Beatles News
Jane Bown (1925-2014) worked for the Observer for 65 years, taking unforgettable images of hundreds of subjects. She used basic equipment and often relied solely on available light and is known for her iconic black and white photographs. She honed a deceptively simple technique to produce her highly distinctive photographs. The GNM Archive holds an extensive collection of her work.
Observer photographer Jane Bown and her beloved OM-1 cameras are the focus of this month's resource
In the 1960s Jane was asked to shoot in colour for the Observer’s colour magazine but was never comfortable using it and abandoned it after three years. She told Luke Dodd, her archivist, in an interview for the Unknown Bown book and exhibition in 2007 that: “In those days, colour was very inflexible - I had to learn to bracket them. With black and white it’s usually possible to salvage something in the darkroom however bad the shoot might have been. And with colour, editors tended to want photo essays and I was always best at the single shot. I’m a one-shot girl, always have been!”
In January 1967 Jane was walking the dog with her young nephew in Knole Park near her Sevenoaks home. They came across a bizarre scene; “the Beatles gathered around a piano in the middle of the park. They were filming Magical Mystery Tour and nobody knew they were there.
Source: theguardian.com
The vinyl revival continued in 2017 — and people clearly needed more Beatles records for their turntables, because the band took the top two spots on the year-end sales chart for the resurgent format.
Citing Nielsen data, Billboard reports that vinyl sales hit another peak in 2017, moving 14.32 million units and edging up 9 percent over last year’s previous high. That total represents the largest number of vinyl albums that’s been purchased in a year since 1991 — the year the company’s SoundScan sales data was incorporated into Billboard’s chart methodology, starting a new era in the process.
5 Non-Beatles Songs Produced By George Martin
Legendary producer Sir George Martin would’ve turned 91 today (January 3), and while he is best known for his work with The Beatles, Martin worked with countless other artists in his incredible career. Here’s a five non-Beatles track sampling of from his astounding career.
“Say Say Say” – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Okay…this one involves a Beatles, but it still counts, especially since MJ is included and the track was a massive hit off of Sir Paul’s 1983 album Pipes Of Peace.
“Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” – Gerry and the Pacemakers
One of the very few acts that received Martin’s producing touch during the time of Beatlemania, Gerry and the Pacemakers’s scored their biggest U.S. hit with “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” in 1964.
“Tin Man” – America
Once The Beatles called it quits in 1970, this opened up more time for Martin to work with other acts, and one of the most notable were America, whose biggest Martin-produced hit came in 1974 with “Tin Man,” which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number four.
“Stop This Game” – Cheap Trick
The favorite sons of Rockford, Ill. got their chance to work with Martin in 1980 on their fifth studio album All Shook Up, whose lead single was “Stop This Game.”
“Candle In The Wind 1997” – Elton John
Perhaps the biggest success of Martin’s producing career, Elton John’s tribute to the late Princess Diana has sold over 33 million copies worldwide and was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a staggering 14 week. It remains the best-selling single in the history of Billboard, which is likely a feat that won’t be matched or topped ever.
Source: Erica Banas
5 Non-Beatles Songs Produced By George Martin
Legendary producer Sir George Martin would’ve turned 91 today (January 3), and while he is best known for his work with The Beatles, Martin worked with countless other artists in his incredible career. Here’s a five non-Beatles track sampling of from his astounding career.
“Say Say Say” – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Okay…this one involves a Beatles, but it still counts, especially since MJ is included and the track was a massive hit off of Sir Paul’s 1983 album Pipes Of Peace.
“Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” – Gerry and the Pacemakers
One of the very few acts that received Martin’s producing touch during the time of Beatlemania, Gerry and the Pacemakers’s scored their biggest U.S. hit with “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” in 1964.
“Tin Man” – America
Once The Beatles called it quits in 1970, this opened up more time for Martin to work with other acts, and one of the most notable were America, whose biggest Martin-produced hit came in 1974 with “Tin Man,” which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number four.
“Stop This Game” – Cheap Trick
The favorite sons of Rockford, Ill. got their chance to work with Martin in 1980 on their fifth studio album All Shook Up, whose lead single was “Stop This Game.”
“Candle In The Wind 1997” – Elton John
Perhaps the biggest success of Martin’s producing career, Elton John’s tribute to the late Princess Diana has sold over 33 million copies worldwide and was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a staggering 14 week. It remains the best-selling single in the history of Billboard, which is likely a feat that won’t be matched or topped ever.
John Lennon's monkey bike is set to go up for sale later this year.
The rare item was bought by the Beatles icon in the late 60s, and features in a number of iconic photographs.
The motorbike - pictured above - was used by John Lennon for getting around his Tittenhurst Park estate in Surrey, where he lived from 1969 to 1971.
The Honda Monkey/Trail Bike XUC 91H will go up for sale through H&H Classics on March 4th, and is valued at around £30,000.
Mark Bryan, Head of Sales for H&H Classics Motorcycle Department, says: “Naturally we are thrilled to be entrusted with the marketing and sale of this bike, given its extraordinary provenance.”
The Honda Monkey/Trail Bike XUC 91H will be sold through H&H Classics at the National Motorbikes Museum on March 4th.
Everybody's got something to hide except for John and his monkey bike...
Join us on Vero, as we get under the skin of global cultural happenings. Follow Clash Magazine as we skip merrily between clubs, concerts, interviews and photo shoots. Get backstage sneak peeks and a true view into our world as the fun and games unfold.
Source: Clash/Robin Murray
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
