The Jim Keltner Fan Club

I have reviewed hundreds of albums from the sixties through the nineties and one name that pops up with regularity is session drummer Jim Keltner. He has played with a virtual wing of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Steely Dan, The Traveling Wilburys, Barbra Streisand, Mick Jagger, Jerry Garcia, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, The Bee Gees, and dozens of others have employed him as their session drummer. Not bad for a person whose first claim to fame was for Gary Lewis & The Playboys 1966 hit single, “She Just My Style.” [read more]

The children of rock dads

Having a babysitter called "The Sulphate Strangler"; being forsaken by your tour bus; having a father who'd rather grease party-guests' palms with opiates than grip your mother's clammy paw during childbirth. If you thought everyday kid-rearing was difficult, then blaze through a guide to rock'n'roll parenting and prepare to baulk. Except, well, there is no official guide. If only there was an instruction leaflet prescribing parenting tips to famous musicians; the best they have is How's Your Dad?, a new book by the rock journalist Zoë Street Howe, which outlines the excesses of rock stars and how they impact on their sprogs. [read more]

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum timeline: 1995-2010

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum marks 15 years in business next month, preceded by more than a decade of prehistory. Then came exhibits devoted to everyone from John Lennon to Bruce Springsteen, the return of Alan Freed and a couple of induction ceremonies in Cleveland. Let's take a look back at the Rock Hall's long, strange trip. [read more]

Beatles' Last Concert Candlestick Park (VIDEO) 44 Years Ago Today!

Beatles last concert, Candlestick Park (VIDEO) The Beatles last concert was held in Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on August 29, 1966, a whopping 44 years ago today! While ticket stubs from the now-famous last concert are still rolling around the internet for Beatles memorabilia fans to scoop up, most didn't realize that the 1966 Candlestick Park show would be the last for the iconic foursome. Oddly enough, the 1966 concert was not sold out - of the 42,5000 sets available, only 25,000 were filled. The performance lasted just 33 minutes, thanks inpart to technical problems. The Beatles did not want to be there, and the band could no hear itself sing, so ended up going off-key. No one, except the group and a few trusted insiders, knew this would be the last concert. [read more]

John Lennon's toilet fetches £9,500 at auction for Beatles fans

A porcelain lavatory which John Lennon told a builder to use as a "plant pot" has fetched £9,500 – nearly 10 times its guide price – at an auction today. The loo was used by the music legend when he lived at Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire between 1969 and 1972. Lennon told builder John Hancock to keep it and "use it as a plant pot", after he installed a new one. The toilet was stored in a shed at Mr Hancock's home for 40 years until he died recently. It was expected to fetch only £1,000 at the auction at the 33rd annual Beatles Convention in Liverpool today. But an overseas investor forked out £9,500 for it. [read more]

Yoko Ono to Celebrate John Lennon's 70th Birthday

Yoko Ono is planning a special tribute gig in Iceland to mark what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday in October. The Beatles legend, who was shot and killed in New York City in 1980, would have celebrated the milestone on October 9 and his widow is planning a series of events to mark the occasion. Ono will present the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace award, which was created in 2002, to four key figures for their contribution to world harmony, and after the ceremony she will light the Imagine Peace Tower illuminated memorial, located on an island close to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik. The artist/campaigner will then play a special concert with the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band. source

George Harrison's son, Ben Harper form a band

In February, when Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison arrived at the Carriage House studio in Los Angeles' Silverlake neighborhood, they had three days booked and zero songs to record. "I thought I was going there to add some guitars or harmonies on Joseph's album," says Harrison, who was invited to the session by Harper, whom he befriended at a skate park in Santa Monica. "When I got to the studio, I saw Joe and asked, 'What songs are we going to do?' He said we hadn't written them yet." After three long days, the trio had recorded the nine acoustic tracks that make up "As I Call You Down" -- and called themselves Fistful of Mercy, after the track of the same name. [read more]

On Aug. 27, 1965, the Beatles and Elvis Presley met in a musical summit meeting for the ages

On Aug. 27, 1965, the two biggest super powers in the music world at the time, the Beatles and Elvis Presley, met at Presley's house in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles. Few photos were taken and no video, unfortunately, has turned up. But it was a meeting that has been reconstructed and analyzed by some of the participants through the year. Gillian Lomax, who leads "A Magical History Tour," a tour of Beatle-related sites in Southern California that includes a stop at Elvis' Bel-Air home where the meeting took place, said the event was a long time in coming. [read more]

Yoko Ono Plans Iceland Ceremony for Lennon's Birthday

In remembrance of what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, Yoko Ono is planning a series of peace-promoting events in Iceland on Oct. 9. Ono will continue the annual tradition of lighting the Imagine Peace Tower, which will be followed by the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band playing a special concert. The Peace Tower lighting, which will take place on the island of Viðey, can viewed around the world via a live feed at imaginepeace.com. Ono will also present the LennonOno Grant for Peace biannual award, with four recipients this year instead of the usual two due to the significant birthday. This year's recipients include "Gasland" director Josh Fox, nature and culture writer Michael Pollan, author and human rights/non-violence activist Alice Walker and human rights/safety activist Barbara Kowalcyk.

Cirque du Soleil arrives at the Hard Days Night Hotel

The world famous performance group Cirque Du Soleil is displaying 14 costumes from its hugely successful Las Vegas Beatles show LOVE at Liverpool’s Hard Days Night Hotel. The costumes, which were designed by French costume designer Phillipe Guillotel, will be displayed in a exhibition at the Hard Days Night Hotel Shop, and include those from the characters of Sgt. Pepper, Eleanor Rigby, Father McKenzie, and Her Majesty. Sandra Fox, Head of Wardrobe for LOVE, says: “Cirque du Soleil has the biggest costume workshop in the world so the scope for creating characters and outfits for the LOVE show was phenomenal. Phillipe paid tribute to the creativity of The Beatles with his designs, making sure that the character costumes represent direct images from Beatles songs. As you will see, the costumes are just out of this world - so imaginative and inspired.” The costumes have been brought to Liverpool by Aigburth-born Pamela Devine, who has worked for Cirque du Soleil as Director of Sales for the last ten years:

“Growing up in Liverpool I have always been extremely fond of The Beatles, so to work with Cirque du Soleil on a show which celebrates their musical legacy was fantastic. Bringing the costumes back to Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles, seemed like a natural choice and what better location than the world’s first and only Beatles-inspired hotel?”

Jonathan Davies, director of the Hard Days Night Hotel, adds: “We feel very privileged to be able to host these costumes in our hotel shop, and are both delighted and honoured that Pamela chose to contact us about the opportunity. To be timed to coincide with the Mathew Street Festival hopefully means that fans of the Fab Four will really be able to enjoy and appreciate the display.”

