Beatles News
Ringo Starr has gone country after all these years.
At Ringo's Annual Peace & Love Birthday Celebration at Beverly Hills Garden Park, the Beatles legend revealed what inspired the genre shift. Starr credits T Bone Burnett, the Grammy-winning country icon, telling Fox News Digital, "I met him [when] Olivia Harrison was reading poems for George. There was about 100 of us there listening, and he was one of them, and I bumped into him [off and on] since the '70s.
"He said, ‘What are you doing? I said, ‘Oh, well I’m doing this, EPs [extended play albums, which have more tracks than a single, but less than a record]. I’m getting people to write a song, put some music on it."
Ringo Starr decided to produce a country album after a chance meeting with a fellow music icon.
Starr had some pop songs written but said Burnett's song was "absolutely one of the most beautiful country songs I ever heard. So, I thought, ‘I’m going to do a country EP.’"
But when he spoke to Burnett about doing more tracks, he revealed he actually had nine songs, so Ringo said, "I thought let’s make a real CD, so I’m back making a CD." In an interview earlier this year with Variety, Burnett had similar praise for Starr.
"He’s such a beautiful singer. Ringo was in a band with two of the best singers in rock ‘n’ roll history, so people never took him as seriously as a singer as they should," Burnett told the outlet.
Source: Elizabeth Stanton, Larry Fink/foxnews.com
No matter what the Beatles created, the world never seemed ready for what that was. You only knew that it would be different than anything before. Had you loved the band’s last album, you were also aware that the one about to hit record store shelves would be a departure, a moving-on from what already existed. The Beatles both challenged and rewarded listeners this way, which is among the best things about them.
That surprise factor existed from the start with a single like “Please Please Me,” and, of course, “She Loves You,” a song that feels as if you’re hearing it for the first time after you’ve heard it a thousand times. The albums startled as well: Please Please Me had the gumption to function as a cohesive statement and not merely a couple of hits fleshed out with filler, while sophomore outing With the Beatles was a rhythm and blues masterwork from the industrial cities of America via the ports—and the musical melting pot—of the Beatles’ Liverpool.
If you were around back then, you may have believed that the Beatles were about to settle in, and what they did going forward, for however long they managed to last, would be variations on that marvelous output to date. But this was not the Beatles way, and it was certainly not the way of A Hard Day’s Night, the album they released on July 10, 1964, and the best they ever made.
Source: Colin Fleming/thedailybeast.com
A week into their marriage in Gibraltar, Spain, John Lennon and Yoko Ono invited the press into their honeymoon suite at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam in March 1969. To drive home their opposition to the Vietnam War, Lennon and Ono vowed to stay in bed for an entire week. Their bed-in-for-peace drew attention and was replicated by the couple several months later in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Meaning Behind “You’re in My Heart' by Rod Stewart and the Famous Girl Who Inspired It
On May 26, 1969, Lennon and Ono followed up first bed-in-for-peace with another in room 1742—and adjoining rooms 1738, 1740, and 1744—at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. The gathering was also used as a live recording of Lennon’s debut solo single and protest song, “Give Peace a Chance.”
“Our talk is peace talk and our message is peace and we’re promoting a product called peace,” Lennon told the Montreal Gazette. “And we’ve been on a campaign for a few months and our product seems to be getting underway and we’re talking to anybody who’s interested in peace, which is most people.”
Source: Tina Benitez-Eves/americansongwriter.com
When he was Paul McCartney young, he was, of course, a part of The Beatles and at just 24 years of age sang "When I'm 64," which seems even more ironic when you consider the fact that he's now 82 (which is still impossible to believe).
Almost as unlikely to consider is the fact that he actually had a life before he met John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Well, in taking a look at Paul McCartney young, that's exactly what we're exploring, his earliest days as a child in Liverpool, becoming a teenager, meeting John Lennon and embracing history.
We hope you'll join us on this little magical mystery tour. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! What was Paul McCartney's childhood like?
