Seger revs up Valley fans with 'old time rock 'n' roll'

It had been more than a decade since Bob Seger passed through the Valley, and a packed-to-the-rafters US Airways Center crowd Tuesday night was more than ready to hear the Detroit rocker’s soulful vocals and the songs that made up the soundtrack of their youth. ''It took them a long time to talk (Seger) into touring again,'' said Frank Unger, 48, of Chandler. But I'm sure glad they did.'' Dressed in the blue-collar uniform of a T-shirt and jeans, Seger kicked off the two-and-a-half hour show with ''Roll Me Away,'' bouncing along with the music and pumping his fists at the crowd, triumphant after a long hiatus, and looking none the worse for wear at 61 years old. more

Desert Island and The Beatles

NICK DERISO: Any conversation about the Beatles inevitably leads to one place: The Desert Island Disc. (Well, actually, it passes through Which One Is Your Favorite — somebody else can deal with that one — but it ends up, inevitably, with this eternal question.) Too often, if you ask me, the answer is 1967's Sgt. Pepper's, which to my mind is too much of a period piece (and doesn't have any strong work from George); or the more obvious Abbey Road, which (as good as it is) is too Paul-heavy and is just too darn ubiquitous. more

BUY: Revolver [UK]

Heather Mills Hopes To Keep Her Leg On While Dancing In Reality Show

Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills is praying her prosthetic leg stays attached when she struts her stuff on reality TV show Dancing With The Stars - because she doesn't want audience members to have a heart attack. The one-legged model-turned-activist is an odd choice to hit the dance floor for the upcoming series, but she hopes to prove that even amputees can waltz and tango like a professional. She'll join dancing champ Jonathan Roberts on the new series of the show, which debuts next month, and she's determined to make him proud and keep her false leg firmly strapped in place. more

Sony/ATV names CEO

Martin Bandier was named chairman and chief executive of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a venture partly owned by Michael Jackson that controls copyrights for songs by artists such as the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, Sony Corp. of America said Tuesday. Bandier, 65, stepped down from his post as chairman and joint chief executive of EMI Music Publishing on Tuesday, but will stay on in a non-executive role until the end of the month and join Sony/ATV effective April 1more

Tributes pour in for rock legend Billy Thorpe

Friends and fans have been paying tribute to Australian rock legend, Billy Thorpe, who died suddenly overnight at the age of 60. Thorpe and his band, The Aztecs, pioneered high-voltage rock'n'roll, and were at one stage bigger here in Australia than The Beatles. Thorpe was brought into St Vincents Hospital in the early hours of this morning via ambulance. He had suffered a heart attack and he passed away in the Emergency Department. more

John Lennon artwork displayed at La Encantada

A rare art exhibit featuring the works of a late Beatle will be in Tucson for a few days. What organizers describe as a major exhibition of artwork by the late John Lennon is scheduled for March 16 to 18 at La Encantada shopping plaza. The exhibit is said to feature more than 120 serigraphs, signed lithographs and song lyrics including the handwritten lyrics to ''Imagine.'' Also displayed will be a complete portfolio of “Bag One” lithographs, a 15-print series. Each of these lithographs is individually hand-signed by Lennon and are also on exhibit. more

Another Side Of Dylan On Display In Film Outtakes

Through catching him trying on loud, skinny ties, playing nice with journalists or waving at fans, a new version of D.A. Pennebaker's famed Bob Dylan documentary "Don't Look Back" paints the singer as a warmer, funnier icon in the making. While packaged with new commentaries from Pennebaker and road manager Bob Neuwirth, as well as a special paperback book and a clever flip-book, the jewels in the new "Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back 1965 Tour Deluxe Edition" are found in the batch of unused footage, such as uncut performances of such classics as "Don't Think Twice" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." more

Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music, A New World Record, On the Third Day

What can one say about the much-maligned, oft-ignored band Electric Light Orchestra? Immensely popular in the '70's yet also immensely disowned by that era's rock fans ever since. Almost no one steps up to the plate when it comes to praising the band, its heavily synthesized sound long eclipsed by house-music and dance pop which took ELO's synth ideas and expanded on them and the classical-music-mixed-with-rock idea of the band's early years has been lost on most fans as well. It seems to remind rock fans of the excesses of prog and stuffy classical snobs shudder at the thought of screaming guitar and commercial songs. In concept, though, founders Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's idea of taking the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus" and expanding it seemed to be a logical place for musically ambitious popsters to explore. more

Beatlemania forever

When it comes to Al Mason's Beatles collection, there's no way he'll ever let it be. The 55-year-old former store manager has 417 different albums stashed in his West Valley "Beatles Bunker," and it's nowhere near complete. For example, there's still that bootleg album from a concert in Belgium and "The Beatles Christmas Album," which he has on CD but not on vinyl. "There's 1,400 albums out there," Mason said. "I won't live to collect them all." more

'Meet The Beatles' all over again

Pat DiNizio was brushing his teeth, preparing for another day in the third grade. On his transistor radio, a WABC disc jockey mocked the name of the band whose new record he was about to play. After hearing the first few chords of "I Want to Hold Your Hand," a stunned DiNizio dropped his toothbrush into the sink. "I felt as if I was hearing some strange new music from the moon," he said. After school that day, he made his father drive through a snowstorm to find that record. more

No "Lady" Title For Heather Mills

There's one woman who no longer wants to be known as a "lady." It has been said Lady Heather Mills McCartney will drop her title when she appears on U.S. television. The former model - who has been using her maiden name since splitting from husband Sir Paul McCartney - shocked ABC bosses by refusing to be called Lady Heather. Heather also insisted she would not use The Beatles' legend's surname when she signed to up appear in "Dancing With The Stars." A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper, "It was a bombshell for ABC. Getting a Lady who was married to a Beatle was almost like signing royalty to them. They are gutted they had to drop the title." more

Beatlemania hits Symphony Hall

Their numbers are legion. Bearing such monikers as Rain, 1964, Help, Yellow Matter Custard and Liverpool, Beatles sound-alike bands pack concert halls with fans hungry for a live performance by a group that called it quits 37 years ago. Nearly 2,100 Beatles-starved fans turned out at Symphony Hall Saturday night to see The Fab Four: Ron McNeil (John Lennon), Frank Mendonca (Paul McCartney), Gavin Pring (George Harrison) and Jim Martin (Ringo Starr). more

MILLS DANCING APPEARANCE INFURIATES THE DISABLED

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY's estranged wife HEATHER MILLS' forthcoming appearance on US TV show DANCING WITH THE STARS has angered a disabled group in her native Britain, who claim her ability to dance means she is able-bodied. Mills wears prosthetic limb after losing her left leg below the knee following a 1993 road accident in London. After the charity campaigner confirmed she would be a contestant on the show next month (MAR07), the Federation Of Disabled People claim she has no right to use the blue disabled badge on her Mercedes car, which gives users priority parking in public places and in car parks. The Federation's spokesperson KATHY GORDON says, "Clearly she has mobility so she should refrain from using the badge. It's not fair on other disable people."


SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY - MILLS DANCING APPEARANCE INFURIATES THE DISABLED

Walrus' Classic Rock Album, "Uncovered," Now Indexed on Pandora.com

Uncovered, the debut CD by The Walrus, one of the Pacific Northwest's favorite classic rock bands, has been indexed by Pandora.com, an online streaming radio station powered by the Music Genome Project. Music lovers can now create a customized music stream, or personal radio station, on Pandora's music discovery service to hear songs by The Walrus (http://301url.com/pandora-walrus) and by bands that sound like The Walrus. "Uncovered" is the Walrus' album of 11 original songs in the classic rock style. The CD (http://www.tusktusk.com/uncovered/) features rock, pop and folk vocal arrangements and harmonies reminiscent of the Beatles, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and other classic rock bands from the 1960s and 1970s. The songs on the CD include "The Garden," inspired by the 1992 New Age novel, "Ishmael," and employing CSN&Y-style harmonies; the deliciously vampy "Tongue in Cheek;" and the psychedelic-sounding "Gaia."

"Pandora is a great way for people to easily find new music in the style and genre that they like, and we are honored to have the Walrus' musical DNA analyzed and indexed by Pandora," said Chuck Dingée, a Walrus vocalist and guitarist who has played Beatles-style classic rock since he saw the Beatles in Chicago in 1966. Pandora uses the Music Genome Project, which analyzes chord structures, instrumentation and other aspects of music, to catalogue songs according to musical DNA. Pandora's music discovery service helps listeners enjoy music they already know and -- based on the "DNA" analysis of preferred music choices -- discover new music that they are likely to equally enjoy. Users simply identify a favorite song or musical artist, and Pandora launches a streaming radio station of music sharing common DNA.

Pandora offers both a free, ad-supported service and a paid subscription service. Both services allow users to create up to 100 personal radio stations. Dingee notes that Pandora.com has categorized his "Starcharter" with music by Barenaked Ladies and Tim Reid. Entertainment News NW and other publications have already taken note of the immediately recognizable rock 'n' roll tunes on the Walrus CD, even though they are all original songs. "The songwriting is solid. … Clean, in-tune harmonies combine here with catchy melodies, a solid rhythmic base and some tasteful lead work to produce a collection of tunes with a familiar feel," Entertainment News NW's Roger Mills said. Two songs on "Uncovered" are directly inspired by the Beatles, the Walrus' favorite band to cover. "Abbey Road" describes the ups and downs of rock stardom, and "Hold Your Hand" is a 92-second dance number with crisp harmonies.

