Beatles News
The Beatles stars John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney wrote a host of hits together, but the pair disagreed over how much input they both had over one popular hit. John Lennon was said to be left “insulted” by a request from Sir Paul McCartney as the pair wrote one of The Beatles biggest hits.
Paul is said to have penned the first verse to the incredibly popular Eleanor Rigby before putting it on the back burner. However, at a dinner party hosted by John and his then wife Cynthia, Paul is understood to have played the song for friends of the band, and asked for suggestions on how to finish it.
According to the book John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs, businessman Pete Shotton, a friend of John, suggested that the Eleanor character could die in the third verse, leaving Father Mackenzie, the priest in the lyrics, to conduct her funeral.
He claims John dismissed the idea out of hand, saying: “I don’t think you understand what we’re trying to get at, Pete.”
According to author Ian Leslie, John gave a similar, albeit slightly different account to how Eleanor Rigby was written, including a moment he was left feeling “insulted” by fellow songwriter Paul. He claimed the band were with assistant Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall at the time.
In a 1980 retelling of the incident, he said: “By that time, he [Paul] didn’t want to ask for my help, and we were sitting around with Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall so he said to us, ‘Hey you guys, finish up the lyrics’. Now, I was there with Mal, a telephone installer who was our road manager, and Neil, who was a student accountant, and I was insulted and hurt he had thrown it out in the air.”
Source: themirror.com/Matt Jackson
It’s all love between the Lennon brothers. Sean Ono Lennon reposted a message on his Instagram Stories Monday that seemingly shut down rumors of tension between Sean, 49, and his half-brother Julian Lennon, 62.
The message, shared by the fan account “ceoofjohnlennon,” read, “Here, we do not accept comparisons and erroneous creations of fights about two people that John Lennon loved the most: his children :).”
Julian was born in 1963 to John and Cynthia Lennon. The former couple divorced five years later. Cynthia died in 2015 at age 75.
Meanwhile, Sean’s mom is John’s second wife, Yoko Ono. John and Yoko, 92, were married until the Beatles legend’s death in 1980.
The brothers are both musicians like their dad. Julian has released seven studio albums, while Sean has been in several bands including his parents’ group, Plastic Ono Band.
Source: nypost.com/Eric Todisco
Many factors go into what it takes to write a fantastic song. One underrated aspect of it all: timing. When is the perfect time to sit down and create, relative to the events that might have inspired the song you’re planning to write? One day in 1965, Paul McCartney needed to immediately get something off his chest following a romantic argument. He quickly spewed forth with the bulk of “We Can Work It Out”, one of The Beatles’ most beloved singles.
For much of the time when The Beatles were at their most popular, Paul McCartney was involved in a romantic relationship with British actress Jane Asher. This relationship endured its share of ups and downs. Check out the volatility of the songs about love that McCartney wrote during that stretch.
Some, such as “Here, There And Everywhere”, clearly came from periods where the young couple’s future seemed infinite. And others, like “You Won’t See Me”, showed simmering tension coming to the surface.
“We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles sort of splits the middle between those two extremes. While McCartney wrote it after an argument, he takes a hopeful tone that they can rectify the situation quickly. John Lennon wrote the bridge, which is a little bit more pessimistic (as Lennon tended to be). But it also pushes for reconciliation.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Jim Beviglia
A band as culturally influential as The Beatles was bound to attract its share of wild theories, urban legends, and even bizarre-but-true stories. Formed in Liverpool in 1960 and made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles are often regarded as the most eminent band of all time.
Their music evolved dramatically over the decade following their formation – from catchy pop hits like I Want to Hold Your Hand to groundbreaking albums such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The White Album – and their cultural position changed along with their sound.
As psychedelia, mysticism, and countercultural movements swept the UK and US, The Beatles’ reputation became somewhat edgier and more shrouded in intrigue. As a result, rumours swirled around the band, some of which have persisted and become part of legend.
Here are five of the craziest theories – and an honest estimation of whether there’s any truth to them.
The original drummer in The Beatles was fired for being better-looking than Paul McCartney. It’s long been believed that Pete was cut from the band for being ‘too good looking’. The Beatles’ original drummer, Pete Best, was sacked in 1962, a month before the Beatles became the biggest phenomenon in the world.
Ever since, there have been rumours that Ringo Starr replaced Pete because of concerns that Pete was too much better looking than Paul, and would therefore take away from his draw as lead singer.
Source: metro.co.uk/Brooke Ivey Johnson
We should be prepared for a journey through time and space when viewing the documentary "One to One: John and Yoko: A Year of Love & Transformation." Superbly directed by Oscar winning filmmaker Kevin MacDonald, along with Sam R. Williams, this extraordinary documentary places us back in 1972.
John and Yoko settled in a small apartment in the West Village, where an extraordinary array of musicians/artists, following in the paths of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and others in West Village bistros. If you haven't already done so, see "A Complete Unknown. In fact, you might find it even more engaging if you check it out again.)
This era enhanced our entry into a period of history wherein the "forces" for peace were in the process of dislodging the powers that wanted to continue making war.Hence, the amplification (throughout society) of Lennon's song, "All we are saying is give Peace a Chance."