To celebrate the costume exhibition, Cirque du Soleil are launching a competition in conjunction with the Hard Days Night Hotel to win an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas. The prize includes return flights, a four night stay at The Mirage, and tickets to see the Cirque Du Soleil LOVE show. To enter, go into the Hard Days Night Hotel Shop and fill in an entry form. Entries must be received by the end of September.

Paul McCartney: 'My fans say my music heals them'

Paul McCartney, by some accounts the most successful songwriter of all time, has told CNN that his fans say his music appears to have a healing quality about it. The 68-year-old music icon has been speaking out about what music really means to him and his fans all over the world. The former Beatle says people have shared stories with him of situations when his songs and music have helped them through difficult times. "I'm very blessed," McCartney told CNN. "People come up to me and say, 'I was going through chemo or I was going through this or that and your music got me through.' That's kind of wow!" he said. [read more CNN]

John Lennon 70th Birthday Bash at Radio City Music Hall

Liverpool won't be the only city having a 70th Birthday bash for John Lennon. His adopted home town of New York City will also pay tribute to the music great with a celebration at Radio City Music Hall. Here is the official word: On September 25th at legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City, The Fab Faux will present 'A Night In The Life - A John Lennon 70th Birthday Celebration.' The special event will feature two sets of John Lennon's greatest music from The Beatles and his solo career. [read more]

Abbey Road on the River festival pays tribute to Beatles

As summer winds down, Marylanders can rev up for one more huzzah in the form of Abbey Road on the River, said to be the largest Beatles tribute festival in the world, which lands at National Harbor this week. The five-day event, staged originally in Kentucky, is expected to draw large crowds to the Potomac riverfront from Thursday through Labor Day. "We're going to have five stages and over 40 bands, and we'll be screening two movies," said event producer Gary Jacob, adding that the plan is to make the festival an annual event in the area. [read more]

Rollling Stone's Top 100 Beatle Songs

Rolling Stone released its first-ever list of the 100 greatest Beatles songs as part of a special interest publication that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Beatle’s final album, Let It Be, and the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Topping the list, as ranked by the editors of Rolling Stone, is “A Day in the Life,” followed by “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

Following an introduction by Elvis Costello, the book features the stories behind each song, dozens of photos, an index of the complete list, and a breakdown of the numbers, including the years with the most songs (1965 and 1966 each had 17), the shortest song (“Her Majesty,” 23 seconds) and the song that spent the longest time at number one on the charts (“Hey Jude,” 9 weeks).

The book also includes special sections with lists of Lennon and Paul McCartney’s five favorite songs, the top guitar and drumming moments of George Harrison and Ringo Starr, respectively, and the best Beatles cover songs.

Rolling Stone has been the leading voice of music and popular culture since its inception over 40 years ago. The magazine features the latest in music reviews, in-depth interviews, hard-hitting political commentary and award-winning investigative journalism. Rolling Stone provides all the news that fits to 13 million readers every two weeks.

Top 10 Greatest Beatles Songs

1. “A Day in the Life”

2. “I Want to Hold Your Hand”

3. “Strawberry Fields Forever”

4. “Yesterday”

5. “In My Life”

6. “Something”

7. “Hey Jude”

8. “Let It Be”

9. “Come Together”

10. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

The Beatles photography exhibit by Astrid Kirchherr opens in Liverpool, England (Photos)

German photographer, Astrid Kirchherr, was the first photographer to take professional quality photos of the Beatles. Her famous black and white portraits taken in Hamburg in the early 1960s show The Beatles dressed in leather jackets and pants--quite different from the Edwardian suits they wore when they became famous. Over 70 images covering Astrid’s career from 1960 until she ultimately abandoned photography in 1967 are on display at the Victoria Gallery & Museum in Liverpool in an exhibit which opened today. [read more]

Beatles Promoter, Rock ‘n Roll Legend Saved by Social Media Campaign

The man who brought the Beatles to America, legendary music promoter Sid Bernstein, is now the center of a viral social media campaign to rescue his personal story—and a major part of rock ‘n roll and civil rights history—from obscurity. The makers of Bernstein’s critically praised biopic, Sid Bernstein Presents…, have teamed with Kickstarter.com, the social media fundraising site, to raise enough money for the film to fight the media conglomerates which have suppressed the film’s release. [read more]

Beatles Fans Organise to Save Ringo Starr's Childhood Home

Beatles fans in Liverpool have united in a bid to save Ringo Starr's home from demolition. The Save Madryn Street (SMS) campaign is to launch at the city's Hard Day's Night Hotel on Tuesday (Aug. 25), led by local Ringo impersonator Max Frudd, the BBC reports. The Victorian terraced house in Toxteth, where the drummer spent the early years of his life, is one of hundreds in the so-called Welsh streets set to be bulldozed, as reported in Spinner. [read more]

Exclusive Macca Interview!

Paul McCartney has revealed how Beatles drummer Ringo Starr delivered him a letter in March 1970, co-signed by George Harrison and John Lennon, asking him to postpone the release of his solo debut album so it wouldn't clash with the scheduled emergence of climactic Beatle release, Let It Be. Into an atmosphere of mounting mistrust between the still technically united Beatles, Ringo's missive dropped like an H-bomb. "I told him top eff off," Macca reveals to MOJO's Tom Doyle, as he sketches out his state of mind at the fag end of The Beatles' reign, belaboured by anxiety attacks, heavy drinking and marijuana sessions. "He seems to be going strange," said Ringo at the time. "Everyone was completely treating me like dirt," says McCartney today. [read more]

Pamela Anderson to Rescue Ringo’s House?

Former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has joined the growing chorus of public opinion to save the childhood home of Ringo Starr from the wrecking ball. As reported last week on Gibson.com, the Liverpool City Council is taking bids to destroy 9 Madryn Street, along with several surrounding buildings in the district known as the Dingle. The house was the birthplace of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. Appearing on the BBC TV program The One Show, Anderson met ex-Member of Parliament Gyles Brandreth and the two agreed that the house should be spared for historical reasons. [read more]

John Lennon said, "There's UFO's over New York" - remembering his UFO experience on August 23, 1974

Thirty six years ago on the balmy evening of August 23, 1974, John Lennon stood naked on his deck overlooking the East River, smoking a cigarette, when suddenly he looked up to see what was obviously a UFO floating overhead. He screamed for his then-girlfriend, May Pang (author of Instamatic Karma) to come and see what he was seeing. He and May had recently moved back to New York after living in L.A. for nine months, and moved into May's apartment, where they lived for another five months. Here are May's detailed recollections of that experience--moment by moment. [read more]

Remember Lennon: Imagine 70" Tribute Concerts

John Lennon would have turned 70 years of age on October 9th, 2010. On the evening of his birthday, a very special theatrical concert event entitled "Remember Lennon: Imagine 70" will be staged at the historic Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut. The night before, on October 8, the same multi-media extravaganza will grace the stage of the Calvin Theatre & Performing Arts Center in Northampton, MA. There will be a final matinee performance of this special event on Sunday afternoon at the Garde Arts Center Theater in New London, CT. With one of the greatest John Lennon impersonators in existence, a world-class backing band, and audio-visual accompaniment, the show is a respectful tribute recreating the concert John may have performed had he still been with us.

