Beatles News
John Lennon gave one of his final interviews to Playboy in September 1980, where he spoke about making new music with his wife Yoko Ono, along with many other aspects of their life together. Some interesting moments include the fact that he had settled into being a house-husband. This involved spending his days baking bread and taking care of his son, Sean.
By this time, word had spread that Lennon and Ono were making music again after retreating from the public eye in 1975. When asked what he’d been up to, Lennon shared surprisingly freely.
“I’ve been baking bread and looking after the baby,” he said. When asked what else he’d been doing, he replied, “That’s like what everyone else who has asked me that question over the last few years says. ‘But what else have you been doing?’ To which I say, ‘Are you kidding?’”
Lennon continued, “Because bread and babies, as every housewife knows, is a full-time job. After I made the loaves, I felt like I had conquered something. But as I watched the bread being eaten, I thought, Well, Jesus, don’t I get a gold record or knighted or nothing?”
John Lennon Revealed That He Owed His Authenticity as an Artist to His Relationship With Yoko Ono
John Lennon was then asked why he became a house-husband. He apparently took to bread and babies as easily as he took to music. His answer was revealing, briefly touching on his time with The Beatles. He also explained the stresses of producing so much music in a short time.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Lauren Boisvert
The connection between rock ‘n’ roll and backward messaging has been discussed ad nauseam. Countless rockers have been accused of hiding little tidbits in their recordings, hoping to catch the ear of particularly observant fans. While not all the theories these “backward messages” have sparked have stood the test of time, there is one that we can’t seem to shake: the notion that John Lennon admitted to Paul McCartney’s death and replacement by a clone on “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
The “Paul is Dead” theory is another highly debated topic. While McCartney himself has denied the rumors for decades now, the “proof” is irrefutable in some fans’ minds. One piece of evidence is Lennon’s mumbled lyric at the end of “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
John Lennon’s Mumbled Lyric at the End of “Strawberry Fields Forever” That Fed Into the “Paul Is Dead” Conspiracy
“I am alive and well and concerned about the rumors of my death,” McCartney once said, nodding to the “Paul is Dead” theory. “But if I were dead, I would be the last to know.”
The “Paul is Dead” theory is one of the most famous rock n’ roll myths. As the story goes, McCartney died in a car crash in the middle of the Beatles’ heyday, leaving those in charge of the band with no choice but to replace him with a look alike.
Due to the lack of any finite proof, believers have clung to the smallest morsels of evidence. One of those morsels is Lennon’s whispered phrase at the end of “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
“Cranberry Sauce” or “I Buried Paul”?
Lennon whispers an unintelligible phrase at the tail-end of this Beatles classic. According to the musician himself, he was saying “Cranberry Sauce.” While we’re not sure why he would slip that into this psychedelic anthem, it’s not the weirdest thing Lennon ever did…
Those in the “Paul is Dead” crowd have another theory. According to them, Lennon said, “I Buried Paul.” Lennon says this barely above a whisper. As a result, it sparked a significant amount of discussion about what he actually said. Needless to say, if his saying “I Buried Paul” were true, it would be a colossal bomb for Lennon to drop. Believers might be grasping at straws here, but we’ve heard crazier theories. There could be some truth to this claim.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Alex Hopper
While many joined McCartney in wishing the drummer a happy birthday, others were stunned to learn his real name.
One fan commented: "HIS NAME IS RICHARD?" with another responding: "Lol his real name is Richard Starkey." Another sarcastically commented: "Beatles 'Fan'" while someone else explained: "Yes. Ringo is a nickname because he wore a lot of rings."
Another shared: "This is so cute. I love their friendship," with a sixth commenting: "Happy birthday Ringo!!!!" "Happy birthday dear Ringo," another wrote. One more added: "Ugh you two are the best happy birthday Ringo." (sic)
Other areas of social media are also awash with Beatles fans sending birthday messages to the iconic musicians. McCartney often sparks frenzy among fans with his posts, and in February was branded "crazy" after announcing he'd be surprising fans in New York with an unscheduled gig.
