Beatles News
Ringo Starr‘s selection for knighthood in late 2017 made him the most recent Beatle to earn the honor — but fans who don’t pay close attention to the ins and outs of the British monarchy may be surprised to learn two of Starr’s former bandmates still haven’t been knighted.
Starr was the second former Beatle to become a Sir, following Paul McCartney in 1997. George Harrison and John Lennon, meanwhile, remain among the un-knighted — and they’re likely to stay that way, thanks to the current rules for knighthood, which state that a recipient must be alive to accept the honor.
Both Harrison and Lennon were more than qualified to be knighted alongside their bandmates during their lifetimes, but the crown didn’t start knighting pop stars until 1995, when Cliff Richard was selected for the honor. Bob Geldof was granted an honorary knighthood nearly a decade before, but it was for his charity work, not his musical accomplishments — and both men were acknowledged years after Lennon’s death. Since knighthoods aren’t granted posthumously, it’s always been out of the question for Lennon to be selected — and as fans are well aware, his playfully contentious relationship with the crown might have led to him rejecting the offer anyway, as he did when the Beatles were bestowed with an MBE in 1965.
Source: 949therock
Yoko Ono thinks it's fab that the British royal family is finally recognizing former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr for his "services to music." The widow of late Beatle John Lennon tweeted out her kind thoughts to Starr on Tuesday morning (Jan. 2), following Friday's (Dec. 29) official announcement that Starr, 77 (born Richard Starkey) would be knighted in the 2018 New Year's Honors.
"Dear Sir Ringo," Ono wrote. "I am very happy that you have received this honour from the Queen. It's about time! Huge congratulations! I am delighted for you and your family. It is an honour for everyone in the Beatles family and I love you very much."
Source: Gil Kaufman
THE Beatles and Rolling Stones are still fighting it out to be the biggest live act in the world.
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger’s bands are the music industry’s biggest earners
Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Mick Jagger’s bands are the music industry’s biggest earners.
Figures for 2017 show the veterans out-performed singers less than half their age including Ed Sheeran.
Jagger, 74, and his band raked in £116 for every person at their 14 sold-out stadium shows.
And Beatles legend Macca, 75, is only just behind them, pocketing £108 per seat for 36 performances.
But despite starring on an 111-gig tour, Sheeran, 26, bagged an average fee of just £60.
The list was published by Pollstar, which compiles figures for box office gig earnings. Jeff Kelly, of US entertainment PR firm JDMC, said: “The Stones and Sir Paul are the biggest draws still after over 50 years of touring, which is an astonishing feat.”
Source: Cetusnews.com
In a move that will prompt many to say "About bloody time," The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr and Bee Gees' lead singer Barry Gibb received their knighthoods this week from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as part of her annual New Year honors list.
For Starr, who was awarded his MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) as part of The Beatles back in 1965 (which, at the time, prompted many previous honorees to return their awards in disgust), this honor was a long time coming, given that fellow Beatle Paul McCartney received his knighthood in 1997. Macca has even admitted to lobbying for Ringo to become a 'Sir.' In an interview with The Telegraph, McCartney said, " The last time I went by [Queen Elizabeth] was out. Otherwise, I would have popped in and said 'Look, love, Sir Richard Starkey,"
As for finally receiving his knighthood, Starr seemed completely chuffed by the honor. In a statement, Starr announced "It's great! It's an honor and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love."
Source: axs.com
Ringo Starr, the ex-drummer of The Beatles has been selected for knighthood as part of Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s honors list. Starr is now 77. He became a member of the Beatles as a replacement drummer for Pete Best in 1962. USA TODAY
Ringo Starr is among the celebrated citizens selected for knighthood and other awards given in the name of Britain's monarch — and his former Beatles bandmate is singing his praises.
Paul McCartney took to Twitter Saturday to share a photo of the pair along with a congratulatory message.
"Huge congrats Sir Ringo! Sir Richard Starkey has a nice ring to it. Best drummer best pal!" McCartney wrote.
Britain's Cabinet Office publishes a list of the people receiving honors for merit, service or bravery twice a year: just before New Year's Eve, and on the Saturday in June when Queen Elizabeth II's birthday is officially observed.
Source: Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY
With 2018 just a few days away, Paul McCartney has shared what he’s hoping to achieve in the New Year… and it involves the release of a brand new album.
In a Q&A conducted by his official website, McCartney reveals, “I’ll probably be putting out a new album. So, I’d like that to be something I really love and then hopefully the fans will love it too!”
Sir Paul reports that he’s “putting the finishing touches [on the project] now and at the beginning of next year,” and would “like to achieve making that a really great album. Fingers crossed!”
He adds, humorously, “That’s not what it’s called, but fingers crossed!” He then declares, following a pause, “It could be… it COULD be the new album title!”
McCartney has previously reported that he’s been working on the album with Greg Kurstin, who produced and co-wrote three songs on Adele‘s Grammy-winning album 25, including her smash hit “Hello.”
Back in June, the ex-Beatles star revealed that he’d written a song about President Donald Trump that will appear on the record.
Source: krvn.com
George Harrison is attacked at his Friar Park home
Thursday 30 December 1999 George Harrison
George Harrison was seriously injured after being stabbed multiple times by an intruder in his home, Friar Park near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Michael (Mick) Abram, a mentally ill man born in 1966 in Huyton, Liverpool, had scaled a perimeter wall and walked up the drive to the mock-Gothic mansion. Although security cameras were positioned by the main gates and the back entrance, the boundary fence in parts of the grounds was in a state of such disrepair that it was easy for an intruder to gain access.
At around 3.30am in the morning of 30 December 1999, Abram threw a statue of George and the Dragon through a window to gain access. Harrison's wife Olivia awoke first, initially thinking a chandelier had fallen before realising an intruder was in their house.
Source: Beatles Bible
"When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me/Speaking words of wisdom: Let it be."
Dreams have always been good to Paul McCartney. One morning in 1965 he famously awoke with the tune for “Yesterday” fully formed, its melancholy melody belaying his ultra sunny reputation as the Cute Beatle. His troubles had seemed so far away during these heady days of mop-topped mania, but three years later the dream shared with his band mates had transformed into a nightmare of creative disagreements, business squabbles, and personality clashes. “I was going through a really difficult time around the autumn of 1968,” McCartney later recalled in Marlo Thomas’ book, The Right Words at the Right Time. “It was late in the Beatles’ career and we had begun making a new album, a follow-up to the ‘White Album.’ As a group we were starting to have problems. I think I was sensing the Beatles were breaking up, so I was staying up late at night, drinking, doing drugs, clubbing, the way a lot of people were at the time. I was really living and playing hard.”
Source: Zelda Caldwell
He returned to his favourite winter sun spot for his annual New Year's break just four months after Hurricane Irma ravaged the luxury destination.
But Sir Paul McCartney, 75, made island life look idyllic again on Thursday, when he was seen enjoying quality time with family on the beach in St Barts.
The Beatles rocker was far from kicking back because he was instead spending an energetic day with his glamorous wife Nancy Shevell, 58, and stylish daughters Stella, 46, and Mary, 48.
He's been enjoying a relaxing holiday with his wife and grandchildren ever since Boxing Day.
And Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney was still seen to be enjoying the idyllic surroundings of St. Barts on Wednesday, just three months since Hurricane Irma threatened to destroy the holiday hotspot.
The 75-year-old singer was enjoying a festive break with his American heiress wife Nancy Shevell, 58.
Source: Katie Pilbeam For Mailonline
