March 13 in Music History: Eric Clapton leaves the Yardbirds, Amy Winehouse releases Back to Black in the US

1961 – The Temptations (then known as the Elgins) audition for Motown Records.

1965 – Eric Clapton leaves The Yardbirds, complaining that the band is becoming too commercial.

1966 – Rod Stewart leaves Steampacket to work as a solo artist.

1976 – The Jackson 5 move from Motown to Epic Records and change their name to the Jacksons.

1977 – Iggy Pop begins a North American tour with David Bowie on keyboards and backing vocals, and Blondie as the opening act.

1988 – Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” hits #1 in the US. The video, which shows a buttoned-up Astley singing his way around London, does well on VH1, but really takes off two decades later with the Rickrolling trend.

2006 – The Sex Pistols refuse to attend their own induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The band posts a handwritten note on their website calling the institution “urine in wine,” adding “We’re not your monkeys, we’re not coming. You’re not paying attention.”

2007 – Amy Winehouse’s second album, Back to Black, is released in the US.

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