Bowie booed off stage in 1969

A David Bowie performance in Gravesend, England, lasted just 15 minutes on Oct. 31, 1969. The musician appeared for a Halloween night show, singing 'Space Oddity' before dragging a stool and a large book onto the stage. He sat and read poems, and the audience booed him off the stage.

The date marks other key moments in rock history. In 1952, pianist Johnnie Johnson hired 26-year-old Chuck Berry as a guitarist for his band in the St. Louis area. Berry worked as a hairdresser during the day for the next three years. In 1974, Led Zeppelin held the UK launch for their Swan Song record label at Chislehurst Caves in Kent. Nuns in suspenders served drinks, a naked woman lay in a jelly-covered coffin, and naked male wrestlers battled in the venue.

Chart and band news also surfaced on this day. Gerry and the Pacemakers held the No. 1 spot on the UK singles chart with 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in 1963. That was the group's third and final No. 1. In 1986, Roger Waters went to the high court to stop David Gilmour and Nick Mason from using the name Pink Floyd for future touring and recording. The Rolling Stones recently reached No. 1 with their 24th studio album, 'Hackney Diamonds.'

Bandleader disputes and pranks round out the list. In 1990, Billy Idol dumped 600 dead fish in Faith No More's dressing room during a Seattle gig. The band responded by walking on stage naked during Idol's set. In 1996, Slash announced he had left Guns N' Roses. He said he and Axl Rose had only been civil on two occasions since 1994. Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. both celebrated birthdays on the date.