James Paul McCartney was born on Jun 18, 1942 in Liverpool, England at Walton Hospital. His mother, Mary Patricia, was a nurse there, while his father Jim, was a salesman for A. Hannay and Co. cotton merchants until World War II, at which point he began working at Napier's Defense Engineering Works. Paul's older brother (by two years), Peter Michael McCartney, would be born on January 7, 1944.
Back in the 1920s, Paul's father was a pianist and a trumpet player, serving as the leader of Jim Mac's Jazz Band, so Paul came by his musical talent honestly.
Mike and Paul when they were very young. The future Sir Paul looks like he's on the verge of tears, wah-wah-wah! (later translated to "Yeah, yeah, yeah!")
Source: Ed Gross/yahoo.com
Producers of the Beatles' Love stage show thanked fans for 18 years of success after the curtain came down for the final time in Las Vegas Sunday night.
Originally conceived by George Harrison in 2000, the concept was developed in association with contemporary circus troupe Cirque du Soleil. It premiered at the Mirage in Las Vegas in 2006, with input from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono.
The show was described as “a multi-sensory journey” and a“theatre-in-the-round technological and psychedelic spectacle.” Its Mirage residency was interrupted by the pandemic but reopened in August 2021.
Beatles’ ‘Love’ Show Was Seen by Nearly 12 Million People
“The Beatles’ Love has taken its last bow,” Cirque du Soleil said in a statement. “After bringing together more than 11.8 million fans from around the world, this… masterpiece will forever be celebrated as one of the most exhilarating and colorful performances in Cirque’s history.”
Giles Martin, who eventually used 120 pieces of Beatles music for the soundtrack, reflected in 2017: “Love was a project where I constantly thought I was going to get fired… This was such a ridiculously stupid idea that anyone would let George Martin's son come into Abbey Road, touch the untouched tapes of the Beatles and chop them up to create a show in Vegas… pretty deplorable.”
Source: Martin Kielty/ultimateclassicrock.com
If there was one particular year in which the Beatles' global impact could no longer be denied, it may have been 1964.
It was during this year that the Fab Four accomplished a plethora of feats that took them from darlings of Liverpool to international superstars. In February, they made their first pilgrimage to America, where they were greeted by hoards of adoring fans. With their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the deal was sealed — the world was positively obsessed with the band and Beatlemania entered full swing.
"We didn't think we were going to make it at all. It was only Brian telling us we were gonna make it. Brian Epstein our manager, and George Harrison," John Lennon told Playboy in a group interview the band did with the magazine in October of that year. "The thing is, in America it just seemed ridiculous. ... I mean, the idea of having a hit record over there. It was just, you know, something you could never do. That's what I thought anyhow. But then I realized that it's just the same as here, that kids everywhere all go for the same stuff."
And that was really just the beginning. During the course of 1964, the Beatles' only real competition for the top of both the American and British charts was more or less themselves. Whole books could be written about the year the band had, but below, we've compiled 27 of the most interesting highlights.
Source: Allison Rapp/ultimateclassicrock.com
The Beatles are perhaps the most beloved and respected musical group of all time. While they may be adored by seemingly everyone–especially those in the music industry–their list of awards isn’t quite as impressive as some more contemporary stars. In a few months, the band may earn another shot at adding to their trophy shelf, if not several.
When the nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards are called out later this year, The Beatles could become nominees once again. The group has one new single eligible for contention, and it could easily snag at least one nod, if not quite a few.
In November 2023, The Beatles returned with “Now and Then,” their first new single in decades. The tune was largely written and partially recorded while all four members were still alive, but for many years, it was considered unusable due to poor recording quality. Artificial intelligence helped Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr finish the title, and it went on to become a big hit on charts all around the world.
Grammy voters love The Beatles, and they take every opportunity to reward them and the impact they’ve had on the world. For years, those picking who wins the awards have had to settle for honoring projects connected to the group, but not the musicians themselves. Now, they have a shot to put the Fab Four back on a pedestal, and they may take it.
