ON JANUARY 31^ST…

In 1964…In an interview with the Toronto Telegram, Bob Dylan said he was working on a novel and a play.

In 1964…Sales figures showed that The Beatles‘ “She Loves You” had sold 1.3-million copies in England, while “I Want to Hold Your Hand” had sold 1.5 million.

In 1967…At an antique shop in Kent, England, John Lennon, who was filming the promo clip for “Strawberry Fields Forever” nearby, purchased an 1843 circus poster reading “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite.”

In 1970…In New Orleans, The Grateful Dead were busted for possession of LSD and barbiturates. The event was alleged to be the inspiration for the song “Truckin’.”

In 1976…ABBA‘s “Mamma Mia” knocked Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody” off the top of the British singles chart.

In 1978…Greg Herbert of Blood Sweat & Tears died of a drug overdose in Amsterdam during the band’s European tour. He was 30.

In 1979…The Clash began their first U-S tour with bluesman Bo Diddley as their opening act.

In 1998…New Jersey stalwarts Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Southside Johnny performed at the Come Together benefit concert. E Street Band members Max Weinberg, Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons joined Springsteen. Proceeds from the gig went to the family of Patrick King, a police officer killed in the line of duty.

In 2001…It was announced that Peter Criss was leaving Kiss and that he would be replaced by Eric Singer for the remaining dates of the band’s farewell tour. Criss’ last show was on October 7^th, 2000.

In 2005…Cat Stevens – now known as Yusuf Islam – visited the tsunami-stricken Aceh province in Indonesia. The “Moonshadow”-singer-turned-devout-Muslim gave money to orphaned children in tent camps and prayed at Banda Aceh’s central mosque.