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November 24th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for November 24 throughout music history

Queen

Queen Fans Mourn The Death Of Freddie Mercury

On November 24, 1991, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury died at the age of 45, following complications from the AIDS virus. Born Farrokh Bulsara, Mercury co-founded Queen in 1970, alongside Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. His star power was clear from the band’s earliest days – from the complexity of his songwriting and the dexterity of his vocals to his flamboyant stage presence. With Queen, Mercury penned such enduring hits as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and “Somebody to Love.” While he recorded with his bandmates until the end of his life, Mercury also pursued a solo career in the 80s, resulting in the Top Ten UK album, Mr. Bad Guy. Following his death, the remaining members of Queen organized a star-studded tribute concert in London, which raised awareness for AIDS, as well as funds to fight the deadly virus.

In 1968, Diana Ross and The Supremes knocked The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Love Child.” The song marked the group’s 11th No.1 hit.

In 1973, Ringo Starr scored his first solo No.1 hit in the US with “Photograph.” The song was co-written with fellow Beatles alum, George Harrison.

In 1993, the Grammy-winning blues artist, Albert Collins, died at the age of 61. The legendary guitarist was known as “The Master of the Telecaster.”

In 1976, Chicago scored their first and only No.1 hit in the UK with their Grammy-winning ballad, “If You Leave Me Now.”

In 2013, Robbie Williams enjoyed the distinction of having the 1,000th No.1 album on the UK chart, with Swings Both Ways. The chart launched in 1956, with Frank Sinatra’s Songs for Swingin’ Lovers as its inaugural No.1.

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Keep scrolling for all of the headlines for November 24.

BORN ON NOVEMBER 24:

1941: Wayne Jackson (Mar-Keys, Memphis Horns)
1941: Donald “Duck” Dunn (Booker T. & The M.G.’s)
1941: Pete Best (The Beatles)
1948: Tony Bourge (Budgie)
1950: Bob Burns (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1955: Clem Burke (Blondie)
1957: Chris Hayes (Huey Lewis and the News)
1964: John Squire (Stone Roses)
1970: Chad Taylor (Live)

