On this day

David Bowie's formative years in south-east London are set to be preserved for fans and music historians alike, with the announcement that his childhood home at 4 Plaistow Grove, Bromley, will open to the public as an immersive cultural experience. The acquisition, made by the Heritage of London Trust, coincides with what would have been Bowie's 79th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his passing, offering a rare insight into the early environment of one of the world's most influential musicians.

Forty years ago, on January 13, 1986, The Bangles released Different Light, an album that would transform the Los Angeles quartet from cult favourites of the Paisley Underground scene into international pop stars. With its slick production, irresistible hooks, and crossover appeal, Different Light remains the band's most successful record and a defining statement of mid-1980s pop rock.

Bob Marley has been named the most frequently referenced historical figure in song lyrics, according to a new study examining how musicians draw inspiration from history. The reggae icon sits comfortably at number one with 927 separate lyric mentions, placing him well ahead of philosophers, criminals, political leaders and fellow musicians whose names have also been woven into popular music over decades.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Ringo Starr's compilation album, Blast From Your Past, a landmark release that captured the early solo success of the former Beatle. Released in 1975 on Apple Records, the album represented both Starr's first compilation LP and his final project under his EMI contract, as well as the last Apple Records release until the label's revival in the 1990s.

Bernie Leadon, founding member of the Eagles and one of the main builders of country rock, has released the title track from his upcoming album Too Late To Be Cool. The new video shows an artist who knows exactly where he came from and where he's going.

When Rubber Soul arrived in the UK on 3 December 1965, The Beatles stepped into a new phase of their creative lives, a phase that would soon define the sound and ambition of popular music. The sixth studio album from John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr landed during a frantic period in their global rise, yet the work itself came from a rare four-week window where the group were free of touring, filming and radio commitments, a gift they had never been offered before.

Ace Frehley, the founding lead guitarist and cosmic trailblazer of KISS, has had his cause of death officially confirmed, several weeks after he passed away at age 74. The Morris County Medical Examiner in New Jersey has ruled Frehley’s death an accident, confirming the guitarist died from blunt trauma to the head following a fall.