August 31

 Rudolf Schenker

August 31, 1948

Rudolf Schenker started the rock band Scorpions in 1965 and remained their main rhythm guitar player for decades. He became the primary songwriter and driving force behind the group.

Vocalist Klaus Meine joined the lineup in 1968, and the band released their first studio album in 1972. Rudolf Schenker guided the band through several personnel shifts during the decade, including the departure of his brother Michael Schenker. Lead guitarist Uli Jon Roth joined the group for a series of successful records before departing in 1978.

Matthias Jabs took over the lead guitar spot in 1978, which stabilized the core lineup. The band found a wider commercial audience with the release of their studio album in 1979 and another full-length record in 1980. Rudolf Schenker continued writing songs and touring the world with the group well into the next century, maintaining his status as the only constant member in the history of the band.

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Sir Van Morrison

August 31, 1945

Van Morrison started his solo career in earnest with the release of an acclaimed studio album in 1968. He had previously fronted the band Them before shifting his focus to his own music. He sang lead vocals, played acoustic guitar, harmonica, and saxophone on his records.

He released another influential album in 1970 that combined soul, folk, and jazz styles. He followed this with a steady run of new records every year through 1974. After a brief break, he returned with a new collection of songs in 1977.

He continued to record and tour throughout the late part of the decade, releasing records in 1978 and 1979. He entered the next decade with another studio project in 1980. He kept recording new albums and performing live concerts for decades.

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Bob Welch

August 31, 1945 – June 7, 2012

Bob Welch joined Fleetwood Mac as a guitar player and singer in 1971. He filled a vacancy left by departing members and quickly became a central figure in shaping the sound of the group. He played on five studio albums during his tenure, including the 1971 release Future Games and the 1972 record Bare Trees.

His songwriting contributions helped keep the band moving forward during a period of frequent lineup shifts. He wrote and sang lead vocals on the popular track Hypnotized for the 1973 album Mystery to Me. After the release of Heroes Are Hard to Find in 1974, he decided to leave the group.

In 1975, he formed a short-lived rock trio called Paris, which recorded two albums before splitting up. He then launched a solo career and earned a wider audience with his 1977 studio album French Kiss. This record featured a new version of his older track Sentimental Lady and a popular rock song titled Ebony Eyes.

He followed this success with another solo project titled Three Hearts in 1979. He continued to release solo albums into the next decade, with projects coming out in 1980 and 1981. He maintained his recording career and performed for audiences for many more years.

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