History Book: Three historic greats

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Monday April 15th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Coming up next, the WORLD History Book. Today, a legendary music group gets rolling. And, hockey’s “Great One” skates his last game.

But first, the death of a poet. Here’s WORLD Executive Producer Paul Butler.

PAUL BUTLER: It’s April, 1824 in the Ottoman Empire, and Greece is fighting for its independence. The town of Missolonghi is a strategic bastion for the Greeks in their fight against Turkish forces, so that’s where Lord Byron goes.

The English poet is an avid supporter of national independence and liberal causes, and he’s a fervent seeker of “sensation.”

Here’s how he puts it in a letter to Anne Milbanke.

AUDIO: The great object of life is sensation. To feel that we exist, even though in pain. It is this craving void which drives us to gaming, to battle, to travel, to intemperate but keenly felt pursuits of every description.

George Gordon Byron is flamboyant and scandalous. He runs up enormous debts and pursues romantic relationships with both women and men. At the age of 24, he publishes Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, a narrative poem about a young man disillusioned with the reckless pleasures of the world. It sells out in three days. As Byron puts it, “I awoke one morning and found myself famous.” He becomes one of the world’s first celebrities. “Byromania” sweeps London. People buy his merch, write him fan mail, create fan fiction.

Over the next few years, Byron writes some of his most well-known poetry, including the lyrics, “She walks in beauty,” read here by actor Tom Hiddleston.

AUDIO: [“She walks in beauty”]

But his dazzling time in the spotlight is tainted by rumors of incest and other scandalous exploits. One of his mistresses famously calls Lord Byron “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.”

In 1816, he leaves England, never to return. Shortly after, he publishes the first two parts of Don Juan, a satirical poem based on the Spanish folk legend, Don Juan. Read here by Peter Gallagher.

AUDIO: What men call gallantry and gods adultery is much more common where the climate’s sultry.

Byron continues traveling through Italy and Switzerland, finally ending up in Greece. He plans to lead an attack on a Turkish fortress, but falls ill with a fever before setting out. He dies on April 19th, at age 36. In Greece, Lord Byron is still considered a national hero. And the term “Byronic” is still used to describe someone moody, dark, and cynical.

Next, the British Invasion.

AUDIO: [The Rolling Stones]

60 years ago on April 17th, the Rolling Stones release their debut studio album. While Lord Byron might be the first celebrity, the Stones might be the first rock stars.

AUDIO: [The Rolling Stones]

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards will go on to become one of the most successful songwriting duos in history, but for this debut album, they haven’t yet hit their stride. They contribute only one original song.

AUDIO: [You gotta tell me you’re coming back to me…]

A few of the tracks are group compositions, but most are covers from iconic rhythm and blues artists like Bo Diddley and Willie Dixon.

The album becomes one of 1964’s biggest sellers in the UK, staying at Number One for 12 weeks. When it releases in the United States in May, it’s under the title of “England’s Newest Hit Makers.” The Rolling Stones quickly follow other British artists like the Beatles to the top of U.S. charts as well.

REPORTER: Finally, Mick, how do you compare your group with the Beatles?

MICK JAGGER: I don’t know, how do you compare? I don’t compare it at all. There’s no point.

At first, the Stones sport a similar look to the Beatles, clean cut, wearing matching suits. But they soon scrap that approach. They grow their hair long and shaggy, wear leather and army jackets, experiment with drugs and promiscuity. The group virtually invents the image of the modern rock star, writing over 340 songs and performing to this day.

Finally, 25 years ago, a hockey player hangs up his skates.

SOUND: [Applause]

April 18, 1999. Canadian Wayne Gretzky is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. This is his final NHL game.

AUDIO: At famous Madison Square Garden, Wayne Gretzky, the great one, will play his final one, showing little change in character from his first one.

Gretzky started skating when he was two years old and played hockey all growing up. He played 20 seasons with the National Hockey League, breaking and re-breaking multiple records. During his time in the NHL, Gretzky scores more goals than any other player in history. He’s the only one to score over 200 points in one season…and he does it four times.

AUDIO: Gretzky in front...saved by Flaherty...score!

Despite being smaller than many hockey players, Gretzky’s reflexes and smarts are unrivaled. He always seems to know exactly where the puck is going to be, when. And he’s able to dodge opponents who try to stop him. In interviews, he remains humble and gives credits to his teammates.

WAYNE GRETZKY: If I’m there, people try to knock me over. But I don’t think anybody goes out of their way, and besides that, I got a couple big teammates to look after things.

Immediately after retiring, Gretzky is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. And the NHL retires his jersey number, 99, across the league.

That’s this week’s WORLD History Book with reporting from Anna Johansen Brown who researched and wrote today’s segment. I’m Paul Butler.

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