Paul McCartney's son James on life as the son of a Beatles legend - Thursday, June 20, 2013
It has taken 35 years for James McCartney to step out from his father’s shadow. In his 20s, the son of Beatles legend Paul McCartneyshunned his father, hated his new step-mother and descended into a dark world of drink and drugs.
When he turned to Class A drugs - with terrifying horse tranquiliser ketamine - even his sisters cut ties with him. But that is now all in the past.
His father and the step-mother, one-time model Heather Mills, are divorced, and he has reconciled with his dad and he has found the confidence to finally perform the songs he has been writing since he was 17.
James admits his life was turned upside down when his mother Linda died of breast cancer in 1998 at the family’s ranch in Arizona.
“When I was 20 my mother died and I went off the rails a little bit. I kinda had my slightly dark period,” he says. “I got heavily into Nirvana, a bit of Marilyn Manson, these heavy bands. It was a kind of Goth thing.
Ringo’s photo book gives new insight into Beatles’ friendship - Friday, June 21, 2013
Ringo Starr is releasing a book of previously unseen images of his life with the world’s biggest pop group. He shares his memories with ANDY WELCH and reveals why no one will ever know everything about The Beatles
“Every time I see your face, it reminds me of the places we used to go. But all I’ve got is a photograph, and I realise you’re not coming back any more.”
Hard Rock Hotel offers a walk down a rock ‘n roll memory lane - Saturday, June 22, 2013
With a little help from things such as instruments, clothing and even a pair of round glasses, memories can play back like favorite songs on an iPod.
TAMPA — From the elaborate costume hanging in a display, you can almost envision Elton John doing a handstand on the piano keyboard in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans. A dress from Amy Winehouse whispers silently of what could have, should have, been for the talented but troubled singer.
Emmys: Beatles Film vs. Stones Film - It's the Beatles by a Walrus Hair - Saturday, June 22, 2013
“Magical Mystery Tour” is far more focused than "Crossfire Hurricane," zeroing in on a single year and a single project
Last year, the Emmys’ Outstanding Nonfiction Special category saw a head-to-head battle between George Harrison and Paul Simon, with Martin Scorsese’s “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” winning over a field that also included Joe Berlinger’s “Paul Simon’s Graceland Journey: Under African Skies.”
Sometimes, it’s better to reject The Beatles… - Friday, June 21, 2013
A copy of the Beatles rejected audition tape for Decca resurfaced recentlyand aside from sending shivers down the collective spines of aged record company execs who once proclaimed guitar music as ‘on the way out’ – it got me thinking about rejection.
How could anyone turn away the band that went on to create some of the most beloved pieces of pop music ever recorded? How could anyone claim the Fab Four ‘had no future in show business’?
"We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.".
The Beatles 50 Years Ago Today : Saturday, June 22, 1963-
Television Theatre, London and Ballroom, Town Hall, Cross St. Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
While George, Paul and Ringo travelled to Wales in the van with road manager Neil Aspinall, John stayed on in London to tape an appearance on the BBC Television show Juke Box Jury, and extraordinarily popular program at this time, in which new singles came up for "Hit" or "Miss" judgement, signified, respectively, by either the pinging of a bell or the sounding of a klaxon.
This particular edition was transmitted the following Saturday, June 29th, from 6:35 to 7:00 pm, hosted by DJ David Jacobs. The four-person "jury" was usually chosen to represent different walks of show business so along with John Lennon on this occasion there was TV personality Catherine (Katie) Boyle, actor Bruce Prochnik and actress Caroline Maudling.
John's appearance caused something of a stir, in that he openly stated negative views of every single one of the discs up for review, whereas panel members customarily kept any comments in non-offensive terms. The records reviewed in this edition were "Southend" by Cleo Laine, "So much in love", by the Tymes, "Devil in disguise" by Elvis Presley (John said of his former idol that he now sounded like Bing Crosby), "The click song" by Miriam Makeba, "On top of spaghetti", by Tom Glaser, "Flamenco" by Russ Conway, "First Quarrel" by Paul and Paula and "Don't ever let me down" by Julie Grant. Thanks to John's influence, the panel voted every one of them a "Miss" except for the Presley single. (Three other songs were taped but omitted from the broadcast, "Lies", by Johnny Sandon and the Remo Four, "Too late to worry" by Richard Anthony, and "Just one look" by Doris Troy. Sandon and the Remo Four were Liverpool contemporaries of the Beatles, and Doris Troy would one day be signed to their Apple record label.)
The Juke Box Jury session kept John in London until well in the evening, there was a camera rehearsal from 7:45 to 8:00, a sound and vision test between 8:00 and 8:30 and the recording itself ran from 8:30 to 9:15. Immediately after this John was driven to Battersea Heliport from where he flew to Wales in a helicopter especially chartered by Brian Epstein at a cost of £100. He touched down at the Penypound football ground in Abergavenny at 9:50 pm, just in time for the £250 engagement.
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