The Liverpudlian announced the impromptu gig on Wednesday, February 12, and tickets sold out in just 30 minutes.
In the end, 575 lucky fans were treated to an intimate performance by the music legend, with the singer addressing the spontaneous nature of the show. "So, here we are. Some little gig. New York. Why not?" he told the crowds after sharing the plan on Instagram hours earlier.
Both musicians are two of Britain's best-known names thanks to their stint in the band, The Beatles.
Alongside George Harrison and John Lennon, the band is arguably the biggest band the country has ever produced, shooting to global fame in the 1960s.
Lennon and McCartney served as the lead songwriters and vocals, while Starr provided the skills on the drums.
Source: gbnews.com/Olivia Gantzer
The Beatles' "biggest fear" was being asked to read music.
The Love Me Do hitmakers may have written and performed some of the biggest songs in the world, but all four members - Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, and the late George Harrison and John Lennon - were afraid their shortcomings would be revealed if they had to carry out tests to be part of a musicians' union.
Ringo told the New York Times newspaper: “The biggest fear, a long time ago, was that the union was going to make us all read music. Because none of us — John, Paul, George and Ringo — none of us read music. I thought, well, I’ll go play tambourine then.”
Ringo was the last member of the group to start writing songs, but his efforts often reduced his bandmates to laughter with his unintentional mimicry.
He said: “It’s hard to come to the front when you’ve got John and Paul.
“I’d say, ‘I’ve got this song.’ And halfway through they’d all be laying on the floor laughing, because I wasn’t writing new songs. I was writing new words to old songs.”
Paul confirmed: “We’d say, 'Yeah, that’s a great one. That’s a great Bob Dylan song.' ”
The 84-year-old drummer is often shocked by his age.
He said: “It blows me away. I look in the mirror and I’m 24. I never got older than 24.
“But guess what? You did.”
Ringo credits his love of music for keeping him feeling young.
He said: “Well, I love what I’m doing...
“When I first started, my mother would come to the gigs. She would always say, ‘You know, son, I always feel you’re at your happiest when you’re playing your drums.’ So she noticed. And I do.” He smiled. “I love to hit those buggers.”
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com/BANG Showbiz
Indeed, Ringo didn’t have a flashy style. His drumming in the band was the perfect backdrop for the sweet melodies that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were putting forward. Ringo’s talent lies in complementing the parts of the song that were at the focus, which were more often than not lyrics that told a story. The narrative focus meant the rhythm could sit tightly as a supporting figure, giving melodies the perfect platform to shine, which they wouldn’t have done had they been overshadowed. This isn’t to say that this was a default for Ringo. The drummer showed incredible flair in his creative decision for the beat of “Come Together.” Ringo played a drum line that was very unusual for the time, quickly making the song a revolutionary anthem. He treated the drum kit almost as a melodic instrument throughout the verses, filling the sonic field in a way that had never been done before.
Ringo’s other contribution, “Don’t Pass Me By”, sounds lighthearted and cheeky, almost circus-like, in its musicality. But the song is anything but that. Ringo sings in worry about losing the one he loves in a series of events, singing “Don’t pass me by, don’t make me sad, don’t make me blue / ‘cause you know darling, I love only you”. His two songs are fictional adventures that explore feelings of comfort and the safety of being loved. The sincerity of the lyrics in combination with the joyful, youthful-sounding instrumentation is the perfect contrast to one another to result in accessible songs expressing the simplicity of being tender and earnest.
His humble charm and quick wit actually defined the Beatles. He stuck to who he was and what the Beatles were without the need to develop frivolous traits. His animated presence is one of the only things that the Beatles managed to keep constant throughout their existence, which, in many ways, makes him the leader of the band. It’s important to remember that serious doesn’t always mean better, especially in music that credits itself as being cheeky and fun. Similarly, lighthearted doesn’t entail a sense of a song being underdone, or warrant any mockery. But Ringo could handle it, of course.
