Author Archives: dcaligari

June 6, 1972 –David Bowie released The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on this date. Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created with the help of his then-wife, Angela. The character’s name was inspired by the ‘60s psychobilly musician, Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Bowie performed under the Stardust persona forContinue reading “Pushing through the market square …”

June 6, 1999 –Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), on this date. As I move follow (read: age) this silly tune becomes more and more poignant to me. Actor Lee Perry read the narrative. The backing is the choral version of ‘Everybody’s FreeContinue reading “Attention Class of 2024”

June 6, 1990 –US district court judge Jose Gonzalez ruled that the rap album by 2 Live Crew violated Florida’s obscenity law. Gonzalez declared that the predominant subject matter of the record is “directed to the ‘dirty’ thoughts and the loins, not to the intellect and the mind.” I’ve scoured the internet, they were notContinue reading “I guess he knew it was dirty by listening to it”

Do you have anything else to do today? Perhaps you should do it. Today is Dead Duck Day, an annual event celebrated at the Natural History Museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It’s the anniversary of the first known observation of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck. Now that you know, you may go about yourContinue reading “You might be suspect, if you celebrate this holiday”

June 5, 1956 –What came to be known as one of the most controversial performances in television history, Elvis famously performed Hound Dog on The Milton Berle Show and stirred up quite a frenzy, on this date. The provocative hip-swinging dance moves caused a national scandal and set the stage for the King of RockContinue reading “Elvis pelvis was rubbed in America’s face”

June 5, 2018 –Ocean’s 8, directed by Gary Ross and starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Rihanna premiered on this date. Debbie Ocean speaks German as part of her cover. Sandra Bullock spent most of her childhood in Nürnberg, Germany and is fluent in the language. She holds dual citizenship in both GermanyContinue reading “Another Ocean’s sequel premiered”

June 5, 1964 –David Bowie’s first ever release was Liza Jane/Louie Louie Go Home on this date, under the name of Davie Jones with The King-Bees. Despite promoting the single on the television shows Juke Box Jury, Ready Steady Go! and The Beat Room, and receiving good radio coverage, the single sold poorly and theContinue reading “An early Bowie release”

June 5, 1975 –… Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!… During the Wish You Were Here recording sessions on this date, Syd Barrett just happens to wander into Abbey Road studio while Pink Floyd were mixing Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a song written about Barrett. At first, none of Syd’sContinue reading “The people you run into”

June 4, 1984 –Bruce Springsteen released his seventh studio album, Born in the USA on this date. This is one of the most misinterpreted songs ever. Most people thought it was a patriotic song about American pride, when it actually cast a shameful eye on how America treated its Vietnam veterans. Springsteen considers it oneContinue reading “Born in the USA went on sale today”

June 4, 1938 – Another extremely funny Warner Bros. Cartoon, Porky the Fireman, was released on this date. The director, Frank Tashlin, is one of the few directors to successfully make the transition from animation to live-action, noted especially for his work with Jerry Lewis. Tashlin never made a picture that couldn’t be slotted firmlyContinue reading “Porky the Fireman premiered”