January 31st: Born on this day

January 31st: Born on this day John Lydon, (Johnny Rotten,)

1946, Born on this day, Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago who had the 1976 UK & US No.1 single with 'If You Leave Me Now'. Kath accidentally shot himself dead on January 23rd 1978. His last words were, "Don't worry it's not loaded" as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly.

1951, Born on this day, Harry Wayne Casey, singer with KC and the Sunshine Band who had the 1975 US No.1 single 'That's The Way, I Like It', and the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Give It Up'.

1951, Born on this day, Phil Manzanera, guitarist with Roxy Music who scored the 1972 UK No.4 single 'Virginia Plain' plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's No.1 album album 'On An Island'.

1952, Born on this day, Curley Smith, drummer with American group Jo Jo Gunne who had the 1972 UK No.6 & US No. 27 single 'Run Run Run.'

1954, Born on this day, Adrian Vandenburg, Dutch guitarist who was a member of Whitesnake who had the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Here I Go Again'. Also a member of Manic Eden.

1956, Born on this day, John Lydon, (Johnny Rotten,) singer with the Sex Pistols who had the 1977 UK No.2 single 'God Save The Queen' and 1977 UK No.1 album 'Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols'. Formed Public Image Ltd who scored the 1983 UK No.5 single 'This Is Not A Love Song'.

1961, Born on this day, Lloyd Cole, English singer, songwriter, who formed Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Had the 1985 UK No.19 single 'Brand New Friend', from their debut album 'Rattlesnakes' and as a solo artist the 1995 UK No.24 'Like Lovers Do'. An avid golfer, he is known for playing concerts in towns suspiciously close to famous golf courses.

1964, Born on this day, Jeff Hanneman, guitarist with American thrash metal band Slayer who released the 1986 album 'Reign in Blood'. Hanneman died on 2nd May 2013 at the age of 49. Since 2011, Hanneman had been suffering from necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that he is believed to have contracted from a spider bite.

1966, Born on this day, Al Jaworski, bassist with English group Jesus Jones who had the 1990 US No.2 hit with 'Right Here Right Now' and the 1991 UK No.7 single 'International Bright Young Thing'.

1967, Born on this day, Chad Channing, Nirvana's first drummer who left the band in 1990. Has since worked with The Methodists, East of the Equator and Redband.

1970, Born on this day, Minnie Driver, actress, singer, songwriter who had the 2004 album 'Everything I've Got In My Pocket'. Was once a member of UK band Puff, Rocks and Brown who were signed to Island records.

1981, Born on this day, Justin Timberlake, singer with *NSYNC who had the 2000 US No.1 single 'It's Gonna Be Me' and the 1999 UK No.5 single 'I Want You Back'. As a solo artist scored the 2003 UK No.2 & US No.3 single 'Cry Me A River'. His second solo album 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' was released in 2006 with the US No.1 hit singles 'SexyBack', 'My Love' and 'What Goes Around... Comes Around.' With his first two albums, Timberlake has sold over fourteen million albums worldwide. Timberlake has his own record label called Tennman Records. He also has an acting career, having starred in films such as The Social Network, Bad Teacher and Friends with Benefits.

1987, Born on this day, Marcus Mumford, English musician, best known as the lead singer of Mumford & Sons. Their second studio album 'Babel' released in 2012 debuted at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. It became the fastest selling album of 2012 in the UK.