Archaic History 11-15 to 11-21

November 16, 1974 – John Lennon had his only solo, number one hit in the US during his lifetime when “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” hit the top. In his homeland, it could do no better than #36. His girlfriend, May Pang, would later recall that John got the inspiration for the song when he saw TV evangelist Reverend Ike utter the phrase “Let me tell you guys, it doesn’t matter, it’s whatever gets you through the night.”

November 18, 1970 – Jerry Lee Lewis and wife / cousin Myra Brown are granted a divorce, ending their thirteen year marriage. The two wed on December 12, 1957, when Myra was just 13 years old.

November 18, 1972 – Danny Whitten, of Neil Young’s backup band Crazy Horse, died of an alleged heroin overdose at the age of 29. The tragedy inspired Young to write “The Needle and the Damage Done”. Whitten is often remembered for writing “I Don’t Want To Talk About It”, recorded by both Rita Coolidge and Rod Stewart.

November 19, 1977 – The Ramones’ lead singer, Joey Ramone (real name: Jeffrey Hyman) suffered second degree burns when a faulty humidifier exploded before a show in Passaic, New Jersey. After emergency treatment, he finished the concert, but would spend the following week at the New York Hospital Burn Center.

November 20, 1955 – After the staff of The Ed Sullivan Show requested he sing “Sixteen Tons”, Bo Diddley instead performs “Bo Diddley” live on the Sunday night TV show. Sullivan was so infuriated, Bo would never be invited back. The singer later recalled, “Ed Sullivan said that I was one of the first colored boys to ever double-cross him. Said that I wouldn’t last six months.” Diddley would prove Sullivan wrong, as he released 11 albums between 1958 and 1963.

November 21, 1960 – While The Beatles are performing at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg, Germany, 17 year old George Harrison is deported back to England for being in the club while underage.