Beatles News

It took the band 10 hours to travel to London for the audition.

The Beatles almost fell at the first hurdle on their journey to stardom. Having gained a name for themselves playing the clubs of Liverpool and Hamburg, the band were on the lookout for a record deal at the end of 1961.  ‌

Brian Epstein, their manager, was trying to secure meetings with labels in London but It was not going particularly well. He was rejected by Columbia, HMV, Pye, Philips and Oriole but did manage to book meetings with EMI and Decca.

‌Decca's Mike Smith then came to Liverpool to see John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best perform at the Cavern Club in December 1961, after which he invited them to audition in London on New Year's Day 1962.  ‌

It took the band 10 hours to drive down from Liverpool to the capital on New Year's Eve, getting lost in the process.  Mr Smith himself was late to the audition, said to be a little worse for wear after the previous night's celebrations.

The band played and recorded 15 songs, selected by Brian, but they were rejected a month later. ‌

According to Brian's autobiography, the band were told "gu details

 Manson used "Helter Skelter" as an anthem to justify the string of murders that took place in the summer of 1969, with some of the victims being actress Sharon Tate, socialite and coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, horse wrangler Donald Shea, and musician Gary Hinman. According to the cult leader during his trial, the reasoning behind those fatal attacks orchestrated by The Family (how Manson's cult was referred to) was directly tied to The Beatles, particularly the music that they were putting out.
Charles Manson's Odd Interpretation of The Beatles' Hit, "Helter Skelter"

The way Charles Manson lured new adepts to his cult was through playing his guitar and singing both authorial music and that of The Beatles. Although he wasn't the one to commit the murders, his followers did so through his direction and influence. At the trial that took place from 1970-1971, Mason shared that The Family knew what to do through the music they were listening to. In his mind, songs from the White Album, particularly "Helter Skelter", had a subliminal message that persuaded kids to "rise" and "kill".
The Beatles stepping off the plane and arriving in America in Beatles '64.

McCartney intende details

Liverpool residents have chained off the street where the former Beatle George Harrison omce lived in an attempt to stop disruption from day-trippers.

Access to Arnold Grove, the address of Harrison’s childhood home, was blocked on Monday morning as residents complained that Beatles fans would regularly peer through windows and doors on the street.

Chris Bennett, who lives on the street, told BBC Radio Merseyside that “you get people looking through the window, and if you leave your front door open, they look through the door”.

He also complained that his family “don’t get any peace” because of the traffic caused by private tours.

The area is a regular destination for guided Beatles tours of Liverpool, with the Magical Mystery tour run by the Cavern Club – the venue that hosted the first Beatles concerts – frequently stopping at the site.

Mr Bennet said: “Lately, there has been a lot more tours coming – private tours, taxis and minibuses – and unfortunately it is getting very busy down here.”

A spokesman for the Magical Mystery tour told The Telegraph that it had received no previous complaints about an increa details

Paul McCartney isn’t known as the most well-versed of his peers when it comes to drugs. He and his Beatles bandmates did their fair share, but they didn’t end up with the same kind of reputation as their edgier counterparts. Drugs, for the Beatles, were seen as more of an artistic pursuit than an addiction. It completely changed their career trajectory. McCartney was the longest holdout on LSD. Eventually, though, he did join his bandmates in partaking in the hallucinogen. Below, learn more about the first time McCartney took the drug, in particular, how it affected his relationship with John Lennon.  Paul McCartney: “It’s More Than Peer Pressure, It’s Fear Pressure”

Though fans aren’t sure of the exact date when McCartney took LSD for the first time, conversations from the Beatle himself pinpoint it to December of 1965. McCartney was more so into weed. McCartney had been trying to hold out on LSD, but eventually the “peer pressure” from Lennon and his other bandmates got to him.

“I was more ready for the drink or a little bit of pot or something,” McCartney once recalled. “I’d not wanted to do it, I’d held off like a l details

Joseph Quinn has confirmed the screen test for upcoming Beatles film is underway.

Helmed by Sam Mendes, the four separate Beatles biopics, starring Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Harris Dickson as John Lennon and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison is now under development.

The announcement came unexpectedly during Quinn's appearance at the BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast show along Fantastic Four co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

During the radio show, they played a game called "Sitting Down or Standing Up" where the A-lister star phone calls their famous celebrity friend asking them whether they are sitting or standing.

The Stranger Things actor ringed the Saltburn star. Once he attended the call, Quinn asked, "Are you standing up or are you sat down?"

Keoghan nervously replied, "I'm sat down," then quipped, "What's happening? Are you pregnant? What's happening?"

Quinn then explained where he was and the game that they were playing. When he was about to end the call, Keoghan said, "I'm on the radio. I wanna make most of this."

The Gladiator II star then asked The Batman actor if he was in the middle of a screen test.