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November 24th

On this day in music
24 Nov 2021
American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was at No.1 on the UK chart with Red (Taylor's Version) the second re-recorded album by Swift released as a part of the singers countermeasure against the purchase of the masters of her back catalog. The album is the re-recording of Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012).
24 Nov 2019
Taylor Swift received the Artist of the Decade award at the 47th Annual American Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Swift was the most-awarded artist of the night with six wins, becoming the most-awarded artist in the award's history with 29 wins.
24 Nov 2013
Robbie Williams scored his 11th UK No.1 album when Swings Both Ways went to the top of the charts. It was also the 1,000 No.1 UK album since the charts began in 1956 when Frank Sinatra was at No.1 with Songs For Swingin' Lovers.
24 Nov 2008
English drummer Michael Lee died from a seizure aged 39. Lee had worked with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Little Angels, The Cult, Ian Gillan, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Quireboys and Thin Lizzy.
24 Nov 2008
Boy George appeared in a Snaresbrook Crown court, after a 29-year-old male escort accused the artist of assault.
24 Nov 2007
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea lost his multi-million pound house in a wildfire that swept through Malibu, 53 other properties were destroyed by the blaze. Flea told the Los Angeles Times the $4.8m (£2.3m) property was "burnt to a crisp".
24 Nov 2006
Winners at this year’s American Music Awards included, Kelly Clarkson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shakira, Jamie Foxx, Nickelback, Sean Paul, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Mary J. Blige. Nelly Furtado, John Mayer and Fall Out Boy.
24 Nov 2003
'Agadoo' by Black Lace was named the worst song of all time by a panel of music writers. The song which peaked at No.2 on the UK charts in 1984 spent 30 weeks in the top 75 and went on to become the eighth best-selling single of 1984 in the UK. Black Lace themselves recorded an X-rated version of the song entitled 'Have a Screw', which was released on the B-side of the 12-inch vinyl 'Gang Bang'.
24 Nov 2002
Robbie Williams started a five week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with his fifth studio album ‘Escapology’. The album became the best selling album of 2002 in the United Kingdom, selling 1.2 million copies.
24 Nov 1999
During a Bonhams of London rock auction, Buddy Holly's first driving licence sold for £3,795; and a copy of The Beatles 1968 The White Album numbered 00000001, sold for £9,775.
24 Nov 1993
American blues guitarist and singer Albert Collins died of lung cancer aged 61. Known as ‘The master of the telecaster’, he shared a Grammy for the 1985 album Showdown! which he recorded with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland.
24 Nov 1992
Bill Wyman's divorce was finalised with the high court awarding his ex wife Mandy Smith £580,000. The Rolling Stones bassist had started to date Smith when she was 13, the marriage lasted for two years.
24 Nov 1991
Eric Carr (Paul Charles Caravello) drummer with Kiss died aged 41, of complications from cancer in a New York hospital. Carr replaced Peter Criss in 1980 and remained a band member until he became ill in 1991. For his Kiss stage persona, Carr was known as 'The Fox.'
24 Nov 1991
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) died at the age of 45, following complications from the AIDS virus. His death came just one day after he announced his diagnosis to the press. Mercury co-founded Queen in 1970, and remained the band’s frontman throughout his life. Beloved for his flamboyant stage presence and his impressive vocal range, Mercury wrote many of the band’s best-loved hits, including the operatic "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Somebody to Love," and the enduring anthem, "We Are the Champions." Outside of Queen, Mercury pursued a variety of projects, including his solo album, Mr. Bad Guy – a Top Ten hit in the UK.
24 Nov 1984
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married his girlfriend, nude model Candice, (Elaine Margaret Starchuk). The marriage lasted one month. Lee has also been married to actress Heather Locklear and the former Playboy Playmate Pamela Anderson.
24 Nov 1983
Irish group The Undertones split up. Lead singer Feargal Sharkey went on to have a No.1 UK single as a solo artist with 'A Good Heart' and later worked in A&R for various record labels, and later became the head of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry.
24 Nov 1976
Chicago started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'If You Leave Me Now', the American group's only UK No.1. It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance.
24 Nov 1973
Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Photograph'. His first of two US chart toppers as a solo artist. Written by Starr and George Harrison, the promotional film shot for the single showed Starr walking around his new house at the time, Tittenhurst Park, which had been previously the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, (and where the 'Imagine' promo film was shot).
24 Nov 1968
Diana Ross and The Supremes were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Love Child', their 11th No.1 in the US. The song is also notable for knocking off and keeping The Beatles massive ‘Hey Jude’ off the top spot in the US.
24 Nov 1966
The Beatles got together for the first time since their return from the summer tour of the United States, ready to record a new album. The first song selected for recording was John Lennon's 'Strawberry Fields Forever', which would not end up on the album, but as The Beatles' next single. This day's session was devoted entirely to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’
24 Nov 1964
The Who appeared at The Marquee Club London, England. Between 1964-1968 The Who made 29 appearances at The Marquee.
Born on this day in music
24 Nov 1970
Chad Taylor, guitarist, from American rock band Live who achieved worldwide success with their 1994 album Throwing Copper, which sold eight million copies in the US.
24 Nov 1964
Tony Rombola, guitarist, Godsmack, (2003, US No.1 album ‘Faceless’, 2006 US No.1 album ‘IV’).
24 Nov 1962
English musician, songwriter and artist John Squire best known as the guitarist for the Stone Roses. After leaving the Stone Roses he went on to found the Seahorses and has since released two solo albums.
24 Nov 1962
Gary Stonadge, bass, Big Audio Dynamite, who scored the 1986 UK No.11 single 'E=MC2.
24 Nov 1958
Carmel, (1983 UK No.15 single 'Bad Day').
24 Nov 1957
Chris Hayes, guitarist from Huey Lewis and the News who had the 1985 UK No.11 & US No.1 single 'The Power Of Love'. Their third, and best-selling, album was the 1983 Sports, and they contributed to the soundtrack of the 1985 feature film Back to the Future.
24 Nov 1955
Clem Burke, American musician who is best known as the drummer from Blondie from 1975, shortly after the band formed, throughout the band's entire career. Blondie have scored five UK No.1 singles including the 1979 UK & US No.1 single 'Heart Of Glass' and 1978 worldwide No.1 album Parallel Lines.
24 Nov 1950
Bob Burns, American drummer who was in the original line-up of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Burns also played on the band's first two official albums: (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and Second Helping. He died in a car crash in Georgia late at night after a performance on April 3, 2015.
24 Nov 1948
Tony Bourge, guitarist, 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'.
24 Nov 1945
Lee Michaels, US keyboard player, (1971 US No.6 single 'Do You Know What I Mean').
24 Nov 1943
Robin Williamson, Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founding member of The Incredible String Band.(1967 album 'The 5000 Spirits or The Layers Of The Onion').
24 Nov 1942
Billy Connolly, singer, actor, comedian, The Humblebums with Gerry Rafferty, 1975 UK No.1 single 'D.I.V.O.R.C.E.'
24 Nov 1941
Donald Dunn, Booker T and the MG's, (1962 US No. 3 single 'Green Onions', 1969 UK No.4 single 'Time Is Tight'). Dunn died in his sleep on 13th May 2012 after playing a show at the Blue Note night club in Tokyo the night before. He had been in the country as part of an ongoing tour with Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd.
24 Nov 1941
Pete Best, The Beatles. He was fired from the group in 1962 after playing drums as a Beatle for the previous two years in Germany and England. Best's mother, Mona Best opened the Casbah Coffee Club in the cellar of the Bests' house in Liverpool. The Beatles (at the time known as the Quarrymen) played some of their first concerts at the club.
24 Nov 1941
Wayne Jackson, American soul and R&B trumpet player in the Mar-Keys, and the house band at Stax Records and later as one of The Memphis Horns. Jackson played on 52 No.1 songs, supporting the likes of Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Otis Redding, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel and the Doobie Brothers. Jackson died on 21st June 2016 aged 74.
24 Nov 1939
Jim Yester, guitar, vocals, The Association, (1967 US No.1 single 'Windy').
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