Protests, Censorship and Electric Ladyland

The issues about Racial Equality was part of the music business and the British Musicians Union prohibits its members from performing in racist South Africa. Scott Walker refused to play there, loosing a lot of money in fee. Jimi Hendrix donated 5000 to the memorial fund of Martin Luther King.

More about Jimi Hendrix, in January 4, Hendrix was jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room in a drunken rage

The French film director Jean-Luc Godard documented the work with the Rolling Stones album "Beggar's Banquet", the album was released in the autumn of 68', but before that the Stone's and the record company Decca was in dispute regarding the cover of the album: a graffiti-covered toilet. More about the Stone's, Keith Richards reports that UFO's is landing in his back garden!

...and about censorship: Jimi Henrix's album "Electric Ladyland" was banned by some record stores in Britain due to the 21 naked women on the album cover, it was then sold in a brown paper bag.

The West Coast sound: The Doors and Jefferson Airplane toured England as a package and was getting much intention, their concert at the Roundhouse(London) was filmed by Granada TV and the musical papers wrote lots of articles about them, especially Jim Morrison, singer in the Doors.

The next American Invasion was an album, "Cheap Thrills", by Big Brother and the Holding Company with the lead singer Janis Joplin. The album was revied in Melody Maker with words like:"..she is definitely soaked in the traditions of the Negro blues shouters, from Bessie Smith right on down..."

The Beatles single's "Hey Jude" and "Get Back" was at the top of the charts and "The White Album" was number one.

The Cream and the Traffic split and a new supergroup was rising from the ashes: Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker from the Cream and Stevie Winwwod from Traffic but that is a story for 1969.

January:

Release of Manfred Manns: "The Mighty Quinn"/"By RequestEdwin Garvey"(UK#1)
Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with Noel Redding
The Move: "Fire Brigade"/"Walk upon the Water" is released
Gibson Guitar Corporation patents its Gibson Flying V electric guitar design
Kaleidoscope: "A Dream for Julie" release
Chicken Shack: "It's Okay with Me Baby" is released
Dave Gilmour has been reheasing with Pink Floyd and steps in to play guitar when Syd is unable to play at Brighton

February:

Release of Jeff Becks "Love Is Blue"
Ten Years After: "Portable People" is released
Amboy Dukes(Ted Nugent) - "Baby Please Don't Go" WKNR(US) #15
The Beatles, Donovan and others travel to India to visit the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
David Gilmour joins Pink Floyd, replacing founder Syd Barrett

March:

Pink Floyd: During a meeting Syd is asked to stop touring and contributing material
The End: "Shades of Orange" is released
Bill Graham opens the Fillmore East in New York City
The Beatles release: "Lady Madonna"/"The Inner Light"
Release of Procol Harums "Quite Rightly So"
Fleetwood Mac: "Black Magic Woman"/"The Sun Is Shining" is released
Release of Jethro Tulls "Sunshine Day"
The Yardbirds record their live album Live Yardbirds at the Anderson Theater

April:

The Zombies: "Time of the Season" is released
Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and the Trinity: "This Wheel's on Fire"
Pink Floyd release: "It Would Be So Nice"
Tyrannosaurus Rex: "Deborah" is released
The rock musical Hair opened on Broadway
Pink Floyd announcing that Syd has left the band

May:

Cream: "Anyone for Tennis"/"Press Rat and Warthog" is released
Release of Eric Burdon and the Animals: "Anything"/"Monterey"
Brian Jones is arrested for drug possession, second time
The Rolling Stones release: "Jumpin' Jack Flash"/"Child of the Moon"

June:

Cream: "Anyone for Tennis"/"Press Rat and Warthog" is released
Release of Eric Burdon and the Animals: "Anything"/"Monterey"
Andy Warhol is critically wounded by Valerie Solanas in New York
Amboy Dukes(Ted Nugent) "Journey to the Center of Your Mind" hits no. 1 in the WKNR list(US)
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown: "Fire!" is released,(UK#1)
Deep Purple: "Hush" is released
Release of the Moody Blues: "Voices in the Sky"/"Dr. Livingstone, I Presume"
The Nice: "America (2nd Amendment)" is released
First free park concert at Hyde Park, London with: Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Roy Harper, and Tyrannosaurus Rex
Mick Jagger, "I could carry on leaping about a stage like a sixteen-year-old and we could go on playing 'Satisfaction' from our wheel chairs. I don't want to end up like some singers who never changed. We have to look for new things", from NME.

July:

Woburn Music Festival(2 days) with acts like: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Tyranosaurus Rex, the Family, Donovan, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Taste
The Nice: "America" is released
Steppenwolf - "Born To Be Wild" (US) #2
The movie "Yellow Submarine" premiers at the London Pavilion
Record company Decca refuses to release Rolling Stones "Beggars Banquet" because of the graffiti cover

August:

Hyde Park concert with: Fleetwood Mac, Family, Ten Years After and others
The Beatles: "Hey Jude"/"Revolution" is released
The Doors hit the top with "Hello, I Love You", their second and last number 1 song
Isle of Wight Festival opens 31 of August with bands like: Jefferson Airplane (British debut), the Move, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, the Pretty Things and others

September:

New line-up of the Yardbirds: John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page
The Who: "Magic Bus" release
Julie Driscoll with the Brian Auger Trinity: "Road to Cairo"
Release of Creams: "Sunshine of Your Love"
Jethro Tull: "A Song for Jeffrey" is released
The Nazz - "Open My Eyes " WKNR (US) #16
Release of Joe Cockers "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Beatles "Hey Jude" at the top of the U.S. singles chart, it will be on the top for 9 weeks!
Hyde Park Concert: The Move, Pete Brown's Battered Ornaments, Roy Harper, Clouds
Iron Butterfly - "In A Gadda Da Vida " WKNR (US) #17
Cream announces that they will disband after a farewell tour

October:

Jimi Hendrix Experience: "All Along the Watchtower" release
Steppenwolf "Magic Carpet Ride" hits no. 3 (US) The new Yardbirds premiers at the Marquee
Vanilla Fudge - "Take Me For a Little While " WKNR (US) #18

November:

Family: "Second Generation Woman" release
The Nazz(Todd Rundgren) has been banned from recording in Britain by the Musicians Union.
Gun: "Race with the Devil" is released
Cream farewell concert at Royal Albert Hall
The Move release: "Blackberry Way"
Fleetwood Mac: "Albatross" is released
Steve Winwood leaves Traffic
Ten Years After release: "Hear Me Calling"/"I'm Going Home"

December:

Pink Floyd recording : "Point Me At The Sky" and "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" at Abbey Road Studios
Deep Purple: "Kentucky Woman" release
Canned Heat - "Going Up The Country " WKNR (US) #10
David Crosby and Stephen Stills will be joined by Graham Nash
Jethro Tull: "Love Story" is released
Shadows give their last performance, at the Palladium(London)

Misc:

Led Zeppelin is formed
Budgie's musical career begins
Deep Purple is formed
Nazareth's musical career begins
Alice Cooper starts his career
Rush is formed in Toronto
UFO's musical career begins