Today in History: Joe Strummer Dies at the Age of 50

1963%2C%20The%20Beatles%20appeared%20at%20the%20Empire%20Theatre%20in%20Liverpool.%20This%20appearance%20was%20the%20second%20concert-only%20preview%20of%20their%20%27The%20Beatles%27%20Christmas%20Show%27%2C%20which%20would%20open%20in%20London%20in%20two%20days.%20

1973%2C%20Elton%20John%20started%20a%20two-week%20run%20at%20No.1%20on%20the%20UK%20album%20chart%20with%20%27Goodbye%20Yellow%20Brick%20Road%27%2C%20it%20also%20had%20a%20eight%20week%20run%20at%20No.1%20on%20the%20US%20chart.

1967%2C%20The%20Jimi%20Hendrix%20Experience%2C%20Pink%20Floyd%2C%20The%20Who%2C%20Keith%20West%20and%20Tomorrow%2C%20Eric%20Burdon%20%26amp%3B%20The%20Animals%2C%201984%20%28featuring%20future%20Queen%20guitarist%20Brian%20May%29%20and%20Soft%20Machine%20all%20appeared%20at%20The%20Olympia%2C%20London%20at%20an%20all%20night%20festival%20%27Christmas%20On%20Earth%20Continued%27.%20The%20DJ%20was%20John%20Peel%20plus%20the%20venue%20featured%20a%20paddling%20pool%2C%20light%20shows%20and%20a%20movie%20theatre%2C%20tickets%20%C2%A31.%20

1981%2C%20At%20a%20rock%20%26amp%3B%20roll%20memorabilia%20auction%20in%20London%2C%20a%20stage%20suit%20worn%20by%20John%20Lennon%20sold%20for%20%C2%A32%2C300%2C%20a%20letter%20from%20Paul%20McCartney%20to%20a%20fan%20sold%20for%20%C2%A32%2C200%20and%20a%20Perspex%20sculpture%20of%20John%20%26amp%3B%20Yoko%20was%20bought%20by%20singer%20Kate%20Bush%20for%20%C2%A34%2C200.%20

1988%2C%20The%20Smiths%20played%20their%20farewell%20gig%20at%20Wolverhampton%20Civic%20Hall%2C%20%28without%20guitarist%20Johnny%20Marr%29.%20To%20gain%20entrance%20to%20the%20gig%20fans%20had%20to%20wear%20a%20Smiths%20or%20Morrissey%20T-%20shirt.%20

1991%2C%20James%20Brown%20launched%20an%20unsuccessful%20lawsuit%20against%20the%20producers%20of%20the%20movie%20The%20Commitments%2C%20claiming%20one%20of%20the%20characters%20too%20closely%20resembled%20him.%20

2000%2C%20Madonna%20married%20film%20director%20Guy%20Ritchie%20at%20Skibo%20Castle%2C%20Scotland.%20Celebrities%20attending%20the%20wedding%20included%20Jon%20Bon%20Jovi%2C%20Bryan%20Adams%2C%20Sting%20and%20fashion%20designers%20Donatella%20Versace%2C%20Jean%20Paul%20Gaultier%20and%20Stellla%20McCartney.%20The%20couple%20divorced%20in%20Nov%202008.%20

2002%2C%20Former%20Clash%20singer%20and%20guitarist%20Joe%20Strummer%20%28John%20Graham%20Mellor%29%20died%20of%20a%20suspected%20heart%20attack%20aged%2050.%20Scored%20the%201979%20UK%20No.%2011%20single%20%27London%20Calling%27%2C%201982%20US%20No.%208%20single%20%27Rock%20The%20Casbah%2C%201991%20UK%20No.1%20single%20%27Should%20I%20Stay%20Or%20Should%20I%20Go%27%2C%20first%20released%201982%2C%20plus%2015%20other%20UK%20Top%2040%20singles.%20The%20Clash%27s%20London%20Calling%20album%20was%20voted%20best%20album%20of%20the%201980s%20by%20Rolling%20Stone%20magazine.%20Strummer%20was%20also%20a%20member%20of%20the%20The%20Mescaleros.%20

2008%2C%20A%20cassette%20tape%20of%20a%20%22drunk%22%20John%20Lennon%20recording%20a%20cover%20version%20of%20a%20rock%20%27n%27%20roll%20song%20sold%20at%20auction%20in%20Los%20Angeles%20for%20%2430%2C000%20%28%C2%A320%2C200%29.%20The%20six-minute%20recording%2C%20made%20in%20autumn%201973%2C%20is%20of%20Lennon%20performing%20Lloyd%20Price%27s%20Just%20Because.%20%22Debauched%20lyrics%22%20improvised%20by%20%22a%20drunk%20Lennon%22%20include%20%22just%20a%20little%20cocaine%20will%20set%20me%20right%22%2C%20and%2C%20%22I%20wanna%20take%20all%20them%20new%20singers%2C%20Carol%20and%20the%20other%20one%20with%20the%20nipples%2C%20I%20wanna%20take%20%27em%20and%20hold%20%27em%20tight%2C%22%20

2010%2C%20The%20Abbey%20Road%20zebra%20crossing%20in%20north%20London%2C%20made%20famous%20after%20appearing%20on%20a%20Beatles%20album%20cover%20was%20given%20Grade%20II%20listed%20status.%20The%20crossing%2C%20the%20first%20of%20its%20kind%20to%20be%20listed%2C%20was%20being%20recognised%20for%20its%20%22cultural%20and%20historical%20importance%22%20following%20advice%20from%20English%20Heritage.%20The%20Beatles%20were%20photographed%20on%20Abbey%20Road%20in%20Ian%20Macmillan%27s%20iconic%20cover%20shot%20for%20the%201969%20album%20%27Abbey%20Road%27.%20