On this day: January 5, 1976

A sad day in the history of The Beatles, as on this day in 1976 Mal Evans, close friend and assistant general manager for the group was killed by the LAPD.

After the police were called to Evans' home for a domestic dispute Evans refused to put down a gun he had in his possession and was killed. It was later discovered the gun was unloaded.

Evans had known The Beatles since 1961 when he met them while working as a bouncer at a club. Evans acted as body guard for all four Beatles at different times, had bit parts in several Beatles movies and was even credited with help to write a song that was recorded by Ringo.

It's sad that a minor altercation had to have such a tragic end, and it's even more sad that this type of event seems too common place today. We have learned nothing from the mistakes of those that came before us, and until we do, things will only remain the same.

Other notable events for January 5:
-The first transmission of an FM radio signal was broadcast on Jan. 5, 1940. It would be another year before the first public broadcasts were made, and only to a few radios that were capable of receiving the signal.
-The Sex Pistols make their U.S. debut on Jan. 5, 1978.
-Saturday Night Fever skyrockets the career of John Travolta and defines disco and the soundtrack sells it's 25 millionth copy on Jan. 5, 1979.