"We'd like to think that many of the songs on our new CD, and these in particular, share abundant musical DNA with the Beatles," Dingee said. Of the 11 new songs on "Uncovered," seven were written by vocalist/guitarist Joe Young, a prolific songwriter who has played in numerous bands in the Midwest and the Northwest. Two songs were written by lead vocalist and keyboardist Jamie Shea, who has lived and gigged from Los Angeles to Seattle to Vancouver, BC., and two were written by Dingée who has entertained audiences from Florida to Philadelphia and Chicago to the Pacific Northwest. Drummer Michael O'Neal and bass guitarist Walt Burkett provide the backbeat and also sing on the new CD. In addition to being catalogued on www.Pandora.com, the Walrus' new classic rock CD is available for purchase on iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/); CDBaby (http://www.CDBaby.com/cd/walrus); the Independent Artists Company; iSound.com; Bitmunk, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon.com and at many music stores in the Pacific Northwest.

About the Walrus and "Uncovered:"
For the last 11 years, the Walrus' five seasoned musicians have energized audiences of all ages with rich vocal harmonies and sizzling musical arrangements on classic rock cover tunes. Now these Rockin' Sea Mammals are delighting rock 'n' roll fans with 11 new classic rock songs on their debut CD, appropriately titled "Uncovered." The music on "Uncovered" conveys an ageless popularity with electric, acoustic and pedal-steel guitar licks and both male and female lead vocals. Each of the 11 new classic rock songs is so different that the album has been likened to a "Greatest Hits" collection.

For more information about the Walrus and the CD of original classic rock music, go to www.tusktusk.com/uncovered or www.MySpace.com/iwalrus.
Walrus' Classic Rock Album, "Uncovered," Now Indexed on Pandora.com

Yoko Ono says, like Lennon, artists are still demonstrating for peace

Yoko Ono does not see many parallels between today's celebrity war protesters and her late husband John Lennon's activism against the Vietnam War - but says that is because the times today are so different. "I think there are many people who want world peace and want to address it by peaceful means," Ono told The Associated Press in a recent interview. I think that they are speaking out in different ways, it is not the time where you can just do a press conference about it," she said. They are doing it through songs, doing it through charities." Lennon's protests against the war more than 30 years ago earned him the scrutiny of the US government, detailed in the 2006 film The US vs John Lennon, released in the US on DVD this month. more

Beatles fans sing tribute for Harrison

Fans of the Beatles are gathering outside the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood to sing a tribute to George Harrison who would have turned 64 today. Members of the peace activist group Alliance for Survival plan to sing the song, "Will you still need me when I'm 64?" to mark the occasion. Fans are invited to bring flowers and candles and to perform songs, poetry and spoken word tributes. The event will start at noon and a cake-cutting ceremony will take place at 12:30 p-m. George Harrison died in 2001 aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. ©2007 Associated Press

Beatles Fans Gather To Remember George Harrison

Fans of the Beatles are gathering outside the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood to sing a tribute to George Harrison who would have turned 64 Sunday. Members of the peace activist group Alliance for Survival plan to sing the song, "Will you still need me when I'm 64?" to mark the occasion. Fans are invited to bring flowers and candles and to perform songs, poetry and spoken word tributes. The event will start at noon and a cake-cutting ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. George Harrison died in 2001 aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. (c) CBS

An interview with the Who's Pete Townshend

Rock royalty doesn't come a-knockin' very often, which makes Monday's appearance of legendary '60s mod band the Who at the Long Beach Arena that much more special. The group, featuring original singer Roger Daltrey and original guitarist Pete Townshend, along with keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick, bassist Pino Palladino, Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey on drums and Townshend's brother Simon on rhythm guitar, is touring in support of the band's first new album in nearly 25 years, "Endless Wire." Unlike many classic artists whose new music fails to live up to their original heyday, "Endless Wire" has earned critical praise from publications ranging from Rolling Stone, Mojo and All Music Guide. more

Remembering George Harrison

Sunday (February 25th) would have been George Harrison's 64th birthday. Harrison, the first of the Beatles to embrace Eastern philosophies and culture, will also be remembered for his humanitarian efforts, such as his 1971 Concert For Bangladesh for famine relief. Harrison died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 58. Earlier this year, George's wife Olivia issued a deluxe remastered version of his 1973 Number One album Living In The Material World, and she is presently working on future reissues over the next few years. Olivia told us that George learned to balance his life through spirituality: "You know, he was a wild guy too. He was spiritual and he was living in the material world too. And whether he was bad or good or crabby or happy -- whatever he was, he always tried to do it with a consciousness that would keep him safe." more

Ono gives nod to completion of Lennon's track by living 'Beatles'

Washington, Feb. 24 (ANI): Sir John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, has given a green signal to the completion of an unfinished song of her husband by his 'The Beatles' bandmates. The song 'Now and Then' will be now be completed by Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who are the only living members of the group. Ono owns the rights to Lennon's solo material, and she says that she does not have any reservations over the track being finished by the other fellow band members. "It's up to them. But no, I'm not against it," Contactmusic quoted her as saying. McCartney and Starr had expressed their wish to include the track in their album 'The Beatles Anthology' back in 1995, but George Harrison vetoed the idea. (ANI)

Yoko Ono Speaks Of John Lennon's Protests

Japanese conceptual artist, who's art seems to be everything that she says, Yoko Ono has spoken about her late husband John Lennon's protests against the Vietnam War. She doesn't believe there are many parallels between the way she and Lennon protested against war and how it's done now, but only because the times they have-a changed. According to Canadian website Jam! she said in a recent interview ""I think there are many people who want world peace and want to address it by peaceful means." more

My part in the Beatles story

Ah, The Beatles, the greatest rock group of all time. Well, that's what many around the world believe. Now which came first, The Beatles or The Cavern Club? The answer is The Cavern Club and there is a Leeds link that was vital in the story of the former air raid shelter becoming the famous music venue it did. I'll let John Cook of Penrith Grove, Wortley, tell you how: "The Cavern Club may never had ever existed if it had not been for The White Eagles Jazz Band," insists a confident John. And he should know, he was a White Eagle. "We were playing at the Temple Restaurant in Liverpool instead of the Merseysippi Jazz Band in 1956 when we were approached at the interval and requested to visit a cellar in Matthew Street with jazz lover Alan Sytner, who thought it would make a wonderful jazz club. more

Sean Lennon Hitting The Road; Announces Dates

Musical prodigy Sean Lennon has announced a line-up of U.S. tour dates in support of his most recent full-length Friendly Fire. Check it out...more

TWO-HOUR LENNON MOVIE TO PREMIERE

A new two-hour movie edited from footage shot by JOHN LENNON and his widow YOKO ONO's first husband TONY COX in 1970 is to premiere in Maine next month (MAR07). 3 DAYS IN THE LIFE was filmed at various locations including the late BEATLE's country estate in England and at rehearsals. Cut down from 10 hours of original footage, 3 Days In The Life will be screened at the Patricia Baldwin Whipple Arts Center at the Berwick Academy in South Berwick on 6 March (07).

(c) JOHN LENNON - TWO-HOUR LENNON MOVIE TO PREMIERE

Classic Clapton

By November 1970 Eric Clapton had already lent his legendary guitar playing to albums by The Beatles, Stephen Stills, Delaney and Bonnie and the Plastic Ono Band. He also spent time as a member in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and the Yardbirds and helped form both the ground-breaking power trio Cream and the ’60s super-group Blind Faith. Months earlier he had recorded his self-titled solo debut. Even more astonishing is the fact that he had recorded such a great deal of music in little more than five years. During the late-1960s Clapton was not only a highly regarded guitarist, but he was becoming a distinguished vocalist and songwriter as well. more

Indian music festival dedicated to George Harrison

NEW DELHI: A five-day festival on Indian classical music and dance begins here on Friday to commemorate the 64th birth anniversary of music legend George Harrison, the youngest member of the Beatles. The festival, which will be organised and held at the Ravi Shankar Institute in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme, will see performances from veterans and amateurs alike in the field of Indian classical music. more

Yoko Ono Gives Remaining Beatles Permission To Finish John Lennon Track

Yoko Ono has granted permission for an unfinished track by her late husband John Lennon to be finished by his Beatles bandmates. The song, called Now And Then, will be completed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr after Ono - who owns the rights to Lennon's solo material - gave the project a cautious green light. She says, "It's up to them. But no, I'm not against it." McCartney and Starr previously tried to revive the track more than a decade ago for inclusion in The Beatles Anthology. However, George Harrison vetoed the idea. (c) Starplus

'Heather disability led to gig'

