Beatles News

THE role set him on course for a three-decade acting career and gained him an Olivier Award nomination when he first appeared in the West End. But despite the plaudits from John Lennon’s own family – “it’s always a comfort to know Dad’s words and music are in the hands of an artist such as Mark McGann” says son Julian for one – the actor has, he admits, generally shied away from playing the legendary Beatle. He explains: “When I was chasing acting alone as a career, which was actually until about 2008, I had to be very careful not to be perceived as wanting to do John as often as I really wanted. For the obvious typecasting difficulties that it might put me into.” Almost a decade after Lennon at the Everyman, he appeared in a short run of Imagine, produced by Bill Kenwright, at the Playhouse.

“Then I didn’t think about it again until I started to branch out,” says the 53-year-old who runs a successful company, Drama Direct, directing other actors and corporate films, and designing workshops and projects. & details

The Beatles approached director Stanley Kubrick to make a film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings novels back in their heyday, according to moviemaker Peter Jackson. The Fab Four starred in five movies during their career, including A Hard Day's Night and Help! in the 1960s, and when they were considering their third film, the musicians went to Kubrick to discuss adapting JRR Tolkien's books into a movie version, but the author had not yet sold the rights. Tolkien eventually released the book for film adaptation and Jackson brought the franchise to cinemas from 2001. The director tells Deadline.com, "The Beatles once approached Stanley Kubrick to do The Lord of the Rings. This was before Tolkien sold the rights. They approached him and he said no. I actually spoke about this with Paul McCartney. He confirmed it. I'd heard rumours that it was going to be their next film after Help!.

"John Lennon was going to play Gollum. Paul was going to play Frodo. George Harrison was going to play Gandalf details

WEST End theatregoers are about to view him as The Man Who Made The Beatles, but for veteran Liverpool solicitor and ECHO columnist Rex Makin he was, first and foremost, a friend and next-door neighbour. From 1945, when he was 11, Brian Epstein’s family home was 197 Queen’s Drive, Childwall. Rex, who was nine years older, moved into 199 when he married Shirley in 1957. And it was to Rex that Brian’s grieving younger brother, Clive, and mother, Queenie, turned when the Fab Four’s manager was found dead in his London home – 24 Chapel Street, Belgravia – during the August Bank Holiday weekend of 1967. The Beatle Making Prince of Pop, as the Daily Mirror called him on its front page the following day, was just 32. An inquest later found that Brian – whose dad, Harry, had only passed away the previous month – died as a result of “incautious self-overdoses” of Carbitral sleeping pills. A verdict of accidental death was recorded. 

“I didn’t see this play (Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles, starring Andre details

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Music fans and critics know that the music of the Beatles underwent a dramatic transformation in just a few years, but until now there hasn't been a scientific way to measure the progression. That could change now that computer scientists at Lawrence Technological University have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that can analyze and compare musical styles, enabling research into the musical progression of the Beatles. Assistant Professor Lior Shamir and graduate student Joe George had previously developed audio analysis technology to study the vocal communication of whales, and they expanded the algori details

Earlier this month Paul published his latest music video, 'Early Days', from the album NEW. To celebrate the release, PaulMcCartney.com has published a new photo collection bringing together shots from the video shoot.  “Paul’s scene was incredibly fun to create. It was just him, some blues players and Johnny Depp jamming on set all day. Patti Smith also turned up on set and hung out, which made the crew very happy!” Director, Vincent Haycock

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Source: PaulMcCartney.com

For anyone who wasn't alive in 1965, it might be hard to imagine what Beatle-mania looked like in Minneapolis -- but almost 50 years after the concert, it's back in the form of a special exhibit. For more than 20 years, the old Met Stadium was home to both the Minnesota Vikings and Twins -- but for one special night in August, it became the beachhead for a British invasion. "The Beatles were my favorite," John Andradi told Fox 9 News. "I've played music for over 40 years now. I played all their stuff. I fell in love with them."

