Beatles News

Fans can really take ideas and run with them. It only takes one person to submit an interesting take on a song and soon the rest of its listeners will get on board with it. One particularly interesting case of that happening is Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” This holiday anthem has a dark twist, according to some fans. Learn more about the creepy theory behind this track–and what McCartney’s take on it is–below.

The mood is right
The spirit’s up
We’re here tonight
And that’s enough

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

If you take this song at face value, it’s relatively simple. McCartney seems to be reveling in some festive fun. However, some fans have read something far more sinister between the lines. As the theory goes, the verses see McCartney and his fellow partygoers practicing dark magic while the chorus is their cover up scheme. In that context, the group attempts to act nonchalant when someone walks in, pretending to simply be having a wonderful Christmastime.

McCartney was once asked about this phenomenon. In response, he let the theorists down easy wit details

Guests in attendance at the gala event included a who’s who of London music royalty, including David Gilmour, Bob Geldof, Jools Holland, Jimmy Page and Ronnie Wood among others, who were treated to a first listen of Starr’s new country LP.

Produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, Starr’s Look Up is his first country release in more than 5 decades, following his second solo album, Beacoup of Blues, which he released in 1970.

“I’ve always loved country music. And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didn’t even think at the time that it would be a country song – but of course it was, and it was so beautiful.” Ringo said of the new album. “I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP -but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did. I want to thank, and send Peace & Love, to T Bone and all the great musicians who helped make this record. It was a joy making it and I hope it is a joy to listen to.”

Starr will be bringing this new music to Nashville when he headlines the famed Ryman Auditorium on January 14 and 15, 2025 with additional U.S. dates planned for June 2024. details

The actor is rumored to be playing Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' four films
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Paul Mescal attends the "Gladiator II" New York Special Screening hosted by GQ and Paramount Pictures at The Whitby Hotel on November 20, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Paul Mescal. John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Ridley Scott may have inadvertently revealed some major casting news during a Q&A with Christopher Nolan last night in Los Angeles.

During a conversation with Christopher Nolan that followed a screening of Gladiator II at the Directors Guild of America, Scott confirmed his next project will be thriller The Dog Stars. When Nolan asked if Paul Mescal will star in the film, Scott initially said yes before correcting himself that Mescal’s schedule may prevent them from reuniting.

“Maybe,” Scott said, via The Hollywood Reporter. “Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go.”

Mescal has been rumored to be part of Sam Mendes’ forthcoming Beatles films, which will focus on each of the Fab Four, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George details

Paul McCartney has backed calls for laws to stop mass copyright theft by companies building generative artificial intelligence, warning AI “could just take over”.

The former Beatle said it would be “a very sad thing indeed” if young composers and writers could not protect their intellectual property from the rise of algorithmic models, which so far have learned by digesting mountains of copyrighted material.

He spoke out amid growing concern that the rise of AI is threatening income streams for music, news and book publishers. Next week the UK parliament will debate amendments to the data bill that could allow creators to decide whether or not their copyrighted work can be used to train generative AI models.

The amendments, championed by Beeban Kidron, would require operators of internet bots that copy content to train generative AI models to comply with copyright laws.

Source: Robert Booth/theguardian.com

Read More<<<

A new video featurette has been posted on the late George Harrison’s social media pages featuring audio commentary from Harrison’s Traveling Wilburys bandmate—and Electric Light Orchestra frontman—Jeff Lynne about George’s guitar talents.

In the clip, Lynne shares his respect for Harrison’s slide-guitar skills. The video also features archival photos and film footage of the ex-Beatles legend playing guitar.

“I think George is the best slide player that I’ve ever heard,” Lynne says. “He’s so accurate on it, and he makes it sing, and he makes it cry, and he makes it do anything, really.”

Adds Jeff, “And he can hold out a pure note with just beautiful vibrato that is so even. And it’s that style, it’s the melodic aspect of it, but it’s also … soulful, bluesy. He can do it all.”

The video is accompanied by a segment of the 2024 mix of Harrison’s chart-topping 1973 solo tune “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth).” George’s slide playing is a highlight of the tune, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1973.

The updated mix of the track appears on details

Dedicated fans of the legendary Beatles musician John Lennon converged on Strawberry Fields in Central Park Sunday to dance, sing and remember the icon’s tragic death 44 years ago.

The grassroots gathering — which drew Beatlemaniacs from around the globe — sprung forth as it does every year on the 2.5-acre tract of impeccably manicured lawn named for one of the Beatles’ most famous songs.