With most of the world-reknowned Lennon tribute acts, close your eyes and you think you're listening to John. With this production, keep them open and you'll be equally amazed. Tickets are currently on sale, modestly priced at all three venues with special optional VIP packages also available. Shubert Theater proceeds benefit the Ethnic Heritage Center.

For further information, visit the Calvin Theatre Box Office, 19 King Street, Northampton, MA or call (413) 584-1444 (website: www.iheg.com/calvin_theater_main.asp); the Shubert Theater Box Office, 247 College Street, Downtown New Haven, CT or call 203.562.5666 or 888.736.2663 (website www.Shubert.com); or the Garde Arts Center Box Office, 325 State Street, New London, CT or call (860) 444-4410 (website: www.gardearts.org).

Don't miss "Remember Lennon: Imagine 70," a unique extraordinary musical theater experience celebrating the music, the memory and the magic of John Lennon.

Imagine...70.

Beatles director Richard Lester donates archives to BFI

The draft scripts for The Beatles' films A Hard Day's Night and Help have been donated to the British Film Institute by director Richard Lester. Simply titled The Beatles and Beatles Two, they form part of Lester's archive, which is all going to the BFI. The treasures include correspondence from Hollywood stars Audrey Hepburn, Raquel Welch and Charlton Heston. The archive also contains a "begging letter" from Spike Milligan, who offers to do laundry in exchange for a job. The comic, who rose to fame on The Goon Show, wrote to Lester in 1980, saying he was bored with television and "no matter how small I would like a part, preferably the lead". [read more BBC News]

McCartney serenades another president

The Democrat was delighted after picking up the phone to hear the Beatles legend on the line after reaching the age on Thursday. And he was stunned when McCartney began an impromptu rendition of the Beatles' 1967 love song, When I'm Sixty-Four. A source tells the Daily Mirror, "Sir Paul knows Bill is a huge fan of the Fab Four and instantly agreed to ring him. Well, it's not every day you can get on the line to a former President. [read more]

Lennon's toilet in Liverpool Beatles auction

John Lennon's toilet and one of his rarest albums are to be auctioned at Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts. The lavatory from Tittenhurst Park, his Berkshire home between 1969 and 1972, and a mono-sound copy of Two Virgins go on sale on Saturday. The toilet which he gave to his builder for use as a plant pot is expected to fetch up to £1000. The album, which showed a naked Lennon and Yoko Ono, could fetch £2,500. [read more]

McCartney's tears for John Lennon

Sir Paul McCartney has confessed that memories of John Lennon can still reduce him to tears. The former Beatle said that the last time he wept was during a record store recital in Los Angeles. "I was singing Here Today for John, which is always such an emotional song because it brings back memories of me and John when were kids," Sir Paul told a fans' question and answer session in Montreal, Canada. "I was holding it together until I saw a girl in the audience had totally lost it and was weeping. And it got me. I tried to look away, but it was impossible." And he said that his most memorable gig so far was when he played for President Obama in the White House earlier this year.

The weird world of Mr & Mrs Phil Spector

Two suits of medieval armour dominate the entrance hall of the hilltop castle that Rachelle Spector calls home. One stands opposite an oil painting of the Beatles, whose final album, Let it Be, was produced by her absent husband, Phil, in 1969. The other, a few yards to its right, leans on a large sword. Since Phil's fascination with dangerous weapons recently landed him in prison, you might wonder if they make for entirely appropriate ornaments. But in the few hours I spend with Rachelle, together with a couple of occasions when we speak via telephone, I come to realise that suits of armour actually sum her up pretty well: she's a tough cookie, and thick-skinned, too. [read more]

Unpublished pictures to go on display after they sat in an attic for 50 years

Unpublished Beatles photographs which have been stored in an attic for nearly 50 years will go on display next week. The 38 black-and-white images were taken by Paul Berriff, who found the negatives in his loft. The documentary maker took the photos as a 16-year-old Yorkshire Evening Post editorial assistant given unlimited access to the relatively little-known band in 1963. He said: 'When I took those pictures, the Beatles were at the bottom of the bill. [read more]

The Photography of Julian Lennon, Printed on Canson Infinity Fine Art Papers to Premier in New York

Julian Lennon’s edited collection of portraiture and landscape photography debuts at The Morrison Hotel Gallery Bowery, 313 Bowery (Bowery & Bleecker Street) New York, NY, September 16, 2010. This premiere exhibition and sale of Julian Lennon’s stunning collection of limited edition and hand signed portraiture and landscape photography, entitled Timeless, is curated by one of the most sought after celebrity photographers, Timothy White and sponsored by Lennon’s charity, The White Feather Foundation, Duggal Visual Solutions, Inc. and Canson Inc., creators of the world’s finest Fine Art and Photo Papers: Canson Infinity. Lennon developed a love for photography at a very young age and over the years has been perfecting his work. The exhibit will showcase Lennon’s landscape work, and also take us into his studio where he recently photographed U2 as they recorded their newest album. In addition, Lennon takes us behind the scenes for a photographic look at the Sean Lennon tour.

“I have always felt that I have observed life, in a different way than others; probably because my life has been very different than most. Music has always been one creative outlet for me, but now I’m happy to add another one too, that being photography.”
– Julian Lennon

Lennon has enjoyed an accomplished music career, including multiple awards from 1985 onward. His much anticipated sixth album, Everything Changes, will be released in early 2011. Lennon has been focused on making a difference in what has become a rather sensitively-balanced world. The White Feather Foundation embraces environmental and humanitarian issues in conjunction with partners from around the world and works to raise funds for the betterment of all life, and to honor those who have truly made a difference.

Peter Blachley, co-owner of the Morrison Hotel Gallery says, "Timothy White has captured the essence of Julian’s style as we witness the emergence of a fine new photographer. We are very excited about working with Julian's photography and being the first gallery in the world to present his artwork." The Morrison Hotel Gallery (morrisonhotelgallery.com) was founded in 2001 by Peter Blachley, a former record company executive, producer Rich Horowitz, a former independent record store owner, and Henry Diltz, a legendary music photographer. The gallery has since grown to become a major brand in fine art music photography and is respected amongst peers and artists alike. Lennon’s photos on display are printed exclusively on Canson Infinity’s Edition Etching Rag and BFK Rives papers, two museum-quality papers hand selected by Julian Lennon for this exhibition. Canson Infinity, crafted in the Canson and Arches mills in France, recently won the prestigious Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) award for their Baryta Photographique, selected by TIPA as the Best Fine Art Ink Jet Paper of 2010. “We are delighted that Julian Lennon selected our fine art papers for his new exhibit ‘Timeless’,” said Robert Toth, Vice President of Marketing at Canson. “Julian’s photography has left us with a lasting impression and we are thrilled to be a part of this exhibition at the Morrison Hotel Gallery.”

