Beatles News
It’s been one of the more enduring celebrity death hoaxes, long before social media.
But on October 24 1969, two Life magazine reporters found Paul McCartney to reveal he hadn’t actually died in a car crash.
Benjamin Jackson looks back at how the rumour gained traction in 1969 and what breadcrumbs The Beatles left to tell the world “Paul is dead”.
Legend has it that on October 24 1969, Life magazine reporters Dorothy "Dot" Jenkins and Timothy Harper visited a farm in Scotland to interview former Beatle Paul McCartney.
That sounds run-of-the-mill, with McCartney at this point in time married to the late Linda McCartney and wanting to have a quieter family life with his two children. But it would be during this interview, that was subsequently published on November 7 1969, that Paul addressed a rumour that had blown up that year.
"Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated. However, if I were dead, I'm sure I'd be the last to know."
It would spell an end to the long standing suggestion that Sir Paul McCartney had died supposedly of a car accident back in 1966, and that the McCartney that was with the band between the releases from Revolver to Abbey Road was a replacement.
Those album releases didn’t stave off the rumours and in fact became breadcrumbs with many who believed in the death hoax pointing to hidden messages and meanings throughout the height of the “Paul is dead” craze.
Ahead of McCartney’s Get Back tour, set to take place at Manchester’s Co-op Live on December 14 and 15, and then London’s The O2 on December 18 and 19, let’s find out (those of us of a much younger age) how the rumours began and, of course, what “clues” were hidden by the Beatles to let us know that Paul was, in fact, dead.
How did the “Paul is dead” rumour begin in the first place?
Even in 2024, it would appear Sir Paul McCartney cannot dodge the "Paul is dead" hoaxes.Even in 2024, it would appear Sir Paul McCartney cannot dodge the "Paul is dead" hoaxes. There had always been rumours about either McCartney’s demise or him going solo dating back to 1966, when media outlets called then Beatles press officer, Tony Barrow, to enquire whether the musician was experiencing ill health or if he had in fact died.
Source: Benjamin Jackson/yorkshirepost.co.uk
Sometimes, the stories heard about the making of iconic albums seem as though that famous Las Vegas expression should be applied: What happens in the studio, stays in the studio. But for better or worse, word gets out about the fateful recording of albums like The Beatles' "Let it Be," for example, or Kendrick Lamar's "Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City." These stories range from inspirational to entertaining to worrisome—but all have the behind-the-music essence fans thrive on.
Stacker compiled a list of 25 classic albums ranging from folk rock to hip hop, along with the stories from the studios that produced these albums. For that, sources like Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Genius were tapped. The resulting albums are instant classics representing the best, or sometimes the worst, of these iconic bands and artists.
Studio recording is a pressure cooker, with passionate people trying to combine their sometimes disparate ideas of what their band should do next. For artists like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin, looming breakups have helped to animate some of their most iconic music, drawing artistic passion from real-life fights and splits. For others, like The Who or Bob Dylan, trying to shake things up led to true artistic brilliance.
Was it passion, good timing, or something else that makes these albums iconic? There's only one way to find out.
Source: Caroline Delbert/MSN
Paul McCartney wrote quite a few songs about John Lennon and vice-versa. It makes sense why. The famed Beatles songwriters had a complicated relationship that teetered between brotherly and contentious all the way until Lennon’s death in 1980. McCartney wrote more than three songs about Lennon, but we think these three specific tracks are worth revisiting.
1. “Here Today”
Out of all the songs that Paul McCartney wrote about John Lennon, “Here Today” has to be the most painfully obvious. Luckily, this one isn’t a negative song or a diss track; McCartney actually puts his admiration for Lennon front and center on “Here Today”.
McCartney penned this track after the death of Lennon as a tribute. It’s a pretty heartbreaking song when you really listen to it. McCartney poses a number of questions and answers them as if Lennon were the one speaking. This has got to be one of McCartney’s most painful songs, but one can’t deny that it’s a beautiful tribute.
2. “Man We Was Lonely”
The Beatles’ ultimate breakup wasn’t exactly a friendly one. By the time the band called it quits, each member of the Fab Four had their share of issues with one another. McCartney had quite famously become a bit controlling after the death of the band’s manager in order to keep the band functioning, and that control caused some serious riffs with the other band members.
McCartney wrote “Man We Was Lonely” while still with The Beatles but didn’t release it until his solo career took off with McCartney. This track sounds like McCartney’s personal diary as he revisits the tension and stress of being in The Beatles and the difficulties he had with Lennon, in particular.
Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com
The 50th anniversary of George Harrison’s solo album Living in the Material World is being celebrated with a series of new reissues, including a super deluxe edition featuring 12 previously unreleased recordings. Released in May 1973, Living in the Material World was Harrison’s second solo album of original material, and his second solo album to hit #1.