“For the last 44 years, we’ve celebrated his life,” said Quent Kelleher, a 60-year-old native New Yorker who comes to the same spot every year on the anniversary of Lennon’s Dec. 8, 1980 murder outside his home a short distance from the park.

“My best friend called me up that night — he lives around the corner — and told me [Lennon] was shot,” Kelleher told The Post. “And we came out here that night, and we’ve been coming out here [since].”

“We’ve even had binoculars and seen Yoko Ono looking out the window up there watching,” Kelleher said, gesturing to The Dakota Apartments on 72nd Street, where she and Lennon lived before his death.

The music icon was fatally shot just before 11 p.m. that night details

Ringo Starr and his All Starr band are returning to the road in 2025 with a string of new tour dates.

The latest trek kicks off June 12 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and wraps June 25 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tour includes shows at Philadelphia’s The Mann Center and Radio City Music Hall in New York, making up for shows that Ringo had to cancel during the fall leg of his 2024 tour after getting sick.

“I am happy to announce these new All Starr shows in June,” Ringo shared. “I absolutely love playing live and I love this band. It’s been so great playing with these guys, I just want to keep this line up going and that’s why I haven’t changed the All Starrs in a while. So here we go again, and we look forward to seeing you on the road this Spring.”

Ringo’s All Starr Band is made up of the same musicians who joined him on the road earlier this year: Toto’s Steve Lukather, Men at Work‘s Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette and Buck Johnson.

A complete list of dates and ticket information can be found at ringostarr.com.

Next up, Ringo is set to release his new country album, Look Up, produced and co-writt details

It was a moment that shocked the world. On this day in 1980, John Lennon was shot dead as he walked into his home at the Dakota building in New York City.

The Woolton-raised former Beatle was gunned down by Mark David Chapman, said to be envious of John's lifestyle and inspired by the JD Salinger novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'. Chapman had planned the killing for months and had met John earlier that day to get his copy of the album 'Double Fantasy' signed.

As John and his wife Yoko Ono returned to their home to say goodnight to their son Sean before heading for a night out, Chapman shot the star four times in the back with a revolver. The 'Imagine' singer was taken to hospital and there was an attempt to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead.

Chapman was arrested at the scene, where police found him reading the aforementioned Salinger book. A huge outpouring of grief was felt around the world.

Tearful crowds gathered at New York's Roosevelt Hospital, where John had been taken, and at the Dakota itself. At least two Beatles fans died by suicide in the aftermath of the murder.

The day after the fatal shooting, December 9, 1980, the Liverpool ECHO front page headline read: 'John Lennon details

There are a handful of Beatles albums that continue to perform well to this day. The sets that regularly appear on charts around the world are often compilations, as listeners often flock to these collections of the band’s biggest hits to return to the music they love. That’s not strange for a legacy act, but the Fab Four have broken that trend this week, as one of their less-popular projects—at least when looking specifically at modern times—is back.

Meet The Beatles! is back on the Billboard charts in America this week. The early release from the rockers debuts on one tally and returns to another, and it’s all thanks to a huge sales sum.

In the past tracking frame in the U.S., Meet The Beatles! sold another 6,900 copies. That’s a huge sum for an album that was originally released 60 years ago—and it’s up from the period before by a nearly unbelievable percentage.

Last week, Meet The Beatles! sold just under 7,000 copies throughout the country. The period before, it barely sold anything. According to numbers provided by Luminate, the set’s sales sum rockets a little more than 693,000% in a matter of just a few days.

Meet The Beatles! wasn&rsq details

Despite being one of the most revered men in music history, so much of John Lennon as a person is steeped in mystery. Some diehard fans may already know the stories behind the following three songs, but newer fans may not be aware of the intimate details behind them that showcase the more genuine, vulnerable side of Lennon. Let’s take a look at the fascinating stories behind three of John Lennon’s best songs!

1. “Nowhere Man”

This Yellow Submarine track from 1965 was written by John Lennon as part of The Beatles. On the surface, its meaning seems pretty clear. “Nowhere Man” is about a man with no direction in life and no real worldview.

Lennon spoke about the song briefly in an interview with Playboy Magazine. He said that the song came to him after a restless night of trying to write a very meaningful song. Paul McCartney, though, once said that he believed Lennon wrote the song about himself and the state of his marriage. We’ll never know the truth… But if you read between the lines, it seems like McCartney’s assessment was probably true.
2. “Mother”

John Lennon’s best songs are often his most vulnerable, and &l details

The title suggests a return to the start, but in actuality, Back to the Egg turned out to be a farewell set from Wings, Paul McCartney’s ever-mutating 1970s band. It wasn’t supposed to be the end, mind you, so it might not have the air of finality that you’d expect.