Also sponsoring this exhibit is Duggal Visual Solutions, Inc., one of the nation’s top photo/imaging facilities, and supplier of printing, imaging, wide format graphics, and display services. Duggal was incorporated in 1963 and is based in New York City.
Press Release

Shoes Worn by Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, John Lennon, Eminem Head to Toronto for Rock’n’Roll Footwear Exhibit

This year’s Canadian National Exhibition, held in Toronto and affectionately known as the Ex, will feature a rock’n’roll memorabilia display that includes a collection of footwear worn by icons such as Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, John Lennon and Elvis Presley, among others. As CBC reports, the collection belongs to Toronto podiatrist Dr. Hartley Miltchin, who has been collecting celebrity footwear for years. Besides the names listed above, Miltchin also owns shoes worn by Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Chubby Checker, the Jackson 5, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Eminem and Avril Lavigne, not to mention non-musical celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal. [read ore]

Unseen photos of The Beatles go on show

Previously unseen photographs charting The Beatles’ formative years will go on display at Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum next week. The retrospective of more than 70 photographs by Astrid Kirchherr includes portraits of Paul MacCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Stuart Sutcliffe - the band’s original bass player, known as “the fifth Beatle”-, at the start of their career. German-born Kircherr met The Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s. She dated Sutcliffe, who left the band to pursue a career as an artist in 1961, and the pair became engaged just before his tragic death from a brain haemorrhage the following year. [read more]

Movie review: 'The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector'

Whatever the theme song to Phil Spector's troubled life and times might be, "To Know Him Is to Love Him" probably isn't it. That, as Spector fans know, is the title of the legendary record producer's first hit, recorded by the Teddy Bears in 1958 with words taken from the epitaph on his father's tombstone. Spector went on to produce hits almost without number, including "Be My Baby," "He's a Rebel," "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." [read more]

Meet Vincent Vigil

Last fall, I discovered the true meaning of Serendipity. Out of the clear blue, I received an e-mail from a reader of Shoulda Been There, asking me if I had enough photos for my upcoming book on John's life, Shivering Inside. The reader's name was VINCENT VIGIL. Vincent explained to me that not only was he a dyed-in-the-wool Beatles fan, but he was also a collector of rare Beatle photos. Furthermore, he suggested that we'd make a great team in creating an interesting, intriguing, vintage cover for Shivering Inside...a cover that would capture John as he truly was from Dec. 1961 through mid-April 1963. [read more]

Ringo Starr: Plan to demolish his Madryn Street home sparks row with Beatles fans

Council chiefs have been branded 'idiots' after they decided to go ahead with plans to bulldoze the Liverpool street where Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr was born. A humble terraced house at 9 Madryn Street is where Richard Starkey entered the world on July 7, 1940. And for half a decade, it has stood empty as politicians wrangled over its future, along with the rest of the 444 homes in 'The Welsh Streets' in the city's Dingle area. [read more]

EMI losses shrink after Beatles sales boost

Music group EMI has reported a big reduction in annual losses but warned that it needs to raise more capital to pay off debts. Pre-tax losses for the year to the end of March came in at £624m, compared with losses of £1.75bn a year earlier. Revenue rose 5% to £1.65bn, in part due to the release of the re-mastered Beatles back catalogue. [read more]

All You Need Is Klaus

This August, SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL gets in tune with INSIDE THE MUSIC, a series of specials that tell stories about the music and musicians that have had an enormous impact on some of the most listened to sounds spanning generations. From the creative genius who designed the album cover of The Beatles’ “Revolver,” to a history lesson on the instrument that changed the look, sound and volume of music forever, INSIDE THE MUSIC has something that everyone can listen to. The featured INSIDE THE MUSIC premiere, ALL YOU NEED IS KLAUS, premiering August 22 at 8pm ET/PT, is a journey into the incredible life of Klaus Voormann. Voormann is best known for his association with the most popular and most influential band in rock ‘n roll history, The Beatles. ALL YOU NEED IS KLAUS also features Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Carly Simon, and Randy Newman, Joe Walsh and Simon are also interviewed in the 90 minute film with Simon recounting Voormann’s influence on her biggest hit, “You’re So Vain.”

In 1960, Klaus Voormann met The Beatles, who at the time were completely unknown, in Hamburg, Germany, where he was an art student. Three years later, when Klaus moved to London and lived with George Harrison and Ringo Starr in their apartment, The Beatles had already become the embodiment of a new youth culture. In 1965, Voormann, who was working as a graphic designer at the time, was asked by John Lennon to create the album cover for their latest album. The highly influential piece of cover art for “Revolver,” earned Klaus a Grammy Award. That same year, he became the bassist for the Manfred Mann Band and, in 1969 for John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band. Klaus Voormann was on the frontlines of the pop era's meteoric rise and played on all the Beatles’ solo albums.

The Beatles Ed Sullivan Shows Coming To DVD

The 4 complete Ed Sullivan Shows starring The Beatles are hitting DVD on September 7th digitally remastered and will feature some previously unreleased material. When The Beatles stepped onto Sullivan's New York stage on Sunday, February 9, 1964, to make their American TV debut, 86 percent of all TVs on at that hour--73 million Americans--tuned in. It was the most-watched program in history to that point and remains one of the most-watched programs of all time. [read more]

Ringo Starr's Liverpool birthplace in new threat

The threat of demolition is once again hanging over the Liverpool birthplace of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. The Victorian terrace at Madryn Street, Toxteth, is one of hundreds in the "Welsh Streets" area to be bulldozed to make way for modern family homes. Discussions to move number nine - where Richard Starkey was born on 7 July 1940 - brick-by-brick to the new Museum of Liverpool are currently on hold. But official demolition notices have now re-appeared in the street. [read more]

From the Apple vaults

The headline in Variety was a showbiz shocker: "Beatle Bites Apple, Finds Worm." John Lennon had spoken out about the chaos and imminent insolvency of Apple Corp., the company created to be an extension of the Beatles' creative will, and the news was reverberating around the world. Lennon's message was characteristically blunt: Apple was bobbing on a sea of red ink. [read more]