Harrison’s wife, Olivia, and son, Dhani, oversaw the project, with Olivia sharing, “I hope you revisit Living in the Material World or discover it for the first time, and as you listen, share George’s wish for himself and mankind.”
The first preview of those recordings is “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (Take 18),” an early acoustic version of Harrison’s second solo #1, available now via digital outlets. Other unearthed songs include a recording of “Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond),” featuring the Band’s Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Rick Danko, as well as Ringo Starr. That comes on a separate 7″ single in the super deluxe edition.
The super deluxe edition will be limited to only 5,000 copies, and will include two LPs and two CDs, featuring the newly remixed album, plus a separate disc with previously unreleased early editions of each song on the album. In addition to the super deluxe edition, there will be two-LP and two-CD deluxe editions that include the session outtakes. It will also be released as a single CD and LP, with limited-edition color vinyl variants available at various retailers, including a purple color vinyl from the Harrison online store.
Source: steamboatradio.com
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Paul McCartney’s son James posted a photo of himsef and his sister Stella McCartney with Dhani Harrison, the son of late Beatles guitarist George Harrison, after watching him perform in London.
“Great gig last night in London watching @DhaniHarrison!” James, 47, wrote in the caption to the photo posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Please support his music here https://dhaniharrison.com/musici 🎶❤️,” he added. In the snap, which appeared to have been taken
Dhani is the only son of late Beatles member George and his second wife Olivia Harrison. The musician died at age 58 of lung cancer on Nov. 29, 2001.
The McCartneys have remained supportive friends of Dhani’s over the years. In August 2016, Dhani performed at Stella’s collection showcase in Los Angeles and he has also been seen cheering her on in the front row at her fashion shows.
Dhani told Daily Mail in 2012, “Of all of them, I think I’m most similar to Stella and Mary [McCartney],” speaking of all the Beatles children. “I really relate to the way they’ve dealt with their circumstances — they’re like big sisters to me."
In 2009, Dhani and his mother Olivia, 76, were also supported by former Beatles member Paul, 82, as George was honored with a star at The Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. Eric Idol, Paul McCartney, Olivia Harrison, Tom Hanks and Dhani at the ceremony honoring the late George Harrison with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009.
Dhani studied physics in college and worked as an aerodynamicist before he eventually decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps of pursuing a career in music in 2001. “He taught me how to make records from an early age,” he told the Daily Mail. “I grew up in a recording studio.”
Source: Escher Walcott/people.com
Raymond Schillinger of You Can’t Unhear This looked back at the history of “Here Comes the Sun”, a seminal song by The Beatles that was both perfect and unusual in so many different ways.
Here Comes The Sun has become one of the most popular and treasured Beatles songs, a gateway into their music for many new fans. This 3-minute gem of unforgettable songwriting is also packed with intriguing anomalies, production quirks and even a mystery.
The song was written entirely by George Harrison in 1969, rather than John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Harrison, who wasn’t yet known for his incredible song writing skills, took the reins that summer, both musically and lyrically, by adding new and innovative instruments like the Moog synthesizer, running his guitar through a rotating Leslie speaker made for keyboards, and adding vari-speed pitch control to the final song.
With just days to go before the album was set to be mixed, George felt that his song needed one final ingredient: the fabulous and otherworldly sounds created by a new electronic instrument called the Moog.…With all of the pieces finally in place on the packed 8-track tape, the beautifully layered recording of Here Comes the Sun was finally ready to be mixed…where of course the anomalies continued… This intentional adjustment, often called vari-speed, was occasionally used by The Beatles to lend a special texture to their studio recordings.
Source: MSN
John Lennon and Yoko Ono visited "one of the best palm readers in Greece," where they received a grim warning – that the Beatle would be killed on an island.
The claim was made by their close friend Elliot Mintz. The former Los Angeles radio and TV announcer, who met the couple in the early ‘70s, has written a new memoir, "We All Shine On: John, Yoko, & Me," with the blessing of their son, Sean Lennon.
"The palm reader was very emphatic about the fact that John would be killed on an island," Mintz told Fox News Digital. "When I think of islands, I think of the obvious places surrounded by water, and I was raised in New York. I just never thought of it as an island."
"But Yoko had relationships with psychics, tarot readers, astrologers, and others in what I called the ‘paranormal world,’" he shared. "She consulted with these people for years on an almost daily basis… There were very few decisions Yoko made without first getting clearance or guidance from these people."
Despite the reader’s concerning message, the couple didn’t seem fazed. In his book, Mintz noted how Lennon felt he didn’t need bodyguards because "I’m just a rock ‘n’ roll singer."
