Beatles News
The “George Comes to Benton – 1963” mural is an one-of-a-kind piece of art created by California artist John Cerney. Beatles fans from across the country who traveled Interstate 57 through southern Illinois on their way to and from the total solar eclipse of 2017 had a chance to see the original work the week of its construction. Now a tourism site, Cerney and the City of Benton, published a postcard of the picturesque attraction which gives a brief description of how the project unfolded.
The postcard reads as follows:
“George Comes to Benton- 1963” – This mural installation, painted in 2017, commemorates the first visit by a Beatle to America. Several months ahead of the British rock group’s big splash on US soil in early 1964, George Harrison and his brother Peter came to Benton, Illinois to visit their sister Louise and her family. The Beatles were unknown to Americans, despite being at the top of the charts in England, and George was able to remain anonymous during his two week stay. He played with a local band, bought a guitar in a neighboring town, and mostly hung out as a tourist. The Beatles were about to explode on the world stage, and for years to come, folks in Southern Illinois would recall the police young man with long hair and a funny accent. Created by California artist John Cerney, the 16-foot-tall mural is located along Interstate 57 in Benton, Illinois.
Source: The City of Benton
As the longest touring Beatles tribute band running, Rain has not only kept the music of the Fab Four alive since 1975, but it’s also introduced countless people to the Beatles legacy and stirred up plenty of memories in fans of all ages.
The show doesn’t just play the iconic music; the band dresses up like the Beatles and pays homage to the different eras in which they performed.
Comprised of Paul Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Steve Landes (John Lennon), Alastar McNeil (George Harrison) and Aaron Chiazza (Ringo Starr), the band acts as the legendary foursome with a note-for-note theatrical event, wearing spot-on costumes and utilizing multimedia content to bring the music of the Beatles to life.
“I like to call it the Beatles anthology in concert form,” Curatolo said. “It’s a walk through their entire story through their music, stories, interviews and most iconic moments. It’s also a rock concert.”
Source: Keith Loria / Special to the Fairfax County Times
Drake ties The Beatles for the second-most top 10s in the Billboard Hot 100's 60-year history, 34 each, as Chris Brown's "No Guidance," featuring Drake, debuts at No. 9 (on the chart dated June 22).
Only Madonna boasts more Hot 100 top 10s than Drake and The Beatles, with 38. (Reflecting the collaborative nature of hip-hop, "No Guidance" is Drake's 12th top 10 as a featured artist. Madonna and The Beatles sport lead credit on all their top 10s.)
Here's an updated look at the acts with the most top 10s since the Hot 100 began on Aug. 4, 1958.
Source: Gary Trust/billboard.com
The Sedona International Film Festival is the official host of the new season of “Deconstructing the Beatles,” joining hundreds of theatres around the country for this special series.
The first in the new season — “Deconstructing The Beatles: Abbey Road, Side 1” will show in Sedona on Monday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
The Beatles’ Abbey Road is a masterpiece filled with classic Beatles songs, such as “Come Together,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun.” Producer George Martin told the Beatles to think “symphonically,” and they responded by creating the remarkable side two song suite.
Abbey Road was the last time that the Beatles recorded together at EMI Studios — soon-to-be-christened Abbey Road Studios after the album’s release. Despite the bittersweet atmosphere that surrounded the recording sessions, The Beatles’ outstanding songs and performances together with George Martin’s orchestrations produced an album that continues to be regarded as one of the best albums ever created.
Source: verdenews.com
What is the greatest Paul McCartney song from his time in The Beatles? There are many to choose from, but one consensus pick has been “Yesterday.” Chuck Berry admired it, more than 3,000 musicians have covered it, and Paul himself said it was probably his best work.
When the band released it in 1965, it quickly became the most listened-to song of the year — and the year after, and so on until well into the ’70s. By the end of the 20th century, it had become the third most-played song on American radio. That’s well beyond what we’d call a smash hit.
