Beatles News

On Aug. 7, a vandal spray-painted obscene graffiti over the iconic John Lennon mural at 1020 Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach. The popular mural, painted in 2006, based on a famous photograph of the musician, was damaged beyond repair.

Haseeb Akbarzada, the owner of the business where it happened, 365 Reloaded Smoke Shop on Garnet near Cass, decided to paint over the entire wall with the intent of reviving the mural.

Now, that’s happening, as muralist Jon Hamrick (@Just_Jon1), from Pacific Beach, has started painting a new John Lennon mural.
vandal
San Diego Police hopes that someone will recognize the person from the surveillance video and turn them in before other murals are damaged.

There has been a public outcry in the aftermath of the destruction of the original artwork. “The members of beautifulPB are deeply saddened by the defacing of this beloved mural,” said Ryan Stock, beautifulPB’s new president. “We believe that fostering vibrant, shared spaces — where people of all backgrounds come together, living life in peace — is key to preventing such acts. As great urbanist Jane Jacobs wisely said, ‘Eyes on the street’ are vital to the healt details

When The Beatles needed a bassist after Stuart Sutcliffe left the band, Paul McCartney took the job because nobody else wanted to volunteer. After all, it wasn’t exactly the glory spot in the lineup at that time.

But McCartney’s skill and imagination in devising his bass parts for Beatles songs helped to transform the way the instrument was utilized by rock bands. Here are five of those bass parts that emerged from the mix to make their presence known.
“I Saw Her Standing There” from Please Please Me (1962)

The very first song on the very first Beatles album (Please Please Me in 1962) established what McCartney could bring to the table as a bassist. Considering the blistering tempo of the song, he easily could have chosen to play a more minimal role, popping in occasionally with chosen notes. Instead, he charges headlong into the breach, giving the song an unstoppable rhythmic pulse. Listen to the way he smoothly interacts with Ringo Starr’s drums, even though Starr had only joined the band just a few months prior to this recording.
“Nowhere Man” from Rubber Soul (1965)

This is just one example of many where McCartney’s playing gives a Beatles son details

Beatlemania struck Cincinnati 60 years ago as fans got the chance of a lifetime to see The Beatles perform live at Cincinnati Gardens on Aug. 27, 1964.

Based on news reports of the day, Cincinnati didn’t quite know how to handle it all. The Enquirer reported that authorities were bracing for “teen-age massteria,” with the level of preparations usually reserved for presidential visits.

The frenzy had been building for months, since the Fab Four – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – made their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9 before 73 million television viewers.

The lads from Liverpool, England, scored nine top-10 songs already that year, and in April had held the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Their film “A Hard Day’s Night" just released in theaters. This was the height of Beatlemania, and The Beatles were coming to Cincinnati. Teenage fans hold up signs to grab The Beatles' attention outside Cincinnati Gardens before the concert on Aug. 27, 1964.

Source: cincinnati.com

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Sixty years ago, on Aug. 21, 1964, a young Beatles fan from North Dakota was staying at Seattle’s Edgewater Inn when she got to experience nearly every classic rock fan's dream: hanging out with The Beatles.

This week Nancy King, 76, revisited the place she called her "mecca," getting "back to where [she] once belonged."

"Oh, it’s good to be back!” said King, stepping out of her rental car.

She said her mind was instantly flooded with memories.

"They had the police boats just to make sure the teenagers weren’t trying to scale the wall to get in here," said King. "It was just packed."

On their first North American tour, The Beatles played the Seattle Center's Coliseum, and in the hours before their show, a photographer snapped a photo of them fishing out of their hospitality suite at the Edgewater.

Source: king5.com

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Let me take you down to Strawberry Fields— no, not the memorial in New York’s Central Park to the former Beatle John Lennon, who was slain in Manhattan in 1980, but to the place that inspired his song, where the Salvation Army is conducting an experiment in mixing tourism with faith and social action.

The original Strawberry Field was a children’s home in Liverpool, just around the corner from John Lennon’s childhood home. It inspired the Beatles’ 1966 track “Strawberry Fields Forever,” penned by Lennon (who added an “s” to its name), as well as what may be one of the most innovative projects undertaken by the Salvation Army, the Christian anti-poverty movement founded in mid-1800s London.

Strawberry Field is known for its red gates festooned with strawberry motifs, which are often thronged with tourists taking selfies and some adding to the graffiti on the gates’ stone pillars. But the army has now deployed the site’s connection to the Beatles to draw more visitors to fund its mission and encourage people who would never consider stepping inside a church to find out about Christianity.