John Lennon - Box of Vision

A 166-page hard bound book containing all of the John Lennon, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono, LP artwork, brilliantly restored in pristine new LP-size art prints. This is the first time that all of the album artwork has been collected together in a single LP sized book. The book includes front covers, back covers, gatefolds, and inserts arranged to create the feeling of holding and enjoying the entire LP collection in your lap. It includes the complete artwork from WEDDING ALBUM, arranged for the first time in book form, to be viewed as an actual wedding album would; the complete calendar artwork for LIVE PEACE IN TORONTO 1969; and the complete artwork for all of John’s, and John and Yoko’s, studio albums, officially released worldwide compilations and live albums originally issued in the LP format. [read more]

Fifty years since the Beatles went to Hamburg (GALLERY)

It was on August 17 1960, after a sea crossing from Harwich with 10 musicians and assorted hangers on in the back of Allan Williams’ tiny minivan, that John, Paul, George, Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe first stepped out on a Hamburg stage. They had been hired to perform at the Indra, a strip joint run by Bruno Koschmider in the seedy St Pauli district. Over the next two-and-a-half years the band would perform 281 gigs – at the Indra, Kaiserkeller, Top Ten and Star-Club. There’s been debate over the years about just how important Hamburg was in the development of what became the biggest band in the world. ...MORE...

John Lennon letter to aspiring folk singer received nearly four decades later

The former Beatle wrote to Steve Tilston in 1971 after reading an interview with him in a music magazine. In a note now revealed in public for the first time Lennon told the young musician not to worry about accumulating wealth because it wouldn't change the important things in life. Lennon signed the letter from him and Yoko Ono just months after The Beatles split up in December 1970. [read more]

Beatles piano withdrawn from sale

A coffee-stained piano used by The Beatles at Abbey Road studios has been withdrawn from sale, the auctioneers said on Sunday, without giving a reason for a decision. The battered Challen upright piano, which can be heard on hits such as "Paperback Writer" and "Tomorrow Never Knows", both recorded in Abbey Road in 1966, was valued at more than 100,000 pounds. "This lot has been withdrawn," Bonhams auctioneers said on its website. A spokeswoman told AFP she could not comment on why the sale was cancelled. It was due to be sold as part of an auction at the Goodwood vintage festival of music, fashion and art. ~ AFP

Sean Lennon to play Woodstock

Sean Lennon, the son of the late John Lennon, will perform in Woodstock next Saturday with his latest musical project, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger. This concert will take place Saturday in the Woodstock hamlet of Willow and will also include opening bands Undersea Poem and Love Is For The Birds, which features Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev and Amy Helm from Ollabelle and the Levon Helm Band. [read more]

A look back at 10 pivotal experiences in the life of Paul McCartney

The 12,603 people who witnessed the Beatles play one of the first major rock concerts at the Civic Arena in September 1964 were lucky to be there and earn those lifelong bragging rights. But, really, how good could that show have been? The Fab Four played only about a half-hour and you could barely hear them over the screams -- according to many hazy memories. Those in attendance, and the ones left outside, probably figured they'd get another crack at the Beatles in another year ot two. [read more]

All our loving

One of the 20th century's most important introductions took place on July 6,1957 at a church fete in a Liverpool parish.That evening,John Lennon metPaul McCartney for the first time.John was 17,Paul 15.Lennon was impressed by McCartney's natural ability to sing the songs Lennon's band,The Quarrymen,was struggling with.It was the beginning of the most iconic songwriting partnership in music history.Soon,the Beatles would become the first British band to write their own music,and the duo's suave vocal harmonies and crystal-clean sound would make even established superstars like Simon & Garfunkel sound predictable. [read more]

While my sitar gently weeps

The Fab Four are as well known for their rejection of mainstream religion as they are for their interest in eastern spirituality and India.That interest was fired in 1965,when they were filming Help!.There were Indian musicians playing on the sets,and George Harrison thought the sitar sounded "funny".He later bought one,and quite by chance used it to great effect in Norwegian Wood (This bird has flown).It was the first of three Beatles' songs with a classical Eastern sound,the other two being Love you too (Revolver) and The inner light,which was recorded in Mumbai,where Harrison was producing the soundtrack for the film Wonderwall in 1968. [read more]

Review: McCartney honours body of work in Montreal

Loud outbursts for the entrances of performers at the arena are, of course, standard. But the otherworldly, deafening explosion of devotion that consistently greets McCartney when he first takes the stage seems to give a voice to something bigger than fan enthusiasm. As The Roar washed over him before the well-chosen set opener Venus and Mars/ Rockshow, nearly a half-century of collective emotion bound up with the Beatle legacy - singular in popular music - found noisy and joyful release. And it was reprised by the 17,000 in attendance countless times. [read more]

Black Sabbath reunion could go down within the next two years

When then asked about the possibility of a Black Sabbath reunion, Osbourne did not shoot the idea, but instead said that it’d have to wait at least a year or two while he does his solo album and subsequent touring. But if it were to happen, Osbourne has some pretty lofty intentions. “We never set down when we were kids and went like, ‘This is going to be looked upon when we’re (expletive) 60 as a milestone in music.’ That was not our intention,” Osbourne said. “But it kind of happened. I always wanted to be a Beatle and people said, ‘Well Black Sabbath is a heavy metal version of the Beatles.’ But I would love to do, absolutely love to do a really great, monumental Black Sabbath album.” [read more]

This Day in Music Spotlight: The Beatles Hit #1 with a Bullet

The Beatles’ recorded output remains staggering to this day. When the band released Revolver in August 1966, it was their seventh LP in just over three years (not to mention the scores of singles released during that time that did not appear on their British albums). Beyond mere volume, the band broke ground for all of popular music with nearly every release, adding elements of folk, classical, Indian and other new strands of music to the core material of rock and roll, namely R&B and country. Of all the band’s records, perhaps no album took a longer leap forward than the album that was nearly titled Beatles on Safari. [read more]

George Harrison and Ravi Shankar’s Relationship Explored On Collaborations

On October 19, Dark Horse Records will release Collaborations, a limited-edition 3 CD/1 DVD set of music by George Harrison and his mentor, Indian master musician Ravi Shankar, recorded over a period of twenty years. “The personal and musical friendship between Ravi Shankar and George Harrison has been known and well documented for decades now,” writes Philip Glass in the accompanying 56-page book. It was a friendship that was powerful enough to make an impact on the large, musical life of the late nineteen sixties and it reverberates, as clearly, even today.” [read more/video]

In Pictures: Ringo Starr in Los Angeles, CA

This year he was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--right in front of the Capitol Records building near those of Lennon and Harrison. Ringo just wrapped a summer tour in support of the new set, and SoundSpike contributing photographer Micah Smith attended the tour finale at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles last Saturday (8/7). Below are a few highlights. [read more/view pictures