It was a landmark song for The Beatles as well. For the first time, Paul played and sang on the record without his bandmates. Behind him, fans heard a string quartet arranged by Paul and producer George Martin.
Source: cheatsheet.com
Paul McCartney has launched a viral campaign to mark 10 years of his Meat Free Monday movement.
Fellow Beatle Ringo Starr, actor Tom Hanks and actress Rita Wilson are among the list of stars to have pledged support for Count Me In.
Sir Paul, who is vegetarian, launched Meat Free Monday, which encourages people to go without meat once a week, with his daughters Mary and Stella in 2009.
Since then the charity has worked in schools, universities, restaurants and businesses, made an appeal at the EU Parliament and published a cookbook.
The new campaign aims to celebrate the meat-free movement while encouraging more people to reduce their meat consumption.
Source: breakingnews.ie
While Sir Paul McCartney’s links to Kintyre are well-documented, his fellow Beatle John Lennon also loved Scotland after spending many blissful summers north of the Border as a child. From the age of nine Lennon spent his summer holidays with his Aunt ‘Mater’ who had remarried and moved to Edinburgh. He would travel alone by bus to visit his aunt and his cousin Stanley Parkes in the capital and also at their family croft in Durness, Sutherland.
While in the wilderness the aspiring singer-songwriter hunted, hiked, fished and played tricks on the locals by tying seaweed on shop doors to prevent workers from leaving.
He also drew and wrote poetry in the tranquility of the hills.
But the Scottish breaks ended when Lennon was around 15 after he formed his first band, The Quarrymen, and music took over.
Source: Paula Murray/express.co.uk
Liverpool’s tourism industry seems to thrive on the city’s most famous sons: John, Paul, George and Ringo.
If you look past the souvenir shops, pubs named for band members and rampant urban redevelopment, a visitor on a Beatles pilgrimage can encounter plenty of sites that contributed to the beloved group’s musical heritage. All you need is love … plus a little imagination and a decent pair of walking shoes for this tour of the Beatles’ Liverpool.
For a city that's inextricably tied to the most famous band in music history, Liverpool has a spotty record when it comes to preserving its Beatles-related history. Ringo Starr’s childhood home barely escaped the wrecking ball. The same can’t be said for a handful of other buildings that had a massive impact on pop music in one way or another. When it comes to Beatles locations in Liverpool, some are gone and some remain … and at least one had to be totally rebuilt due to shortsighted city planning decisions.
Source: ultimateclassicrock.com
Yes, the Packers have another insanely famous name to add to their ranks. According to Kendra Meinert of the Green Bay Press Gazette, Paul McCartney is now a shareholder.
That’s right, a Beatle is part of the Green Bay Packers family.
McCartney is on his “Freshen Up” tour, and playing at Lambeau Field for the first time ever. Before the concert started on Saturday, he was presented with a game ball and a stock certificate.
This doesn’t really mean anything when compared to other sports teams. It’s not like McCartney’s going to suddenly be involved in team meetings or be making any major decisions. It simply means he’s with the countless others that are part of the Packers family.
Source: Hunter Noll /clutchpoints.com
John’s first wife has been written off as a mere support act. Now a new play recognises her importance in the story of the Beatles
The true identity of the “fifth Beatle” is a contentious matter for fans of the Fab Four. The name of Stuart Sutcliffe, John Lennon’s close friend, is often put forward, as is the ousted drummer, Pete Best. Others claim the title for manager Brian Epstein or record producer George Martin. Yet Cynthia Lennon, the artist by the young Lennon’s side for a decade, is never even considered.
Now a new play about the powerful influence of the first Mrs Lennon is to make the case that she held the band together during the years of their greatest success. “I want to get across how important she was in John’s life, and not just because of their son Julian,” said playwright Mike Howl. “John used to write to her every single day while he was out in Hamburg, playing in the night clubs of the Reeperbahn. Her friends told me they saw some of these letters. I do think that without Cynthia’s love, John would have gone completely off the rails.”
Source: Vanessa Thorpe/theguardian.com