The executive producer of Dancing With The Stars says that Heather Mills was approached for the hit show because of her disability, not her headline-making divorce battle. "The only reason we booked [Heather] is because we thought it would be really interesting to have a disabled person on the show," the show's executive producer, Conrad Green, told the New York Daily News. During the last series of the US show, which is similar to the UK's Strictly Come Dancing, country music star Sara Evans dropped out amid reports that she was "in the middle of a nasty divorce", which Conrad described admitted was "disruptive" and "definitely wasn't a benefit [for the show]." more

Of shadows and limelight

Does musical talent run in the family, passing from parent to lucky offspring like a recessive trait, or are the progeny of great artists sentenced to a lifetime of struggling to assert identities apart from their family names? These questions have been swirling around in my head since last week, when a colleague loaned me “Friendly Fire,” the latest album by Sean Lennon, the son of Beatles legend John Lennon and his wife, musician and artist Yoko Ono. The melancholy album, written in the wake of Sean Lennon’s split with actress Bijou Phillips, features soft, soothing vocals, poignant lyrics and great acoustic guitar and keyboard accompaniment. It’s about pain, loss and reconciliation. more

Yoko Ono talks about Lennon documentary

Yoko Ono doesn't see many parallels between today's celebrity war protesters and her late husband John Lennon's activism against the Vietnam War - but says that's because the times today are so different. "I think there are many people who want world peace and want to address it by peaceful means," Ono told The Associated Press in a recent interview. I think that they are speaking out in different ways, it is not the time where you can just do a press conference about it," she said. "They are doing it through songs, doing it through charities." Lennon's protests against the war more than 30 years ago earned him the scrutiny of the U.S. government, detailed in the 2006 film "The U.S. vs. John Lennon," released on DVD this month. Ono, 74, told the AP the ex-Beatle's protests were "very effective in very many ways.

"He didn't think he was doing anything wrong, he was just giving some truth and justice," she said. Ono said she believes that kind of spirit remains among today's artists, and she hopes the film may spark even more.

"I think there might be some kind of inspiration from this, inspiration and encouragement for people who are really trying to make the world a peaceful place," she said. Ono also talked about her own release: a new album, "Yes, I'm a Witch," which she put out this year. She plans to perform songs from it at the upcoming South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

"Music is like life to me," she said. "I think indie music is the revolution of the day, and the future, and I'm part of it."

AP Wire

New Ringo Starr live album set for May

Ringo Starr will release a new live album on May 8th. The still-untitled set, which features Starr backed by his former studio band the Roundheads, will be the soundtrack to the 2005 Soundstage concert aired on PBS. The show, which was taped on June 24th, 2005 in the Chicago suburb of Waukegan, Illinois, features such Beatles classics as "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Act Naturally," "Octopus' Garden," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "Don't Pass Me By," and "Yellow Submarine." Also featured on the set are solo favorites including "Photograph," "It Don't Come Easy," "Back Off Boogaloo," "I'm The Greatest," and more recent material such as "Choose Love," "Give Me Back The Beat," and "Memphis In Your Mind." The album also features a cameo by Men At Work frontman and All Starr Band alumnus Colin Hay, who performs "Who Can It Be Now." more

Cirque du Soleil brings the Love

From the moment I was given a free pair of Cirque du Soleil tickets back in the mid 90's I've been a huge fan. It's impossible to not enjoy watching these modern day circuses that use humans instead of animals to wow us with a combination of dance with feats of strength, jugglers, and contortionists among the many thrills. When I heard there was a new Cirque du Soleil show inspired by and about The Beatles in Las Vegas, I've been counting the days until I could get to The Mirage and check out the show entitled ''Love''. more

Abbey Road Charity Auction

The legendary recording studios will be hosting an exhibition and auction of music memorabilia raising money for Cancer Research UK. The Sound & Vision 2007 event - which includes photographs of Pete Doherty, Johnny Borrell, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller, The Gallaghers and Paul McCartney amongst others - is taking place at 6.30pm on February 26. Other notable items being auctioned off for charity include Chris Martin's handwritted lyrics to 'Yellow', contact sheets for Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones, and a pinball machine from a Zuton's album cover. more

Stars to thrash it out at photo exhibition

Event: Gibson Through The Lens (Blink Gallery, London) Date: March 1st - March 27th 2007 A host of rock 'n' roll stars are to feature in a new photo exhibition celebrating Gibson guitars at the Blink Gallery in London. Gibson Through The Lens will depict the renowned guitars through the ages, with a number of world-famous music stars striking a pose with instruments. Keith Richards, John Lennon, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Les Paul, Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend and Slash will all play some part in the exhibition. And while it is the guitars and stars that are meant to be the centrepiece of the exhibition, many of the shots have been snapped by renowned photographers, including Jim Marshall, Ross Halfin, Baron Wolman and Neal Preston. more

Heather Mills set to go ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Here's a bet there won't be any Beatles songs on the next ''Dancing With the Stars.'' ABC announced Wednesday that Paul McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills, will be among the competitors. Mills will be the first contestant with an artificial limb to compete on the series, which returns for its fourth season March 19. She lost the leg in a motorcycle accident in 1993. Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, boxer Laila Ali, former basketball star Clyde Drexler and actor Vincent Pastore, who played gangster Salvatore ''Big Pussy'' Bonpensiero on ''The Sopranos,'' are also in the cast. more

LENNON FILM DROPPED

A TV movie boasting shocking revelations about the life of JOHN LENNON has been axed after his widow YOKO ONO reportedly withdrew her support. WORKING CLASS HERO listed the artist as Executive Consultant on the credits, but British newspaper The Sun claims she gave up on the project over content concerns. The documentary features previously unseen footage of the former BEATLE, as well as controversial interviews with first wife CYNTHIA LENNON and the singer's psychiatrist. A source tells the newspaper, "The film had been several months in the making but at the last minute Yoko withdrew her support." However, EMI claims the programme was ditched because it wasn't completed in time to coincide with a planned record release.


Contactmusic.com

Beatle Juice comes together for a cause in Portsmouth

Bill Faulkner is a hero to those involved with Sexual Assault Support Services. His efforts created a fundraiser six years ago that has drawn sold out crowds of all ages to The Music Hall to raise money for a cause deeply personal to him. The Hampton resident wants to try and prevent what happened to someone he loves from happening to anyone else. He asked his old friend Brad Delp, formerly of the band Boston, if his band BeatleJuice would play a benefit concert for the organization. more

Mills turning Macca and family into a cartoon!

Heather Mills is reportedly planning to get back at estranged hubby Sir Paul McCartney and his children by basing a new cartoon series called 'The McFartneys' on them. According to the Sunday Mirror, the cartoon will see Macca parodied as a Homer Simpson-like character who does nothing but smoke pot and fart the whole day. As for Macca's kids, well it seems that Mills is getting set to portray his son James as a son who hates his father and avoids him at all as much as possible. more

'YOKO' $$ FIEND 'FESSES UP

Yoko Ono's chauffeur-turned-extortionist 'fessed up in a Manhattan courtroom yesterday, admitting he tried to wring $2 million from his once-trusting employer by threatening to air a decade worth of "embarrassing" tapes and photographs of her and her son, Sean Lennon. In a plea deal that keeps him out of jail but could still get him deported to his native Turkey, Koral "Koko" Karsan admitted he shook Ono down in a December letter - promising that unless she paid up, he'd "shock the world" with intimate details from the Ono household. He had been secretly video- and audio-taping her throughout 10 years as her "driver, bodyguard, assistant, butler, nurse, handyman and more so your lover," he wrote. more

Heather Mills: Paul McCartney Led Two Kids To Consider Suicide

Sir Paul McCartney's divorce from estranged wife Heather Mills is really heating up and Heather Mills is willing launch a scathing, unproven claim against McCartney to win custody of Beatrice, the couple's 3-year-old daughter. Mills has threatened McCartney that if he doesn't surrender custody of Beatrice to her, she will claim that Paul's poor parenting has caused two of his children to consider suicide. A friend of Mills tells the NY Post: "Paul is asking for full custody of their child, Beatrice. Heather is furious. There is no way she would ever, ever agree to that." more

STUART SUTCLIFFE'S SISTER PAULINE SUTCLIFFE

Pauline Sutcliffe, sister of original Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe will join 102.9 WMGK's Andre Gardner as a guest on his award winning "Breakfast with the Beatles" program live from 102.9 WMGK's Classic Rock Art Show on Sunday, March 4th, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Shops at Liberty Place (first floor), 16 th & Chestnut Sts. in Philadelphia. Pauline will display some of her brother's original paintings as well as original artifacts from the band's Hamburg days. Admission to the show and broadcast are free and all works of art are available to purchase with a portion being donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. For all the details, check out www.rockartshow.com The "102.9 WMGK Classic Rock Art Show" features over 200 works of art, handwritten lyrics, album cover artwork, concert tour posters, gold records and photographs from a vast array of classic rock artists such as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Ron Wood, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, David Bowie, Robby Krieger , John Entwistle, Tony Bennett, Jon Anderson (Yes), U2 and dozens more. The "102.9 WMGK Classic Rock Art Show" will also feature rock photographers showcasing dozens of famous photographs from sessions including Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Bob Marley and more. The "102.9 WMGK Classic Rock Art Show" opens to the public on Friday, March 2 nd and concludes on Saturday, March 31st. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from Noon to 6:00 p.m. (except March 4th ).

