Beatles News
In 1971, early one morning on a Steinway piano on his resplendent Berkshire estate, John Lennon reflected on the seismic uprising of a peaceful counterculture, of united students and workers, which could have scared a thousand kings by reviving the egalitarian ideals of the 1871 Paris commune.
Against this raw new zeitgeist, and against the backdrop of uprising in America, he sung, famously, to the times: “imagine all the people... living life in peace.” Of all the memorable, piquant and mordant comments he made, that one is the one which has most transcended time; everybody is touched by those words with their beauty time can not erase with the bludgeon of her years. They are words worthy of being spelled across the stars.
Moreover, as a form of acknowledgement of the critical influence of the radicals on the febrile atmosphere of protest worldwide, he hailed, in the song’s middle eighth, with an equally breathtaking lyricism: “you may say I’m a dreamer... but I’m not the only one,” paying heed to a fresh generation of activists who had proclaimed an era of permanent struggle, a species of rebellion in which intellectual renegades like John and themselves saw possibilities for the collapse of the system of domination today.
By: Megan Sherman
Source: Huffington Post
John Lennon is without question one of the greatest musical geniuses ever to live. Whether as a member of The Beatles, a solo artist, or with Yoko Ono, his contribution to popular culture has stretched for decades. But much of his story has been told from the outside looking in by critics and historians. Now, in a new graphic novel from writer Eric Cobeyran and French artist Horne, Lennon will tell the story of his life from his own point of view.
Described as a “true biographical fiction,” Lennon: The New York Years is based on the 2010 novel Lennon by David Foeniknos. The story imagines the late Beatle during his time living in New York City, recounting his life to an unnamed, unseen therapist who lives in his building. As one does when speaking with a therapist, the character of Lennon traces his entire timeline, from his difficult upbringing in Liverpool, to the rise of The Beatles, and through his solo career.
The graphic novel is due out later this month from IDW. As a preview the comic publisher has shared a brand new trailer, which you can watch above. Below, find the cover art and a few interior pages to get an idea of what reading Lennon: The New York Years is like
By: Ben Kaye
Source: Consequence of Sound
John Lennon is without question one of the greatest musical geniuses ever to live. Whether as a member of The Beatles, a solo artist, or with Yoko Ono, his contribution to popular culture has stretched for decades. But much of his story has been told from the outside looking in by critics and historians. Now, in a new graphic novel from writer Eric Cobeyran and French artist Horne, Lennon will tell the story of his life from his own point of view.
Described as a “true biographical fiction,” Lennon: The New York Years is based on the 2010 novel Lennon by David Foeniknos. The story imagines the late Beatle during his time living in New York City, recounting his life to an unnamed, unseen therapist who lives in his building. As one does when speaking with a therapist, the character of Lennon traces his entire timeline, from his difficult upbringing in Liverpool, to the rise of The Beatles, and through his solo career.
The graphic novel is due out later this month from IDW. As a preview the comic publisher has shared a brand new trailer, which you can watch above. Below, find the cover art and a few interior pages to get an idea of what reading Lennon: The New York Years is like
By: Ben Kaye
Source: Consequence of Sound
In a conference room at the Beverly Hilton, Ringo Starr prepares for an upcoming auction with proceeds going to his non–profit Lotus Foundation. Gary Astridge, The Beatles' drum archivist and gear curator, stands by to answer any obscure questions about Ringo's drum memorabilia on the auction block.
A photo shoot ensues, with a confident yet modest Ringo standing in front of his first Ludwig kit, missing his favorite snare. This would be the last time Ringo would ever see his iconic set.
Someone suggests that Astridge take a photo with Ringo. Ringo cheerfully agrees. Each with one arm around the other, Ringo and Astridge both flash a peace sign with their fingers. Astridge is in this element among his two passions: his favorite drummer and his favorite drummer’s drums.
In some ways, Astridge knows Ringo's drums better than Ringo does. Astridge has been a huge Beatles fan for a long time and has spent decades — and over six figures — researching and investing in Beatles–era drum kits and gear.