"One to One" is focused on a benefit concert that John and Yoko organized for special youngsters at Willow Brook, in nearby upstate New York. The exceptional audio mastering/editing was done by their son, Sean Ono Lennon.
Iconic figures of the time, such as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg (author of "Howl") and Yippee co-founder Jerry Rubin (author of "Do It!") make appearances in the film's dizzying pastiche of prominent figures of previous eras. As you're likely to guess, they were both friends with John and Yoko.
Source: ithaca.com/David Burak
Sir Paul McCartney "insulted" John Lennon with one request.
John Lennon reportedly felt "insulted" by a suggestion from bandmate Sir Paul McCartney during the creation of one of The Beatles' greatest tracks. Paul is understood to have written the first verse of the incredibly popular Eleanor Rigby before putting the song on the back burner.
However, at a dinner party hosted by John and his ex-wife Cynthia, Paul is said to have played his version of the song for friends, asking for suggestions how to finish it. According to the book John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs, businessman Pete Shotton, a friend of John, suggested that the Eleanor character could die in the third verse, leaving Father Mackenzie, the priest in the lyrics, to conduct her funeral, reports the Mirror US.
Source: express.co.uk/Matt Jackson
While Paul McCartney and John Lennon are best known for their iconic songs written for The Beatles, their songwriting genius extended beyond their own band.
In the early part of the 1960s, The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein used John and Paul's talents to boost the careers of other artists under his management. This involved commissioning new songs from the duo or repurposing existing ones for artists like Cilla Black and Billy J. Kramer with his band The Dakotas. Interestingly, John and Paul were also behind The Rolling Stones first hit I Wanna Be Your Man, and they generously gave away A World Without Love to Peter and Gordon.
Peter and Gordon reaped significant benefits from John and Paul's work.
Paul had written A World Without Love at just 16 years old. When he moved in with then-girlfriend Jane Asher in 1963, her brother Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon) heard the song and requested it.
Source: the-express.com/Dan Haygarth, Scarlett
A Beatles fan who bought 84 envelopes which once contained fan mail sent to Ringo Starr is attempting to contact the letters' original authors.
Joseph O'Donnell, from Tynemouth, bought the envelopes dated between 1965 and 1966 in an online auction in January.
They had been collected by Starr's former employee who had kept them for the international stamps, he said. Mr O'Donnell has written to the return addresses listed on about 50 of the envelopes, which were sent from as far away as Brazil and Australia, in the hope of finding the original fan letters as well as any potential responses from the drummer.
Mr O'Donnell, who describes himself as a "huge Beatles fan", sent letters and return envelopes to about 50 addresses last week.
"The chances are if there are 50 of these return addresses, I'm going to get at least one letter back," he said.
Joseph O'Donnell Back of an envelope with lots of Beatles-related scribbles such as "Beatles are Immortal" and "Beatles 4-Ever" and "Ringo". There is a Hallmark logo in the middle. Joseph O'Donnell
A number of the envelopes included return addresses, said Mr O'Donnell. Mr O'Donnell only has the envelopes and not the original fan letters they contained.
The envelopes had been collected by Starr's one-time employee Roger Hopkins.
Source: bbc.com/Jason Arunn Murugesu
When The Beatles parted ways in 1970, it was a sad ending, but also the start of four wildly different, wildly brilliant solo journeys. From protest anthems to dreamy ballads and synth-driven adventures, each Beatle proved they still had something to say. These ten albums—one from each member and a few standouts—show how their post-Beatles careers weren’t just footnotes, but essential chapters in rock history.
George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
The quiet Beatle came out swinging with a triple album full of soul, spirituality, and slide guitar. “My Sweet Lord” was the hit, but the deep cuts—“Wah-Wah,” “Isn’t It a Pity,” “Beware of Darkness”—are where George’s songwriting soars. It was the first solo album to truly eclipse the shadow of The Beatles. Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound production made it massive, but it’s George’s vision that made it timeless.
John Lennon – Plastic Ono Band
Raw, brutal, and unfiltered, this was John with no safety net. Inspired by primal scream therapy, the album strips away the myth and leaves the man. “Mother,” “Working Class Hero,” and “God” weren’t made for easy listening—but they were made for truth.
Source:thatericalper.com/Eric Alper
The Beatles weren't just a rock and roll sensation but a cultural phenomenon. Their rapid ascent began in 1963, captivating audiences across the UK and Europe.
Come February 1964, they blazed through the United States, dominating the airwaves with the smash hit I Want To Hold Your Hand and capturing over 73 million viewers on The Ed Sullivan Show. Their stellar rise from Liverpool's Cavern Club saw them become global superstars in mere years, with the frenzy of Beatlemania quickly becoming a profitable venture.
It didn't take long for the Fab Four to venture into cinema. Just one month after their American breakthrough, they commenced production on A Hard Day's Night, their first movie. It comes after Paul McCartney revealed he was 'blown away' by one Beatles cover.
A Hard Day's Night director Richard Lester helmed the quartet—Paul, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon—who played whimsical versions of themselves in this comedic flick, which followed two zany days leading up to a TV show appearance.
The Beatles pose for a portrait on the roof of the Palace Court Hotel in Bournemouth in August 1963.
Source: themirror.com/Dan Haygarth
