Beatles News
The documentary One to One: John & Yoko turns its lens to John Lennon and Yoko Ono during the period when they first moved to New York in the early 1970s, following the breakup of the Beatles. It was a time when the couple left London behind for a small apartment in Greenwich Village, where they began mixing with political radicals, free thinkers, and activists. It was a transformational period in their lives that led to the creation of some of Lennon’s most politically charged music.
At the time, Ono was receiving intense backlash from Beatles fans who blamed her for the band’s demise. In the doc, she details the abuse she endured at their hands, and why she believes the Fab Four themselves might have fanned the flames of public resentment—whether knowingly or not. Through archival footage, candid phone calls, and Lennon’s own reflections, One to One reframes the era as a deeply turbulent time where love, art, and politics collided.
Source: Erin Maxwell/tvinsider.com
Without a phone in sight, the legendary rock artist performed a collection of his greatest hits during the Nashville show of his world tour “Got Back.”
Paul McCartney made a Nov. 6 stop in Nashville, Tennessee, for an unforgettable evening of live music and heartfelt audience interactions at The Pinnacle. Throughout his performance, McCartney spent over two-and-a-half hours singing songs encapsulating a career spanning over 60 years, from speaking about personal anecdotes to playing fan-favorite songs by The Beatles, Wings and McCartney himself.
Even though McCartney needs no introduction, which his performance surely proved, he spent the entire evening bringing fans through every corner of his musical discography — even the parts lesser known by longtime fans. McCartney is most widely known for being a leading vocalist and songwriter for The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Following the band’s disbandment in 1970, McCartney continued his work in the 1970s with Wings before eventually beginning his solo career.
The concert’s atmosphere was like nothing I had seen before: There were long lines 30 minutes before the show was scheduled to begin, and attendees were required to store all electronic devices in a Yondr pouch, which prohibited the use of phones during the show. Even though I was very disappointed with not being able to personally photograph the show, it was also reminiscent of concerts of the past and likely evoked a similar experience to a performance with all four members of The Beatles during the 1960s. It also allowed celebrities to freely experience a concert in plain sight, from Sabrina Carpenter to McCartney’s wife, Nancy Shevell.
Upon arrival, fans were greeted with a screen that featured a house with a variety of colors and imagery, such as images of The Beatles during the 1960s, more recent images of McCartney and a Ukrainian flag. As the screen continuously scrolled forward, many of McCartney’s songs played with a backing disco track. Eventually, McCartney made his way to the stage and opened with the classic Beatles song “Help!”
Source: Alex Brodeur/vanderbilthustler.com
Defining the greatest rock band of all time is an impossible task, as everyone’s criteria differ. However, if the whole world were to base its opinion on achievements, then the greatest of all time title would go to The Beatles. Need we remind you just how many accolades the Fab Four acquired during their career and after? No, because if we did, this whole article would just be a laundry list of No. 1 hits and awards. Though what we will remind you about is a major achievement they scored on this day, November 10, 2023, 53 years after their dissolution in 1970.
In May of 1963, The Beatles scored their first of many No. 1 hits on the United Kingdom singles chart. That No. 1 hit was their single, “From Me To You”, and the last single they scored on the chart while they were still together was “The Ballad Of John And Yoko”. That was not their last ever single on the UK singles chart, as today, November 10, 2023, The Beatles scored yet another No. 1 hit on the chart with their single, “Now And Then”. The Lengthy Gap Between The Beatles’ First No. 1 Hit and “Now And Then”
As stated previously, The Beatles’ first No. 1 hit on the UK singles chart was “From Me To You”. Subsequently, the biggest band in the world went on to score 16 more No. 1 hits on the chart. Is that impressive? Incredibly, but arguably the more impressive feat is the record they set with “Now And Then”. When the single peaked at No. 1 on the chart on this day, The Beatles broke the record for the longest gap between their first and last No.1 hit. That gap was an astounding 60 years.
Source: Peter Burditt/americansongwriter.com
When the Beatles’ eight-part Anthology series was first released in the 1990s, it was a mind-blowing experience for young Beatles fans like me. For years, my dad had regaled us kids with his tale of sneaking into a Beatles concert in Memphis in 1966. And every year on my birthday, my mom recounted the story of my early-morning birth, and how my dad sang “Here Comes The Sun” in the delivery room as the sun came up. She gave me her original Abbey Road LP when I turned 11. Suffice it to say, I was obsessed with the Beatles from a young age. But I hadn’t been around when the Beatles were together — John was killed before I was even born. So all of the band’s performances and music releases were relegated to the past, and I was never a part of it. When the Anthology series was announced, I couldn’t believe that I would be hearing new Beatles songs on the day they were released. The documentary series, which aired on ABC, was in some ways just as groundbreaking as the Beatles’ music had been. While most music documentaries of the day featured an outside narrator and talking heads offering retrospective soundbites, the Anthology series featured the Beatles themselves at various points in their lives and careers, telling their own story with a candor and sincerity that rose above the temptation to smooth over the complexities and contradictions in their personal and professional relationships. It invited new generations of viewers and listeners into the Beatles fandom, much as Peter Jackson’s Get Back docuseries did when it was released in 2021. (See our article Peter Jackson’s Beatles Documentary Used Artificial Intelligence To Perform Restoration Magic.) I think it’s fair to say that the very existence of the Peter Jackson series is a direct result of what the Beatles describe as a “creative and commercial afterlife” that began with the original Anthology series and albums in the 1990s. Now in 2025, the Anthology returns in what Disney+ calls “its ultimate form,” for a comprehensive global release “on screen, on record, and in print.” A newly-restored and remastered version of the 8-part documentary series will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ beginning November 26th, along with a brand-new 9th episode. There will also be new music releases and an anniversary edition of the Beatles Anthology hardbound book.
