Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for March 20th

T. Rex almost extinct! -- Joan rules! -- Birthday for the sole surviving member of one of the '70's biggest super-groups...

3/20/1977 (41 years ago today) - T. Rex played what turned out to be their last gig at The Locarno in Portsmouth, England -- A sad ending for the revered and influential British rocker: just four years earlier, Marc Bolan's popularity in England matched that of The Beatles(!) and he was easily/breezily outselling all of his peers, including The Who and David Bowie, but then came the {inevitable?} downfall after a string of somewhat experimental LP's -- Now though, in the spring of '77, T. Rex began the {inevitable?} comeback, as his just-released "Dandy In The Underworld" album was met with critical acclaim and the current tour getting positive reviews -- In September, the car Bolan's girlfriend was driving crashed into a tree; she was severely injured, but Marc was killed in the accident, two weeks before his 30th birthday.

3/20/1982 (36 years ago today) - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts start a seven week run at No. 1 with "I Love Rock And Roll" -- The track was her defining moment and breakthrough to the big time and (no shame here whatsoever) showcased Joan's talent for taking material and making it sound like hers and hers alone; it is, after all, what real rock fans do! The song was first done by U.K. outfit The Arrows back in 1975, but Joan sure made it into something classic and special; listen to the difference:

3/20/1951 - Happy Birthday to master percussionist Carl Palmer, 67 years old today -- Played with cult faves Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown (remember "Fire"?) before forming one of the Seventies most insanely successful bands with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake -- Still, it must be strange and a little heart-breaking to be the lone member left from one of prog-rock's all-time legendary outfits...

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"Everybody says it's just like rock 'n' roll...", xoxo!