While for some 1976 was their defining
year, for me and so many others 1977 was the moment we found
our music and nothing would ever be the same again.
Now in my forties I have a slight tinge of
nostalgia for the images and sights and sounds of the times
as we come to the end of 2007.
So here for your delectation is the Record
Mirrors summary of events with a load of pictures thrown in
and some YouTube stuff that might make you choke on yer
mince pies!
JANUARY
Week ending January 8
BRYAN FERRY announces new band plus UK and American tours. ACE
return to Britain after a year in California. ERROL GARNER, jazz
pianist, dies in Los Angeles aged 53. SEX PISTOLS shock passengers
and airline staff at Heathrow Airport as they spit, vomit and use
four - letter words.. GARY MOORE replaces the injured BRIAN
ROBERTSON for THIN LIZZY's American tour. Eleven members of ROD
STEWART's road crew charged in Glasgow under, the drugs act.
Week ending January 15
QUEEN start their 42-date tour of USA. NIK TURNER quits HAWKWIND.
DAVID BOWIE releases 'Low'. GARY GLITTER comes out of retirement
and announces cabaret tour. KEITH RICHARD in court on drugs charges
after car crash.
Week ending January 22
STRANGLERS, banned from appearing on children's TV show `Magpie'.
MELANIE cancels British dates. RICK WAKEMAN escapes injury in
serious road crash in Switzerland. JACK BRUCE forms new band. Three
members of STATUS QUO fined £3,800 in Vienna after scuffle with
police at the city's airport.
Week ending January 29
WINGS release 'Maybe I'm Amazed' as a single. Britain's pop stars
are to come under even closer scrutiny from the taxman.
FEBRUARY
Week ending February 5
MARC BOLAN and his new T REX announce new album, single and tour.
CLASH sign to CBS. PATTI SMITH hurt in stage fall in Florida.
ROLLING STONES still negotiating new record deal. GRATEFUL DEAD sign
to Arista.
Week ending February 12
Stiff Records licensed to Island but retains its own identity.
RICHARD JONES quits CLIMAX BLUES BAND.
Week ending February 19
DAVID SOUL opens sell-out UK tour. TONY CAREY and JIMMY BAIN sacked
from RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW. BARRY MARTIN joins KIRSAALS.
Week ending February 28
ROLLING STONES sign to EMI. DAVID SOUL'S 'Don't Give Up On Us Baby'
sells its millionth copy.
MARCH
Week ending March 5
SEX PISTOLS sack bass player GLEN MATLOCK and replace him with SID
VICIOUS. RAY CHARLES attacked onstage during concert in Los Angeles.
DAVID BOWIE comes out of hiding to tour with his protégé IGGY POP.
In Canada KEITH RICHARD charged with possession of heroin for the
purpose of trafficking. The offence carries a maximum life sentence.
Week ending March 12
Riots at the Rainbow when IGGY POP and DAVID BOWIE appear. STEVIE
WONDER makes rare live appearance with OSIBISA in Nigeria.
Week ending March 19
SEX PISTOLS sign a new recording deal with A&M. The deal is
completed in a small ceremony outside Buckingham Palace to mark
their new single 'God Save The Queen'. JOHNNY ROTTEN - real name
John Joseph Lydon - fined £40 for possession of amphetamines. CLASH
release debut single 'White Riot'. Former DEEP PURPLE singer IAN
GILLAN signs to Island.
Week ending March 26
A&M Records issue the following statement: "A&M Records wish to
announce that Its recording contract with the SEX PISTOLS has been
terminated with immediate effect. . . " The band get £76,000 for
their part of the termination of the agreement. PETER FRAMPTON
establishes his Music Endowment Fund in USA. LOU REED opens European
tour. PAICE ASHTON LORD make their live debut. SMALL FACES reform,
supplemented by new member RICK WILLS. ELTON JOHN signs BLUE to his
Rocket label. THE DAMNED become the first British new wave act to
appear in the US with four nights at New York's CBGB's.
APRIL
Week ending April 2
FLEETWOOD MAC tour Britain. 'Rumours' goes silver. FRAMPTON denies
he's to play London's Earls Court. lOcc (now 5cc) announce single,
album and tour. LOL CREME and KEVIN GODLEY busy on gizmo project.
