History Highlight:

Peter Buck, guitarist for R.E.M., is 56. Buck's distinctive jangly, chiming guitar style was the foundation of the early R.E.M. sound, harkening back to the likes of The Byrds while also inspiring a host of followers and imitators in the 1980s.

Also, Today In:

1949 - American blues artist, Leadbelly died.

1969 - Led Zeppelin made their debut on the US singles chart with "Whole Lotta Love", which went on to make No.4 on the chart and was the first of six Top 40 singles for the group in the US.

1975 - Paul Simon went to No.1 on the US album chart with Still Crazy After All These Years, his first US No.1 solo album.

1978 - Sex Pistol Sid Vicious smashed a glass in the face of Patti Smith's brother Todd Smith during a fight at New York City club Hurrah.

1988 - Roy Orbison died of a heart attack aged 52.

1995 - Michael Jackson collapsed and was treated for dehydration while rehearsing for the HBO special Michael Jackson: One Night Only at The Beacon Theater in New York.

Birthdays:

Pixies drummer Dave Lovering is 52.