“Now and Then” could bring The Beatles back to the Grammys for the first time in more than a quarter-century. The band last won awards in 1997 for their single “Free as a Bird,” which collected Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and Best Music Video, Short Form. That year, they also took home Best Music Video, Long Form for The Beatles Anthology.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
Ringo Starr is reviving his Peace & Love event for his 84th birthday today, and this year, it’s going into space.
On the 7th July each year since 2008, the Beatles drummer has invited the world to think, say or post the words “peace and love” at noon to complete his birthday wish of a wave of peace and love across the planet.
This year, the main event will be celebrated in Los Angeles, with musical tributes throughout the day from the likes of Diana Warren, Asa & Roy Orbison, Ben Harper, Ben Dickey, Steve Dudas and more.
Peace & Love events will also be taking place across the globe, including in Australia, New York, Italy, Estonia, Mexico and Spain. There will also be two events here in the UK with one in Liverpool and another in the Abbey Road Institute in London.
This year is a special one too because NASA will be helping spread the message beyond the atmosphere and into the universe!
Speaking in a video to his fans, Ringo said, “OK, Peace and love, here we go again!
“Thanks for joining me on my birthday. I am so grateful to you all for helping me promote Peace & Love. I want to give special thanks to all the Peace & Love Ambassadors – we are in 34 countries! Thanks for doing it – and I gotta thank all the fans, peace & love – just join me in your mind, or on the bus or wherever you are on the 7th of the 7th just go Peace & Love at Noon your local time.”
Source: Virgin Radio
Sir Paul McCartney has wished his long-standing friend and former bandmate Sir Ringo Starr a “fabulous day” on his 84th birthday.
The former Beatle, 82, shared a photo to Instagram of the pair laughing together to mark the occasion on Sunday, which also marks his late father’s birthday.
It comes ahead of Sir Ringo, whose real name is Richard Starkey, hosting his annual “Peace and Love” birthday celebrations in Los Angeles.
Alongside the photo, Sir Paul said: “Happy birthday to Ringo and to my Dad!
“Hope Sir Richard Starkey has a fabulous day.”
US actress and wife of Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, also offered birthday wishes, writing: “Happy birthday, Ringo and happy heavenly birthday, Mr McCartney!”
Sir Ringo is set to welcome a host of famous faces including Eagles former member Joe Walsh, comedian and actor Fred Armisen and actor Ed Begley Jr to his annual birthday event which promotes peace and love.
The former Beatles drummer has collaborated with Nasa who will post the message on their social media pages to help amplify the message across the planet.
Musicians will also celebrate Sir Ringo’s music with tribute performances expected from Ben Harper, Gabe Witcher, Willie Watson, Greg Leisz, Don Was, Ben Dickey and Gregg Bissonette with Steve Dudas.
Source:largsandmillportnews.com
I first saw A Hard Day’s Night at a film festival over 20 years ago, at the insistence of my mum. By then, it was already decades old, but I remember being enthralled by its high-spirited energy.
Still fab after 60 years: how The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night made pop cinema history
Still fab after 60 years: how The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night made pop cinema history
A Beatles fan, mum had introduced me to the band’s records in my childhood. At home, we listened to Please Please Me, the band’s 1963 single, and the Rubber Soul album from 1965, which I loved.
Television regularly showed old black-and-white scenes of Beatlemania that, to a ten-year-old in the neon-lit 1980s, seemed like ancient history. But then, I’d never seen a full-length Beatles film. I had no idea what I was in for.
When the lights went down at Dunedin’s Regent Theatre, the opening chord of the film’s title song announced its intentions: an explosion of youthful vitality, rhythmic visuals, comical high jinks and the electrifying thrill of Beatlemania in 1964.
This time, it didn’t seem ancient at all.
Source: hindustantimes.com