Investigation into the books of the BAY CITY ROLLERS reveals £1
million discrepancy. ROLLING STONES re-sign to Atlantic in US.
BEATLES issue writ to prevent release of album recorded at Star
Club, Hamburg. WILKO quits the FEEL, GOODS for unannounced reasons -
remainder of band to continue. MUD sign to RCA. Music Machine in
Camden, London opens as major venue.
Week ending April 16
STRANGLERS release 'Rattus Norvegicus' LP. CAT STEVENS releases 'Izitao'.
SEX PISTOLS rumoured to be setting up their own record label. COLIN
PATTENDEN quits, Manfred Mann's Earth Band. BEATLES lose court case
over Hamburg album. NEIL DIAMOND's London Palladium dates for June
sold out already.
Week ending April 23
ERIC CLAPTON, PETER GABRIEL start UK tours. JAM release first single
'In The City. First QUEEN tour for two years announced for May and
June. Former BEATLES manager ALAN KLEIN on income tax charges. Essex
guitarist JOHN MAYO joins DR FEELGOOD as replacement for WILKO.
Charly Records launch Affinity label.
Week ending April 30
HEAVY METAL KIDS reform. EAGLES start UK tour. 'Hotel California'
goes quadruple platinum. KIKI DEE to quit Britain for America.
MAY
Week ending May 7
SLADE open first UK tour for two years SHADOWS, with chart topping
album, are on tour. ELTON JOHN week of concerts at the London
Rainbow. GILBERT O'SULLIVAN tours. New members lOcc: PAUL BURGESS,
STUART TOSH, TONY O'MALLEY.
Week ending May 14
ROGER DALTREY releases solo album. STRANGLERS announce major tour.
BAY CITY ROLLERS sack bass player PAT McGLYNN (19). Over £1,000
worth of damage caused at Rainbow concert headlined by CLASH and
JAM. Theatre spokesman: "There is no question of us banning the
CLASH or any other punk band because of this." CHRIS HILLMAN walks
out of European tour with ROGER MCGUINN and GENE CLARK.
Week ending May 21
SEX PISTOLS sign to Virgin for an unspecified sum. Spokesman says:
"However other record companies might protest, they would all have
liked to have signed the SEX PISTOLS."
Week ending May 28
THE JAM pull out of the CLASH 'White Riot' tour. STRANGLERS having
problems with their UK tour - council objections - etc. VIBRATORS
banned from London's New Victoria Theatre.
JUNE
week ending June 4
MCA sign LONDON. DEE GENERATE (l5) quits EATER. BBC place radio and
TV ban on PISTOLS' 'God Save The Queen' which this week jumps into
the charts at number 11: BBC spokesman describes the record as being
"in gross bad taste."
Week ending June 11
WINGS deny Knebworth Festival rumours. PAT McGLYNN forms new band
SCOTTIE. Leicester Poly bans all new wave bands. 'God Save The
Queen' has now sold 150.000 copies to date despite being banned from
all TV and radio exposure.
Week ending June 18
STRANGLERS sign long-term to A&M in, US. FRANKIE MILLER'S FULL HOUSE
kick off US tour in Chicago. JOE STRUMMER and NICKY HEADON of the
CLASH fined for theft in Morpeth, Northumberland. DAVE BROMBERG
blows out British tour. GLC keeping dossier on all new wave bands.
BEACH BOYS sign to CBS - first details of their ill - fated British
summer tour announced: PETER KNIGHT, BOB JOHNSON quit STEELEYE SPAN:
MARTIN .CARTHY and JOHN KIRKPATRICK join. EMERSON LAKE AND -PALMER
start their mammoth world tour with first US concert for three
years. ELP have touring entourage of 116 people.
Week ending June 25
YES release 'Going For The One.’ GENERATION X get new drummer MARK
LAFF. GENESIS sell out Earls Court. PISTOLS ROTTEN and COOK attacked
in separate incidents. “Britain is not the place to be if you want
to speak your mind," says Virgin spokesman.
