2004

Britney Spears marries a childhood friend, Jason Allen Alexander, at the Little White Chapel On The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, usa, but twelve hours later she contacts her lawyers to ask them to have the ceremony annulled.

Ray Davies of The Kinks is shot in the leg while chasing a shotgun-wielding mugger, Jerome Barra, through the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. Barra had snatched a purse belonging to Davies' girlfriend as they strolled down Burgundy Street in the early evening.

Britney Spears' marriage to her childhood friend, Jason Allen Alexander, is annulled. The pair had married just two days earlier at the Little White Chapel On The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, but twelve hours later she contacted her lawyers to ask to have their union annulled.

The R.I.A.A. announces that, with sales of 117.5 million units, Elvis Presley is now officially the biggest selling solo artist in American history.

Les Gray, vocalist with glam rock hitmakers Mud, dies aged 57 from throat cancer, at home in Portugal, Europe.

A Los Angeles Grand Jury announces that Michael Jackson will definitely stand trial for child abuse, following allegations made against him several months earlier.

Facing charges of child molestation, Michael Jackson fires his high profile legal advisors, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, and takes on a new legal representative, Thomas A. Mesereau Jr.

Curtis Butler, guitarist of Detroit-based blues and electric blues duo, The Butler Twins, dies aged 62.

On his Sacred Love tour, Sting plays the second of six nights at The Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK, supported by Joss Stone.

Gretchen Wilson releases her debut single, Redneck Woman, on Epic Records in the USA.

Efterklang play at The Basement, Copenhagen, Denmark, with Skyphone.

Speaking about Islam during an Australian radio interview, Gene Simmons of KISS declares, "This is a vile culture, and if you think for a second that it's willing to just live in the sands of God's armpit you've got another thing coming... they want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil." A flood of angry calls ensues from Muslims, in response to which Simmons claims he was speaking only of extremists.

The album Twentysomething by jazz piano star Jamie Cullum debuts at No2 on the Billboard US Contemporary Jazz Chart in the USA, and also at No93 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart.

Paul McCartney plays at T-Mobile Park, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe.

Britney Spears injures her knee during a video shoot for the song Outrageous. As a result, the remainder of the dates on her Onyx Hotel tour will be cancelled.

During his A Reality tour, David Bowie plays at Frognerbadet, Oslo, Norway, Europe. When someone from the crowd throws a lollipop at the stage, the stick lodges itself between Bowie's eyeball and his eye socket.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers play the second of three nights at Hyde Park, London, England, UK. The shows are recorded and the band will release a live double-LP, Live In Hyde Park, based on on the concerts.

Bob Dylan is awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the University of St. Andrew's, Scotland.

Country music star Marty Stuart is arrested following an auto accident in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA. The singer is arrested after allegedly hitting two cars in the street outside McDonald's restaurant.

A lengthy investigation by The California Department of Corrections results in the sacking of four state parole agents who had been moonlighting as security guards for rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg.

Legendary jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet dies in New York City, aged 81. On the same day, French heart-throb singer Sacha Distel dies, aged 74, after a long illness.

Johnny Ramone of The Ramones dies from prostate cancer in Hollywood, California, USA, aged 55.

Bruce Hornsby plays in The New Morning, Paris, France, Europe.

Efterklang play at Modstrøm, Kolding, Denmark, Europe, with Norr Liva.

It is confirmed that Mary J.Blige will be performing live at tomorrow night's Mobo Awards ceremony at The Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK.

Candiria play at The Bottom Lounge, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty and Bright Eyes play a concert in support of US Presidential candidate John Kerry at The Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Jersey Boys, a musical based on the career of 60s vocal harmony quartet The Four Seasons, premieres at the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, California, USA. This is an out-of-town tryout, and will run for over three months.

Courtney Love is guest DJ on Indie 103.1 Radio in Los Angeles, California, USA. Among the tracks she plays are The Drugs Don't Work by The Verve.

Tommy Lee, drummer of Motley Crue, begins studying at the University of Nebraska, for an NBC 'reality' tv show in which he takes classes in chemistry, literature and the history of rock'n'roll.

The 2nd annual Korea Times Music Festival is held in Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, USA, featuring Lexy, Rain, Seven, Shinhwa, DBSK, Wheesung, Eun Ji-won, Big Mama King (BMK), Han Kyung-il, Kim Jong-kook, Jeong Soo-ra, Kim Jong-hwan, Tae Jin-ah, Chul Hyun, Song Dae-kwan, Hyun Sook, Kim Dong-kyu, Keum Joo-hee, Love And Peace, Crenshaw Elite Choir and The MBC Pops Orchestra.

Oscar Wilde – The Musical, at The Shaw Theatre, London, England, UK, Europe, written by UK radio deejay Mike Read, closes after just one performance (the previous night), making it the fastest closing musical in the history of London's West End.

Leonard Cohen releases a new album, Dear Heather, in North America.

Singer R. Kelly slaps a $75m lawsuit on rapper Jay-Z, following incidents during their joint concert three days earlier at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA. Kelly had quit the stage after claiming to see two audience members pointing guns in his direction. Kelly also claims to have been pepper sprayed backstage by an associate of Jay-Z.

Incubus play at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Incubus play at the Kansas Coliseum, Valley Center, Kansas, USA.

Efterklang play at Ridehuset-Kulturama, Aarhus, Denmark, Europe.

Lostprophets play at The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK.

Band Aid 20 release a new single, Do They Know It’s Christmas, in the UK on Mercury Records.

Country music singer-songwriter Martha Carson, known as the First Lady Of Gospel Music, dies in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 83.