Beatles News
John Lennon rarely minced his words when expressing his opinions, and his opinions of his fellow bandmates, like Ringo Starr, were certainly no exception. Starr joined Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison to form the final lineup of the Beatles in 1962, adopting a somewhat shadowed but musically crucial role in the band.
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Compared to the guitar-playing trio in front of him, Starr stayed in the background. His writing contributions were scant, with only two solo compositions: “Octopus’s Garden” and “Don’t Pass Me By.” But just because he wasn’t the star of the show doesn’t mean Starr didn’t have the respect of his bandmates—even the more opinionated ones like Lennon.
Source: americansongwriter.com
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This month marks the 60th anniversary of the Beatles‘ historical visit to Australia, which began on Thursday, June 11th, 1964, at 7:45am when John, Paul, George, and Ringo landed at Sydney’s Mascot Airport.
To celebrate the landmark anniversary of what would sadly be the Beatles’ only Australian tour, a new book takes fans inside the extraordinary cultural moment.
Written by UK-based writer Andy Neill (whose previously worked on books about The Who and Rod Stewart & the Faces) and Melbourne-based Beatles expert Greg Armstrong (co-host of the world’s longest-running Beatles radio show), When We Was Fab: Inside the Beatles Australasian Tour 1964 tells the story of the Liverpool band’s two-week trip Down Under in unprecedented detail, including hundreds of evocative and mostly previously unseen images, original documents, press clippings, and vintage memorabilia.
Based entirely on first-hand research spanning two decades, Neill and Armstrong’s process involved sourcing hundreds of original newspapers, magazines and business documents, and conducting first-hand interviews with over 100 key participants, including promoters, support acts, press and radio personalities, as well as original fans who came out in their thousands to see the Beatles.
In the below excerpt from the book, we’re taken inside Sing for Shell, the only official TV recording of the Beatles performing during their Australasian tour.
Source: au.rollingstone.com
Inside Sir Paul McCartney's birthday celebrations as he marked turning 82 with his wife Nancy and his five children at a luxury restaurant rather than a glitzy bash.
Sir Paul McCartney celebrated his 82nd birthday in style with a low-key dinner surrounded by his closest friends and family.
The legendary Beatles singer opted for an intimate affair rather than a star-studded bash for the occasion. He headed to a posh restaurant with wife Nancy and his five children to mark his birthday this week. They dined at the 17th century Boys Hall hotel in Ashford, Kent, shocking other diners when they rocked up.
Paul is a proud dad to fashion designer Stella, musician James, 20-year-old Beatrice, photographer Mary and adopted daughter Heather. The icon married Nancy Shevell, 64, in 2011 following his marriages to Linda McCartney and Heather Mills. His family are said to have joined him for a quiet dinner in a private room at the restaurant.
“They were quietly ushered in on Tuesday night and were taken to the Drawing Room, where the chefs cooked a three-course feast for them," a source told The Sun".
Source: Mia O'Hare/mirror.co.uk
A 1962 letter from Ringo Starr detailing his welcoming to the Beatles is one of several highlights of a Christie’s auction next month of books, manuscripts, and other memorabilia from significant cultural figures across several centuries.
The letter, written to teenage girlfriend Doreen Walker, is an interesting early look at Starr’s life after joining the band around the release of their first single “Love Me Do.” It begins, “I got a phone call asking me would I join the Beatles and I said yes…” The letter goes on to detail upcoming tours and a performance in Walker’s home of Manchester, England. The item was offered last year at a Heritage Auctions sale but did not find a buyer. At Christie’s, it’s estimated to sell for between £30,000 and £40,000 (US$38,000 and US$50,800).
Source: Geoff Nudelman/barrons.com
It was Paul McCartney's 82nd birthday!
In honor of his 82nd year around the sun yesterday on June 18, the former Beatle posted to Instagram and revealed he's certainly hoping to be showered with gifts in celebration of the big day.
They say it is my birthday," wrote McCartney, referencing the Beatles' 1968 track "Birthday" from the iconic White Album, "and I’m looking forward to being spoilt rotten by my loved ones!"
He also received celebratory wishes on social media from some of his kids. His son James, 46, posted a photo of him and Paul hugging to Instagram alongside the message, "Happy Birthday Dad. I will always love you. You are a guiding light that shows me how to move forward. You love me, I love you and that's all that matters."
Paul's daughter Mary, 54, shared a slideshow featuring photos of her father on his own and them together to Instagram, writing in the caption, "Happy Birthday Dad x with all my love x."
His daughter Stella, 52, posted photos taken by her mom Linda, Paul's first wife, to Instagram. "PAUL’S BIRTHDAY: Looking at my Dad @PaulMcCartney through my Mum’s lens today… His day…," she wrote. "Happy birthday, Papa Smurf xx."
Source: Jack Irvin/people.com
John Lennon’s son Julian paid tribute to Sir Paul McCartney in a sweet social media post marking The Beatles star’s 82nd birthday.
It follows an announcement from the veteran singer that he will be performing in the UK for the first time since headlining Glastonbury in 2022.