George Harrison - Extra Texture

It is never a good sign when an artist releases an album to fulfill a contractual obligation to a label. So it was with George Harrison and Extra Texture, released October 3, 1975. It was his final release for the Apple label and one of the last for the label overall. Harrison had already established his own Dark Horse imprint, having pictured an apple core (instead of an apple) on the original vinyl release, which certainly sent a message. He would later say the album was one of his worst. Harrison’s personal criticism aside, Extra Texture isn't a terrible album. His voice is in better shape than the gruff sounds presented on his previous one, Dark Horse. [read more]

Lennon & McCartney Interview, The Tonight Show 5/14/1968

The first few seasons of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show no longer exist in the NBC vaults. Unfortunately, many videotapes were 'reused' by NBC in the fifties and sixties, including Carson's earliest seasons. Therefore this 1968 Lennon/McCartney appearance is truely a lost interview. What does still exist is due only to TV-viewing Beatle fans trying to capture the moment, back before the days of home VCRs. A small portion of the interview was captured on silent home-movie film by a Beatles fan aiming an 8mm movie camera at their TV set. The 3 minute home movie of the TV screen, while producing a poor-quality picture and only a very small fraction of the full 22 minute appearance, unfortunately is the only known 'video' in existence of John and Paul's 1968 appearance on the Tonight Show. (The 9 photos presented below are enhanced still-frames of that film.) [read more]

Billy J. Kramer

One of the most popular Merseybeat singers, Billy J. Kramer (born Billy Ashton) was one of the most mild-mannered rockers of the entire British Invasion. He wasn't that noteworthy a singer, either, and more likely than not would have never been heard outside of northern England if he hadn't been fortunate enough to become a client of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Even more crucially, he was gifted with several Lennon-McCartney songs in 1963 and 1964, several of which The Beatles never ended up recording. That gave him his entrance into the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, but Kramer couldn't sustain his success after the supply of Lennon-McCartney tunes dried up. [read more]

Making music with McCartney

IT WAS AN experience of a lifetime as Californian guitarist Rusty Anderson recalls. "I thought, okay, when we go on stage, it’s gonna be cool. It will be dark. I’ll only see the first few rows. "I didn’t realise that the television lights would be lighting up the whole of Madison Square Garden like a classroom. "That was a strange experience, but once I made it through, I can do anything now." The musician is talking about his first live appearance with Paul McCartney at the Concert for New York City, the benefit held a few weeks after 9/11. [read more]

The Beatles Red and Blue Collections Remastered

The Beatles` record label Apple Corps Ltd will reissued remastered versions of the `Red` (1962-1966) and `Blue` (1967-1970 albums in October. The albums, originally released in 1973, will both be 2CD packages with an expanded booklet featuring the original liner notes, rare photos and newly written essays by Bill Flanagan. The ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ compilations were the first compilations from The Beatles after they broke up in 1970.‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ were remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London by the same team of engineers who remastered the original UK albums. [read more]

Abbey Road webcam reveals chaos of Beatles fans

A new HD webcam installed at Abbey Road Studios is now streaming live footage showing the dangerous lengths Beatles fans go to, in a bid to imitate the 1969 album cover. Tourists and fans can be seen infuriating London cabbies and other drivers by posing as John, Paul, Ringo and George in the middle of the busy road. Many fans (most of them Day Trippers) even keep dashing across the road and back again in a bid to get their picture just right. The Beatles recorded 90 per cent of their albums at the now legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, and even now nearly 41 years on from their final album as a group, the ordinary looking crossing in Westminster remains as popular as ever. [read more]

Lennon killer's parole pushed to September

A parole hearing for John Lennon's assassin was delayed until September on Tuesday, a court official said, as the famed Beatles star's killer sought conditional release after nearly 30 years in prison. For the sixth time, Mark David Chapman, 55, is seeking release as part of a routine review of sentences at Attica prison in northern New York state, where he is an inmate. "Mr Chapman was informed today that his parole interview has been postponed one month," the parole board said. "The Division of Parole is awaiting the receipt of additional information so that the record is complete for Mr Chapman's upcoming parole interview." The board's decision would be announced the day after hearings are completed. Chapman shot Lennon to death outside his Manhattan apartment building on Central Park, an act that stunned the world and in the view of many historians marked the end of an era. Chapman was sentenced in 1981 to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years in prison. The widow of the former Beatles, Yoko Ono, has said on repeated occasions that she is opposed to Chapman's release because she still considers him a threat to her family. His requests for parole have been rejected every two years since 2000. Ono's lawyer, Peter Shukat, was quoted last month by the Daily News as saying her position hasn't changed.

Katie Holmes Starstruck by Paul McCartney!

KATIE Holmes turned to mush when she met Sir Paul McCartney! According to reports, the actress — who’s married to Tom Cruise — introduced her daughter Suri to the Beatles legend when she got a one-on-one with Paul backstage at his recent gig in Toronto, Canada. “Katie said she was a huge fan and Tom was really disappointed at missing out,” a source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper. “She is a vegan and backs a lot of the same campaigns as Sir Paul. Little Suri didn’t really understand who he was though.” source

The Beatles go on in film

When MTV declared Richard Lester, the director of the Beatles movies A Hard Day’s Night and Help!, to be the “father of the music video”, he flippantly demanded a blood test. But little evidence is needed to prove that the films’ pioneering blend of pop music and kaleidoscopic visuals remains an influence on filmmaking today. Despite not being the first recording artists to conquer the box office as well as the pop charts, the Beatles’ contributions to cinema are still admired today in a way that those of their contemporaries, such as Elvis Presley or Cliff Richard, are not. As well as creating five incredibly diverse films during their career, the British group has continued to appear on the big screen over the four decades since they broke up. In just the past year, the films Nowhere Boy and Lennon Naked have been released – each focusing on different eras of the legendary lead singer’s life. [read more]

New Jimi Hendrix reissues, box set coming later this year

Four posthumous Jimi Hendrix [ tickets ] albums will be reissued Oct. 19 to launch the second wave of releases from the Hendrix estate and Sony's Legacy Recordings. Also, a four CD box set, "West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology, " is penciled in for release later this year. The set will include previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix Experience recordings plus demos, alternate takes and a new Hendrix documentary directed by the Bob Smeaton, whose credits include "The Beatles Anthology" and "Festival Express." [read more]

When the Beatles turned to India

The Beatles revolutionized the sound, style and attitude of popular music with distinct flamboyance. From what began as the Beatlemania fad, every single member of the band - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison grew up to be perceived as the representatives, even the embodiments of ideals associated with the cultural transformation of their age. Reaching heights of fame, which no other musical band of the time could have ever fathomed, the Beatles ventured towards spiritualism and turned to India as they feared being engulfed in the evils of materialistic notoriety. [read more]

With a little help from friends

JOHN Waters is never short of an acting role, but throughout his career he has balanced his film, stage and TV gigs with his love of singing. It's no surprise then, that after his three-year stint on All Saints, he is squeezing in a musical project while he also films the new drama Offspring. Alongside singers Doug Parkinson, Jack Jones and Jon Stevens, Waters performs Let It Be: The Beatles Songs of Lennon and McCartney in Melbourne this week. [read more]

Rolling Stones to battle The Beatles for 2012 Olympics

'The Beatles' legend Paul McCartney and rockers 'The Rolling Stones' are battling it out to headline the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics. The Rolling Stones and 68-year-old McCartney, one of the two surviving Beatles, have both played at the American Super Bowl to worldwide audiences of over 100 million but only one of them will be able to jam at the games to be held here, Daily Star reported. [read more]

YOKO ONO LOSES HER TEMPER DURING INTERVIEW!

