Beatles News
More than 60 years after Pete Best was ejected from The Beatles and replaced by Ringo Starr, reasons for the ouster continue to be a matter of conjecture.
He wasn’t a good enough drummer. His bandmates were jealous of his good looks stealing female fans’ attention.
His quiet, reserved personality didn’t mesh with the more outgoing, playful personalities of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. It was strictly a business decision.
Pete Best, original drummer for The Beatles, will present a slideshow and lecture at the Valley Dale Ballroom on Sunday, followed by a performance with his band.
Over the next six decades, the list of reasons snowballed. Subsequent interviews with The Beatles revealed what some saw as animus toward Best, particularly in the case of Lennon.
“The reason he got in the group in the first place was because the only way we could get to Hamburg, (Germany), we had to have a drummer,” Lennon said in an interview posted on Beatles historian David Bedford’s website.
McCartney was a bit kinder, saying that Best was a “really good drummer” who merely “wasn’t quite like the rest of us.”
Source: dispatch.com
As more source material comes out about the Beatles, fans are discovering much more about The Beatle they thought they had figured out: George Harrison. In past years Harrison had always been presented as the “Quiet Beatle.” However, as his legend lives on this persona has been shed as folks learn that the artist pulled no punches when it came to speaking his mind.
This information was made public in a 1992 recording session video where viewers can watch Harrison openly criticize Neil Young’s guitar playing. “I’m not a Neil Young fan, personally” Harrison states, “[Young’s playing] it is good for a laugh.”
Harrison goes on to bag Young’s style in the video. He also notes where this musical disagreement all originated—Bob Dylan’s ’30th Anniversary Concert’ at Madison Square Garden in 1992. The concert took place shortly before the release of Harrison’s 1992 recording session.
The concert included a star-studded lineup: Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Harrison, and Young. Despite the talent on stage, Harrison believed that Young did the show a grave disservice with his lead playing. In the middle of Young’s solo Harrison looked at Clapton and said “What’s going on?” Clapton’s simple response-“don’t look at me, it’s not me.”
Source: Peter Burditt/americansongwriter.com
The Beatles versus the Rolling Stones is a popular debate. It really strikes a cord with rock fans. Everyone has their pick and they stick by it, vehemently. Though the bands don’t necessarily fuel that fire these days, there was a time when their friendly rivalry was real.
Their intertwining histories as a band started in the early ’60s, when John Lennon and Paul McCartney penned a single for the Stones.
In 1963, Lennon and McCartney happened to run into the Stones’ manager, Andrew Loog Oldham. At the time, the Beatles were steadily rising in the rock ranks and the Stones’ were still trying to find their footing.
“Oldham had almost literally bumped into Lennon and McCartney as they stepped out of a cab,” Bill Janovitz wrote in Rocks Off: 50 Tracks that Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones. “He invited them to the studio where the Stones were rehearsing…The two finished off what had been a McCartney sketch of an idea, handing it the Stones for their single.”
The song in question was “I Wanna Be Your Man.” Though the Beatles would go on to release a version of the up-tempo tune themselves, the Stones were the first to put it out. It helped to not only establish the band in England, but also began to set them apart from their fellow mop tops.
Source: Alex Hopper/americansongwriter.com
Hey, you’ve got to hide your tapes away.
For a time in the mid-2000s, The Mirage housed the most famous music catalog in history and hardly anyone knew.
The Beatles’ master tapes were reportedly kept in tightly guarded vault backstage at Love Theater, during the early days of “Love” at the hotel. Word of the history of these tapes made the rounds as the show closed July 7, and the hotel itself shut down July 17. Cirque PR rep Ann Paladie has not verified the history of the tapes related to the production.
But sources familiar with the music’s chain of possession report the masters were delivered from Abbey Road studios as theater construction was being completed in late 2005 through early 2006. The tapes were then sent back to England.