Pauline Sutcliffe has amazing and compelling stories about the Beatles early days. She is also the executrix of her brother's estate. Pauline is also a noted psychotherapist and lecturer. She is the author of the books "The Beatles' Shadow (Stuart Sutcliffe and His Lonely Hearts Club)" and "Stuart: The Life and Art of Stuart Sutcliffe."

Beatlesnumber9.com

Beatlemania Lives on in Canada

The Royal Mail's first stamp issue of 2007 was to celebrate the 1960's music phenomenon, The Beatles. To acknowledge their international impact, Canada Post will be selling two United Kingdom products at select Post Offices in late February. Offering Britain's newest stamps in Canada will allow the memorabilia market to join in the excitement of stamp collecting. Designed by Michael Johnson, the Beatles set features six era-defining album sleeves, brought together on six stamps. The titles are: With The Beatles, Help!, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Let It Be and Abbey Road. The Beatles Stamp Set Presentation Pack includes a fully illustrated folder containing a set of all six self-adhesive stamps and the souvenir sheet. Also available will be The Beatles First Day Cover Set consisting of two first day cover envelopes, one for the set of six stamps and one for the souvenir sheet. Each product will sell for $14.99. more

Fab Four: Analog to Digital

The Fab Four's catalog long ago went the way of the 1 and the 0, but nothing could be less digital than the way the Beatles' music was recorded. Today, effects like delay are easily achieved with off-the-shelf equipment costing a few hundred dollars at most. At the legendary Abbey Road studio, where many of these effects were pioneered, armies of technicians used enormous rooms to literally bounce the sound off walls. Such analog feats make for a fascinating and timely tale in the hands of Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew, whose deeply researched and timely self-published book Recording the Beatles, shows with painstaking clarity how recording engineers not only captured the band on tape, but augmented its musical palette in ways still emulated around the world. more

Mills Devastated After Being Dumped By Animal Rights Group.

Mills Devastated After Being Dumped By Animal Rights Group.... Sir Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills is shocked by reports she has been dropped by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). Mills and McCartney have been animal welfare advocates for years and she was completely caught off guard by the news. She tells US entertainment show Extra, "I was just shocked. I thought, 'Oh, God, what's this?' She adds, "My girlfriend called me. That's how I first heard, and said, 'I'm really, really sorry to hear the bad news.'" According to media reports. Mills was allegedly dumped after McCartney's daughter Mary refused to shoot an ad campaign for the organisation unless they severed their ties with Mills. Mills says she's hurt and disturbed that Peta has not officially informed her of their decision adding, "I fell really, really sad about it. more

Postage stamps: Miniature artwork with mass appeal

LONDON: How do you sum up The Beatles on a square inch of sticky paper? That was the challenge facing Johnson Banks, the British graphic design team, after it was commissioned to design a set of postage stamps for the Royal Mail to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John Lennon's first meeting with Paul McCartney on July 6, 1957, at a school fete in their native Liverpool. "We tried virtually everything," said Michael Johnson, who led the project. "We explored the band's lyrics. We experimented with the band walking across the stamps, which ended up with them walking across Abbey Road." Finally they decided to create stamps in the shape of stacks of The Beatles' albums, like "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Abbey Road" and "Revolver." "Probably more than any other band, their album sleeves became iconic," explained Johnson. "The idea was to let the albums speak for themselves." more w/pictures

Mills plans cartoon about McCartneys?

Heather Mills is planning to make a cartoon series about estranged husband Paul McCartney and his family. According to a report in the Sunday Mirror, Heather will portray Macca as a Homer Simpson-style slob in the show - called The McFartneys. The former Beatle's children Stella, James and Mary will also appear, while Mills herself will be shown as a hard-working supermum. A source told the newspaper: "This shows the lengths Heather Mills will go to in her attempts to blacken Paul's name. She wants it to be a cross between The Simpsons and South Park and reckons it will get cult status. She'll clearly be sadly mistaken. "She's saying the series will expose everything that has gone on and goes on in the McCartney family, all under the guise of the cartoon characters. But most of it has been dreamed up and cast from her skewed imagination."

McCartney's estranged wife tells police about 'death threats'

Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather is seeking police help over alleged death threats, her spokesman said. The confirmation came as officers said the former model -- who has struggled against relentless bad press in Britain -- visited a police station near where she lives on the English south coast. "It was a pre-planned meeting for her to discuss a number of issues," said a spokesman for Sussex Police after the latest visit to police. The meeting did not relate to anything specific and she was not arrested," he said. Mills-McCartney, 38, and the former Beatles bassist, who have a three-year-old daughter, announced the end of their four-year marriage last May. But the divorce has turned into an acrimonious affair played out in the media, with leaked divorce papers in November claiming McCartney mistreated his second wife. more

Yoko Ono: More Than a Beatle's Widow

Being arguably the most controversial woman in rock history isn't easy. While best known as the widow of John Lennon — and, to many, the reason for The Beatles' breakup — Yoko Ono has always been, first and foremost, an artist. With her career now entering its sixth decade, her work sounds just as relevant now as it did in the '60s and '70s. As a girl in Tokyo, Ono was trained in classical piano and opera. After moving to New York City against the wishes of her parents in the early '50s, Ono became heavily involved in the flourishing avant-garde art scene, in the process befriending influential artists and musicians such as John Cage and La Monte Young. In the '60s, her abstract and bizarre artwork attracted the attention of former art student John Lennon, who would soon become her husband and frequent collaborator. Ono's first true solo record was 1970's Yoko more

It's the Phil Spector Show!

And now the latest would-be blockbuster from the people who brought you the O.J. Simpson Trial...A Los Angeles judge ruled Friday that television networks would be able to provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of Phil Spector's upcoming murder trial, despite misgivings that it might devolve into another "Trial of the Century." Although he was wary of the media circus surrounding the O.J. Simpson case, Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler decided to grant the access because he believed the public deserved to see the legal system at work and to disprove the notion that celebrities get special treatment. more

Dis-please Please Me

CLASSIC original photographs of The Beatles were lost forever after they were accidentally chucked in the trash. The iconic 1963 pictures — used on the cover of the Fab Four’s first official album Please Please Me — were stored in two boxes at an EMI base. But although they were marked Not Rubbish — Do Not Remove, a cleaner allegedly admitted binning them. Now EMI and Apple Corps bosses are suing the cleaner’s firm for £700,000, claiming they were negligent, failed to follow instructions, failed to take reasonable care and failed to properly train or supervise their employee. The photos — showing John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr leaning over a staircase at EMI’s office in Manchester Square, London — were also used on the covers of The Beatles EP and the 1973 compilation Red Album. more

Madonna Says She Wants To Be Like Gandhi and John Lennon

Pop music diva Madonna says she hopes to inspire others by following the examples set by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and John Lennon. The BBC reports that Madonna, 48, made the statement on US radio station Sirius - but added she wanted to "stay alive". "For me, the best thing in the world is to see something or hear something and go: 'Damn, I wish I did that. That's inspiring,'" she added, the BBC reports. more

Beatlemania Coming Back, or Was It Ever Gone?

Another week, another month (another year, another decade), and we're still talking about the Beatles. Last summer the focus was Cirque du Soleil's Beatles-themed Las Vegas show, "Love," followed by last fall's CD release of its mashed-up soundtrack. Last month Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs got tongues wagging when he played the band's "Lovely Rita" in his demonstration of the company's new iPhone -- seen as a groundbreaking moment due to the prolonged battle that climaxed last spring with Apple defeating a lawsuit filed by the Beatles' company, Apple Corps, over the overlapping usage of the fruit moniker. Last week came the news that both Apples finally have reached detente and will complain no more about violated trademarks. more

Music's Online Holdouts

When will digital music consumers finally be able to meet the Beatles? Sooner than later it seems: Anticipation is building that the group's storied recordings will be available for (legal) digital download, now that Apple Corps, which oversees the catalog, has settled litigation over its name with Steve Jobs' Apple. But while the Beatles have been the most prominent digital holdouts, they aren't the only ones. Even though the vast majority of well-known recording artists now sell their music online, you still can't buy a digital copy of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" or "Back In Black." more

Yoko, Lennon 'sacrificed a lot' for their love

Being in love with a BEATLE is hard as the whole world is against you, according to JOHN LENNON's widow YOKO ONO. The 73-year-old claims she sometimes regretted falling in love with Lennon, as the couple had to "sacrifice" so much to be together. Ono and Lennon first met when he attended an exhibition of hers at the Indica Gallery in London in 1966. The two went public with their relationship in 1968, with Lennon divorcing his then wife CYNTHIA LENNON so he and Ono could marry. During their honeymoon in 1969, the couple indulged in a famous "bed-in" to promote world peace. But Ono has now admitted life was tough as many fans blamed her for the BEATLES split in 1970. Speaking to Time Out New York of her relationship with Lennon, the artist said: "It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. But you know I sometimes regretted that I fell in love, because we sacrificed a lot for it." She added that she thought Lennon was "laughed at" for being in love with her and that she was "discredited as an artist".