YOKO Ono is not a lady to be messed with! Ono — the widow of Beatles legend John Lennon — apparently lost her cool during an interview Thursday in Los Angeles, where she was promoting an upcoming PBS documentary about her late husband. [read more]

1964 . . . The Tribute keeps the Beatles alive

The Star-Telegram's Andrew Marton revealed Friday that the biggest secret to 1964's continuing success is that the band accurately re-creates Beatles concerts by playing the same classic instruments the Beatles did. They use vintage amps and stage speakers, wear slim-fitting suits and Cuban-heeled boots, and affect the same English dialects. Song arrangements and instrumental solos were note-perfect from the originals. Pithy stage banter was historically accurate, too -- or at least in the same entertaining spirit. The band even bowed in unison. The concert stuck to material recorded before the Sgt. Pepper album -- no caftans or hippie beads here. [read more] They are sheduled to be in Akron's Lock 3 Aug 14 8:30, come early!

Yoko Ono gets tearful at presser

Yes, I’m the guy who made Yoko Ono cry. At least, that’s the way my buddies at the Television Critics Association tour were “overstating” it following Ono’s appearance here. Ono was on hand to promote LennoNYC, a two-hour documentary that focuses on her husband John Lennon’s time in New York City in the 1970s. It will debut on PBS as part of the American Masters series on Nov. 22. At times the 77-year-old Ono came across as frail and demure, a classy product of a wealthy Japanese family. And physically she is just so tiny. read more at Toronto Sun

Jack White labels New York celebrity crowd 'm#therf@ckers' for not 'rocking the fuck out'

Jack White laid into the celebrity-filled audience at The Dead Weather's gig at Don Hill's in New York on Wednesday (August 4), labelling them "hip motherfuckers". The band were playing a secret show at the relaunch party of Don Hill's to an audience who included the likes of Sean Lennon, Liv Tyler, Alexa Chung and Mary-Kate Olsen. [read more]

Sitarist on the Roof

Picture this, if you will: As I walk through Isla Vista early one summer morning to make it to work by 8:00 a.m., I pass by Rosarito, one of IV’s many eateries. As I walk by the place, I spy a young guy climbing down from the restaurant’s roof, carrying (I kid you not) a sitar. To clarify, this is the ancient instrument most often featured in classical Indian music or latter-day George Harrison albums, and not often found on the roofs of Mexican restaurants. [read more]

INTERVIEW: Paul McCartney heads to Canada

Paul McCartney has been thinking over what Malcolm Gladwell said about him in Outliers, a non-fiction book that tries to define the ingredients of success. "It's funny — I was talking to someone about that, because I've read the book. I think there is a lot of truth in it," McCartney said in an interview with CBC's Q cultural affairs show that aired Friday, ahead of his appearances in Canada next week. Gladwell cited the Beatles as proof of his 10,000-hours rule — that one of the predictors of success in any field is practising the task for 10,000 hours, just as the Beatles did in the 1,200 gigs they played in Hamburg from 1960 to 1962. [read more]

Ringo Starr in a Battle to Build a Conservatory in His London Home

Ringo Starr (Bauer Griffin)It doesn't matter if you're one of the most famous musicians in the world: when the city government gets involved, you're in for a fight. Ringo Starr has been stopped from building a conservatory at his London home. The former Beatle applied to local British authorities for planning permission to add the feature to his three-bedroom penthouse which is located on the famous King’s Road. However, the red brick apartment block -- which was built in the 1930s -- is situated in a conservation area, meaning the request was denied. [read more]

John Lennon remembered in PBS special - Live From: Live Event and Entertainment Coverage

John Lennon would have turned 70 in October, and December marks the 30th anniversary of the former Beatle's death. So PBS is marking the occasion with 2-hour Nov. 22 American Masters special that chronicles his solo career in the last decade of his life, which he spent in New York City with his wife Yoko Ono. It ended tragically, of course, when he was murdered by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota, his apartment building on the Upper West Side. [read more]

Unheard John Lennon Dedication on Re-Mastered Double Fantasy

Jack Douglas, who produced John Lennon’s final album, Double Fantasy, also re-mastered the special edition that will be released in October to tie in with the Beatle’s 70th birthday. Douglas worked on the album in the same studio that they were working on the night Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman. “So I started the album in the exact same place where I finished it,” Douglas told Mojo magazine. “I walked him down to the elevator and said goodnight and 20 minutes later he was gone. I had to walk back into the same room and start listening to his voice.” [read more]

The Beatles on iTunes? "Don't hold your breath," says Yoko

Widow, philanthropist, and crazy person Yoko Ono continue to think that iTunes is some of devil box, as she says there's no way The Beatles will be available on iTunes any time soon. In a Reuters interview, she said, "There's just an element that we're not very happy about, as people. We are holding out." The Beatles continues to be the biggest name in music that refuses to accept the fact that technology actually changes and will not release their music catalog for download on official digital download sites. [read more]

John Lennon's 'Double Fantasy' Remixed at Studio He Last Worked in

The re-release of John Lennon's "Double Fantasy" album was remastered at the same studio the late Beatle was working in on the night he died. Producer Jack Douglas and his engineer had to rework the album at a Sony studio in New York, which is housed at the site of the former Record Plant. Lennon was returning home from a session at the Record Plant in December 1980 when he was gunned down by Mark Chapman. Douglas tells Britain's Mojo magazine, "They said to me, 'The room you are going to work in is rumored to be where you worked with John the night he was murdered'." [read more]

Ringo Starr still shines

Ringo Starr, the sad-eyed former mop-top with the infectious grin and solid beat turned 70 on July 7. He appeared decades younger than that as he delivered a highly entertaining, warmly nostalgic show at Saratoga's Mountain Winery on Tuesday night. Clearly, he still loves performing, and that passion defies age. The 1960s sentiments of peace and love abounded. This year's edition of his All-Starr Band provided exhilarating, masterful musicianship and flawless vocal harmonies. Almost as important, these lads were obviously having immense fun. [read more]