"I'm doing the screen test," details

While former Beatles bassist Paul McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr have enjoyed lengthy careers well into the mid-2020s, six decades after they got their start together as half of the Fab Four, their bandmates have not been so lucky. John Lennon died by gun attack in 1980. George Harrison died of cancer in 2001. Their deaths were pivotal moments in global musical history, without a doubt.

But even more than that, their deaths marked significant and tragic milestones in the lives of their former friends and colleagues. That emotion remains years later, as proven by Ringo Starr’s tearful testimony about George Harrison’s last words to him in the 2011 documentary, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, by Martin Scorsese.
Ringo Starr Recalls George Harrison’s Final Words

If one were to embark on the strange and macabre practice of comparing deaths, John Lennon’s was easily far swifter than George Harrison’s. Better? Impossible to say. But quicker? Yes. Lennon died after Mark David Chapman shot him multiple times mere steps from the musician’s front door of his apartment building, the Dakota, in New York City. He was pronounced dead by the time he got to the hospital details

The Beatles first formed way back in 1960 in Liverpool. At the time, I doubt they knew just how big the band would become in just a few short years. Today, the Fab Four are known as some of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. And it will be centuries more before their legacy is truly forgotten.

It’s hard to say what the formula was for their success. They were talented and composed of excellent songwriters, sure. But those elements alone don’t lead to enormous international success. Perhaps it was a mix of factors, including smart management and production moves, coupled with the musical and cultural climate of the 1960s.

Though, it would take a few years for the band to truly blow up the way they did. Their beginnings were humble. Beatlemania wouldn’t be in full swing until around 1963. But before then, The Beatles were introduced to the world through their musical releases. And they also made minor waves with their very first television debut in 1962.
The Beatles Made Their TV Debut Back in October of 1962 on ‘People And Places’

The Beatles’ TV debut took place on October 17, 1962. The Fab Four appeared on a program called People And Places. Thei details

The Beatles penned hit after hit, all of which demonstrated their mastery of the songwriting form. But while they racked up classic songs for themselves beyond counting, they still found the time to write songs for other musicians.

Not everyone was aware that the song they were hearing on the radio had been written by John, Paul, George, or Ringo, especially if the song had been credited to a pseudonym. Here are some examples of songs that were recorded by other artists but dreamed up by the world’s favorite Liverpudlians.

1. "I Wanna Be Your Man" by The Rolling Stones

1963
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, this song became one of The Rolling Stones' early hits. In fact, it was such a good tune that Lennon and McCartney borrowed it back so they could record their own version of it on their 1963 sophomore album, “With the Beatles.”

2. "Come and Get It" by Badfinger

1969
Written and produced by Paul McCartney, this song became a top 10 hit for Badfinger, a band signed to the Beatles’ Apple label. The band had several big hits of their own, so they didn’t necessarily need Macca to write material for them. But hey, when you’re signed to t details

Elvis Presley’s worn Omega wristwatch, gifted to him by Johnny Cash, sold for $103,700 this week.

Goldin, a leading sports and pop culture memorabilia auction house, sold the engraved timepiece as part of its inaugural music memorabilia auction, which closed Wednesday night. Other high-selling items included a D.A. Millings & Son custom suit worn by John Lennon in 1963 ($102,480), a signed copy of Led Zeppelin’s album “Presence” ($19,520) and George Harrison’s sunglasses ($47,590). Goldin also set a new sale record for a type 1 photo — or photo developed from an original negative within two years of when the picture was taken— of rapper Tupac Shakur, which sold for $10,370, according to the auction house.

Though sports and trading card auctions are Goldin’s “bread and butter,” the company is venturing more into pop culture, said head of revenue Dave Amerman. This transition is documented in Goldin’s Netflix show, “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch,” which premiered in 2023 and was just renewed for a third season.

“We realized that we get so many music items and we build them into our pop culture sales, we just wa details

Listen! Do you want to know a secret? Screen tests for Sam Mendes' four separate Beatles biopics are officially underway.

Joseph Quinn, who will play George Harrison in the upcoming films, confirmed the development when speaking to his costar Barry Keoghan, who will star as Ringo Starr, during a game of “Sitting Down or Standing Up” with Ebon Moss-Bachrach on BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast show on Friday. As its name implies, the recurring segment sees A-listers attempt to predict whether or not their famous friends are sitting down or standing up before giving them a call and asking them live on air.

“Are you standing up or are you sat down?” Quinn asked, prompting Keoghan to nervously reply, “I’m sat down. What’s happening? Are you pregnant? What’s happening?”

“I’m on Radio 1 and we’re playing a game where I have to call you and we’re guessing,” Quinn began, to which Keoghan interrupted, “Oh! What’s happening, everyone in England, U.K.? What’s up?”

Host Greg James jumped in to explain that they’d decided to give Keoghan a ring-o to see how he was doing. “Is Joe pregnant? Can I details

Ringo Starr marked his 85th birthday on July 7 at a star-studded gathering in Beverly Hills, California. The event, which took place in Beverly Gardens Park, was the latest edition of the famed Beatles drummer’s annual “Peace and Love” birthday celebration.