Back to the Egg now stands out as an interesting addition to McCartney catalog, one that was clearly influenced by the punk and new wave sounds of the day. Here’s a look back at how the Wings era ended.  We Are the Egg Men

Was it because Paul McCartney was a more demanding bandleader than anyone could have guessed? Or was it all part of Macca’s master plan to keep things fresh and unexpected? Whatever the reason, Wings, the band he started in 1971 in the wake of The Beatles’ implosion, couldn’t seem to keep a steady lineup for very long.

Lead guitar and drums were the two fungible spots in the Wings lineup. During the making of their 1978 album London Town, Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English departed from those positions in the band. That left in the band the stalwart trio of McCartney, wife Linda, and Denny Laine, soon to be joined by guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Steve Holley.

One o details

The Beatles left an indelible mark on both music and television, shaping culture in ways that still resonate today. Their arrival in the United States in February 1964 sparked what became known as “Beatlemania,” a movement that not only redefined the music world but also influenced the broader cultural landscape.

The documentary Beatles ’64 offers a fascinating glimpse into this groundbreaking era. Featuring rarely-seen archival footage and heartfelt interviews, the film dives deep into the band’s ascent to superstardom. It covers their electrifying first visit to America, the hysteria they inspired, and the unique bond shared by the four young men who captivated millions.
Paul McCartney recalled this incredible time with vivid detail, reflecting on the band’s un

forgettable appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. That performance etched their names in history, blending music and television in a way that had never been done before. (Click on the media bar below to hear Paul McCartney)

Beatles ’64 is streaming on Disney+

Source: Hollywood Outbreak

details

The Beatles are arguably the greatest band of all time, releasing memorable music and marking historic milestones until their unexpected breakup in 1970.

The four musicians that comprised The Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — were known as “The Fab Four.” They exploded onto the scene in the U.K. in 1962 before reaching incomprehensible levels of popularity and acclaim when they visited America in 1964 — covered in the Beatles ‘64 documentary released on Nov. 29 — culturally referred to as “Beatlemania.”

After ceasing touring in 1966, The Beatles released Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band — one of the most critically and commercially successful albums of all time —in 1967, but tragedy struck that year. Their manager Brian Epstein, who previously handled much of The Beatles’ business affairs, died.

In the following years, the band experimented with their sound, creating more classic albums like Abbey Road and Let it Be. Outside of the studio, Lennon married Yoko Ono in 1969 and began bringing her to recording sessions, which caused tension.

These events and growing creative differences details

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has said it is a "huge honour" to appear on a new commemorative coin unveiled by the Royal Mint.

Their new coin collection marks the first of its kind, designed to honour Sir Paul's ground-breaking career.

But this is no penny (lane), this is a £5 coin that features The Beatles singer's iconic magic piano as well as references to his career, including piano notes personally chosen by him, a Höfner violin bass guitar and the Wings logo.

Sir Paul said: “It’s not anything I would have ever expected to happen when I was a kid."

The Royal Mint A silver coin with a rainbow design and Paul McCartney's signature rests on a copy of handwritten lyrics The Royal Mint

McCartney said it was a "huge honour" to have a coin made for him.  And while money can't buy you love, it can buy you one of these coins, the cheapest being £15.50, with some coming in at more than £100 for the more rare or coloured coins.

Early next year, The Royal Mint will offer fans a chance to own a signed, gold edition of the coin - if money is what they want. The bespoke gold coin weighs 5kg (11lb) and took over 250 hours to make, including three da details

Over Thanksgiving weekend in 2021, Beatles fans settled in for Get Back, Peter Jackson’s eight-hour epic that transported viewers back to the weeks leading up to the band’s famous rooftop concert in January 1969. Though more lighthearted than the troubled reputation of the period would indicate, the docuseries was colored by the irrefutable fact that it concludes with the last live performance the Beatles would ever give. Even the happy moments were made bittersweet with the knowledge that, despite appearances, it was nearing the end.

This Thanksgiving, fans received the perfect cinematic companion piece. Beatles ‘64, now streaming on Disney+, bookending the group’s story by providing the ultimate insider's look at the birth of Beatlemania in the United States. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, the film is directed by his longtime editor David Tedeschi, a crucial collaborator on his string of essential latter-day rock docs examining the work of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and George Harrison. “I think one of the reasons they chose us to make this is because we're from New York,” Tedeschi tells PEOPLE. “And it's a very New York story.”

That was, of course, wh details