(c) contactmusic

John Lennon Art Exhibit Returns To Fort Lauderdale

Fans of John Lennon will get a chance to view some of his artwork this working during a special exhibit in Fort Lauderdale. Legacy fine art & productions, in conjunction with Yoko Ono, are showcasing the artwork of the former Beatle legend in the exhibit's return to Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. "Come Together" is an opportunity for fans from all generations to see the truly artistic side of John Lennon. The exhibit will feature hand signed pieces, as well as limited edition prints. The message of peace, hope and love that Lennon conveyed in his music can still be seen in his artwork and is even more powerful and provocative on the 26th year of his untimely death. more

Yoko Ono's Former Driver Pleads Guilty

Yoko Ono's former driver, who was accused of trying to blackmail the widow of Beatle John Lennon for $2 million, pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Friday in Manhattan. The driver, Koral Karsan, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted grand larceny. He admits that he threatened to try to embarrass Ono unless she gave him more than $3,000. Karsan will now be moved from a city jail cell to federal immigration custody. He is in the country illegally and faces deportation.


(c) Yoko Ono's Former Driver Pleads Guilty - News

Why we still love it when the Beatles turn us on

Another week, another month (another year, another decade), and we’re still talking about the Beatles. Last summer the focus was Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles-themed Las Vegas show, “Love,” followed by last fall’s CD release of its mashed-up soundtrack. Last month Apple CEO Steve Jobs got tongues wagging when he played the band’s “Lovely Rita” in his demonstration of the company’s new iPhone - seen as a groundbreaking moment due to the prolonged battle that climaxed last spring with Apple defeating a lawsuit filed by the Beatles’ company, Apple Corps, over the overlapping usage of the fruit moniker. Last week came the news that both Apples finally have reached detente and will complain no more about violated trademarks. more

Album: Ono

Already instantly recognisable from just her first name, Yoko Ono has now chosen to use only her last name - ironically, exactly the same two syllables usually comprising the listening public's reaction to news of another Yoko album - in what one presumes is an attempt to streamline her public image. This album is likewise aimed at re-positioning Yoko in a rapidly changing cultural landscape, by aligning her with a selection of (mostly American) trendy indie acts such as Peaches, Polyphonic Spree, Sleepy Jackson, Cat Power and Antony of Johnsons fame, each of whom has selected a track from her back catalogue and woven her original vocal parts into a new arrangement of their own devising. The results are every bit as hit and miss as you'd imagine, ranging from Shitake Monkey's transformation of "O'Oh" into slick pop-funk, to Craig Armstrong's treatment of "Shiranakatta (I Didn't Know)" as a lush symphonic chanson. more

It's Peter to the Max

Put on your bell-bottoms and macrame vests - the Max is back. Yes, Peter Max, the paramount pop artist who emerged in the 1960s with a colorful cosmic style, will be back in Safety Harbor during his exhibit "Colors of a Better World" at Syd Entel Galleries. During a phone interview, the New York City resident said he was happily anticipating his return to the land of sunshine and palm trees. His last show at the gallery was in 2005. "I'm on the 15th floor overlooking the Hudson River and everything is completely white," he said. "We're in the midst of a blizzard." more

Rare Beatles Photography Highlights Importance of Art Conservation

A traveling exhibit of rare Beatles photography from their last publicity shoot in 1968 will be showcased as part of an educational project designed to create awareness for proper art conservation and framing techniques. Developed by three of the picture framing industry's largest manufacturers; Crescent Cardboard, Tru Vue and Roma Moulding, this exhibit will be on display at Artexpo New York 2007, March 1-5 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Educational in nature, the exhibition will help New York-area collectors understand how to preserve their art for the ages, while featuring rarely-seen photographs of The Beatles from the last publicity shoot of the group before they separated. The exhibition will be presented in a museum-like atmosphere, showcasing the most popular images from the collection photographed by renowned British photographer, Tom Murray. Taken in the summer of 1968, the photos represent the lighter side of one of the world's most popular musical icons of all time. The exhibition features 10 of the twenty-three photos shot on the "Mad Day" by Murray, who titled the collection "The Mad Day: Summer of '68." The limited-edition, silver-gelatin prints are framed for preservation using Tru Vue's glare-free Museum Glass, Crescent Cardboard's moisture-free RagMat matboard, and Roma moulding.

Through the exhibition, art collectors learn about the quality of the products used to frame the photos, the importance of preservation framing, and how special preservation products like Museum Glass and RagMat are designed to make priceless artwork stand the test of time. The year-long exhibit debuted at Art Miami (Miami Beach) last month and now makes its way to Artexpo New York (New York City) in March. It will continue to artDC (Washington DC) in April and Artexpo Las Vegas (Las Vegas) in September. Attendees at Art Miami, Artexpo New York, artDC and Artexpo Las Vegas will have an opportunity to enter to win one of the framed prints, with a winner of the national contest to be announced in October 2007.

Artexpo New York, the world's largest fine and popular art fair, presents its 29th annual exposition, March 1-5, 2007 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The industry's most anticipated event of the year will host more than 600 exhibitors from over 40 countries, offering visitors an opportunity to view and purchase fine works in a truly international environment, unmatched in size and scope. More than 40,000 visitors, including trade buyers and consumer art enthusiasts, are expected to explore the latest trends in the fine art world; purchasing both traditional and cutting-edge works ranging from original paintings and sculptures to limited-edition lithographs, giclees, animation, photography and more. Artexpo New York's expanded international offering in 2007 will also allow visitors to tap into the growing global art market, and present opportunities to purchase from international galleries that would otherwise not be available.

Tickets for Artexpo New York are available the day of the show at the Javits Convention Center box office, or at www.artexpos.com. The show is open to the public from Saturday, March 3rd through Sunday, March 4th, 11:00am to 6:00pm and Monday, March 5th, 10:00am to 2:00pm. Adult tickets for Artexpo New York are $12 a day; $5 for seniors and students. Children under 12 are free.

PRESS RELEASE

Rock Stars: They’re Just Like Us

Today’s commute was unpleasant. The dreaded “wintery mix” is upon us, and with it has come un-shoveled sidewalks, slush, and that impressive hail/snow that can penetrate all forms of supposedly waterproof clothing. We know that much of the country’s work force currently has wet socks too, and we just want to remind everyone that, if you found yourself gracelessly slipping on black ice and falling into a slush puddle on your way to wherever this morning, for example, you should not be ashamed of your mishap. Revered rockers have made their fair share of klutzy gaffes over time. Here are five we go to when we need to pretend we’re only as uncoordinated as the last Grammy winner. Feeling better yet? more

Forty Years Later, Love of 'Strawberry Fields Forever' Endures

The University of Kentucky's John Jacob Niles Center for American Music will present "Strawberry Fields Forever: An Illustrated Lecture in Celebration of Forty Years of History" as part of the Niles Gallery Series this Friday, and as one Beatles song proclaimed, "a splendid time is guaranteed for all." The free public lecture being presented by Kevin Holm-Hudson, an associate professor of theory at UK School of Music, begins at noon Friday, Feb. 16, in the Gallery of the Niles Center located in the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library. "Strawberry Fields Forever: An Illustrated Lecture in Celebration of Forty Years of History" commemorates the Beatles song beginning with the original promotional film the band made for the song 40 years ago this month. Holm-Hudson's lecture will feature this video and others on the song, including an episode from the ABC-TV Saturday morning "Beatles" cartoon series based on the song. more

Yoko: 'Loving Lennon involved sacrifice'

Yoko Ono says she sometimes regretted falling in love with John Lennon, because the couple had to "sacrifice" so much for it. The late Beatle was mocked for his feelings for her and she was discredited as an artist, the 73-year-old said. Yet their romance was still the best thing that ever happened to her, Ono added. She and Lennon went public with their relationship in 1968, instantly captivating the media with their alternative lifestyle and devotion to each other. Their famous "bed-in" in an Amsterdam hotel room during their honeymoon in 1969, in which they promoted world peace, made headlines across the globe. But when the Beatles split in 1970, fans blamed Ono, accusing her of pushing her husband into going solo. more

MILLS SLAMS DANCING WITH THE STARS REPORT

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY's estranged wife HEATHER MILLS has slammed reports she has signed up for US reality TV show DANCING WITH THE STARS. Reports that broke yesterday (13FEB07) suggested the former model would be a contestant and donate her earnings to an animal welfare charity. Mills' attorney has rubbished the reports, telling American publication Us Weekly they are "not true". Former contestant JERRY SPRINGER will announce the new participants next week (21FEB07). The show debuts in the US on 19 March (07). (c) contactmusic.com