"All [my] life, I’ve had guys around me who were supposed to be protecting me," said Lennon, as quoted in Mintz’s book. "When [the Beatles] toured, there were hundreds of police around us. But if they want to get to you, they’re gonna get you. They could get you in Disneyland. Look at all the people that Kennedy had around him. I don’t need bodyguards. I don’t want them… Even the thought of it makes me cringe."
Source: Stephanie Nolasco/foxnews.com
The legendary recording console used on The Beatles' Abbey Road is going up for sale on gear marketplace Reverb.
Custom-built for Abbey Road Studios (then known as EMI Studios) in 1968, the EMI TG 12345 MK1 was installed in Abbey Road's Studio 2 control room and used by George Martin and Geoff Emerick to record The Beatles' final album the following year, before being utilized on solo projects from all four members of the band, including John Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Paul McCartney's McCartney.
The console was so beloved by the Fab Four that Harrison is said to have asked EMI if he could buy his own, a request that was denied out of fear that the console would be replicated and sold to competitors.
A team of engineers and technicians assembled by MJQ Ltd, who will be selling the console through their Reverb store, has spent four years restoring the desk under the watchful eye of former EMI engineer and Beatles collaborator Brian Gibson. The console now contains 70% of its original parts, with the remainder made up of painstakingly recreated replacements that have been custom-built to mirror the sound of the original unit, using the same materials and processes as the original components.
Source: Matt Mullen/musicradar.com
The Beatles changed the face of music within a decade of time. But even generations later, their influence and legacy continues to grow, and one way to prove that is through their streaming numbers.
At the time of this writing, the Beatles are ranked the 103rd most listened to artist in the world on Spotify and have over 36 million monthly listeners. Compared to contemporary artists — Taylor Swift for example, who was the single most listened to artist on Spotify in 2023 – these may not seem like very impressive numbers. But when one considers that the Beatles predated the streaming era by several decades and broke up over 50 ago, it's impossible to dismiss this feat.
But what if we break it down even further? Which Beatles songs have been streamed the most? Below, we're counting down the 20 most-streamed Fab Four songs. The below data concerns Spotify numbers specifically, the most popular music streaming service globally, and is of course, subject fo fluctuations. But at of the time of this writing (Oct. 18, 2024), here's where things stand.
20. "All You Need Is Love"
From: 1967 Single
Number of Streams: 207,147,492
Even people who know very little about the Beatles and their catalog are familiar with the sing-along chorus of "All You Need Is Love," an anthem of the flower power movement that frankly is just as relevant today as it was in 1967.
19. "Strawberry Fields Forever"
From: 1967 Single
Number of Streams: 217,356,703
When "Strawberry Fields" was first released in 1967, many were unsure exactly what to make of it — "utterly bizarre, creative, strange and different," as Pete Townshend put it. Yet, decades later, it's become almost synonymous with John Lennon's whimsical style of songwriting and serves as the namesake of a memorial in New York City's Central park, located steps from where the Beatle was murdered.
18. "And I Love Her"
From: A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Number of Streams: 224,348,905
Interestingly, the Beatles only played "And I Love Her" once outside of the studio for a BBC radio program. Nevertheless, the song got a spotlight in the 1964 film A Hard Day's Night, propelled by that lovely acoustic guitar riff from George Harrison.
Source: Allison Rapp/ultimateclassicrock.com
So many celebrities have appeared on "The Simpsons," that 36 seasons later, the cameos have become a crutch for the show. Worse, the guests have gone from voicing characters (take Dustin Hoffman's uncredited appearance in "Lisa's Substitute") to just appearing as themselves.
The cracks were already showing in the show's golden age. Season 7's "Lisa The Vegetarian" features Paul and Linda McCartney showing up at the end to reassure Lisa she's made the correct choice of vegetarianism. The McCartneys are depicted as friends of fellow vegetarian Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (Hank Azaria), who tend to his secret garden on the roof of the Kwik-E-Mart. After Lisa and the meat-loving Homer reconcile at the end, McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" closes the episode out.
Paul McCartney was the last surviving Beatle to cameo on "The Simpsons" (Ringo Starr beat him to the punch in season 2's "Brush with Greatness", followed by the late George Harrison in season 5's "Homer's Barbershop Quartet"), and he's far from the most loathsome Englishman to appear on the show (that'd be former Prime Minister Tony Blair). But this cameo came with a demand that had series-long ramifications: Mr. and Mrs. McCartney wanted Lisa to remain a vegetarian. Not just at the end of the episode, no, but for the entirety of the series henceforth.
Source: Slash Film
