Datebook republishes John Lennon’s ‘Jesus’ comments.

Sir Elton John’s concert residencies in Las Vegas were, in his own words, a “spectacular and successful” chapter in his career. Just don’t expect Sir Paul McCartney to follow suit.

In remarks unlikely to keep him on Sir Elton’s Christmas card list, Sir Paul has described Las Vegas as an “elephants’ graveyard” where the stars “go to die”.

The former Beatle was asked by an interviewer if he had “ever considered doing a residency in Vegas, like Elton John, or doing what Bruce Springsteen did on Broadway?” Springsteen performed five nights a week for more than a year at a theatre in New York City from 2017-18, while Sir Elton played 450 shows over two residencies at Caesars Palace to 1.8 million fans.

“Some people would like me to do it, as they say I’ve got plenty of stories and plenty of songs, but one of the things that’s holding me back at the moment is that Bruce has just done it, you know?

Source: Anita Singh/telegraph.co.uk

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Arguably the most ignominious firing in rock history happened on Aug. 16, 1962. Shortly before recording their debut single, the Beatles dismissed drummer Pete Best.

Two months earlier, the group passed an audition for Parlophone Records. But while producer George Martin liked what he heard, he was dissatisfied with Best. He told the Beatles that, while they could use Best onstage, he was going to bring in a session drummer for the recordings. The other Beatles, along with manager Brian Epstein, discussed the situation and decided that it was in their best interests to sack the drummer entirely. On Aug. 16, Epstein called Best into his office and told him the news that he was out.

Known around Liverpool as "mean, moody and magnificent," Best had joined the Beatles almost exactly two years earlier when they needed a drummer for their upcoming residency in Hamburg, Germany. His audition was only a few days before they made the trip. But his sullen personality never fit in well with the wisecracking Beatles, even refusing to adopt the soon-to-be-famous "Beatles haircut."

Source: ultimateclassicrock.com

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John's mother, Julia Stanley, was one of five sisters, along with Anne, Betty, Harriet, and Mimi all born in Liverpool. Stubborn and headstrong, Julia gave her parents an uphill battle when they disapproved of the hotel bellboy, Alfred Lennon she started seeing at the age of 14.

Then Alfred became a ship's steward, and his life and relationship with Julia survived long absences at sea and the war that followed. In 1938 they secretly married in a register's office because Julia's family still didn't accept him. Then Julia fell pregnant with John.

However, Alfred then sailed out of the picture entirely, and so Julia went back to live in her childhood home under her disapproving father's roof, but it didn't stop the string of romances that followed.

Julia then fell pregnant by a passing Welsh soldier. She gave the little girl up for adoption and then started dating "Bobby" Dykins whom she met while waitressing. During this time, 5-year-old John was being looked after Julia's sister, Mimi, as she basically moved out and into Dykins' arms.

Source: Odette Odendaal/news.amomama.com

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Paul McCartney revealed in a recent interview with British GQ that he hadn't returned to his childhood home in Liverpool until James Corden convinced him to for a "Carpool Karaoke" segment.

The former Beatle appeared on a 2018 episode of Corden's "The Late Late Show," and told GQ that filming with Corden in his former hometown, where he lived for the first 20 years of his life, was "really great."

"I'd never been inside my old house. I hadn't been back since I left it," McCartney explained, adding, "James suggested doing it."

"I was always a little apprehensive about going back. I didn't know if it was going to be nice or whether I would get bad memories or whatever, although I don't really know what I was worried about," the musician continued.

Source: Libby Torres /insider.com

John Lennon’s aunt recalls buying him his first guitar in 1981

John Lennon could be pretty candid when it came to Beatles tracks he didn’t like. But the late star was also very honest about his favourites. During an interview with Playboy in 1980, Lennon revealed which of George Harrison’s tracks he was particularly fond of.

Spotted by Far Out Magazine, Lennon saw Harrison’s Within You Without You as one of his favourite Beatles songs.

On the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band track, the late Beatle said: “One of George’s best songs.

“One of my favourites of his, too. He’s clear on that song.

“His mind and his music are clear.”

Source: George Simpson/express.co.uk

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Paul McCartney recently got candid about The Beatles' split in an interview with British GQ.

The 78-year-old music legend said the fallout was "pretty hurtful," largely thanks to his decision to sue the band.

"Well, as you can imagine, that was horrendous and it gave me some terrible times," he said. "I drank way too much and did too much of everything."

In 1970, after the four Beatles went their separate ways, McCartney filed a lawsuit to dissolve the band's contracts with its publishing company, Apple Corps, and notorious manager, Allen Klein. McCartney told GQ that his distrust of Klein was the catalyst, twice calling him a "f---ing idiot."

According to McCartney, Klein would have owned the band's music if not for the lawsuit.

Source: msn.com

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