The Beatles' studio story told in detail

''I'm only 33, but I've always loved the music of the Beatles and was amazed how one group could make so many great songs in such a short period of time," says Houstonian Kevin Ryan. When I was in high school, I used to try and reproduce those sounds on my dad's four-track recorder. You could say I was extremely naive. I mean, they were the Beatles, and that was Abbey Road studios." His interest in how the Beatles recorded their songs — "the technical aspect, how the sounds were made" — only grew, and after he graduated from the University of Houston, Ryan decided to write the definitive book on every little thing that went on at Abbey Road during the Beatles years. He wanted to know who played what instrument, what microphone was used, every piece of equipment, its manufacturer and date, what level it was set at, what tricks were used to break the sound barrier, and who was in the backroom pulling the strings. more

Sean Lennon: Art can be honesty

Upon first glance, Sean Lennon offers a familiar face that you can’t place — one that you’ve seen a thousand times, one that evokes feelings of deja vu and an abstract connectedness that’s simultaneously comfortable and unnerving. His life has been chronicled often enough, the inevitable fate of someone whose parents are John Lennon and Yoko Ono, but often the glossy magazine interviews have revealed as much about the writer’s bias as about this thoughtful young rock artist. The gunning down of his father on a New York City street, when the younger Lennon was 5, is still felt by many to be one of the 20th century’s great tragedies. more

EMI shares tumble 12 percent after new profit warning

Shares in the music company EMI Group tumbled 12 percent Wednesday after it issued its second profit warning in as many months. EMI, which has Norah Jones, Coldplay, Robbie Williams and the Beatles back catalogue on its books, blamed poor CD sales in North America as it forecast that revenue from its recorded music unit would decline by around 15 percent on a constant currency basis for the 2007 financial year. Those declines meant that profit for the 12 months through the end of March would be "significantly below current market expectations," the company, based in London, said. EMI shares fell 28.75 pence Wednesday to close at 210.75 pence, or $4.13, on the London Stock Exchange, after losing as much as 15 percent earlier in the session. more

Announcing In Concert with the Climate & the Oceans, presented by the Concert for the Oceans Foundat

The Concert for the Oceans Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean and climate conservation, has today announced its 2007 worldwide celebrity concert series scheduled for New York, Florida, California, and China. The performances, sponsored in part by Hard Rock International and scheduled from March through June, will feature celebrity artists, including Breaking Benjamin, Katya Grineva, Robert Anthony Aviles, Lori Michaels, Leo, and Kristen Hoffman. The Foundation is also finalizing participation from Sting, Sir Paul MacCartney, Jimmy Buffet, and Celine Dion. In addition to its musical guests, the Concerts will include celebrity guests, such as Peter Max, Sir George Martin, and Philippe Cousteau, Jr. ''We are pleased to announce our 2007 concert series, which features so many talented artists and speakers from around the world,” commented Leonard Sonnenschein, President of the Concert for the Oceans Foundation. “In addition to our current communication with scientists, educators, community leaders, and local environmental organizations in over 80 countries, we believe these concerts will help raise the much needed awareness about the current state of our oceans and our climate,'' he added.

In addition to its concert series, the Foundation has scheduled its first ever gala fundraiser on June 5, 2007 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. This fundraiser will benefit the international conservation and research grants provided annually by the Foundation. Details about the dinner will be announced soon.

About the Concert for the Oceans Foundation
The Concert for the Oceans Foundation is dedicated to building awareness about the oceans and climate change through the support of scientists, educators, community leaders, and local environmental organizations in over 80 countries. The Foundation provides financial support to local projects directed towards protecting our oceans and climate, decreasing pollution, providing access to clean water, improving community collaboration and communicating efforts to save the planet and save ourselves. http://www.cfto.org

PRESS RELEASE

ELTONS WORK COMPULSION

Pop veteran SIR ELTON JOHN is refusing to slow down ahead of his 60th birthday next month (25MAR07) - he's working double shifts in Las Vegas. As well as preparing for his spectacular birthday concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden, performing regular concerts, and working on a theatre production of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, the busy star somehow found time to fit two shows into one evening earlier this week (begs12FEB07). After wowing crowds at Caesars Palace, the ROCKET MAN singer had a quick changeover before joining PRINCE at nearby hotel the Rio, where they thrilled fans with a duet of BEATLES hit THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD, according to the New York Daily News.


SIR ELTON JOHN - ELTONS WORK COMPULSION

Yoko Ono gives jackets to preschoolers in Iceland

The artist Yoko Ono and the widow of Beatle John Lennon sent winter jackets to children in kindergartens Mýri and Lækjaborg in Reykjavík recently, as a token of gratitude for their performance of “Imagine” last autumn. The preschoolers performed the song, written by John Lennon, at a special ceremony last October when Yoko Ono blessed the spot where she plans to have a peace obelisk erected on the island Videy on Faxaflói Bay near Reykjavík. Morgunbladid reports. more

Heather Mills Goes Nuts on Photog

Heather Mills has had quite enough, thank you, of the paparazzi stalking her every move -- and she finally hit her cracking point yesterday. Paul McCartney's estranged wife went crazy on a photographer in London yesterday by screaming and yelling -- even going so far as to kick the cameraman -- all while videotaping the incident herself! It's not clear what set the former model off balance, but her freakout might land her in yet another lawsuit. Rumors have it that she and Paul are close to a $50 million settlement in their nasty split.


(c) TMZ.com

Sir Paul McCartney's Daughter Mary Understands Wearing Fur

Sir Paul McCartney's eldest daughter Mary understands why people wear fur. The 37-year-old photographer is a life-long vegetarian and animal rights campaigner, like her father, late mother Linda, and fashion designer sister Stella. However, Mary can appreciate why people enjoy wearing animal pelts. She is quoted by Britain's Daily Express newspaper as saying: "I don't wear fur because I feel that it's completely unjustified and unnecessary, though I understand why people enjoy fur because it's beautiful, soft and the colours are amazing. I just can't justify it. I don't think something should be bred and killed for me to wear." more

MILLS IN POLICE TALKS

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY's estranged wife HEATHER MILLS has been in talks with local police today (14FEB07), reportedly over safety fears. The animal rights campaigner has raised concerns in the past after receiving death threats following news of her split from the former BEATLE last year (06). In December (06), Mills' spokesperson revealed violent criminals in MCCartney's native Liverpool, England were planning to punish her for claiming in legal papers the singer physically abused her. And today Mills met with officers in Hove, south England, to talk about her concerns. A spokeswoman for Sussex police says, "It was a pre-planned meeting. (It) did not relate to anything specific and she was not arrested." MCCartney and Mills split up in May (06) after four years of marriage and began divorce proceedings in July (06).


SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY - MILLS IN POLICE TALKS

New US dates ahead for Sean Lennon

The singer/songwriter will kick off the US leg March 30 in Dallas, TX, and the trek will take him to states in the South, Northeast, Midwest and on the East Coast through late April. Dates are listed below. The European shows can be found at Lennon's website. Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, is continuing to support his sophomore solo release, "Friendly Fire," which surfaced in October. Unlike his 1998 debut, "Into the Sun," on which Lennon played all the instruments, "Friendly Fire" features guest musicians including Jon Brion, Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda and Bijou Phillips. A couple of songs from the record are streaming at Lennon's MySpace page. more

Lake that united Harrison and Shankar

It was one of India's loveliest tourist spots, but 40 years after George Harrison came to play sitar with Ravi Shankar, the Dal Lake in Srinagar is slowly dying. Tests on the lake, which nestles among the snowy peaks of Indian Kashmir, have shown the water to be a cocktail of heavy metals, chemical pollutants and untreated human sewage. A report by the Himalayan state's auditor-general reveals the effects of neglect since Indian-controlled Kashmir was gripped by Islamist insurgency 17 years ago. Up to 50,000 tons of sewage a year is pumped into the lake causing thick weeds to grow across the surface, starving it of oxygen. There are high levels of metals such as iron, manganese, copper, lead, cadmium and arsenic. Of Kashmir's 37 species of fish, 17 were found in Dal Lake, but some have disappeared while others are declining. Visitors can still see three species of kingfisher diving, but the number of birds is falling. Water snakes have vanished. more

The Merseybeat Story Presents........."The Merseybeat Hall of Fame"

During the past 18 months, the Merseybeat Story which is held at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, home of the famous Tower Ballroom; has presented many Merseybeat icons in its monthly event. It consists of talks with question & answer sessions and live music from the featured artist. Past participants have included: King-Size Taylor, John Gorman (Scaffold), The Undertakers, Jackie Lomax, Group One with Harry Prytherch on drums and Faron to name a few..... The Merseybeat Story is very proud to announce the inauguration of the 'Merseybeat Hall of Fame' - Sunday 18th February 2007. The first Inductee will be Mr Sam Leach, in recognition of his life-time work and services to Beatles and Merseybeat history. He has a rich history from his early promotions at The Tower Ballroom, his legendary club promotions at the Cassanova Club, the Iron Door Club and the Peppermint Lounge, to his John Lennon memorial concert at St Georges Plateau, Liverpool. Today he continues to tour the world lecturing on Beatles and Merseybeat history. To present the award we have a special guest, Mr Johnny Hutchinson (The Big Three). The master of ceremonies will be Harry Prytherch (Remo Four, Group One) The afternoon will also include a live music set by a featured artist and concluded with a jam session. Robin Bird, son of renowned Wallasey photographer Bob Bird, has agreed to display a number of photographs featuring the Tower Ballroom and many Merseybeat groups. Sunday 18th February Admission is £5.00. Cafe and Bottle Bar available Start time 1.00 pm till 4.00 pm

Further information can be obtained from allan Schroeder Tel: 0151 639 8245 allan@schroeder19442.wanadoo.co.uk or view the website at
www.themerseybeatstory.piczo.com

For a full history of Sam Leach view www.samleach.com

Yoko Ono feels fans acceptance from younger generation

Yoko Ono is receiving her best reviews in years with the release of her latest album, titled Yes, I'm A Witch. The collection features 17 of her solo tracks completely revamped and remixed by such modern acts as Apples In Stereo, Antony and The Johnsons, the Flaming Lips, and others. Yoko Ono told us that although she's grateful that the younger generations have embraced her 1970's work, it was painful at the time to receive such constant critical bashings: "My memory of that is very bitter. Well, not bitter but it was very sad because nobody really liked my songs so much. And also, they were constantly attacking me for it, you know?"