JULY
Week ending July 9
THE WHO buy part of Shepperton Studios for 150.000. JACKIE FOX (l7)
quits the RUNAWAYS. £10,000 worth equipment stolen from Ronnie
Lane's mobile studio. STEVE HARLEY splits with COCKNEY REBEL on eve
of release of first live album.
Week ending July 16
10cc to record live album in Manchester. More ELP British dates
rumours. In London report shows that Capital Radio is gaining
listeners from Radio 1.
Week ending July 23
ELVIS COSTELLO tours Britain. BEACH BOYS scrap British tour.
Week ending July 30
Ariola Records from Munich to invest a million and a half pounds in
British talent. GENERATION X sign to Chrysalis. Teds march on BBC
demanding air-time for rock 'n' roll.
AUGUST
Week ending August 8
SID VICIOUS fined £125 for assaulting' a policeman and carrying an
offensive weapon. ELVIS PRESLEY releases 'Moody Blue' album. MARC
BOLAN to star in own TV series from August 24. VICKI BLUE (17) new
bassist for the RUNAWAYS. RARE EARTH reform.
Week ending August 13
THE DAMNED add a new guitarist, LU. VIC COLLINS quits KURSAALS.
ROSETTA STONE sign to Private Stock. IGGY POP tour confirmed for late September. JULIE COVINGTON signs to Virgin. FRANKIE MILLER
rearranges his Full House-band - only one original member remains.
JONATHAN RICHMAN to tour next month.
Week ending August 20
VIBRATORS quit Britain to live in Berlin. LEO SAYER to make his
first major British tour at the end of September. Virgin sign XTC.
PHIL LYNOTT publishes second book of lyrics / poetry. LINDA RONSTADT
releases 'Simple Dreams'.
Week ending August 27
ELVIS PRESLEY dies. SPARKS return with new album, new single and new
label, CBS. CAMEL return to UK. BUZZCOCKS sign to UA, HUGH McKENNA
leaves SAHB, replaced by TOMMY EYRES. BETHNAL sign to Phonogram.
RACING CARS release second album. ELTON JOHN to appear on MUPPET
SHOW. 100,000 mourners give ELVIS PRESLEY the most emotional
farewell in the history of rock music.
SEPTEMBER
Week ending September 3
STATUS QUO, RAINBOW, DEMIS ROUSSOS, announce tours. CAROLE BAYER
SAGER for London, ELTON JOHN for Wembley in November. FABULOUS
POODLES debut album.
Week ending September 10
JIMMY McCULLOCH quits WINGS and joins SMALL FACES. BUDDY HOLLY Week
almost here. STRANGLERS announce gigantic tour. JAM LP for November
release. DONNA SUMMER to play Britain. The police chief in Lindos,
Greece, removed from office after complaints from PINK FLOYD'S RICK
WRIGHT. BOWIE's new LP `Heroes' due out October7.
Week ending September 17
MARC BOLAN dies in car crash. RANDY MEISNER splits from the EAGLES,
replaced by TIM Schmit of POCO. STEVE GIBBONS put out live LP.
GIZMO LP - out next month to retail at £11. ‘So It Goes' to return.
Week ending September 3
CHERRY VANILLA announces her imminent arrival here. LEO SAYER
releases 'Thunder In My Heart' LP. SAHB announced exotic Christmas
extravaganza.
Week ending October 1
TOM ROBINSON releases '2-4-8-8 Motorway' and tours. THE JAM plans
trip to the States.
Week ending October 8
DJM sign a punk band - Satan's Rats. 999 sign to UA. PAUL COOK plays
with the HEARTBREAKERS. STEVE HACKETT quits GENESIS.
Week ending October 16
NZ outfit SPLIT ENZ return to UK. DAVID ESSEX announces tour. SEX
PISTOLS forced to withdraw colour sleeve of 'Holidays In The Sun'.
Week ending October 22
ROD STEWART releases new album. TUBES confirm British dates for
'November. CLASH tour. WILKO announces line-up of his new band.
'Never Mind The Bollocks' goes gold.
Week ending October 29
RAINBOW's tour to continue despite RITCHIE BLACKMORE's arrest in
Vienna. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN now have 38 tracks recorded but still no
sign of album release. WISHBONE ASH to play the Marquee. LYNYRD
SKYNYRD involved in tragic air crash, three members of the band die.
