This Day in Rock & Roll History - August 24

August 24, 1963
- After a couple of flop singles for smaller record companies, "The Ronettes" scored their only Billboard Top Ten hit when their first effort for Phil Spector, "Be My Baby" rose to # 2.


August 24, 1966

- "The Youngbloods" record their biggest hit, "Get Together."


August 24, 1968

- While celebrating his 21st birthday, "The Who's" drummer, Keith Moon, drives a Lincoln Continental into the pool of a Holiday Inn in Flint, Michigan.
The band would later get a $50,000 bill for the damage they caused and were subsequently banned from every Holiday Inn for life.
It was also rumored that Decca Records had to purchase the ruined car from it's rightful owner.


August 24, 1969

- Arlo Guthrie's movie, "Alice's Restaurant" opens in New York and Los Angeles.

- John Lennon writes "Cold Turkey," a song about kicking his heroin addiction
He rehearsed the song all afternoon and recorded it that evening with the help of Ringo Starr and Klaus Voorman.



August 24, 1977

- Waylon Jennings, the former member of Buddy Holly's backup band turned Country star, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.
He had recently been named an honorary police chief.



August 24, 1983

- Jerry Lee Lewis' fifth wife, Shawn Stevens, died of a methadone overdose at the couple's Mississippi home...The two had been married less than three months.



August 24, 1989

- "The Who" perform "Tommy" at the Universal Amphitheatre with special guests Steve Winwood, Elton John, Phil Collins, Patti LaBelle and Billy Idol.