The children’s home, closed in 2005, has been d details

You would think The Beatles, as successful as they were, would have enjoyed some sort of autonomy about what they did or didn’t want to do when they were at the height of their popularity. That wasn’t always the case. For example, they were forced to come up with new material for the soundtrack to Yellow Submarine, a 1968 animated movie based on their music.

The fact that they had zero to do with making the movie didn’t excuse them from having to contribute songs to the project. They obliged with some leftovers and throwaways. But, this being The Beatles, even those songs turned out to be pretty special. Here’s how it all went down.

The Beatles lucked out in that Yellow Submarine, a film over which they little control (not that they wanted to deal with it anyway) turned out as well as it did. Even though the actors hired to do the voices of the Fab Four didn’t always sound like them, the whimsical tale (beware those villainous Blue Meanies) and psychedelic animation charmed audiences.

Those audiences probably didn’t realize the group only agreed to the film because they were contractually obligated to do one more picture. While the animated film was being made in 1967, details

The site of The Beatles first ever performance is set to be honoured with a commemorative plaque.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison played alongside Stuart Sutcliffe - the band's original bass guitarist - and Pete Best, the original drummer, at the Jacaranda on Slater Street in Liverpool in August 1960.

The World Origin Site plaque will acknowledge the "hidden gem where the band cut their teeth" before their breakthrough Hamburg tour.

The band, later made up of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Ringo Starr, had a string of classic albums such as Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. Their best known hits include Yesterday, Hey Jude, A Hard Day's Night and Let It Be.

Dave McCabe, the frontman of The Zutons, paid tribute to the venue, which still hosts live music every night, serving as a vital hub for grassroots performances and sustaining Liverpool's musical heritage and future.  "Grassroots music venues like the Jacaranda are so important because without them there’s no growth, there’s no education and there’s no real experience.

"They give you a chance to learn about what it is you love about music and find an ans details

Behind the Meaning of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero”. 

Post-Beatles, John Lennon certainly couldn’t have been considered “working class.” He was lucky enough to be apart of one of the greatest bands of all time and his bank account certainly reflected it. Nevertheless, Lennon didn’t forget about the everyman. He used his voice to fight for those that struggled to rise to the top like he did. Uncover the meaning behind “Working Class Hero,” below.

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[RELATED: New Documentary About John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Wacky 1972 Stint Co-Hosting a Talk Show Premiering Soon]
Behind the Meaning of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero”

Lennon released this caustic song in the early ’70s. His biting lyrics, at the same time, bolstered those in the working class and chided the folks on the hill. After having reached the upper echelon, Lennon turns back to tell those behind him, “Hey, this isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

As soon as you’re born, they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till details

When Todd Rundgren first released his song “Hello It’s Me” as a B-side with his band Nazz in 1968, it managed to peak at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100, then reentered the chart at No. 66 months later. After Nazz—which pulled it’s name from the Yardbirds’ 1966 song “The Nazz Are Blue”—disbanded in 1969, Rundgren revisited “Hello It’s Me” on his third solo album Something/Anything? in 1972 and took the more uptempo version to No. 5 on the chart.

Despite it’s chart history, when Rundgren joined Ringo Starr with his All-Starr Band, he performed “Hello It’s Me” a few times but eventually retired it on their tours.

“Originally, Ringo wanted me to do “Hello It’s Me,” and I just felt that the song, in the context of what the rest of the band was playing, didn’t represent the message I wanted to convey,” said Rundgren. “‘Hello It’s Me’ is a kind of a selfish song. It’s me, me, me. It’s all about me. I’m in charge, and all this other stuff.”

Hello, it’s me
I’ve thought about us for a long long time
Maybe I think t details

Original drummer Pete Best and his younger brother Roag have converted one of the earliest venues where the Beatles performed into a short-term rental property.

The Casbah Coffee Club hosted the early Beatles nearly 40 times, after John Lennon's previous Quarrymen band played there on seven nights. The venue at 8 Haymans Green in Liverpool opened in 1956 in the basement of Best's family home and was run by his mother Mona.

She'd initially tried to book a residency with the Les Stewart Quartet, which featured a young George Harrison, but they suddenly split up before opening night. "George basically turned 'round and said: 'I happen to know a couple of guys who aren't doing anything,'" Pete Best tells The Guardian. "They turned out to be John Lennon and Paul McCartney."

There are now five AirBnB units above the club, each named after the original members of the Beatles – Lennon, Best, McCartney, Harrison and doomed founding bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. Roag Best, later revealed to be the son of Beatles road manager Neil Aspinall, has been renovating the property with his sibling for more than three years.
How Much Is the Casbah Club AirBnB?

Rooms are roughly $200 a night and each has been details

As part of International Beatleweek, that celebrates The Beatles in Liverpool, we take a look at how the renowned pop band not only changed the landscape of music, but fashion too.