In keeping with the integrity of The Beatles’ catalog, the sound studio at Love Theater was created to the specifications of Abbey Road Studios. The annex served as the show’s audio nerve center throughout its run.
“Love” opened in June 2006, with The Beatles’ original producer George Martin leading the original sound editing. His son Giles Martin oversaw the remixing of the music for the live show, working from the original tapes in Las Vegas.
Just entering the “Love” studio required clearing multiple levels of security, requiring several hand scans and heavy security personnel inside the entire venue.
Giles Martin returned for a refresh of the music leading to the 10th anniversary in July 2016. Pieces of the original score were removed and added. By that time, Martin worked from digital copies and not the tapes themselves.
Source: John Katsilometes/spokesman.com
If you don’t particularly like George Harrison’s music, chances are you’ve missed out on some of his best works. Not only was his solo career quite lucrative, but his songwriting contributions to The Beatles were similarly well-put-together. Let’s take a look at five Beatles songs that George Harrison wrote that could very well change your mind if you don’t like his music!
1. “If I Needed Someone”
If you don’t like George Harrison, you’ve likely rarely heard some of his best songwriting contributions. “If I Needed Someone” is a great example of Harrison’s talent for simple yet effective melodies. This track from the 1965 album Rubber Soul is reminiscent of The Byrds with a unique folk-rock vibe.
2. “Taxman”
This track from the 1966 record Revolver is a bit sassy and also a little bit political. It challenged the British tax operation at the time, which wasn’t exactly in good taste, considering that Harrison was filthy rich. Still, it’s a simple yet beautifully composed song.
[See The Beatles’ Ringo Starr Live In 2024]
3. “It’s All Too Much”
This George Harrison-penned tune was featured in the 1968 movie Yellow Submarine and the subsequent soundtrack. It is a pure, unabashed, and notably English psychedelic wonder. Harrison packed so many different types of sounds, instruments, and effects into this song.
4. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com
The Fab Four might be a pervasive part of modern pop culture, but we’d bet you might not have heard these interesting facts about the Beatles. (Save for hardcore Beatlemaniacs, of course.) From their Liverpool roots to John Lennon’s uncanny connection to certain numbers, there is no shortage of real and fantastical lore surrounding the iconic pop-rock group.
In honor of the seven years, seven months, and 24 days the Beatles were actively together—there’s a bonus fact for free—we’ve rounded up seven of the most interesting tidbits about the band you probably didn’t know.
1. They almost copied the name of an American rock group
Before the Beatles were, well, the Beatles, the original quartet floated a number of possible band names—including cheeky stage names each member took for themselves. After then-bassist Stuart Sutcliffe left the group’s earliest incarnations, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison performed as The Quarrymen for a brief time.
Lennon, who was a big admirer of American rock and roller Buddy Holly, suggested they rename the band the Crickets. Of course, Holly and his band already performed under this stage name, prompting McCartney to shoot the idea down. The trio settled on the Silver Beetles instead and, eventually, just the Beatles.
Source: Melanie Davis/americansongwriter.com
Kevin Macdonald's documentary 'One to One: John & Yoko' will screen at the Venice Film Festival alongside Andrei Ujica's 'Things We Said
The Beatles are getting some attention at this year’s Venice Film Festival, which unveiled its 2024 lineup on Tuesday.
The legendary band, who dominated the music industry for an entire decade from 1960, has earned spots in the prestigious fest’s documentary section in different capacities. Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards’ doc One to One: John & Yoko focuses on the intense and public relationship between the two artists, while Things We Said Today from Romania’s Andrei Ujica, on the other hand, is a look at the band’s famous and first North American tour – a film that was supposed to be ready 10 years ago.
