov 1929 Lavern Baker, R&B singer, (1958 US No.6 single 'I Cried A Tear'). Died 10th March 1997.
11 Nov 1927 American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter Mose Allison. His songs have been covered by The Who John Mayall, Elvis Costello, Georgie Fame and many others. His music influenced many blues and rock artists, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, and the Yardbirds. Allison died on 15 November 2016 aged 89.
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