This Day in Music History: The Rolling Stones record their first demo, Queen & David Bowie release “Under Pressure”

1961 – Bob Dylan signs with Columbia Records, his first recording contract.

1962 – The Rolling Stones (known as The Rollin’ Stones and consisting of Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, pianist Ian Stewart, and drummer Tony Chapman) record their first demo tape at Curly Clayton Studios in Highbury, London. They recorded three songs: Jimmy Reed’s “Close Together,” Bo Diddley’s “You Cant Judge A Book By The Cover,” and Muddy Waters’ “Soon Forgotten.”

1964 – The Beatles record “Honey Don’t” for their Beatles For Sale album after the song’s writer, Carl Perkins, visits them in the studio.

1965 – The Beatles are awarded Members of the British Empire (MBE) medals from Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony held at Buckingham Palace. Many former recipients gave their MBE’s back in protest, to which John Lennon responded, “Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war, for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I’d say we deserve ours more.” He sends his back in 1969.

1981 – Queen and David Bowie release their collaborative song, “Under Pressure.”

1993 – Michael Jackson is awarded a patent for the system that allows him to lean in unnatural angles during performances of “Smooth Criminal.” To recreate the video on stage, Jackson and his dancers wore special shoes that they could insert into pegs set up on stage for the famous lean.

1998 – Fats Domino is awarded the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton.

1998 – US Federal courts refuse to issue an injunction against makers of mp3 players, one which the RIAA has been pushing for in light of rampant piracy.

2001 – Courtney Love plays her first-ever solo show at the Ventura Theatre in Ventura, CA.

2004 – Apple launches the U2 Special Edition iPod as part of a partnership between themselves, the band, and Universal Music Group. The new U2 iPod holds up to 5,000 songs and features a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. The iPod is introduced in conjunction with the announcement of U2’s new album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

2006 – Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor quits the band during the US leg of their world tour. A statement on behalf of the group describes the relationship with Andy Taylor as unworkable and one that could not be resolved.

2010 – Keith Richards releases his autobiography, Life.

Information for this post was gathered from This Day in Music, The Music History Calendar, On This Day, and Wikipedia.