Andradi was 14 years old when the Beatles landed in the Twin Cities for their first and only concert in Minnesota. Because of the pandemonium at the airport, the promoter didn't allow anyone -- including police or professional photographers -- on the field, much to the disappointment of 25,000 screaming fans. A few months ago, the son of the band's U.S. tour manager, Bob Bonis, found 32 photographs from that historic night in his parents' basement after they died. Now, those images are on display in the lobby of the W Hotel in the Foshay Tower -- and the details

Big, Grey and Smiling. Sunder, the former temple elephant is an unlikely celebrity with  friends ranging from the Big B to rock legends. But his international fame had come at a horrific cost. Sunder was filmed suffering abuse at the hands of his mahout at a temple in Maharashtra. When the video of abuse found its way online it resulted in a barrage of outrage from animal lovers. International celebrities, From Amitabh Bachan to Sir Paul McCartney and former Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson joined a campaign to free Sunder. The campaign finally resulted in his being moved to the Bannerghatta National Park outside Bangalore in June. Now, a month on, NDTV revisited Sunder in his new home, to find him happy and adjusting beautifully to his new home and new elephant family. 

While Sunder's story is one of the most depraved human abuse - but it is also an example of human compassion and concern. When we first met him in early June,the day he arrived here in Bannerghatta near Bangalore, he was stressed and uncertain, afte details

Some people mount John Lennon tribute shows and we listen to hundreds of wannabes and nowhere men in the bargain. But rare are the people who are drafted to chew gum and sing John Lennon songs because of an uncanny resemblance. When producer Gordy Deems was working at Chaton Recording Studios in Phoenix, he noticed the studio's owner and engineer/producer Otto D'Agnolo bore a striking resemblance to the ex-Beatle. Deems told him he should be in a John Lennon tribute show and then assembled that very show around him. "I told him I sounded even more like Lennon than I looked," said D'Agnolo, a notion Deems seconded when he heard D'Agnolo's own original music recorded under the pseudonym Caesar Bach. As one reviewer observed of that album, "It sounds like John Lennon trying to sing like George Harrison." 

"That was an astute observation," said D'Agnolo who readily admits his melody and rhythm ideas are George-influenced. "But I love John as well." D'Agnolo and musical director Deems are hoping lots of people love John as well now that " details

The Beatles legend recently headed to the U.S. to restart his postponed tour after a bout of ill health which landed him in hospital in Japan. It has now emerged McCartney has been taking part in secret studio sessions with a trio of famous stars inbetween his tour dates.

Perry reveals the group recorded together but he refuses to give any more detail about the top secret project, telling the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, "It's the great ego leveler. I was in the studio with Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp, playing guitar, and the three of us are looking at each other like, hey, we're sitting here with Paul McCartney! And we're all looking at each other like open-mouthed kids. "Paul was really nice. He's all about business (when he's recording). At 72 he can still hit all those notes... It's a project that we're keeping under wraps for now. There will be (an announcement when the time is right)." He adds of working with McCartney, "I met him once or twice (over the years) to say hello. To spend six or eight hours in (a) studio with him recording! He makes you feel like (you're recor details

Sella McCartney -- the British fashion designer and daughter of rock star Paul McCartney -- has once again been selected to design her country's Olympic uniforms, according to reports in the British media. McCartney was responsible for the Union Jack-adorned outfits that British athletes wore at the 2012 London Games.

 The Mirror quoted an unnamed source confirming that Adidas has selected her to handle the design work again for Rio de Janeiro in 2016. "Stella has been asked to submit her portfolio for official approval, but has already had loads of ideas," the source said. "She is very patriotic, and the kit will reflect this." After serving as creative director for Chloe in Paris, McCartney launched her own fashion house in 2001. She has more than 30 stores worldwide, including one in West Hollywood. McCartney also has a history of designing athletic wear -- including women's shoes, tennis dresses and tights -- for Adidas.