The Rock Radio: Yoko Ono feels fans acceptance from younger generation

Is Paul Mccartney driving Heather Mills into the poorhouse?

The latest rumor regarding Paul McCartney's divorce settlement from estranged wife Heather Mills is that the Mills is about to agree on a $50 million payout from the former Beatle. A source close to Mills told The London Evening Standard that Mills has been forced to sell off property and fire several attorneys to try to keep a tow-hold on her mounting legal costs. Mills reportedly feels that McCartney is deliberately dragging his feet in settlement talks in an effort to weaken her financially and force her to accept a much smaller settlement. The source added that, "Initially Heather would have probably settled for (about) $20 million, but when negotiations came to a complete deadlock and (her legal team) Mischon De Reya got involved, the settlement was never going to be for that sum -- simply because their fees were so large. Since then, the least they would have settled for is about $50 million. That sounds reasonable, knowing what (McCartney) is worth and what he has made in the last four years himself." more

Beatles reunite, well sort of

If given the choice to see the band one last time, very few would have an easy time deciding on the best Beatles moment. Although not the famous mop-topped foursome, the look-alike, sound-alike production When We Were Fab is one of the closest Beatles tribute shows out there offering all the best Beatles moments in just one concert. When We Were Fab is in Edmonton at the Winspear Centre for performances tomorrow and Thursday nights. David Leon, the man who plays the late John Lennon, was actually in the Broadway production of Beatlemania in the late '70s before being cast in the movie version of the same name a couple of years later. Born and still living in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles, Leon says more more

Metromix. `U.S. vs. John Lennon' shows Nixon's efforts to quash a Beatle

It was 43 years ago last Saturday that the Beatles burst into the American consciousness as cheeky, fresh-faced lads on "The Ed Sullivan Show." But less than a decade after that flashpoint of exuberance, things turned decidedly grim for band leader-turned-peacenik John Lennon. In "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" (Lionsgate, $27.98), filmmakers John Scheinfeld and David Leaf probe an episode in music and social history not clear to even the most die-hard Beatles fans. The tale begins with a stack of documents 6 feet tall that show how the U.S. government under President Richard Nixon turned Lennon into a surveillance target. The papers didn't go public until the mid-'90s through the Freedom of Information Act. Even then Scheinfeld -- a self-described "gigantic Beatles fan" -- had trouble attracting interest in a documentary film about the campaign against Lennon. more

The 100 Greatest Love Songs

Some may find them smug, or sappy, or overplayed. But the songs here have probably made more lovers misty than any music in memory. So how did we go about compiling this list of all-time hand-holding odes? Eligible songs had to have endured at least a decade in the public consciousness, if not two or three. And they had to have been popular enough to have ranked among the top 20 pop songs in whatever year they were released. These aren't necessarily the sexiest songs. If they had been, you'd see cuts by James Brown and Prince. But they are all classic serenades to a love achieved, the kind of songs meant to make listeners swoon. more

HEATHER MILLS TO DO REALITY TV DANCE SHOW IN U.S.

Heather Mills is set to do some fancy footwork on TV screens stateside after agreeing to appear in Dancing With The Stars. The anti-landmines campaigner will donate her earnings from the show, which is the US equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing, to the animal welfare charity Viva!. The mum-of-one lost the lower part her left leg after being hit by a police motorcycle in 1993, but she has never let the disability hold her back. Indeed the 39-year-old, who likes to keep in top physical condition, is often seen cycling and jogging near her home. Meanwhile Heather's divorce from estranged husband Sir Paul McCartney continues. There have been widespread media reports of an out-of-court settlement, but so far none has been confirmed and formal court proceedings are expected to go ahead in July.


HEATHER MILLS TO DO REALITY TV DANCE SHOW IN U.S.

Apple Corps Ltd: Beatles ready for downloading

Neil Aspinall, the head of Apple Corps Ltd. and the man who's protected The Beatles legacy for the last 40 years — told told FOXNews.com's Roger Friedman over the weekend: "All 13 core albums, the ones originally released on CD in 1987, have been remastered," Aspinall told me. "At some point they will all be released, probably at the same time." Friedman goes on to say that The Beatles digital albums will be released via several different digital music services, and not exclusively through iTunes. more

Beatles Tribute Band Rocks Polk Theatre

Beatles tribute band Classical Mystery Tour performed to an audience of several hundred, rocking the house at the Historic Polk Theatre on Saturday night, February 3. It was amazing to hear the music of the Beatles performed live on Saturday night, thanks to "Classical Mystery Tour" and their orchestrator, Martin Herman, who transcribed the orchestra parts from the original recordings for the band's signature performances with symphony orchestra. Thirty-nine Members of the Imperial Symphony Orchestra "plugged in" behind the band to furnish those crucial orchestral moments, like the piccolo trumpet solo in "Penny Lane" performed by Paul Butcher, Southeastern University trumpet professor, whose spectacular solo sounded just like the original recording. The orchestrations provided for every detail, from the alarm clock in "A Day in the Life" sounded in the percussion section to the string features in "Yesterday" and "Eleanor Rigby." Everything nuance was there. more

Yoko Ono turns 74 with remix album

Yoko Ono, one of the most outrageous, controversial and fascinating figures in art and rock 'n' roll history, turns 74 years old this month. Not surprisingly, she's marking the occasion in unconventional fashion. John Lennon's widow, who was born in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 1933, is the subject of a wild new recording, "Yes, I'm a Witch." A diverse group of contemporary artists reworks and remixes her songs, while leaving Ono's vocals in the mix. The musical contributors include the Polyphonic Spree, the Flaming Lips, the Apples in Stereo and Cat Power. It's very much in the avant-garde tradition that Ono has embraced since the 1950s. more

Mills 'kicks out' at photographer

Heather Mills could be prosecuted for allegedly kicking a photographer. The incident happened outside her sister's flat, it was claimed. The 39-year-old estranged wife of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was being photographed as she arrived in a taxi when the mood turned nasty. Mills was said to have leaned into a car window and tried to grab a photographer. As he got out to take her picture she shouted and swore at him, called him 'scum of the Earth', knocked his hat off and kicked him, it was claimed. more

Nothing's Gonna Change the World Yet

Whether you're a fan of the Beatles, Raleigh-born actress Evan Rachel Wood or Broadway visionary Julie Taymor, you're probably at wits' end waiting for the release of "Across the Universe," the new Beatles film project. You'll have to wait even longer, according to the latest info on movies.yahoo.com: Sept. 28. But the trailer is out -- also posted on the Yahoo site, at movies.yahoo.com/feature/acrosstheuniverse.html. And it's wonderfully odd and dizzying. The film follows a bloke from Liverpool to New York's Greenwich Village in search of his father. He meets a sheltered suburban girl named (what else?) Lucy and falls in love. Sounds like a typical romantic drama so far. But with Taymor -- who directed Disney's "Lion King" on Broadway -- nothing is typical. Plus, the action takes place in the 1960s, so expect lots of political unrest, drugs, sex and -- of course -- Beatles music.


copyright: RedOrbit - Technology - Nothing's Gonna Change the World Yet

The making of...

Growing up in Fox Point, John Scheinfeld probably watched too much TV. Far from causing lasting damage, the tube helped inspire his career. His latest documentary, "The U.S. vs. John Lennon," was released in theaters nationwide in September, including the Downer Theatre in Milwaukee. There’s a great deal of whispering that it may be nominated for an Oscar in the documentary category. Move over marching penguins. It’s a long way from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, his base of operations and studio. Scheinfeld likes to quip, "I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me not to come out here. I promise you I wouldn’t have to work." As a kid he collected radio shows like Fred Allen, Burns and Allen and Orson Wells’ "Mercury Theater." At the age of 12, he had a revelation in the Fox Bay Theatre of all places. "I saw ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ such an amazing spectacle, and I said, ‘I have to do that.’" more

Classic Songs Interpreted By Patti Smith

Columbia Records will release Twelve, the eagerly-anticipated album of "cover" versions of classic popular songs newly interpreted by Patti Smith, on Tuesday, April 17. Twelve is Patti Smith's first album of new studio recordings since trampin', her Columbia Records debut, was released in 2004, and is the artist's first-ever full-length collection of songs originally created by other performers. On Twelve, Patti Smith and her band - Lenny Kaye (guitar), Jay Dee Daugherty (drums) and Tony Shanahan (bass, keyboards) - work their magic on a surprising selection of classic songs and overlooked treasures from the rock & roll canon including "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder, "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears for Fears and "Helpless" by Neil Young. Also on Twelve, Smith and company interpret songs by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, the Doors, Nirvana, Jefferson Airplane, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers, and Paul Simon. more

Sir Paul McCartney has offered Heather Mills a £25 million divorce settlement, it has been reported.