Source: Jacob Green/audioholics.com
Unseen original photos of The Beatles taken by a member of the film crew shooting at two of the Fab Four's movies have been sold after coming to light right here in Coventry.
The snaps feature in an archive compiled by Edward Tucker during his decades working in the movie industry, including Beatles film's A Hard Day's Night and Help! Known as Ted or Teddy, Mr Tucker had a ringside seat to some iconic cinematic moments thanks to his role as grip – a technician responsible for building and maintaining equipment supporting cameras and other production gear on a film set.
His collection ended up at auction it was taken to a ‘Dealer Day’ at the Coventry Building Society Arena last month for a new series of hit ITV antiques programme Dickinson’s Real Deal.
After going under the hammer with Richard Winterton Auctioneers at The Lichfield Auction Centre on Monday (November 3) were purchased for £660. Ted’s archive includes eight never-before-seen behind the scenes Beatles photos, six from A Hard Day’s Night and two from Help!, scripts including one for the 1976 blockbuster The Eagle Has Landed – which writer Tom Mankiewicz reportedly thought to be his best work – and signed photos by stars such as Sir Michael Caine and Kate Bush.
The collection was took to auction by Ted’s daughter and son Leigh-Anne and Owen following their dad’s death eight years ago aged 83.
“Dad lived next door to Twickenham Studios,” said Leigh-Anne, 58, an activities assistant at a care home from Cambridgeshire. “One day he was digging a hole for the council and someone said ‘hey mate, you want to come and do that for us.’
“So he started as a set builder and went on to become a much-loved, accredited grip who travelled the world and was highly valued in the film industry.” Ted met future wife Sheila in the 1960s at the famous Eel Pie Island nightclub. It was a love match which led to two children and incorporated a glamourous social life which included wrap parties and first night screenings.
A keen photographer, Ted kept his camera close to hand and Shelia was an enthusiastic autograph hunter. The collection includes a signed photo to Sheila from Michael Caine alongside a ticket to the gala world premiere of Alfie at the Plaza Theatre in Piccadilly Circus on March 24 1966.
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com/Danny Thompson
Paul McCartney performed a virtual duet with John Lennon in Nashville using restored footage. McCartney played multiple instruments, honored his wife, and reflected on Beatles’ history. He described Lennon’s death as “just too crazy,” but found comfort in their reconciliation.
Paul McCartney gave Nashville a night to remember — and brought a little Beatles magic back to life in the process.
During his Thursday, November 6 show at The Pinnacle, the 83-year-old music icon surprised fans with a virtual duet alongside his late bandmate, John Lennon. Using restored video footage and modern concert technology, McCartney performed The Beatles’ “I’ve Got a Feeling,” harmonizing live with Lennon’s vocals on screen. As the song ended, the legend smiled and told the crowd, “I love that one, because I get to sing with John again,” per The Tennessean.
According to the outlet, McCartney kicked off the night by greeting the sold-out crowd with, “Well, hello Nashville. We’ve got some stuff for you tonight and I think we’re going to have a little fun.” He moved between multiple instruments throughout the night — bass, guitar, piano, and even ukulele — running through timeless hits like “Help,” “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Band on the Run,” and “Let It Be.”
McCartney also performed “My Valentine” for his wife, Nancy, who was in the audience, and offered an intimate acoustic version of “Blackbird.” Before performing it, he reflected on the song’s roots in the Civil Rights era, recalling that The Beatles once refused to play a segregated show in Jacksonville, Florida. After returning for an encore, McCartney closed with “Golden Slumbers.”
The legendary frontman recently reflected on the day Lennon was killed outside his New York City home in December 1980, in his newly released memoir, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run. McCartney described the moment as “just too crazy,” adding, “It was the same as the Kennedy [assassination]. The same horrific moment, you know. You couldn’t take it in. I still haven’t taken it in. I don’t want to.”
Though the Beatles had officially disbanded a decade before Lennon’s death, McCartney shared that the two had rekindled their friendship by then — something he finds deeply comforting in hindsight. “That is a nice thing, a consoling factor for me… the last phone conversation I ever had with him was really great, and we didn’t have any kind of blowup,” he recalled.