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They're already immortalised with a group tribute inside Cavern Walks, albeit one not all Fab Four fans love, but now there’s a campaign for a new Beatles statue in the city centre where everyone can enjoy it. And those behind the plea want to name it She Loves You, capturing the Beatlemania era and particularly the band’s 1963 all-time best-selling hit in the UK. The Liverpool Beatles Appreciation Society has earmarked two potential sites: either outside the Metquarter on Whitechapel or in Liverpool One.

And they’re hoping the billionaire Duke of Westminster, whose Grosvenor property company is in charge of running the shopping and leisure complex, will give it the OK. “We’ve heard he’s a Beatles fan, and we’d love him to give his blessing to the idea especially as we feel it would be of benefit to Liverpool One,” society chairman John James Chambers tells Insider. “It could become a huge attraction for tourists from all over the world.” The group was behind an original seven-year campaign, from 1977-84, which cul details

Two of the mystery Beatles fans in an early picture of the band have been tracked down thanks to the ECHO. We published the snap, which was handed to Stephen Bailey manager of the Beatles Shop in Mathew Street, showing a gig at St John’s Hall, in 1961 where the band seem relaxed as they pose with six fans.

The concert was the first after the Fab Four returned from playing The Star Club in Hamburg and shows the original line up including Pete Best. Sandra Swift, from Kirkby, said her sister-in-law spotted the photo in the paper first and identified her as the girl in the middle below John Lennon. She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it, it brought lots of memories back. “I was only 15 in the photo and I’m 68 now. Sandra, who grew up in Seaforth and had the maiden name Thomson, added: “I bought a picture of George Harrison when they were at Litherland and got him to sign it. “I bought it for sixpence and I sold it a few years ago for £600!” Wendy Riley contacted the ECHO identifying the woman details

Accompanied by some friends, the teen looked smart in an olive shirt and chinos as he arrived at the Marylebone hotspot. Despite previously keeping a low-profile, young Arthur's decision to go the Chiltern of all places may suggest he is ready for his own bite at fameAlthough not a recognisable face in the public eye, there is no mistaking Arthur's famous lineage.

With his floppy side-sweeping fringe and brown doe-eyes, the teenager is a lookalike of his famous rock legend grandfather Sir Paul. Arthur, who turned 15 in April, is the eldest son of Mary, 44, and her first husband Alistair Donald. Born in 1999, he was the first grandchild for Sir Paul, making him the second Beatle to become a grandfather after bandmate Ringo Star. Arthur was joined by brother Elliot in August 2002 and grew up at the family home in North London. However, in 2005, Arthur's parents Mary and Alistair split up, before quietly divorcing at a later d details

To celebrate five years of Meat Free Monday the campaign is looking for your help to make a new fan video.

If you'd like to get involved, pick a line or two from Paul's song ‘Meat Free Monday’ (or pick every line if you want!) and take a photo of yourself with it. You could write the words on a piece of paper; draw them in the sand; make them out of fruit and veg; make something with the words on; do something on your computer – remember, the more creative your photo, the more chance you have of it being included. Feel free to involve friends, family and colleagues too! We will pick our favourites and turn them into a video for the song.

To download the song click HERE!
 

The lyrics are provided below (plus a few extra lines for when Paul isn't singing).

The video will be posted soon here on PaulMcCartney.com and at meatfreemondays.com...

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In a strange, ironic twist of fate, the pine tree planted in 2004 in memory of George Harrison in Los Angeles will need to be replanted because the original tree died as a result of insect infestation.

From the Los Angeles Times: "The memorial tree in Griffith Park had grown to more than 10 feet tall as of 2013, but LaBonge said the tree beetle onslaught was too much for the tree. Trees in Griffith Park have occasionally been the victims of bark beetles and ladybug beetles, among other tree-unfriendly creatures."

Yes, the George Harrison Tree was killed by beetles.

Except f details