Don't miss your chance to buy John Lennon's pump organ - for just $12,000

A massive three-day sale comprising around 1,800 top-quality, fresh-to-the-market lots from prominent local estates and collections will be offered on the weekend of September 24-26 by Philip Weiss Auctions. Four lots in particular are expected to get paddles wagging. They include an exceptional vintage Tiffany Studios floor lamp in a unique style (estimated at $120,000-$180,000) and an 1888 marble statue by Italian artist Romanelli Fratelli ($20,000-$30,000). [read more]

Music Review: George Harrison - The Concert For Bangladesh

Many people today don’t realize what a big deal this concert was back in 1971. A former Beatle who was fresh off the overwhelming critical and commercial success of All Things Must Pass was organizing a concert for charity at the famous Madison Square Garden. He was bringing along another former Beatle plus the likes of Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and a host of other friends. The building rumor was that even Bob Dylan might perform. The concert took place August 1, 1971. There were actually two performances at noon and 7:00 PM. It was a rare event that lived up to its hype, and yes, Bob Dylan did show up. A triple album,The Concert For Bangladesh, was issued during December of 1971. Read more: Click For More At Blogcritics Music

Lennon Exposed

The BBC production of Lennon Naked, an inside look at seven years in the life of Beatles co-frontman, John Lennon, will arrive on DVD just two days after TV premiere on PBS's Masterpiece Contemporary. Warner Home Video and the BBC will be getting together for United States distribution on the title, due to arrive on November 23, 2010 for the MSRP of $19.98. Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, Heroes) stars as the one and only John Lennon, member of the Fab Four and devote peace activist, during a seven year span. [read more]

Yoko Ono announces Plastic Ono Band shows at the Orpheum

Yoko Ono's long-running Plastic Ono Band, which she and Sean Ono Lennon revived last year after a long hiatus, has announced two nights of concerts at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. The shows will be a reprise of the New York performance, entitled "We Are Plastic Ono Band," which took place on February 16, 2010, and featured such guest performers as Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Thurston Moore and Bette Midler. Also intergral to the performances are Yuka Honda, best known for her work as one-half of Cibo Matto, and Japanese polyglot pop band Cornelius. [read more]

Beatles here, Beatles there

Last year's reissuing of the Beatles' vastly influential catalog on CD and debut of the Fab Four on "Rock Band" weren't necessary in keeping the spirit of Beatlemania alive nearly five decades after it started. Since 1974, Big Apple Beatlemaniac Marc Lapidos has created and cultivated a forum in "The Fest for Beatles Fans" (formerly known as "Beatlefest")" for likeminded collectors and aficionados. The legend goes that Lapidos' concept for the festival was approved by John Lennon, whose response to the idea was "I'm all for it. I'm a Beatles fan, too!" While surviving former band members have steered clear of the annual fest, Beatle brethren, auxiliary players on and off the stage, Beatle scholars, authors, and others who've come in contact with the lads have brought masses young and old together in droves. [read more]

Veteran with mental battle scars returns his medals

John Lennon returned a medal in protest over a foreign war. And now, in a way, so has Neil Duffy.While Lennon returned his MBE to Buckingham Palace in 1969 because of his anger at British support for Vietnam, Duffy, a former sergeant in the Royal Artillery, has returned all of his medals to David Cameron in protest at his treatment after he left the Armed Forces. Duffy will not consider wearing them again until the Prime Minister helps servicemen and women “regain their dignity” by altering the way the benefits system operates. [read more]

War is Over (If You Want It): ArtVision Expands Give Peace A Chance: John Lennon/Yoko Ono Traveling Exhibition

Deiter and a remarkable first-person story shed a new light on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s peace efforts in 1969. WAR IS OVER (If You Want It) is a new component of the popular touring exhibition, Give Peace A Chance: John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In for Peace, curated by Joan Athey of Victoria, B.C., circulated by ArtVision Exhibitions, LLC. Another new interpretive component is an extraordinary mural by accomplished graphic designer, Wolfram Schramm, of Gerlingen, Germany. The expanded exhibition debuts October 9 in Illinois at the Lake County Discovery Museum near Chicago, in time to celebrate Lennon’s 70th birthday. The exhibit runs to January 2, 2011 [read more]

Unseen Beatles pictures and memorabilia fetch £13,000

Sue Baker, from Reading, took the pictures in the 1960s after finding the homes of the Fab Four. The then 15-year-old first managed to track down Sir Paul McCartney's London home before he told her the addresses of the other band members in Surrey. The collection sold for a total of £13,000, with the album featuring the photographs fetching £6,500. The items, which had been estimated to sell for about £5,000, went under the hammer at Cameo Auctioneers in Reading with the album going to an American bidder. [read more]

Piano used in Beatles, Pink Floyd songs up for auction

The upright wooden Challen Piano once played in Beatles' favorites such as the Paperback Writer' and Tomorrow Never Knows, is being auctioned off by the Abbey Roads Studio later this month. The Challen is expected to go for as much as $239,000 -- quite a return on investment considering that it was originally bought for just under $400. Between 1964 and 1980, the piano was famously used by the Beatles and reportedly by Pink Floyd when it recorded its Dark Side of the Moon album. See full article from WalletPop: Click

Documentary on Beatle buddy Harry Nilsson to be released on DVD

"Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?," a documentary portrait of the late singer and Beatle buddy, will be released on DVD in October by Lorber Films. Lorber describes the film: "The Beatles said that Harry Nilsson was their favorite American musician. In his career, Nilsson won 2 Grammys and sold 17 gold records, and yet he is relatively unknown today. "Who Is Harry Nilsson?," a wildly entertaining, star-studded documentary, sets out to prove that he was one of the most talented singer-songwriters in pop music history. [read more]

Silly Love Songs

Paul McCartney reportedly wrote "Silly Love Songs" in 1976 in response to teasing by John Lennon and others for writing lightweight songs. But such songs are enormously popular, begging the question, why is it that people so like silly love songs? The attraction of silly love songs fits the emotional education theme I have been developing over my last six posts. The basic idea is that we have an internal environment of biologically-based feelings and desires that we must explore, understand, and become competent in dealing with. So, just as we are motivated to explore and understand to achieve competence in the external physical environment, we are motivated to explore subjectively experienced feelings and desires to achieve emotional education. [read more]

Review: Roy Orbison; The Last Concert

It had been almost fifteen years since Roy Orbison had gotten much airplay other than oldies stuff. His last album of new material was released in 1979. When the DJ introduced a song by some new group of which I’d never heard, The Traveling Wilburys, I thought the first voice sounded familiar (it was George Harrison) but when the next verse came along, it immediately got my attention. I turned the volume up to “11” quickly! The unmistakable voice of Roy Orbison was singing, “I’m so tired of being lonely...I’ve still got some love to give. Won’t you show me that you really care.” Read more: Blogcritics Music