Source: collider.com/Fiona MacPherson-Amador
Every great band has an early era. For The Beatles, the most famous rock band of the 20th century, those early years involved a little band called The Quarrymen. This skiffle group was formed by John Lennon in 1956. Paul McCartney would join shortly after meeting John Lennon on July 6, 1957. The Quarrymen, in just a few short years, would evolve into The Beatles.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met on this day in 1957, when they were both music-loving teenagers in Liverpool, England. According to lore, the two future superstars met for the very first time at an auditorium at a local church. Just seven years later, they would form the final lineup of The Beatles with George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
It was inevitable. The two future famous songwriters lived in the same town and ran in similar circles. However, on a warm Saturday that fell on July 6, a mutual friend of theirs chose to introduce the two to each other. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s First Meeting Was About as Casual as You Could Get.
Lennon and McCartney had a lot in common from the start. They lived in different neighborhoods and attended different primary schools, but they were close in age (just two years apart) and loved music.
On that day as well, Lennon was supposed to perform at the once-a-year event known as the Woolton Parish Church Garden Fete. It was a parade and outdoor block party of sorts. The original lineup of The Quarrymen performed, in between a dog show and a marching band. Despite it being a local gig, it was a pretty big deal, as Lennon and his band got to perform for a few hundred teens.
The 15-year-old McCartney was in attendance and liked what he heard. Later, when the two were introduced, McCartney played the guitar for Lennon. Allegedly, he played “Twenty Flight Rock” by Eddie Cochran and “Be Bop A Lula” by Gene Vincent. He also played a few Little Richard tunes.
Lennon wasn’t easy to impress, but he was definitely impressed by McCartney. From there, McCartney helped Lennon tune his guitar and wrote some chords out from the songs he played. And just two weeks later, John Lennon invited Paul McCartney to join The Quarrymen. The rest is history! It’s wild to think that such an enormously famous band would start with such humble, casual beginnings.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Em Casalena
Despite what the media said about it (for better or worse), the Beatles weren’t exactly the soothsayers or cultural gurus-slash-corrupters they were often painted to be—in fact, John Lennon was the first to admit that he didn’t truly understand what he was singing about in one of the Fab Four’s most iconic anthems that seemingly wrapped up the band’s ethos in five short words.
“All you need is love,” the Beatles repeated emphatically in their 1967 non-album single. The song became the foundation for the flower power, “peace and love” movement of the late 1960s. But it wasn’t until 1969 that Lennon realized he actually had no idea what he had been talking about. Yet. The Beatles released “All You Need Is Love” as the A-side to “Baby, You’re a Rich Man” in 1967. The song was part of a massive global television link and served as an affable contribution to the multi-satellite production. How could one argue with the song? All you need is love, love, love is all you need. Songwriting credit went to both John Lennon and Paul McCartney. But years later, Lennon would admit that, in hindsight, he realized he didn’t actually know what he was talking about in 1967.
“When I was singing about all you need is love, I was talking about something I hadn’t experienced,” Lennon said in a 1969 interview with Howard Smith. “I had experienced love for people in gusts and love for things and trees and things like that. But I hadn’t experienced what I was singing about. It’s like anything. You sing about it first or write about it first and find out what you were talking about after.”
Source: americansongwriter.com/Melanie Davis
Complete normalcy and greatness rarely ever walk hand in hand. Rather, the finest minds to grace any field typically have something “off” about them. “Off” given that they see something we don’t, and consequently, their perspective influences their “abnormal” actions. One exceptional talent and thinker who certainly falls under this category is Bob Dylan.
Many famous artists have attested to Bob Dylan’s eccentric personality. David Crosby once stated that Dylan was as “crazy as a f—ing fruit fly,” per the LA Times. Furthermore, Dolly Parton also attested to that fact, as she told the Daily Mail, “I love his music but he’s a weird buckaroo.”
Given those testimonies, it seems some of the music industry’s biggest acts share a mutual perception about Bob Dylan. One other person who agreed with that notion was Dylan’s friend and collaborator, George Harrison. Harrison Admired Bob Dylan’s Eccentric Personality.