When his obsession became a sought–out expertise by way of Ringo Starr himself, Astridge was finally able to solve a mystery that had been eating away at him since just about childhood: What’s the full story behind Ringo's favorite snare?
By: Julie Simmons
Source: Reverb
So why do it? Remix Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 50 years after the album's original release? Giles Martin (above), son of Sir George and the man behind the new remix, said the answer is simple. Because the original tapes are in pristine condition we can.
And then there's the all-important context: record labels need something to sell. And after all we are talking about the Beatles here. If there is anything like a sure thing, a guaranteed hit, in the music business, it's John, Paul, Ringo and George.
Better face it now Beatles fans: we are all going to be buying "new" Beatles reissues for the rest of our time upon this mortal coil. When it come to the Beatles, and the trove of unreleased outtakes, alternate takes, and live tracks still in the vaults, it's best to just admit we want if not need it all. And now that the sonics are said to be improved, price is really no longer an object. Think about the coming reissues—nothing has been announced, but rest assured there's a plan—of the The Beatles "White Album" and Abbey Road with outtakes, alternates and a fresh remix. I will pay, within or without reason, whatever they ask.
That said, the new remix of the Sgt Pepper's is a welcome freshening that drew a standing ovation out of the assembled crowd at the World of McIntosh Townhouse in SoHo, NYC on Friday morning, April 28. A crowd that included Elvis Costello, who came in black cowboy boots and brown, gentlemanly cowboy hat, heard the band anew, 24 years old again, bursting with creativity, and given new vibrancy and life by this fresh remix. While all the ingredients from the original mixes were still there, these new sonic recenterings, this portraits from a slightly different angle, felt exactly right.
By: Robert Baird
Source: Stereophile
Sir James Paul McCartney is one of the greatest musicians of all-time. He has “Sir” at the beginning of his name for a reason. While most people who don’t live under a rock know Paul McCartney as the legendary bass player for The Beatles and later as the leader of Wings, his solo career over thirty plus years has been just as impressive.
Even today he is still making ripples in the industry, collaborating with none other than Kanye West on the singles “FourFiveSeconds” and “All Day.” McCartney has been such a huge part of music, and has obtained such a large pedigree, that I’m going to try my best and stick with the task at hand of re-visiting one of his more acclaimed solo albums from 1982, Tug of War.
What’s important to note about this album is, prior to its release, McCartney was going through some tough times in his life. Not only was his former bandmate and revolutionary rock legend John Lennon senselessly murdered, but McCartney was coming off of his worst reviewed solo album to date, McCartney II, which was deemed as a worthless project by one critic. Tug of War was the album that would redeem his career. And it did more than that. Thirty-five years later, it is still critically acclaimed as one of his best amongst his discography. Tug of War is a mix of so many different sounds, but the uniqueness of each song amazingly gels nicely together into a cohesive masterpiece.
By: Ryan Feyre
Source: The Young Folks
Throughout the past three decades, drummer Zak Starkey has enjoyed a unique career that shows no signs of slowing down. The son of legendary Beatle Ringo Starr (real name: Richard Starkey), the younger Starkey inherited the drumming bug and has successfully navigated the upper echelons of rock ever since, whether drumming for Oasis or joining the performing lineup of The Who in 1994.
Aside from prepping for an upcoming summer tour with The Who, Starkey is hot off of a series of gigs at South by Southwest with latest project SSHH alongside partner Sshh Liguz. The long-gestating electro-punk project is readying for an album later this year, and today on Billboard, Starkey premieres the video for a SSHH cover of the Bob Marley/Peter Tosh-penned classic “Get Up, Stand Up." He also talks life on the road with The Who, how SSHH came to be, and teaming up with Mick Jagger’s activist daughter Lizzy to spread a message of equality.
You’ve been playing with The Who since 1994 and have a tour coming up with them this summer. How do you prepare for something like that?
