Michael Gibbins: 1949-2005

In 1969, Mike Gibbins was the drummer for an up and coming British rock band, Badfinger, when the group became the first to be signed by the Beatles' newly formed Apple record label. On Tuesday (October 4) Gibbins died at his Florida home of undisclosed causes. He was 56. Read a tribute from Dan Matovina, author of Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger.

John Lennon, Philatelist
John Lennon: poet, musician, artist, social activist, stamp collector. Stamp collector? Apparently so. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum is displaying a stamp collection given to a nine-year-old Lennon by his cousin, and subsequently written in, and added to, by the yet-to-be-famous future Beatle. On Sunday (October 9) -- what would have been Lennon's 65th birthday -- the stamp album, which the Museum acquired in June, will go on public display, where it will remain until sometime in April.

Rockers Still Rocking For Hurricane Relief
The hometown crowd at Asbury Park, New Jersey's Paramount Theater came to hear favorite son, Bruce Springsteen on Tuesday (October 4) night. In the process, they were also aiding Hurricane Katrina relief, with proceeds going to the Red Cross.
Over on the Third Coast on Wednesday (October 5) Robert Plant and Pearl Jam played a much smaller venue than they're used to, but their concert at Chicago's House of Blues raised big money for Habitat For Humanity, Red Cross, and the Jazz Foundation of America.

Tribal Stomp For Rock Pioneer
Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly, and Sammy Hagar top a long list of artists who will perform an all-day, free concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on October 30 to honor the late Chet Helms. Helms, who died in June, was the promoter who brought Janis Joplin together with Big Brother and the Holding Company, and helped propel the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, among others, to national prominence. Helms' Family Dog Productions is credited with securing San Francisco's place in rock history. Read all About A Chet Helms Tribal Stomp.

Little Richard Resolves Financial Dilemma
Even when a concert is free to the audience, somebody has to pay for it. In Macon, Georgia, they were wondering who was going to pay the estimated $75,000 bill for favorite son Little Richard's October 8 concert. The mayor asked Macon businesses to come up with the money, but business owners said they weren't given enough time to come up with the money. Little Richard, a Macon native whose face and voice are used extensively to promote the city, returned about half of his concert fees to resolve the problem.