Starr has just posted a recap video of the event on his social media pages. The four-minute-plus clip captures glimpses of some of the 

The guest performers included Jackson Browne, Molly Tuttle, Lucius singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, and Sam Phillips. The backing band featured longtime All Starr Band drummer Gregg Bissonette, veteran country/bluegrass multi-instrumentalist John Jorgensen, violinist David Mansfield, bassist Colin Linden, and guitarist Dennis Crouch. Tuttle, Wolfe, Laessig, Mansfield, Linden, and Crouch all contributed to Starr’s country-influenced 2025 album, Look Up.

The video starts with footage of a performance, appropriately enough, of the Beatles classic “Birthday.” Browne, Tuttle, the Lucius members, and Phillips all contributed vocals to the song. The rendition features a slight lyrical adjustment to acknowledge the birthday boy.

The clip also captures Starr arriving to the details

John Lennon was well aware of his limitations as a guitarist. When asked how he rated himself during a December 1970 interview with Rolling Stone, he didn't hesitate or waffle.

“Well, it depends on what kind of guitarist,” he replied. “I’m okay. I’m not technically good, but I can make it fucking howl and move.

“I was rhythm guitarist. It’s an important job. I can make a band drive.”

There’s no denying Lennon’s rhythm guitar talents. From his chord voicings to his impeccable timing and sense of dynamics, he combined the skills, knowledge and drive that made him one of rock’s greatest rhythm guitarists.

One of his standout moments comes early in the Beatles’ catalog, on 1963’s “All My Loving,” where he pushes the verses along with steady triplet strumming. He does it while flawlessly navigating chord changes every measure on his 1958 Rickenbacker 325 Capri electric, making for a remarkable show of stamina and precision.

In his 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon called the song “a damn good piece of work,” before adding, “but I play a pretty mean guitar in back.”

For all his details

Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono's relationship was notoriously strained even before The Beatles split up, but it was what she later said about the legendary musician that hurt him the most

The legendary Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono, widow of fellow Beatle John Lennon, had a tumultuous relationship that persisted long after the iconic band went their separate ways.‌ The friction between them started when Lennon began inviting Ono into the studio, granting her an up-close view of The Beatles' creative sessions during the recording of their final albums. McCartney, in particular, was peeved by her presence, feeling his bond and musical collaboration with Lennon diminished as Ono became more involved.

‌After Lennon's tragic passing in 1980, McCartney often found himself the target of Ono's sharp words in media interviews, where she made some rather bold accusations and didn't shy away from expressing harsh criticisms about the Jet singer.

In the Peter Jackson-directed docuseries, The Beatles: Get Back, viewers witness a candid McCartney expressing his genuine sentiments regarding the impact of Lennon and Ono's partnership on the band.  Paul McCartney revealed Yoko Ono's harsh words about him details

In the early days of The Beatles, the Fab Four often modeled their work and their look after Elvis Presley. They covered several of his songs early on and didn’t hide their appreciation for him. However, after The Beatles broke up and Presley’s act had changed, John Lennon once expressed his dislike for The King.

Over a couple of decades, Lennon had seemingly changed his mind about Elvis Presley. Much of it came down to Presley’s theatrical movements, his over-the-top stage acts, and even the music itself. Lennon explained the lack of love to Rolling Stone in 1971.

“This is interesting: in the early days in England, all the groups were like Elvis and a backing group, and The Beatles deliberately didn’t move like Elvis,” said Lennon. Although The Beatles admired Presley, they apparently didn’t like his dance moves. “That was our policy because we found it stupid and bulls–t.”  John Lennon Once Explained Why He Fell Out of Love With Elvis Presley

The Beatles’ stoic stage act worked for them. At least, for a time. When The Rolling Stones burst onto the scene, Elvis-like movements became the big new thing. “Then Mick Jagge details

Everybody, well, mainly everybody, seemingly knows the name George Harrison. He is one of the most famous guitar players of all time, and a former member of the most famous band of all time, The Beatles. Harrison was an innovator, a trailblazer, and a musician who extensively experimented with a plethora of different sounds. One decade of music that isn’t known for this type of musical experimentation—The 1980s.

By the time the 1980s rolled around, Harrison was well underway in his solo career. Specifically, Harrison had released acclaimed albums, All Things Must Pass, Living in the Material World, Dark Horse, as well as three others. Harrison was cranking out music, but in the 80s, he cut that number in half, as he only released three solo albums during the decade. Matter of fact, Harrison took a five-year hiatus between the albums Gone Troppo and Cloud Nine.

There is no definitive reason as to why Harrison’s musical production slowed down, and we aren’t here to assume. However, in a 1980s interview with Guitar Player Magazine, Harrison divulged his displeasure with the business antics and redundant musical tropes of the decade.

Source: americansongwriter.com/Peter Burditt details