This time in 1969…
Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (Canned Heat) died 3rd September 1970, barbiturate overdose; Jimi Hendrix died 18th September 1970, sleeping pills overdose and choked in his own vomit; Janis Joplin died 4th October 1970, heroin overdose; Jim Morrison (The Doors) died 3rd July 1971, unknown causes; Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (Grateful Dead) died 8thMarch, gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to alcoholism; Pete Ham (Badfinger) died 24th April 1975, suicide (a plaque commemorating the life of Pete Ham is at Swansea railway station); Gary Thain (Uriah Heep) died 8th December 1975, drug overdose; Pete De Freitas (Echo & The Bunnymen) died 14th June 1989, motorcycle accident; Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) died 5th April, shot himself; Kristen Pfaff (Hole) died 16th June, heroin overdose; Amy Winehouse died 23rd July 2011, alcohol poisoning, “death by misadventure”. The 27 Club founding member is delta blues legend Robert Johnson, died on 16th August 1938, possibly poisoned by a jealous husband or lover.
The top 10 in Australia in July 1969
In the UK
5th 12th 19th – Something in the Air – Thunderclap Newman
26th – Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
In the USA
5th – Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet – Henry Mancini & his Orchestra
12th 19th 26th – In The Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) – Zager & Evans
In Australia
“The Ballad of John and Yoko” – The Beatles for the whole month.