Beatles News
Paul, John, Ringo and George may have disbanded the Beatles nearly a half century ago, but the magic and memories evoked by their music linger on.
And it will definitely be resonating in a big way on Sept. 8 at the Newberry Opera House when The Fab Four takes stage to transport the audience back to the 1960s with Beatles favorites and taste of what it might have been like to watch the Beatles live during their heyday.
“Other than playing the songs, we try to give our audience members a visual window into what it might’ve been like to see the Beatles perform live,” said Gavin Pring, who plays the role of George Harrison for The Fab Four. “To some, it’s reliving a memory. To others (too young to have seen the original lads), it’s a moment of what It might’ve been like to see the Beatles live.”
Source: By Lezlie Patterson/The State
Stephens Auditorium is due to host the iconic supergroup, Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, on Wednesday — led by former Beatles drummer and vocalist Ringo Starr.
This will be The All Starr Band’s fourth date of their North American tour, which started not long after recently wrapping up their European tour. The group has been touring for more than two decades, originally forming in 1989.
Starr has led 13 different variations of the band, members comprised of rotating stars who hail from other well-known bands.
The current version of the band includes Gregg Bissonette, Graham Gouldman from 10cc, Warren Ham from AD and Kansas, Colin Hay from Men at Work, Steve Lukather from Toto, and Gregg Rolie from Santana and Journey. The concept of the rock supergroup is credited to producer David Fishof.
Source: iowastatedaily.com
Fifty years ago the Beatles released a single that sold over 8 million copies — their highest selling 45rpm — "Hey Jude." While "Hey Jude" made the greater impression, it was the B-side — "Revolution" — in which John Lennon addressed the global political upheaval of 1968 that has the more interesting story. Rare as it was for a pop song to address politics, the message in "Revolution" attracted fierce resentment within the radical left before re-appearing in 1987 in one of the most seminal and ground breaking advertisements ever made.
Lennon wrote "Revolution" in India where the Beatles were meditating with the Maharishi while the Vietnam War and Chinese Cultural Revolution raged on. There was a major riot in London and Paris was brought to the brink of another revolution in May of that year.
Source: The Conversation/businessinsider.com
John Lennon may be considered the most famous of the Fab Four because of his unique perspective on life and expressing that perspective in songs such as “Imagine” and “Woman.” When he was with the Beatles, many of their songs were written by the duo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney and were responsible for their rocket to popularity and becoming a huge cultural influence for many people all around the world.
Though the Beatles as a general rule have been very protective of their music, primarily because they want to avoid it becoming too commercialized for product advertising or other business purposes, there are some movies and television programs that have found their way to being the exception. Here are 5 of them.
Source: Nat Berman/tvovermind.com
One of my earliest memories is my parents sitting me on a pony in Scotland. They carefully wrapped my hands around the horse’s mane and slowly walked me around. I must have been about a year old.
The pony’s name was Coconut. He was very kind and patient. I remember the coarse texture of his mane and how I held onto it tightly. Riding him that young gave me an early sense of pride and self-confidence.
As a family, we spent most summers together at a remote farmhouse on Scotland’s Kintyre peninsula. During the school year, we lived in central London.
Those summer stays were about seclusion and family. By spending long periods far away and close together, my parents, siblings and I were each other’s entertainment.
Source: Marc Myers/wsj.com
Hey, Beatles fans: Don’t let the October 2 episode of the Dan Rather-hosted AXS TV series The Big Interview pass you by. The veteran newsman’s guest on that episode — the show’s 100th — will be Ringo Starr, and it’ll kick off the second half of The Big Interview‘s sixth season.
During Ringo’s conversation with Rather, the ex-Beatle discusses how he developed his love of the drums, his continued passion for performing, the camaraderie between him and his Fab Four band mates, and why he decided to put together his star-studded touring group The All -Starr Band.
In a preview of the episode, Starr tells Rather that he didn’t necessarily idolize specific drummers as he was developing his own style.
Source: kink.fm
The star is set to release his latest solo album ‘Egypt Station‘ on September 7 and sings about his past drinking habits on the track ‘Happy With You’. The track features the lyrics: “I used to drink too much/Forget to come home.”
Speaking to MOJO, McCartney described the song as “candid”. “I did use to get stoned and wasted,” he said.
He said he felt like he had self-medicated in the past, “most particularly in the period right after The Beatles [split up].” “I was bummed out and in the middle of this horrendous shit where someone was going to take every penny we’d ever made,” he explained.
“That wasn’t easy and led to a very difficult time in my life. I definitely self-medicated there and drank more than I ever had and probably more than I ever have since. But you go through it.”
Source: Rhian Daly /nme.com
You could argue forever about which of the Beatles’ songs is the greatest. According to the Daily Telegraph, it’s something nostalgic: In My Life. According to the NME, it’s something psychedelic: Strawberry Fields Forever, which wasn’t even the best song on the single it appeared on, alongside Penny Lane. According to Rolling Stone and USA Today, it’s something epic: A Day in the Life, which often does well in polls, perhaps because it’s written by both Lennon and McCartney.
The debate is diverting but doomed. The Beatles’ range was so broad that it would be easier to name Matisse’s best painting or Meryl Streep’s best performance – which wouldn’t be easy at all. This isn’t just apples and oranges, it’s the whole fruit stall, so if we must use superlatives, we’d better narrow them down. The most covered Beatles song is Yesterday, the biggest seller is She Loves You and the biggest crowdpleaser is Hey Jude.
Source: Tim de Lisle/msn.com
Just last week we reported on a rare Penny Lane Morris Mini that was up for sale, and while that quirky little car certainly had a Beatles connection, here’s one that was actually owned by one of the fab four. Now crossing the auction block is John Lennon’s 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD station wagon, the last car Lennon ever drove. It was the iconic musician's daily driver, used to haul around recording equipment, and was reportedly sitting in the garage of his Manhattan apartment building when he was tragically shot to death on the front steps in 1980.
The 300TD is powered by a 2988cc inline-five diesel that only made 77 horsepower when new. If you think that's a little low, remember: this was the turbocharged engine, and you could get a non-turbo diesel that made even less power. It has a four-speed automatic transmission, independent suspension, and disc brakes making it pretty advanced...for 1979. Still, coming from an era where Mercedes was known for making overbuilt tanks, it stands out as one of the coolest.
Source: The Drive
He smoked marijuana on and off for four decades and turned to whisky to cope with the stress of the Beatles breaking up.
But Sir Paul McCartney has revealed his wild days are over as he has transformed his lifestyle and now only drinks one glass of wine per week.
He credits his eight grandchildren for keeping him on the straight and narrow as he simply doesn't have time to enjoy raucous nights out any more.
Lyrics on Sir Paul's new album, Egypt Station, refer to his bad old habits during the height of his fame as a Beatle.
A song called Happy With You features the lines, 'I used to drink too much/Forget to come home.'
Source: Daily Mail
