JULY 19
BRITAIN’S LEGENDARY HEAVY METAL BAND DEEP PURPLE BROKE UP ON THIS DAY IN 1976. DEEP PURPLE ORIGINALLY FORMED IN 1968, HITTING THEIR STRIDE IN 1972 WITH THE RELEASE OF THE “MACHINE HEAD” ALBUM AND HIT SINGLE “SMOKE ON THE WATER,” GUITAR HOOK COURTESY OF RITCHIE BLACKMORE. BUT WHEN BLACKMORE QUIT THE GROUP IN 1975 TO FORM RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE’S DAYS WERE NUMBERED. THE BAND WOULD REFORM IN THE MID-EIGHTIES.
DAVID BOWIE MADE HIS STAGE-ACTING DEBUT ON THIS DAY IN 1980, IN “THE ELEPHANT MAN.” THIS FIRST PERFORMANCE WAS IN DENVER, WHERE THE PLAY WAS IN TRY-OUTS BEFORE MOVING TO BROADWAY.
AND #1 HITS ON THIS DAY INCLUDED WINGS’ “LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID” IN 1975 … BILLY JOEL’S “IT’S STILL ROCK & ROLL TO ME” IN 1980 … AND IN 1986, GENESIS WITH “INVISIBLE TOUCH.”