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THE FOLLOWING EVENTS TOOK PLACE ON MAY 2


Link Wray1887--Hannibal W. Goodwin of New Jersey applies for a patent for celluloid photographic film.

1919--The first US air passenger service begins.

1935--Link Wray, one of the more influential rock guitarists of the 1950s, is born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Wray introduced the distorted fuzz-tone guitar sound on his single, Rumble, which (by 1958) had sold a million copies. The song is rumored to have been recorded as early as 1954. Link Wray's playing was a tremendous influence on such British rock stars as Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, and John Lennon.

1943--The Animals guitarist, Hilton Valentine, is born in North Shields, England.

Bianca Jagger with her husband, Mick.1945--Bianca Jagger, rock singer Mick Jagger's ex-wife, is born in Managua, Nicaragua.

1957--Joseph McCarthy, the communist-hunting senator, dies at age 47.

1960--In the wake of the payola scandal, Billboard reports many radio stations are adopting a "better music" format and banning rock and roll.

1961--The Beatles perform at the Top Ten Club, Reeperbahn, Hamburg, West Germany.

1962--The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany.

John Lennon sunbathes in a seaside resort in 1965.1964--The Beatles leave England with their wives and girlfriends on a "secret" vacation, but their plan doesn't work out. This is a month-long holiday for the boys, the longest time away from group commitments since the demise of The Quarry Men at the start of the decade. John and Cynthia Lennon (along with George Harrison and his new girlfriend, Pattie Boyd) travel to Papeete on the island of Tahihi. Their original destination had been Honolulu, but despite booking their arrangements under false names, they are mobbed by fans as soon as they arrive on Hawaiian soil.

1964--Can't Buy Me Love is the #1 single in the US for its fifth and final week (Billboard). The Beatles have had the #1 single in the US for 14 straight weeks.

1964--The Beatles' Second Album reaches No. 1 on the US LP charts in its second week of release, the first album ever to make it to the top that quickly.

1965--The Beatles check into the Antrobus Arms Hotel in Amesbury, in preparation for the next day's filming on the Salisbury Plain for the movie "Help!"

The Beach Boy's Smile controversial and troublesome album.1967--Capitol Records announces that one of the most cryptic periods in The Beach Boys career has come to a close as they've stopped the Smile album project. Brian Wilson took over a year to compose and produce the album and hoped to battle The Beatles for pop supremacy. However, after the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Wilson became convinced Smile would be seen as "second best."

1969--John Lennon and Yoko Ono tape an interview for the BBC1 television program "How Late It Is," broadcast later that evening. They discuss their film "Rape" with host Michael Wale, and a 3 mins. 31 secs. clip from the film is shown.

1969--The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Three, EMI Studios, London). The Beatles, with Billy Preston, record a re-make of George Harrison's song Something. They record 36 takes, with Paul McCartney playing bass, Ringo Starr on drums, John Lennon and George on guitars, and Preston on piano. Chris Thomas is producer.

1969--Richard Asher (Jane Asher’s father) is found dead at his Wimpole Street house basement.

A button created to support John Lennon in his fight against the US immigration department. It reads: Let Them Stay In USA.1972--The New York Times runs an editorial supporting the Lennons’ bid to stay in America. The “National Committee for John and Yoko” is formed to support their campaign.

1972--J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI (1924-1972), dies at age 77.

1975--In London, at 3 Saville Row, the end of an era dawns when Apple’s basement recording studios officially closes.

1980--John Lennon takes possession of his new sailing boat called “Royal Isis.” He spends the rest of the month learning how to sail.

1984--Queen Elizabeth II officially opens "The Beatle Maze" at the Liverpool International Garden Festival. She also steps on board a life-size Yellow Submarine.

For more day-by-day history go to HistoryUnlimited.net

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