On John Lennon‘s official website, Macdonald’s feature documentary from Mercury Studios is described as “a moving look at the couple’s life upon their entry into a transformative 1970’s New York, exploring their musical, personal, artistic, social, and political world.” Macdonald himself said: “I wanted to make a film that surprises and delights even the most dedicated Lennon and Ono fans by focusing on one transformative period in their lives and telling the tale through their own words, images and music… Built around the beautiful 16mm film footage of the only full-length concert John gave after leaving the Beatles, I hope the film will introduce the audience to a more intimate version of John & Yoko – while also reflecting their politically radical and experimental sides.”
Source: Lily Ford/hollywoodreporter.com
John's 1973 solo album 'Mind Games' was re-released on Friday, July 12, 44 years after the Beatles legend's death.
John Lennon's son Sean Ono Lennon is reflecting on his father's legacy and the responsibility he feels to share John's music with the world.
The Beatles legend was shot and killed outside of his New York City residence, the Dakota, by Mark David Chapman on Dec. 8, 1980. He was 40 years old when he died and would have been 84 on his upcoming birthday — October 9.
Ahead of the milestone, Sean, 48, whose mother is Yoko Ono, spoke to The Sunday Times about his father and his music as he promoted the re-release of John's 1973 solo album Mind Games, which dropped on July 12.
Per the outlet, some of the new mixes of the tracks deliberately amplify John's voice, while others focus on certain instrumental elements.
“One thing that distinguishes my dad’s solo career is how personal his lyrics became," Sean — who was 5 when his father died — told the outlet. "It is like a diary, and it is my duty to bring attention to my father’s music. Not just my duty to him, but a duty to the world."
Source: Esme Mazzeo /people.com
Who were better, the Beatles or Rolling Stones? Tribute concert aims to settle the debate.
The debate between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has been going on ever since they first crossed paths on the charts 61 years ago.
The argument at the time, and one that still persists, was that the Beatles were a pop group and the Stones were a rock band: the boys next door vs. the bad boys of rock. So who’s better?
These two legendary bands will engage in an on-stage throwdown - a musical “showdown” if you will – at the Downey Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 pm. - courtesy of tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show.
Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the county's top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles' career. They face off against renowned Stones tribute band Satisfaction who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion.
Where did the idea for the show come from?
“Music fans never had a chance to see the Beatles and the Rolling Stones perform on the same marquee,” said Chris LeGrand, who plays “Mick Jagger” in the show.
“Now, music aficionados can watch this debate play out live on stage.”
The Downey show is part of a 125-stop tour of the U.S., Australia and Canada and has been touring since 2011. The production includes some of the more popular songs from the two rock pioneers and covers the scope of their musical careers, although the set list for Satisfaction usually includes Rolling Stones songs up to the 1980s.
Source: thedowneypatriot.com
The song arrived just a dozen years before the date promised in its forward-looking title. But thanks to the cleverness and talents of Paul McCartney and Wings, “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” seemed like a distant future that none of those who were living would still be around to see.
What is the song about? How did McCartney write it based on a single line? And how did he and the two remaining Wings members manage to pull together for such a dynamic song and album? Let’s look back, and then ahead (or maybe forward, and then back?) at “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five.” The story of Wings, the band that Paul McCartney formed not long after The Beatles collapsed, is one of stalled momentum and impressive resilience. Case in point: their 1973 album Band on the Run. It ended up a triumph, but only after a series of events that raised the degree of difficulty exponentially.
When first formed, Wings struggled to impress critics, but they were coming off a string of successful singles in 1972 and an album from earlier in ’73 (Red Rose Speedway) that contained their first U.S. No. 1 hit (“My Love”). But at the moment when there seemed to be no stopping them, disaster struck when two members of the band (Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell) bailed on the project right before recording was set to start in Lagos, Nigeria.
A series of mishaps befell the remaining three members of the group (McCartney, wife Linda, and Denny Laine) once they arrived in Nigeria, not least of which was having the working tapes of the songs stolen from McCartney by knife-wielding robbers. But the trio kept their focus, and they ended up with what’s regarded as their best album. “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” plays a big part in that as the evocative closing track.
Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com