After an infamous trip to Hamburg, Germany, the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, decided to dress the band in matching made-to-measure suits.

“These suits, often in dark hues and paired with ties and crisp white shirts, were meticulously crafted to present a unified, polished image,” says London-based fashion expert Fausta Urte Geigaite, “this bespoke elegance set them apart, offering a fresh, accessible look that appealed to both the youth and the establishment.”

Although the suits were a way to tidy their appearance, the band themselves were quite mischievous, and in a way The Beatles were the perfect contradiction. Clean cut in their appearance but rebellious in their nature; the band’s fashion helped appeal to both parents and teens.

As the band grew – so did their styles. Psychedelia became a pool of inspiration for liberals and free thinkers of the decade. Influenced by fin de siècle Art Nouveau, Victoriana and circus imagery – psychedelia’s d details

John Lennon and Yoko Ono's son Sean Ono Lennon has come to the defense of Doug Emhoff's daughter.

Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, of his kids—Ella Emhoff and Cole Emhoff—discussing the 2024 presidential election. Lennon addressed negative comments on the video, reshared by X user @MarioNawfal.

"I think people triggered by this video are blinded by partisans bias. I mean as politicians go this is pretty sweet," Lennon began his lengthy post on Wednesday. "Almost none of the judgmental comments are by people who have any clue what it would be like filming something, anything, under the magnifying glass of national scrutiny. Just saying 'Hi my name is …' can be very challenging. At the very least you can tell his kids are comfortable with him, and he is with them."

The 48-year-old continued, "I make fun of politicians all day and night, but this is not the video that would make me do that. Also—y'all are way too judgmental of the daughter's look. She seems like a cool geek. There are way worse things to be."

"There are serious things we can attack politicians for," Lennon concluded. "Having an awkward and sweet family should not be details

There are a lot of kids who get introduced to the music of The Beatles by their parents, and now the legendary group is out to teach those kids how to play their music, as well.

Children’s guitar brand Loog just announced a new partnership with Apple Corps Ltd. to launch The Beatles + Loog Collection, made up of nine new kid-sized, Beatle-inspired three-string guitars, six acoustic and three electric.

Each of the acoustic guitars, recommended for children ages 3 and up, are designed to represent different stages in the Beatles’ career, including 1967, the Revolver era and their “Yellow Submarine” era. The electric guitars come in black, blue and white, and are good for children 6 and older.

“I started Loog not only to help kids play guitar, but also to foster curiosity around music – I can’t think of a better way for them to start their musical journey than with John, Paul, George and Ringo,” Rafael Atijas, founder and CEO of Loog, shares. “I’m beyond thrilled and honored to partner with The Beatles in our mission to get kids learning, playing and falling in love with music.”

Each Beatles-themed guitar comes with a Beatles strap, a details

 "This is Paul McCartney, he knows who I am," the rapper recalls of meeting the music legend.

There probably aren’t too many celebrities left on Snoop Dogg’s bucket list, but he checked a major one off earlier this year when he met Paul McCartney for the first time.

Fresh off performing at the Olympics’ Closing Ceremony, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre recently sat down with Complex, and The Doggfather reflected on having the chance to link up with The Beatles legend, where the respect was mutual.

“I did a little concert for somebody in Hollywood. Paul McCartney was there. I never met him before, but I’m a f–king fan of The Beatles,” he began. “I know Jimmy [Iovine] know him, I know Dre know him. I’m in the back smoking and they’re like, ‘Sir Paul would like to meet you.’ I’m like, ‘Oh for real? Hold on.’

Snoop continued, noting he didn’t know McCartney is also a cannabis connoisseur. “I put the blunt out, cuz walk in the room like, ‘Don’t put that down!’ He give me a hug and he meet me and I’m like, ‘F–k, Paul McCartney know who the f–k Snoop Dog details

Unknown to many, George Harrison hardly felt like a core member of the Beatles, as John Lennon and Paul McCartney would reportedly dominate creative conversations and push their ideas onto the rest. This, coupled with other factors, led to the group’s split, starting with Ringo Starr’s exit.

George and Lennon would connect over drugs though, as that seemed to be their only thing to bond over. It was also a good sight for George as he observed the band frontman in his natural state, hence understanding him better.

George Harrison was shocked by the true John Lennon revealed to him that might have seemed “crazy”.  George would come to learn about his bandmate’s mental health struggles after the release of the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album in the ‘70s. He was shocked to realize there was more to Lennon than he thought, even when they shared acid between each other.

Lennon’s album laid bare his past trauma, childhood, and insecurities, which made George Harrison believe that Lennon was crazy. “It wasn’t until he made that album about Janov, primal screaming, that I realised he was even more screwed up than I thought,” Harrison mused.