Bob Dylan and George Harrison climbed to the top at the same time, but in different genres of music. However, by the end of the 80s, their paths converged as the infamous supergroup, the Travelin’ Wilburys, was formed in 1988. Dylan and Harrison were acquaintances before this, but through their partnership, a more solidified friendship seemingly formed.
Concerning Harrison’s affinity for Dylan, Harrison stated, “Bob Dylan is the most consistent artist there is. Even his stuff, which people loathe, I like.” “Every single thing he does represents something that’s him. He may write better songs tomorrow, sing high on this album and low on another, go electric or acoustic, go weird or whatever, but the basic thing that causes all this change is an incredible character named Bob Dylan,” he added, per the Express.
Out of complete admiration and awe, George Harrison also divulged, “He’s the looniest person I know!” While Harrison did not define his definition of “looniest,” per his prior comments, it seems he’s alluding to Dylan’s ever-changing ways and personality. In other words, Harrison was impressed by Dylan’s ability to find the inspiration and means to reinvent himself on a whim.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Peter Burditt
Years after the first three members of the Beatles bonded over their love of rock ‘n’ roll, the addition of the final Fab Four member would introduce the Liverpudlians to a new type of music they had previously overlooked: country. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison spent their earliest years together trying to emulate the sounds of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry.
But when Sir Richard Starkey, known professionally as Ringo Starr, entered the picture in 1962, the band began diving into a different style of popular American music with a little less electric guitar and a lot more twang. Paul McCartney famously played American rock ‘n’ roller Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock” during his impromptu “audition” for John Lennon. George Harrison played “Raunchy,” an instrumental by another rock icon from the States, Bill Justis. Together, all three Liverpudlian musicians pored over records by Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry. They might have gotten their start playing skiffle, but their hearts belonged to rock ‘n’ roll.
When Ringo Starr first joined the Beatles in 1962, he brought along a different musical background. Like the rest of his new bandmates, Starr learned most of his musical technique through trial and error. He wasn’t formally trained, which likely helped the experimental nature of the band’s early collaborations. And while he was undoubtedly aware of the same rock music the three guitarists were listening to, he was a bigger fan of country music.
“Ringo was the first guy in the Beatles to really turn us on to country music,” McCartney recalled in the 2025 concert film, Ringo & Friends at the Ryman. “We were kind of very much into rock ‘n’ roll, and he was heavy into country. He had a lot of records we didn’t have, and he was a big admirer of some of the country stars at the time. Some of them, we hadn’t ever heard of, I must admit. He’s got a long love, going way back, of country music.”
Source: americansongwriter.com/Melanie Davis
Ringo Starr has strong opinions about how he’ll be portrayed in the four upcoming Beatles biopics. The musician, 84, told The New York Times on Wednesday, July 2, that he spent two days with the director, Sam Mendes, and offered “extensive notes” on the script.
Starr noted that he had feedback surrounding his first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett, explaining that the original script didn’t necessarily showcase how they acted in reality. "He had a writer — very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I," Starr told the outlet. "That’s not how we were. I’d say, 'We would never do that.'"
The former couple married in 1965 and had three children together — Zak, 59, Jason, 57, and Lee, 54, — before divorcing in 1975.
According to The New York Times, Starr is now content with the way he’ll be portrayed on screen after going through the script line by line and sharing his feedback with Mendes. In March, it was officially confirmed that actors Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Harris Dickinson and Joseph Quinn are on board to portray the four members of The Beatles in Mendes’ quartet of movies.
Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Dickinson will play John Lennon, Keoghan is set to play Starr and Quinn will play George Harrison. (Lennon was murdered at age 40 in 1980, while Harrison died of cancer at age 58 in 2001.)
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in May, Keoghan, 32, revealed what it was like to meet Starr as he gears up to portray him. The actor told host Jimmy Kimmel that he met Starr at his home, and during the talk show, he divulged how nervous he was during the meeting.
"It was sort of one of those moments where you're in awe and you're just frozen," Keoghan said.
Source: yahoo.com/Erin Doyle
