History Highlight:

Today in 1955, The Clash drummer Nick Headon — best known by his nickname, “Topper” — was born, making him 70. Headon’s first musical inspirations came from jazz, and he was particularly inspired by the music of Panamanian-American jazz drummer Billy Cobham. Early on in his career, Headon played in bands who opened for such groups as Supertramp and The Temptations. When Headon joined The Clash in 1977, it was initially as an experiment to help get the band off the ground, but when Headon took note of the band’s potential, he stayed with the group. Headon played on most of The Clash’s records, and he wrote the song, “Rock the Casbah.” His versatility as a drummer allowed him to play the various styles one hears in Clash songs, from rock to reggae to pop and jazz. Unfortunately, a heroin addiction expedited Headon’s exit from The Clash in 1982. He eventually was able to get sober, and he has since launched a Narcotics Anonymous group in his hometown and worked with the homeless charity Porchlight.

Also, Today In: 

1964 - The Beatles went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Love Me Do," the group's fourth U.S. No. 1 in five months.  

1968 - The Beatles began work on their first and only double album — the self-titled record which has come to be known as "The White Album." It was more a collection of solo works than an actual group effort, as the band was going through a period of increasing tension and personality clashes.  

1971 - 36 people are hospitalized during a Grateful Dead concert at the Winterland Auditorium in San Francisco after drinking an apple drink spiked with LSD. 

1975 - Alice Cooper's first solo album Welcome to My Nightmare was certified Gold by the RIAA. It later went on to sell one million copies in the U.S.  

1980 - Peter Gabriel released his third solo studio album, which is self-titled. It features “Games Without Frontiers,” “Biko,” and “I Don’t Remember.”

1987 - Adam Horovitz from The Beastie Boys was arrested while on tour after a beer can hit a fan during a disturbance in Liverpool, England. 

1987 - The Los Angeles Times reported that Michael Jackson offered $50,000 for the bones of "The Elephant Man," John Merrick, who died in 1890. Said Jackson's manager: "Jackson has a high degree of respect for the memory of Merrick. He has read and studied all material about the Elephant Man, and has visited the hospital in London twice to view Merrick's remains." 

1988 - Bob Dylan released his 25th studio album, Down in the Groove. It features the singles "Silvio" and "Ugliest Girl in the World."

1990 - Australian rockers Midnight Oil make headlines when they stage a protest concert outside of the Exxon building in New York City in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill that devastated Prince William Sound in Alaska the year before. Vocalist Peter Garrett says: "We can't treat the world like a garbage dump, and there's more to life than profit and loss." 

1993 - Jazz composer Sun Ra, a pioneer of free improvisation and modal jazz, dies of pneumonia at age 79. 

1992 - The Black Crowes debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion which spent one week on top of the chart. The album features four hit singles; "Remedy", "Thorn in My Pride", "Sting Me" and "Hotel Illness". 

1995 - Batman Forever: Music from the Motion Picture was released. It includes "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2 and "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal.

1997 - Neil Young canceled a European tour after cutting his finger while slicing a sandwich. 

1997 - Yanni became the first Western artist in modern times to perform at the Forbidden City in Beijing. Despite strict regulations including a 40-decibel sound limit, the show was a success.  

2000 - Billy Bragg and Wilco released Mermaid Avenue Vol. II. It features "Remember the Mountain Bed."

2001 - Radiohead released their fifth studio album, Amnesiac. It features the singles "Pyramid Song" and "Knives Out."

2003 - Mickie Most, producer of artists such as The Animals, Jeff Beck & Herman's Hermits died of cancer. He was 64 years old.  

2005 - Oasis released their sixth studio album, Don’t Believe the Truth. It features “Lyla.”

2005 - Art Brut released their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll. It features “Formed a Band” and “Emily Kane.”

2007 - A leaked copy of the new White Stripes album Icky Thump was played completely on Chicago's radio station Q101-WKQX. Jack White personally called the station from Spain, where he was touring, to voice his displeasure. 

2009 - Mick Jagger offered to buy an ice cream van but was turned down by its owner - who'd promised his daughter he would drive her to her wedding in it.  

2010 - American R&B singer, songwriter, Ali-Ollie Woodson died from cancer aged 58. Woodson was best known for singing with The Temptations from 1984 to 1996 and also worked with Aretha Franklin, Jean Carn, and Bill Pinkney. 

2014 - Aretha Franklin received an honorary degree from Harvard University.  

2015 - Enrique Iglesias sliced his fingers open when he tried to grab a drone camera, which was taking pictures of the audience, at a concert in Tijuana, Mexico. He was treated at the side of the stage to stop the bleeding, and was advised to end the show. 

2017 - Bob Seger's Greatest Hits album, released in 1994, was certified Diamond for sales of 10 million copies. His music was kept off streaming services until 2017, which helped boost sales, at least half of which came after 2002. 

2017 - Olivia Newton-John postponed her U.S. and Canadian tour to fight a recurrence of breast cancer, which had spread to her back. The 68-year-old singer had been in remission since 1992. 

Birthdays:  

Bandleader Benny Goodman was born today in 1909.

Country musician Johnny Gimble was born today in 1926.

Lenny Davidson, guitarist for the Dave Clark Five, is 81.

Gladys Horton, lead singer for the Marvelettes, was born today in 1945.

Topper Headon, drummer for The Clash, is 70.  

Marie Fredriksson, singer for Roxette, was born today in 1958.

Tom Morello is 61. Morello is best-known for his stints in Rage Against the Machine, which ended all activity earlier this year. He has also performed with Audioslave, then the supergroup Prophets of Rage. He also toured with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and has acoustic solo acts the Nightwatchman and Street Sweeper Social Club. 

Wynonna Judd is 61.

Stephen Malkmus, frontman for Pavement, is 59.

Tim Burgess, frontman for the Charlatans U.K., is 58.

Sven Pipien, bassist for The Black Crowes, is 58.

Idina Menzel is 54. 

Patrick Dahlheimer, bassist for Live, is 54. 

Rapper Big L was born today in 1974.

Cee Lo Green, half of Gnarls Barkley and solo artist, is 50.

Devendra Banhart is 44.

Remy Ma is 44. 

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts, Louder magazine, DRUM! magazine and Wikipedia.