How it started last time was, I walked off the plane in London and went straight straight into a windmill. We arrived at 10 in the morning, was in rehearsal by 11 and we were in three days rehearsal for Tommy and then we did the Tommy shows, and then four of our hits shows. We do very little rehearsal. When John Entwistle was alive, we didn’t do any!
As the years go on, does this touring lifestyle get easier or harder?
I think it gets easier. Especially with The Who because I think everyone is a little bit mellower and more comfortable with how it rolls since it’s more of a hits show now, and not the kind of freeform blood bath that we sometimes used to do. Me and Roger (Daltrey) find this a bit more fun. It’s always an ordeal that’s always worth it. Though Pete (Townshend) can hurt himself some nights. Those guys have still got a bit of energy, but they also got to take it easier at their age, I hate to say it.
Your dad is Ringo Starr and you were very close with Keith Moon. What’s your earliest memory growing up?
Keith Moon was my dad’s best friend, or one of them, and he kind of took me under his wing. Me and my brother used to stay with him and spend weekends, stuff like that.
By: Rob LeDonne
Source: Billboard
John Lennon's original album art sketch for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will anchor Julien's Auctions' upcoming sale in New York City. The "Music Icons 2017" auction will take place May 20th at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.
The drawing was found in a sketchbook uncovered at Lennon's former home in Surrey, England, where he lived with his first wife Cynthia starting in 1964. Lennon wrote several Beatles hits in the Surrey mansion, as well as much of Sgt. Pepper's. The early album artwork sketch features a bass drum emblazoned with the LP's title and is estimated to be worth between $40,000 and $60,000.
Along with the Sgt. Pepper sketch, "Music Icons 2017" will feature other Beatles memorabilia including a Lennon-signed "Please Please Me" album cover, a George Harrison-signed Fender guitar used by the Beatle and a program page from 1963, which all four Beatles autographed.
A number of Beach Boys items are also set to hit the auction block including photographs, manuscripts, handwritten notes and lyrics, music sheets and band contracts. Several Elvis Presley items will also be up for sale, including his first piano and the King's chest X-ray.
By: Jon Blistein
Source: Rolling Stone
James McCartney is a man of few words, preferring as it were to let his music do the talking.
So McCartney, the only son of Paul and Linda McCartney, doesn’t turn up with a lot of hype. Nor does he do anything to contribute to any buzz that would be generated by talking about his life and family, playing Paul’s songs or, in an opposite strategy, coming out against his dad’s kind of music.
Rather, the 39-year-old simply plays his own songs — he’s released a pair of EPs and two albums since 2010 — and flies quietly under the pop culture radar.
After spending his first two and a half years on the road with Paul McCartney and Wings, James grew up in the county of East Sussex in southeast England, attended the local state secondary school, and in 1998, graduated from Bexhill College, near his East Sussex home, having studied art and sculpture.
A guitarist since he was 9, when his father gave him a Fender Stratocaster once owned by Carl Perkins, McCartney played on a pair of Paul McCartney and Wings albums, taking a guitar solo on 1997’s “Flaming Pie” and contributing guitar and percussion to 2001’s “Driving Rain.”
By: L. Kent Wolgamott
Source: Daily Herald
Rock ’n’ roll staples don’t come much bigger than “Twist and Shout.”
More than half a century since it was first penned by Bronx-born songwriter Bert Berns (and his occasional partner Phil Medley), it can be heard everywhere from cable reruns of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to encores at Bruce Springsteen concerts. It’s even been adopted as the unofficial fan anthem of Coventry City FC — a once-elite English soccer team.
But, as explored in the new documentary “Bang! The Bert Berns Story” (out now), it was a song that went through some changes.
Here’s how the classic came about.
The Top Notes (1961)
Berns (also known as Bert Russell) wrote “Twist and Shout” with a slight Afro-Cuban swing to it. Atlantic Records honcho Jerry Wexler heard it and presented it to a struggling R&B duo called the Top Notes. A young Phil Spector produced this version, adding rewrites and a changed tempo — much to Berns’ fury. It flopped.
By: Hardeep Phull
Source: The New York Post
