Lineup events
- The vocal group The Pips was formed at the birthday party of Gladys Knight's brother, Merald “Bubba” Knight. After their first major hit, “Every Beat of My Heart,” reached number six in 1961, the group was renamed Gladys Knight & The Pips.
- Pete Best became the new drummer of The Silver Beetles, replacing Norman Chapman.
- The group and their manager Brian Epstein decided to fire drummer Pete Best. Best played his final concert the following night at The Cavern in Liverpool. Ringo Starr, who was nearing the end of a three-month engagement with Rory Storm & the Hurricanes at a Butlin’s holiday camp, received a phone call from John Lennon asking him to join. Ringo gave Rory Storm three days' notice and made his first appearance as a member of The Beatles on August 18.
- Lennon and McCartney traveled from Liverpool to Skegness to offer Ringo Starr a place in The Beatles. Starr accepted the offer and agreed to a salary of £25 per week.
- Pete Best was dismissed from The Beatles by manager Brian Epstein and replaced by Ringo Starr. Epstein gave him the news at his record shop.
- The Beatles officially performed with their new drummer Ringo Starr for the first time at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, just days after the dismissal of original drummer Pete Best.
- During the recording of “The White Album”, Ringo Starr told John Lennon that he was temporarily leaving The Beatles because, in his words, he was not playing well, felt unloved and felt left out. Ringo subsequently went on holiday to Sardinia with his family.
- Danny Kirwan joined Fleetwood Mac.
- Ringo Starr rejoined The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios after a two-week absence. He found his drums covered with flowers as a welcome from George Harrison; during his absence, the other three Beatles had recorded “Back in the U.S.S.R.” and “Dear Prudence” with Paul McCartney on drums.
- Christine McVie joined Fleetwood Mac as the group's first female member.
- Elvis Presley hired a Nashville gospel quartet featuring Donnie Sumner and Sherrill Nielsen as his personal backing group. He named the group Voice and reportedly paid them $100,000 a year.
- Keyboardist Patrick Moraz was hired as a replacement for Rick Wakeman in Yes. He remained for three years and appeared only on the album Relayer before Wakeman returned for the album Going for the One.
- Peter Gabriel left Genesis to pursue a solo career.
- Mick Jones, lead guitarist of The Clash, was dismissed by the other three members, who said he had moved away from the group's original vision. His departure effectively marked the breakup of The Clash's classic lineup.
- Mike Joyce, drummer of The Smiths, left the band, stating that his role in the group had been fulfilled. In 1996, he sued former Smiths members Johnny Marr and Morrissey over an equal share of songwriting and recording income. He won the case and received approximately £1 million in damages.
- Guitarist C.C. DeVille was fired from the band after disrupting their planned performance at the MTV Video Music Awards by playing “Talk Dirty to Me” instead of “Unskinny Bop.” He rejoined the band five years later.
- After performing at the Bridge School benefit concert in Mountain View, California, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers parted ways with their original drummer Stan Lynch. Petty said that Lynch had lost all loyalty to the group and was trying to play with other bands, and that he felt Lynch was staying only for the money. Lynch was replaced by Average White Band drummer Steve Ferrone.
- After performing at the MTV Video Music Awards, Pat Smear publicly announced that he would no longer be the guitarist for Foo Fighters.
- Oasis bassist Paul McGuigan announced his departure from the band several days after guitarist Bonehead had left.
- Jane's Addiction announced that they had parted ways with bassist Duff McKagan. McKagan had been with the group for only five months.
- Linkin Park announced new singer Emily Armstrong, who would join the band for a new album and tour. The new lineup announcement preceded the release of the album “From Zero” and a new world tour.