Musician and photographer Julian, who is the son of the late John Lennon and his first wife Cynthia, posted a selection of photos on Tuesday that appeared to show him with the Beatles singer and bassist Sir Paul when he was a child.
He wrote: “Hoppy Birdy Uncle Paul! Only Love… Jude x.”
Credited to the Lennon/McCartney partnership, The Beatles’ song Hey Jude was written by Sir Paul for Julian Lennon after his father John left his mother for Yoko Ono in 1968. An evergreen classic, the song is currently being sung by England fans at Euro 2024 in honour of the Three Lions star Jude Bellingham.
Sir Paul’s daughter Mary, who is a professional photographer, wished her father a happy birthday and shared a series of images on Instagram, including a photograph of the singer with American rock star Bruce Springsteen and another of him playing drums.
Source: Lisa McLoughlin/standard.co.uk
Professor Of Rock has released the new video below, along with the following introduction...
"When one of the biggest bands in history, The Beatles, broke up, all the members of the band released solo projects almost immediately. The first of the band to have a number-one hit was a bit of a surprise though... George Harrison. He ended up having one hell of a solo run but his biggest hit, 'My Sweet Lord', would also become his greatest trial. Harrison got sued for sounding too much like another big hit from years before… It was a catastrophic lawsuit that nearly destroyed George and plagued his career for years because it put him in a never-ending bout with writer’s block. And it stopped him from recording for years. But in the end, Harrison would have the last laugh. Rock’s most honest songwriter dealing and allegations of plagiarism... This is a story you have to hear to believe, next on Professor Of Rock."
Source: bravewords.com
The Beatles have spent much of 2024 trading one album for another on the charts. In several countries, the band usually manages to place at least one of their projects on the ranking of the most-consumed full-lengths, but which one stands out as the most popular changes fairly regularly.
This week, The Beatles’ 1 is back on the U.K. albums chart. The compilation reappears at No. 74 on the 100-spot list.
Last time around, The Beatles filled twice as many spaces on the same tally. Two related projects from the group were present last time around, but now, they’ve fallen away as 1 returns.
Last week, The Beatles sat on the U.K. albums chart with both 1962-1966 and 1967-1970. The aptly-named compilations are filled with the biggest hits from the rock band released during the years included in their titles.
1967-1970 was the bigger of the two compilations, as it was found at No. 59 last time around. 1962-1966 ranked lower, appearing at No. 86.
1 remains The Beatles’ longest-running hit album in the U.K. It has thus far spent 446 weeks on the chart, which is more than 100 frames longer than any other release from the band. Their second-longest-charting effort is Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which has earned 277 stays on the list.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
The rare vinyl was unveiled at Strawberry Fields on Monday
A rare vinyl by former Beatle John Lennon which was gifted to a charity by his widow and son has been unveiled in Liverpool.
The Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field will display the 12 inch vinyl acetate of John Lennon's GIve Peace a Chance and Remember Love, recorded with Yoko Ono, ahead of its 55th anniversary. It is one of 50 limited edition records gifted to charities by Ono and Sean Ono Lennon to help raise funds for the Salvation Army's Step to Work programme.
Mission Director of Strawberry Field, Major Kathy Versfeld said to be chosen to display the rare record was a "singled out" was a "special blessing".
The vinyl will help raise funds for the Salvation Army's Step to Work programme. She told BBC Radio Merseyside: "It's a fabulous gift from Yoko and Sean.
"It's a real privilege for us here at Strawberry Fields as part of our work we do across the country, and this place that John seemingly loved to frequent, to be able to unveil it and to invite the general public to come and see it."
Originally released on 4 July 1969, the double-sided 12 inch acetates were hand-cut on the lathe at Abbey Road Studios, which is synonymous with The Beatles.
Source: Gemma Sherlock & Tom Walker/bbc.com
Paul McCartney has announced a run of UK and European headline shows for later this year. Find all the details below.
The soloist and Beatles legend is due to perform in Paris and Madrid this December as part of his ‘Got Back’ tour. He’ll then play two gigs at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester (December 14, 15) and a pair of concerts at The O2 in London (18,19).
Tickets go on general sale at 10am local time this Friday (June 21) – you’ll be able to buy yours here. A fan pre-sale will take place at the same time on Wednesday (19) for the UK dates – find more information here.
In a statement, McCartney said: “I’m excited to be ending my year and 2024 tour dates in the UK. It’s always such a special feeling to play shows on our home soil. It’s going to be an amazing end to the year.”
He added: “Let’s get set to party. I can’t wait to see you.”
See the announcement post below, along with the full itinerary.
Paul McCartney’s 2024 UK and European tour dates are:
DECEMBER
04 – La Defense Arena, Paris, France
05 – La Defense Arena, Paris, France
09 – Wizink Centre, Madrid, Spain
10 – Wizink Centre, Madrid, Spain
14 – Co-op Live, Manchester, UK
15 – Co-op Live, Manchester, UK
18 – The O2, London, UK
19 – The O2, London, UK
Source: Tom Skinner/nme.com