Source: parade.com/Jane LaCroix
By 1968, The Beatles had revolutionized music, but were also already a band in flux. They had already stopped touring for 2 years, after their last gig at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, in August 1966. It was a complete game-changer for the band as they found sanctuary in the studio following the controversial move. The Beatles were simply tired of not being able to hear themselves, so they let their musical imaginations run wild in the safety of a tranquil studio. Their creativity was liberated, and on November 22, 1968, The Beatles released the album that captured them at perhaps their most fearless and fluid. The Beatles, or The White Album, is a self-assured expression of a band that ruled the music industry through its many styles and genres. But nearly sixty years later, could it be considered to be The Beatles’ best work? The Studio Had Become The Beatles’ Stage
When The Beatles decided to stop touring, it became the catalyst for the next stage of their evolution. Part of the reason the band called it quits on concerts is that the arrangements in their music were too intricate and complex to recreate on stage. On their last tour, they had played nothing from their latest release, Revolver, because it just wouldn’t translate on stage. Revolver’s iconic sound relies on reversed guitar tracks, heavy reverb, and complex tape loops to construct a deep sense of dimension. In The Beatles’ touring frustration, they couldn’t hear themselves over screaming crowds, let alone experiment sonically.
Source: Fiona MacPherson-Amador/collider.com
Creative collaboration isn’t easy, especially on a professional level. There’s a lot more to it than compatibility or friendship. There are deadlines and conflicting opinions. It’s rarely as simple as a mutual agreement to make a great album. One of the most iconic collaborations in music history is that of George Martin and the Beatles. While the band members credited Martin with complementing their wild ideas with his vast knowledge of music theory, their relationship wasn’t smooth sailing all the time.
There was one song in particular that hurt Martin in the process. Though it was ultimately due to a time constraint, this snub from the Beatles broke Martin’s heart.
The Beatles have been more than complimentary of Martin over the years. They have repeatedly acknowledged his influence on their careers and have mourned him in the years since his passing.
“He had a very great musical knowledge and background,” John Lennon once said of Martin. “He taught us a lot, and I’m sure we taught him a lot through our sort of primitive musical ability.” “She’s Leaving Home”
Despite their love for Martin, their relationship wasn’t flawless. During the making of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles were becoming far more self-sufficient and thus made some decisions that didn’t keep Martin at the helm. One song on the album, “She’s Leaving Home”, was a particularly sore spot for Martin.
“At that time, I was still having to record all my other artists,” Martin once said. “One day, Paul rang me to say: ‘I’ve got a song I want you to work with me on. Can you come round tomorrow afternoon? I want to get it done quickly. We’ll book an orchestra, and you can score it.’ ‘I can’t tomorrow, Paul. I’m recording Cilla at two-thirty.’ […] ‘All right, then,’ he said, and that ended the conversation.”
Source: Alex Hopper/americansongwriter.com
Yoko Ono will stage her first solo museum exhibition in Southern California at the Broad museum this spring. The legendary 92-year-old artist, activist and wife of John Lennon is set to open her show, “Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind,” on May 23. The interactive exhibition, organized in collaboration with Tate Modern in London, will run through Oct. 11, 2026, the Broad announced Thursday.
One of the first things guests will see when they approach the museum during Ono’s show will be an outdoor installation created using the Broad’s olive trees from its outdoor plaza. These will be transformed into “wish trees” for the city — a nod to an installation that Ono first created in 1996 at Shoshana Wayne Gallery in Santa Monica. Viewers will be invited to write wishes on tags and attach them to the branches.
“Yoko’s work has never been bound by place or time, but this really feels like the right moment for a show like this in Los Angeles,” Ono’s studio director, Connor Monahan, wrote in an email. “Her work transforms audiences from observers into participants, helping to shape the works and the exhibition itself. That sense of agency and connection feels especially powerful right now, and I think Los Angeles, with its spirit of experimentation and openness, will really embrace that.”
Ono has been a riveting, beloved and sometimes controversial force in the worlds of music, art and pop culture since the early 1960s when she became associated with New York’s John Cage-inspired Fluxus movement — formed by a community of experimental artists who based their work in performance practice and avant-garde principles.
Source: Jessica Gelt/latimes.com
A compilation album of unreleased materials by The Beatles faced strong objections from the surviving band members.
Paul McCartney suggested the project should not be released while George Harrison and John Lennon‘s estate called on the compilation to be scrapped entirely. Sessions, the proposed 1985 compilation album, was ultimately cancelled after the Fab Four intervened, though all was not lost and the project would be revived a decade later. Sessions served as the foundation for the Anthology project from The Beatles, a career-spanning look back at the band’s achievements and work together. Sessions had been the original plan for the group, though it was ultimately scrapped. The album would have featured thirteen at-the-time unreleased songs by The Beatles, including Leave My Kitten Alone and an alternative version of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. But life goes on, and the band would object to releasing the work entirely.
Compilations had been released in the past, including The Beatles Ballads and Love Songs, as well as a live album of their performance at the Hollywood Bowl. But it seemed a step too far to have the group’s archival tapes and unreleased materials picked through. Fans seem glad the Sessions project was scrapped, especially since it led to a much more rewarding piece of work.
A post to the r/Beatles subreddit saw fans share their thoughts on the cancelled album. One person wrote: “It later turned into the Anthology project, with most of the stuff set for release on that album ending up on the Anthology 1-3 albums.”
Source: Ewan Gleadow/cultfollowing.co.uk