The plane apparently ran out of fuel:
NOVEMBER
Week ending November 5
ALEX HARVEY retires, walks out of rehearsals at BBC. GARY GLITTER
breathalysed. PJ PROBY to play ELVIS. DAVY JONES; MICKEY DOLENZ for
'The Point': 'Love Songs' by the Beatles released.
Week ending November 12
THIN LIZZY start British tour. OZZY 0ZBOURNE quits BLACK SABBATH.
TONY BLACKBURN divorced. SEX PISTOLS window display seized. ELTON
JOHN plays his last live performance. ZAL CLEMINSON hits out at
ALEX.
Week ending November 18
KURSAALS disband. ARETHA FRANKLIN pulls out of British dates. STEVE
WINWOOD to back JOHN MARTYN. BONNIE TYLER form a new band.
Week ending November 28
BBC ban KENNY WILLIAMS single 'You're Fabulous Babe'. Hope And
Anchor festival starts. CLASH to play the Rainbow. Virgin boss
RICHARD BRANSON to appear in court over PISTOLS' album cover.
STRANGLERS cleared on drunk charge. DAVE WALKER joins BLACK SABBATH. ZAL CLEMINSON forms a new band.
DECEMBER
Week ending December 3
RICH KIDS announce tour. KISS release live album.
Week ending December 10
RICH KIDS record with MICK RONSON: ROXY theatre to close ROLLING
STONES to release album in March. DEKE LEONARD forms new band.
Week ending December 17
WHO announce details of major film project, then play surprise
London gig. WINGS to appear on Mike Yarwood Christmas show. 'Mull Of
Kintyre' sells a million. SEX PISTOLS to tour - official, first gig
at Brunel University Uxbridge. BRIAN CHATTON joins John Miles' band.
ELVIS, COSTELL0, NICK LOWE sign to UA breakaway group Radar Records.
PAT TRAVERS cancels tour.
Week ending December 24
SEX PISTOLS to play children's party in Huddersfield on Christmas
Day. MANHATTAN TRANSFER, GILBERT O'SULLIVAN, EMMYLOU HARRIS, XTC to
tour in the New Year. LINDISFARNE sell out five concerts in
Newcastle.
Happy Christmas in Punky land. Wings at No.1
with ’Mull of Kintyre’, Wogan with
the ‘Floral Dance’ at No.2, Bee Gees at No.3, and Bing
Crosby at No. 5. However Althea and Donnas ‘Uptown
Ranking’ enters at No.34 and the Banned ‘Little Girl’ at
No.36
BBC1
Star Over Bethlehem
Playboard
Morning service
National Velvet (film)
Are You Being Served? (Comedy)
Top of the Pops Pt one - Noel Edmonds and David "Kid" Jensen.
Queens Speech
Billy Smart's Circus
The Wizard of Oz (film)
Basil Through the Looking Glass (a furry fox puppet)
Songs Of Praise
Bruce Forsyth and The Generation Game (Game show)
Mike Yarwood (impressionist who
looking back wasn't funny)
Morecambe and Wise (comedy duo)
Funny Girl (film)
BBC2 Six documentaries and
very little else!
ITV
Carol concert, random cartoons,
morning service
A Merry Morning (Jimmy Tarbuck and The Wurzels visit a kids home)
Robinson Crusoe and the Tiger (film)
William's Worst Christmas
Queens Speech
See Such Fun (film clips)
Emu's Christmas Adventures (Rod Hull and and his ostrich puppet Emu)
The Muppet Show
Sale of the Century (Game show)
Stars on Christmas Day (celebrities & religion)
Young Winston (film)
Stanley Baxter's Greatest Hits (comedy)
Celebration (more singing and choirs)
Christmas TV
1977
The Top 5 Albums of 1977
1. Abba
Arrival
2. Shadows
Golden Greats
3. Diana Ross
20 Golden Greats
4. A Star Is Born
Soundtrack
5. Fleetwood Mac
Rumours
The Top 5 Singles of 1977
1. Don't Give Up On Us -
David Soul
2. Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
3. When I need You - Leo Sayer
4. Silver Lady -David Soul
4. Knowing Me Knowing You - Abba