The former Beatle - worth an estimated £825 million - instructed lawyers to make the offer following days of 'intense and heightened' talks. This is said to be the first time Paul, eager to avoid a public court battle, has agreed to open negotiations. A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: 'This is the closest we have been to an arrangement. Paul is absolutely determined to keep his private life hidden from public scrutiny. 'The divorce has now been dragging on for nine months. There is war weariness creeping in. Lawyers have been in feverish discussions for the past ten days, but isn't simply a matter of him making an offer and it being accepted.' Paul, 64, reportedly sanctioned the offer after Heather's sister Fiona accused him of putting his three-year-old daughter Beatrice at risk by refusing to pay for security for Heather. The source added: 'They are almost there. The channels of communication have opened up. It's the first time a deal has been mentioned and both sides hope a settlement will be reached. 'Unless there is a major hiccup, they will not be going to court.' Terms will be drawn up by Anthony Julius and Fiona Shackleton - the same lawyers who dealt with Prince Charles and Princess Diana's divorce - and they are hoping to settle the deal within a month. Julius - Heather's lawyer - and Paul's representative have so far declined to comment. Last month, it was reported Heather and Paul - who were married for four years - had reached an out of court settlement worth £32 million. However, legal firm Mishcon de Reya, who represent Heather, quickly issued a statement denying Paul had made an offer. PRESS RELEASE

Flashback: Beatles record first album, perform first US concert

It was 44 years ago on Sunday (February 11th, 1963), that the Beatles recorded their first album, Please Please Me, in just under 10 hours. The album also featured both sides of their first two singles -- "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You," and "Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why," which were recorded the previous autumn. The session for the album began at 10 a.m. at Abbey Road's Studio Two -- the main studio the group would use for the next eight years -- with 10 takes of the John Lennon-Paul McCartney original, "There's A Place." Over the course of the day the group basically performed their stage show as the tapes rolled, recording future Beatles classics like "I Saw Her Standing There," "Do You Want To Know A Secret," and "Twist And Shout." The group's recording engineer Richard Langham recalled the session in Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles' Recording Sessions book. He remembered that when producer George Martin and the other engineers announced that they were taking a lunch break, the Beatles chose to stay and rehearse, revealing that, "When we came back they'd been playing right through. We couldn't believe it. We had never seen a group work through their lunch break before." more

Is Hey Jude The Most Popular Beatles Tune? Bet On It.

With the prospect of all 'The Beatles' songs soon to be made available to the download market, bookmakers William Hill are betting on which Beatles song will be the first to make it to number 1, which could provide a definitive answer to the age old debate, What is the best Beatles Song? The early money puts Hey Jude some way ahead of the opposition with the bookies halving the price from 8/1 to 4/1. "There can be little doubt that when the Beatles back catalogue becomes available for download, they will have a string of number 1's and we believe that the song that is number one first has a valid claim to be most popular Beatles song of all time. Hey Jude already looks hard to beat, but we have also seen money for She Loves You, Love Me Do and Help," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams. more

GROHL: IM STILL ALIVE

FOO FIGHTERS frontman DAVE GROHL was left shocked earlier this week (begs05FEB07), when he was listed online as having passed away. The incident marks the second time Grohl has been pronounced dead by internet pranksters. Grohl's details on online encyclopedia Wikipedia were altered to read "David Eric Grohl (January 14 1969 - February 5 2007)". The rocker found out about his supposed demise when worried friends began calling offer his wife JORDYN their sympathy. He says, "I got a phone message from a friend saying 'Er, I guess... Jordyn... this is maybe... for you. I'm so sorry to hear what happened.' "I heard this message and went, 'What the f**k?' They were leaving a message on my cell phone saying 'I'm sorry Dave died.' "That was weird, but I guess I've finally graduated to that status of being an internet rumour. It weirded me out a bit, but it's stupid. I'm like a cockroach, don't worry, I'll be around for a long time." Grohl was previously announced as dead in May 2006. Other rock stars to have had their deaths prematurely announced include SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, and PAUL WELLER.


FOO FIGHTERS - GROHL IM STILL ALIVE

EMI in Talks to Sell Unprotected MP3s

Music company EMI Group PLC _ home of The Rolling Stones and Coldplay _ has been talking with online retailers about possibly selling its entire digital music catalog in MP3 format without copy protection, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing numerous people familiar with the matter. The MP3 format, which can be freely copied and played on virtually any device, would allow consumers to play music purchased from any online store on any digital music device. Currently, music purchased at Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store, for example, is wrapped in Apple's proprietary version of Digital Rights Management technology known as "FairPlay" and can only be played on the company's iPod devices. Songs purchased from rival online stores that carry different DRM technology cannot be played on iPods. That has caused some to wonder whether it might be hampering sales. more

Heather Mills admits money worries

Heather Mills has admitted that she is getting herself into debt as her divorce battle with Sir Paul McCartney continues. The 39-year-old told friends that her funds are starting to run low after nine months of legal proceedings. Insiders have claimed that her money worries could work in Sir Paul's favour and force her to accept a smaller cash settlement. A source told the Daily Star: "Heather is feeling the strain. She doesn't have pots of cash and is having to dip into every resource. If that's what Sir Paul wanted then he has played this cleverly - as it's working."


(c) Showbiz - News - Heather Mills admits money worries - Digital Spy

Rock N' Roll Memorabilia Collector

Tom Fontaine is bringing several items from his collection to ABC 7 this morning. Included will be some clothing items. Items included: Grammy Guitar signed by several artists including Paul McCartney, 1970 Fan Club Beatles Poster signed by John Lennon at the Helping Hand Marathon in May 1975, Sgt Pepper LP cover signed in Centerfold by all 4 Beatles, Elton John's 1970s performance outfit, signed items by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper(The Day The Music Died), and much more. The John Galt Gallery Presents "The Tom Fontaine Collection"

February 9th from 6 to 10pm; February 10th from 2 to 10pm.
Belmont and Clark in Chicago
Tom Fontaine, one of the world's foremost collectors of rock n roll and movie memorabilia is sharing his collection with the public.


For more information call 773-404-8000. 5% of all sales will benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation of Illinois with a $5,000 minimum guaranteed contribution by Tom Fontaine himself.


ABC7Chicago.com: Rock N' Roll Memorabilia Collector

Love me do, these readers tell Sir Paul

The good news: All the girls want to hold your hand, Paul. The bad news? Well, you can't possibly meet them all. Which isn't so bad, if you think about it. The background: A Cue cover story on Jan. 22 ("Help! He needs somebody"), asked the good women of Wisconsin if there was anyone out there who could bring Sir Paul McCartney some happiness, as he sorts through his divorce from his much-maligned soon-to-be ex-wife, Heather Mills McCartney. (The unhappy couple are due in court later this month.) more

Sean, Sean, You’re Not John

For only an hour, in front of a very small number of visitors (we counted about fifty), Sean Lennon held a concert in Zagreb’s Kino SC as part of his “Friendly Fire World Tour” last night. The musician’s debut album, “Into the Sun”, was issued back in 1998 and his more recent one, a year older, “Friendly Fire”, was presented to the Zagreb audience yesterday. The tepid and sad atmosphere in the hall through which Slovene’s Laibach stormed just five days earlier, created a poor image of the musician with 15 years of the music business and with whom great names such as Lenny Kravitz, Ryan Adams and Adam Yauch cooperated. As a teenager, he was friends with Michael Jackson and together with his mother and Lenny Kravitz he organised the filming of a new version of the legendary “Give Peace a Change”, protesting against the Gulf War. more

Actually, Yoko really is a ‘Witch’

Yoko Ono’s latest album, “Yes, I’m A Witch,” is exactly as weird as one would expect it to be — no more, no less. That’s good news for listeners who might have worried that 73-year-old Ono would suddenly go off the deep end after nearly 40 years of making music. But then again, it seems unlikely that the art of the woman who recorded “Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins” with John Lennon in 1968 could get any more bizarre. Unlike her earlier albums, however, “Yes, I’m A Witch” is the product not just of Ono’s weirdness, but that of 16 other artists as well. In fact, the only thing that belongs distinctly to Ono is her singing — tracks of which have been yanked off of previous records and remixed with arrangements composed by contemporary musical acts. As producer, Ono supervises the whole affair from the control room. Her words and voice constitute the indubitable heart and soul of the songs, but they’re a heart and soul that have been appropriated and then swaddled in new and unrecognizable flesh. more

PURCHASE: Yes, I'm a Witch